Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree!

[sparrow-sam.livejournal.com]

Well, this is my first year here at Holiday_wishes. My name is Sam, and I am 19 years old. I have been lurking for a couple of days and hopefully I can grant some of your spectacular holiday wishes.  This year my wish list does not consist of big ticket items, because times (as you know) can be hard. 

So here goes:
1. I would love it if someone here donated to the American Cancer Society or the Shriners Hospital for Children. These two foundations are near and dear to my heart.
2. Also, I would love it if, when cleaning out your closets this holiday season (or all year 'round)...don't just throw these things out. There are wonderful charities out there that would love to have your clothes. A few of my favorites are Coats for Kids, the Women's Shelter, and Goodwill. At my early age, I know the value of thses clothes when you have next to nothing.
3. Photos: If you have some photos of that sunset that you didn't like, or a picture of your street...please send them. I love looking at photographs, especially since I am an aspiring photographer!
4. Snail Mail: Christmas cards are my favorite! I love reading (but mostly getting) mail.
5. Ornaments: I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE ornaments. Any types. Seriously. 
6. Recipes: Recently I have been inspired to cook more things for my family. So any desert or main course recipes you have lying around, I would appreciate.
7. Speaking of recipes...I would love for you to bake something with your family. Baking is so fun when you have someone with you to laugh with!
8. Some new music. I live in East Texas, so all the music I hear is mostly country...which I LOVE. But sometimes it's time for something new. A burned CD would be so great. Whatever you're listening to.
9. DVD's. Something that you would recommend that is so great that you absolutely love it! My friend has just recently introduced me to <i>The Fall</i> and I am in love with it. So yeah...anything like that.
10. Birds. Anything with birds (maily sparrows) on it. I have a sparrow tattoo to commemorate my grandmother.

Thank you for reading.

My address
Sam Vaughn
P.O. Box 365
Crockett, Texas, 75835

Comments

movie recs

[cindysku.livejournal.com]

I just saw Hard Candy with Ellen Page and Sandra Oh and love it.

Re: movie recs

[sparrow-sam.livejournal.com]

YAY! I'll put it on my list!

Re: movie recs

[miss-emily08.livejournal.com]

I have Hard Candy and will bring it home with me for Christmas. It was really good movie. :)

Re: movie recs

[sparrow-sam.livejournal.com]

I watched Hard Candy. Wow.

Re: Movie Recs

[sparrow-sam.livejournal.com]

thank you!

[yohjideranged.livejournal.com]

A couple of my favorites:

Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes

1 (6.9-ounce) package chicken-flavored rice-and-vermicelli mix (such as Rice-A-Roni)
1 tablespoon stick margarine or butter
2 1/4 cups hot water
Cooking spray
1 1/2 pounds skinned, boned chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup presliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 cup fat-free sour cream
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 (10 3/4- ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/4 cup crushed multigrain crackers (about 8)
1 tablespoon stick margarine or butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds

1. Cook rice mix in a large nonstick skillet according to package directions, using 1 tablespoon margarine and 2 ¼ cups hot water. Place mixture in a large bowl. Wipe pan with paper towel.

2. Preheat oven to 350° F.

3. Coat skillet with cooking spray; place over high heat until hot. Add chicken, mushrooms, and garlic powder; sauté 4 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove from heat. Add chicken mixture, sour cream, pepper, and soup to rice mixture, stirring until well-blended; spoon into a 2-quart casserole coated with cooking spray. Combine cracker crumbs, margarine, and poppy seeds; sprinkle over chicken mixture. Bake at 350° F. for 35 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: about 1 cup)

Make-Ahead Tip: You can assemble the casserole ahead of time, omitting the cracker-crumb mixture; cover and chill in refrigerator or freeze (thaw frozen casserole in refrigerator overnight). Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes; top with cracker-crumb mixture, and bake as directed.

