Southern Christmas

Christmas eve at Mama’s house is special. We’ve set the table and will have a lot of fun laughing and sharing the special season of Christmas and honor the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ!

I’ve got some technical issues on Mama’s computer (which being her techie daughter, I get to address tomorrow) so I’m posting some past pics that she took from a dinner they hosted as well as some from my home.  Once I get some of these technical taken care of, I’ll post more!

Merry Christmas!

What mansion would that be? The Palace on the Prairie, the Marland Mansion in Ponca City Oklahoma. My mother and her husband, Chester hosted a party for all the church staff in the Kay Baptist Association at the Marland Mansion this week. Chester is the Director of Missions for the association. They have had this event at other places before but the past few years have been at this beautiful landmark.

According to the Marland Mansion website:

The dream of oil baron E.W. Marland was to live in a palace. This magnificent mansion reflects the elegance of the affluent days of the oilman, who lived lavishly and entertained in the same style.

The Marland Mansion

This National Historic Landmark took three years to construct, 1925 to 1928. The mansion is 78 feet wide and 184 feet long, and contains 43,561 square feet distributed over four levels. There are 55 rooms, including 10 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, 7 fireplaces, and 3 kitchens. It takes 861 light bulbs to light the mansion.

Come with me to the bottom of the Grand Staircase

Grand Staircase

There were just over 50 guest. The guests were entertained by a very talented pianist (I’ll tell you more about him before Christmas). They dined on delicious Mexican food and sang along to the Christmas Carols.

Mama took these pictures the morning of the dinner.

Isnt' it beautiful?

Lovely

The globes on tables held green and red pillar candles and were wreathed with holly. There are also songsheets on the tables for the carol-along. The napkins (which she didn’t send me a close up of) were decorated with poinsettias.

Reports tell me that a fun time was had by all. You can read more about the Marland Mansion and see more pictures on their website.

Okay, now back to my humble abode

We are having potato soup and cornbread tonight and it will be serve yourself in the kitchen!

Looks like the decorating fairy has visited my kitchen cabinets:

Here is another peek at my Swarovski Santa and sleigh:

Another look at the fireplace:

P. S. Come join us at my new Facebook page for A Southern Life. Either follow the link on the left of search for “A Southern Life” on Facebook!

Today’s Lagniappe:  Chocolate Coffee
This sounds like a yummy recipe for after a fun time in the snow (which it looks like we will have this Christmas eve!). From santaclaus.com

4 heaping teaspoons of cocoa mix
1 scant teaspoon of instant coffee mix
cinnamon

Makes one serving.

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Oh, Christmas Tree
Oh, Christmas Tree
How lovely are thy branches

For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called
Wonderful,
Counsellor,
The mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.

Merry Christmas to all! Check out today’s lagniappe for never fail divinity.

Deck the Halls with Thoughts from Over the Rainbow

Home for the Holidays

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam’s Tasty Tuesday

Blessed with Grace’s Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

The Gypsy’s Corner’s Three or More Tuesday

Today’s Lagniappe:  Never Fail Divinity
I had a little trouble with my divinity this past weekend. My wonderful friend from high school Tamara Gouge Ketter sent me her recipe for Never Fail Divinity. Tamara says, “This recipe was contributed to THE NINETIES COOKBOOK by the Garvin County, Oklahoma Extension homemakers by May Lacy.  I made this for my dad who was a divinity aficionado and he loved it.” Thanks so much Tamara – no more trying to beat egg whites in the Southern humidity!

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I’ve been really busy this weekend.

I’ve turned this:

Christmas Cooking Ingredients

Into this:

Christmas Goodies

Christmas cookies and candies

Now, we can enjoy time with our family with the goodies and their wonderful loving company. What could be better than that?

Metamorphosis Monday with Between Naps on the Porch

I’ll be posting Christmas things all week. Hope you’ll come back! Merry Christmas!!!

Today’s Lagniappe:  Broccoli Gratin
After all those sweets, I really feel the need for some veggies!

• 1/4 cup butter, plus more for the baking dish
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, plus more as needed
• Pinch nutmeg
• Black pepper
• 2 pounds broccoli (about 4 heads), cut into small florets (about 8 cups)
• 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar (about 4 ounces)
• 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs

Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Butter an 8-by-8-by-2-inch baking dish or an 8-cup gratin dish.

Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until smooth. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and nutmeg and bring to a boil while whisking constantly. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the white sauce is thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with pepper. Remove from the heat.

Meanwhile, bring about 1-inch of water to a boil in a large saucepan and set up a collapsible steamer on top. Put the broccoli in the steamer and season with salt. Cover, and steam until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Put the broccoli in the prepared dish, sprinkle with half of the cheese and pour on the sauce. Cover with the remaining cheese.

Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bread crumbs and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Cover the gratin with the bread crumbs. Bake until lightly browned and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

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et’s do a little more visiting tonight with some of the family and see what kind of Christmas decorations they’ve got going on.

