Santa came early this past weekend......

I came home after a fun filled Saturday to my Christmas Gift of a new microwave from my Favorite Son..!!  The microwave that was replaced had a long life span of 26 years, it was time to retire it to the waste management facility that cost me $10.00 for them to safely dispose of it...

Saturday started very busy at the Salon and ending with a Birthday Party for my Niece's little Sweetie, Miss Aubree...Miss Aubree had her 1st Birthday Party on Saturday, and I have to say that I have not ever been to a child's 1st party where the child really did enjoy themselves the entire time..!!!  Aubree was so happy during the entire party, never tiring or becoming grumpy or "done" with the party and cake thing...!!  

Below are a few pictures of Miss Aubree during her first Birthday Party, you be the judge of her excitement and charm:)

Birthday Girl is Stylin..

Aunt Kathy and Miss Aubree

This smile was seen through out the party..!!

Stylin a new hat

Opening Aunt Kathy's Gift

"Around The Farm Animal Sounds" Book

 My personal trend has been for many years, to gift an educational book that is age appropriate.  Miss Aubree also received a Red Ruffled Sweater from Aunt Kathy which was quickly placed back into the package by her mother, I wasn't fast enough to get a picture...

Look at that smile

Yes, I think Miss Aubree had a fun first Birthday...!

*I think our church needs a new highchair;/

 Let The Festivities Start...

 Baking preparations for my annual Christmas party at church...

Serious baking took place yesterday with finishing touches completed today...

One large Chocolate cake with PB Frosting, Two cakes in form of Christmas Trees with one being chocolate with PB Frosting and the other a yellow cake with PB Chocolate Frosting.  Five dozen of cupcakes with the PB or Cream Cheese Frosting and Brownie Cupcakes with a Cream Cheese Frosting...

All will be given as prizes during the party, except for the Large Chocolate cake which will be put on the buffet table for dessert..

After this week, I can finish my craft for gift given and prepare my Christmas package which heads south, destination..Texas!  Three special kiddos watch and wait for that package to arrive every year...:)

Enjoy this special time of the year, it's a bit hectic but so much fun..!!

December is such a busy time of year with shopping, decorating and baking.  And lets not forget the fun holiday get-togethers.  This year I truly feel as though I have an early handle on the busy month a head.  My holiday craft items have been purchased to which I will start to construct this week for gift giving.  Shopping has been started with little to be done for completion, along with knitting and holiday cookie baking.  Saturday I mixed double batches of chocolate and peanut butter blossoms, and sand tart cookie dough.  Today (Sunday) my bestest friend and I started baking around noon the dough I had prepared, along with two different chocolate chip dough recipes Kathy (bestie) brought to bake.  The afternoon of baking was so relaxing as we chatted away catching up on the happenings of our busy lives....I must confess, having prepared the dough a day or two a head of time really is the way to do a massive day of baking.  For the large amount of cookies baked and a few short breaks, our total time was about 6 hours from start to finish.  The key, prepare ahead and be organized the day of baking.  Also, plan and make a light lunch that can be eaten as you work, this cuts the munching down on all those yummy cookies you've baked and suffering later with an outrageous sugar high:) 

We were so busy baking not many pictures were taken, but I did manage a few...

below is Kathy and I with a pan of chocolate chip, Kathy's recipe of dark chewy and light chewy with walnuts.  Her chocolate chip cookie recipe is one of the Best I have ever tasted...!!

Pictured are the dark chewy chocolate chip and chocolate blossoms..

After the baking was done....a little Wine to enjoy!

We both have enough cookies to start the season off with sharing and gifting.  I have a Lemon Cookie topped with a lemon glaze I will be making this week sometime.  I also will be baking mid week for our annual Christmas Party at Church for this coming Friday.  I donate several different flavors of baked goods as prizes/gifts for those who win door prizes and games we play during the party.  The Christmas Holiday Season gives me a good reason to bake and do all the fun things I so enjoy doing...

