All you need are some envelopes (used or new), some pretty paper (or crayons) and some scissors.

That’s it.

It’s also a perfect project for the little people in your house.  (Please pay attention to my lovely niece, Miranda.  Please do NOT pay attention to the meatball sandwich in the background – we were huuuuunnnngrry).

Some of Miranda’s bookmarks.  Aren’t they pretty?

If you wish, you can download the directions.   I’ve also included a template for the hearts (you’re welcome).

Click here ->  How to Make a Heart Bookmark (with heart templates)

What you will need:

• Envelopes (You can use new envelopes, but why not recycle some old bills?)
• Colored or designed paper (also, maps, drawings, pictures…)
• Glue or Mod Podge (If you want to seal the paper use Mod Podge, otherwise, glue work’s great)
• Scissors

 Directions:

• Position heart template so that the bottom of the heart matches the edge of the envelope.

• With pencil (so you can erase it later), draw top of heart on the envelope.

• Cut a heart shape, making sure to only cut on the pencil lines.

• Now you have a little heart pocket to slide on the edge of a page.

• With decorative paper, align smaller heart template so that you have your design centered in the middle of your valentine.

• Cut carefully along the pencil line (or slightly inside the line).

• If you wish, cut an even smaller heart so will have three layer

• Glue the hearts to the envelope heart, making sure the glue goes to the outer edge of decorative paper (so it won’t curl).

See?  Just that simple.

You can also make hearts with none of the envelope showing…

and hearts made from maps representing special places (I still had some maps leftover from my origami flowers.  Evidently Mr. H. has no use for his Rand McNally Map book now….oops).

Of course, love letters are also perfect….

These hearts were covered with a layer of Mod Podge (perfect for kids as they are just a little more sturdy).

Unfortunately, they will not work on Kindles, Nooks or iPads…  <sigh>

You may be asking yourself what this lovely sentiment has to do with making an Origami Flower, but if you’ll bear with me, I’ll tell you the whole story.  (In the event you are not romantic, not just the least bit inquisitive or maybe you’re just in a hurry, you can go ahead and download the pdf without reading any more.  But, aren’t you just a little curious?)

Origami Flower pdf

Oh, good.  You’re still reading.

Here’s the story.

Last month, while on vacation, Mr. H and I were shopping in a sweet little gift shop with friends, Tom and Jody.

While there, we saw the cutest flowers on display.

For most people, this would be the end of the story.  ”Look at those flowers, aren’t they cute?” Jody would say.  ”Yes, they are darling.” I would respond.   We would go home, have some lemonade and never think of it again.

As it happens, Jody and I have been friends for 40+ years, and the real dialogue was quite different.

“Look at those flowers, aren’t they cute?” Jody said.  ”Yes, they are darling.” I responded.   “I’ll bet we could make them”.

This phrase….”I’ll bet we could make them” is the Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney  equivalent of “Hey, kids, my Uncle has a barn, let’s put on a show”.  (This phrase is also the reason I have two boxes of unfinished projects in my storage room).

I took a picture of the flowers and thought that might be enough, but Jody knows me all too well and bought not just one, but two of the flowers!

I was sunk.

My plan was to go online and look up “easy origami flower folding for the non-nimble”.

Tom had other ideas.  He’s an engineer and has never met a puzzle that he hasn’t tried to solve.

Tom deconstructed one of the flowers and then provided me with specific, exact instructions on how to reconstruct the flower.

My head hurt.

But I have to thank Jody (thank you, Jody) for having faith that we could make these flowers and I have to thank Tom (thank you, Tom) for having the patience to help me understand how to make that happen.

Since these flowers are really cute, and they really are (now) pretty easy, I am going to share this project with you so you can make a bunch or two for Valentines Day.

What you will need:

• Origami Paper (or other paper cut into an exact square)
• Plastic Straws (or rolled green paper) for the stem
• Glue gun or quick drying glue (adult supervision is required)
• Clips (if you want to pinch the ends of the drying petal without burning your fingers)
• Tool for creasing paper (a plastic ruler will work beautifully, but if you have a bone folder, this is the time to use it!!

Before we get started, just a couple of thoughts:

Origami Paper is the easiest to use when you are beginning.  It is thinner paper, creases easily and is already cut into perfect squares.

Or you can use any other paper cut into an exact square.

Pictured is some double sided wrapping paper I found.  You can also use maps, calendars, old letters, children’s drawings…..

