I don't have an arsenal of "originals", but I do have a few. Bruschetta INGREDIENTS: 1 (6.5 ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion 2/3 cup diced roma tomatoes 5 tablespoons mayonnaise ½ c frozen chopped spinach, well drained 1/2 c finely chopped shrimp (optional) Parsley flakes 1 French baguette, cut diagonally into 1/3 inch thick slices DIRECTIONS: Preheat the broiler. In a medium bowl, mix marinated artichoke hearts, Parmesan cheese, red onion, tomatoes, mayonnaise, spinach and shrimp. Top French baguette slices with equal amounts of the artichoke heart mixture. Arrange slices in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle with parsley. Broil in the preheated oven 2 minutes, or until toppings are bubbly and lightly browned. Nacho Cups 4 (12 inch) flour tortillas 6 oz Monterrey Jack Cheese, shredded 3 roma tomatoes, diced ½ red bell pepper, chopped 4\-5 green onions, chopped 1 (14 0z) can black beans with cumin & spices ¼ c salsa 6 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray two 12 cup muffin tins with cooking spray. Cut each tortilla into 6 wedges, and push each wedge into muffin pan to form a cup. Layer approx. 1 tsp each of cheese, tomato, pepper, onions, beans, salsa and cheese in each cup. Cover loosely with foil and bake 5 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 minutes more until bubbly and cheese is golden. Makes 24 appetizers \*\*You could use any ingredients you like in these, try cooked taco meat, diced jalapenos, Mexican rice, pepper jack cheese, etc. for different flavor combinations. Red Apple Sangria 3 oz Full bodied dry red wine (Shiraz, Cabernet, Zinfandel.) 1 oz Sweet-n-sour mix 1 oz Apple Liquor ( I used 99 Apples brand) 1 oz Pineapple Juice 1 oz Cranberry Juice Garnish with Chopped apples, orange slices and fresh cranberries. Greek Pasta Salad 1 lb medium pasta shells 3\-4 stalks celery, diced 1/2 c sliced black olives 1/2 c chopped red pepper 1c mayonnaise 1/2c bottled italian dressing 6\-8 oz feta cheese, crumbled 4\-6 oz parmesan cheese, grated oregano and pepper to taste Cook pasta until tender. In large bowl, combine pasta, celery black olives and red pepper. Set aside. Combine remaining ingredients and mix well. Fold together pasta and vegetables with dressing. Serve chilled. Braised Meatballs in Mushroom Gravy 4 slices day old French bread, torn into pieces 1 cup milk 1 3/4 pounds ground beef 2 large eggs 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon dried thyme All purpose flour for dusting 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil 8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced 1/2 c dry red wine 1/4 cup tomato paste 4 cups canned beef broth, divided Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine bread pieces and milk in medium bowl, pressing on bread to submerge; let stand until milk is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Squeeze out most of milk from bread; discard milk. Place bread in large bowl. Add ground beef, eggs, finely chopped onion, 1/2 cup chopped Italian parsley, salt, pepper, and thyme; mix well. Transfer meat mixture to processor. Process until well blended and mixture looks pasty. Form mixture into 1 3/4-inch-diameter meatballs (about 30). Divide meatballs between two 13x9x2-inch glass baking dishes. Bake meatballs 30 minutes. Set meatballs aside. Dust meatballs with flour; shake off excess. Melt butter with oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute mushrooms until golden, remove from pan, set aside. Working in batches, add meatballs to skillet and sauté until brown on all sides, about 3 minutes. Return all meatballs to skillet. Whisk 1 c broth and tomato paste in small bowl to blend. Add mixture to meatballs and bring to boil. Continue boiling until thickened slightly, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and remaining broth, reduce heat to medium and simmer until flavors blend and gravy thickens, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer meatballs and gravy to bowl. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and serve. Mediterranean Pasta Marinara: 3T olive oil 1/4 c chopped onion 3 cloves fresh chopped garlic ½ tsp salt ½ tsp sugar ¼ tsp pepper 1 T dried basil 1 28\-oz can tomato puree 1/4 c dry red wine Saute onions and garlic in olive oil until onions are translucent. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes. 1lb cavatappi, cooked 1 oz olive oil 8 oz sliced mushrooms 1 tomato cut in large dice ½ each red and green pepper cut in large dice 12 oz jar marinated artichoke hearts, quartered ½ c sliced black olives 1 tsp dried basil Pinch salt & pepper 2 cloves fresh garlic, chopped fine 4 oz mozzarella, shredded 1/3 c grated parmesan Saute mushrooms in oil, add remaining ingredients (except cheeses) and bring to simmer. Place hot cooked pasta in large serving dish, sprinkle with mozzarella, pour hot sauce over all and sprinkle with parmesan. Serve. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cream Sauce with Horseradish 1/4 c mayonnaise 1/3 c sour cream 1 T lemon juice Dash white pepper 1 T prepared horseradish 2 T fresh dill weed 1/4c milk Mix all ingredients in small bowl and adjust seasonings to taste. Very good served over steamed asparagus spears or other fresh steamed vegetables Linda

