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The house smelled wonderful as we were greeted by Ruth's children, Paige and Alex, at the front door…we weren't sure what the aroma was, but it could only be good.  The ladies headed off to the kitchen to take a peek and the men headed straight for the appetizers. Being in North Carolina they knew they were in for some good southern cooking and they were not disappointed.    Ruth had prepared a couple of choices for the hungry crew.  There were Southern Cheese Straws and Bacon and Cheddar Triangles.

While we were nibbling, Alex, Ruth's son, wandered into the room carrying his toy elephant, "Lovey."  He informed everyone that the proper term for elephant was  "Pachyderm," grabbed a cheese straw, and sped out of the room while being chased by Beaufort the Boykin Spaniel.  Just then, Ruth announced, "Soup's on." and we headed off to the dining room.

Southern Cheese Straws

2 cups self rising flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
2 sticks butter, at room temperature
2 cups shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese, at room temperature

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
Sift flour, salt and cayenne into a bowl.; set aside
Cream butter and cheese together with an electric hand mixer.
Add the flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time until the batter is smooth.
Put mixture into a large plastic bag (or pastry bag)
Cut corner from the plastic bag to make a pastry bag
On an ungreased cookie sheet, pipe a 5 inch long strip
Bake for 10 - 15 minutes or until lightly browned.  
Remove to racks to cool.

Makes 5 dozen

Bacon and Cheddar Triangles

1 loaf thin white bread, crusts removed
1/2 pound Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 (2 ounce) package slivered almonds, sautéed in 1 TBSP butter
1 cup mayonnaise
2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
Minced onion, to taste

Combine cheese, bacon, almonds, mayo, Worcestershire sauce and onion.
Spoon onto bread slices.  Cut bread into quarters, making triangles.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 5 minutes.
Serve hot.
garnish with orange marmalade, peach preserves or strawberry preserves.

Makes 30 triangles

Click Here for Day 3 - Soup - at Ruth's House

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A photo I took from our driveway of our neighbors barn.

Listen to the entire Christmas In A Small Town record for FREE! - now through midnight on Christmas. My gift to you. Wishing you all a VERY Merry Christmas! Pump up the volume!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!

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Photo by TQS member cjbeg. Share your holiday quilts or holiday photos HERE.

I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains. Christmas was an amazing, almost magical time. As kids we thought we were rich! We had no idea just how hard our parents struggled, as did just about everyone in the Appalachians. The week before Christmas, every year, we would sit down as a family and decided who we could bless for Christmas. Then on Christmas Eve, we would take them a "feast" that Momma had prepared, and presents, one for each person (often the toys were refurbished/repainted toys). None the less, they were always thrilled! 

One particular Christmas stands out in my mind..it was Christmas Eve 1984. The weather had turned really bad, snow and ice. Daddy and my two older brothers left a little earlier than usual to deliver our Christmas Blessing....the receiving family was in tears they were so happy but something else caught my father's attention.....two small children in shorts and t-shirts huddled together on the porch of a small trailer across the road. Daddy trudged over only to discover the freezing children had been locked out because their parents were having a party inside!!

Daddy picked up the little boy and girl and brought them home! He contacted the Sheriff and told him that if anyone reported those babies missing, they were with us!! Twenty-five years later they are still with us!!! My parents adopted Christy and Larry......this is my best Christmas memory...the year I got a new brother and sister!!!!!!! - Sharon Emory, San Luis, Colorado

Read more stories like this and share your story too - HERE

Purchase Ricky's New Christmas CD HERE.

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We arrived at Alex’s house full of cheer as we had not all seen each other since Houston, even Sparrow came out to say hello.  Capt. John started off the festivities by presenting each person with a glass of bubbly.  He selected a nice 2008 Riva Ranch Chardonnay from  the Wente Vineyards. Founded more than 125 years ago, Wente Vineyards is the country’s oldest, continuously operated family-owned winery and it's almost in Alex and John's backyard.  

For those of us who enjoy something non-alcholic, we took a sip of Martinellis' Sparkling Apple-Pomegranate cider.  Alex told us that pomegranate juice is supposed to provide all kinds of benefits to our health,  so John suggested that we should toast to "A Happy and Healthy Holidays for all."  We celebrated a bit more, and gave another toast to member 50,000 of our TQS family.

Lilo and Ruth were enjoying Alex's lovely decorations, but Ricky and Justin's tummies got growly so after bidding Sparrow a "good night" our merry group headed off to Ruth's house for nibbly's and soup.

Click Here For Day 2 - Nibbly's - at Ruth's House.

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We are!  Merry Christmas from all of us at TQS!

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Quilt by TQS member annlp. Share your holiday quilts or holiday photos HERE.

Read more stories like this and share your story too - HERE

Purchase Ricky's New Christmas CD HERE.