Last Year's Christmas Letter

Here it is December 1, 2009 and my Christmas cactus is blooming right on schedule as it does every year. It’s amazing to me how it knows that its Christmas time. I don’t tell it to bloom. They say you need to talk to your plants. Can you see me talking to my plants? Oh I don’t need to scare Johnny anymore than I already have.


As Sam the snowman would say, “Ahhh I love this time of year!”Everyone seems more kinder and gentler. Tis The season to have HOPE. Hope is one of the best feelings you can have. I guess that’s why I start celebrating Christmas a little early. {I have to confess, I have been listening to Christmas music since the middle of November.} Don’t get me wrong the feeling of HOPE never leaves me, it just becomes stronger as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Isn’t it crazy how easy it is to forget why we celebrate Christmas. My younger two seem to want everything that pops up on a commercial. My older two don’t do toys anymore, unless it’s electronic. I’m trying to find a gift that serves dual purpose. No questions please my brain has been straining enough! And Charlie Brown says “My own dog has gone commercial!! Is this what Christmas is all about?” Well I’m here to tell you, no it’s not! It’s easy to get caught up in Christmas wish lists and the things I have to do before Christmas lists.

Here are some things to ponder… Do you know the legend of the Christmas Tree, or the Candy Cane? Do you know why we put a star at the top of the tree? Why we give gifts? Who were the ones that brought gifts before Santa ever came into the picture? {Answers to follow for those of you who are not sure.}

It’s very obvious we have gone commercial and have been for many, many years. Now slow down take a moment and you will notice that the traditions we have carried down through the years points to that little babe in the manger. “And that’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.” Somehow that little babe who came to give a gift so precious, seems to get pushed aside at Christmas time.

Ya know I’ve been thinking….{sometimes that gets me into trouble} just like my blooming Christmas cactus, Christmas still comes. Even if you don’t have a tree, lights, presents, or a winter wonder land in your front yard. Christmas comes without ribbons, it comes without tags, it comes without packages, boxes or bags. Although it is nice to get gifts like a Roomba 3000 that vacuums the whole house while you are out shopping! {hint,hint…Johnny are you listening?} With all joking aside…

The very first Christmas came over 2000 years ago, and He came without ribbons, tags, packages, boxes or bags. He came wrapped in swaddling clothes and was laid in a manger for the whole world to receive. If we accept this gift we receive eternal life in heaven with Him, Jesus Christ! Now that’s a gift that keeps on giving! And the Grinch’s heart grew 3 sizes plus one that day!

Merry Christmas from The Jenkins! We pray you are all Blessed with the true meaning of Christmas this year! P.S. Those Classic Christmas Movies Just never get old for me!

Pepperoni Pizza Chili

My husband doesn't get involved in the kitchen too much, but when I asked if he had a blow torch I could borrow he didn't hesitate to offer his services!

To make this dish all you do is prepare your chili as you normally would. Then add lots of pepperoni. When it's through cooking top it with cheese and some more pepperoni. I usually put my pot in the oven and turn the broiler on to brown the cheese. But this time my pot was too large for my oven, so that was the reason for the blow torch.

And the boys got to cook in the kitchen! Now if I can only get them to do dishes............

The Kitchen, My Favorite Place To Be!

I've had this deep heart shaped dish for years and never used it until this past weekend.

It made a wonderful deep dish Apple Crumb pie!
All I do is peel, core and slice my apples. put them in a pot with a little water cook until warm all the way through. I add a cup of sugar and a tsp. of apple pie spice. Thicken with corn startch and pour in my pie shell. Last but not least I sprinkle with a brown sugar topping. I used about 8 to 10 large apples for this one.

With the extra dough from the pie crust I make cinnamon sticks just like my Mama use to. All you do is roll the dough out thin and sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top. Put it in the oven @ 350 for about 12 to 15 minutes. They are yummy and they bring back wonderful memories of my Mama in the kitchen.

Curry Chicken & Broccoli

1 Large bag of frozen broccoli
1 whole chicken or 4 large chicken breasts cut up and cooked
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken
1 cup of mayo
1 tsp of lemon juice
1 tsp curry powder
1 cup of shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
Optional Topping: Bread crumbs and melted butter

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and put in a prepared large casserole dish. Put in the oven @ 350 for about 1 hour and 1/2 . I covered mine with tin foil and at the last 20 minutes or so I take off the foil to brown the bread crumbs.

More recipes to follow. Right now we have to start school. Happy Baking Everyone!

Another Bucket With A Bow

 This is a gift basket I had made over the weekend for a good friend. It was her Father's Birthday present.

 The basket was filled with homemade Raspberry Jam, Peach Butter, Corn Relish, Bread n Butter Pickles, and Apple Butter. Among other tasty goodies.

If your interested in a one of kind gift for a friend or family member, Just let me know. I enjoy putting these Buckets together. Prices vary.......You just need to give me an idea of about how much you want to spend.

You can e-mail me at jkhcb5@aol.com

Sausage, Rice and Fried Potatoes

This is an easy dish:
Smoked Sausage
2 Boxes Uncle Ben's Rice
4 Cups water
1/4 cup brown Sugar
1 onion
1 Pepper
2 ribs of celery
2 zucchini
6 Potatoes
2 cans diced tomatoes
garlic salt to taste

 Cut your potatoes and put them on a griddle and let them cook on low heat. while your potatoes are frying, you cook your smoked, spicy sausage, onions, peppers and celery in a large pot. Then you add 2 cans of diced tomatoes, 4 cups water, 2 boxes of uncle Ben's original recipe rice, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and garlic salt to taste. Cook until rice is done and potatoes are golden brown. Add your zucchini at the last minute to heat through. Place on a large platter.

This is a large recipe for our big family! But it would be easy to cut in 1/2.

Lewis & Clark Nature Journals

The kids and I are learning about Lewis and Clark in history. So I wanted to show you the nature journal replicas that we made.

 We made them out of chamois, two pieces of card board, parchment paper, hot glue and embroidery thread.

 The kids were so excited when they were finished, they immediately went out to find things to draw!

 My little man has almost completely filled every page in his journal. And we made them yesterday!

It's a pretty easy project! We are using Time Travelers, by http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/ It's a great hands on History Study!

It's The Great Pumpkin

This has to be one of my all time favorite recipes ever!

Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Muffins, Pumpkin Cake with Cream cheese frosting

This recipe is very versatile it does really well all three ways!

3 1/3 C flour
3 C sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 can 15 ounce pumpkin
1 c vegetable oil
4 eggs
2/3 c water
Preheat oven to 350
Put all ingredients in a large bowl and mix very well. This is where you have to make a decision... you can either prepare a cookie sheet and make a sheet cake with cream cheese frosting, prepare a large muffin tin and make large yummy muffins or you can prepare 2 loaf pans and make pumkin bread. Bake untill tooth pick comes out clean. It is absolutely wonderful and moist all three ways! You will not be dissapointed with this one!