And now, a quick message about the tool you use to crease the paper.  A plastic ruler will be just perfect, but look what I found in my cubby!!  A never-used, perfect-for-this=task Martha Stewart bone folder!!   Ahhhhhhhhhhhh  Sweet Mysteries of Life At Last I’ve Found You…..

Now, if you don’t have one….don’t fret, but you just might want to mention it to a special someone

Directions for making an Origami Flower:

My nieces, Monica and Miranda, loved making these flowers and came up with some of their own creations.

Monica put a sucker in the top of her flowers.  She slid the stick into the straw in the middle of the flower.  (Really, there was a sucker in this flower….I…um…have no idea where it might have gone.  No idea.  Honest.  I don’t even like Cherry suckers….very much).    I also like the different colors for each petal.

Miranda thought these would be a great Valentines Day gift for her friends.  (See how she has used two different patterns?)

Look at this bouquet of flowers made entirely by Miranda and Monica.  Well done!   They were still busy making flowers when I left….

Tom suggested that these flowers would be cute made from maps.  I know he had in mind the glossy maps, but I didn’t have any so I just ripped some pages out of Mr. H.’s Rand McNally map book (he won’t miss those pages, will he?).

Tom also suggested that the flowers would be cute if we made them smaller and lined them in a heart candy box (Tom has lots of “suggestions”…).   Since no one has given me a heart candy box (ahem….Mr. H.?), I wasn’t able to realize his vision, but I do like the idea of smaller flowers.

In fact, I made tons of the little flowers one evening.    It takes a lot of flowers to make one pomander, but I was able to make three pomanders worth of flowers while watching one episode of Modern Family, one episode of Glee and a rather lengthy political discussion with brother, Ralph.

I made each petal from a 3″ x 3″ piece of paper, and thought they looked rather cute gathered into a pomander like ball.

While I was (compulsively) working on all of these variations, I thought it might be sweet to make a flower out of love letters.   Shockingly, I discovered I had no love letters (ahem….Mr. H.?).

Fortunately, I found and scanned letters with references to my Mom in some letters that my Dad had written to his parents while in the Air Force during World War II.

I love that my Dad communicated so freely with his parents, love that Grandma S. kept the letters and even love the back of his envelope (de-tails inside…get it?).

I was easily able to find sweet phrases for each petal, but my favorite was in a letter Dad wrote to his Mother while awaiting Mom’s visit to him during his time in basic training.

“I’m telling you, she’s just a dream.  Straight out of Heaven on an angel’s wings….”

Happy Valentines Day

He couldn’t stand, sit or breath without feeling like he was being poked in the back with a pain stick (it wasn’t me).

He had knots in his back.

For a week he relaxed and we weren’t too concerned.  After all, relaxing is built into vacation, right?

As the day for departure got closer, however, we became more concerned.    At the front end of the trip our friends, Bill and Cindy, joined us for the drive.  Thank you Bill and Cindy.

Sadly, we had no minions….er….helpers….er….bellboys….er….friends to travel with us on our trip back home.

Our car was filled to the brim (really…only basic vacation needs).

We faced 1,400 miles of driving to get home.

What were we to do?

Before we left the cottage, our minions….er….helpers….er….bellboys….er….friends helped us pack the car.  Thank you Jim and Vicky.

As for the drive home, Mr. H. decided that he could turn on the seat heater and we would make it home in stages.

First stop.  My cousin’s home.  70 miles.

Tom and Bea took care of us for almost three days.  They fed us, entertained us, moved stuff around and even offered to let us stay until Mr. H. healed completely.  Thank you Tom and Bea.

After two days, Mr. H. went to the doctor and got four prescriptions.  One prescription was for pain, one prescription was for more pain, one prescription was meant to relax his muscles and reduce pain and one prescription was for …. well, I never did understand what the last prescription was for.

He didn’t take any of the prescriptions.

So, we traveled for another 70 miles and stopped again.  We stayed for two more days.

Wait!

Let’s do this math together…..

So….if it took us 6 days to go 140 miles (I need my grand-sons to help me with this word problem)…..at that rate, we wouldn’t get home until (perhaps appropriately)…..the Ides of March!

This was getting old.  I was getting old.  My dirty clothes were most definately getting old.

I needed a miracle.

And so, I suggested that Mr. H. get a massage.

You need to understand that Mr. H. has never had a massage.  Mr. H. has never wanted a massage.  Mr. H. has strenuously avoided a massage for 60+ years.

