Day 2...My Mom's famous Cranberry Salad

 Day 2 

Ya-Ya’s Cranberry Salad

(Serves 8 or more)

What you need
2-3 oz packages of cranberry sugar free Jello 

(some places in the country i.e. in CA you cannot find cranberry jello so I sub for strawberry)

2 Cups of hot water
1 Bag of Fresh Cranberries
1 Whole Orange (navel, if possible)
1 Med. Can of Crushed Pineapple add juice to the jello mixture.
1-1/4 cup of sugar ( I use ½ cup of splenda)…but don’t tell dad! (this makes me laugh ;)
1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans (I don't use the walnuts!)

How you do it
In food processor grind the cranberries well.

Section the orange. Set aside.

Add the jello to 2 cups of hot water, (in a casserole dish that can go in the refrigerator) stir, until dissolved, add pineapple and juice.

Add all of the other  ingredients in a bowl,

Stir until everything is thoroughly mixed.

Chill for several hours and then serve!

Day 3... Vic's Sausage Dressing....

This is a family recipe.  I hope I don't get in trouble for putting it all over the internet

but it is the best dressing ever and I just had to share!

My grandmother wrote this recipe down for me and at the top she writes 

"Yankees call it stuffing, Southerners call it dressing."  

Which is funny 'cuz I just Goggled this and Ryan Seacrest did a whole tweet about it!  

He's from Atlanta so he knows ;)

Vic's Sausage Dressing

2-16 oz. Pepperidge Farm cornbread stuffing

1- 16 oz. Pepperidge Farm herbal stuffing

2 packages of Jimmy Dean sage sausage

3 Cups small diced celery

3 Cups small diced onions 

3 eggs lightly beaten

1 teaspoons dry sage ( I use fresh)

1 Teaspoon of poultry seasoning

Salt and Pepper (to taste)

3 sticks of butter to saute onion and celery

4 cups (more or less) of low sodium chicken broth

You can season with Lawry's too but be careful not to make too salty.

How you do it...
Saute onion and celery with butter and seasonings and set aside. Cook crumbled sausage, drain all the grease and put on paper towel to wick it all away. (You can do this days in advance.) 

Assemble in a large bowl all ingredients.  Mix with hands completely.  Spray 2-13x9 casseroles dishes and put in dressing.  Do not pat down! Bake on 350, until heated through ( about 30 mins)....ready to serve!

Missing my plated pic...but trust me it is Yummy!

Day 6, 5, 4...Let's get the bake on...Christmas Cookies ;)

I know I missed a few days but I have been busy, getting ready for this weekend and for my parents who are coming TODAY! YEA!!! This is a different Christmas for us this year. It is the first time in 32 years, I have not been in the house, I grew up in, for Christmas morning...

My parents are so sweet...Santa still comes there every Christmas morning...

Any-who, with life things change and we are excited to start our own traditions and are thrilled not be getting on a plane with the little ones...

So here's my Sugar Cookie Recipe, which I kind of made up combining a couple I liked... 

I think they turned out really good! 

Sugar Cookies

2 Cups of Flour

1/4 Cup Sugar

1 1/2 Sticks of Butter

1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla

Cream butter in mixer, add in sugar, salt, vanilla and flour until thick. 

Roll or hand press out your dough. 

Get your favorite cookie cutters out and cut away.  

The trick is to leave them thick at least an 1/4 plus inch!

Place on a cookie sheet and place in oven on 350 degrees for about 8 Mins. 

DO NOT Over cook! You know how I am about things being dry! LOL!

Take off cookie sheet, let them COOL COMPLETELY and royal icing them up! 

I used the Royal Icing recipe from Joy of Baking!

Royal Icing Using Egg Whites:

2 large (60 grams) egg whites

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

3 cups (330 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted

 

To get them the perfect color I used this Wilton Icing Coloring.

I bought at Joanne's Fabrics of all places.

Let cookies sit for at least 2 hours for icing to harden...then enjoy!

 Please excuse my transistion from stars to pumpkins...I forgot to take pics for the stars!

Merry Christmas!

Day 7....Merry Christmas Printable Banner

Not to late to decorate!  Get your glitter on with this printable banner.

Just print, cut it out, glitter it up, hole punch and string your ribbon through!

Easy as can be...and adds a festive touch to any space.

Day 8. Personalized Gift Guide...

I LOVE personalized gifts (getting and giving.)
I found a few neat things in my search for the perfect gifts this year and wanted to share.

Louis Vuitton Monogrammed Bags
Did you know that you can now get your LV bags personalized?  It is so cool.  I couldn't get an exact pic but you can click here and design your own.  
It won't be here for Christmas but is well worth the wait!

