It just needs to happen!

We are all set, almost everything is done. The cookies are made, the presents are wrapped and there are still 2 things in transit. But that is what it is and out of my control. The food has all been purchased and just needs to be made. 

Might have to make boxed stuffing for the day as my kitchen aid is making really weird noises. It started while making the first batch of Toll house cookies the bowl jumped off the holder and it was still mixing. I shut it off and righted the bowl. Then when I started it again, it made weird noises. I continued to use it as I had 4 more batches of Toll house to make and a double batch of peanut butter and a single batch of russian tea cookies. Plus, I also got a double batch of sugar cookies in the fridge for later. ( My mom helped the girls and they unfortunately were not share worthy so we had to eat them)

I was able to do 2 Thirty-One Gift shows this month. I had great success with both of them. Very Thankful to have this company in my life. It helps to make things easier!!! If you ever want to know about the product or the company. Please feel free to ask away, I love talking about the company!!!

Here is week 17 completed! This week also contains the new orange as the old orange just came up short! Hopefully, I will get sometime this week to start on 18. So hoping to be done by the new year!

I have all the ingridents to make puppy chow, chex mix and magic bars... Just need to find the energy to get them done. I'm off to finish my supper before it gets to cold!

Smile Loudly,

Yart

Do I feel Spring?

For some odd reason I think that spring is coming quickly. I have had cleaning tendencies... Nope not pregnant... I would have for sure told you if I was.... LOL! I have been in a mad rush to get inside things done. So far I have finished 3 items for Christmas and the 4th one started. I got the curtain for the bathroom done. The three curtains for the dining room are all done except for the tie backs... can't find the grommets. I even almost finished another bag.. but the sewing machine had a malfunction so I had to stop and take it apart to fix it. Never did get back to it last night.

Today I need to finish that bag. Work more on the Christmas present. Get started on the bathrooms new washcloths. Do some more cleaning and maybe even get a workout in.

Oh, I forgot to tell you.... Since Picky has become quite the little baker I thought it was time to find an alternative to fake frosting. I found a recipe for a marshmallow frosting.

Pixels and Paperie were kind enough to share the recipe on their blog. 

So far we used in on cupcakes and then we used it as the center for these....

This picture came from One Good Thing by Jillee... as did the recipe! 

As you can see we have been busy here.... Lets see what else needs to be done!

Yart

Yummy!

I found a great site called Chef in Training. I made a version of the Chicken Tortilla Soup that can be found here. I added green peppers, tomatoes that I canned this past summer, used turkey stock, instead of the spices I used fajita seasoning and doubled the recipe. It was very good.

But I also found Peanut Butter Fruit Dip

And I can’t forget to share Cake Batter Pudding Cookies

Then I found Baked Oatmeal at Smile Monsters

Yart

Happy Holidays!!

School is officially over until next year! Saturday morning we went on to the Bowling Christmas parties.... All the monsters had a ton of fun!! There was comic bowl, pizza, cupcakes, gifts and a ton more food that folks brought. We ended up there for a couple of hours. We were suppose to go to a texas hold em party. But the people we were going with couldn't go because thier monster got sick. So instead we stayed home and I baked. I made sugar cookie dough for the monsters. Then I made spiced ginger cookies (new to us recipe) and almond thimble cookies. The spiced ginger I need to make more of, I only got 2 1/2 dozen and they were a huge hit. So these are going to be added to the yearly must make list. Then once the baking was done it was time to teach the older two how to play rummy. The littlest monster was spending the night with my mom. They had a good time..... I think they got it?!? But you never know.

Sunday, I got up and made a toll house dough, left out the nuts and chocolate chips, but added M&M's. It was a double batch, I got 7 dozen. I know it seems like a lot but most of the cookies will be going into gift packs. Then my mom came over and rolled out the dough for the monsters (I'm not a pastry chef, I don't roll).... The monsters had a blast cutting out the shapes and decorating the cookies. I wasn't really happy with this sugar cookie recipe. So I will have to find a different one for next time. We had a simple dinner, mac and cheese and smoked sausage. Then we watched the Muppets Christmas Carol. Mouthy monster ended up in bed early, poor thing has a cold.

This morning we were back at therapy, only two days this week! Then went to the health food store, needed some vitamins. Back home to get the dog. Off to the vet we went..... He has another ear infection and his eyes are both yucky this time.... His nails got trimmed, we were there for over two hours and I spent almost $300...... Seriously, Teenage monster had better get to being a great vet soon..... These animals are going to put me in the poor house. He is already feeling better and that is all that matters. Poor baby! And I have to work bingo tonight.... Last one for this year!

Everyone but me has a dentist appointment wednesday. The monsters to get cleanings and Grim to get a filling! Then we will be done with the dentist for this year.... Maybe, I can hope. The monsters might have a cavaty or two that need to be filled. If so maybe they can get it done before next year. Then after we get home, I need to make mini loaves of zucchini and cherry nut breads, and buckeyes. Once that is done I am done with the holiday baking.

Out of what I wanted to get done 10 types of cookies and 5 candies. I will have made 8 cookies, 2 candies and 3 types of bread. Not to bad for an over stressed mom of three.... LOL! Things always just seem to have a way of working themselves out don't they. All I have left to do is wrap a few little things and get the gift bags together. Cook the meal on the day and a bit of prep work and we will be good to go.

Gotta Run,

Yart

Blue Balls of Christmas

Here is a recipe I came up with.... I made them last year and everyone just loved them!



8oz cream cheese softened
food coloring (I use blue, hence the name)
1 tsp of almond extract
1 lb package of powdered sugar
1/2 cup of sugar

Combine cream cheese with enough food coloring to get the color you want. The add the powered sugar and white sugar. As you are mixing add almond extract. I used the medium size cookie scoop this time so I only ended up with just over 2 dozen. If you use a smaller scoop you will get a lot more. Once the balls are on the tray I put it in the freezer. Once they are frozen I put them into a zip lock freezer bag. Now they never come back out of the freezer. We eat them frozen. They are so yummmy!! Since they went so fast last year I'm not sure how long they will last

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Tonight was one of those nights. I had a meeting at the Legion. The kids only have a couple more days of school. Things are looking bright. Then I hear those words every mother hates to hear.... Mom...... Can you make 3 dozen........ um........ somehting really good for tomorrow. Luckily, once she finally spit it out I had all the ingredients to make Chocolate Chip Cookies that she was requesting. Since I had my meeting. I am now running really late. But it is all done and here are some pictures of it and the recipe. Enjoy!

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 Tbsp hot water
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
12 oz chocolate chips

Cream butter, shortening, brown sugar and white sugar together. Add eggs, water and vanilla; mix well. Mix in dry ingredients flour, salt and baking soda, stir in chocolate chips into sugar mixture.
Drop by tablespoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.
Makes approximately 3 1/2 dozen.

The Wet Ingredients


Creaming the sugars


The egg, vanilla and water

Blended smooth

Flour and Chocolate chips mixed in


Waiting on the tray


Cooling on the tray


Waiting to be packaged up