I wanted to get home before March so I insisted that he get a massage.

Together, we walked over to the spa.

Did he notice the low lights, flickering candles and soothing music?  Did he notice the lavender and rosemary scents wafting through the spa?  Did he notice the refreshing pitcher of fruit-infused ice water, healthy snacks or even the latest issue of Cosmo?

He did not.

He noticed the Exit Sign.

<sigh>

You can see the excitement (could that be terror)?

After a short wait (sitting directly under the Exit sign), we were collected by our massage therapists.   Mr. H. thought it would be “safer” to have a couples massage.

<sigh>

Mr. H.: “What do you mean I have to take off my clothes?  Do they know this key works in all the locks?  Wonder if someone steals my clothes?  I will NOT take off my socks……”

<sigh>

Mr. H.: Can I keep the robe on for the massage?

<sigh>

Mr. H.:  ”It’s going to get too hot in here with that fire.”

<sigh>

And then….a miracle.

After 50 minutes of a most wonderful, soothing, relaxing massage…..

…..Mr. H. became a believer.  (Meet Cindy and Beth, our wonderful massage therapists).

What have I done?

Here is our budget before this event:

and here is our new, revised budget:

<sigh>

We always, always have a great time when we are visiting them, and always, always end up singing or dancing (this helps explains the youthfulness of my Aunt, I just know it).

Here’s a small video of Aunt M and Mom Dancing (if you have decided to watch this 3-4 second video, when you get to the next screen after clicking on Aunt M and Mom Dancing, just click on the line that says ?attachment_id=6570.  I need to get this fixed, but in the meantime….)

We have a selection of songs that I know completely.  Every word.  (Mr. Moon, Shine on Harvest Moon, Skinamarinky-Dinky-Doo, The Bells are Ringing…you know, the standards).

Our family calls these bathtub songs because Dad would play the ukelele and sing every one of the bathtub songs while we were in the tub.  (It’s pretty clear that Dad is not playing in the bathroom in this picture, but did you really think we would be allowed to have a camera in the tub?  This happens to be a picture of Dad playing the ukelele to Kendra.  Thirty some years ago).

As far as any other song, I know about three words.  That’s it.  I can usually hum along with the melody and quite often fill in with dum-de-dum-dum lyrics.

My Aunt, on the other hand, seems to know ALL the words to all the songs, so it isn’t hard for her to find some song to accompany whatever it is we are doing at any particular moment.

While we were visiting Aunt Marianna, Mr. H. had a Captain and Coke.   (Yes, Mr. H. does have olives in his Captain and Coke.  He prefers three olives, but I think someone may have swiped one in this picture.  He calls this drink a Captain-nini).

Quite naturally, Aunt Marianna began to sing the Andrews Sisters’ iconic “Rum and Coca Cola”

Because I didn’t remember the words, I used my handy-dandy iPhone to “phone a friend”.

Now that I have your interest, why don’t we all sing this together.  For your viewing (and listening) pleasure, I’ve attached the YouTube  video to use as accompaniment.

You Tube: Andrew Sisters singing Rum and Coca Cola

If you are at all like me, you sort of remember this song, and sort of want to sing along.  Good news, I have the lyrics.  Jump right in.  No one is listening.  Just belt it out.

When I mentioned the racy lyrics to Aunt Marianna, she got a cute smile on her face and said “oh, honey, we didn’t know what all that that meant”.

and then she winked…

Really.

(On the other hand, won’t you feel silly if you are a contestant in a trivia contest and a question is asked about the mules that carried borax out of Death Valley or how a crystal is formed)?

When I was little, Twenty Mule Team Borax was the ‘clean machine’ for every 50s housewife.   It was used for everything from washing clothes to washing dishes.   I guess it has fallen out of favor in this age of high efficiency, lavender scented, enzyme laden, bleach added, fabric softener and brightener detergents, but it was the big cat daddy of cleaners in the “old days” of my youth.

As for me, I remember Twenty Mule Team Borax for two things:

1.  Twenty Mule Team Borax commercials and Death Valley Days (this may seem like two separate things, but the commercials and show were inextricably entwined).

2.  Borax Snowflakes

My family watched Death Valley Days with my Grandma and Grandpa S. in the living room of their farm every summer.  There was no remote and only three channels, but that was just fine.  We knew exactly what we were going to watch: Bonanza, Lawrence Welk, Perry Mason, Have Gun Will Travel, Candid Camera and Death Valley Days.