How about some great cuff links from Eternally Linked. 

"Eternally Linked has recently created a line of unconventional customized initial cuff links. Instead of the usual typical monogram sets, they offer a more modern take on the classic accessory.  You have the  option of color (with over 25 colors to choose from) and initial placement.'

P.S. Throw in a necklace that matches for you. Cuff links start at $42.

Williams Sonoma!

How about Monogrammed Steak Brand and Cutting Board from Williams Sonoma. Starts at $69.95

• Set includes a customized brand and a personalized John McLeod carving board.
• Hand-forged iron brand is an authentic miniature version of the cattle brands used for centuries to identify livestock and designate ranch families.
• Made of sustainably harvested New England birch, the board has a well to catch meat juices.
• Includes a wall-mounting storage rack for the brand.
• Choose single, double or triple initials.  All letters will be of equal height and weight.
• A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

A barrel top lazy Susan from The Wine Crafters!
 A monogrammed lazy Susan. With a traditional interlocking monogram.  This lazy Susan is Eco-sustainable and crafted by hand. They use only Triangle Mfg® bearings, made in USA, and only Grabber® professional wood screws, also made in USA. This would make a great gift for wine lovers...or anyone who enjoys entertaining.  P.S. THEY HAVE GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!

Happy Shopping.  Merry Christmas!

Day 9...Peace on Earth Banner-Free Printable

My photos are poor. Really bad lighting but the banner is really cute. 

I am calling it  a mini banner. 3x3 squares that say "Peace On Earth"

Super easy! Download and print (on thick card stock.) 

Cut out.
Get your glue, glitter, hole punch and ribbon out to decorate.

You can download yours below.

I also did a Merry Christmas one is in Scribd but not on blog yet.

Glitter is the key!

"Joy to the World" coming this weekend!

Day 10... Holiday Cookies by Bakerella!

Can you say this girl has some crazy talent or what!?!?  Look at these cookies!  This is from Angie over at Bakerella.  She is amazing.  Here are some of her Holiday cookie designs.  She even has a  tutorial on how she makes and decorated these cookies, which includes a PDF download for the template, so you can too!  Want to WOW somebody with your creative cookie talent?  

Go learn some cool tricks from Angie on her amazing blog!  

Oh...P.S.  The video below is her on the Today show making her famous cake pops!

Photo by Bakerella

Photo by Bakerella

Photo by Bakerella

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Day 14 and 13... Holiday Decorating!

Day 14

The New Christmas issue of Lonny is out and it is AWESOME!

I am totally in love with how this whole house is decorated and Lily and I really like this pink tree!

Aren't the colors in this room amazing!
  I am loving the the contrast of the blue wall with all of the decorations.
I am really into all shades of blue right now...

A Holiday Table Setting to die for!
I love that it looks like a winter wonderland but uses soft colors
(not your typical Christmas reds and greens)

Day 13

Grab a cute little button to dress up your blog for the holidays!

&<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;a border="0" <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">href</span>="http://<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lilyslaundryblog</span>.com/" target="_blank">&<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">img</span> <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">src</span>="http://i708.<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">photobucket</span>.com/albums/ww88/Laurae7182/lightbluestar2-1.<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">jpg</span>" />&<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/a>

Days 16 and 15! Candy Table and Printables.

Day 16!

Remember my hubby's client appreciation party last week?
Well... I created my first candy table.  It was so much fun!

Candy used: Candy Canes, Christmas Kisses, Hard Candy, Red Vines and Carmel Corn.

Containers were  from Nashville Wraps

Planning a Dessert or Candy Table for your holiday party.
  Download printable "Treat Table" labels here!

DAY 15

I found this awesome app on my iphone and wanted to share a pic.
App is called Lo-Mob

Before!

After!

Very 1950's right?

Day 17 and 16...Visual Party Eye Candy and Gift Wrapping!

DAY 17
Ready for some visual eye candy. Check out
Bird's 2010 Holiday Party Guide.
You can download and print it for free!
Check out her website too!  www.BirdsParty.com

Its amazing! It features some really great ideas from
some fun vendors!

****************************************************************************************************************************

DAY 16

Make your gifts stand out from the pack with great gift wrap!
Check out www.anthropologie.com wrapping and gift guide!

They have great ideas for wrapping, hostess gifts and home decor!

Merry Christmas! xoxo

Day 20... Christmas Desserts!

This chocolate chip apple pie is from my husband's step mother.  She graciously gave me the recipe because it is my hubby's absolute FAVORITE thing to eat. I make it for him as a treat for the holidays. It is really easy and always a hit!

Download the recipe here or see below!

CCApplePie