Cheesy Spinach Dip

My friend Betty shared this yummy appetizer recipe with me. I brought it to Rachel's China Group's Christmas party last night and it disappeared! A few folks asked for the recipe, so here it is...

Cheesy Spinach Dip

1. Cut 1 lb. (16 oz.) Velveeta into 1/2-inch cubes; place in large microwaveable bowl. Add 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained; 4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) cream cheese, cut up; 1 can (10 oz.) Ro*Tel diced tomatoes & green chiles, undrained; and 8 slices bacon, crisply cooked, drained and crumbled.

2. Microwave on high 5 minutes or until Velveeta is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 3 minutes.

3. Serve hot with tortilla chips or assorted cut-up fresh vegetables.

Makes 4 cups.

Enjoy!

Hannah's Self Portrait

Anyone Remember This Movie?

"The House Without A Christmas Tree" was made for TV in 1972 when I was 9 (OK, go ahead and do the math - I'll wait...). I watched it every year for several years. The story takes place in 1946. Addie, the main character in the movie, is 10 years old. She lives with her grandmother and her widowed father, who refuses to have a Christmas tree because it reminds him of his wife who died when Addie was a baby. It's a wonderful story, and I just love Addie's spunky personality.

I found this movie on VHS several years ago, and just last week, discovered it in the $5 DVD bin at WalMart. Our family watched it last night, and the girls really enjoyed it. It is now one of our Christmas Classics, along with "It's A Wonderful Life" and "A Christmas Story".

Now I need to find "The Homecoming" (the Waltons' Christmas movie) on DVD...

Cookies With Santa!

Every year, our adoption agency hosts a "Cookies With Santa" event. We always try to bring the girls for this - it's a wonderful way for the girls to visit with Santa in a much more personal environment than the mall. And I get to take a whole bunch of pictures!

They wore the matching sweaters that Daddy bought for them at LL Bean when he was in Maine last month.

The girls are eyeing the yummy cookies and punch!


They had a nice long visit with Santa.


The girls really put Santa to work, peppering him with dozens of questions!


He gave them each a little gift (art supplies)!

Funny story: The first thing Abbie did when she walked up to Santa was to start tugging on his beard. Santa was very good natured about it! After a sufficient amount of tugging, she pronounced, "Yup, he's the real one!"

On our way out to the car, Rachel looked up at me and said, "Mama, now I know he's real!"

You betcha, Sweetie!

Our Little Star

Abbie's dance recital was this afternoon. The theme of the program was Dancing Through the Holidays, and her tap class danced to the VeggieTales' rendition of the 1971 song "I Just Want to Celebrate" by Rare Earth (they were celebrating New Year's Day). It was incredibly cute, and Abbie had lots of fun performing!

On stage at the dress rehearsal the night before the performance.


All dressed up and ready for the show!

We had a little fun with the makeup. I even managed to get some mascara on her lashes!


After the performance. She loved getting flowers!

And of course, Hannah and Rachel were there to support their sister!

Chinese Children's Music

Several years ago, I found this site with 27 Chinese children's songs that you could download. Al made a CD of them, and the girls have enjoyed them so much! Some of the titles crack me up: "Communist Young Pioneers", "Heroic Little Sisters", and "I Love Beijing TianAnMen". A few of our favorites are "Little Swallow", "Jasmine", "Mama Is the Best", and "Mud Doll". The arrangements can sound pretty cheezy, but our family just loves listening to the very "typical" sound of the contemporary Chinese recordings! Enjoy!

Because You Just Might Be Looking For A New Recipe To Use Up All That Turkey!

I have this heating up in the oven right now. The fam loves it!

Turkey Tetrazzini

2 cups broken uncooked spaghetti (2-inch pieces)
1 chicken bouillon cube
3/4 cup boiling water
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/8 teaspoon celery salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 cups cubed cooked turkey
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons diced pimientos, drained
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a bowl, dissolve bouillon in water. Add soup, celery salt and pepper. Drain spaghetti; add to soup mixture. Stir in turkey, onion, pimientos and 1/2 cup of cheese. Transfer to a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 35-40 minutes, until heated through.

Notes: I have also made this with leftover cooked chicken with yummy results. I usually skip the celery salt, pepper, onion and pimientos to appeal to the discerning palates of my younger diners. It's still good!

They've Got Art In Their Hearts!

Hannah and Rachel have been taking an after-school drawing class, and are both showing a real gift for art. Al and I are both "artistically challenged", so we're glad they have this opportunity to learn from their talented teacher.

They learned about symmetry at their first class. This is Rachel's drawing of a Native American pot...




...and Hannah's drawing...
Keeping in mind that they are in first and third grade. Pretty good!

Their second class focused on three-dimensional drawing. Here's Rachel's teepee...

...and Hannah's...

Both girls have had a work of art published in the school calendar. Hannah had a work submitted for an Illinois teachers' art show. Hannah also scored a free tee shirt and open gym pass by winning her gymnastics school's coloring contest. And her drawing will be featured on this year's first and third grade holiday concert program.

The best part is that they find so much enjoyment in the creative process. And their confidence and self esteem get a real boost, too!

Happy Four-Year Gotcha Day, Abbie!

The first moment I held you...

With your Daddy at the Civil Affairs office in Guangzhou, just minutes after meeting you...

Sleeping soundly on your first night with us...

Visiting the Yangxi SWI, your first home...

Enjoying the Yun Tai Gardens in Guangzhou...

At the White Swan hotel...

Such a sweet, happy baby...

Our precious girl, four years later...

A Chinese Kitchen

Check out this blog post I stumbled upon! The blogger is currently living in China, and shares photos of her kitchen. If you've been to China (and even if you haven't), you'll enjoy reading this!