Friday, December 21, 2012

Merry Christmas

I will honour Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all the year.
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens


May we all strive to make (and keep) this pledge through the coming year. 

Pecan Pie + Brownies = Sugar High

It all started with me reading some of my fav blogs - and seeing a recipe, for Pecan Pie-Brownies, follow this link to get the recipe ( http://cookiesandcups.com/pecan-pie-brownies/  ).  Brownies with pieces of pecan pie all through the batter - yes please. 

I printed off the recipe and made a batch last night -- the picture below is what my kitchen looked like after the brownies were in the oven.  Please notice that chocolate is everywhere - even on the handle of the saucepan.  And, let me tell you that cutting an entire pecan pie into bite size pieces is not an easy task -- bits of pie crust flew in every direction. But, I'm here to tell you,  it was very well worth the effort  - - -   



- - just feast your eyes on all these yummy looking brownies!  I filled 2 tins and this large container - in fact, the recipe makes so much batter that I baked it in one 9x13-inch pan and an 8-inch pan and I still had nice thick brownies.  These brownies are chewy and chocolatey with bits of rich pecan pie in every bite - a very decadent dessert just perfect for the holidays. 

Tonight - I'm making gingerbread cookies and Kahlua Balls.  I'm on a roll (and a 'sugar high') !!

Monday, December 17, 2012

Now is the time

I was going to title this post 'Not enough words in the world. . . .'  and there are truly not enough words in the world to describe what happened this past Friday.

But then I realized that now is the time for words -- many words.
Words, like  'mental illness'   'broken health care system'   and: yes - even  'gun control'

Now is the time to use those words to begin talking -- and then to make those words into laws that protect us all equally. 



  

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

More December verbs . . . . .

Smiling  . . .  can't help it, every time I use my snowman scissors I have to smile.  He seems to be so darn happy to help with all the gift wrapping and he is very good at his job, you know.  He was a gift years ago from my daughter - thank you again, Jessika.


Gifting . . . is that a verb - or even a word?!  Whatever the case may be - it fits the picture.  Lap quilts for my KC Girls, all neatly folded in big gift bags - ready for some pretty tissue paper, ribbons and then they will go under the tree.  I've loved working on these over the past 6 months -- from the fabric choices to piecing and finally the hand-stitched binding.  It's been such fun and I can't wait to see the quilts matched up to my beautiful grand-daughters.  BTW - guess which one goes to a 15 year old.


Thursday, December 6, 2012

December verbs . . . . . .

Unwrapping the Nativity Scene - with two helpers.  Each figure was carefully placed in the stable as we talked about why we celebrate Christmas.  Of course, the little curly red-head thought Mary's robe should have been pink and that Baby Jesus needed a blankie that was more colorful -- because, don't you know, even a Messiah and His Mother should be fashionable.



Tasting the double chocolate cookie dough - they both helped with the mixing, measuring, and; their favorite - breaking the eggs.  According to these two, the cookie dough taste much better when eaten directly from the beaters. 



Sorting out the Christmas cookie cutters - this took a long time as the merits of sugar stars vs gingerbread men was discussed at length.  The gingerbread men won the vote (along with gingerbread stars, mittens, snowflakes, trees, etc. . . . .)   These two love gingerbread cookies.

Enjoying all the verbs in my December . . . . .