Friday, December 4, 2009

A Few Living Room Christmas Decorations and Holiday Appetizers

Happy Friday, my fellow friends!

For many years since Brittney was born, we had Chuck’s side of the family over on Christmas Eve.  And every year, I made the same appetizers.  I usually don’t like to make the same things all of the time. . .I like to change things up a little . . .but everyone loved these and didn’t want me to make anything new.  And even though we don’t get together with his side of the family anymore, these appetizers are still a Christmas Eve tradition.  We now have my sister, Val, and her daughter and son-in-law and their 2 boys over.   A few more of my siblings may be joining us on Christmas Eve this year, as well.  We used to go to my Mom and Dad’s on Christmas day, but as I mentioned in an earlier post, the family is getting larger and have their own family celebrations to try to fit in, so starting this year, my parents are going to start having the family over on the Sunday before Christmas.  And since everyone’s celebration schedules will be rearranged, I’m inviting anyone to my home who would like to spend Christmas Eve with us.

Even though I completely understand the situation my Mom and Dad are in, I feel a little depressed that we are stopping a long time tradition of spending Christmas day together with family.  So, now, like all of the other holidays that we don’t have family to spend with, we’ll try to create some new traditions of our own. 

I hope you enjoy these appetizers as much as we do!!   If you’d like to print these out, just highlight the recipes that you want, and then click “selection” on your printer function.  Only the highlighted sections will print.

Cheese Crescent Rolls

1 pkg. crescent rolls

4 oz. each:  sliced Swiss, muenster, colby & harvarte cheese

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 egg

Mix cream cheese and egg together.

Form crescents rolls into a square with 1/2 of rolls.  pinch seams together.  Save other 1/2 for top.

On bottom crust, layer sliced cheeses with cream cheese mixture  spread between each layer; ending with cream cheese mixture on top.

Stretch top layer square over cheese mixture.  Fold under bottom crust.

Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Bake 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees until golden brown.  Let sit for 10 minutes before cutting.

 

Bacon/Sausage Wraps

1/4 c. butter, melted

1 1/2 – 2 c. chicken stuffing mix

      Mix together and set aside.

1 lb. Italian sausage

1 egg

1 lb. bacon

Mix Italian sausage and egg together and add to stuffing mixture.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Refrigerate 1 hour.

Cut bacon strips in half. (I usually cut into thirds and make smaller balls to make more)  Roll sausage into balls and wrap with bacon strip.  Secure with toothpick.

Bake 35-40 minutes at 375 degrees.

 

Crab Pizza

4 small boboli pizza crusts

1 c. miracle whip

2 tsp. lemon juice

1/2 tsp. salt

1 lb. sea legs

1 c. shredded Swiss cheese

2 T. green onions, chopped

Mix together and spread on top of pizza crusts.

Bake 10-15 minutes at 400 degrees until cheese melts.

Hanky Panky

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb. ground Italian sausage

1 lb. velveeta cheese

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. pepper

2 loaves cocktail pumpernickel bread

Brown beef and sausage together; drain.  Add Worcestershire sauce. garlic powder and pepper.  Chop cheese into cubes and add, stirring until melted.

Spread mixture on cocktail bread, covering well.  Place on cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Stuffed Mushrooms

1 lb. mushrooms

2 T. butter

1.4 c. Italian seasoned bread crumbs

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

3-4 T. bacon bits

2 T. minced onion

Remove stems from mushrooms and set caps aside; chop stems.  Cook onions and chopped stems in butter until tender; add bread crumbs.

Remove from heat; stir in bacon bits and cheese.  Mound filling in caps.  Place on cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

  

chrbrd

As always, if you’d like to see who else is participating in Colleen’s (And Baby Makes Five) Homemade Holiday Recipe Swap, click here:

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chrbrd

The weekend before Thanksgiving, we shampooed our carpets.  And since we had all of the furniture out of the living room, I decided to take advantage of the situation and repainted the walls.  Since my house has kind of an open concept, I painted the dining room walls, too, which also leads into the kitchen, but will get painted later, after we build the new kitchen cupboards.  I also painted the ceiling.  I painted the walls with “Resort Tan” by Sherwin Williams.  Again, the picture isn’t the best due to the lighting.  You can see my cut off point right before heading into the kitchen.  I’m so happy with the way it turned out; all of my decor seems to blend in so much better!

