I sometimes feel like we have too many food related topics here on Ten on Tuesday. And yet, when we talk about food, there are more participants, more comments, and more discussion. And so, despite my reservations, this week’s topic is food related. It’s also current events related: 10 Favorite Super Bowl Party Foods.

1. My number one favorite thing to eat while watching football is Buffalo Chicken Dip. I use this recipe and it’s the bomb. My friend who is hosting the party we will be attending has informed me she will be making a double batch for this Sunday. I hope it’s enough.
2. Second to that dip is chili. You can make it ahead of time, it can be customized and served with all kinds of toppings, and it’s delicious.
3. Jambalaya. I like to include chicken, sausage and shrimp. Yummmmm.
4. Meatball subs. Seriously, buy frozen meatballs, dump them in a crockpot with jarred spaghetti sauce, wait a couple of hours and they are ready. Serve them on extra fresh sub rolls topped with fresh grated Parmesan cheese and your guests will love you.
5. Pulled pork. Another one for the crockpot which makes it idea for a football party.
6. Nachos. I think this one is self explanatory.
7. Mexican layer dip. I don’t know why football makes me crave Mexican food but it does and that’s that. Pass the tortilla chips, won’t you?
8. Deviled eggs. What’s a party without them?
9. Whoopie Pies. See the picture up there? Those are the football shaped whoopie pies that I made for the AFC Championship Game. It was a little tricky getting the batter into a football shape but they tasted great.
10. Brownies. For the Super Bowl I happen to think they should be cut into shapes with football themed cookie cutters. Just saying.

Those of you who are big movie buffs like I am probably have movies on your mind since the Oscar nominations will be announced this morning. This is something I look forward to a lot and I will be generating a list of must-see movies once those nominations are made public. In the meantime, though, I’m going to tell you the 10 Movies I Want to See Right Now – even though it will likely change by the time many of you are reading this post – because that is today’s Ten On Tuesday topic.

1. Iron Lady. I love Meryl Streep and I just know her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher will be amazing. Honestly, I could watch Meryl Streep paint a room and I would find it entertaining.
2. Red Tails. The story of the Tuskegee Airmen is a fantastic one and I’m always interested in seeing something about them.
3. War Horse. I don’t generally like movies about horses because they are always sad but I’ve heard some Oscar buzz about this one and that’s why I’m putting it on my list. If it doesn’t get any nominations I will not be going to see it.
4. The Descendants. I put George Clooney in the same category as Meryl Streep, frankly.
5. Hugo. Martin Scorcese directed it. Need I say more?
6. The Artist. It’s highly favored for a Best Picture nomination
7. Midnight in Paris. Another favorite for an Oscar nomination and the cast includes Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams. I’m not always a big fan of Woody Allen but this seems like a good one.
8. One for the Money. I know it will probably stink but I love the Stephanie Plum books and I think casting Sherri Shepherd as Lula is perfect so I do want to see the movie. I wouldn’t have chosen Katherine Heigl for the lead but it ought to at least be good for some laughs.
9. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Not until after I read the book, though.
10. Gone with the Wind. I know it’s weird to list this one and I’ve seen it many, many times but Dale and I just finished listening to the book and now I’m really jonesing to watch the movie again.

Winter arrived with a vengeance last weekend here in Massachusetts. We didn’t get any snow but the temps dropped into the single digits and when it does that I want to hibernate in my cozy house. I’m never at a loss for things to do inside and so today’s Ten on Tuesday topic is 10 Things To Do Inside When It’s Too Cold To Go Outside.

1. Knit. Of course this had to be listed first but the truly great thing about knitting is that you can do it anywhere – inside when it’s cold, outside when it’s warm, it’s the ultimate portable craft.
2. Spin. Like knitting, spinning can be done outside but there’s something truly awesome about spinning with soft wool when it’s cold outside.
3. Build a fire. We have a wood stove so there’s always a fire going here but I remember how comforting it was to build a fire in the fireplace in my old house when the temperatures plummeted.
4. Read. This is best done by that fire.
5. Play video games. On Sunday Dale and I played the Wii for a good portion of the afternoon. The physical games like bowling and tennis were a great alternative when we felt like we had been sitting on the couch for too long.
6. Play cards or a board game. It’s fun, it makes you laugh, and there’s something so cozy about playing games on a cold winter night.
7. Bake cookies. Moving around, gathering ingredients, mixing the batter and all of that will warm you up. The hot oven will warm the kitchen and the yummy cookies will warm your insides.
8. Organize/clean something. My kitchen pantry is calling my name. So far I’m ignoring it but if it’s cold again next weekend I will tackle this.
9. Eat things that will warm your insides. Spicy chili, buffalo chicken dip, a hot bowl of soup – you get the idea.
10. Snuggle by the wood stove. This can also need to another rather pleasant indoor activity. Just sayin.

