FRIDAY FARE: Christmas Party Recipe Share...

Recipes from our Christmas party. I realize that these aren't exactly "healthy" recipes, but they were good! I'm not sure who brought some of these recipes...

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup coconut, if desired
1 (18 oz) roll Pillsbury Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookies

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In small bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and egg; beat until smooth. Stir in coconut.

2. Break up half of cookie dough into ungreased 9 or 8-inch square pan. With floured fingers, press dough evenly in bottom of pan to form crust. Spread cream cheese mixture over dough. Crumble and sprinkle remaining half of dough over cream cheese mixture.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until chilled. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

Championship Bean Dip - from Colette Harris

1 can refired beans
1 cup picante (salsa)
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3/4 cup sour cream
1 pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 T. chili powder
1/4 tsp. cumin

Mix ingredients together. Put in a crock pot and cook for 2-3 hours on low.

Cake Mix Cookies - from Beth Crowley

1 cake mix, any flavor. To the dry cake mix, add 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 2 eggs. Mix well. You can add chocolate chips, nuts, peanut butter chips, raisins, or any other add-in. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drop the batter by spoonfuls about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, watching closely because they brown quickly.

Avalanche Cookies - from Kathy Howard

1 1/2 pounds white chocolate or almond bark
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
5-6 cups Golden Grahams cereal

Melt white choc. or almond bark in double broiler. Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Mix until evenly coated. Drop by teaspoonfuls on waxed paper. Cool 1 hour.

Easy Mint Thins

Round buttery crackers
Mint oil
Melting chocolate
Optional - sprinkles or crushed peppermint candy

Melt chocolate according to directions, add a few drops of mint oil and stir. Coat crackers on both sides with chocolate and cool to harden. You may add sprinkles or crushed peppermint to the top of mints before cooling.

Mini Cheesecakes - from Colette Harris

24 Nilla wafers
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 (8 oz.) pkgs cream cheese, softened
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla
cherry or raspberry pie filling or strawberry jam

Place cupcake liners in 24 muffin tins. Put one Nilla wafer in each liner, round side up. Combine sugar, eggs, cream cheese, lemon juice, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Spoon cream cheese mixture on the Nilla wafers, filling cups 1/2 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Let cool completely, then carefully remove papers. (They sink in the center.) Top with pie filling or jam. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Hints: I freeze the cheesecakes before I add the filling. They come out of the papers easier without sticking to the sides. Using the silver metallic cupcake liners also help the cheesecakes not to stick to the sides as much. Sometimes, before serving the cheese cakes, I will add a little cool whip to the top of each one and then add a small raspberry or cherry to the center - depending on the type of pie filling I use.

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Brenda Coffee's Blog Post - Holidays, Cancer, and Hope...

Finally back from the holiday bustle! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Today, I thought I'd share a blog post I read a few days ago on Brenda Coffee's blog. She is such a great writer, and said many things that resonated with me. The post was called "Holidays, Cancer, and Hope", and can be found on the home page of her blog - BREAST CANCER SISTERHOOD. This is a blog I read often, because I signed up for her newsletter. While you're visiting her blog, go ahead and sign up for the newsletter. You'll get an email whenever she posts something. It's really nice.

Tomorrow, I'll try to post some of the yummy recipes we enjoyed at our Sister Survivors Christmas party a few weeks ago.

Have a great day!

-Kara

Merry Christmas!

Ladies -

This week is crazy busy, with all the Christmas preparations. I've been so busy, in fact, that I have barely any Christmas shopping done. So, I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and let you know that I won't be posting on this blog for this week, but next week I'll get back to posting each day. Let me leave you with this post, by Kathy Christensen - guest blogger... enjoy your holidays, and count your blessings!

-Kara


"Last weekend I traveled to St. George to spend time with my mother who is in the final stages of Multiple Myaloma (Cancer of the bone marrow. We are no strangers to Cancer in my family. Dad has survived Colon Cancer,Prostate Cancer, and also has skin cancers removed on a regular basis. I am a Breast Cancer Survivor and thankfully received the report this week that my follow up mammogram was clean and Cancer free.

As I spent these precious moments with my mother, I looked on this blessed Christmas Season with a new and profound gratitude. My mother's days are now numbered. She is made more comfortable and pain free by Methadone, Oxygen and Ativan for anxiousness. As I pondered in my mind the significance of this holiday and why we celebrate it, I realized (or rediscovered) that my mother is going to a far better place. She lost a little girl with Liver disease over 50 years ago and that baby (Cindy was her name)has waited a long time to have her mother back.

