Depending on when you are reading this, the countdown to Christmas is pretty near the end. I am sure that many of you have things you still need to do.  But I hope you are not getting stressed out if you just do not happen to be able to complete your entire list.

 

Believe me I know how you feel.  I just got that feeling about making Pita Piatas.  I had made up my mind that this would be the year that I did not make them. But I woke up the other morning and decided that I was just not ready to give up yet.  So I mixed  up a half a recipe and made a few and although I was dead tired when I got done, there was a feeling of accomplishment for me. I will not have enough to share with everyone but I will be able to get one to my sisters and brother.  

 

I have also accepted the fact that there will not be any shopping done at my house - well, at least not like of Christmases past. I feel ok about just going to the bank and getting envelopes for the family and I have accepted that this is the best thing especially for those grand kids who know just exactly what they want. 

 

As we grow older, we've cut back on the decorating and have just one little tree. But the center of my decorations remains our Nativity set. I looked on the bottom of our Nativity statues and the date was 1976; they are old but they are still beautiful and so meaningful to me. I actually made the statues way back then and hope some day they will take a prominent place in the home of one of my children. 

 

So although mother nature has taken it's toll on my body, I still enjoy the season, even if I have cut back.

 

You know, about the first of November many of us seem to get that pumpkin feeling and it carries through with me till the end of the year.  I just cannot seem to wait for that first piece of pumpkin pie with whipped cream on it.  In rummaging through some recipes and I found this pumpkin pie cake which was submitted by Rachel Jarvis to the local newspaper in 2014.  For Christmas I am going to substitute it for pie and I am going to give you the recipe and hope that you might try it, if you have not already.

 

INGREDIENTS:  1 29 ounce can pumpkin;  1 cup sugar;  1 tsp cinnamon; 1/2 tsp nutmeg, ginger and salt;  3 eggs; 1 12 ounce can evaporated milk;  1 box yellow cake mix; 1 cup chopped nuts and 3/4 cup butter.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine pumpkin, sugar, spices and salt.  Add eggs and beat lightly, gradually stir in milk.  Grease a 13 x 9 baking pan and pour the pumpkin mixture in it. Spread cake mix evenly over pumpkin mixture, sprinkle nuts on top of cake mixture an;d drizzle butter on top.  Bake in oven for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until edges are firm and center is almost set. Store in refrigerator and serve with a dollop of whipped cream. A new item for your holiday table.

 

Remember all those fish recipes are in my cookbook, "Arrivederci."  It can be purchased at Tomaro's Bakery or at James and Law or by calling me at (304) 842-2662.  My book makes a great gift for everyone.

 

Remember to include church services in your busy schedule and try to attend some of the Christmas concerts that will be held in he area.

 

My condolences to the Tarantino family, especially Nola and to the Podesta family.  It is never easy to lose a loved one, but it is especially hard during this season. I also send my sympathy to Emory "Joe" Lehosit a classmate of mine who came back home after retiring and brought his lovely wife, Darlene with him.  I know her passing will create a big void in his life. I urge you to remember these families and they pain they must be enduring.

 

Thanks for all the wonderful cards and keep in touch. Stay tuned for a big announcement before the end of the year and until then "Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine."