She Wants A Sister

We have a nightly routine in the house of 'Nuggle Chat' with Nora. This involves laying down with her after the teeth are brushed and prayers are said.

Then, you ask one question, 'How was your day' or 'What are you thinking'....you will get a mirade of answers but we were not prepared for this one.

Rich, ''Whatcha think Nor?''

Nora, ''Daddy, I like my butterflies on my light''

Rich, ''They are very pretty honey''

Nora, ''Daddy, next week when brother turns into a girl, he need decoration like my butterflies ok?''

HUH?

We think Nora might be a little confused. Brother is not a sexual chameleon honey, he will not magically turn into a girl. Although she insisted from the get go that mommy's 'tummy' was a girl, he is indeed a boy.

Guess we'll have to ponder that 3rd kid.

Rolo Pretzels

These are Rich's favorite Chrismas treat...he will admit to a small addiction.

We first started making these about 4 years ago and were hooked. They remind me of a turtle candy from the chocolate shop but so much easier!

Rolo Pretzels.

2 bags Rolos
1 bag small pretzel twists
1 bag pecan halves.

1. Unwrap all the rolos and place candies in a bowl to the side. For fun, let your 3 yr old do it, this should keep them busy for approximately 1 hr or more. Be wary of the 1 for the bowl, one for their mouth division of candy, this equals a nasty sugar high and subsequent crash later.

2. Place pretzels on a sprayed cookie sheet. Put one rolo candy in the middle of each one. See
picture!


3. Put cookie sheets in oven set at 275 degrees for 3 minutes to soften candies.

4. Take sheets out and smush pecan half into rolo on each pretzel.


5. Refridgerate for approximately 2 hrs to allow chocolate to set back up.

Who Need Lyrics "When You Can Make Them Up.

Embarrassing admission #306.....

I can't remember lyrics to SAVE. MY. LIFE.

For that matter, I couldn't remember musical notes for all those piano recitals or marching band either. Had to have a sheet of music. It's truly incredible that I was 1st chair clarinet in high school. Guess I was good at faking it.

The piano sits in my den with my clarinet and together they mock me. Of the two, I'm most inclined to start playing the piano again.

Fast forward to now. Nora shames me weekly at my lack of nursery rhyme and preschool song knowledge.

She busts out in song from the back seat and the lyric light bulb in my brain goes ''wow, I'd forgotten about that one'. Sad, sad, sad...especially when it's something like 'Johnny Appleseed'. How more Americana can you get than that!?

It does not help that Rich is incredible and ad-libbing on the fly to entertain the kids. He has a whole repertoire of original works including...

''Super Poo'' - the headed the changing table song, it's based on the Super Man Theme

''Yummy yummy food'' - the get the kid to smile so you can shove yucky peas in song.

''Loki Kitty song'' - this involves Loki sitting on the toilet while you shower to ensure you survive the watery chamber of torture.

''Washing the baby'' - this one features lines about tushies and crannies, super cute.


And now....Nora seems to have this genetic tick or talent for making up songs. These have been some of the latest. And as mentioned before, I have no recollection of what tune these were sung too.

''Santa coming to town, Santa Claus coming to town, he find all the kids. Santa coming to town, he have the presents.'' (while decorating her Xmas tree for the millionth time in one day)

''Hush Hush little baby got to sleep. Hush little baby go to sleep'' (as she pushed her baby stroller back and forth)

''Icing the cookies with the mommy, Icing the cookies, not for brother'' (Yeah, this has to do with her love for all things iced and unwillingness to share sugary goodness)

''Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..what fun it is to go crashing throw the snow. HEY!''

I just realized how impressed I am that even REMEMBERED what she says sashaying though the house in kiddo bliss.

Magic.

This time of year is just magical. And I don't think all magic has to make you smile...it can make you laugh or cry because this season is all about reflection of what's most important.

Especially when you add in the dusting of snow that transformed the backyard into a picture perfect December Day. Hearing intermittent shrieks of 'It's snowing!'

The kitchen hidden under pots and pans with baking goods strewn all over the surfaces. Add in Nora screaming about making another 'muffin man' cookie which is really a gingerbread man, but we'll blame Shrek for that misunderstanding.

Making a donation to Hope Hospice at home in Texas for all the loved ones that have passed. There is a way to find joy beyond the tears.

Nora saying with awe 'The decoration is beauuuutiful mommy. I LOVE it!' (insert mommy tears at her joy)

There's the daily snuggling on the couch to watch Frosty the Snowman and squeal at all the same spots AGAIN. It never gets old.

The mommy tears as I snuck away from the house this afternoon to grab a gift for her. She specifically asked Santa for a pink dollhouse. And then....we spotted it while out and she told me we needed to go home to tell the elf! That elf soooo comes in handy.

Rich taking Nora out to shop for 5 hours. I stayed home with my perfect cup of coffee and cookies wrapping gifts with my favorite movie on....''White Christmas''

Being able to ship a gift to a friend in Canada to brighten her days. We've never met but she is so loved.