As we gather on Christmas Eve this year with our family, we will once again celebrate the life and mission of our Savior Jesus Christ. His life and mission are the most precious gifts that any of us will ever receive. Because of Him, we know our loved ones are not gone forever; they are just absent for a short time until we will eventually, at our appointed time, join them never again to be separated.

Despite the fact that Cancer is NOT my friend, I will be forever grateful in the part it has played to strengthen my level of gratitude for this knowledge and the strength it gives me each and every day of my life."

15th of the Month Reminder

Today is SELF CHECK day!

On the 15th of each month, remember to do your breast self-exam.

Go to Cancer.org to find a self-check guide.

TUESDAY TIDINGS - A Breast Cancer Survivor's Blog...

I found a blog about a woman's breast cancer journey a little over a year ago that I really felt the need to follow. Why? Well, first, this woman was of the same faith I am, so many of the things she wrote about during her cancer journey resonated with me and touched me deeply. When I started reading her blog, she was close to the end of her cancer journey. She was diagnosed in 2007, and I found the blog at the end of 2009. One of the first things I read about was her decision to stop fighting the cancer with chemo, and live the rest of her life free from the complications chemo caused. This is the second reason I decided to follow her blog. I wanted to understand this decision she made. It was a tough one, and I'm not sure what I would have done in a similar situation. Another reason... her faith was so strong that it grabbed me and wouldn't let go. I found myself cheering for her, crying with her, hoping with her. And then came the day that I found out she had died. It was a hard thing for me to read about. She had several young children, and a wonderful husband - and I found myself wishing that she was still here. I don't think I've been as touched by any other blog as I have with Amber's.

Some of the things that I remember her saying...

"There are days when I long for heaven, and days when I long to stay here on Earth."

"I am trying to live well, and trying to die well. It is a difficult thing to do."

"I am a woman of faith, and I know that God's plan was not for me to beat my cancer. I know He has a purpose for calling me home early, and I know that I will be my children's guardian angel after I die."

It's been a year now since Amber Chase passed away, and I just stumbled on her blog again. So, I thought I'd share it with you. All of her writings are archived there - if you wish to read any of the posts, simply click on the archives, and the posts will show up down the left side of the blog.

Be aware that some of these posts can be difficult to read, especially if you are still going through your cancer journey. It is not my intent to upset anyone, or make things harder for anyone. So, if you think you need to wait awhile before visiting this blog, that's fine. However, it is very inspirational. Hopefully you'll find something in Amber's writings that will help you.

-Kara

The blog address is: http://amberchase.weebly.com/our-blog.html

MONDAY MEMOIRS - Friendship on the road...

We had such a great time last Thursday night with all you wonderful survivors. I've been thinking since then about friendship, and what it means to have friends that have walked the exact road you have. It's one of the most important things I've found - that having someone to talk to and to help you, someone who knows exactly what you needs, is such an important part of the cancer journey.

"For a shield from the storm, for a friend, for a love to keep me safe and warm...I turn to you. For the strength to be strong, for the will to carry on...for everything you do, for everything thats true, I turn to you."
-Christina Aguilera

"You were the one who made things different, you were the one who took me in. You were the one thing I could count on, above all, you were my friend."
- Tom Petty

"Once there was a darkness, a deep and endless night, you gave me everything you had and oh, you gave me light"
-Sarah Mclaughlan

What do you think about friendship? Is it important? Why? Grab your cancer journal and write a few words.

Have a great day!

-Kara

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - River Trip

Guest blogger, Nancy Christensen sent in this post:

