Upside Down Cats

I need an energetic push to get me through to the end of the week..

Let's try this lively selection from my Life Is Good Songs list...



I feel much better now...was it good for you, too?

I'm just about sick to death of the Christmas music I've been hearing since September, anyway!

We went to Scott's brother's house for a Hanukkah party on Saturday. After a delicious dinner and the rousing gift exchange, we adults and some of the kids played the game Taboo. It was a fun bonding experience for all! After the game, we dissolved into adult conversation... The thing that really struck me was that three of the "kids" didn't leave the table! As I sat there I realized these "kids" weren't anymore! They are fourteen, nearly thirteen and twelve and a half! They can hold their own in an adult conversation, and the nicest part is that they wanted to!

It warms my heart to know that spending time with the adults in their lives was a priority for these young folks, who could have been off being moody and solitary, acting too cool for this lame family stuff, as oft people of this age do... Or, they could have been listening to their iPods, or playing Wii! They seemed genuinely interested in stories about Grandpa, and other family stories that were being re-retold. It actually appeared that these young people are proud of their family, and enjoy being a part of it!

Congratulations are due to Scott's brothers and their wives for raising such amazing young people. They are a joy to know and be related to!

Maybe there is hope for the future yet...!

Continue reading "When Did This Happen...?!" »

My darling Scott is the luckiest guy in the world. He's the "ninth caller" who wins the trip to Boston. He's the one who wins the iPod for filling out the online survey. He's the one who drops his business card in the bowl and wins free restaurant dinners for a year...He's won more concert tickets than anyone I've ever heard of, and dozens of other things throughout the years. His astounding luckiness seems to work only when there is no financial investment. So, unfortunately, his luck does not parlay into winning the lottery...

Me? Well, never, ever, so much as a door prize....

I always say that I had to save up all my luck to spend all at once to win Scott. I know, "Awwwwwwwwwww..." But you know I think that it's true!

Anyway, on Saturday, Scott and I walked into our hair salon for haircuts to a round of applause from the staff. "Yea!" they shouted, "Our Guest of the Day is here!" We looked around, then at each other - thoroughly confused - then back at the half dozen stylists and receptionists gathered around the front desk. Cheryl, our greeter, came up to me and congratulated me for having been chosen "Guest of the Day." Sure enough, my name had been prominently posted on the board! As Guest of the Day, I was treated to an upgrade in my services...Hurray!

What a wonderful surprise! I chose the paraffin dip for my pitifully dry, over-washed hands...how lovely! If you haven't had the pleasure, I highly recommend a paraffin dip! Your hands are dipped in hot wax, then allowed to rest, encased in said wax for ten luxurious minutes. The wax is then pulled off, leaving your hands very soft and supple! Finally, you are treated to a hand massage...mmm! It is an extremely relaxing experience!

What did I do to deserve the distinction of Guest of the Day...?

Continue reading "Really...I Never Win Anything..." »

It's time to begin another week, and so it's time to plan our meals for the week ahead. Here's some of what I'll be creating in my kitchen this week...

 

Beef Stew & Homemade Bread

Ratatouille over Pasta

Beef & Cheddar Sandwiches, French Fries & Mixed Greens Salad

Lemon Chicken with Broccoli over Rice

Pumpkin Soup with Ham & Rondele Cheese on Crackers

Challah French Toast, Bacon, Orange Sections sprinkled with coconut and sliced almonds

 

Cooking is helping me keep away Winter's chill which has completely enveloped us. It always seems warmer when there's something cooking!

 

Today has been my Hanukkah baking/cooking day...

The daycare children were collectively in a particularly foul mood. This cooking was accomplished amidst breaking up fights and saving nearly the entire daycare book collection from being destroyed page by page by preschoolers! Oh, then there was the chili painting on the wall...don't ask!

Frankly, it was a miracle any cooking got done at all - and a bigger miracle that I'm still alive to write about it!

But, as you can see in the photo to the right, my mission was accomplished, despite my little Holiday Grinches!

I am happy to have been charged with providing desserts and all things sweet for the family party tomorrow. I baked Blonde Chocolate Chip Walnut Brownies and Krispy Coconut Cookies. I also made Pecan Toffee. My own tradition is to bake every household a challah, a braided egg bread.

I am proud of my results...thought you'd like to see...

Ta-Da!

I've been looking at low-carb dessert recipes to make for relatives who are on the Atkins Diet.

God bless these sturdy souls! I would totally give up desserts altogether if these were my only options...

Continue reading "I Think I'd Rather Be Overweight..." »

I'm trying to get motivated to do the holiday decorating.

We even had our first real, substantial snowstorm overnight...from the accumulation on top of the recycling bin lid, I'd estimate five inches of the white stuff fell onto our life.

Still not feeling motivated...

Continue reading "Tinsel Toes" »

I am sad to be the bearer of this grim news, but the awful truth must be told...

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is dead.

Continue reading "Requiem For A Reindeer?" »

I recently baked a German Chocolate Cake for a family get-together. We were gathered for a visit with Scott's mom who was visiting from Florida. I happened to remember that German Chocolate is one of her favorites... So I took the opportunity to bake one last month. I haven't tackled that recipe in years! And although it looks pretty perfect, it tasted even better than it looks! (Go ahead and visualize me patting myself on the back...)

Baking is an integral part of the holidays for me, and I always want more time to devote to it than I ever actually have. Since I have a lot of baking to do this week for the family Hanukkah party and I am already feeling just a little overwhelmed, I think I just needed to brag on this recent success story. Maybe this reminder that I did find the energy and time to create this beauty pictured to the right will inspire me to not freak out about my busy week, Hanukkah preparations and baking.

Continue reading "Let Them Eat Challah..." »

Winter weather has officially descended upon us here in Illinois. Hopefully we can keep warm as we enjoy these meals I've planned for the upcoming week...

 

Chicken Breasts over Pasta in Creamy Sausage Sauce & Oven Roasted Asparagus

Polish Sausage, French Fries & Mixed Greens Salad

Orange Beef with Broccoli over Jasmine Rice

Chicken Caesar Burgers, Garlic Fries, Mixed Greens Salad

Steak Tacos, Tortilla Chips with Refried Beans

Puffy Egg "Rollercoaster," Chicken Sausage Links, Orange Sections

*Hanukkah begins this Tuesday night. We will celebrate with Scott's family with a party on Saturday. I am proud to have been appointed official dessert procurer, so I have some special items to prepare this week in addition to our regularly scheduled meals at home. Here's what I'm planning to make for the Family Hanukkah party...

Krispy-Coconut Cookies

Blonde Walnut Brownies with Chocolate Chips

Pecan Toffee

A yet-to-be-determined Atkins Diet-approved dessert for a couple of family members who are being very conscientious this Holiday season. I have some low-carb research to do this week too!

My own tradition is to also make a loaf of homemade Challah for each household.

 

It's official, the Holidays have arrived!