I like a warm bowl of homemade soup, especially when the temperatures dip below 30° like they do here in January. I made soup on Saturday and again yesterday and that got me to thinking about my favorite kind of soup. And that got me to decide that this week’s Ten on Tuesday topic would be 10 Favorite Soups.

1. Chicken and Rice. I sort of follow Pioneer Woman’s recipe but I don’t add the food coloring, green pepper or the pimientos and I do add celery and carrots.
2. Minestrone. I use a recipe from a cookbook of my mom’s and it has beef that you cook for a long time before adding all the veggies. I love it with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.
3. Campbell’s Vegetable Beef. I know that canned soup is full of sodium and not all that healthy but if I’m going to have a can of soup it’s going to be this one.
4. Panera Bread’s Forest Mushroom Soup. This is no longer on their menu but when they had it I was kind of addicted to it. Honestly it was more like gravy than soup and that may explain the irrational love I had for it.
5. Split Pea with Ham. I realize this is not a favorite for a lot of people but I think it’s wonderful. I love how thick and hearty it is and think it should be kept pretty simple – peas, carrots and chunks of leftover ham. My friend Tom makes great Split Pea with Ham soup.
6. Baked Potato Soup. I have actually never made this but I’ve had it in several restaurants and I always enjoy it. I like it to be creamy and thick and topped with bacon and cheese.
7. Cream of Broccoli. I haven’t made it in ages but it’s a definitely a favorite.
8. Fish chowder. I posted the recipe I use here a while back and it’s still one we all really love.
9. French Onion Soup. Dale loves it when I make this and it’s pretty simple. It takes a while to caramelize all those onions but then it’s easy as can be. And really, it’s an excuse to eat lots of Parmesan cheese.
10. Tomato soup. The canned kind is just fine with me and I like it made with milk. It’s best when served with a grilled cheese sandwich.

I’m not a big fan of resolutions but I do believe in goals. I also believe that one of the best ways to reach a goal is to write it down and so, here is my list of 10 Things I Want to Do in 2012.

1. Make homemade marshmallows. I’ve wanted to try this forever and I hope that the thought of toasting them in our fire pit is the push I need to just do it.
2. Make homemade ravioli. I made pasta last year and it was good. I got inspired and bought ravioli trays but I’ve yet to use them. This is the year!
3. Become someone who enjoys exercise. Last year I started (and stopped) two exercise regimens. I have friends who started and stuck with their new exercise routines and claim to really enjoy their time spent exercising. I enjoy my time sitting on the coach and watching TV.  I’d just really like to become a person who enjoys exercise but I’m not sure how to get there. I will persist, though.
4. Redecorate the living room. At the least I’d like to strip the wallpaper and paint, at the most it would be a full-blown overhault with a new rug, replastering and removing the old fireplace. We shall see.
5. Learn to use Photoshop Elements. I can do the basics but I know there is so much more I should be doing with this software. If I can learn to use this then I can graduate to Lightroom.
6. Go to a Patriots game. I feel like everyone I know went to a game last year. I really hope I get my chance this year.
7. Knit with my handspun. Seriously.
8. Take better pictures. I know my pictures are mostly good but I’ve got a lot to learn, especially with my new camera. I will be doing Project 365 again this year and I know that will help with this goal. I’ve also signed up for MCP Project 12 and I’m thinking that will also push my skills along.
9. Improve my cookie decorating skills. The first thing I’d like to do is get the frosting in the bags without having it wind up all over my hands. And kitchen. I think I’m going to try this tutorial.
10. Have more fun! This ought to cover everything else — traveling, crafting, cooking and more!

If you are anything like me, whether you are preparing to celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Solstice or just the arrival of the weekend, my guess if you have a lengthy list of things to do. And you probably don’t have a lot of time to devote to writing a Ten On Tuesday list. That’s why this week’s topic is 10 Things You Have to Do Before Christmas or Hannukah or the Weekend. In my case it’s Christmas and here’s my list.

