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Made this for dinner last night and it was better than a restaurant....YUM-O! And, it is a lighter version to boot. Enjoy!

I'm a giver. I love giving gifts to people. I love making gifts for people even more. This year I made some ball jars filled with candy and then I wrapped them up pretty with ribbon, paper and handmade tags. I gave them out to teachers and bus drivers, etc. I hope they have as much fun eating them as much as I enjoyed making them. :)

Every year at this time our local volunteer firemen do a candy cane run. They come to the neighborhood in their fire truck and honk their horn delivering candy canes and stopping to talk to the kiddos and even pose for a few photos. Such a FUN tradition!!!!! Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas!!!!

My little drama queen has been attending an after school class called Rising Stars. She loves it. They sing and dance and actually had to learn a part in a play, The Little Engine that Could. Natalie had to play the part of the clown...how fitting. She is my silly little goose. :) We were invited to come see them perform at the last class a couple of weeks ago. It was adorable. The instructor did a fabulous job getting the kids to learn their lines and really act their parts. And, at the end she even presented them with their own Oscars!!!! Natalie wanted to know why she got a statue of a naked man???? Oh, she kills me. ;) I'm so grateful for these little after school programs. :)

Every year about this time we and our really good friends, the Nemeceks, go up into the mountains and chop down our Christmas tree. We eat dinner or lunch and make a day out of it. Good times! And, there is always a story to tell. Always a great memory made. One year Phil decided to pull his tree from behind instead of pushing it in front like the rest of the people. Well, almost all the way down the hill Dylan says to Phil..."where's your tree?" LOL!!!! Here he was bragging and boasting how brilliant he was because pulling it from behind was so easy. Sure, it was easy when you are not pulling a huge Christmas tree. LOL!!! This year did not disappoint. Just as we were getting ready to leave the tree farm, our trees all secured on top of the cars, their car wouldn't start. After a jump start from us all was well but we couldn't stop laughing because it's always an adventure. Good Times for sure!

Last week the girl scouts went to Westmoreland Sanctuary to earn a try it badge for candlemaking. This place is great. The woman who runs the programs is so knowledgable and wonderful with the kiddos. I've seen her do a thing on maple syrup. :) Anyhoo, the girls LOVED it. They got to choose the color candle they wanted to make and then they hand dipped wick tied on a hanger into hot wax. They were so into it and counted just like they were told. I think it took 50 dips to make a taper candle. Natty decided to make a green one and she's going to give it to my Mom for her birthday this Saturday....so CUTE!

For all those in a dinner rut, I've got some recipes for you. If you are short on time but want big flavor, try these out. It's a week's worth of recipes. Monday: Grilled Fish with Orange-Fennel Salsa 5 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 5 teaspoons soy sauce 2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger 2 teaspoons sugar 3 oranges 1 medium fennel bulb, trimmed, cut into matchstick-size strips 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced 4 (6 ounce) fillets rockfish or sea bass Whisk 2 tablespoons oil, vinegar, cilantro, 2 teaspoons soy sauce, ginger and sugar in medium bowl. Cut peel and white pith from oranges; discard. Holding oranges over bowl to catch juices, cut between membranes to release segments into bowl. Add fennel and onion; toss gently. Season with salt and pepper. (Salsa can be made 3 hours ahead. Cover; chill.) Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Mix 3 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon soy...