I'm hoping to attend a Christmas Concert also during the holiday season.  There is just something about a concert of all your favorite Christmas Carols being sung by a Chorus...

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy this magical time of year..!

Post Turkey Dinner

The beautiful flowers were a gift from my cousin Patti....

The table after all the preparations and Thanksgiving Dinner is done for another year!

I LOVE Thanksgiving...it's that one day of the year you prepare all your favorite dishes and desserts, and enjoy them with family and friends...

Some years you have more at the table and some years a little less, but it's all the same in the true spirit of giving Thanks...And with each year that comes and soon passes, I have so much to be thankful for..!!

Now it's time to get in the Holiday Spirit of Christmas...

I have started my Christmas shopping...Yes, I most certainly have!

I've really scaled back over the years with the amount I gift, as in quantity to one person.  My mother was one to know exactly what one liked and shopped all year long for Christmas gifts.  If she was out and about, found something appropriate to one's personal likes or taste, she snatched it up and saved it for Christmas.  I have a tendency to do the same.. it saves you a lot of last minute shopping and searching.  My big down fall shopping all year long is remembering what I already had purchased and sometimes where I hid it....:)

Here are a few great Black Friday deals for the Kitchen featured at

Love from the Oven

I already purchased the Cuisinart CSB-76 Smart Stick Immersion Hand Blender.  

Regularly $55, it’s $28.99 on Amazon...

 I've had my eye on one of these Immersion Hand Blenders for quite some time, but wasn't liking the cost.

I'm Glad I waited..and I got FREE shipping..!!

Merry Christmas to ME..:)

If your venturing out to take advantage of the specials and savings for Black Friday,

be safe and have fun!!

Today was, purchase the Turkey Day..
I came home with a big boy of 20 pounds!

This Thanksgiving will be a mixture of friends and family at the table. I love to cook and fill the table with those who enjoy to eat:)

My stuffing and desserts are made and safely tucked away in my deep freezer, except for a chocolate cream  pie, which I will prepare the day before Turkey Day. I am all for preparing what food can be prepared a head of time so the day itself is not so over whelming and pleasant for all, cook included!

Don't you just love Turkey Day??!!

The one day of the year you can eat til you bust and not feel guilty!!

Pumpkin Cheese Muffins

Filling:

• 8 oz. / 250 gr cream cheese
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons sugar

Muffins:

• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups pumpkin puree
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• 1 teaspoon ginger

Topping:  Optional....I did not top my muffin

• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Directions:

1. For filling...combine cream cheese, sugar and egg in small bowl and mix well until smooth.
2. In large mixing bowl, combine oil and sugars.  
3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Mix in pumpkin puree.
5. Combine all the dry ingredients; add to batter and mix just until incorporated.
6. Grease muffin puns.
7. Put a spoonful of batter in the bottom of each muffin well (less than 1/3 full).
8. Drop a rounded teaspoon of cream cheese filling in the center of each muffin.
9. Top with remaining batter, spreading to cover cream cheese completely.
10. Sprinkle with crumb topping if desire
11. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes

This was my first time using the muffin/cupcake mold from Pampered Chef...

I wasn't sure how the muffins would turn out, I must say...

I am thrilled with the results and form of the muffin from the mold!

I placed the muffins into the Tulip Paper Cups I had on hand,

these worked fantastic with the round bottoms that formed from using the mold...

 Using the Tulip Papers enabled the muffins to stand on their own with the round bottoms..

YAY...I am very pleased with the outcome and the taste..

Two Thumbs Up!!

 This container is ready for delivery to a family member who has been hospitalized for the past week...

She has her certificate in Culinary, I hope my Muffins pass the test;)

               Gingerhaus Manor Baking Kit

 

 If your like I am..

Christmas is not Christmas without a Gingerbread House...!

My must do project every year with my Son when he was a wee bit younger, was to bake and create a Gingerbread House.

