Friday Foodie and Fill-Ins

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Last year, Another Suburban Mom (be careful with this link - ASM is a mixture of mom and NSFW) did a virtual cookie exchange. This year, she's calling it a "Treat Exchange" which gave me an idea. A treat doesn't have to be a cookie, right? It could be an appetizer, right? Right?? I thought so!

This recipe was shared with me by Kell, who just happens to be Jay's sister. I made these for Cam's football banquet about a month ago and they were a huge hit! My favorite thing? They can be made ahead of time, popped in the freezer, then cooked up in just 20 minutes whenever you need them!

Spinach Balls

2 packages Chopped spinach, well drained
3c. (8oz) Pepperidge Farm stuffing (with spice) crushed slightly
2 lg Onions, finely minced
6 Eggs, lightly beaten
1/2c Butter, melted
1/2c Parmesan cheese, finely shredded
3 Cloves garlic (finely minced)
1/2t Thyme, crushed
1T Black pepper
Salt to taste

Mix all ingredients in a very big bowl. Chill briefly. Form into 1" diameter balls.

Place on a cookie sheet. Freeze until solid. Transfer to plastic bags for storage.

Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 325 for 18-20 minutes. Makes about 80 balls.

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And ... here we go!

1. Good times: I'm beginning to learn what they are again!.
2. For the first time in a long time, it's my home.
3. Sleigh bells ring every time Santa hits a bump.
4. “Happiness consists not in having much, but in being content with little.” ~ Marguerite Gardiner
5. Once more I'm making the decisions that are best for us.
6. Is this really the end?
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to grocery shopping, tomorrow my plans include volunteering at the foodbank and Saturday night church service and Sunday, I want to get laundry done in under 74 minutes!

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Friday Wrap-Up

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You might remember the Virtual Cookie Exchange that Another Suburban Mom hosted in December. Well, she's at it again, this time with a Virtual Appetizer Exchange.

I'm a huge fan of finger foods, but I have a tendency to lose track of what I've eaten, so I always try to have a few healthier options on hand. This is one of my favorites.

(Yes ... these are ones I actually made - this morning - so that I could get a good photo for the post)

Cream Cheese 'n Herb Cucumber Bites

1 carrot, shredded (about 1/2 cup), divided
1/2 cup PHILADELPHIA 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese with Chive & Onion
2 cucumbers, cut lengthwise in half, seeded

Set aside 2 Tbsp. carrots. Mix remaining carrots with cream cheese; spoon into cucumber shells. Top with reserved carrots.

Cut each cucumber half into 5 pieces to serve.

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Thanks to all of you who managed to get through my self-harm story this week. It really wasn't something I had planned on sharing on the blog. It would have been much, much easier to keep this hidden from all of you. I appreciate the outpouring of support, both in the comments and from those of you who shared via email.

There were a handful of folks who felt I was trying to justify my behavior. Although I can see how someone might get that impression from the series, justifying, by definition, would imply that I am claiming self-harm/self-injury is "right." There were several times, throughout the series, that I mentioned this was an unacceptable, unhealthy way to deal with emotions. It is a behavior I am changing, not defending.

Some of these same people also took issue with my comparison of self-harm to other unacceptable, unhealthy ways of dealing with emotions (over-eating, alcoholism, etc.). My position isn't that they are identical, but rather that they have far more in common than we might think, and it is more productive to look for something we can identify with (compassion) as we try to help others, than it is to sit in our glass house with a handful of stones as we judge others.

I hope that in sharing my "shame" I have encouraged just one person to reach out for the help they may need in their lives, no matter what the behavior they face might be.

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One more thing, then I promise to quit rambling. Last week, a blogger that I first met through an email list, Ramblings of a devoted Baseball Mom, gave me this Blogger Love award. Although I won't be following the "rules" and passing it on (I know, you are all surprised by that) I did want to thank her.

Although I'm not naming names, just know that every single one of the blogs I read is special to me in some way - that's why I read them.

Have a great weekend and enjoy these first few days of spring!

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