Preparing for our gathering!

We made pork patties!  The kids in Louisiana want to take some seasoned pork patties home with them when they come for Christmas, so yesterday we got the job done.  I think the southern MN kids will want to take some home also.  We use unseasoned pork that was ground from the front shoulders the last time we had hogs butchered.  Since we didn't think we had enough, we went to the local meat market and bought another 15 lbs of course ground pork.  Ours had been packaged as 5 lbs in bags, and so we made up 25 lbs into seasoned patties.  Steve has made up our own seasoning (I don't even know the recipe for that), and depending on how spicy you like your pork patties, depends on how much is mixed in.  You mix the seasoning in with your hands, and then use the press to make your patty.  We like ours about 1/3 lb.  On a bun, it is the best "Ham" burger around!

After pressing out patties, we put them on a cookie sheet and put in the freezer for a couple of hours.  We had to use cake pans too, and covered them with tin foil and put out in the pickup because we didn't have enough room in the freezer.  And, believe it or not, those patties out in the truck froze faster than those in the freezer.

After frozen, we then put the patties in plastic and vacuum sealed the packages; ready to stay in the freezer until either grilled or pan fried for breakfast, lunch or supper!  They are best grilled, but we put our grill away for the winter months.  I fried up a couple to have as burgers for lunch - yum!

I have been so busy lately getting things ready for our "family gathering" that I am sorry to say I haven't been good about blogging.  I won the giveaway of a coupon to use for a new Rowenta steamer iron, and will be getting the mail in coupon soon in the mail.  Thank you Cathy from "Hazelruths" blog.

Below are pictures of some of the pillow cases I've been making for all the young people in our lives.  These are fun and easy to make.  I also have been busy getting other things made and in the mail.  Boy is the postage cost out of this world!  It costs more to mail things than I thought it was going too, but had some gifts done that needed mailing, so mail them, I did. 

The pillow case with the puppies has an appliqued cut out picture of a couple of the puppies, and then I embroidered around each puppy, and filled in the eyes, ears, and markings, as this one is for Marcus.  He is about 9 and has been blind since he was 6.  I thought that he'd be able to feel the detail on a couple of the puppies.  His brother and sister are coming with Stephani.  We consider them our adopted grandkids.  Marcus won't be coming becasue he needs to have some medical attention daily that I'm not able to do for him.

We are anxiously waiting for everyone to get here.  It will be a full, full house!!!!!!!!!   But fun!

I still have a couple of projects I'm working on, but having serger problems, so drove that to Fargo, ND (80 miles) to get repaired.  They called yesterday, and it is ready, so think I'll drive to Fargo on Friday to get it.  I'll make some other shopping stops too!

Have a blessed day!