How fun is this?

I was surfing through my various favorite bloggers and came across this....

Have fun!

Buzzy as a Bee!

I love the holidays. It gives me a little extra "umpf" to get going and get things done. I have been working on my Christmas ornaments. I only made ten of them but would like to make more.

I am STILL working on the popcorn chain. It is so darn cute but extremely time consuming, not to mention that Jeff ate the entire last batch of popcorn before I was able to string it. Geez.

I think I may end up making a bunch of these ornaments with various fabric throughout next year so I will have enough to decorate the entire tree with. Oh...and might I say...thank goodness for pre-lit Christmas trees. One of these days I will go to the tree farm and purchase a real tree. Depending on where I am living years from now I may even be able to walk into my back yard and cut a Pine tree down like my sister can but....for now...the pre-lit artificial tree will do!

The other night when I was cooking dinner, I realized that I had like 20 apples. I am not quite sure how I ended up with so many apples but I figured I may as well use them before they go bad so...I made little individual apple crisps.

They were yummy and took care of the winter dessert craving I have been feeling since the temperature has dropped. It was actually a little icy this morning. Who would have thought in Texas we would have ice this early? We are expected to have even more cold and wet weather. I can't wait!

Also around this time of year I feel like bringing out the bread machine. I love the way it fills the entire house with the sent of fresh baked bread. Oh how I love my bread machine! There are so many different things you can make with it. I have made pretzels, pizza dough, dinner rolls and all types of bread with my trusty bread machine. You can even make pasta with it! That is something that I have yet to try. But, this is my little whole wheat loaf I made the other day. You can't beat the taste of homemade bread!

I have also been working on a few Christmas projects for my mother. I am making a few criss cross coaster sets for her to give to her friends as gifts this year. They are so easy to make and are such a sweet gift for someone. I have a few sets of my own that I use at home.

For the past several years my mother and I have been getting together to make "cookie in a jar" gifts that we give away to co-workers and friends. This year my mom thought it would be fun to change things up a bit and make hot cocoa mix instead. We took piping bags, filled them with 2 packages of hot cocoa, about 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips, a handful of marshmallows and tied them up with a little candy cane. It is a really cute gift idea and makes about 20 or so.

They are all currently sitting under my Christmas tree waiting to be given to friends. It has been rather tempting to grab one for myself!

The candy cane can be crushed and added to the hot cocoa or can be used to mix up the cocoa. Mmmmm!!!!

Cheers!

Wonderful Things

This time of year I can always think of wonderful things. Well, actually, throughout the year I can pretty much always think of wonderful things but there is just something about this time of year I love. I love the change in the weather and watching the leaves fall on the ground. I love to wear coats and my hand knitted scarfs. I love to watch Vickie Howell on Knitty Gritty to learn new things that I can make for gifts. I love to drink hot chocolate with marshmallows. I love to sit on the couch in my P.J's and knit. I love to lay in bed all warm under the covers on Saturday mornings and watch the Food Network...thank you Paula Deen for all your festive holiday cooking! I love receiving my fall and winter editions of Cottage Living and Cooking Light magazines in the mail.

I really could just keep going but I won't :-)

I think I am going to make homemade marshmallows on Saturday. I have always wanted to do this but just have never really gotten around to it. I love the marshmallows from Williams Sonoma...oops, there I go again with things I love. I better stop talking about Williams Sonoma because I am likely to never stop! However, there is something so fluffy and wonderful about those gigantic square marshmallows. They look like little clouds floating on a river of Chocolate. You just really cannot beat that!


Wouldn't the marshmallows make cute Christmas gifts? Maybe for the co-workers. We will see. I may just eat them all myself!

I lied, I am going to keep going. You know what else I love this time of year? Chili! Maybe it is the Texas in me but I do love Chili! So...on that note, all you non-Texans...I leave you with my Chili recipe!

1 small onion chopped

1/2 green bell pepper chopped

1-2lbs ground beef or turkey

1 can diced green chilies and tomato's

1 can black beans

1 can red kidney beans

1 8oz. can tomato paste

Cumin

Chili powder

fajita seasoning

In a large pot cook onion and bell pepper for 3-4 minutes on medium heat. Add ground meat. Cook until meat is almost done. Add can of diced green chilies and tomato's, black beans, kidney beans, and tomato paste. Stir together. Cook on medium to high heat for about 5 minutes then reduce. Add cumin to taste and fajita seasoning to taste. Add a TON of chili powder. Stir and let simmer for another 5-10 minutes. Scoop in to bowls and top with monterrey jack cheese.

