I can't believe I found them.

I have had two strings of these bubble lights for years and I love them. . The liquid is heated up from the light which cause them to bubble. Mine are from the 50's, these are reproductions . I would of loved to find original one ( that work) but they are really hard to find.  Truth be told, I am happy to even find these. We bought three boxes, there are 7 bubble lights on each string.  I know I will probably end up buying more. Can't help myself.

 I was also excited to find the C9 Christmas string lights.

These are also reproductions of  The original 50 style of Christmas lights. They are softer then modern lights and have a light frosted look to them.  If your interested in them or other 50's style lights they are at  True Value. I am so looking forward to putting up my tree and hanging my new lights on it.

Jan's Turkey Brine Recipe.

Last year my friend Jan gave me a great brine recipe to try. The turkey turned out so awesome  I had to share. It's one of those recipes you just can't keep to yourself.

BRINE RECIPE:

1/2 cup salt and sugar to every gallon of water.

3 apples quartered

4 oranges quartered

sage leaves

thyme leaves

savory

rosemary

I don't measure the herds. I just cover the floor of the cooler with a thin cover of them .

Half a bottle of apple juice

Half a bottle of orange juice.

ice

None of theses amounts are written in stone.  ( Jan added mint to her's ,I didn't. ) It's all up to you and what you like.
I add all this to a clean cooler ,then add the bird. If it's a small bird you can use a 5 gallon bucket. Make sure to add enough ice to keep it cool . I brine mine the day before ( 24 to 30 hours ). Re add ice as needed.

When it was time to cook I added oranges and onions to the cavity and rubbed butter  on the flesh . I then mix butter with chopped rosemary and rubbed it all over the skin.. Throw it in a turkey baking bag and baked. Family loved it and asked for it again this year. 

Decedent Mint Hot Choclate

 I have been looking for a great hot chocolate recipe for a while now. I found one that was really good, but with a few tweaks it made a very delicious and decedent  Mint Hot Chocolate.  
  Recipe:  
4 c. nonfat dry milk powder
1 c. sugar
 1 c. non-dairy coffee creamer
2/3 c. cocoa powder
4 oz box of instant chocolate pudding
1 bag of Ande's mint chips.
Directions : mix well . Add 1/4 cup mix to 1 cup hot water or milk.
 Give on it's own or add to a basket with mini marshmallows and homemade cookies .  It would make a great gift for a friend.

The glass jar was $1 from the dollar store. The bells came as a set of two also from the dollar store . The ribbon I already had.

Or you can buy a plastic jar for just $1 add mini marshmallow ( in a plastic bag) on top of the Hot chocolate and you have a great little gift. Sorry picture is a little blurry.

Veterans Day Parade

Rick was asked to drive his vintage 1964 ford truck in the Veterans Day Parade. He said that gave him an excuse to spruce up the truck. Like he needed one. LOL
The truck camper shell was painted and the truck was given a good cleaning. Rick and Bob did a great job decorating the truck for the parade.
 I am very proud of my husband for his 21 years of service . My daughter severed 6 years  before she was hurt in Baghdad. She still serves by volunteering  at the VA. I am one proud mother.

Christmas gift from the kitchen

 Last year I was helping my girls pack to move into their own apartment. That when I notice that they had keep all the gifts that I made for them for Christmas over the years.  Yet I could find little left that had been bought. When talking to friends they seem to remember the stuff people made rather then thing that were purchased.
So this year I decide to make homemade gifts instead of buying them. They seem to mean more to the person receiving them then something bought from the store.

 This one is a cheap yet wonderful Christmas gift for a friend who loves soup. The cup was $1.50 and the whisk was $2 at the General dollar store.The ribbon was $1 for 9 feet from the Dollar store.
 
Recipe for the soup:
4 cups instant milk
4 tbs dried minced onion
8 tbs corn starch
8 tbs low sodium  chicken bullion granules
3 tsp dry basil
3 tsp thyme
1 tsp pepper
1/2 to 3/4 cup dehydrated broccoli
3 tbs cheddar cheese powder
Mix well
 Cooking directions:
 Add 1 cup mix with 2 1/2 cups water. Cook over med heat for 7 minutes . If it is to thick for you just add a little more water.
 To wrap it up as a gift place 1 cup  of mix in a plastic bag  and put in cup of your choice . Add a card with  directions on it.   Tie your whisk on with a little ribbon.

Short cut: If you don't want  or have the stuff to make the soup ,just buy a package of any dry Bear Creek soup ( any dry soup will work) and place in the plastic bag with their directions.