Happy New Year....may the good Lord bless and keep you!

I love this picture -- a Norman Rockwell print titled "New Year's Eve" from January 1, 1944 -- of a young lady who, at the stroke of midnight, has fallen asleep after rereading love letters from her overseas soldier-boyfriend.

As I write my last post for 2012, I am truly humbled to still have the AHOP light in the window -- a 'safe place' for these officers to come for a meal, a root beer float, or a cup of hot coffee on a cold night.  It makes me so happy that they still enjoy their visits.  I have had so much fun this year flipping pancakes, making cream puffs and conjuring up a pretty darn good meatloaf.  Your support has also been very humbling -- thank you from the bottom of my heart.

This month also marks AHOP's 3rd Anniversary!  I hosted my first dinner on December 23, 2009.  I was so afraid no one would come to my first dinner, and as many officers as I knew at the time, oddly enough, four officers I (didn't) know knocked on my door.  I love to see new officers sit at my table who have been 'afraid' to come.  Some officers who don't know me feel really funny about coming the first time.  I always look at them as being fearless and afraid of nothing -- least of all coming to AHOP.  But it only takes coming once, and they come back -- just ask Officer H.

Wherever you live, I encourage you to reach out to your own local police department to host your own event.  I can guarantee you this -- you will enjoy every minute of it, and you will get back so much more than you put into it.  I wish you all could see my officers through my eyes.  You would see what I see.  They are big-hearted, thoughtful, kind, and courageous. 

Wishing you all a safe and Happy New Year.  And please, if you venture out New Year's Eve, drink responsibly.  Don't become another statistic.  Drive Sober or GET PULLED OVER.  Don't wreck your life or the lives of others -- designate a driver or take a taxi.

And that's all I have to say about that!

Happy New Year to you all!   ♥

March of the penguins.....

If I were to put one of these adorable little penguins on my 2nd shift officer's salad plate at my next AHOP dinner, you might think they would say "AHOP, you have lost your mind!"  But to the contrary, they would all find them rather amusing and would appreciate all the fun I had putting them together, only with them in mind.  It's like the time I put fanned strawberries on the breakfast plates for 1st shift. I can just hear them now...."Do we eat it?  Is it just for decoration? It's too cute to eat!  Uhhhhh.........."

My friend, Sarah, shared this recipe with me on Facebook over the holiday, then another long-time friend of mine, Dara, made them for her family holiday dinner.  Her picture turned out better than the picture in the original recipe so, with her permission, these pictures are from her dinner. Nice job, Dara!  Your entire meal looks divine!

I haven't made these yet, but you can be assured that I will.  I just couldn't wait to share them with you.  Don't be surprised if you find one of these little guys staring back at you at the next dinner.  :)

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Egg Penguins

Adapted from this recipe

9 large ripe olives
6 hard-cooked eggs
12 small baby carrots

Directions 

• For the penguin heads, attach one olive to the top of each egg with a toothpick. 
• For beaks, cut six carrots 1/2 inch from the pointed end; attach the flat side of a pointed piece to the center of each head with half a toothpick.
• For the feet, make a lengthwise cut through the remaining carrots; place flat side down in pairs (trim carrots if necessary). 
• Place a toothpick in each carrot; press an egg on top of each pair.
• For flippers, cut the remaining olives lengthwise into quarters; attach one olive quarter to each side of eggs with half a toothpick. 
• Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  
  Prep/Total Time: 20 minutesYield: 6 Servings

Note:  I haven't made these yet myself, so when I do (and I will), I will update this post if there are any tweaks.
 

Too cute to eat, I say, too cute to eat!  

Merry Christmas...God Bless Us, Everyone!

Remembering all of the police officers, fireman and EMS who are working this Christmas Day, for you and for me. You are appreciated!

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And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. ~ Luke 2:8-14

No one can recite Luke 2:8-14 like Linus....just had to add this.
That's what Christmas IS all about!

And one more....the Christmas Story as told by the children of St. Paul's Church
in Auckland, New Zealand. I love this video...and the 'donkey push' trying to get
Mary and the donkey up the hill...priceless.  

Enjoy!   

