The Art of Giving

Concetta's Coconut Cake

(given as a gift to one of my favorite

co-workers for his birthday ~ Ray)

I love to give gifts. It is my greatest pleasure to find something special for someone, or as my sisters like to say, "screams their name". Of course, these very same sisters of mine thought they were very clever during our Family Christmas Celebration ~ they passed me a beautifully wrapped box all the while clacking about how much they knew I would love it! Turns out my darling sisters gave re-gifting a whole new meaning as they snatched sconces and candles off of my bedroom wall and packaged them up as my present! I, on the other hand, do not subscribe to their shenanigans!
Don't you feel so delighted when you receive a little treasure? I do. Maybe it is something to add to one of your collections ~ or an exquisite handmade item ~ it could be a delicious homemade treat ~ or a token of love found while traveling. Acts of kindness are also wonderful gifts to bestow upon someone you care about ~ offering home cooked meals, yard work, house cleaning, babysitting or running errands can brighten some one's day more than we can imagine.
Gifts do not have to be extravagant or expensive - it truly is the thought that counts. When I give a gift it is always something that I would love to have myself (in some form or another). I may not necessarily display a Star Wars Yoda Bobble-Head in my china cabinet, but for my son who is an avid collector of anything Star Wars this turned out to be the perfect prize tucked into his stocking! I knew if I did collect Star Wars paraphernalia I would have to possess that bobble-head!
My beloved grandmother - the original Concetta - truly was the Queen Giver of Gifts. It was a special gift God put inside of her. She knew what we all enjoyed and continuously lavished us with priceless reminders of her never-ending love. It was not unusual for a package to arrive in the mail for me to open ~ one day I would receive a set of casserole dishes and another day a cozy blanket. She demonstrated the art of giving every day - whether it was baking a scrumptious dessert for her church, picking out the perfect surprise for one of her grandchildren, ordering a collector's angel for her daughter, washing and taking special care of my father's uniforms, renewing a magazine subscription, inscribing a cookbook, crocheting yet another masterpiece or cooking one of our favorite meals! She was amazing.
The last gift my Nana sent to me arrived after she had already gone home to be with the Lord. It was a spiral-cut holiday ham for us to serve at Christmas. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to sit down with my family and my sisters with their families for our feast showcasing Nanny's ham. That ham and the thoughtfulness behind it made her a part of our day even if she was not there physically. She was able to give us the gift of comfort during our time of sorrow. You never know how your gifts and heart of giving can touch a person - even change a life forever.

Nanny was our gift and she is imprinted deep in our hearts.

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Heavenly Lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Here is a little sampling of magnificent gifts I have received recently from people I love dearly and gifts I have bestowed on others.

A lovely hand crocheted stocking from Jordan Parsons.

Jordan is always using her talents to bless others!

The Victorian Friendship Ball

This is a tradition started by my dearest friend

in Vermont ~ Tonya. We tuck tiny little treasures inside and

they travel across the miles to bring great joy and love.

We have been exchanging our friendship

ball for many, many years and it is still a thrill when it arrives!

My Christmas Cow

(now what can I send back to my beloved Tonya?)

Fried Venison
My brother Keith - the great white hunter - has mastered
the fine art of cooking venison - he makes it many different
ways, but this is one of our favorite dishes.
This delectable meat was his gift to our Christmas brunch.

Tiny Christmas Tree
A gift from 2 of my favorite boys - John & Tim -
the day they came over for a paintball extravaganza.

Name Legacy
For Christmas this year, without the other knowing, my husband and I handmade these treasures featuring our last name. This is the legacy of our names:

Thomas & Concetta Young.

Young
What a beautiful name - my name and the name of my love.

Forever Young Farm
My husband made me this awesome
wooden sign for our farm!

Itty-Bitty Measuring Spoons
Dash-Pinch-Smidgin
These spoons of love were a present from
Laurel ~ my closest sister-friend.

Nanny's Ham
The holiday ham Nanny ordered for our Christmas.

Holiday Ham of our Life

Savannah Marie's Bassinet
This is my gift of love to my niece, Ashley, who
is about to give birth to my great-niece, Savannah.
A royal bed for the little princess to sleep in
when she arrives home!
Nanny's Nutcracker
My grandmother collected nutcrackers and every year
I searched for charming ones to add to her collection.
This was a nutcracker I bought for her several months ago -
I have it displayed in my bathroom and forgot about it when I
packed up all the Christmas decorations. It is staying in my
bathroom - I cannot bring myself to put it away.

Tiny Space ~ Wondrous Place

Wonderful things can happen in tiny spaces ~

Gabriella's Room

Gabriella once shared a room with her older sister ~ Arianah. As sisters go, I would have to say you could not have a better one than Arianah ~ also known as Queenie. She lovingly shared a room with the baby and never complained. It has been our goal to find a way for Queenie to have her own room - a private place all to herself. On November 1, 2009 we moved into our new home @ Forever Young Farm - but all the rooms were taken up and it looked like the girls would have to continue to share a room. The new house only had 4 bedrooms again - although much bigger with lots of space! My mother-in-law lives with us and needed her own room - our 17 year old son, Ryan, has in own world and of course we have the master suite. That left one room and 2 girls left! What to do?

