Saint Nicholas Cookies

 

Saint Nicholas weekend came so quickly this year, and I do love how each time we do it, a child steps up to try something new.  James was more ready to cut cookies, especially the candy cane, or "J" for Jesus and James.

Daddy is the best roller, and I need to make a double batch next year, as the rolling and the cutting goes so quickly! 

We had participation from all the (able-bodied) children.  Even the oldest one who prefers to sit in the corner and read, or play card games.  It is photo documented!  Patrick came to help!

Carrot Cake: from the LSU Tiger Bait Cookbook 

CAKE INGREDIENTS

 4 eggs
1½ cups vegetable oil
1-8 ounce package cream cheese (softened)
3 cups grated carrots
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons soda
1 teaspoon salt
1½ teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts
Preheat oven to 350°.  Grease and lightly flour two 9” round pans or one 13” x 9” oblong
pan.
Combine sugar, flour, soda, salt and cinnamon and stir together.  Combine cream cheese,
eggs, and oil.  Beat well.  Add vanilla and beat again.  Add dry ingredients and mix until
well blended.  Add grated carrots and chopped nuts and mix.  Pour into pan(s) and bake:
45 minutes for round, or 55 minutes for oblong.  Cake is done when toothpick comes out
clean.  Cool and frost. (Recipe follows.)

ICING INGREDIENTS:

¼ cup butter (softened)
1-8 ounce package cream cheese (softened)
1-1 pound box powdered (Confectioner’s) sugar – sifted
2 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cream butter and cream cheese until very light.  Add sugar gradually, beating after each
addition.  Add milk and vanilla and beat until smooth.
Enough for top, middle and sides of round cake.

(Note for me: if icing is too thin, continue beating, add more powdered sugar, and/or less milk)

William is 7!

I got an email that said your child has entered the "loveable sevens."  My sweet William is officially in that stage!
 He asked for a "winter" themed party and asked for a snowman.  Chocolate cake with vanilla icing sounds easy, until the crumbs get into the icing, but I think he's kind of cute.

William is entering 2nd grade, and with it the age of reason and confession and First Communion. We love you, our #2 son, and are very proud of your accomplishments in the Cub Scouts and at school.  I love your fashion sense and your love of your siblings is beyond sweet.  Here's to another great year, filled with Superheroes and many more adventures!

Emma Is 10!

My Emma is double digits.  Or, if you ask her, she will say "Jazz hands!"  Daddy took her to the store to pick a cake, and this is what he came home with.  The two of them did it together.

 

 And, she picked the icing to go with it.  Quite a combination.

 Notice the hands blocking the boys.  Ah, family love and sharing.

 

 For her big One-Oh, we took a girls day and got her ears pierced!  Godmother Aunt Jessie came along, and Emma was so nervous and excited.  No tears, and no fainting either (I was secretly worried that she might!  She has gotten woozy over cutting her finger before.)

 She picked the "almost diamonds" for her earrings. 

 Ta-da!  All done. 

God bless my sweet Emma.  With her independence and strong will, she will be an amazing woman.  Her love of reading is incredible, and her joy with her siblings is just a joy to watch.  She is a little mommy and always willing to help. We are so proud of you, and love you lots and lots, our little Tax Baby!!

Roundup of Events

Sometimes I forget what life is like with a newborn in the house, with the holding, loving, changing, and busyness in the house.  And then it happens, and I think, "Oh yes.  NOW I remember!"  When there is a moment to spare, the laundry, dishes, and dirty floors call my name.  Now, I don't always answer them, as you can PLAINLY see in my house, but I do know they call me.  But, I have a moment, and two hands, so let's see if I can give you a quick review of life in the last few weeks, with an update from all the pictures on my phone.

• Thanksgiving was spent with Tommy's family in the Warrenton area.  It felt a little odd not hosting this year, but we hosted so much last year that I think they can give us a little break.  And, we can play the "newborn" card a little longer, I think.  
  
   I am not often artistic, or even creative, but I am good at imitating other people's good ideas!  As usual, there was too much food, lots of fun games, and one called "Do you like your neighbors?"  It involved lots of laughter, silly ideas ("I do, but I don't like anyone wearing glasses!" and those people have to switch seats), and a little like musical chairs with someone always left out.  Even the kids could play, which makes it even better.
  
• We have lots of coos, smiles and sweet noises coming from Lucy, and the little boys in the house are especially sweet with her.  She always has a smile for them, and they are usually in her general area (of! her! face!) of where she is and smother her with kisses.
  
  
  
  
  
• Our season of Advent began, and I was excited that I got the candles and wreath out before it started, as well as our manger for good deeds for the kids to get motivated. 
  