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chrbrd

I’m still plugging along with my Christmas decorations!!  Hopefully, I’ll have them done by this weekend.  I have most of my Living Room done….I’m still trying to figure out my fireplace and I still have the centerpiece of fresh pines to make for my coffee table.  I’m waiting for my local greenhouse to get more variegated orgonia in stock, then I’ll show you how to make a live arrangement.

Here are a few pictures.  It’s been kind of gloomy and rainy for the last couple of days, so the lighting isn’t the best.  It’s suppose to be sunny today, so hopefully, I’ll get some better pictures and share them with you later.

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chrbrd

I’ll be back with more Christmas decor pictures and a tutorial on making live arrangements with fresh greens.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!  And Thank You so much for taking the time to stop by!!  I love hearing from you, so please leave a comment!

Until Next Time. . . .Kris

 

34 comments:

  1. Wonderful decorations, you did a beautiful job on keep the simplicity and prim in Christmas.

    Debbie

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  2. your home is amazing!! love those recipes!

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  3. I love appetizers and these look like some good ones to try. Thanks for sharing the recipes.

    It is hard when families grow too large for everyone to get together. I'm hopeful that your Christmas Eve invitation will bring lots of family your way.

    Your new wall color looks so nice with all your Christmastime decor and the garland on the mantel couldn't be any cuter!

    I'm looking forward to your next tutorial. I need it!

    Till then ~ have a great weekend!

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  4. Wonderful decorations, Kris! You never disappoint me! I love it when you post pictures. Can't wait for more!

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  5. I always love your pics Kris and these do not disappoint! I love them all! I think my favorite pic is of the basket full of pine greenery that sits on a folded coverlet next to the round sieve with a candle and Santa, I just love that! I want some greens like that! are they artificial or real? if they're artifcial, does the shoppe have a web site?

    Thank you as always Kris for sharing. Have a joyous weekend!
    Janet

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  6. Oh and I absolutely LOVE the new paint color and what the heck is wrong with THOSE cabinets?? LOL

    Janet

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  7. Beautiful!!!!....I also have stockings like those, but I haven't used them since Luke was born because I haven't taken the time to make him one also...I had used them since Taylor was a baby..yummy recipes!!...I will definitely be using them as we will be home for Christmas since we're traveling the first of the week to see family and then home for Christmas Eve...~~hugs,Jen

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  8. Hi Kris,
    Your decorations are simply wonderful. I love your Christmas deco outside and inside. Are those orange slices some that you dried or bought. How do you get your orange slices not to get brown and small? I must be doing something wrong, and do you keep them year after year? Thank you again for all the infomation, your blog is awesome! Also, what about your gingerbread men, did you make them too? They are very well done........

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  9. Hi Kris, everything looks great. Your tree is beautiful. Thanks for sharing your recipes. I will have to try those. I luv your new wall color too. Can't wait to see more Christmas pics. Have a great weekend :)Sherri

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  10. Kris....I just love what you have done so far with decorating.
    Great recipes too. Also love that paint color. I remember several years ago when I wanted a darker tan for my bedroom, I couldn't find any anywhere and had to have it special mixed...my DH always hates that! Now there are lots of good dark shades to choose from.
    Have a good weekend.
    Linda/simplycountryseasons

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  11. Hi Kris,
    I really love the wall color you used! I've been looking for a color to paint my master bath and I'm going to go get a chip to see how it will look. Your tree is spectacular and looks so beautiful in front of the windows!!! I love the whispy pines in the basket and the grapevine garland with the orange slices and gingers! Gorgeous!!! I love it all!
    I'm glad you posted some good appetizer recipies. I'm having family over for Christmas Eve and need recipies for finger foods. Hugs, Loretta

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  12. Oh my, Kris -- there's a load of wonderful goodness packed into this post! Your home is looking perfectly prim for Christmas and the new wall color is lovely. Isn't it funny how one project always leads to another?

    And the appetizers, as always, sound scrumptious. Which is fantastic because our crew loves appetizers. I had to chuckle when I read about "Hanky Panky." My mom has been making those for years, but "Sunshine Cities" don't sound nearly as fun, do they?