I watched the Death Valley Days episode below while I was writing this and it brought back great memories. (If you decide to watch, the actor who plays the U.S. Representative from Nevada is Jim Davis. He played Jock Ewing in Dallas). For those of you who are not old enough to remember, Ronald Reagan (yep, the President) was one of the hosts of Death Valley Days for a number of years.

Borax Commercial and Death Valley Days episode … with The Old Ranger

Enough about my black-and-white-tv watching days.  Let’s return to our regularly scheduled program.

Borax has been around for about 7 million years, but it became important in the United States in the late 1880s.  Unlike silver or gold, it was something that prospectors in Death Valley could mine and make quite a bit of money with in the process.  The only problem they faced was transporting the borax out of Death Valley.  Mule teams were necessary to move the more than 12 million pounds (over 5 years) of borax from Death Valley to the nearest railroad spur, and they needed 20 mules to actually move the wagons.   The wagons were loaded up with borax, the mule teams (all 20 of them) were hitched to the front and the water tank for the mules and men was hitched to the back.

“Don’t worry about the mule, just load the wagon” (quote from my friend, Tom.  He assures me it is just a work euphemism).

Why all the excitement?  Evidently borax is useful as an additive to glazes, is used in fire retardants, moth proofing  and anti-fungal foot soaks.   I’m guessing it was used for a lot more than foot soaks, but you get the drift.  Seems it was a very useful element.

In the 50s and 60s, it was also used to clean, freshen, whiten, deodorize….

… and snowflakes!!!

I hadn’t really thought about Borax in quite awhile, but last year my sister, Cathy, mentioned that she wanted to make Borax snowflakes with her grand-children and couldn’t find any Borax in the town where her kids lived.

I was pretty sure our local Piggly Wiggly Grocery store would carry the key ingredient for these sparkly snowflakes, and I was right.

That box of Borax sat on my laundry shelf for a year before I had a chance to make snowflakes with the grand-kids.  

Finally, on a grey cold day after Christmas we gathered our pipe cleaners, dusted off the Borax and made beautiful sparkly snowflakes.

Wait.  If we made these snowflakes shortly after Christmas, why are you just hearing about them now?  Why did it take me three and a half weeks to show you how to make these wonderful, sparkly, crafty, “gee, ain’t it too bad it’s cold out but you can make this if you want to” snowflake?

Here’s what happened.

I really thought it was important to take time-lapse photos of at least one Borox snowflake.

I thought it might get you excited enough to make one of your own.

Unfortunately, I had NO IDEA how hard it was going to be to actually stick around long enough to take a picture every half hour.  It’s entirely possible that I have a setting on my camera to do this, but I never found it.  As a result, it took me until now to get something that was even remotely close to a time-lapse.  As you look at the pictures, you will see the results of several batches of Borax snowflakes, but I am sure you will forgive me.  (You will, right)?

Here it is.   Forgive me.

Watching Paint Dry….er….Watching a Borax Snowflake form…sort of….

Want to make some for yourself?  Follow along..

How To Make A Borax Snowflake:

What you will need:

• Borax Laundry Booster (not Boraxo)
• Pipe Cleaners
• Food Coloring (if you are using white pipe cleaners and want to color your snowflake)
• String
• Pencil or Long Stick
• Wide Mouth Glass Jar
• Boiling Water (this MUST be done by an adult.  The kids can make the snowflake shapes out of the pipe cleaners).

Directions:

1. If you want colored snowflakes, you can use colored pipe cleaners.  You will need two for a fancy snowflake.  
2. Using a pair of scissors, cut a pipe cleaner into three equal sections.
3. Twist the three pipe cleaner sections together at their centers to form a six-sided snowflake.  You need to be sure that this shape will fit through the mouth of your jar without having it touching the sides.  If necessary, you can trim the ends of the pipe cleaners.  
4. For the fancy snowflake, cut six 1 inch pieces of pipe cleaner.
5. Wrap one piece around each of the snowflake ends.
6. If the ends touch each other, you may wish to trim them.
7. Cut a piece of string to one side of the snowflake. 
8. Tie the other end of the string to the stick or pencil. 
9. You want the length of your string to be enough that the snowflake hangs into the jar but doesn’t touch the bottom. Once you have your length set, remove pipe cleaner snowflake from the jar while you prepare the solution.
10. Bring a pot of water to a boil and pour into the jar (yes, I am aware that I am now using a different jar, with a different pipe cleaner and using it in a different house.  Remember what I said about this taking me longer than it should have?  Now you know why).
11. Add 3 tablespoons of Borax for each cup of water (if you use 6 cups of water, then you would use 1 cup of Borax.  That was easier for me so I’m thinking it might be easier for you).  
12. Stir until the Borax is dissolved.  Some of the Borax may settle in the bottom of the jar, and that’s just fine.
13. Hang the pipe cleaner snowflake into the jar with the stick or pencil resting on top of the jar.
14. Make sure that you’ve added enough water so that the snowflake is completely submerged.
15. Now, you wait.  Be sure you don’t disturb the jar.  You might want to put it somewhere out of the way so that it doesn’t get jostled.
16. In my experience, it will take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours for the crystals to form.
17. While the water is still hot, not much happens, but once the water begins to cool crystals will begin to form.
18.  Once you see crystals formed all over the pipe cleaner, you can take the snowflake out of the liquid and enjoy.

