Be Someone's Light

 I'm taking a short break from packing to say a quick hello and wish you Merry Christmas. It's the time of year we head to the mountains and enjoy a few days with family in a Christmas wonderland. We've visited this same place since our daughters were 2 and 4. And it is an extravagant display of things that glitter, things that sparkle and things that dazzle. The decorations at my own house are pretty simple this year. So I'll enjoy looking at the festive decorations at the resort.

But I always am reminded that not all Christmases are filled with glitz and glitter. People have sad Christmases. My grandfather died on December 18 many, many years ago. I was nine but still remember that different, somber Christmas. Some people skip Christmas out of necessity. One year after the holiday I asked a friend if she and her daughter had a good Christmas. She told me that they went to church but there were no gifts. None. There was no money that year. 

And there are many who are sick at Christmas. The sad little tree in the photo was the only Christmas tree at my daughter's house a decade ago. Our 9-month-old granddaughter spent her first Christmas in the hospital. And her 4-year-old sister was distressed that they had no Christmas tree. So she took matters into her own hands. She found the Charlie Brown tree and decorated it by herself. 

That little tree also reminds me of hearing how kind people were during that stressful time. My daughter and family were living a thousand miles away from us then. So strangers and neighbors and friends showed up. Gifts were delivered to the hospital. Food arrived at the door. 

So as we celebrate during the next couple of weeks, remember those who are not in a place to celebrate. Keep your eyes and your ears and your heart open. Today is the winter solstice. Tonight is the longest night—the longest period of darkness—we will have this year. Be someone's light. 💫

Christmas Time Is Near

Hamburger Soup

I'm back! Finally here with a new recipe that is good enough to share. Yes, I do try ones from time to time that are okay, but not good enough to make again—or share with you. To be honest most of what I cook are recipes that are already on this blog. Like most of us we have our favorites. It was fun to try something new.

Since I posted last month I had a birthday (and today is Daddy-O's birthday), a terrible cold, a house full of family for Thanksgiving, and too many doctor appointments. (We're okay.) It's been busy. Yesterday was the first "stay home all day" kind of day I've had in ages. The weatherman had promised cold temps and heavy rain. So I was prepared. A soup day! Turns out it we missed the rain, only got the cold. I made the soup anyway. This is nearly a stew. A bowl full of meat and vegetables. It's a soup that a Daddy-O could enjoy. (Not going as far as "love it.")

We had it for lunch. And we had it again for supper. It was better at supper time. The flavor is more complex than basic vegetable soup. The Italian seasoning, the olive oil, the Worcestershire. It's "more." But not they're not crazy flavors. Keep this recipe in mind if you need a make ahead dish. Would also be good if you want to take soup to a neighbor. It's a meal in a bowl. 

HAMBURGER SOUP

                   serves 6

2 tablespoons olive oil'

1 lb ground beef (preferably 10% lean)

1 small onion, diced (about 1 cup)

2 large celery stalks, diced

3 large cloves minced garlic (I used jarred)

3 tablespoon tomato paste

1 (14-oz) can diced tomatoes with juice

3 cups low-sodium beef broth

1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

1-1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

12 oz. gold potatoes, cubed (I used tiny potatoes and didn't peel)

12-oz bag frozen mixed vegetables (2-12 to 3 cups)

1 to 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add ground beef, onion and celery. Cook until meat is no longer pink. Stir in garlic and cook 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and stir to coat everything. Cook 1 minute.

Add Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.

Stir in potatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered about 10 minutes. Add frozen vegetables and continue to simmer until everything is tender, about 10-15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. 

This looks like a long list of ingredients. But it was quick to put together. Gather all your ingredients before you start. I didn't measure everything exactly. Poured in some olive oil. Used up the celery left from Thanksgiving.  Then it was a matter of opening a box of broth, a can of tomatoes, and a bag of frozen vegetables. See? It's really easy. 

We enjoyed having some extra time with family during Thanksgiving week. These grandchildren are growing up quickly. I'm happy they still like to come visit. One of the best things we did was to spend an evening by a bonfire. It was 28 degrees but we went outside anyway. It was so cold that the toasted marshmallow would not melt the frozen Hershey bar on the graham crackers! Our son-in-law even found chestnuts so he roasted those. We all tasted and decided that singing about roasting chestnuts was better than actually roasting and eating them. Now we know.

We have reached the age where the younger folks want to help us get ready for Christmas. We glad take the extra help. So the girls decorated our tree and set up the nativity scene. And took the boxes back to the basement. Now if they would just come back and help wrap gifts!

And mixed in with all the cooking and decorating and general business of life, I'm continuing on with my jazz journey. So hard but what a blast I'm having! This is the ultimate brain exercise.