    Enjoy your newly evolving Christmas traditions. Change is so hard, especially this time of year. Hopefully you'll hit on something wonderful though. We're still negotiating things as well now that Todd's sister is living in another state.

    Can't wait to see your tutorial! Have a great weekend...

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  13. Another feast of good things, Kris - both to make and to enjoy looking at, in your beautifully decorated home! The garland across the mantle is so well done and I just love it.
    Have a great weekend,
    Christine

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  14. Thanks for sharing all these yummy recipes!! Your home is gorgeous!! Love all the decorations!
    ~Donna~ One Simple Country Girl

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  15. We don't share the holidays with family, either. We are lucky to have become extended family for two different groups, and we have learned to have a wonderful time with them. It's been many years of holidays without family, and we are happy to have a place where we are welcome. You, too, can make new traditions and learn a new kind of happiness at the holidays. Your home looks stunning, and my favorite is the same as Janets -- Santa, basket and greens, sieve. Who would refuse an invitation from such an incredible host at this warm,festive home with clean carpeting and a new paint job? Not me!

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  16. Those appetizers sound wonderful - thanks for sharing.

    Your new paint color is very nice. I always enjoy your posts!

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  17. Kris, love the new paint color. Thanks for the recipes....I will be printing them out. Your home looks very nice all decked out for Christmas.

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  18. Looks like a nice paint color...I sure hate to paint but it makes such a difference and it seems I am painting all the time.
    Your decor is so simple and crisp...I do enjoy your pictures, Dianntha

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  19. The wall color looks great and so do the decorations. Thanks for the recipes. Have a great weekend, Janie

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  20. BEAUTIFUL PICS! i love the new paint color. i'm looking for something new for my living room walls and that might do the trick. thanks for sharing.

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  21. Hi Kris, Love,love your decor. Amazing displays as always. Your house is one of my favorites houses in the blog land, everything looks cozy, warm and simply perfect. Can't wait to see more pictures.

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  22. What a beautiful home you have. I love it!

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  23. Love all the Christmas decor! I can never get tired looking at your home. :) The recipes look quite yummy! Thanks for sharing!

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  24. Thanks for the great recipes! Can't wait to try them!:)

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  25. Your home is just beautiful....Love it when you post pics of your home...I am going to have to try some of your recipes...they all look good...Thank you for sharing...

    ..Trena...

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  26. Kris..love the new paint color, and the mason jar lights in the fireplace are those battery tea lights in them? Everything looks great.
    Have a terrific weekend, as always Ill be trying some of your recipes!
    Anne

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  27. Kris - love the new paint color, you make everything look like it belongs right where you put it!! Love it all - thanks for the inspiration.

    Can't wait to see more - wanna try those recipes.

    Lydia

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  28. Kris ~
    I love your decor as always & the new paint color is wonderful. I too love the picture with the basket, coverlet, Santa & candle. Perfect! I just copied some of your recipes & can't wait to try them, especially the bacon sausage wraps. THanks for sharing.
    Hugs,
    Pam

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  29. Love the new paint color! Everything looks so cozy and welcoming. I alway enjoy seeing your home..thanks for sharing!

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  30. Wonderful job on the livingroom. I bet your are glad it all over. And get to come into a wonderful livingroom with lots of Christmas cheer.
    Prim blessing
    Cindy

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  31. Oh WOW oh WOW!!! I just love your decor! I want more...LOL. Everything looks so wonderfully prim :)

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  32. Hi Kris! I am crazy about your blog!! I've been exploring and have gone back to your first post! Every single one is a treat! I'm off to make your grungy candles and have just completed star dough ornaments! I'm on a path to turn my home into country/prim style and your ideas have been such an inspiration all weekend! I wanted you to know you are helping me decorate my home so if you see me here A LOT (I'm not a stalker just a new prim addict!!!)lol Happy decorating - Sincerely, Jeannette

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  33. Your decorations are so beautiful. And thanks for the printer tip! You're going to save me so much time because I always copy/pasted into notepad and then printed. More craft-time! Thanks. hehe

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  34. THANK YOU for sharing the name of your paint colors!! How many times have i admired someone's color, and had to guess! I am your newest follower, and I am delighted with your beautiful blog! Can't wait to follow your posts!
    Primitive Blessings.
    Pamela @
    http://ourpioneerhomestead.blogspot.com

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