Cookies!

So I've been a cookie making fool lately....which I usually always am this time of the year.  The only difference is that I have much more time for baking. Yay! 

Last weekend I made a whole bunch of cookies for a party and this weekend I picking it up again.  This time the baking is going to be for gifts for family and friends.  On the schedule for today?? 

Raspberry and Almond Thumbprint Cookies.  The recipe can be found here at AllRecipes.com.  I made these for the first time this year and, wow!  They were yummy!  Usually I will make changes to recipe a bit to suit my liking but this one....well, I wouldn't change a thing.  The only complaint I have is that these things are dangerous!  I truly think I could eat the whole batch!  Not at all good for my girlish figure ;-)

I think I'm going to take a stab at making Granny's Ginger Snaps also from AllRecipes.com.  I've made ginger snaps in the past but they never really turn out like I'd like them to.  But these look pretty good so I'm going to give them a try. 

Well, I've got some cookie baking to get to.  So, Later Gator.

A Charlie Brown Christmas????

So on Saturday we set up our new Christmas tree and once it was up we were a little....ummmm.....depressed.   You see, last year our tree looked like this......

It was very pretty.  Nine feet tall and very full.  The thing is.....pulling this thing out to set up was a major undertaking.  We both got a pretty good workout pulling it out of the garage and setting it up.  And for a person just a sneeze over 5 feet tall, decorating it was quite the challenge.

So after last I decided.....ENOUGH!!  It was on it's last legs anyways.  Lights were going out and besides, I was tired of practically scaling it in order to put the topper on.  It was time to downsize and this was the result....

Ummmm....yeah.....quite a difference.  And this picture really does it justice.  In person, this tree is really wimpy!!   All I could think of was the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. 

Well I guess I've been a very spoiled girl.  I think I'll look on the bright side.....it should be a snap to take down :-D



Calories....Schmallories.....

This morning on the TODAY show, they are having a segment that addresses the high caloric value in those foo-foo coffee drinks.  So in honor of those good folks at the TODAY show, I decided to whip up a little treat.......(or, rather, my husband did!).......

Coffee with a little Baileys and a big glob of whipped cream (I'm retired....don't judge!).  YUM!!!  And I enjoyed every single calorie of it.  Cheers!!!

And So It Begins.......

The most wonderful time of the year!!!  Yes it is!  I know, there are many people who might disagree with me but I so love the Christmas season and this year I will love it more.  Why you ask?  Because I will actually have time to decorate, shop, and bake.....and to just enjoy the season as it should be enjoyed.....without stress! 

Of course, the season really begins at Thanksgiving.  And it was a very good one. 

We began the day with a hike.  Brrrrrr......it was cold!!!!  Colder than these old Arizona bones are used to!!  As we made our way up the canyon, the wind was blowing in our face.  My face was frozen, my eyes were watering, and my nose was snotting up (How's that for graphic????).  But when we got to the other side, we were treated to this beautiful view of downtown Phoenix.

I know, it may not seem like much but around these parts it is a big deal to have a clear view of the city without a big brown cloud.  The wind just blew it all away......

Luckily it warmed up (well, somewhat) and we were able to comfortably enjoy the rest of our hike. 

Judging from my husband's attire, you probably wouldn't think it was very cold....but it was.  And I was the one more appropriately attired for the weather :-)

Our five mile hike (and the additional five miles I put in around the kitchen) entitled us to our fair share of turkey, mashed potatoes, and pie.  I was extremely thankful to have both my children home for Thanksgiving.  I was NOT thankful for the fact that my SD card in my camera ended up with a so called "fatal error" meaning I was only able to upload a handful of photos from the Thanksgiving feast.....and they weren't the best photos :-(   Here is probably the best of them.....

Yes, the best one was with me looking like I'd been on my feet for the past five hours.  Marvelous!!!! 

And after spending all that time making Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, I celebrated the day after in a most fitting manner....

I spent 45 minutes in line to purchase a Christmas Tree at Kohl's.  Yes, I am just a little short of crazy (or maybe just full blown, who knows....) but it was a 7 footer with 800 lights and it was only $70.  Oh, and I got the last one.  Hee hee.....many people coveted that baby but it was all mine!! 

Yes,  and I am enjoying the season just as it should be enjoyed!!!



Scrumpdelicious! (Is This Even A Word????)

Last week as I was perusing Facebook (something new!) I noticed that my daughter was spending a day baking......One of my most favorite things to do!!  According to one of her status updates, she was making chocolate chip pumpkin cookies and pineapple banana bread.   Ooooooo.....pineapple banana bread!!!!  Just the very idea of pineapple and banana together was enticing.  So, out I went, into internet surfdom to find such a recipe.  I supposed I could have asked for her recipe.....but who am I kidding....I'm way too impatient to wait!!!  I had to have it NOW!! 

So I went to one of my favorite recipes sites and found this recipe.  Now I did make a couple of changes because I am one of those annoying people who likes to tweak every recipe I see.  So, instead of two cups granulated sugar, I split it up and used one cup brown sugar and one cup granulated sugar.  I added some extra sugar (no exact measurement just threw some more in!). 

And Voila!  This is what I ended up with......

Looks good......and how did it taste??  Yummy!!!  It was the best banana bread I have ever made.  The pineapple really added so much to the flavor and the texture.  Loved it!!  Thank You Amanda! :-)



How Much Is That Doggie In the Window

Heehee.....Actually he is not for sale but I couldn't think of another title to introduce a newly groomed doggie.  Here is the before photo of Nash.....

This was actually taken a couple of weeks ago but you get the idea.  He was pretty scruffy.  I am amazed that dog could see anything through all that hair!! 

Now here is the after picture.....

Wow!! He does have eyes!!  I always wonder how they feel after being groomed.  I know they don't really like going to the groomer but I've got to think the world looks so much better without all that hair in their eyes.  Hmmmm.....who knows what a dog thinks. 

Next month it's Khalil's turn for a new do.  

And then, maybe, in January, I'll get my turn :-)   (Yeah, I rate just behind the dogs!)

Well, that's all for now!!  Toodles....

I Follow Orders Well

The request was simple.  He wanted his own blanket. 
One in manly colors with no holes!
That meant no granny squares.  :-(
I acquiesed.....slowly. 
It seems I'm rather taken with crocheting in circles.
Eh....maybe it's because I'm a dizzy blonde
and am genetically predisposed to dizzying routines.
Hmmmm......whatever!!!! 

So, the son got what he wanted. 
A blanket with no holes.
Which required crocheting back and forth (yawn).
I did add ripples to keep me awake.
And I did finally finish......TA DA!!!!!

So there it is.....the finished product!!
It turned out to be a lot wider than I thought.
I didn't realize this until I tried to photograph it. 
Hence the reason that it took so long!

So now that is it done, kid.....
You can come and get it.......anytime.....at all......