Twas The Night before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there.

A Visit from St. Nicholas 1822

written by Clement Clarke Moore

But while... those children were nestled all snug in their beds...the sock fairies, like St. Nicholas, spoke not a word..and went straight to their work. Their gossamer wings made not the slightest bit of flutter as they gathered up socks and sped through the night hoping to just stay ahead of jolly old St. Nick. As we all know, Christmas socks are colorful, come in variety of sizes but often are mismatched and generally are not hung in pairs. Fairies are quite careful at each home to leave at least a sock or two behind so St. Nicholas has something to fill. This story is shared to you, the reader, in case you hear of any unhappy children whose Christmas stocking has gone missing. Try to assure the child that the sock fairies are indeed on an important mission doing their job. They are doing their best to make sure every home that has a child snug in their bed while visions of sugar-plums dance in their heads has a stocking out for St. Nicholas to fill.

So if you should spy out on your lawn any bits of fuzzies and loose threads know that the sock fairies are out and about doing their best to make the holiday season just a little brighter for others.

Note that the feast day of St. Nicholas is December 6 and it is a custom to leave a your shoe outside your door before going to bed. Warning: I said shoe, but no socks!

This past week I have been on what I call a wisdom diet... soup. Since my jaw is still quite sore soup is easiest to handle. This recipe is quite tasty and makes a satisfying lunch/dinner.

Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Ingredients:

• 4 cups cooked wild rice
• optional: shredded cooked chicken or chunks of ham
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 chopped onion
• 2- 1/2 cups fresh mushrooms
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup finely grated carrots
• 1/2 cup flour
• 32 oz. container of chicken broth (Swanson low sodium)
• 1/2 tsp. of the following spices... curry, dry mustard, paprika, marjoram, parsley flakes and 1/4 tsp.pepper
• 4 TB sherry or white wine
• 3/4 cup half and half

Directions:

• Saute onion, celery, carrots and mushrooms in butter and set aside
• In a soup pot on medium heat add chicken broth, whisk flour into broth with spices
• Cook till slightly thick about 8 minutes
• Add cooked wild rice, celery, onion, carrot, mushroom mixture and chicken or ham
• Reduce temp. to low heat and stir in half and half and sherry or wine cook for about 30 minutes

Tips:

• Do not let mixture boil and if need soup to be thicker can add 1-2 TB flour using a whisk
• If making ahead add sherry or wine right before serving