Back in June of 1996, I took my three sons on an eight day river trip through the Grand Canyon. It was a trip I had planned and saved for years to take. What an experience it was! We were in the hands of capable and well trained river guides and it was indeed the trip of a life time for us. On the first day they taught us what to do if we went overboard; how to breathe; how to use our feet to keep the boulders away; how to stay calm....you get the drift. Just after lunch we boarded the rafts to begin our progression throught the rapid named "Hermit". They had just flooded the canyon and that stretch of water looked anything but inviting. My boys wanted to go first, so off we went (after the river guides had carefully scouted the water and how it was running) The rest of the group stayed back to photograph us as we went through. The waves were huge and to say the least, my heart was in my throat. I was in the back of the raft while my three sons were up front trying to keep the nose of the boat down as the river guide proceeded to move us through the rapids. Well, to make a long story short, the raft flipped and I kept moving forward, while my boys were picked up quickly. They had moved safely in to an eddy, and were put back in the raft. Then the river guide and my sons were off to get me. Of course I was panic stricken as I tried to decide when to breathe while those huge waves began smashing down on me. I honestly thought "This might be it....my life might end right here!" The river guides were true pros and they had us all back on the shore within 30 minutes, and no worse for the wear except my frazzled nerves. The guide told us that the river is very forgiving and the thing that kills people is panic and fear. If you relax and go with the flow, things usually work out. I have found that the same principle applies when dealing with Cancer. No good comes from unrest. Unrest, fear, panic, anger or sadness may motivate us, but our best effort emerges after these feelings have been replaced by peace. We will not accomplish our task and sooner or any better by performing it out of a sense of urgency, fear, panic or sadness. Let go of unrest. Let peace fill the void. We do not have to forfet our God-given personal power (or our peace)to so the work we are called upon to do today. Let peace come first. Then proceed. The task will get done naturally and on time.

(some thoughts used from Melodie Beattie's book "The Language of Letting Go.")

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Sister Survivor Christmas Tree...

Here is the small Christmas tree I did for our Sister Survivor Christmas Party - it's very pink! I made our logo (double ribbon) into ornaments! I especially like the feather boa base, and the tiny pink disco balls! What do you think?






-Kara

TUESDAY TIDINGS: Christmas Party this Thursday night...

Sorry this blog hasn't been updated for the last week. This is the busiest time of the year - at least for me! ;-)

The news for today is about the Christmas Party this Thursday night at my house. I've sent out an email to everyone on the list. Phone calls will be going out hopefully today to all who don't have email. We now have 51 members! Here is the information I sent to the email list:
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The party will be held on Thursday, December 9th, from 6:30-9:00. It's an open house, so even if you can't come for the entire party, please try to stop by to say "hi". The party will be at Kara's house. My address is 5359 W. Earl Place, Highland.

Directions: (let me apologize in advance for the silly construction)

From south: take I-15 to the Thanksgiving Point exit (this is the last exit before going around the point of the mountain into Salt Lake Valley). Turn right (East) - going toward Timpanogos Mountain. Go about 7-8 miles. You'll come up into the middle of Highland. There will be a Kohlers grocery store on the right, along with a Dominoes Pizza and Subway. At that light (Alpine Highway), turn right. Go 1 mile. This will take you through 1 traffic light. After the light, take the first left into the subdivision. My house is the first (corner) house on the right side of the street. It's the only one without Christmas lights! Haha! (a landmark is my neighbors house - the first on the left side - it has a HUGE flagpole in the front yard. You really can NOT miss it!).

If any of you are coming from the north - just take that first exit as you come around the point of the mountain - Thanksgiving Point/Timpanogas, and follow these same directions.

If you live close to me, hopefully the landmarks that I've mentioned will help you find the place.

There are different ways to come, but these are the easiest directions to follow, I think.

We will be doing two fun things for the party (besides having several door prizes/presents, food, and hanging out with friends)...

1. If you'd like to participate in our COOKIE EXCHANGE, please bring a plate of your favorite Christmas treat (cut them into bite size pieces if you can), and copies of the recipes to exchange. Plan on around 40 copies. This will really help me with the food, so I appreciate everyone who can participate.

2. If you'd like to participate in our BOOK EXCHANGE, bring a copy of one of your favorite books (new). Please wrap the book, so no one can see it. We will put all of the books together. If you bring a book, you can go home with one.

***IMPORTANT*** You don't have to do either the cookie, or book, exchange. If you choose not to do those, PLEASE come anyway. Those are totally optional. If you don't bring a book, you just won't go home with one. No big deal. If you don't bring a treat, I promise there will be PLENTY of food. So, no worries.

This is an adult party - no kids please. It's not that I don't love kids, but my house won't hold that many people at once. ;-)

You can, of course, bring your husband, or your friend, or your sister, or whoever - or come by yourself. I would just like to know how many will be coming, so that I can plan the food accordingly. So, PLEASE R.S.V.P. to me - either reply to this email, or call me at 801-360-4666. If you know of someone who is not part of our group, but should be, please invite them.

I'm so excited to have you all here. Christmas is my favorite time of year, and I'm excited to share my home with all of you.

I look forward to hearing from you - let me know: 1) how many will be coming 2) if you will be bringing treats, and 3) if you are participating in the book exchange.

-Kara