I am so tired tonight but still want to ask for prayers and hugs. The week before we came down, I had four days of extreme pain with an infected tooth which was removed the day before we flew down. Morning of our departure we had 12 inches of snow and had a difficult time getting out. Wait, you have not heard it all. Got here, happy to be out of the snow belt. Tooth thing really good but get a cough and cold. After two night of not much sleep, go to a doc. He gave me the wonderful codeine cough thing and an antibiotic for the rest. Wake up next morning with my face twice its size. Allergic reaction or drug interaction - I had told the doc down here that I had been off of another antibiotic for only three days. He said not problem. I guess it was. So, off of the new antibiotic (duh!) and onto prednisone and benedryl - I could have done my own diagnose on this one. That was Fri. Sat and Sun were horrible but not nearly as horrible as Monday. Monday am, hubby comes into family room and does not look good. Tells me there is something not right. I have my hand on the phone to 911 - I know he has had a stroke! The paramedics were here within 15 minutes. 6 of them! I will tell you I was so scared for my DH. DH spent almost the entire day in ER, doing tests, being observed. The docs and nurses and assistants were wonderful. Finally saw the neurologist at about 5 in the aft. He had seen all of the immediate test results and had confirmed stroke. It was in the lobe which affect speach and fine motor control - a nasty one for an attorney to have. However, no cognitive harm. He has done remarkably well in the last 24 hours and we are confident that he will continue to improve though it will take work. He has already stared with a speach therapist (I love her) and will have therapy for fine motor control. He has no problem with walking - we walked the entire hospital this aft. so tired tonight - drove home through an amazing storm with close to zero visibility. Amazing to look out the balconey toward Miami at this hour and see the lightning stikes-the entire sky lights up. I am on Marco, BTW and I am going to bed. MK

I'm so sorry you all. I cannot make it. I just found out today that my family from out of town are here until Tuesday, not Sunday as I thought. We are going down to Clear Lake on Sunday to visit my brother & his family since they cannot make it to the wedding. I don't think we will be back up in this area in time for the KT gathering. So sorry :(. I just have to catch with you all next time Nita is back. Boo-hoo... I wish there are 2 of me.

Azzalea, your sis in law IS my sis in law. And during the early years of my marriage ~the women, not a man in sight~ would burn both ends of the candle to try and get the holidays in gear. Moving many years down, I seem to be the lone person who still enjoys finding that gift that represents the person its given to. I MAY pick out a gift they don't like of course but I do try to be thoughtful. Everyone else has gotten to the point where they seem frustrated with the whole idea of gift giving. When they do give, my kids thank them and I end up wondering what I'm going to do with the girls new gifts of 8 lip glosses with added glitter, chocolate pudding hand lotion and new jewelry box (when they already have one OR two extra, given to them last year). So I'm the grinch or not, I'm going to do a new idea for gifts. The aunts and uncles can give charity or nothing. I didn't say this before but I have rules given to me too. I had a college basket for my niece and was told by my sis in law that no gifts to the college children. I ended up saving everything and giving it to another girl in college. I was so sad because I spent several hours and many days thinking of just the right things for my neice. Sounds like we are all butting heads about now. I hope we can come to some agreement. As far as traditions, sheesh, the inlaws don't have much to speak of. Like I said, the woman buy cook and feed the men,as they sit there like playdough with smiley faces and do nothing. The kids play in the basement. Boy would I like to implement some traditions but the best I can do is to make traditions for my family of 5. If I tried to force the all my ideas on them during a get together ,,the will snub the idea out like a cigarette.. They LIKE doing nothing. Yawn, so since I like my dh, I will endure being bored.