Christmas 2009 Celebration with grandchildren - Part one

Sunday evening my local grandchildren came over to celebrate Christmas in a different way.
We started out having Pizza Fondue for supper. This was prompted by their father's fond recollections of enjoying it as a teenager. If the amount he ate was any indication his enjoyment hasn't diminished!

After dinner there were gifts to be opened. These were not the usual gifts you buy in a store for the most part. They were family treasures and memorabilia. Each child got one large bag filled with smaller boxes and objects. Each one also received a small notebook to write in. As they opened an item if there was a story to tell about that item I related it to them and they were able to write it down. They really seemed to enjoy the gifts and the stories.


Here is Heidi showing one of the gifts she received. It was a precious doll pin I used to wear when she was less than 2. She was so attracted to it as a child so now she has it as a memory.


Dana has loved monkeys including sock monkeys. She was the recipient of a sock bunny that used to be one of the toys I would put under one of our Christmas trees.


Jeff Jr. is writing the story of Grandpa Jerry's golf ornament.


Kierstin is reading the inscription I put on the bottom of one of the ornaments I passed on to her from my Christopher Radko ornament collection.


Cooper loves pandas. He is inspecting the Christoper Radko panda ornament. I had to hold my breath that he didn't crush it!


Jeff Sr. is showing how his father's ring that Jerry wore on his ring finger fits his thumb!


Always a favorite with this family is a Slinky. One of those toys that never goes out to style. Can you believe I NEVER had one as a child!

This is the first time I've included a recipe on this blog. Marcia asked about it and so did other friends. Hope you'll enjoy it. It is delicious. There was a tiny bit leftover and I am having it for lunch tomorrow.

PIZZA FONDUE
1 onion, chopped
½ lb. ground beef
2 T margarine or shortening
2 - 10 ½ oz cans pizza sauce
1 T cornstarch
1 ½ t fennel seed
1 ½ t oregano
¼ t. garlic powder
10 oz grated Cheddar cheese
1 c. grated mozzarella cheese

Brown onion and meat in shortening in Fondue pot at #9.
Mix cornstarch and seasoning into pizza sauce.
Reduce heat to #6 and sauce to mixture. Stir well.
When mixture thickens and bubbles, add cheeses by thirds, stirring well after each addition.
When all the cheese is melted, turn control to # 5 to keep warm.
Dunkers: Garlic bread cubes, toasted English muffin cubes, bread sticks

Serve over toasted English muffin for a luncheon treat.
Serves 4-6 as main dish
10-12 as appetizer