Christmas Lights n Cayman

Christmas is a big thing here in Cayman and the people love to decorate.  Last night, we went out probably for the last time this year to look at some of those lights/decorations.  I took a lot of pictures, but they don't do the lights/decorations justice.

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We have a lot of round~abouts here in Cayman and most of them are decorated at Christmas time by different businesses.  This was really pretty as most of the lights were blue and white.

There's a house maybe 8 or 10 miles from us that really go all out.  We didn't go in and walk around, but just pulled off the road for me to take some pictures.  Even though Christmas is over there were a lot of people there.

So pretty!

Maybe next year we'll go here and walk around!

This, too, is just beautiful.  So many people down here wrap the trunks of the palm trees and some of the branches.  Well, these were all done with white lights.  I love it!!

I'm not sure how well you can see it, but there is a mansion in the background.  The people who live here own the biggest home improvement store on the Island like Lowe's.

 Then we came on down closer to our house to this home.  Twin sisters who are both older and single live here.  They are very wealthy and own several businesses on the Island.  We know them.

This was the third or fourth time for us to visit here this year!

They use LED lights that they have shipped in to decorate.  Again, the coloring just doesn't do the lights justice!!  They even set up these huge artificial trees throughout the yard.  Music is playing sometimes and the lights all flash to the beat of the music.  It is really pretty.  I can't begin to imagine how long it takes their helpers to set everything up and what their electric bill must be!!  Wow!!

This picture is a little blurry, but still pretty!

 

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers

My sister shared this recipe with me a few weeks ago and I made it for lunch yesterday, but I think I bought a bad batch of meat as I got a box of SteakUms.  Never again!  I came up with another idea which I can't wait to try.  First let me share how to prepare it.

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Wash 2 green peppers and cut in half; remove seeds and ribs

Put oil and butter in the pan along with sliced onions, mushrooms and peppers to saute

 I used sandwich steak meat (never again as it wasn't good) and cut into strips

 While veggies are sauteing line pepper halves with a slice of provolone cheese

Add meat to veggies and cook

When meat is cooked divide it up and put into pepper halves.  Cover with another piece of provolone cheese and bake.

The finished result!

Here is the recipe and I'll put in parenthesis what I will change

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8 oz. thinly sliced beef

(I will make a small roast and use that beef not anymore sandwich steak meat)

8 slices Provolone cheese

2 large green bell peppers

1 medium onion

6 oz. mushrooms

2 Tbsp. butter

 2 Tbsp. oil

1 Tbsp. garlic - minced

salt and pepper to taste

 

Slice peppers in half; remove seeds and ribs

Slice onions and mushrooms; saute of medium heat with butter, oil, minced garlic and salt/pepper.

Saute until onions and mushrooms until carmelized; about 20 - 25 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Cut beef into narrow thin strips and add to onion/mushroom mixture and cook 10 - 15 minutes.

Line each pepper with a slice of Provolone cheese

Fill each pepper with meat mixture to nearly overflowing

Put a slice of Provolone cheese on top of each pepper

Bake for about 20 minutes or until pepper halves are tender

(Another idea would be to mix marinara sauce with the meat.  Now I'm getting hungry :o) 

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Enjoy!!

 

Baking + Company = FUN

We had invited some good friends over last evening, so I thought I better get busy in the kitchen :o)  I had seen a recipe for Turtle Cookies on a friend's blog along with another one for Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge.  I decided I needed to get busy and make something for snacks and whipped up these two recipes along with some others.  I forgot to take a picture of the fudge :o(  Just let me say that the cookies are the best after they come out of the oven and the carmel is still soft and warm!  YUM, YUM, YUM!

Then our guests arrived!  At first it was just Karen (on the right), Steve and Celia on the left because Karen's husband was doing some chauffeuring.  The five of us played "Catch Phrase" which I won.  It's a really fun game!!  Then Karen's husband, Edmond, came . . . . .

and we brought out the Dominoes!  That is a big thing all across the Caribbean.  They even have tournaments and will go to other countries in the Caribbean here to play in them!  The way they play is so different from us in the States.  Dennis and I just sat and observed!  I've watched games before here and they slam the Dominoes down HARD on the table.  I asked them why they weren't doing that last night and Edmond said because they were respecting my house :o)  But before the evening was over and they were really getting into it and slamming them down on the table.  Dennis and I were cracking up!!

