Insert An Audible Sigh of Relief Here

Hope your Christmas was grand. I love the house all decorated and dressed up but by today, I'm ready to take the tree down and put the stockings away for another year. It's satisfying to replace Poinsettias that have lost their lustre and pry the sticky candy canes from the apothecary jars they've lived in for a month. The glittery exuberance is fun but it's great to get the rooms back in ship-shape, January order.

With teens in the house, you may be journeying with them to the mall. Sacks of gifts, so eagerly and lovingly bought, weren't quite what said child had in mind. Wrong color. Wrong style. Just wrong. That's OK. It's better to let them pick something they want rather than finding a gift six months later, still in the box with tags attached. That's discouraging. So, Happy Hunting.

Are you writing New Year's resolutions? Lose 10 pounds. Exercise. Organize your closet and your life along with it. Spend less money. Save more. Sound familiar?

What about resolutions in regards to your teen? Things like: Be more patient. Communicate better. Less ultimatums and more compromises. More meals at home and healthier choices. Not sweating the small stuff and picking battles. Positive affirmations and guided choices. More time spent together. Clear scholastic expectations and support for those goals. Supporting community and school involvement. Listening better. Helping your child find his/her passion. Directed activity options that are constructive and healthy. Identifying life goals and opportunities. Saying "I love you" even if your teeth are clinched and your fingers crossed behind your back.

Here's two great recipes for left-over turkey. That 's another thing that feels good. Getting that sucker out of the fridge so there's room for my pot of Black-eyed Peas!

Turkey Tetrazzini

About 4 cups diced turkey

1 4 oz can chopped olives

2 tsp. Lee and Perrin

1 4 oz can sliced mushrooms drained

2 tsp. paprika

1 8 oz container sour cream

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 lb grated cheddar-divided in 1/2

1 onion, 1 small green pepper and 1/2 c celery, all chopped

1 12 oz spaghetti (try the whole wheat)

Saute the vegetables in 2 tbsp butter. Set Aside.

Cook the spaghetti according to directions. Drain and set aside.

Combine the soups with the sauteed vegetables, the olives and mushrooms, the turkey and the seasonings and heat until bubbly. Add 1/2 of the cheese. Now add the noodles into the mixture. Put in a greased 3 quart baking dish. and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake covered with foil at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serves about 8.

Laurie's Turkey Hash

Peel, pare and boil 3 or 4 large potatoes. Drain

In large saute pan - 1 large yellow onion-chopped and softened in 1 stick butter. Then add 2 cloves garlic, dash Tabasco and 1 Tbs Lee and Perrin. Also add good dash of poultry seasoning and salt and pepper.

Now add 2 or three cups of leftover turkey, shredded or chopped, and the cubed, cooked potatoes. Let brown a minute in the butter-onion mixture, lightly turning over. Finally, add 1 can Swanson's Chicken Broth and simmer until reduced. Serve hot.

Have a restful and relaxing last week of 2007. I for one am not getting out of my PJ's for at least two days! Enjoy the down time. Chrissie