FAMILY HEIRLOOMS

A Family Abounding in

 Love and Encouragement

Bestows a Greater Heirloom

Upon Their Children

Than Any Treasured Object

Ever Could.

                       ~ Carolee ~

   My Brief Attempt At China Painting

As I foraged my way into the world of china painting a few years ago (and even tried my hand at a bit of it, as pictured at the left) I wrote Blooming Porcelain  (shown below) in an attempt to explain what it was like for me to watch one of these experienced artists transform a plain piece of china into art.  Hope you enjoy..........

BLOOMING PORCELAIN

As the sculptor is to the clay,
likewise, the china painter to porcelain.

With gentle, precise strokes,

tiny hairs infused with tinted oils

stroke the surface of the porcelain

in a blur of shapes and color.

Each stroke changes the cold porcelain forever

into a dramatic explosion of warmth and beauty.

~~ TRANSFORMATION ~~

The mind's eye caresses the essence of pink rosebuds

as the profusion of leaves in heathered greens touch the dusty blue sky surround.

Visual aromas of the rose exude artistic beauty,

stirring the soul and seductivey charming the senses.

~~RECIPES~~

      Ham Balls      

 Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees

Ingredient List #1 ~ Ham Balls

2 lbs. Ground Ham or Ground Pork

2 lbs. Ground Beef
3 Eggs Beaten
2 Cups Graham Crackers Ground (I use my food processor to do this)
1/2 Cup Milk
Ingredient List # 2 ~ Sauce

1/2 Can of Tomato Soup

1/2 Cup Water

1 teaspoon Dry Mustard

1/2 Cup vinegar

1 Cup Brown Sugar

Instructions

Using items from Ingredient list #1, put all items together, mix well.  Make ham balls using a 1/2 measuring cup for your sizing guide (you can make these smaller if you wish, this is how the ones pictured were made).

Put the ham balls in a roasting pan with sides.

To make sauce put all ingredients in a saucepan, mix well and heat through.  Pour the sauce over the ham balls.

Bake in a 350 degree oven on the middle rack for 1 to 1 1/2 hours ( basting about every 15 minutes) till nicely glazed and middle is cooked.

Festive Cranberry Bars

2 1/2 Sticks Butter at Room Temperature

3 Cups Sugar

3 Cups Flour

4 Eggs Well Beaten Eggs at Room Temperature

4 Cups Whole Cranberries

A Little Extra Butter and Flour to Prepare Pan For Baking

9 X 13 Pan

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.  Wash sort and drain cranberries, toss the cranberries in a little bit of flour to coat and set aside.  Grease and flour the pan with butter and flour, set aside.

In mixer cream together the butter and sugar, then add the beaten eggs to this mixture.  Continue mixing and add half cup of flour at a time to bowl until all is added and well incorporated.  The cranberries are then stirred in by hand.  Put mixture in pan and smooth out the batter evenly.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.  If you insert a toothpick in the bars it should come out clean if the bars are done.  Cool bars, cut and serve...ENJOY!