Tiny Space ~ Wondrous Place

Our little princess, Gabriella Grace Young, affectionately known as Squidgey ~ now has an adorable little room! It was once our walk-in closet and we have transformed it into a baby bedroom! Yes, she sleeps in a closet for all intensive purposes...but it is the prettiest closet in the house!

She can display all of her treasures and trinkets.
Down below on the floor are many of her favorite toys
and a basket filled with her tea set.

Baby Blanket ~ Handmade my Sue McKee

Octopus Plate ~ from my beloved friend ~ Jean Skinner.

Collection of Octopi

We love Octopi!

LIFE SCRIPTS

Psalm 91:9~15 Amplified
Because you have made the Lord your refuge,

and the Most High your dwelling place,
there shall no evil befall you, nor any plague

or calamity come near your tent.
For He will give His angels charge over you

to accompany and defend and preserve you in

all your ways of obedience and service.
They shall bear you up on their hands,

lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and adder;

and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.
Because you have set your love upon Me,

therefore will I deliver you; I will set you on high,

because you know and understand My name
(have a personal knowledge of My mercy,

love and kindness - trusts and relies on Me,

knowing I will never forsake you, no, never.)
You shall call upon Me, and I will answer you;

I will be with you in trouble,

I will deliver you and honor you.

With long life will I satisfy you

and show you My salvation.

Leaving A Legacy

Concetta Lynch ~ Beloved Grandmother of Concetta Young

On December 1, 2009 at 2:15am my grandmother, Nanny, - the original Concetta - went home to be with the Lord. "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" she would always say - and this year she is with her precious Jesus for her favorite season.

Psalm 116:15 Amplified
Precious (important and no light matter) in the sight of the Lord is the death of one of His saints (His loved ones). Nanny was the kind of grandmother you dream about...the Italian kind!!! She was the best cook, baker extraordinaire, master seamstress, quilter, crocheter, knitter...you name it she could do it and everything she put her hands to prospered. She had so much talent in those hands!

My Nanny had one little baby - her one claim to fame - my mother, Patricia Ann Lynch Harrison. Through that little girl came quite the legacy for my grandmother - 3 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and one tiny great-great-grand girl ready to be born any day. She was intimately involved in everyone of our lives and the moments we have spent with her are memories that we will treasure in our hearts forever.

Today is her birthday - December 26 - she would have been 92 years old. She was beautiful, bright, vibrant and full of life - even until she took her last breath she was radiant beyond comprehension. What a testimony she is for all of us!
Concetta Lynch
12-26-1917 ~ 12-1-09
Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Her "Celebration of Life" service was just magnificent. We witnessed the love her church family had for her and the impact she made in all of their lives. Her pastor read the most moving poem in her honor - and it truly touched each one of us.

The Dash Poemby Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cares, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard,
Are these things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Life we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
With your life's actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash.

She loved the Word of God and she had such an intimate relationship with Him. Her favorite verse was Proverbs 3:5-6 and during these days of tears and the intense moments of missing her - I cling to this verse and rejoice that God is so full of mercy, goodness and lovingkindness.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

I loved my grandmother beyond what words I could ever express or write. I was her namesake - the Little Concetta. What an honor. She was very affectionately known as the "Old Bat" and I was her "Little Bat". I could only hope to be half the woman she was - touch people like she did and love in her immeasurable capacity. I was blessed with the greatest gift for 43 years - the Nanny of my life.

The Kitchenettes' Hospitality Club ~ October

October Kitchenettes

October was a fabulous month for the Kitchenettes! We were treated to the most magnificent day at Mr. Henry's restaurant ~ Maria Bonita's. I absolutely love this place - the food is delectable specializing in Mexican and Cuban cuisine. Mr. Henry could write a book on hospitality...he could go on tour speaking about the art of serving...he exemplifies a true spirit of excellence in everything he puts his hands to. We were so blessed by his kindness and generosity!

We were given a tour of the restaurant and then the girls got to roll up their sleeves and go to work! Mr. Henry taught us how to make homemade guacamole ~ cheese, chicken and steak
quesadilla ~ and to top it all off....drum roll please...da ta ta da.... ~ fried ice cream!!! Can you say food bliss...heaven in your mouth...the tasty treat of all treats???
After learning to chop vegetables, saute meat morsels, use professional chef tools, mix fresh ingredients, use spices and seasonings, make cheesy wonders, roll frozen ice cream in cereal and fry to golden goodness ~ we all sat down to a feast!!!! Oh what a day ~ what a glorious day!
The Kitchenettes also celebrated 4 birthdays!

Thank you Mr. Henry - we love you!