Nora unwrapping a gift from her great aunt and uncle prematurely. More tears, but she hasn't done it again.

The surprise we are keeping from Nora. The one where I go pick my parents up from the airport and bring them home so she can open the door.

My cousin graduating from A&M University with a degree in Aerospace Engineering...aka rocket scientist. The day was exactly 6 mths after his mom passed away, can't help but feel that she was there.

Hosting the neighborhood ladies cookie exchange party. Love, love sharing in the spirit of friendship.

I'm sure to keep adding to this post. Many years from now I'll never remember the holiday moments of 2010 that kept me smiling and laughing and crying.

Easiest Dip EVER!

Not going to take credit for creating this one, I found it on a food blog I frequent. It was a hit at the ladies neighborhood party as several people wanted the recipe.

Here it goes....you ready for this complicated process?

White Bean Pesto Dip.

2 Cans white Northern kidney beans drained and rinsed.
1 small jar (8oz.) Pesto - any brand you like.

Serve with Wheat Thins or Triscuits.

Put both ingredients in blender and push 'Frappe'....ta-da! Instant hummus like cracker spread that is just addictive. It's low calorie and low fat!

Just when you thought those parties were trapping you in the world of 'The 12 pounds of Xmas' (or so I called the time between Tgiving and Xmas every year of college).....there comes a dip that might just save ya!

Take this to a party and indulge to avoid all the other tasties.

***You could easily add 1 c. mozzerella and 3/4 c. parmesan and bake this at 400 degrees for a hot dip. Sorta like artichoke dip, but not. Of course adding the cheese would be fantastic but erase the aforementioned low fatness.

Almond Cream Cheese with Cherry Cranberry Chutney

Total, total experiment here that turned out awesome!

I wish I would have taken some photos of making it, but thought about it too late. Not to worry, pics tomorrow before it gets eaten at the neighborhood ladies party.

Almond Cream Cheese with Cherry Cranberry Chutney

1 16 oz. bag frozen cherries - quartered.
1.5 c. fresh cranberries
1 tsp cinnamon
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. water
1 c. apple sauce
1/3 can frozen apple juice (not diluted)

3 blocks cream cheese - 1/3 less fat (softened on counter for 30 mins)
1 c. brown sugar
1 1/4 c. confectioners sugar
1 tsp. almond extract

4 T cornstarch
3/4 c. water

sliced almonds
graham crackers

In a pot combine cherries, cranberries, cinnamon, brown sugar, apple juice, apple sauce, and water. Put on stove on a low setting. This will need to simmer on low for about 2 hours until you can't tell the cranberries from the cherries....

In mixer, combine cream cheese, brown sugar, confectioners sugar, and almond extract. Beat on medium setting for at least 5 mins.

Pour or scoop cream cheese mixture into 9" pie place or other glassware. Put in fridge.

When cherry cranberry chutney is completely cooked down you will want to add the cornstarch and water to thicken. Mix the water and cornstarch together in a bowl until it looks like milk. Pour into chutney and stir....do not remove from heat yet. Cook for about 15 more minutes so the cornstarch can thicken the sauce.

Take sauce off stove and put in fridge until cool or let stand on counter until cool.

When chutney is cool pour over cream cheese mixture in pie plate. Sprinkle top of chutney with almonds.

Serve this with regular graham crackers....Serves about 16.

**As always you can adjust the sweetness of both parts by adding more sugar to taste.

Red Wine Marinade

I've decided the month of December is just gonna be a lot of recipes...I feel like there should be a song 'The Twelve Dishes of Christmas'..hmmm, I may be onto a yearly tradition here. Get back to you on that.

Red Wine Marinade

1 c. red wine - I typically use a Cabernet
1/4 c. Dale's Marinade
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder

We use this on grilling steaks and season with a little Cavender's Greek seasoning.

Fajita Marinade.

This is the tried and true fajita marinade from the Schneider family. It is famous amoung friends attending the summer parties at the ranch.

Here's the challenge...finding the right cut of meat. The only place my mom can find it is at Granzin's meat market in my home town. (I hear they ship!) You want a double tendorized skirt steak or flank steak cut about 1/4 of an inch thick, not exactly something you can find at the local Kroger. I can only find flank steak out here in Atlanta and the butchers look at me funny if I tell them to double tendorize it with a hammer. You want this meat to look like cube steak, except cube steak is the WRONG cut of meat to use.

I might also mention this is fantastic on chicken. Some of you might want to try it on shrimp or salmon. Tell me how that goes on the shrimp, I'm allergic to shellfish so that option is out for me.

Beef or Chicken Fajita Marinade

1 Light Beer (we drink a lot of Miller in this house)
1/4 c. soy sauce
1 pkg. dry Italian dressing (Good seasons)
3 T. lime juice

Fajita Seasoning

8-10 lbs of meat

Mix all ingredients in a measuring cup or bowl.

Lay meat of choice in 9x13 glass pan or freezer baggies because that 9x13 is not going to hold all the meat.