Remember I said that Edmond came late because he was doing some chauffeuring?  Well, when he came to the door and we heard his voice, Dennis and he disappeared for a couple of minutes.  When they came in I found out why!  He was driving this guys 2012 Jaguar!!  Before everyone left, he took Steve, Dennis and I a ride in it.  We got up the road from our house and he barely stepped on the gas and we were flying!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh, my goodness, what a car!!  Sorry for the blurriness but just had to share the pictures.  Everything under the hood is under cover.

Edmond and Dennis

We've known Edmond and Karen for going on probably 20 years or so from going to Youth Camp in PA.  They are so nice!  Celia is Karen's cousin.

Another shot of the Black Beauty

They wanted to take my picture :o)

Karen and I

Celia doesn't like her picture taken and when I convinced her to let me do so, her eyes were closed!

What a fun filled evening!!



Our Visit to Albuquerque On Christmas

Yes, you read right!  We were privileged to go to Albuquerque on Christmas Day ~ by way of Skype!  We hadn't been home from Church very long before our Vonage phone rang.  It was Brett asking us if we wanted to get on Skype so we could watch the boys open Jordan's big gift from us.  Of course, we said yes!!  But first, the boys had to tell us what all they had got for Christmas.  It looks like Caden was pretty excited about something :o)

The pictures aren't the best as they were taken on our desktop computer screen, but that's fine.  Here are two happy boys standing in front of the big present!

Tearing the wrapping paper off!

Here they are sitting in the new wagon!  I didn't get a picture after Brett finished putting it together, but it even has a roof on it to protect them from the sun.  They love to go to the zoo and other places that requires a lot of walking for little boys who get tired out :o)  The wagon has two seats which are padded, cup holders and a nice bag that snaps on the back of the wagon to put snacks, toys, etc. in when they go away.  I think it is so cute and am sure they will get a lot of use out of it when it warms up!!

Caden telling us something us rather important!

Here he was serenading us with his new guitar!  They also got electronic drums :o)

 Brett told us that when he got up Christmas morning and went downstairs around 6:45, Caden was sitting down in the livingroom playing on his iPad patiently waiting :o)  Jordan didn't get up until around 8:30.  He waited a long time for a little boy who was anxious to open presents.  It was great to share in their excitement!  We talked to Brandon soon after being on Skype with Brett's family.  I feel so bad as he is up in Cleveland not near any family.  He was fine with it though!  He, too, is doing good.  After that phone call I went back to the kitchen to finish getting our dinner ready.  Between us we had invited around 10 people over for Christmas dinner.  We weren't sure who all or how many would show up!  We ended up with five guests and a friend who had to work stopped by later in the evening and I gave her three plates of food.  Plus I sent two plates of food for an elderly lady to be delivered by one of our guests.  We had a very good day reaching out to others who don't have family here on the Island.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!!

We have Church this morning at 10:00 am and then dinner at 2:00 pm.  Not sure who or how many will show up.  We invited about 10 friends who didn't have anywhere to go today!  We hope you have a wonderful day with your family/friends!!

Baking

Guess what I'm making???

Yep!!  Banana Muffins . . . . .

and Banana Bread 

I made 16 loaves of the bread and 22 muffins to take to Church tomorrow to give to our older elderly people in our Congregation.  Hope they enjoy it :o)

Cookies

Dennis asked me to make him some No~Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

These are the only one's I've made so far other than for our Staff Christmas Dinner favors.  Not sure if I'll make anymore or not.  I may make some candy. 

Company

Some of Dennis' dad's cousins stopped by the house to visit

 

Fun Times

We had went to the mall to shop for suits for the boys to wear to the funeral.  On the way home, we stopped at a Chinese restaurant for dinner.

 

Caden had Pappy's iPad

 

A pretty siloutte of the hillside as the sun was setting

And a tired out Little Man who just couldn't stay awake any longer!

Deer

As we were driving up out of the Park, we saw some deer.  How many can you find?

Old Cabin

This cabin is in the park down the road a mile or two from the McCoy home place.  Not sure if it's used anymore or not!