We used colored pipe cleaners to make these snowflakes.

A lovely blue snowflake.  I won’t tell you that I took this picture under a perfect blue sky on a sunny day in Florida.  That would just be too mean.

I’ve never seen a green snowflake, but I still think this is pretty.  I don’t want to tell you what to do, but you might want to avoid yellow snowflakes….you know….yellow snow….

You don’t need to limit yourself to snowflakes.  Let your imagination run wild.  Our friend, Tom, made this star (with great precision).

I know, I know … this took far too long.  Since we are so close to Valentines Day, I made this heart for you.  Am I forgiven?

And just one more.  A little starfish.

Oh, by the way.  When you are done, you will have a bit of a challenge getting the Borax out of your container (actually, I thought it was rather pretty).  We tried soaking it in hot water, but to no avail.

I took a knife and chipped away until I got a chunk of Borax to break away from the glass (those crystals really loved each other).  Once I got a chunk loose, the rest just fell away.

In case you are interested, here’s the science behind the magic (my version).  If you want a more “scientific” explanation, you might want to head over to Steve Spangler’s Science (highly recommended, by the way).

Because Borax is a crystal (like salt, sugar and Epsom salts), it has flat sides and a symmetrical shape with a unique, repeating pattern.   When you heat water, the water molecules move farther apart.  This makes room for the Borax crystals to dissolve. When the water/Borax solution cools, the water molecules move closer together again so there is less room for the Borax crystals.  What’s a crystal to do?  As the water gets cooler, the crystals begin to form and then, frightened and alone, they get close together and build on each other.  They have flat sides, so they can easily adhere to each other, the container, the pipe cleaner and the string.  I’d like to think they are now happily enfolded in their little crystal family.

This is the same thing that happens to snowflakes.  As the water cools the molecules move closer together and form a snowflake.   Because all water molecules are shaped the same, they form a six sided crystal.

Cool, eh?

You’ve been so patient, I am including a pdf of this craft.

Borax Snowflake

Feel free to download and make your own snowflake.  If you do make one, could you take a picture and share with everyone on the What Will We Do Today Facebook Fan page?  That would be loverly.

On a trip to Florida to visit friends and family, Mr. H. and I fell in love with a little area on the West Coast of Florida called Anna Maria Island.  We found a sweet little cottage on the beach and …. boom ….we became snowbirds.  It was just (sort of) that easy.

2.  When I am not on vacation, I’m working.

Yes.  I am working on vacation.  I know it is a cardinal sin, but to punish myself for working on vacation, I get up long before the sun rises, sit in a salmon colored-fabric- rather pungent-Lazy-Boy, keep the blinds closed and stay cloistered in a little back room until I am done working for the day.   Why, yes, dear, I am a masochist.  Thanks for asking.

3.  My camera was dirty.

I don’t mean just a little dirty.  It was filthy.  When your camera is filthy, you begin seeing things.  I thought there was a flock of birds in the background of all my pictures. In fact they look just like the birds I drew when I was in first grade.  There is not a flock of birds in the background.  My camera was dirty.

I had to take my poor, dirty little camera to a camera shop to get it cleaned.  It took four days.  Being without my camera was a bigger barrier than I imagined.  I was totally unable to talk to you without my camera.  (I do not know how others handle this, but I’m not a photographer and was totally bereft).

4.  I couldn’t find a good planking picture.

We drove to Anna Maria Island with some dear friends.  On the way,  we felt obliged to plank a giant chair, donut man,  pony, circus …. you get the drift.   My dilemna was in deciding which picture to showcase.  Planking does NOT reveal your best side.  In fact, I don’t like any of my planking pictures.  Having said that, I did feel obliged to share a planking picture with you.  It took hours.  Hours, I tell you.