Pour marinade over the meat of choice. Shift meat around in the marinade to make sure it gets between the crannies...

Marinade over night, this insures the best absorbtion of flavor. Grill the next evening and serve with your favorite Mexican sides.

Fajita seasoning, my mom sent me to Georgia with a can of this stuff. It's made by Rosa's the ingredients are onion salt, garlic salt, garlic powder, pepper, and other spices. I think if you dust the meat with a combination of the four you should be good.

Sidenote: The leftovers make awesome sandwich roll ups and salad toppings.

Creme de Menthe Squares

Ok, it's the Christmas season and there are way too many tasty recipes in my box not to share.....This recipe is like a homemade Andes mint. Mom started making these when were we really young and we would sneak them out of the tin while she wasn't looking. TASTY! An horribly addictive, hide them from yourself!

Creme De Menthe Squares

Bottom layer

3/4 c. butter

3/4 c. chocolate chips

2 c. crushed chocolate graham cracker crumbs

1 egg beaten

1/2 c. powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

Middle Layer

1/3 cup creme de menthe liquor

3 c. powdered sugar

Green food coloring.

Top Layer

1/2 c. butter

1 bag chocolate chips.

For bottom layer: In sauce pan combine 1/2 cup of the butter and 3/4 c. chocolate chips on low heat! Heat and stir until well blended. Remove from heat; add 1/2 cup of powdered sugar, the egg and vanilla. Stir in graham cracker crumbs. Mix well. Press into bottom of an greased 13x9x2" baking pan. Bake on 350 degrees for 10 mins. Let cool.

For middle layer: Melt another 1/2 cup of the butter. In small bowl combine the melted butter and creme de menthe. At low speed of electric mixer beat in the remaining 3 cups powdered sugar until smooth. Spread over the chocolate layer. Chill 1 hour.

For top layer: In small sauce pan combine 1/2 cup butter and 1 bag chocolate chips. Cook and stir over low heat until melted. Spread over middle layer. Chill 1 to 2 hours. Cut into small squares. Store in refrigerator or freezer.

Variations:

I have tried this with ALL liquors and they turn out just as yummy. Frangelica, Chambourd, Kahlua, Baileys...the possibilities are endless.

Some people might want an alcohol free version. I'm sure you can make a really thick buttercream icing flavored with peppermint extract for a similar flavor. Orange extract might be another good one, always have loved those chocolate oranges this time of year.

The Yucky Part.

Some days, you as a parent just don't want to get out of bed when the youngster wakes up. That was this past Saturday. These are the days when I LOVE that the toy room is right off our master....just send the kid in there and doze.

At some point Nora walked in with a Bartlett pear. I remember her commenting something to the effect of , 'I need the stem off. My knife not sharp enough mommy' as she was holding her playskool kitchen knife.

''You are right Nora, your knife is not sharp' Nora exit stage left.

Back to the glorious dozing. You have that mommy ear on just enough to hear if there's trouble. Then you realize there is NO sound.

No sound is worse, infinitely worse. Be worried.

''Mommy Daddy, here is the yucky part. Where I put it?'

Huh?

Nora standing there with the top of a the pear and the butt of it. No, no, no!!! She did not do that.

''I cut and cut and cut it with my knife''

''Where did you cut it? On mommy's brown rug?''

''No I cut it on the carpet right over there.''

Nooooooo, forever will I have a sticky carpet stain on my berber. Rich and I just layed in bed and chuckled at our parenting fail of the weekend.

Ahhh...deep breathe, worry only about the big things in life, not the little things like the yucky part.

King Ranch Chicken

We'll just call this a no hassle recipe for chicken enchiladas. It has been in the family for a long, long time. Originally made on the King Game Ranch in south Texas for hunting parties, it's a people pleaser.

King Ranch Chicken

5 chicken breasts
1 c. chicken broth
1 - 16 oz. package Mexican cheese
1/2 c. green pepper chopped
3/4 c. onion chopped
1 can Rotel or 3/4 c. salsa
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 c. Santita's white corn chips, broken.

In a pot, boil chicken breasts until thoroughly cooked. Take out and dice into small pieces. Reserve chicken stock.
*** You can also pan cook these with some olive oil.

In large mixing bowl, add chicken, chicken stock, cheese, green pepper, onion, Rotel, chili powder, garlic powder, cream of chicken soup, and tortilla chips. Mix well. You can adjust the amount of chicken broth to make the cassorole more crunchy or mushy...whatever your preference.

Grease or spray casserole dish. Dump mixture into casserole dish and spread out evenly. Bake at 400 degrees until cheese is bubbling and starting to brown. (about 40 mins.)

I normally just serve this with a big salad or cut up fresh veggies. For different variations you could always add:

can of black beans
a cup of frozen corn.
1/2 c. chopped cilantro
substitute salsa verde for the Rotel

I will admit to never trying any of the above variations, since the hubby has forbidden me messing with the recipe.