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Odessa, MO —
Merry Christmas to all! A KING is born and we are PRAISING GOD and singing Hallelujah.
As I am sure you all are aware, this is a difficult Christmas for all in our family. Each child and grandchild is mourning in their own way. I have tried very hard to think of each one and respect their thoughts and wishes. The “Bear” was such a clown and always playing jokes on different ones, which makes it more difficult to mourn. Mourning for each member of the family is an important part of the holiday and trying to keep a balance is very difficult.
God will get us through it, and we will all be blessed in the process.
On Sunday we girls all got together at Independence Center and had photos made of Grouchy Bear’s ladies. Our oldest daughter felt it was important to get photos of everyone who could get together on that day. We had a great time, and somehow being together gives strength and peace to our group.
A pot of chili was cooking in the crock pot while we were having the pictures taken, and if we don’t end up where the chili is, it will be frozen for future meals.
Grandma’s chili
- 4 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 1⁄4 cup chopped green peppers (optional)
- 2 packages chili seasoning
- 1 large can diced tomatoes
- 3-4 cans pinto beans
Chop hamburger and simmer on low turning often. I like my hamburger chopped up small, so I turn and mash often. Then I add the onions and green peppers, chili seasoning, tomatoes and beans. I place all the contents into the crock pot, turn down low, add some water and mix well. This cooks for several hours while we are shopping or doing whatever.
The girls love shredded cheese on top of the chili and a dollop of sour cream. They also love crunching up the crackers and mixing them into the chili. Our girls have fun whatever they are doing, and talking about their grandpa and laughing at the past memories make the chili just a little bit better.
The girls all love cookies and dessert, so I am sure they will decide to make cookies in the afternoon. They are all fun-loving girls and their lives have been filled with many happy memories as they have shared together.
I always have on hand rolls of cookie dough and a few of those recipes have been shared in the past weeks.
Merry Christmas to all! A KING is born and we are PRAISING GOD and singing Hallelujah.
As I am sure you all are aware, this is a difficult Christmas for all in our family. Each child and grandchild is mourning in their own way. I have tried very hard to think of each one and respect their thoughts and wishes. The “Bear” was such a clown and always playing jokes on different ones, which makes it more difficult to mourn. Mourning for each member of the family is an important part of the holiday and trying to keep a balance is very difficult.
God will get us through it, and we will all be blessed in the process.
On Sunday we girls all got together at Independence Center and had photos made of Grouchy Bear’s ladies. Our oldest daughter felt it was important to get photos of everyone who could get together on that day. We had a great time, and somehow being together gives strength and peace to our group.
A pot of chili was cooking in the crock pot while we were having the pictures taken, and if we don’t end up where the chili is, it will be frozen for future meals.
Grandma’s chili
- 4 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 1⁄4 cup chopped green peppers (optional)
- 2 packages chili seasoning
- 1 large can diced tomatoes
- 3-4 cans pinto beans
Chop hamburger and simmer on low turning often. I like my hamburger chopped up small, so I turn and mash often. Then I add the onions and green peppers, chili seasoning, tomatoes and beans. I place all the contents into the crock pot, turn down low, add some water and mix well. This cooks for several hours while we are shopping or doing whatever.
The girls love shredded cheese on top of the chili and a dollop of sour cream. They also love crunching up the crackers and mixing them into the chili. Our girls have fun whatever they are doing, and talking about their grandpa and laughing at the past memories make the chili just a little bit better.
The girls all love cookies and dessert, so I am sure they will decide to make cookies in the afternoon. They are all fun-loving girls and their lives have been filled with many happy memories as they have shared together.
I always have on hand rolls of cookie dough and a few of those recipes have been shared in the past weeks.
The girls, however, like to make up their own cookies and this year I have gotten each of them a roll of sugar cookie dough and each will spend time making up a large batch of cookies that look like they remember “Grandpa Grouchy Bear.” What fun it will be, and I pray they are laughing so hard at each other’s creations that our home is filled with happy memories and perhaps a tear or two.
So have a great holiday. God loves you and so do I, and “Grouchy Bear” loved each of you, too.
See you next year!
Dixie Ryan lives in Odessa and has enjoyed sharing her cooking talents and secrets with readers for many years.
