CHRISTMAS: THE WARMTH OF RED

Hello friends of CBID!  I hope you are having a wonderful season thus far - not too stressed?

I have been so busy decorating this year, that I have completely neglected my posts - 

but I have so much to share with you!

Christmas decorations come in all colors.  I truly love this time of year. Whether its silver, gold, white

turquoise, pink or more traditional colors, holiday decorating is a fun way to express our joy for the season.

But for me, nothing warms up the Christmas spirit quite like RED.

Take Six

No color provides that 'pop' of color better than red...

Pinterest

 It draws the eye

Our Family Inspired Home

 and adds warmth to Winter's chill.

Christmas 365

 Red is the perfect compliment to green - so all those boughs of holly,

garland and wreaths are at their best when red is around...

Pottery Barn

You don't need a lot of red to make a statement...

Like a Saturday

It lends itself to all styles. 

Fox Hollow Cottage

Swags by Kari

Rogers Gardens

Served Scandinavian style, it is fresh and clean...

Cottage at the Crossroads

Better Homes and Gardens

79 Ideas

Nothing says Christmas quite like RED.

Mary Carol Garrity

I love it as a warming accent 

Christmas City

Pottery Barn Teen

Pottery Barn Teen

It almost seems to have more impact used sparingly...

Stone Gable blog

although why use it sparingly?

Nominimalisthere

Scatter that red all through your house -

Craftberrybush

Williams-Sonoma

Enchanted Home

Rusty Hinge

Birchlane

and have a very merry Christmas, friends!

BLACK HAT SOCIETY - PARTY ON, WITCHES!

SOME VERY STRANGE FOLKS CAME TO MY HOUSE ....

and we had so much fun!
(Photography by Bleudog Fotography)

They wore black hats...

 and big smiles

 they were helpful

 and very stylish

 some went all out

I decided to feed them...

 Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Dip

Sweet Pepper and Onion Dip

Chili shots

Fudge Bars

Monkey Bars

and 

Maple Cinnamon Glazed PB Cookies... 

 but the most fun was being together

We gave away some prizes

 a book by author Kristy Tate

 beautiful botanicals from my new Etsy store..

a few other trinkets to thank them for their support

So we visited

and giggled at our silly hats

 and ate some more...

Made banners

and potion bottles...

 and had a really good time...

 And as promised, some recipes follow:

CLAUDINE'S LAZY DAY CHILI

Into a crockpot put the following:

2 lbs of ground beef, fully cooked and browned - seasoned with salt and pepper - and a little garlic if desired

and with 3-4 Tbsp chili powder (more or less to taste) mix while still in pan.

2 cans (15 oz) tomato sauce

1 can stewed tomatoes - (peppers and onions)

2 cans diced tomatoes with onions and green pepper

2 cans (15 oz) Red Kidney Beans with liquid 

1 regular sized can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained

1 regular sized can cannellini beans (or great northern beans) drained

1 regular sized can black beans (unseasoned) with liquid

Optional - 1 cup frozen corn

Mix together and heat in a crockpot on slow until hot and seasonings are blended.  Taste and add more chili if needed (best to have to add it than find out you've made it too hot).  Top with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, avocado wedges and a dollop of sour cream.

OATMEAL FUDGE BARS
(wicked)

1 c. butter

2 eggs

2 c. brown sugar

1/3 c. milk

2 t. vanilla

2 1/2 c. flour

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

3 c. quick cooking oats

Fudge filling:

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/3 c. butter

1 t. vanilla

2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix butter, eggs and brown sugar.  Add vanilla and milk.  Slowly incorporate the rest of the dry ingredients.  Mix well.

Make the fudge filling by melting the ingredients over medium heat in a saucepan.  Don't overcook.

Spread 3/4 of the cookie mixture on the bottom of a greased 13x9 pan.  Pour fudge filling mixture on top and spread evenly.  Top with rest of cookie mixture, in spoonfuls, breaking it up and distributing as evenly as possible.

Bake for 25 mins at 350 degrees.  Let cool before cutting.

MORE LATER!