Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Give Thanks


What a wonderful time of year
as we stop and give thanks for
all of the bounty we are blessed
with.


Years ago when my children were
all little and at home we decided to
take a moment for
Gratitude
every night after scriptures before
they went to bed.


We started with three things
they were grateful for and later
that moved to the best thing
that happened to them that day
and one thing they were grateful
for.  That way they didn't just
repeat the same things day after
day but had to reflect upon their
day and find something that was
great that day.

We still keep that tradition and
try to have a grateful heart all year
for the blessings bestowed upon us.


We actually go away from home
every year for Thanksgiving
so I just set a fantasy 
Thanksgiving table
featuring lots of gold and sparkle.


I usually reserve my gold
china for Christmas time but 
it was really fun creating a
Thanksgiving table that has a
little glitz and glam.


My gold flatware is perfect
for the glamorous Thanksgiving
table along with these gold
placemats.


Of course the most glamorous
item on the table are these
gold goblets.  It really feels
like a feast when we use these goblets.



There is a touch of gold
trim on the napkins which are
held by our regal turkeys.


Even the stem of this pumpkin
adds the touch of gold.



If you look out on the deck you 
will see that we were touched 
by a little snow during the night
too which caused a lot of joy
with the grandkids who were
sleeping overnight.




May your Thanksgiving Day
be one that is filled with gratitude
and love and family. 

May you find things to be
grateful for every day of 
your life.

Three things I am grateful for
are
Good health,
A loving and supportive husband,
To have the abundance of living in
a free land,

and I have to add that the
best thing that happened to me this
weekend was receiving
a new little granddaughter.
 That is why her
sisters and brother were having a
fun sleepover with grandma and grandpa.
What a blessing children and grandchildren
are to my life.  They are the chocolates on
my pillow!!

Have a 
Happy Thanksgiving!!

I will be posting with

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Kicked Up Queso


It's getting chilly outside and I am
craving warm and spicy foods and
there isn't any queso like this queso!

The secret is all in the 
Frank's Buffalo Sauce,
one of those sauces that my kids
and their kids have become addicted to.
I keep a supply of it in the pantry so
we don't ever run out.


I first had this fantastic queso this summer
at our neighborhood Walk and Talk on
Sunday evenings where everyone gets out
for a walk and visits and we stop at 3 houses
where they serve refreshments.

My friends Sue Ellen served this and
I couldn't walk away from her crockpot!

She had created this fantastic variation
of queso that I know you are going to
love.  It isn't hot, just savory.
We made it several times during
the summer and are having it again
now when it is freezing outside - this
is a year round recipe!


And it goes together in minutes
with things you can always have
on hand if you need to throw together
a fast appetizer or meal.


You can serve it straight out
of the pan or crockpot, but I
decided to serve mine up in these
fun mini cast iron frying pans that I
got at Costco last Christmas season.  
I sure hope they are going to have them
again.  They came four to a package and
have been the perfect size for individual
servings.

Kicked Up Queso Recipe

1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion
2 cans Rotel tomatoes (mild)
1 small can chopped green chilis
2 lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/3 C. Franks Red Hot Wings Buffalo Sauce
(don't get the hot one, get the medium one)

Chopped tomatoes and cilantro for garnish
Additional Buffalo Sauce if desired

In a large dutch oven pan brown the
ground beef and onion.  Drain.  Add the
Rotel tomatoes and the chilis.  Stir in the
cubed Velveeta and heat on medium until
the cheese is melted.  Add the beans and 
Buffalo sauce and heat through.

Serve garnished with chopped tomatoes
and cilantro and a splash of additional
Buffalo sauce.  Use tortilla chips as dippers.

This makes a large batch to serve a crowd
but it tastes great as leftovers too.


Dip in and enjoy some with me!

It is queso that is kicked up with
flavor from Buffalo sauce and I 
think you will love this.  I haven't served
it yet without someone asking for the recipe.

I will be posting this with

Sunday, November 9, 2014

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley


Guess what arrived at our house 
by Owl Post?


I went outside of the house and there
was a big box on the porch.  I do love
to get packages but usually I know
what is coming.

This one was a huge surprise.  The return address
said Universal Promotions.

Inside I found this fabulous surprise.
Wow, I wish every trip I took came
with this kind of a
"Special Delivery"!!

My niece had booked the trip-
so she knew that we would be receiving
a package by Owl Post but it was
a complete surprise to me.


So we are off to Diagon Alley
where everyone attending Hogwarts
must pick up their supplies for school,
at Universal Studios  Theme Park
in Florida.

It just opened July 8th
and we are there!!  