Kitchenettes at Maria Bonita's Restaurant

D'Lisa~Andrea~Bryn~Arianah making fried ice cream!
Homemade Quesadilla

Fried Ice Cream!

Birthday Time

Making guacamole: Bryn~Arianah~D'Lisa~Andrea

Bryn~Arianah~D'Lisa

Mr. Henry & The Kitchenettes

Guacamole

Cooking at the stove!

Chicken Quesadilla

Mr. Henry

Andrea~Arianah~D'Lisa~Bryn~Ashley~Kimmy~Jordan

The Famous ~ Mr. Henry

Mrs. Nancy (Mr. Henry's beautiful wife-standing)

Andrea-Bryn-Arianah-D'Lisa-Jordan-Ms. Michelle

Victoria-Ashley-Kimmy-Ms. Jen

Gift Bags ~ Prizes for The Kitchenettes

Cranberry Christmas Cake

Cranberry Christmas Cake

This is the most delicious cake! It is the perfect holiday dessert to serve anytime, anywhere and for any occasion! I like to make them into cupcake size as well - little individual gems of goodness for everyone to enjoy!

Cranberry Christmas Cake

2 c fresh cranberries
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c walnuts

Chop together in a food processor.
Place in the bottom of a glass pie plate or cake pan.

Batter:
3/4 c butter, melted
1 c flour
1 c sugar
1 t almond extract
2 eggs

Mix together until well blended.
Pour over cranberries.
Bake @ 350 for 30 minutes.
Invert cake on your prettiest platter.

Christmas Cranberry Delight

Christmas Cranberry Delight

This delicious side dish is a specialty of my beloved grandmother ~ Nanny. This was at every holiday table growing up and I have carried on the family tradition. It is so beautiful presented in a glass bowl and will make your celebration truly memorable!

Christmas Cranberry Delight

2 large packages raspberry jello
1 1/4 c hot water
1 c pecans, chopped
1 can crushed pineapple
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1 c ice water

Dissolve jello in hot water, mix well.
Add ice water.
Stir in pineapples, cranberry sauce and pecans.
Mix well and pour into glass bowl.
Let chill until set.

Topping:
1 8 oz. cream cheese, soft
1 c sour cream

Beat together until smooth.
Spread on top of cranberries.
Garnish with pecans.

Peanut Butter Cookies

It has been quite the day of baking in my home! I have made dozens of Peanut Butter Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies and a lovely Brown Sugar Pound Cake w/ Vanilla Glaze.

These Peanut Butter Cookies are the simplest to make with only 4 ingredients! They are the best cookies with an intense peanut butter taste! My children love them!

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 c sugar

1 egg

1 t vanilla

Mix all ingredients together until well blended.

Scoop into 1" balls and place on a cookie sheet.

Dip fork in sugar and press cookies in 2 directions.

Bake @ 350 for 12-15 minutes.

I always double and triple the batch!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brown Sugar Pound Cake w/ Vanilla Glaze

Buffalo Chicken Dip

A creamy ~ dreamy delectable dip for your entertaining!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

2 packages cream cheese, soft

2 cans chicken, large (shredded rotisserie chicken is delicious)

1 c ranch dressing

1/2 c hot sauce (I use Frank's)

2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Mix cream cheese, ranch dressing and hot sauce with beaters until well blended and fluffy.

Fold in chicken.

Bake in a glass pan sprayed with oil @ 350 for 15 minutes.

Top with cheese and bake 15 minutes more.

Serve with tortilla chips.

Easy Holiday Appetizers

Here are a few ultra easy appetizer ideas to make your holidays more festive and stress free.

You can turn the simplest ingredients into something magnificent! It is all about the presentation. A beautiful platter, a glass pedestal, a touch of greenery and attention to detail is all it takes!

Crudites Platter

Crudites Platter

Arrange sliced vegetables, tomatoes and olives on a colorful tray. I love to use my wavy cutter for intricate designs on cucumbers or cheeses. Serve with a delicious quick dip made with: 2 cups sour cream and 1 package dry Italian dressing mix.
You can also take this over the top by adding artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and cheese cubes - then drizzle on a balsamic vinaigrette for an instant antipasto!

Holiday Cranberry Spread Holiday Cranberry Spread

Place a brick of cream cheese on a beautiful serving plate.

Top with homemade cranberry sauce and surround with

crackers, shortbread or ginger snaps for dipping.

You may also top the cream cheese with chutney or green pepper jelly.

So easy and so delicious!

Bleu Cheese Stuffed Celery

Bleu Cheese Stuffed Celery

This is our family's favorite quick appetizer and it is served at every holiday table!

We have had this yummy dish ever since I was a little girl and I love it! I like to have a relish tray of olives, sweet midgey pickles and savory dills to go along with this tasty treat!

2 bricks cream cheese, soft

1 package bleu chees

celery

paprika

Mix cheeses until well blended. Prepare celery by peeling skin and cutting into strips.

Stuff each celery with cream cheese mixture and sprinkle on paprika.