Chicken (Not So Crabby) Cakes

So, I was watching "The Best Thing I ever Ate" while holding a fevering toddler the other day. They featured some crab cakes in Maryland that they swore were to die for. So, I got out my notebook and wrote down all of the ingredients. Since I know my marriage would be in jeopardy if I ever served seafood in my house, I wondered how it would taste with shredded chicken instead of crab. I though they turned out really, really yummy.

The kid taste test was a little low (just keeping it real folks), but me and my husband and one out of three kids liked them. They were super easy too.

So the next time you wishing you lived closer to the sea, try these out!

Chicken (No so Crabby) Cakes

Canned, shredded chicken (of course you can cook and shred your own, and you can use real shredded crab t00)

Ritz Crackers (smashed into crumbs)

Mayo

Fresh parsley, chopped

Old Bay Seasoning

Worcestershire Sauce (I was out and used soy sauce and it worked great)

Lemon juice

Regular mustard

Mix everything but the chicken until it is almost a paste, then add your meat. From into balls. Melt butter on a skillet and put your cakes on and smash with a spatula. When they are golden brown, flip and cook the other side. Delish!

PS. Sorry, I hate seeing recipes without pictures. But I lack the camera, lighting, and know- how to make food look yummy in a picture. So, I figured no picture is better than a bad picture. But, trust me these are super yummy.

How's Yours?

I learned a new game this Christmas that would be fun to play at your New Years Eve party this year. It's called "How's Yours?" It's one of those games that a big group can play and you don't need any equipment.

You send the "IT" person out and think of something you would all have: it could be concrete as your shirt or abstract like your attitude or your job. (Little kids would need something more concrete).

Then you call the person back in and they go around the circle asking people "How's Yours?" For shirt you could say purple, warm, old, stained, etc. They keep asking until they guess correctly. If they guess correctly on your turn, then that person is the next "IT". It was pretty fun. Enjoy your last two days of the year!

Christmas Poems for Teachers

I didn't want to post these until after I gave my gifts to teachers and staff at my kids' school. The first was for their teachers. The 12 days of Christmas poem I found on another site, but I can't remember which one. I also changed it a bit to put more school supplies into it and ones that I could find easily. You could do this for 12 days if you'd like or I just bundled them together in a basket and sent it on Christmas party day. The teachers really seemed to enjoy it.

On the 1st day Christmas,

The budget cuts began

So here’s some copy paper

Sorry it’s not a sedan.

*

For the 2nd day of Christmas,

We are busy, little bees…

You can correct our papers

With these 2 red sharpies!

*

For the 3rd day of Christmas,

I give you binder clips,

I’m sure it could be tempting

To use them on my lips!

*

For the 4th day of Christmas

White board markers come in four…

As my 3rd grade teacher,

You really help me soar!

*

For the 5th day of Christmas,

Some popcorn for a snack,

Sorry, that‘s all the food

I could fit in my backpack!

*

For the 6th day of Christmas,

Reminders you might need

To keep your day in order

Sticky notes to help you succeed.

*

For the 7th day of Christmas,

A package of multi-colored pens

In case to feel like writing

To some of your old friends.

*

For the 8th day of Christmas,

Here are 8 paperclips multiplied by 10,

I hope you are enjoying this

’cause it feels like I’ve just begun!

*

For the 9th day of Christmas,

I’ve brought you chewing gum,

It feels like Christmas break

Is never going to come!

*

For the 10th day of Christmas,

10 magnets I bring to you,

You surprise me every day

With all the fun stuff we do!

*

For the 11th day of Christmas,

Some pencils I hope you’ll need,

Hillview is so lucky

To have you here indeed!

*

For the 12th day of Christmas,

Some stickers to give you cheer,

I wish you a Merry Christmas

And a very Happy New Year!!

*

The second poem was for the Principal, secretaries, counselor and Librarian. Since I am the PTO president I interact with these people a lot and appreciate all the help they give me so I bought a stack of post-its and a Sonic Gift card and attached this poem that I made up.

A Poem made Just for YOU!!

Working at a school

Isn’t always cool

Budgets getting cut

Feeling you’re in a rut

*

Always out of cash

Feeling like you might just crash

Maybe needing a little rest

Wanting always to do your best

*

Winter months get long and bleak

Thinking you could use a drink

I know you don’t think of Sonic

When you need a gin and tonic

*

But for a drink with lots of Ice

Take this card for a nice surprise

Sit back, relax and enjoy

It’s time for Christmas break, Oh Boy!

*

Then when you use a post it note

Or help a kid to find their coat

Know that I appreciate all you do

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year too!!!

*
I had one just for post-its but I wasn't sure how much I liked it, but I'll post it in case anyone else does and would like to use it.

Post Its are a simple gift I know
But believe me when I tell you that its so
You are wonderful and Kind
I ask you for favors and you don't mind
Merry Christmas and have a really great Furlough!

Silly I guess, but appreciated. Post its are a real luxury, most teachers are using the back of cut up scratch paper. That's great and all but sometimes a post it is really useful!
I hope you enjoy!!!
Tammie

More Christmas Game Ideas

So I must be out of the loop, but I've never seen Minute it Win It. But last night at a Christmas party we played some of those games and they were super fun and easy and involved everyone. I'm definetly going to do some of these at our Christmas party. The web-site has tons of game ideas you can play complete with instructions. If you need more ideas for your Christmas party head here.