We were just enchanted by 
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
that opened a few years ago where
we could enjoy delicious cold
drinks like the Hogwart students'
favorite, Butter Beer.  We love
the frozen, slushy one.  And don't worry
this isn't beer, the kids weren't drinking beer,
it is a butterscotch flavored slushy drink.



Stop at Florean Fortescue's
for ice cream.  The line gets
significantly longer as the day
goes on, so we decided to stop
early in the morning!


How about Butterbeer
soft serve ice cream.
Yum!! We also tried their hand scooped
ice creams with the Salt Caramel and 
Chocolate Chili coming out as group
favorites.

Be warned, no Muggle (non-magical folk)

 food is served here so no diet drinks, but
it is fun to try all of the fun sugary drinks -
we are on vacation!



Find these special mugs at the Fountain of Fortune-
frozen Butterbeer on the left and cold Butterbeer
on the right - a butterscotch flavored soda.
(Use your American Express card and you
get 10% off at Universal!)



How about this fun drink 

that we had - 
Fishy Green Ale -
a mint flavored beverage with



blueberry "fish eggs"

that pop in your mouth!






The main attraction is
Escape From Gringotts 
where you get to ride down into the Goblin
Vaults to see where Harry's money is stored
and see Harry, Ron and Hermione along the way.

You need to escape from Bellatrix and He Who
Must Not Be Named.  It combines 3D, motion simulation
 and a rollercoaster ride. 


I have to say the Gringotts guards
were all very friendly!


 It is
very fun starting with the animated goblins
up in the bank.



The architecture of the building
is just stunning.  You enter the bank
and are greeted by these massive chandeliers
and marble columns.  As you pass down the
center of the bank you can observe the
goblins hard at work on either side.

This is a thrill ride.
A troll even grabs your underground
cart and shakes it - Wild!!
The beauty of the ride is that even 
younger kids get to ride it (42 inches) That is so
nice as my 8 year old grandson is already
reading Harry Potter.  They wanted more
fans to be able to enjoy this ride.




What a spectacular bank to deposit
all of your gold into and they have
stacks and stacks of it.


The other highlight is the
huge fire-breathing dragon that
sits atop the bank.  


I asked one of the bank guards
how often this happened and
he replied, "Well, she is a dragon 
you know, so it is unpredictable, but
I can tell you she does a little rumbling
and growling before it happens."
Great answer and true.


Be sure to go back at night to see
the dragon and to see all of Diagon Alley
lit up.  It is just magical.






Don't forget to turn down Knockturn
Alley and step into Borgin and Burkes -
this place played a big role in the 
Harry Potter books.


See the famous vanishing cabinet in the back.
You can buy all kinds of "dark" souvenirs here.

This alley actually gets lit up a little
more at night so check it out twice.

I was at Universal Studios in Florida last year
and was disappointed that Jaws was being
torn down, but who knew that it was being replaced
by Diagon Alley, a nearly $450 million dollar
expansion!!!




Our package also included breakfast at the
Leaky Cauldron
and breakfast at the Three Broomsticks.



We came back for fish and chips
and a banger sandwich.  The fish
and chips are exceptional. 



We have to be off to Hogsmeade.
You must enter by walking through
the brick wall at 9 3/4 King's Cross Station.
You can't see yourself go through the wall
but have a family member or friend take
a picture of you.


Another thrill is the opportunity to
ride the Hogwart's Express, not just
take your picture in front of it.  You
get to share the ride with your favorite
characters in your carriage.

And yes, they have expanded Ollivander's 
Wand Shop.  That was highly entertaining
but hard to stand in line in the past 
for 45 minutes to
an hour since the space was so small.
Now they have it in both parks 
and it is much quicker.


Oh, and you can't miss being entertained
by the driver of the Knight Bus.
He is fun and will pose for a picture
with you and sometimes interact with
the talking head that hangs in the 
front window.


Be sure to go around the back
and take a peek inside or 
stand on the back for a photo.


One thing I can say about 
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,
both sides, is that you are truly transported.
Of course I brought my Gryffindor robe
that I purchased last time I was here.
And yes, I took the Sorting Hat test
years ago and I am in
GRYFFINDOR!!

J K Rowlings had a big hand in this
wonderful project.

I have to say, one of my favorite things
about having to stand in the lines at either
Harry Potter worlds, and 
they are long, is that there is plenty of
entertainment going on around you from
talking pictures to your favorite characters,
including snow in Hogwarts.  Sometimes
we had to stay and be entertained and let
people pass in front of us!

Universal, you have enchanted us again.


(Yes, those were real birds!  I thought they 
must have been fake!!)

Click here to read my other post
about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.




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