Blog Friends Holiday Luncheon

Hello there, come on in, have a chair and join us, there's plenty to share!  Yesterday was our long anticipated blog girls luncheon here at the farm.  My guests were Gracie, Betsy & Taci.  

I prepared the salmon for lunch - it turned out perfect and moist and delicious!  Butter a pan, lay the salmon down, sprinkle it with salt and pepper, layer the top with sour cream, lay sliced lemons over it, and I have a rosemary bush out on the deck so I put three branches across.. bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, check the thickest part to see if it's done, if not put it back in for 5 or 10 more minutes.  We did ours for 40 min.  Yum!

The table is all set and ready for the hot salmon from the oven and for us to enjoy our lunch together.

Have a chair!

Taci and Gracie readying to pull the Cracker I got for us.  What fun that was, and Jane, thanks for the inspiration!  They indeed made a cracking sound when we pulled them, in each was a paper hat, a small item such as a bag of marbles, and a joke to read.  That was fun.. here is an example.. "What do you call someone who is afraid of Santa?" --  "A Claustrophobic".  :-)

Blog girls love to chat!

Taci brought fresh rolls from her friend's bakery, Betsy brought broccoli salad, I made the salmon and Gracie made us a chocolate cheesecake.  Yum!

Buddy kept hoping I'd drop something.  :-)

After lunch we retired to the living room by the fire and opened our fun little gifts for each other.  First up was something for each of us from Meredith in Florida - she made and sent us the cutest little ornaments of a ball of yarn with little knitting needles stuck in the ball.  *T*H*A*N*K* * *Y*O*U*!*!*!* 

We visited and enjoyed our time together.

A Christmas to remember, with friends.  A new tradition started.

Betsy visited her son in Japan recently and surprised us with a fan from Japan.  We wore our paper hats from our Crackers all afternoon.

The girls seemed pleased with the little snow jar I made them.  I put a small nativity scene in them.

Taci had to get going, so I asked Dayle to get a group photo of us by the tree.

Gracie's chocolate cheesecake.. she used my recipe and it was delicious!!  (recipe at the bottom)

The gifts of friendship - Taci made a little crocheted pillow in a jar kit for us! The red yarn ball ornament from Meredith.  The fan, some hand-made tea and the crocheted ornament from Betsy.  The colorful ball and crocheted wreath ornament from Gracie.  Taci also brought a hostess gift for me of a red and green hot pad for the table!  Isn't it nice to have creative friends?

My son and his family got dressed up a bit ago and they have all headed to Kristi's parents home for Christmas Eve celebrations and you can bet the boys will be bringing home lots of fun things!

My daughter Amy took her two daughters to see the Nutcracker - here they are all dressed up to go - I think they look beautiful!  My recipe is below so I will bid you adieu here and wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Thanks for coming to visit me here on this blog and when I count my blessings, your friendship is at the top of my list.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

TERESA’S CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Crust:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup melted butter

Stir together and press on bottom and sides of 9 inch springform pan.

Filling:

2 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/3 cup cocoa

1 teasp vanilla

2 eggs

Topping:

1 cup sour cream

2 tablesp sugar

1 teasp vanilla

Combine ingredients.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Beat cream cheese in mixer, add sugar, cocoa and vanilla.  Add eggs one at a time, beat well after each.  Pour into unbaked crust.  Bake for 35 minutes.  Remove from oven, while still hot pour over topping and spread to the edges, it will "cook" on the cheesecake while it cools. NOTE:  This cheesecake is also best if not overbaked.  It needs to chill for several hours before serving.