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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

It's Beginning To SMELL A Lot Like Christmas

A wonderful scent can bring back cherished memories, create an atmosphere of celebration, or transport me to a place of tranquility. Here are a few of my favorites for the holidays.

This is a Cinnamon Broom that I found at Trader Joes for $3.50. The fibers are knitted together into this beautiful, rustic broom and soaked in cinnamon. Now our entire family room smells amazing! I was thinking I might pick up one today to put in the trunk of our minivan!!


We have a Yankee Candle store in our local mall.
We smelled every holiday scent they had until we all agreed that Autumn Leaves was the best. Not too sweet...a little woodsy...with spicy cinnamon undertones. PERFECT!

All year long I plug in my favorite scents of the season. This Christmas we are using Harvest Spice, and Apple Cinnamon Medley in our home.

Don't forget to find a yummy smelling soap to put by each sink. My choice this year is Cinnamon Spice made by EO and purchased at Whole Foods.


Adding a scent to your home is an easy way to create a warm, welcoming environment. Hope this inspires you to find the things that makes home a wonderful place to be.

*******************

A super easy dinner for a busy holiday month!
10 minutes of preparation...35 minutes to bake.
I forgot to take a picture of mine, but it looked something like this...

TAMALE PIE

1 lb. of ground beef or ground turkey
1 packet of taco seasoning mix
1 cup of corn (canned or frozen)
1 box of your favorite cornbread
2 cups of mild salsa

Preheat oven to 350.
Brown beef and add taco seasoning packet.
Add all of the salsa and the corn to the beef and stir well.
Put beef into a 9x9 pan.
In a bowl mix together the cornbread batter.
Pour cornbread batter over the beef.
Bake for 35 minutes or until the cornbread is firm.
I served it with fresh veggies, salsa & guacamole.

Will easily serve a family of 5 plus leftovers.
Enjoy

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27 comments:

MommyLovesStilettos said...

I want one of those brooms! I have to have one!!! :)

Thanks!!

Also, that tamale pie looks fabulous!

carissajade said...

I had my first tamale pie this weekend and it was DELICIOUS!!!

My favorite holiday scent is the Christmas tree burning oil from Bath and Body Works... Actually I'm a fan of all the oils, but since we don't have a tree this year the Christmas tree oil is putting me into the spirit!!

Unknown said...

I can always use quick and easy recipes! Thanks for sharing. I'll have to check to see if our local Trader Joe's carry those brooms. Finally, I have never walked into a Yankee Candle store because of the overpowering scents playing havoc on my allergies and daughter's asthma. With that said, the way you described the aroma of that particular candle makes me want to check it out!

Have a great day!

Kimberly said...

My Mom bought a couple of those brooms a few years back. They smelled awesome! I've been wanting one ever since.

Sorry it's been so long since I've stopped by, I've been lazy...no excuse...

Ed said...

I'm not allowed to be around cinnamony brooms and candles and plug-in things like that.

I eat them.

Kathy said...

Seashell has one of the oil fresheners in her room and the smell of Christmas comes wafting out when anyone opens the door...which is a better smell than her usual scent!!!

I make a casserole with chili on the bottom and corn bread on the top. I bet your tamale pie is excellent with sour cream on top.

Just A Normal Mom said...

Okay, it's lunch time here and that looks delicious. Might have to put that on the menu this week. EASY is my middle name right now!
***Ally

Unknown said...

mmmmm...i usually have apple cinnamon scent in my house starting in the fall and going all through winter!

that tamale pie looks good and easy...and that's my style!

Unknown said...

mmmmm...i usually have apple cinnamon scent in my house starting in the fall and going all through winter!

that tamale pie looks good and easy...and that's my style!

Anonymous said...

I love the cinnamon brooms. They make the house smell amazing and they last quite a long time. I need to get one the next time I am out!

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

Hi and thanks for stopping by to visit and say Hi. That Tamale Pie looks so good..I love tamale pie...

i'll have to make it this week...


and YES ! I know Sugar Pie Farm...I've been there and LOVE it..I'll go visit there this afternoon after I get back from the grocery store...

