On My Mind Today

"Twas The Night Before Christmas," was written in the early 19th century, and is one of the oldest and most popular Christmas poems. There is a dispute over the author, and the poem has been attributed to both Clement Clarke Moore and Henry Livingston, Jr. over the years. It was first published on December 23, 1823 in the  Troy Sentinel  newspaper in upstate New York. It is also referred to as "A Visit From St. Nicholas" or "The Night Before Christmas." Today I want to share with you the original lyrics to the poem. Hope you will enjoy sharing this with your children and grandchildren. 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,  In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads,  And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,  Had jus...

With Christmas less than a week away, here is a great appetizer for your special gathering. I have never been a mushroom lover, but a good friend gave me a container of beautiful large mushrooms. Not wanting to waste them I went looking for a stuffed mushroom recipe. I discovered this one from Taste of Home and gave it a try. They were absolutely delicious! I hope they are as big a hit with your family and friends as they were in my home. Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms 12 to 15 large fresh mushrooms 2 tablespoons butter, divided 2 tablespoons chopped onions 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon dried basil salt and pepper to taste 4 ounces bulk Italian sausage 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 1. Remove stems from mushrooms. Chop stems finely; set mushroom caps aside. Place stems in paper towels and squeeze to remove any liquid. 2. In a large skillet, heat 1-1/2 teaspoons butter. Cook stems and onion until tender. Add the l...

What if we were to look down on earth, from high above the clouds. When we gazed down on the suffering, would our hearts break from what we saw. Brutal wars scattered here and there, lives lost to the evil savagery of men. They tell lies to justify their deeds, but we know they have power hungry hearts. Jealousy fueling racism and hatred, pointing fingers at friend and foe. Claiming that what is wrong in our lives, is the fault of anyone but ourselves. We have used and abused our resources, wiping out all of the natural safeguards. When bigger catastrophic disasters arise, we struggle to bring them under control. Ultra wealthy making more and more, never thinking of anyone else. While so many in the world are suffering, they laugh and say it's all mine. Corporations making record profits, all the while cutting jobs without a care. Their gluttony and greed are disgusting, without any regard for their fellow man. In every country and corner of the earth, homelessness is growing every...

From the pages of Woman's Day and the Casserole Queens, this recipe is perfect for your Sunday brunch. You can prepare it the day before and just keep it refrigerated until you pop it in the oven the next morning. Your brunch guests will think you have spent hours putting it together. Sure to become a favorite in your recipe file.   Breakfast Bread Pudding   2 Tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the dish 1 medium onion, chopped Salt and Pepper 1 bunch Swiss chard, stems thinly sliced and leaves cut into 1-1/2 inch pieces 8 large eggs 2 cups whole milk 8 ounces country, French or Italian bread, cut into 1-inch pieces 14 ounces can artichoke hearts, patted dry and chopped 6 ounces leftover or thick-cut deli ham, cut into 1-inch pieces 6 ounces crumbled feta cheese 2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan   1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-1/2-to-3-quart dish. 2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, season with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and ...

One thing is certain in life – eventually we all run out of time. This truth is much clearer with each passing year. That feeling of invincibility from our youth fades ever so slightly with each decade. Nothing can bring us face-to-face with our own mortality more than the loss of a loved one or dear friend. Even if we are aware that their time with us is slipping away, we are never prepared. As they leave behind all that binds them to the earth, our hearts feel like they have been crushed by a heavy weight. Grief is a natural response to losing someone that is important to us. Processing a loss is different for each person, and grief is never experienced in the same manner. While some can allow themselves to feel their grief and release it, others hold it in and keep it hidden from the world. Losing someone is difficult at any time in our lives but can be even more heartbreaking and traumatic if we are facing difficult times. Our ability to accept loss when life is good is never easy ...

We have once again reached that joyful time of year. Decorated trees, Christmas lights, candy canes, stockings hung by the fire and so much more. The look of wonder in a child's eyes and their innocent belief in the season is contagious. There is something magical about the Christmas season, and in challenging times we need this magic in our lives. If we open our hearts up to all that comes with the holiday, it will lift our spirits and bring an abundance of joy. There are those who will try to steal our joy; the ones who refuse to see all that is good about Christmas. They do not look at the true meaning of the season or try to give joy to others. They believe it is about spending money and are not aware that a simple act of kindness is a true gift. If you are one who loves to start early and wrap themselves up in the season, do not be discouraged by others. Dive in and spread Christmas cheer wherever you go.  Decorate early. Listen to Christmas music. Smile at a stranger and comp...

From the pages of Woman's Day magazine, this rich, creamy and delicious pie would be an excellent addition to your holiday gatherings. Easy to make and sure to become a favorite of family and friends. You will find it difficult to eat only one piece. (Photo below is from Woman's Day as we finished the pie before a photo was taken.) Chocolate-Orange Mascarpone Pie Cookie Crust: 24 chocolate wafer cookies (I used Nabisco Famous) 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 1/3 cup orange marmalade Filling: 10 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, broken up 3 tubs (8 ounces each) Mascarpone, at room temperature 1/3 cup Confectioner's sugar 3 Tablespoons orange liquor or orange juice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 large seedless orange (optional) Crust: 1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. You'll need a 9-inch pie plate. 2. Pulse cookies in processor until fine crumbs; add butter and process until blended. Press mixture evenly into bottom and sides of pie plate. Bake 12 minutes; cool on wire rack. Spread marmal...