  My plan is to be better about planning meals for the family, and it has been a struggle some days to get to the store, or just think ahead, but it has been a good goal for me in my home life.  It was especially tricky the first week of advent because our van sprung a leak and had to be towed away.  It was the coolant line, and the tune of over $800 was repaired.  Sigh.  Yep, my ability to get around with the kids is my gift under the tree.
  
  
• St. Nicholas day came and we decided to make cookies on his feast day. We usually make them before his day, but I was exhausted as was Tommy.  It was fun to make it with yet another older child, and to have everyone home to help, so it was different than last year.  We are still working on our family traditions and celebrations.  I feel like a terrible mom since I didn't have anything to put in their shoes at all.  I even was at the store and totally forgot.  The kids were super sweet about it, and maybe I can make up for it and they will forget once Christmas rolls around.
  
  
   James could have played with the flour all day, and William was eating all the dough (no eggs, so no worries) and Patrick was eating all the cookies on the racks cooling.  Emma was an expert roller, as well as Tommy, and I was able to man the oven and trays for them.  We made a good team!
  
  
  
  
  
   
• On Thanksgiving, I was looking at my (large) family during Mass, and thinking about when the kids are bigger, going off to college and coming home for holidays.  Growing up, my mom was the one to take care of the holidays with the kids, and my sisters would bring friends, boyfriends, girlfriends and anyone else was welcome.  I don't remember going to a cousin's house, especially as the siblings got older.  I wondered about how our future will look with my kids, when will it turn to my job to host all the grown up kids, and when the family unit is just us.  Oh yes, it made me very weepy and prayerful.  Feelings of inadequacy are creeping up so quickly lately, and I just want to know that we are doing well, that my kids are on the right track and we are helping them get to their ultimate goal the best way we can.  Yeah, it was an emotional day.
  
  
  
• Scouts are still in full swing in the house, with more activities with both boys.  We had a fire station visit with William, and a boy scout Christmas party complete with games picked by Tommy.  Patrick and his friends had a competition to create something Christmas related and the boys had a blast. 
  
  
  
  

• I have been doing a lot of internet shopping for Christmas, and I forgot what it is like to take the kids out to the stores to walk the aisles.  We do it with some kids, and I get frustrated that they are constantly asking for something, and it's usually not super bad, but I am focused and trying to stay to my list.  But, I am taking James and Lucy with me most places, and that carrier fits in the cart so James is walking (I need to bring my ergo carrier!) and talking with me about what we are buying.  The conversation goes like this: "I want that!  Can we buy that?"  "No, James, we can't, we are waiting for Christmas/buying for someone else."  "Okay."  "Can we buy that?"  "No, we can't." "Okay."  That boy is the most understandingly sweet child!  I turn to mush when I realize how good he is in the stores, and he usually ends up with a liiiittle something extra in the cart.  I know.  It's terrible, but he is so sweet! 
• A very special friend of our family offered to take photos for us (YAY!) that we used on our Christmas cards.  They all looked really good, and then it came down to choosing for the card.  Hmm.  I realized that I am all about options.  Choices.  Not that I am able to make any at any time, or quickly, but I always have trouble picking the best family shot, and I want everyone to look good, or to have a good option.  So I usually put a lot of pictures in. It's so hard to choose, and I am having Christmas card remorse.  I don't think I did the best layout, or picked the "best" one for the family.  Can't do anything about it NOW, but I can fret a little, right?  Maybe I'll do better next year.  LOL  "Tomorrow is another day."  Yes, Scarlet, we know.
• On a quick personal level, I am back to exercising!  It feels SOO good to be back with such supportive ladies and my good friends and to feel strong again! I have never had such a quick rebound after pregnancy, and I know the workouts helped.  I am super blessed to be able to continue, and it is such a good kick to get me going! 



Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real: Christmas Vacation Fun

{Pretty}

I don't think there is anything prettier than the quietness, softness, and pure-ness of falling snow.

{Happy}

Everyone needs a little superhero in their life.....or two.  

{Funny}

 Say "cheese."  Or not.

Daddy, the fun parent, started a glow stick party at about bedtime.  Who can say no to all that fun?  Even Mommy had to join in the fun.  We turned off all the lights, played some Justin Bieber and Katy Perry, and "Roar!"-ed!  

{Real}

 There are some things you forget to do when you have 3 boys, and tea parties are one of them.  James spent some time at his cousin's house and was in Heaven.  

This is the cake I made for Jenn's husband.  I was so pleased that she trusted me to help her celebrate his big birthday, and make his cake.  It was quite a cake, and super rich.  It didn't turn out as pretty as I was hoping, but for a first attempt I think it went quite well.

Got Bundt??