And:

Chocolate Butter Pecan Fudge

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
7 ounces marshmallow creme
1 cup pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine sugar, butter, and milk in a heavy 2-1/2 quart saucepan; bring to full rolling boil, stirring constantly.

Continue boiling 5 minutes over medium heat or until candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees stirring constantly to prevent scorching.

Remove from heat; stir in chips until melted.

Add marshmallow creme, nuts and vanilla; beat until well blended.

Pour into greased 9 inch x 13 inch pan.

Cool at room temperature, cut into squares.

Yield: 3 pounds.

[sparrow-sam.livejournal.com]

OMG the fudge sounds SO awesome. and i have a huge family and the whole 3 pounds will work :D

[mypetconcubine.livejournal.com]

I donate all my things to goodwill, salvation amry.

I can send you snail mail. But it will be after the holidays is that okay?

[sparrow-sam.livejournal.com]

that is so fine!

[mypetconcubine.livejournal.com]

:) i am happy I can grant one of your wishes :)

[sparrow-sam.livejournal.com]

ThAnK You!

[mypetconcubine.livejournal.com]

welcome :)

[miss-emily08.livejournal.com]

*hugs you forever*
I'm making you a CD with all my music. okay maybe not alllll my music but I'm definitely making you one.

[sparrow-sam.livejournal.com]

woo hoo!

[therabidchild.livejournal.com]

I just dropped off 2 big garbage bags of clothing off at goodwill. I hope they find good homes.

[sparrow-sam.livejournal.com]

thank you SOOO much! many hugs!!!

[chickabimbo.livejournal.com]

I'll be sending you something in the mail soon! :)

[sparrow-sam.livejournal.com]

omg thank you!!merry christmas!!

Recipe

[poeticgoddss.livejournal.com]

"Mom's Cheesecake"
Spring form pan

Graham cracker crust:
Buy graham cracker flakes in baking section
Two cups of that, a cup of confectionary sugar
Melt 1 stick margarine
Tiny bit of lemon zest or vanilla extract

Use just enough margarine to make it moist, but not wet
Mix
Fill bottom of pan with thin layer

Center:
5 packets of Philadelphia cream cheese (the regular rectangular packs)---softened (room temperature or microwaved for 30 seconds to soften)
5 whole eggs
3 tablespoons of flour
1 3/4 cups of sugar
Vanilla extract for flavor
¼ cup of heavy cream

Mix all items
Not until it’s airy because then it’ll crack
Pour over graham cracker crust



Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Put cake in for 2 hours.
Shut stove off and leave in for 1 more hour (which allows it to drop down to room temperature which should prevent it from cracking)

Use anything for topping (a can of pie filling blueberries or cherries is great!)

Re: Recipe

[sparrow-sam.livejournal.com]

thank you!

Re: #2

[wenchamok.livejournal.com]

My family is pretty good about Goodwill-ing stuff. If it's really crap, it does hit the trashcan, but if it's still good and just doesn't fit or whatever, we sack things up and take them to the Goodwill or the DAV. :) It's about the only kind of "pay it forward" I can afford! LOL!

whoot whoott!

[sparrow-sam.livejournal.com]

thank you so much. it means a lot to go in when you need to and find somethng that someone actually took care of and not just schlepped it all off so they can get a tax write-off.

thank you!!!!!!!!

[myficklemind.livejournal.com]

You'll be getting some snail mail from me! :)

[sparrow-sam.livejournal.com]

yaya!!

[dakotawitch.livejournal.com]

I can hit a couple here...

You can gank the icon if you like. Surf over to my LJ and get the crediting info for it, if you would :)

For music recs, check out my friend shotfromthehip on LJ. He does a daily listening log and has great taste.

My partner and I (up in frozen Dallas!) are baking cookies tonight!

Check out the cheapcookin' comm on LJ for great recipes!

[sparrow-sam.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thanks for baking! I just added shotfromthehip, and am on my way over to cheapcookin' now!
You live in Dallas? I live about an hour south of y'all!! YAY!