Counting down to Christmas

The halls are decked. Now what? Do what Santa does. Make lists. Start checking them twice. It doesn't matter what you start unless you finish. 

However: lists are like medications. They should come with a warning label. Used judiciously, they are energy-enducing, stress-shrinking diets. Shared too freely with a mate- they are known for  nasty side-effects. No man wants to be reduced to being slave to the list on the refrigerator.

That said. this week their are packages to go be wrapped and sent to relatives far away.  For a couple neices and nephews it wouldn't be Christmas without some of Uncle Gerry's beef jerky. One niece in the Rockies misses nothing about California- except our weather and Abba Zabba bars. Some mini's are on the way...

For in-person presents, even the most humble deserve to speak. " I love you" before they are opened. It's all in the presentation.  Sometimes the sticker kind of tags are alright- but more and more I find the hang tag style are more creative. They also allow you more space to write names on the back of the tag large enough to be legible. If the string ties don't work with the ribbon- ornament hangars, floral wire or ribbon can be put into service.

Money saving tip: The floral picks are easy to store in a shoe box for reuse.

Sunday- I let my imagination flow with an appetizer idea.  With my friend Trisha coming over for a break and I know she loves Almond Champagne, I decided she would be the perfect guinea pig.

Running errands was the perfect length of time to allow 5 chopped dried apricots to macerate in 2 spoonfuls of  apricot jam.

Brie fit perfectly into the oven to table vintage pottery.

The bowl is lined with crescent roll dough from the deli: seams pressed together.

As lovely as the box the brie comes in is: it and the rind were discarded.

The apricot mixture is spooned over the brie like a jaunty hat.

Almond slices and dried cranberries strewn across- the hand motion is almost like feeding fairy-sized chickens):-.

The edge of the dough was loosely gathered- like a duffel not quite closed.

17 minutes in the preheated 350° F degree oven and out came heavenly hors d' oeuvres: a love match to the Almond Champagne that dreamed them into being.

Something I've noticed this season. I understand a store clerk not initiating "Merry Christmas". Business transactions in a multi-cultural society makes for dicey situations. However, when I say "Merry Christmas" around the time the sale is rung up- this is clearly the reason I am at the cash register. Wouldn't it be appropriate for some response indicating some level of good will? It is like there is a gag order against a pleasant response. Is anyone else out there experiencing this?


* You won't need to use all the dough in package.