5.  Time lapse photography takes a long time.  Especially if you lapse.

Over the holidays, the grand-kids and I made some Borax Snowflakes.  I wanted to share the process with you and brought the ingredients with me to Florida (don’t tell Mr. H.  I told him that box was filled with first aid stuff for our trip).    Unfortunately, I kept forgetting to take the time lapse pictures I was convinced were necessary for this post. It’s been two and a half weeks.  I still don’t have the time lapse photos.  <sigh>

6.  I became obsessed with the Black Eyed Pea.

My search for the elusive Black Eyed Pea and subsequent delight in the ubiquitousness (is this even a word?  Can I use it in Scrabble?  See #10) of the Black Eyed Pea in Florida created a sensibility to everything related to Black Eyed Peas.

Fixations are very time-consuming.

7.   I discovered that I am allergic to shellfish.

Here’s how you find out you are allergic to shellfish.  You eat shellfish for 60 years (probably only 59 years, I doubt I had any before I was one) and then you suddenly (and startlingly) blow up when you eat just one tiny, coconut covered, tender, yummy shrimp you ‘accidentally’ pilfered from your sister-in-law’s plate.  I looked like a balloon in the Macy’s parade.  You can’t type if you can’t bend your fingers.

8.  I kept falling asleep.

The treatment for a shellfish allergy is two Benadryl.  I don’t handle Benadryl well.  I kept falling asleep and (thankfully) no one thought to take my picture.  I think they were trying to avoid looking at me.  It seems welts are NOT a fashion accessory.

9.  I am easily distracted by bright, shiny things.

Pods of Dolphins swimming by and scoops of pelicans diving for fish battled for my attention.  Guess who won?

10.  I am playing Words with Friends or Scrabble with 10 different people.

I still can’t believe uxorial is a word (really, Cindy?).    Can I challenge this?  (Before you all begin to write, I did look it up.  Uxurial is an adjective meaning “of or relating to a wife”).   Cindy is absolved….for the moment.

(In an interesting perhaps-only-to-me moment, when I was reviewing this post with my brother, Ralph, and sister-in-law, Trish, they immediately responded by saying…”I can’t believe Smock is a word”.   “I can’t believe Obey is a word [pig-latin for bow]“.

I believe I touched a nerve.

I promise you’ll hear more over the next few days.  My fingers are bending again (although I still don’t have any knuckles).

Thanks for your patience!!!

In fact, I love Black Eyed Peas so much I’m going to capitalize them today.

My Grandma W. was from Kentucky.  While that isn’t as south as some states, it is south enough and Black Eyed Peas are a proud Southern tradition.   Grandma made Black Eyed Peas, my Mom made Black Eyed Peas and my Aunt M. made Black Eyed Peas.  In fact, Black Eyed Peas are not only a southern tradition (going back some 300 years) but a family tradition as well.

The story goes that these legendary legumes bring luck and prosperity for the New Year.

My Mom always told us that we would get an extra dollar for each individual pea we ate.

That was all I needed to hear….

My mom’s recipe was pretty simple.  She soaked the peas over night, rinsed them and then cooked them with salt pork.  They were good, and I always ate plenty of them, but when I began making my own Black Eyed Peas, I took a few liberties.

The new recipe is a family favorite, and because I want you to have a prosperous year,  I am going to share the recipe with you.  I am firmly convinced that it will be okay for you to eat (and get the benefit from) the peas even if it isn’t New Year’s Day.  After all, Samoa skipped Friday this year so they could leap across the International Date Line.  Having Black Eyed Peas after New Year’s Day is small potatoes compared to skipping a day.  Right?

Let’s hear it for the Pea (by the way…it’s a bean).