1. Finish wrapping gifts. I only have 4 things left to wrap but I don’t have boxes for them and that’s the hold up right now.
2. Go to iParty and get plates, napkins, forks, and knives for our Christmas Eve party. This should actually be accomplished by the time many of you are reading this.
3. Buy the Swedish stuff – meatball mix, Swedish rye bread, cardamom braid, and Farmer’s cheese are all on the list.
4. Finalize the menu for Christmas Eve. I pretty much know what I’m doing but I need to make a couple of decisions and then create a shopping list.
5. Bake and decorate sugar cookies. This may not actually happen, it depends on how much time I actually have.
6. Grocery shop. I need to get food (and drinks!) for Christmas Eve.
7. Buy 2 more gifts. They are both gift cards and are both in the same strip mall so this should be relatively painless.
8. Make an ice ring. I always forget to do this so I’m hoping posting it here will help me to remember.
9. Work stuff – payrolls and schedules and monthly reports all need to be done by Thursday because I am on vacation next week. Hoo. And ray, too.
10. Cook! This could be another 10 things alone – I have to make the macaroni & cheese and the baked party dip, the finger sandwiches and the Swedish meatballs and all the other goodies that are traditionally served at our house on Christmas Eve.

It’s the time of year when everyone is having or hosting a party, it seems. We’ve got two to attend on Saturday and I’m trying to be prepared and that got me to thinking about having something to bring to the hostess. This is all just a lead in to today’s topic, 10 Hostess Gift Ideas.

1. Wine. You can’t go wrong with the standard. Put it in a pretty bag and you are good to go.
2. Champagne. Everyone loves champagne this time of year and, just like the wine, bag it and you’re done.
3. Candy. We have a candy store in town that makes fabulous hand dipped chocolates and a box from there is always appreciated.
4. Cookies. If you’re going in this direction I really think they should be home made cookies. You are probably making them anyway so just set some aside for your hostess.
5. Hand lotion. You know those OPI AvoJuice that come in all the yummy flavors? Bring one of those.
6. Home made vanilla. See this post.
7. Mixes in a jar. I’ve made them myself and they are great. Put a jar of homemade cocoa mix in a basket with a couple of mugs and some peppermint sticks for stirrers and you’ve got a wonderful hostess gift.
8. Potted herbs. You can buy a pot of basil right in the grocery store. It smells great and it’s useful, too.
9. Kitchen towels. I always see the pretty seasonal ones but I’d never buy them for myself. It would be great if someone brought me a set of those.
10. Fresh flowers. It may be a little overdone but I think fresh flowers are always welcome!

I think the thing that makes the holidays special (and sometimes also stressful) is the traditions we have and that’s why this week’s Ten on Tuesday topic is 10 Favorite Holiday Traditions.

1. Decorations. Even though I admitted yesterday that I changed some things this year there are traditions that are very important to my family. That print hanging over the mantel, for instance. Dale and I bought that the year we got married and we have hung that up as our first decoration ever since. Dale just said the other day that he never gets tired of it and I agree.
2. Baking cookies. I might try a new recipe or two but certain cookies, like spritz, polish tea cakes, and peanut butter balls, have to be made or it won’t feel like Christmas.
3. Our Christmas Eve gathering. Sure, I complain about the work but I couldn’t imagine not hosting our friends and family on this occasion every year.
4. Swedish meatballs, cardamom bread, pickled herring and medwurst. Our Christmas Eve wouldn’t be complete without our favorite Swedish foods.
5. Christmas on the Common. It’s always the first Saturday in December and it’s sponsored by Kiwanis and it’s a wonderful tradition for our little town.
6. Candlelight Carols at Trinity Church in Boston. Dale have made a point of attending this the last few years and I’ve written about it before.
7. Watching our favorite Christmas specials. For me it’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and for Dale it’s “Year Without a Santa Claus.” I must admit that having a DVR has made this so much easier than it used to be.
8. A romantic dinner for two. At some point every December, Dale and I sit down together and enjoy a delicious meal, the lights on the tree, and Christmas music on the iPod. We are a couple of sentimental fools and it’s always a very special night.
9. Chex Party Mix. I make a double batch of the original version every year. And I make it in the oven because it comes out better that way. So there.
10. Christmas Dinner with Dale’s family. Last year we went to his brother Randy’s house but in the years prior to that we have gone to his brother Barry’s house. I’m sure hoping one of them picks up this hint and has the family over on Christmas!

