Today was all about getting our house in order for the year ahead.
Unpacking.
Cleaning.
Laundry.
And removing every single Christmas decoration I laid my eyes on!
I have this thing about Christmas décor that the second December 26 arrives it all just looks like horrible clutter to me. Everything is packed away until next year now [tree ready to be made into mulch by the City of Cville] and the house feels so serene!!! I even brought out some Spring colors – wishful thinking!
MY OTHER RECIPES
We also went to pick up Karen from the airport and went on a family grocery shopping trip for the week!
Karen gave us this box of crackers when we were at her house – she hated them, but I loved them! Snack time.
Dinner tonight of course involved greens for wealth and black-eyed peas for luck! Luckily these are two of our favorite foods, so it’s easy to plan them on New Year’s Day.
The beans were from a can and were cooked with a cup of frozen corn and Cajun seasoning. Simple and tasty topped with greek yogurt and Faith’s homemade pepper hot sauce!
The greens were sautéed in bacon grease after we browned two slices and set them aside
But the real treat of the evening were these wonderful Cheesy Spice Cornbread Muffins that our employee (and friend!) Ellen made while she was house sitting for us! We found a batch on the dining room table when we returned (along with 2 bananas “for morning oats”). So sweet Ellen!
[And also hilarious because as I was reading Ellen’s blog I recognized the surfaces of our house before I even knew we’d get to taste the muffins!]
They muffins were probably the best cornbread muffins I’ve had – the serrano pepper flavor was my favorite part, and the cheese really came through too. They were also so light and fluffy!
I have no resolutions for 2012. I make resolutions when I wake up every morning!
2011 was one rockin’ year and I hope 2012 will be too.
i’ll take some corn bread crackers (and muffins) too!
our holiday decor isn’t coming down for another week, i think. i can’t bear it!
Cheesey Cornbread? Sounds heavenly!
With all of our hustle and bustle with a new dog, we didn;t really decorate this year. A little grinchy, but we didn’t have anything to take down, either!
Next year.. we are going to go big though since it will be our first married Christmas!
This looks like such a healthy and yet scrumptious meal. I hope to create some meals like this in 2010.
Love greens in bacon grease with bacon. Welcome home!
Mmmm corntastic 😀
Happy New Year, Kath!
I have no doubt that 2012 will be another great year for you.
I love that—a year comes every 365 days, while each day is a new one to live!
Have a wonderful New Year, Kath. I hope you will have a little one this year!!
Serrano peppers in muffins sound yummy–even though I do not think I have ever had serrano peppers before.
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Love that attitude! (and love the looks of that cornbread) Happy new year!
That’s my day (laundry, catch-up life stuff, finding the equilibrium in my life after 10 days of vacation), as well! Hope 2012 is even better for ya, Kath 🙂
looks like a perfect new year’s day dinner!! those cornbread muffins sound amazing… i’m headed over to ellen’s blog to check them out!
a delicious last meal! i love what your eats symbolize 🙂
here’s to a great 2012!
Just got back ourselves…I also feel the need to get the decorations packed away. I collect all the decorations from around the house on the dining room table…visually the decorations are down…then I carefully pack them all up and away. Those corn bread muffins look scrumptious!
I think corn bread is one of my favorite things to eat, they look amazing! Those corn bread crackers are a double score too!
Awww, I need to take my tree down but that makes me sad! I like to keep it up as long as possible 😉
I don’t have a tree, but I say keep it up for a little while! Christmas stuff shouldn’t be seen as just clutter or something that has to go down right away. There’s beauty and peace in just enjoying it and not worrying too. To each his own right? 🙂
My mom used to keep the tree up until January 6 or 8, I forget which date, but it’s also called the 2nd Christmas, has anyone heard of this?
On this day we would all get the most valuable present like a piece of jewelry or something expensive like a bike!
January 6th. It’s called Epiphany and it’s when the wise men supposedly made it to Bethlehem after seeing the Christmas star. That’s why we have songs like the 12 days of Christmas. It’s really Christmas and the 12 days AFTER it that are the Christmas season.
Aha, now I remember… Thanks!
Wow! A resolution every morning. I might try that. Hey, let’s try to convince your dad to do that too. Ha!
I had black eyed peas too! Although I had okra because my friend didn’t want collard greens!
“I have no resolutions for 2012. I make resolutions when I wake up every morning!” — I LOVE THAT! I said something similar in a recent post. I don’t feel the need to overhaul my life, my workouts, my diet, my interpersonal relationships…I do those things as needed, daily, monthly, etc. I don’t just save them up for Jan 1st 🙂
I feel the same way about decorations, but we leave ours up until the middle of January out of sheer laziness. It’s really hot here right now, so it feels weird to be sitting in front of a Christmas tree!
Lots of corn loving in this post!!! Sounds good to me! I love corn bread….so i am sure i would love those crackers! And the muffins of course!!