Print Recipe

Black Eyed Peas

Ingredients

• 1 lb (generally 1 bag) dried Black Eyed Peas
• 1 large onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 stalks celery
• 2 each dried red pepper
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp pepper
• 1 lb salt pork
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil (or Canola Oil)
• 1 can beer (I use Guinness)
• 1 large can (24 oz) diced or crushed tomatoes
• 2 tsp dried or fresh oregano

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Cook Time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Total Time: 8 Hours

Instructions

• Wash and sort the Black Eyed Peas.
• (The quality of Black Eyed Peas has improved over the years. Years ago, you needed to really pick through the peas to pull out "stones" and ugly peas).
• In a large pot, put the Black Eyed Peas and a can of beer in the pot. The peas should be covered by at least 1/2 inch of liquid, so add water if you need more liquid.
• By the way, although the beer does add flavor, if you prefer not to use beer, you can use water or even chicken stock instead.
• Let the peas soak for 6 - 8 hours
• If you want to speed up this process, you can put the peas in a pan with water (6 to 8 cups). Bring to a rapid boil on medium high heat. Boil 2 more minutes. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 2 hours.
• Which ever method you use, wash and rinse the Black Eyed Peas after they have soaked. Do not save the liquid and be careful not to squash the peas or pull the skin off.
• (They won't look as pretty and may be a little mushy).
• 
• Black Eyed Peas. Before and after (I sort of feel the same way after the Holidays....)
• 
• 
• Chop 1 large onion, 2 stalks of celery and 2 - 3 cloves of garlic.
• Put the onions, celery and garlic in a large pan with the olive oil and sauté until the onions are translucent.
• Add Black Eyed Peas
• Just look at all that money....
• Add diced tomatoes including juice.
• Add salt, pepper, oregano and dried red pepper.
• Add salt pork.
• Once again, you will want to add some liquid (water, chicken stock or even more beer) to make sure the peas are covered.
• Stir it all together, and bring to a boil.
• Lower the heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
• Serve with corn bread, diced onions and relish.

I cleaned, cooked, baked, shopped, wrapped, decked halls and jingled bells through Christmas and had a wonderful time.  But, in all the excitement, I realized I forgot to get you a Christmas Present!!!

Oh my.

If I could, I would wrap a beautiful gift, attach a thoughtful card and send this to your home.  I must have lost your address, so instead I will share my recipe for the Most Amazing, Decadent, Perfect for a host/hostess, “Oh my gosh I’ll never again buy store-bought” Chocolate Syrup recipe instead.

Here is the picture from the card I sent to those I had addresses for (I didn’t want you to feel left out).  Yep, all nine grand-kids.  All in one place.

Merry Christmas.

Print Recipe

Chocolate Syrup

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp light corn syrup

Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Cook Time: 15 Minutes

Instructions

• Mix the water, sugar and salt in 1 1/2 cups of water and stir over medium heat.
• Bring the mixture to a boil.
• Whisk in the cocoa, vanilla and corn syrup and stir until all of the solids have dissolved.
• Be careful not to let it get too hot and boil over!
• I turned my head for just a minute. Just a minute I tell ya!!
• Reduce sauce until slightly thickened.
• Strain and cool to room temperature.
• Pour into a clean glass jar, and store in the refrigerator.
• Keeps for several months, but trust me it will be gone before then.

For my non-virtual friends, I found the cutest chocolate stirrers (Molinillo from Mexico) from Dean and Deluca and then found some fun bottles for the chocolate. I made somevanilla, cappuccino and peppermint marshmallows (thank you, sister Cathy, for the idea of the peppermint.  Yum).

Perfect.

You can use this on ice cream, hot chocolate and …. drum roll please ….. in Chocolate Martinis.

White Christmas Pie.  Ahhhh.  The defining food of our family’s Christmas celebration.

In fact, I can’t think of Christmas without immediately thinking of White Christmas Pie.

Maybe it’s because we call it White Christmas Pie, but I can’t make it (and wouldn’t want to eat it) unless it really is Christmas.  The recipe originated with my Grandma S., was handed down to my Mom and now the “kids” are responsible for the tradition of …the pie.

It’s not a difficult recipe to make, and if you happen to have a pre-baked pie crust, you can whip it up without having to use the oven.  I’m particularly fond of no-oven recipes at a time when my oven is in constant use.

Most of the grand-kids like White Christmas Pie (the non-coconut version), but Charlie may be our biggest fan.  At school last year, Charlie was asked to name the three things he liked most about Christmas.  He said he loved that it was Jesus’ birthday, he loved the decorated Christmas Trees and he loved White Christmas Pie.

You can’t get better credentials.

While you don’t need many ingredients, once again, the recipe calls for unflavored gelatin. Fortunately, I have plenty.  I use it for Lemon Glop, Marshmallows and White Christmas Pie so frequently pick up a box or two when I am at the store.  If you need to borrow any, stop on by.  I have plenty.

