Winding Down

photo by Kristin Repp

I love this week between Christmas and New Year's - it's a time for  much needed rest and deep reflection.  I am spending the next ten days up in Northern Idaho, watching the snow fall over the lake and lounging in front of the fire place.

Here are a few things I wanted to share with you at the end of 2012:

Heartwarming News Stories - We need these right now to be reminded of all the goodness in the world.

Susannah Conaway's Unraveling the Year Ahead workbook  is a fun / insightful way to plan the life you want to have.  Some of the questions she asks are difficult but I believe that her wisdom will push us into awareness and accountability.

I am sinking into this book right now - engaging and thought-provoking, perfect for reading in crowded airports and on cold winter nights.

Chex Party Mix is my favorite holiday snack!  My mom used to make it this time of year and the smell of it roasting in the oven brings back such warm memories.  I double the liquid part of the recipe, skip the bagel chips, and add lots of mixed nuts to make it the way I like best.

This is a personalized gift that is perfect for just about anyone!  We have been enjoying our own and have found it to be more challenging than we had thought.

I will be taking a blogging break (a real one this time, unlike my unintentional lapses) until New Year's Day.  Until then, I wish you lazy days with the ones you love. 

Happy Holiday Season!

Somehow December slipped in and there are signs of the holiday spirit everywhere. 

 

Mixed in with all the joy, there are dilemmas that this time of year presents.  Among these are "Who to gift?" and "What to give?"

 

I work at a school and wanted to do something for our support staff.  I certainly didn't want to give anything that needed to be receipricated.  And since there are eleven people in this group, the gift needed to be within my budget.  Here is what I came up with:  I bought these snowman/santa pens from Geddes School Supplies for $.54 cents each and attached a tag to each one saying "Thanks for all you do.  Happy Holidays." 



 

 

This gift is useful, inexpensive and doesn't require a thank-you note or a gift in return = perfect.

 

Here's hoping all your holiday dilemmas can be matched with an easy solution.  

Thanksgiving Wishes

 

This photo was taken by my good friend, Kristin, who is such a talented photographer.  I love how it speaks of bounty and emptiness, reflecting the autumn season and the uneven beauty of life itself.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.  May this holiday find you surrounded by family and good fortune.

A Yummy Fall Recipe

I made this dish for dinner the other night and it was so fabulous I wanted to share it with you:

Butternut Squash and Green Chile Enchiladas

 

 

3 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper

2 Anaheim peppers

8 corn tortillas

1 cup shredded Mexican-blend cheese

1 can (about 10 ounces) green or red enchilada sauce (I used a green hatch chile style)

Sour cream and chopped cilantro, for garnish

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Toss together squash, oil, salt and pepper.  Spread on a baking sheet and roast until tender, 20 to 30 minutes depending on size of chunks.  Move squash to a dish.  Place peppers on the baking sheet.  Switch heat to broil and broil peppers, turning often, until skins are charred and blistering, about 5 minutes.  Place peppers in a brown paper bag to steam for 10 minutes.  Switch oven heat to 350 degrees.  Remove peppers' skins, seeds and stems and cut into thin strips.  Pour half the enchilada sauce into an 8 by 8 inch baking dish.  Warm tortillas in the microwave for a minute or so, until pliable.  Place about 1 tablespoon cheese, one or two squash cubes on each tortilla.  Roll and place seam side down in the baking dish.  Top with remaining cheese and sauce.  Bake 15 minutes.  Garnish with sour cream and cilantro.

 

I got the recipe from my local newspaper.  It was easy and so tasty.  Let me know if you try it out - I'd love to hear what you think.