Christmas Treats

Woke up Christmas morning and popped these cinnamon rolls into the oven.

Delicious! Recipe from The Pioneer Woman. I halved everything (made the dough the day before) for 36 rolls, also made only 1/4 of the glaze and drizzled it on.

The Christmas Tree, waiting for the kids to wake up and the grandkids to arrive.

Here it is! Fabulously easy Christmas Fudge recipe.

Twenty something years ago, when I was a young wife and mom with little funds for Christmas gifts, I found a cute card with a fudge recipe printed on it. I bought one box of cards and made fudge gifts for friends, neighbors and teachers. Every year I make this fudge. Sometimes for just family and friends, and sometimes for gifts. I have changed it up by using milk chocolate, white chocolate and even mint chocolate flavored chips. I have added nuts, peanut-butter chips, crushed candy canes and sprinkles to the top for decoration. It has been gifted in cute ways, stacked in a martini glass, a chinese take-out container, coffee mugs, and this year in these cute Santa bowls. I hope my co-workers enjoyed the fudge and love the little bowls as much as I did!

The last of the original cards. This year I color copied it, reduced size, and used it for a gift tag. Yummy treat and recipe in one.

Semi-sweet with walnuts and creamy milk chocolate fudge.

Sweet Potato Souffle

Thanksgiving is coming! My favorite holiday, family, friends and good food to share. This is my most requested holiday side dish, every year I have to make double so my kids can take some home as leftovers. It is light and fluffy, sweet with a crunchy topping. Very easy to make, everything goes in a big mixing bowl, into the souffle dish then bake. I usually make it the day before because it takes an hour or more to bake and my oven is full of turkey. When the turkey comes out on Thanksgiving, then just pop it in the hot oven to warm up.

Sweet Potato Souffle'





2 - 29oz cans of sweet potatoes


2 cups sugar


1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed


5 eggs


1 cup (2 sticks) butter


* * *


1/2 cup (1 stick) butter


3 cups corn flakes crushed


1 cup nuts




mix first 5 items with electric mixer in large mixing bowl


until well blended (will be slightly lumpy)




pour into round casserole dish with high sides, or souffle dish


bake at 350* for 60 - 90 minutes until center is set




combine last 3 items by hand and sprinkle over baked casserole


return to oven and bake until topping is bubbly (apx 15 min)

Years of Memories Album

A few years ago I made this Halloween Album. I put it out in October for all to look through. We love seeing the kids over the years and their costume choices at different ages. There are even some old pics of Mom & Dad in costume.

a Ninja and a dark Princess

Garden theme: beekeeper, baby bee, flower, ladybug

Creative carving

baseball player and a mouse, counting their candy!

fairy princess and scary skeleton

mean girls mouse, 50's carhop and Barbie!

My Little Ponies (remember them?) with dad and mom

ponies and the curious kitten

baby princesses

awesome scarecrow and pregnant bee

toy soldier and sad clown

Keep it simple. Use a few photos that show their costumes and personality. Maybe a shot of the jack-o-lanterns they carved, or your front door decorations. Easy cropping, add the year and a line or two about the night. No page protectors needed. 

Oh, say can you see

I LOVE this! The flags were so beautiful. Walking through the ailes of over 2000 flags was awesome and humbling. Each flag represents a loved one of someone in our community. The flags are placed in neat rows in Town Square Park to honor and remember our veterans.  There is also a cluster of permanent memorials there to visit. Thank you all.



Ready to Carve Pumpkins?

This weekend we are off to the pumpkin patch with the family, then to Mark & Peggy's to carve pumpkins at their annual carving party. Looking for inspiration for this years pumpkins, always a competition among all the siblings.

2009



2008