Ark Valley News - In the kitchen

In the kitchen
By Lisa Strunk
Last Updated: November 12, 2015

The holidays have snuck up on us again

Somehow the holidays are almost here. This weekend is Hometown Holidays and I can't wait to shop. It seems like I never get time to do any shopping. It seems like I rest a little bit, do a lot of chores and the weekend is over.

I'm going to get started on my Christmas shopping. I know some of you are already done. I haven't even started to think about it. The kids must not want anything too exciting, I haven't gotten wish lists from any of them.

You know what I want? A steam mop. That's a bit depressing. I figure it will help with all of those chores that take over my weekends. I also need a full-time staff including a chef and personal grocery shopper.

Too bad that person would probably make more than I do, so that's not happening.

The problem is, we still haven't finished celebrating Jer's birthday and I'm supposed to be thinking about the holidays. I used to be so organized with birthdays and Christmas. All year round I would look for sales on the kids' favorite toys.

Under my bed was packed year round. Of course, some of that was junk, and probably some dust bunnies too. It's sad when the kids outgrow toys. My kids haven't just outgrown toys, they've also outgrown our trampoline.

I'm a little bit sad about that one. Yes our trampoline is looking pretty darn rough. It has been looking pretty darn rough for the last several years. But it's been well loved. For several years it was the gathering place for the neighborhood kids.

It will be a tech-filled holiday at our house, with no toys in sight. Unless you count a steam mop as a toy. It might not be much fun, but my floors are going to glow.

With all this holiday talk, I've been thinking about my Thanksgiving menu. I'm going to switch up the regular cranberry relish for a creamy cranberry salad.

Creamy Cranberry

Salad

3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, dried, chopped

20 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained

2 cups miniature marshmallows

medium apple, chopped

2/3 cup sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

2 cups whipping cream

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

In a large bowl, mix first 6 ingredients until blended, cover and refrigerate overnight. In a separate bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form. Fold cream and walnuts into cranberry mixture.

Lisa Strunk is co-owner of The Ark Valley News. Reach her at lisa@arkvalleynews.com.