You might be shocked to find out ...

...that I didn't spend a single cent today. I didn't venture out on Black Friday. Nope. Nada. Zero. Zip. (Me? Not shop? Insane, right?) This year it will be a "Do we need it?" Christmas. (The only thing we need is food storage, so that's what we are getting.) Everything else will be handmade. Simplify is our new motto. We have been so blessed this year with Paul's job, our health (not including these horrible colds/coughs that stretch on forever), happy children, wonderful family and friends (I could keep naming all our blessings, but it would get long) that we have decided to simplify things. Including: canceling Satellite TV (gulp), saying goodbye to our DVR (double gulp), bye-bye faster Internet, sianara caller ID (I won't be answering my home phone any longer ;). It's all just a matter of setting the final date (which we have, but avoid talking about) and DOING IT. That will be the hardest part.

He's the man

My friend Traci showed me this video today. I laughed out loud every three seconds! It has a PG-13 part, so cover the little ears.

Christmas Pizza

"Mommy? Make pizza, home. Pepperoni."

He has a French-Austrian-Spanish accent when he talks.

I had just got him out of prison (aka his bedroom, to him, it was a death sentence) for being bad. He was sobbing. I felt bad.

"Of course we can make pizza!"

He has this quiet little squeaky voice after he's been REALLY upset.

It's REALLY cute!

The voice, not the tantrum.

I couldn't resist.

Christmas Pizza

bread

ketchup (or pizza sauce)

shredded cheese

pepperoni

cookie cutters

Toast under the broiler, set on high, but watch it carefully!

These will be ready in about 30 seconds, flat!

Eggnog Fondue for Two

It's Sunday night. That means it's dessert time. Put the kids to bed and snuggle up with your sweetie because, baby, it's cold outside! Eggnog Fondue

Scant 1/2 cup (about 1/4 c + 1/8 c) eggnog

1 1/2 tablespoon butter

3/4 cup chocolate chips (or white chocolate chips)

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1/16-1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

In a saucepan heat the eggnog over medium heat almost to the boiling point, whisking constantly. Do not allow to boil. Remove the saucepan from heat, turn heat down to low. Add the chocolate and the butter to the eggnog. Stir until chocolate and butter are completely melted, returning to low heat if necessary. Stir in cinnamon and nutmeg. Serve fondue immediately with bananas, marshmallows, graham crackers, sponge cake, pretzels, whatever suits your fancy.

Photo Shoot

Diva baby helped me with a photo shoot today.

My friend, Sara Frisby, (okay, that's not her last name anymore, but I've known her since I was a wee lass and I am still on my childhood memories kick) made this dress out of a vintage pillow case.

We wanted to show her, and you, that it is not only cute alone, but cute on!

Notice her shoes, made by Sara as well.

It's adorable with a shirt underneath, as well, but once we got that far into the snap shots, Diva Baby was D.O.N.E. for the day.

She said something about child labor laws.

Thanks again, Sara!

No chocolate left

Dear sugary confections of the non-chocolate* variety,

You are all that is left. Are you sad? Do you feel neglected and unwanted? Or are you glad that you are still alive? Does this prolonging of your life bring you joy?

Sincerely concerned,

Chocoholics

*I'm sorry Tootsie Pop, you don't count as chocolate

Some things take time...

A long time ago, I was asked for recipes. A long time ago. Sorry!

Here they are. We don’t use recipe a whole lot, and if we do, we never measure. Here are some guesstimates of what we did:

Ravioli Soup

3 cups chicken stock (or 3 cups water+3 chicken bullion cubes)
½ package frozen ravioli (or tortellini)
½ an onion, chopped
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 can green beans, drained
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can diced tomatoes (with the juice)
Spinach (I never measure this one, maybe a handful)
Salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan Cheese

Bring chicken stock, onion, and dried basil to a boil. Add frozen ravioli and boil for three minutes (or according to the package directions). Add green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, and spinach. Warm these ingredients through. Salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

paul's tomato crustless quiche

Extra Virgin Olive oil (couple tablespoons??)
Potato
Tomatoes
Eggs (maybe 6??)
Milk (a couple tablespoons??)
Basil (a teaspoon??)
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat your cast iron skillet (or oven proof pan) on the stove top. Drizzle skillet with extra virgin olive oil. Slice the potato thinly, about a ¼ inch thick and layer in the bottom of the skillet. Whisk eggs, milk, basil and salt and pepper in a bowl (just like you were making scrambled eggs. Pour egg mixture over the potatoes (add more eggs if it looks like you need more., the quiche was only about an inch thick) and layer sliced tomatoes on top. Move skillet to the oven and bake until eggs are firm (not sure how long, sorry).

dirty-dirty chocolate-coconut cupcake

Your favorite chocolate cupcake
Coconut flakes
Chocolate frosting

my chocolate frosting recipe:
1/3 cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 ½ tsp vanilla
2-4 tbl milk
2-4 tbl cocoa powder (I don’t measure, I just dump)

Make chocolate cupcakes (I used devil’s food mix).
Beat frosting ingredients together to make thick, yummy goodness.
Toast coconut in a pan or in the oven.
Frost cupcakes.
Roll frosted cupcakes in toasted coconut.

German Pancakes (via Mom via Janet White)

1 cup milk
1 cup flour
6 eggs
½ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cube butter or margarine

Melt butter in 9x13 Pyrex pan. Mix the rest of the ingredient in the blender. Pour into the pan and bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. Serve with syrup or sprinkle with powdered sugar (I like both BOTH).

picnik.com

How do you go from this To this?
Without Photoshop or Picasa?

Picnik

to quote my "source" via Kim ala Karen, YUMMY!

"Dirty Trick" water

Paul curses me and his mother during the Holidays. His mom taught me how to play this Dirty Trick.

"Oh! Smells GREAT!.....{after a long day at work, Paul walks into the kitchen}......Curse you and my mother!! What a dirty trick!"

He thinks I bake! he he he

The Dirty Trick Water Culprits:

water

cinnamon

cloves

ginger

nutmeg

oranges

apples

{any of the above can be used or not used, fresh or dry--except the water, of course, always use the water}

I have a BIG bottle of cinnamon from my mom's cupboard, circa 1994 (I swear!) reserved just for this purpose.

I wasn't baking. I was cutting paper. And stapling instead of gluing.
I like short cuts. And the way these slowly twirl in the air.

My house smells yummy and it's starting to feel a lot like Christmas.
At least inside it is.

Feelin' fally

Pumpkin scones recipe here (sans chubby baby hand) Thanks Giving tree inspiration here