Serve with whole wheat tortilla chips.

To make the chips...too easy! Cut up about 4 or 5 whole wheat tortillas into small triangles. brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Broil until golden brown!

Cheers and Happy Wonderful Things!

The Never Ending Popcorn Chain

First off all, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I had a great Thanksgiving. My sister, brother-in-law, and niece came into town this holiday. It is the first time they have joined us on Thanksgiving, it was very special.

Having them here has given my Christmas spirit a jump start! Last Sunday my mother, sister, niece and I did a little Christmas shopping in South Lake at the Town Square. I must say this is the mother of all shopping centers, a veritable one stop shop! Then, my sister and mother shopped Black Friday. To my extreme disappointment, I was not able to go because of work. Fortunately, I did a little Black Friday research, and gave my sister my shopping list. I am a sucker for good deals! Friday evening I started getting out all the Christmas decorations and watched The Holiday and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation while decorating. Yesterday, my sister and I did even more Christmas Shopping! It has been alot of fun!

So, this year I am trying out a few different decorating techniques. I am going to make some Christmas ornaments for the tree and also for the first time ever, construct a popcorn chain. I have always thought the popcorn chain was cute and provided a cozy " down home" Christmas feel. So, I am giving it a whirl. I had thought about putting gum drops on the chain too but, I think the kitty's may be too attracted to that. I don't know, they may also be a big fan of the popcorn too, we will just have to wait and see!

Here is the beginning of my popcorn chain:

I have about half the tree left to finish but I think it looks too cute so far!

My niece helped me put the ornaments on the tree. She adored this little Christmas tree ornament that plays Christmas music when you open it.

Keeping in the spirit of Christmas here are a few fun things to check out. This blog is just so festive year round...can't go wrong. I love the colors and that cute little dog. The blog certainly is a favorite of mine. Over at Sew Mama Sew, there are fantastic Christmas gift ideas. I happened upon this by reading one of my favorite blogs, Angry Chicken. She has an awfully cute Holiday Penny Rug on display at her site. Then, there is Jenn Maruska, who makes these adorable Christmas ornaments. Now, you can't go wrong with chocolate during the holiday season, at least I think so. Check out these delicious cupcakes that you may want to make for your next holiday party! Can you believe this!! Wreaths, real wreaths! My mom would always purchase a real wreath and when it arrived in the mail is smelled so wonderful! I love the smell of pine. I think I may have to get one of these wreaths for myself, you just can't beat that price!

Happy Holidays!

Soup of The Day

I have been craving soup with the change of the weather. I also am feeling a bit under the weather. I crave soup more than ever when I have the sniffles. The cafeteria at work has been less than stellar in the soup department...the broccoli cheese looked at bit gross really, and I am not a big fan of chicken noodle. So, I came home from work, put on my P.J.'s, and made myself Chicken Enchilada Soup! It hit the spot! Now it is time to go watch Hero's!

Cheers!

Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater

I have a pretty good idea it is my little bushy tailed friend who has been hanging around the house eating pecans from the pecan tree. He made the great pumpkin discovery last week and has been nibbling away ever since.

The Little Hen

So, I have been bored with cooking. I have been making the same things over and over and over again and feel like I am in a bit of a rut. I wanted to change things up a bit so I grabbed my October issue of Cooking Light, thumbed through it, and came up with some great ideas! I have never eaten or even tried to cook a Cornish hen. They are so tiny and cute I thought I would give it a whirl. So, here is my go at it.

I stuffed it with rosemary, thyme, and sage sprigs. I also put the herbs under the skin of then hen along with salt and pepper. Then I drizzled the top of the hen with olive oil and red wine vinegar.

I made a side of creamed corn and a nice little salad to go along with it. It was mighty tasty if I do say so myself. My latest issue of Cooking light, November, has a recipe for an Apricot Glazed Cornish Hen, now that sounds yummy! Ah, the possibilities.

Cheers and Happy Fall!