I know I usually start my Ten on Tuesday posts by telling you how I came up with the topic idea but I honestly can’t remember when I thought of this one. I know it was a few weeks ago but I wanted to focus on Thanksgiving themed topics for the last couple of weeks and I just can’t recall why I thought of this. It doesn’t really matter, though, because I think it’s a great topic. Ready? Here are my 10 Favorite Musicals.

1. Les Miserables. I’ve seen it on stage 4 times, I think, and I’ve loved it every time. It’s coming back to Boston next spring and I’m very tempted to go again.
2. Spamalot. I have never laughed so hard and so continuously as I did the night we went to this show.
3. Jesus Christ Superstar. This is another one I have seen and it was fantastic. We always listen to the soundtrack during the Easter season, too.
4. Hello, Dolly. I’ve seen a couple of very good high school renditions of this but I have to say I love the movie with Barbra Streisand.
5. The Music Man. I’m a librarian, what else do I need to say?
6. Wicked. Hannah and I had such a good time when we saw this together and I’m sure that’s influencing my decision to include it on my list of favorites.
7. The Sound of Music. I can never resist watching it when it comes on TV and Edelweiss always makes me cry.
8. The King and I. I used to watch this one with my mom – I swear it was on every Sunday afternoon – and I loved the costumes so much. Getting to Know You, Shall We Dance, and of course Yul Brynner’s “etcetera, etcetera” all stand out in my mind.
9. Grease. The first time I saw this was also the first time I saw Dale. I was 12 and he was 26, which is kind of creepy, but his band was hired to play for the grand opening of the movie at our local theater. When they re-released it for 25th anniversary Dale and I went and took all the kids and had a blast.
10. Mary Poppins. She was the original super nanny. And can I just say – my chimney is being cleaned today and I always expect the chimney sweep to sing and dance. He never does but I keep hoping. Chim-chim-che-ree indeed.

Thanksgiving is only 2 sleeps away and while we’ve been focusing on being thankful all month, I think it’s time for a list. I’m sure it’s no surprise that this week’s Ten on Tuesday topic is 10 Things For Which You Are Thankful. Most of the things in this post, including the photo mosaic, have appeared here before, but it all bears repeating because I have so much and I truly believe in expressing my gratitude.

1. Dale, Hannah and the rest of the family. People matter more than anything so it’s only natural that my husband, my daughter, my stepkids, stepgrandkids and inlaws top my list. I love them all dearly and know that they make my life better.
2. My job. We all know people who are out of work and I’m so grateful that I have a job that I love that pays me well.
3. My health. I’m overweight and I know it but my health is generally good. I also am lucky enough to have decent health insurance and I know this contributes to my good health – I am able to go to the doctor, I am able to have tests and mammograms, cortisone shots for a heel spur and all the other amazing things that modern medicine provides.
4. Our cozy home. I don’t love the lay out of our house and I sure wish we had a bigger bedroom and a 2nd bathroom but it’s a warm and cozy place where our family and friends gather and it means the world to me to have a home of my own.
5. Friends. I am blessed with wonderful friends and I am thankful for them every day. I don’t have siblings anymore but the girl friends I have mean as much to me as any sister could.
6. Plentiful food. I have never had to look my child in the eye and tell them there isn’t anything for dinner. I have never gone hungry. I have never had to ask someone to help me feed my family. I am fortunate to always have enough to eat and my work with the Food Pantry in Carver has made me so aware of how lucky I am to never have experienced food insecurity.
7. Technology. I have an iPhone, an iPad, a Kindle, and a laptop. We have a fancy flat screen TV and a PC at home. We have cordless phones and a Wii and I am thankful for all the fun that comes with modern technology.
8. Kiwanis. There isn’t a lot I can do to help people as an individual but by being part of Kiwanis  we can really make a difference. I’m grateful not only for the friends we have there but for the generosity I see in these people. Being with this group makes me a better person.
9. My brain. I am a manager, an administer, and a librarian. My brain helps me do my job, care for my family, manage my time, and be generally successful.
10. This blog and and all it’s readers. Every comment, every word of encouragement, every compliment when I show you something I knit – it all means so much to me. I am thankful for every one of you!