First, we’ll check out an outside picture from Mama’s house.

Verry pretty!

Let’s go inside and have a look at their tree:

Oh, and are those nutcrackers up on the shelf?

Hmmm, I really like that ornament, let’s get a closeup:

Very sweet.

Now, let’s got to my little sister Linda’s house and have a look at her tree – or should I say trees?

Is that a present for me in that bag?? What other trees do you have, Linda?

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer’s here,
But also when ’tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!

A little outdoor red for Outdoor Wednesday with A Southern Daydreamer and Rednesday! with It’s a Very Cherry and today’s lagniappe is a great idea for Crockpot Wedneday with Dining with Debbie.

Today’s Lagniappe:  Clarence Moody’s Odor Punch (NOT FOR CONSUMPTION – just to make the house smell good!)
This recipe was sent to me by sweet Kim Reddmann from over in East Arkansas. Kim says, “I know this isn’t a “food”, but my Mother always had a sauce pot on the burner with this simmering in it. I’ve also done this for years, makes the home smell like love!!” – Debbie, I think this would be wonderful simmering in a crockpot!

1 qt. pineapple juice
1 qt. water
1 qt. apple cider
4 pieces of ginger
3-3″ sticks of cinnamon
16 whole cloves
1 t. allspice
1 or 2 t. pickling spice

Place all ingredients in a large cooking kettle and allow to come to a boil for several minutes. Then simmer. Add water as needed

I seldom have whole ginger, the powder works just fine. As does ground cinnamon and ground cloves. Great recipe to clean out the spice rack each season!

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Kim

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I love Christmas cookies and candy. They are fun to make and even more fun to eat. We can worry about the pounds in January! These are a couple of my favorite cookbooks for Christmas treats.

Peppermint Meringues

2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 cup sugar
6 drops red food coloring (optional)
1 (6 oz.) package semisweet chocolate morsels

Combine egg whites (at room temperature) and peppermint extract; beat until foamy. Gradually add sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. (Do not underbeat.) Fold in food coloring, if desired, and chocolate morsels.

Drop mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 200 degrees for 1 hour or until dry and set. (Cookies should not brown.) Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: about 2 1/2 dozen.

Gingerbread Cookies
Perfect for making gingerbread men that you can decorate with sprinkles and raisins and candy

cup packed brown sugar>
1/3
cups dark molasses
2/3 cup cold water
7 cups all-purpose flour
2teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

In large bowl, beat brown sugar, shortening, molasses and water with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheet lightly with shortening or spray with cooking spray. On floured surface, roll dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut with floured gingerbread cutter or other shaped cutter. On cookie sheet, place cutouts about 2 inches apart.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until no indentation remains when touched. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

In medium bowl, mix powdered sugar, vanilla and half-and-half until frosting is smooth and spreadable. Add food colors as desired. Frost cookies; decorate with raisins, chocolate chips and candies.

Santa Kisses

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 (9 oz) package chocolate kisses
powdered sugar

Beat together butter, sugar and vanilla until creamy. Add flour gradually until well blended. Stir in pecans. Chill dough about 1 hour. Pre-heat oven to 375 F. Mold about 1 tablespoon of dough around each chocolate kiss, covering candy completely. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet until they just turn golden around the edges, about 10-15 minutes. Let cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet. Cool on wire racks. When completely cool, dust with powdered sugar. Store in airtight container.

We can have some of these cookies while we look at the Christmas village at Mama’s house.

Check out these blogs for lots of Christmas fun and head on down to the bottom of this post to see a Christmas cookie cocktail for today’s lagniappe.

A Holiday Cookie Exchange with A Fine House

Deck the Halls with Thoughts from Over the Rainbow

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam’s Tasty Tuesday

Blessed with Grace’s Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

The Gypsy’s Corner’s Three or More Tuesday

Today’s Lagniappe: Mexican Cocoa
I found this recipe at The 12 days of Christmas Cookie Cocktails. Looks like some yummy accompaniments to those Christmas cookies!

1 tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
Pinch of chili powder
Pinch of cayenne pepper
3/4 cup almond milk (can substitute Irish Crème, coffee-flavored liqueur or milk)
Splash of agave nectar (can substitute honey or maple syrup)
1 oz. Silver tequila
Paprika
Cinnamon stick

In a saucepan over low heat add the cocoa powder, cinnamon, chili powder and cayenne pepper. Toast until spices begin to release their aromas, about a couple of minutes. Using a small whisk or wooden spoon, slowly incorporate the almond milk. Raise the temperature to medium-high and bring to a slow simmer. Stir in the agave nectar and remove from the heat. Rim a mug by dipping into a saucer of water, blotting and dipping into saucer of paprika. Pour in tequila. Add hot cocoa mixture. Stir with a cinnamon stick and serve.

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