I made goals, but I like your take on resolutions. Perhaps I should try that mentality for next years!
I said the same thing about resolutions. If I want to accomplish something, I don’t wait for a new year to begin. I want to tackle it right away!
Hi Kath!
I have been a long time reader!
What are your thoughts on doing a 21 day sugar detox? I would like to do it, but I’m worried about giving up carbs and eating a lot of fats. Also, I don’t want to gain after the 21 days are over. I would really appreciate any advice or insight that you have on this topic.
Thanks and Happy New Year!!!
Hey Andrea,
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with cutting back on sugar (it’s a good thing!) but I don’t know why you’d eliminate carbs? They are our source of energy. Focus on whole grains, real food, lots of fruits and veggies, good quality proteins and fats with every meal and you’ll likely feel great. I wouldn’t stress too much about following a “diet” but this time of year many people like to cut out the sweets and alcohol after the holidays, which I think is a good thing.
Oooooo those cornbread muffins look amazing. Corn bread is probably one of my favorite foods. I’m heading over to Ellen’s blog to see if I can find the recipe! 🙂 Happy New Year’s!
Perfect eats! Mine were blackeyed peas and cabbage! Hot sauce is a must! I’m so with you on the Christmas decorations and resolutions! I am so ready for this year! I know it will be a great one.
I totally agree about Christmas decorations! Mine were down on the 26th! I always feel my house is the cleanest and most organized after the holidays and I love it.
I agree about the Christmas decorations, but I tend to keep a few “snow flake” decorations out. It’s keeps winter festive.
Those cornbread muffins look AWESOME!!
That’s exactly how my Christmas decorations feel right now to me…CLUTTER! they need to come down asap this week.
Hah! I am the opposite with Christmas decorations, at least for now! I’m not quite ready to give up Christmas, but give it a few days and the house will feel crowded and stale with it all up. 🙂
Did you throw the beans and corn into a big dutch oven and cook them? I never think to add black eyed peas. I think I’ll give it a try one of these times.
In a pot, on the stovetop, medium heat!
thank ya 🙂
I am the same way about the Christmas decor! Come Thanksgiving I cant wait to get all my Christmas decor up and ready, and I truly enjoy it… until Dec 26… then, IT MUST BE REMOVED!! I love how open and airy the house feels now, and it totally puts me in the mood to spring clean and decorate!!
Love the Greek yogurt with pepper sauce! I top just about everything with this combination…glad to see I’m not the only one!
I make resolutions every morning when I wake up too. Well said!
Happy New Year, Kath! Love your quote at the end of your post…..I’m keeping that one close to my heart and mind.
The good luck, New Year’s feast in my famiy has always been sauerkraut & pork (German heritage, living in Ohio) 🙂
“I make resolutions when I wake up”–> love that!
I agree with you, I have new goals about every other day!
I am like you in that I make a new resolution every day … but I definitely make resolutions on Dec 31st … 🙂
I always forget the black eyed peas tradition for New Year’s Day. Gotta remember that next year! 😉
We also just arrived back into town and I will be doing the same things to get our home back in order and on a clean slate for this New Year. I like how you said you make resolutions when you wake up every morning. Love that concept! Have a great Monday. 🙂
Looks delish! Haha Happy New Year 🙂
I’m the same way about Christmas decorations. On December 26 everything is put away. I think it’s because every retailer starts pushing Christmas around Halloween. One holiday at a time, please!
It seems really odd to enjoy Christmas decorations one day and then loathe them the very next…labelling them “clutter” when just the day before they represented warmth and joy. There is something so disingenuous and cold and detached in that “Christmas is over so now they must go” mentality, but as another commenter said, to each his own.
I agree about the Christmas decorations needing to go as soon as the holiday is over. Although I always miss the warmth of the white lights around the house!
I always feel that the house is clean when I finally get all of the decorations down. This year I left them up a few days after Christmas for the lights but I feel so much better now. It is a clutter issue for me too. I love your new resolution every morning plan, much easier to take things one day at a time.
Hi Kath,
Hope all is well! Looks like you enjoyed your vacation. Question for you on the Wild Squirrel
nut butters. I had tried to order via open sky and had in my cart, but when I went to place order, they were sold out. I went to Wild Squirrel website, but to ship to MA the minimum charge is $10.50 so it’s pretty prohibitive for me to order and I so was hoping to try at least the pretzel pizzaz as I’ve seen so much about it…the other one I wanted to try is sold out. Are you getting on open sky again? Wondering if there are any other avenues to buy with less shipping? Thanks! Jonna
Hey Jonna,
I am hoping they are restocked to OpenSky. I believe they should be in time. Sorry for the inconvenience!
I tried to get rid of our Xmas decor, but the boyfriend insists they stay up til after 3 Kings Day (Friday).