Christmas 2009

Starting with Christmas Eve.... Our Christmas

Preshool Program

Morgan had her Christmas Program at school on Friday! She's always so adorable! I don't have too many pictures because I'd rather watch her. We buy a DVD from the church too! She was a lot more animated then last year and it didn't take her as long to come out of her shell with all of the people there!

(these pictures are not the greatest...sorry!)

Winter Weekend

During the holiday season Bradley Fair has free horse and carriage rides on Friday and Saturday nights. We talk about it every year and this year we actually did it!!! Although we have to stand in line for 30 minutes and freeze our booties off....it was well worth the 20 minutes in the carriage! The kids had a blast and it was a great way to spend a holiday evening!

The Christmas tree at Bradley Fair

The Gingerbread house

Another great giveaway!

there are some great giveaways going on in the blogging world right now! Check this one out from PamperingBeki!

A giveaway

I would love one of these! so cute! Thanks to The Vintage Pearl!

The Princess and the Frog

Morgan and I went to our first movie together! I'm hoping the first of many movies together. We had such a great time and the movie was so cute!!! She loved it and sat like a big girl though the whole movie!

The Idea Room

Thanks to Susie...I got to looking at this blog tonight. This one idea, I thought, was just wonderful and so creative. Check it out here! A great gift and reminder about what CHRISTmas is all about!

Salty and Sweet

Going along this week in baking I needed to do a little something salty. I ate so many of the oatmeal cookies that I just about puked! So for something simple, with a little salt...here are the two things I made today.

In the first picture are Ritz crackers dipped in melting chocolate. Some have crushed candy canes on the top!

The last two pictures are just pretzels with hersery's kisses on the top...bake for 5-7 minutes at 200 degrees. When you pull them out, place an M n M on top! Be careful not to OVER cook these.

And that's it.
It takes no time at all...now I just need to figure out what to make tomorrow....

time...

Do you feel overwhelmed?
Are you rushing around like a crazy person?
I AM!
I have so many ideas of things I want to do and things I want to bake...
There's just no time!
Where did it all go?!

I'm wanting to take the kids here and and possibly here.

We want to go Christmas light looking...

I want to make Gingerbread houses...

I would love to give to give all of my friends something, but the time....

Food is good to give, right?!

So many things to want to do...so little time...

Maybe if I got off of the computer...hmmmm...

Day 3

Cracker-Slacker Jacks


INGREDIENTS
12 cups of plain popped popcorn (approximate)
1 cup salted peanuts
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 cups dark brown sugar (approximate)
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract



DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 250 degrees
Spray a sheet pan with non-stick spray and line with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with non-stick spray and set aside. After your popcorn is popped, go through it and pick out all of the kernels that didn't pop.


Combine the popcorn and peanuts in a large bowl, mix and set aside. Melt the butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Add the sugar, corn syrup and vanilla and stir until combined. Stir the mixture until it reaches 250 degrees, approximately 10 minutes.


Pour the syrup over the popcorn and stir to combine. You will need to work quickly because the syrup hardens rapidly. Spread the mixture onto the prepared sheet and place in the over for one hour. Cool completely. Break into pieces and serve immediately or store in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days.


I don't think mine turned out like it should have because I used Karo syrup instead of CORN syrup and I just NOW realized it! Duh! Oh well, I tastes pretty good...just sugary!


I copied the recipe from my sister over at Inspire.Create.Bake. She inspires me to bake, among other things! I'm so blessed to have her for a sister!

Sweet Treat part 2

Paula's Loaded Oatmeal Cookies

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), softened

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

2 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal

1 cup raisins (I used crasinis)

1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Brown butter icing, recipe follows

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 50 degrees. Grease one or more cookie sheets. Using an electric mixer, cream together butter, shortening and sugar in a bowl until fluffy. Add eggs and beat until mixture is light in color. Add buttermilk. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice; stir into creamed mixture. Fold in oatmeal, raisins (or craisins), walnuts, and vanilla, blending well. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Drizzle with Brown Butter Icing.

BROWN BUTTER ICING

1/2 cup butter

3 cups sifted powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 to 4 tablespoons water

In a small saucepan heat the butter over medium heat until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in 3 cups sifted powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in enough water (3 to 4 tablespoons) to make an icing of drizzling consistency. Drizzle on warm cookies.

I made a double batch for the holidays. And boy...does it make A LOT of cookies! Enjoy...they are heavenly!

Today's sweet treat

I'm in a baking mood...and although this doesn't take much 'baking', it's a great holiday treat to make!

1 package chocolate almond bark

1 can of salted spanish peanuts

melt the bark and stir in the peanuts. place on lined cookie sheets and freeze until hardened. enjoy!

I'm making Paula Dean's Oatmeal cookies with brown butter frosting tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Haters need not apply

My friend Leslie over at shabby sneakers is having an AWESOME give-away! Now...if you're not a 'twilight' fan, I wouldn't suggest you leave a post on her site! And if you are...you're in for a real treat! You'll also be able to check out some new stuff from Calamity Grace! Take a look at all of the good stuff to win here!

Chocolate Cake in a Mug

I decided to do something simple and tasty for the KDO workers this year. Kids Day Out for those of you who don't know is where I work. It's at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. My kids get to go for free (basically) and I get to make a little money and get to talk to other adults! Morgan also goes to Preschool there...anyway....I like to make a food gift at Christmas for all of the teachers. I like this better then 'stuff' because you eat it and it's gone. I'm not a fan of 'stuff' especially when it's just junk! And we all know I love food!
This recipe came from The Wichita Eagle Annual Cookbook. It's pretty tasty if you like chocolate cake!

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

3 tablespoons chocolate chips

Put flour, sugar and cocoa in a plastic bag. Place in a large mug. Put chocolate chips in a separate bag..place in mug with other ingredients.

Include instructions for the person receiving the mug:

Combine dry ingredients for sealed bag in the mug. Mix well. Add 3 tablespoons milk, 3 tablespoons oil, 1 egg, a splash of vanilla and the chocolate chips. Mix all ingredients well. (I suggest a whisk because you will have 'cooked egg' in your cake if not mixed VERY well...trust me!) Put mug in microwave for 3 minutes. Cake will rise over top of mug but will not run down the side. Take your mug out of the microwave and allow it cool. Best when eaten hot. Enjoy!

My big helper!!!

Thanksgiving break....

Starting at the top...pics of the kids taken by my sis Amy. This was on Thanksgiving day. Next...our trip to the zoo during the break! We had a blast! And then the last few pictures were taken at the 'Evan's Thanksgiving'....what a group!

A trip to the zoo during the break! We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather!