Merry Christmas to All

Yes, today is Christmas and I wish a very Merry one to all. It is a day of reflection for me...reflecting on the warm family Christmases of past. Today I sit here with my little dog. We have had many other friends in the house, but today it is he and I.
I think back to when I was little. We had Aunts, Uncles, Great Aunts and Uncles, Grandmothers, cousins...the house was filled with Love. And today, most of them are gone...either deceased or moved away. Each one with their own lives to live. I remember the joyous laughter and delight as us little ones opened up each gift.
Today I remember my parents. And I am thankful for them. They were really good to us growing up. They did the best they could.
We did have traditional food on Christmas....ham, sausage, potato and macaroni salads, pierogi, sweet bread, jello salad, usually a cake or pie or nut or poppyseed rolls. I did most of the decorating...loved it then.
So, today, as I sit here with my little guy, Taco. I reflect on the past Christmases and the joys of those days gone by. And relish in the knowledge that life must go on...one day at a time.
Merry Christmas and all the Blessings of the Season to you and your families......

MMMM Paprikas

My goodness, here we are in the middle of December. The months have flown by and winter has arrived.

This cold weather is good for soup but we had Chicken Paprikas. I remember Gram in the kitchen making the paprikas. Of course, ours was not like everyone elses. Our paprikas was white...not red. Served with mashed potatoes and a veggie and mmmmm...so delicious. I never did get the recipe from Gram but I made up my own. I needed a way to make it so that it would cook all day in the crock pot and be ready for supper.

I used Chicken breasts with the skin on...In a heavy skillet, I melted butter or margarine and sauteed a medium onion that was diced finely. Then I took the chicken and put it in the skillet after the onion was translucent and removed. In my crock pot, I put the onions in and add two regular size (10 ounce) cans or one 26 ounce can of cream of mushroom soup and add one large can or two small cans of water and mix well. I then add two small cans of mushrooms drained and the chicken after it is slightly browned into the mushroom soup mix. Salt and pepper to taste. Let it cook in the crock pot until chicken falls off bone...remove bones . Add one 8 oz. container of sour cream (first temper this before adding...to temper...place two tablespoons of sour cream in bowl, add hot stock in about 4 tablespoons and mix well...then add to the rest of the sour cream and add more hot stock and continue to mix....pour into stock/chicken mix stirring continually)(Prevents curdling.) Serve over mashed potatoes or noodles that are cooked with a salad or veggie. Enjoy. I just made it today and the house still smells so good....Have a great week!!!