Christmas Whoonu

We are having the family Christmas Eve party at my house this year, and I found some cute ideas online, but was still looking for something else.
One of my favorite games is Cranium Whoonu, so I decided to make a Christmas version making cards out of my own Christmas words. This would be an easy and orginal Christmas game for you to play with friends and family. For instructions on how to play Whoonu click here:
Here is the list of words I came up to make cards out of:
1) Santa Claus
2) Dasher
3) Dancer
4) Prancer
5) Vixon
6) Comet
7) Cupid
8) Donner
9) Blitzen
10) Rudolph
11) Snowflakes
12) Peppermint Candy Canes
13) Fruit-flavored candy canes
14) Elves
15) Decorating the tree
16) Real Christmas Trees
17) Fake Christmas Trees
18) Wreaths
19) Cutting down your own tree
20) Ward Christmas Parties
21) Christmas Eve
22) Receiving neighbor gifts
23) Giving neighbor gifts
24) Peanut Brittle
25) Fruit Cake
26) Eggnog
27) Fudge
28) Sugar Cookies
29) Making gingerbread houses
30) Seeing Christmas Lights
31) Putting outside Christmas Lights Up
32) Angels
33) Nativities
34) Song “Jingle Bells”
35) Song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
36) Black Friday
37) Online Shopping
38) Shopping with Christmas Crowds
39) Picking out the perfect present for someone
40) Song “I'll be home for Christmas”
41) Song “Silent Night”
42) Song “Little Drummer Boy”
43) Song “Let it Snow”
44) Song “Must Be Santa”
45) Song “Deck the Halls”
46) Song “Santa Claus is coming to town”
47) Song “Away in a manger”
48) Song “Joy the World”
49) Song “Feliz Navidad”
51) Messiah/Hallelujah Chorus
54) Christmas Lights on Temple Square
55) Movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” New Version
56) Movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Old version
57) Movie “The Polar Express”
58) Movie “Mr. Kruegers Christmas”
59) Movie “National Lampoons Christmas Vacation”
60) Movie “A Charlie Brown Christmas”
61) Story: A Christmas Carol
62) Movie: Frosty the Snowman
63) Movie “Home Alone”
64) Movie “Elf:
65) Movie “Christmas Story”
66) Book “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”
67) Getting up early on Christmas Morning
68) Sleeping in on Christmas Morning
69) Building a snowman
70) Sledding
71) Snowmobiling
72) Christmas Morning Breakfast
73) Christmas Dinner
74) Being with family on Christmas
75) Family Christmas Parties
76) Opening presents
77) No school over Christmas break
78) Nutcracker Soldiers
79) Stars
80) Candles
81) Fireplaces
82) Ornaments
83) Movie “The muppet Christmas Carol”
84) Movie “Miracle on 34th Street”
85) Movie “The Santa Clause”
86) Movie “It's a wonderful Life”
87) Wreaths
88) Bells
89) Mistletoe
90) Christmas Color Red
91) Christmas Color Green
92) Christmas Color White
93) Christmas Color Silver
94) Christmas Color Gold
95) Writing letters to Santa
96) Sitting on Santa's Lap
97) Leaving cookies for Santa
98) Baking Christmas Treats
99) Christmas Caroling
100) Shopping Early
101) Shopping last minute
102) Sleepover by the Christmas Tree
103) Wrapping presents
104) Hot Chocolate
105) Hot Apple Cider
106) Chocolates
107) Getting toys for Christmas
108) Getting Video Games for Christmas
109) Getting clothes for Christmas
110) Getting jewelry for Christmas
111) Getting movies for Christmas
112) Gingerbread Cookies
113) Shortbread Cookies
114) Candy Cane Hersheys Kisses
115) Mint Truffle Hersheys Kisses
116) Snickerdoodles
117) Chocolate Chip Cookies
118) Pomegranate 7-Up
119) Cranberries
120) Christmas Art Projects
121) Pumpkin Pie
122) Apple Pie
123) Listening to Christmas Music
124) Fuzzy pajamas
125) Warm socks

(I know some of the numbers are messed up-but if you are like me you have a million things on your Christmas to-do list and I don't have time to fix it- You get the idea)

Christmas Dinner Favors

Each year we have a big Christmas Eve dinner with my cousins. When my mom hosts it at her house she likes to have little favors for everyone. She has put me in charge of coming up with the favors the last two years. Here is what I came up with this year:

I bought some bead jars and mints. I filled the jars with the mints. They hold about 13. I used some old ribbon I had laying around to glue around the top. I used the craft glue dots. I found that if I stuck a tiny piece of it on and then pulled, it would stretch around the top and then I could stick my ribbon to it. (I would have taken a picture but wasn't really planning on posting about this! Hopefully you understand what I mean.:) ) Then I used my digital scrapbook program to make circle labels to go on top. I was happy with the way they turned out so I made another set to take to my husband's Christmas dinner. The jars for my husband's side say "Merry Christmas 2010"

The jars for my side say "Christmas Eve 2010"
They are sure to add some Christmas cheer!

Personal Message from Santa

My friend featured a very cool site on her blog that I had to share. You can add a couple of photos and personal information about your child and Santa will send your child a video talking just to them. It's pretty cool. My four-year-old was pretty amazed.

To see an example go here or just go straight to the site here.