Planning ahead

It may seem like a long way off, but it will be here before we know it!

If you're looking for somewhere to be on Christmas Eve, please join us at Newberg Friends for a music-filled, candlelight service! My handbell choir (including me, my sister and my mother!) will be playing before, during and after each service.

And we have three services to fit your busy evening: 5, 6:30 and 8.

NFC is at 3rd and College in Newberg, just off Highway 99W. Click HERE for directions.

-Liz :)

Turkey Feast '09

Around our house, you can tell the changing seasons by Odie's wardrobe. Obviously, it's Turkey Feast time!

This year's event was a sit-down dinner for 30. We're ready!
Mashed potatoes are easiest prepared ahead and kept warm in the Crock Pot. (Thanks, America's Test Kitchen for that BRILLIANT idea!)
Eryn couldn't resist this impulse buy:
Fancy!!
Dueling rosters took care of our two birds.
Carving the bird:
Laura showed off her Eggplant Halloween costume:
Chow time!
Hope you left room for dessert:
SO MUCH FUN! Can't wait for TF10!
:)

Join the conspiracy!

Pies, pies and more pies!

In preparation for our annual Turkey Feast, Eryn, Brad and I baked some pies today. I hope they taste as good as they look!

Trick-or-treaters

Friends came over last night for Papa Murphy's Jack-O-Lantern pizza, pumpkin carving and "The Office". I opened the door, and these super-cute trick-or-treaters greeted me:
It was a really nice surprise! Good thing I had candy at the ready :)

Oatmeal-caramel bars

Another good find on BHG.com (and I stole the pic from there, too!).

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces(I had white chocolate chips)
  
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 30 vanilla caramels (8 ounces)
• 3 tablespoons milk

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar. Beat until well combined. Add eggs, vanilla, and baking soda. Beat mixture until combined. Beat or stir in the flour. Stir in the oats.

2. Press two-thirds (about 3 1/3 cups) of the oat mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with chocolate pieces and nuts.

3. In a medium saucepan combine caramels and milk. Cook over low heat until caramels are melted. Drizzle caramel mixture over chocolate and nuts. Drop remaining one-third of the oat mixture by teaspoons over the top.

4. Bake in a 350 degrees oven for 22 to 25 minutes or until top is light brown. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes 60 bars

:)

Extraction party '09

Sunday was the annual Rathkey/Goodfellow extraction party... where we extract cider from apples and honey from combs. It was a great time with good friends, good food and good fun! Some highlights:

Cutting off the wax plugs before the frames go into the centrifuge:

Inside, some decorated sugar cookies:

Of course, we had to take a break to eat!!!

After laboring, feasting, chatting and laughing, we came home with 6 pints of fresh honey and 6 quarts of fresh apple cider. YUM! I can't wait for next year :)