The recipe also calls for a pre-baked pie shell.  I just know there are a bunch of you out there who are brilliant pastry chefs.  I just know you will make your own pie crust. I just know that I will not be doing that.

I salute you.

Just look at all that luscious whiteness of ingredients.  A veritable snowstorm of white (except that darned orange gelatin box).

Check out the pie shells.  The first one, on the far left, I thought I had all the time in the world.  By the time I got to the third shell, on the far right, it was more like “Oh my freaking goodness, tomorrow is Christmas Eve!”.

Print Recipe

White Christmas Pie

Ingredients

• 1 pre-baked pie shell
• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1 cup sugar, divided
• 4 Tbsp flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 3/4 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp almond
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 cup coconut

Instructions

• Soften the gelatin in 1/4 cup of water.
• In saucepan, mix in 1/2 cup of the sugar, the flour and the salt.
• Stir it all together.
• Gradually stir in the milk.
• Cook over low heat, stirring until it boils. Boil 1 minute.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in softened gelatin until it is dissolved.
• Cool until the mixture is partially set.
• Once the mixture has cooled beat with a rotary beater until smooth.
• Blend in the vanilla and almond extract.
• While you are waiting for the mixture to cool, whip 1 cup of whipping cream with the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar. The whipping cream should form stiff peaks.
• Gently fold in the whipped cream and the coconut to the cooled mixture.
• 
• Pour into the prepared pie shell
• If you wish, sprinkle more coconut on the top.
• Chill for about 2 hours, eat and enjoy.
• If you would prefer, you can make this without any coconut at all.
• That's the way Charlie likes it.

You know how it is.  You buy a red car, thinking you are being unique, and suddenly all you see is red cars.   You start collecting owls, and all you can see is owls of every variety.  I went through a flamingo phase several years ago and I am still putting my flamingo ornaments on my tree.  (Please, I am over this phase.  Don’t send me any flamingos.  I’m good with flamingos.  Thank you).

Evidently this is my pretzel phase.

These sweet little mice are really easy to make.  I especially like the fact that I don’t need the oven.  With my oven full of spritz cookies, cookie bars, thumb-print cookies (you get the idea), I have no room for another recipe that needs the oven.  This recipe only needs a few minutes of your microwave.  Perfect.   Kids can help make these, so it’s a perfect “can I help” recipe while you are shuffling pies, coordinating cookies and sweeping the flour off the floor (oh, maybe that’s just me).

Oh, and one more thing.  Don’t name your mice.  It’s hard to eat them if you do.

Print Recipe

Christmas Mice - A Pretzel Recipe

Ingredients

• 12 Large Pretzel Twists
• 12 Vanilla Caramels
• 1 Cup Milk Chocolate Chips
• 1/4 Cup White Candy Melts
• 12 Mini or baking M & Ms.

Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Cook Time: 15 Minutes

Total Time: 20 Minutes

Instructions

• Arrange 6 pretzels in circle on plate that has been lined with waxed or parchment paper. (You can also spray the plate with non-stick cooking spray).
• Place a caramel with a corner down on the center triangle of each pretzel.
• 
• Microwave uncovered on high 15 to 30 seconds or until caramels soften slightly.
• Be sure not to overcook the caramel. It should be soft but still hold it's shape.
• This is NOT a good mouse candidate.
• Carefully press each caramel to fit the triangle space and pinch into the shape of a mouse nose. If children are helping you, be absolutely sure the caramel isn't too hot for them to handle. The caramels will be warmer (or even hot) on the inside.
• Place chocolate chips in 1 cup microwavable cup and microwave uncovered on medium (50%) for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring every minute, until the chips are almost melted. Then stir until smooth.
• Fill a spoon overfull of chocolate and pour over the caramel and center pretzel triangle.
• 
• I started at the top of the nose and swirled the chocolate in a circle until I covered the base. It was very relaxing. I think I hypnotized the mouse...you are verrry sleepy...
• Spread the melted chocolate evenly over the caramel and the center of the pretzel.
• Refrigerate about 15 minutes or until firm.
• While pretzels are firming, melt the candy melts according to directions. Stir until smooth.
• Place the melted candy melts in a decorator bag or strong plastic bag. Cut off a tiny tip from the end of the decorator or one corner of the bag.
• Using a little of the melted chocolate (if it has hardened, you can remelt), dab a bit on the nose and apply a mini M & M.
• Now you can decorate your mouse with eyes and whiskers.
• Add a little chocolate in the eyes for the iris (you can use the melted chocolate for this).