Special Holiday Meals: Polar Express Party

Everyone looks forward to this party at our house every year! It does take a little work and planning, but it is so WORTH IT!

We try to make some homemade gifts to give out as Christmas gifts to our family and friends… usually food. We also have some fun games and lots of yummy treats to keep us busy until the Polar Express starts! Then our living room turns into an interactive Movie Theater… so much FUN!

Here are some of the posts that we have related to our past Polar Express Parties:

Polar Express Party (2016)

Polar Express 2022

Polar Express 2023, Sourdough Gifts & Recipes, and Other Life Updates

Polar Express Planning (2024)

Polar Express 2024

Polar Express 2025

DIY Advent Games: Engage Kids This Holiday Season

Advent Celebrations: DIY BINGO Game and Crafts

Stress-Free Christmas: Download Your Gift List Now

What does my family want? What do they like? Are they outgrowing their school clothes? What was that book they really wanted?

I know how stressful Christmas shopping can get, and this year has been a bit more so… maybe this will help take a little of that stress off your shoulders. This will be replacing ‘Letters to Santa’ in our home, and maybe it could in your home too!

I’ve previously shared our FREE printable shopping guide, but I’ve taken that a step further as we’ve been trying to simplify Christmas a little bit more so that we can really focus on the reason for the season.

FREE Printable Shopping Guide

We are trying to do a 3-4 gift rule here at our home, and even that looks like a mountain of gifts with the number of people we have. We really love getting ‘experience’ gifts, but sometimes that just doesn’t work out, so having this new list on hand will make things a little simpler. I also included a place to write the individual sizes and such to have everything on one page. Here is the link to download it:

On my computer, I have to keep changing the page layout to ‘portrait’ for this, so keep that in mind when you go to print it out, just in case it does the same thing to you!

I like to snap a picture of the finished lists so that I can have it with me whenever I am out and about, this also makes it easy to share with others you might want to buy gifts for your family.

Here is another version of the Wish List from last year:

Christmas Wish List

I hope this helps out! If it does, be sure to like, comment, and share this with someone you know!

God Bless!

Start Your Holiday Prep: Week 7 Guide

Have you gotten started on your Holiday Prep? If not, don’t worry because you still have plenty of time, but don’t procrastinate any longer!

Continue reading “Start Your Holiday Prep: Week 7 Guide”

Eema’s Easy Chili

This is so easy to make… I don’t know why I haven’t posted the recipe sooner, but here it is!

You could just add the meat, beans, and tomatoes for a basic chili, but the seasoning really does make it so much better! Using fresh onion and garlic, add a little something special, as well as using the bacon to add flavor. You could even add a can of corn for a little extra crunch.

This goes especially well with Hoe Cakes, Cornbread, or even Garlic Bread and a side of rice. It would also make a great topping on baked potatoes or baked sweet potatoes… the possibilities are endless! You can even leave the beans out and make this for hot dogs or add it to your leftover macaroni and cheese to make chili mac-n-cheese!

When my older kids were younger, we would often turn this into ‘Cowboy Chili’ to use up any leftovers we had in the fridge! We would add bologna, ham, or even hot dogs to the meat or in place of the meat, and then throw in any leftover veggies to cook down with the beans… it always turned out delicious!

Continue reading “Eema’s Easy Chili”

Clam and Potato Chowder

I did love a good clam chowder or oyster stew, but I have recently developed a seafood allergy, so I probably won’t be making this again anytime soon, as I don’t particularly care for the ER.

If this recipe looks a little familiar, that is because it is very similar to our potato soup recipe.

Clam and Potato Chowder

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 pound bacon, chopped
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 T. minced garlic
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and diced
  • 3/4 cup diced celery
  • 6-8 medium to large potatoes, diced
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 c. chicken or vegetable broth
  • 2-3 small cans of clams
  • 4 cups heavy whipping cream
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Optional toppings: chopped chives, bacon bits, or parsley

Directions:

Fry the bacon in a large pot. Drain bacon on a plate lined with paper towels and set to the side.

Cook onions, garlic, carrots, and celery in the bacon grease until the onions are translucent.

Add the potatoes and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Reduce the heat to low and whisk in flour, stirring constantly until the flour is cooked, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Add broth, juice from the clams, and half of the bacon.

Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer.

Cook for 20 to 30 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.

Add whipping cream and the clams. Let simmer for 5 minutes.

Add water, broth, or milk to get it to the consistency you desire.

Season to taste, and add your favorite toppings.

I like to serve it with oyster crackers.