Wishing you all a joyful, safe and happy holiday ~ Merry Christmas! 

Strawberry Santas....HO-HO-HO!

You will be the talk of the party if you arrive with these cute little Santa's.  I made these little guys for the first time today for the 10th floor Holiday Potluck at work, and they were a big hit!  I also took a plate down to the CMPD South Division.  Served on a bed of shredded coconut to resemble snow....so cute!

Here's what you need...and strawberries, of course!

Santa Strawberries

Adapted from this recipe

1 dozen strawberries

1 8 oz. Cool Whip    

Handful of chocolate sprinkles
Pastry bag and tips (or) two large ZipLoc bags

Using a paring knife, slice the leafy end off each strawberry so they stand up evenly. Then slice the tip off to make a little hat.  I did about 7-8 Santa's at a time and lined them up on a folded paper towel to absorb some of the juice.  This way you can place the hat in front so the hats don't get mixed up (no laughing -- I'm sure I have a little OCD somewhere in my family.)

All shapes and sizes....just like us.  :o)

I used a pastry bag to pipe out the Cool Whip.  If you don't already own one....it is a very inexpensive kitchen tool that you will use over and over and over and over!  Pipe out the Cool Whip for the little head, then plop the little hat on top.  

This is the size pastry bag and tips I used.  

You can buy these Wilton products at Micheal's and other craft stores.  The tips are very inexpensive (something like $.99/ea.)  If you don't have a pastry bag or you don't think you'll use it often, a large ZipLoc bag works very well.  For the buttons and hat, the hole should be no larger than a pin-head. Super tiny.  Use a separate bag for the face and cut a slightly larger hole.  Cut a very small hole for the face and test it.  If it's not large enough, cut a little more and test it again.  Keep testing until you get the size face that looks like the picture.  You can make the cut larger -- you can't make it smaller.

  

A Zip-Loc bag works well to pipe out the Cool Whip if you don't have a pastry bag, but
Wilton pastry bags and tips are an inexpensive addition to your kitchen gadgets.
Don't be scared....go get one! ;)

Place two chocolate sprinkles on Santa's "face" for the eyes.  

TIP: I found the sprinkles very hard to pick up and put on the face without messing up the face.  Dip your finger in water and then pick up a sprinkle using the flat side of your wet finger -- that made it easier to place the sprinkle on the face.    

This was the first time I've made these Santa's -- the next time I think I will chop up some of the sprinkles so the eyes are smaller.
  

You're done! Store them in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Enjoy! 

♥ 

Updated photos from 2014:

2014 Gift Shop Treat Table

I served these little guys on a bed of shredded coconut to give the appearance of snow
(an idea I saw in a magazine). Very cute!

Tis' the season...for shoplifters

This little tree went to the South Division.

I love these little Charlie Brown trees.  I have purchased several over the years and have given them to friends and colleagues who commented on my own tree.  This year, how appropriate for these little trees to go to a few police stations and to the officers who stop by AHOP when they can.

Today, this little tree found a home at the office shared by the Sergeants in the South Division.  They all share a large office with several desks to accommodate their rotating shifts.  I hope this tree will put a smile on their face in this season of shoplifters, robberies, auto larceny, home break-ins, and holiday crazy people.  I hope it will remind them that it is also a season of miracles.  For all the bad they see (especially this time of year), it must be hard to see some of the good.  I hope a lot of good comes their way this Christmas.  They all so deserve it.  ♥

My cute little gift tags. 

UPDATE:  One more tree delivered last Tuesday night to Sgt. John in the Central Division.  One of the nicest officers I know and so proud to call him my friend.  When Sgt. John was promoted, he transferred from South to Central division, so I don't get to visit with him now as often as I'd like to.  I walked in with a pastry box filled with about 40 cream puffs and this tree.  I asked Sgt. John if he would take a picture of his tree so I could update my blog.  I was so happy when I received this picture.  I have so very few pictures of the officers I cook for so I was happy to get this.

This little tree found a home at Central Division.

A tree also found a home in the Steele Creek division -- in the lobby of their beautiful new facility.

"I never thought it was such a bad little tree....it's not bad at all, really.

Maybe it just needs a little love." ~ Linus