I'll be back to visit very soon...love your blog...

Best,
Kary

Shelly - Tropical Mum said...

My husband is about to run away from home if I make another pasta dish, so this recipe for Tamale pie is going to come in handy.

I made Sloppy Joe's last night (for the first time ever, they don't eat them here) and they were a real hit!

Thanks for the ideas!

If I don't comment again before Christmas, have a wonderful day with your family!

Cathy said...

I have to get one of those brooms. Cinnamon is my favorite scent.

I love all the smells of Christmas, you've highlighted a lot of good ones here!

MJ said...

That broom rocks!!! I normally buy the cinn pine cones, but I really must find that broom.

and thanks for a wonderful recipe! I am always looking for something quick for week nights!

Corrie Howe said...

I love the smell of candles, I wish I'd remember to burn them more often than I do. I love the sent of French Vanilla

Sue said...

I just saved a recipe from your blog...how about that. I'm also going to look for the handsoap. I will actually be able to get to a Whole Foods in the next few days. One thing about Orlando, they have every store. We are more than halfway there...I'm in a hotel room after having free tacos and a beer at the hotel (classy). Lucky for me...internet the entire trip!

Sue

Lothiriel said...

Your posts always make me feel so good on the inside.

Thanks for the recipe!! I loe easy stuff to make since I suck at cooking.

Raoulysgirl said...

I love Christmas! One of the best things about Christmas? The SMELLS!!! You are so right!!!!

ScoMan said...

Smells of Christmas. That's a new one. But it's such a special occasion, why shouldn't it be a treat for all the senses?

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Yup, I want one of those brooms! Cinnamon is my favorite holiday scent.

That quick meal looks great actually!

Anonymous said...

Whoa, you've got a great collection of smell good stuff there, my friend. I may need to pay an in person visit! :0)

Martha said...

We love those brooms. My daughter got one as soon as they came out in the fall. I need to see if I can still pick on up before Christmas Eve. It is funny the things that kids hold onto as tradition.. really simple things!

Have you looked at Glades Limited Edition Soy candle - Pomegranate Cranberry - it is delightful, with a hint of evergreen. I love Autumn leaves and had been burning that earlier. My favorite Christmas Yankee Candle scent is Jack Frost - pepperminty... I have not bought one this year, loving the Glade scent too much!

The recipe looks great - my daughter would probably like it, except she's not big on corn bread. I love corn bread!

Have a great day - time for coffee, I've been up since 4am with a stuffy head, but I always feel like the Keurig is too loud to brew that early!

elvira pajarola said...

....Holly....your sweet "mix-up" of olives and grapes and your hubbies crack up was too funny...I wish I could have been there....!!!! thanks so much for telling me this absolutely lovely story.....!
( your recipe I will try for certain!!!)
ciao cara amica
elvira

Jenn Erickson said...

Oh Yum! Is it wrong to be craving tamale pie at 9:29 a.m. in the morning? Thank you for sharing the "scents of the season". Those wonderful homey scents can evoke such happy memories and comfort. I love Yankee Candle and that scent sounds delightful. My neighbor at the end of the block has one of those cinnamon brooms from TJs, and you can smell it all the way from my front door. Crazy! Happy Holidays ladies!

Traci said...

Your house must smell glorious!

I love the cinnamon broom. I used to live right by a Trader Joes and now I live in Texas where there are none and I miss it so!

Thanks for your kind words and prayers on my blog. All my best!
:-)

Holly Lefevre said...

Yum...Tamale Pie!

I saw those cinnamon brooms and didn't buy one...not sure if I can brave the TJ parking lot again...I got side swiped by a cart. I have been burning my Yankee Candle - Cranberry...smells like Christmas!

Allison said...

First off that tamale pie looks so good! I'm definitely going to try that one!

I am so in love with Yankee Candle. I have a bit of a candle fetish, so much so that my dining room buffet has turned into a home for all my candles instead of napkins and dishes...who needs dishes when you can just light candles that smell like food, right?