Stoneware bundt, that is! If you do, did you know that you could make a cake in the microwave in that pan? It only takes 10-12 minutes! You just need to adjust the moisture level a bit, and it comes out yummy!

(This sounds like something I would say at a show, but I made one this weekend, and it was a hit, so I like to share what's yummy!)

The Pampered Chef ®Chocolate Velvet Cake with Strawberries

Cake
1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp vegetable oil, divided
1/2 cup milk chocolate morsels (I used whatever choc chips I had in the house)
1 pkg (18.25 oz) devil's food cake mix
3 eggs
3/4 cup water
1 jar (12 oz) seedless strawberry jam, divided (if you can't find seedless, it's fine)
Glaze & Garnish
1/3 cup melted vanilla ice cream
1 cup milk chocolate morsels
1 qt. fresh strawberries, divided
Additional ice cream (optional)

1. Brush Stoneware Fluted Pan with 1 tbsp of the oil (I usually just use Pam, and brush it around). For cake, combine chocolate morsels and remaining 1/4 cup oil in Small Batter Bowl. Microwave on HIGH 30-60 seconds or until melted and smooth, whisking after 30 seconds. In Stainless (4-qt.) Mixing Bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, water, 1/2 cup of the jam and chocolate mixture; whisk until well blended. Pour batter into pan.
2. Microwave cake on HIGH 9-12 minutes or until wooden pick/cake tester inserted near center comes out clean. Remove cake from microwave. Center Simple Additions® Large Round Platter (or whatever fits) over pan and carefully invert. Without removing pan, cool 10 minutes. Remove pan.
3. For glaze, combine ice cream and chocolate morsels in Small Micro-Cooker®. Microwave on HIGH 20-60 seconds or until melted and smooth, stirring after each 20-second interval.
Place remaining jam into Prep Bowl and microwave on HIGH 30 seconds or until melted; brush evenly over cake. Dip 16 of the strawberries into glaze (I put mine on parchment paper in the fridge until ready to serve); arrange around bottom edge of cake. Drizzle top of cake with remaining glaze. Slice remaining strawberries using Egg Slicer Plus®; place into center well of cake. Serve with additional ice cream, if desired.

(You can bake this in the oven, if you want, but it is 350 for 45-50 minutes, and who has time to wait that long for deliciousness??)

This cake looks so pretty. Sorry I don't have a photo for you, but my camera doesn't do food. It likes people better. :)

Run, Do NOT Walk....

...to this website and make this cake. Or just the icing. You will be amazed at the results.

If someone is mad at you, you will instantly be forgiven (think Amelia Bedelia).
If you need to get your Honey-Do list done, make.this.cake.
I made this to celebrate my Tommy's promotion. I think think he was impressed!

Oh.my.goodness.

(wish my picture would come out as good as hers. Mine does look amazing, you should come over and see it before it's all gone.....)

My "impress-the-company" recipe

As I have mentioned, I love it when people come over. Love to feed them, chat with them, and just have a great time with people. I have an easy recipe that I make when they are here, and it is always a great hit!

Pull Apart Bread

1 apple (I will use whatever I have in the house)
1 pkg Grands Biscuits (8 count)
1 tsp Cinnamon (or cinnamon plus)
1/4-1/2 cup sugar, depending on your sweet tooth or how much you have in the house)
1/2-1 stick butter (Do you feel like Paula Deen or not?)

Melt butter (in microwave, or in a small Saute Pan). Wedge apple and chop into small pieces (I use my Pampered Chef items for this: my wedger and Food Chopper, which I probably didn't need to tell you, but I will anyhow! :). Slice Biscuits into quarters (or eighths). Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Preheat oven to 350. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until all biscuits are cooked and it is nicely browned on top.

Tip from the Consultant (that's me): You can make this in your oven safe Saute pan, or your stoneware and it will come out great. I've made this as a breakfast treat or dessert. This is DELICIOUS with vanilla ice cream.

For those of you who were wondering...

...it was a hit!

(definitely not professional, but not Cake Wrecks-worthy, right? RIGHT?)

It's going to be a long night

It's calling me.

Beckoning.

I can't see it, but I KNOW it's there. HELP!

I am out of chocolate chips. Well, not exactly. There was less than a quarter of a bag of chips left. I am making a cookie cake for my Godson's birthday tomorrow. There aren't enough chips in the house to FINISH the recipe.......

I can't hear you! *plugging ears*

The dough is IN THE FRIDGE! I had a little taste. I had to. Just to make sure it was okay. Had to finish off what was on the licker. And the spatula. Oh, and I had to see if the chips were good too. Oh, and make sure the chips IN the batter went well together.......oh dear.

Maybe he will be happy with a very small cake tomorrow?