The house would be taken into his Elementary School Class a week or so before the Christmas break and displayed.  During the class Christmas Party, which was usually the last day of school before the Holiday Vacation, each child wrote their name and placed it into a Christmas Box.  My son would pick one name from the Box, to which became the Lucky Winner of the Gingerbread House...

Below is a completed kit from House on the Hill to create your own Gingerbread House

Completed Gingerhaus Manor Kit

Pillsbury Grands Sticky Buns

They were so easy and delicious..!!

Spray Fluted Pan with Non Stick Spray

3 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted

1/2 C. syrup

1/3 C. packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

 Add melted butter, syrup and cinnamon together

Pour a little more than half of liquid mixture on bottom of pan, sprinkle brown sugar on top

Place one can of Grands Biscuits around center of pan...You can use Buttermilk or Regular Biscuits

I brushed the remainder of the liquid on top of Biscuits..

Sprinkle more brown sugar on top

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 mins...Check baking progress after 20mins

Invert onto a  plate/serving platter after 1 min removing from oven

Hot from the oven

Packaged for trip to Salon....

You can add Raisins, Nuts and Walnuts in with the liquid mixture before placing the Biscuits into pan

Make sure you have the coffee made...

Enjoy

See that mouth watering Picture below...!?

That's what will be baking in my kitchen tomorrow morning...

Sticky Buns made with Pillsbury Grands Buttermilk Biscuits...

 

How easy is that..!!

 

I'll be sure to post the recipe tomorrow...

My son is insisting I allow him to give me a new microwave for Christmas...

I know, don't kick a gift horse in the mouth, right?!

I just have this fetish with my son spending a large amount of money on me for any reason!!

He works long hours, attends school and like his parent's has a hard time saying "No" to those in need..

I worry about what the future is for our kids, as so many parents also do.  You want your child to have the same opportunities we had at their age, which has become increasingly harder for young adults today then when I was their age...

I want him to save and put away as much savings as he can before the "real" responsibilities start

But knowing my son, he will win this battle;)

The Microwave I have is over 20 years old, the fan makes a noise that sounds like it's taxing down the runway for take off.  I'm thinking this is the real reason he wants to gift me a new one, the noise can really be a bit annoying most times.

Below is a picture of the "new" microwave he picked out for me...

I have to admit, I am really lovin that Frigidaire  Double Oven pictured with the microwave..!!!

I wonder if Santa would bring me that new Oven??!!!

I've been good, really I have:)!!

Sorry for the small picture of the microwave

Isn't she a beauty..!!!?

Both ovens are large enough to roast a 28 pound Turkey...

Whew, You could do some serious cooking and baking with this baby..!!

Someday....

I am excited to get the NEW Microwave.....!
My Son is one to really do his homework before deciding on a purchase, 
with that said, I've no doubt my gift will be FANTASTIC and last me another 20 years..!!

I was finally able to down load my pictures via my cell today....

The pictures are from this past weekend during our Halloween Snow Storm

Jalapeno Peppers for Poppers...

 

 Clean peppers of all seeds and fill with one package of cream cheese at room temperature and one 16oz package of shredded cheese of your choice.  I used a cheddar cheese and had some mix leftover, which I put into a plastic container and froze it for another day:)

Cream Cheese and Cheddar Cheese Mix

Peppers filled with cheese mixture

Baked at 450 degrees for 10+ minutes and then placed under the broiler to brown the tops

 Flaky Biscuits

 

4 cups all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

First 5 ingredients

 Add

1 1/2 cups cold buttermilk

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Soft ball after Cold Butter Milk is added

 

Press dough out with your fingers and use a 3 inch biscuit cutter

Mix together 1/2 cup heavy cream

4 tablespoons butter, melted, and brush over biscuits

Bake at 450 degrees for 12 minutes

The Biscuits were a hit with the homemade vegetable soup:)

The temperatures are back to seasonal temps in the high 50s....

No more of that crazy white stuff til December 24th and then it can leave for another year..!!

Thanks for stopping by

K