Quick and Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe

Variation of 4 Ingredient Cookies - In time for Christmas
1 Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
2 Eggs
1/2 c. oil

Mix all ingredients bake in oven on 350 degrees - for 10 -13 minutes based on size of cookie.
Meanwhile - melt 1 package of white chocolate chips in microwave - heat in 30 second increments. Stir in between to promote even melting.
Crush peppermints in food processor - approx 20.

Dip cooled cookies in white chocolate - sprinkle with crushed peppermint.

This easy recipe is one of the many variations I have come up with based on the four ingredient cookie. This one is a hit, and very festive for the holidays. The White chocolate and peppermint topping is also good to jazz up a plain old brownie mix. Easy cooking is the way to go for busy moms - a simple way to get a homemade Christmas dessert in no time at all!

2009-12-19

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Project for Saturday

The link below is to a craft that Cinderella and I will be doing this Saturday... let you know how they turn out. Too Cute, don't you think?http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/christmas-decorations/christmas-table-toppers/christmas-dinner-place-markers-669689/

Getting Ready for the Holidays

Family

Thanksgiving Macaroni & Cheese

New recipe that I tried for Thanksgiving. Was really a hit.
Combine half and half, flour, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Whole Milk, butter, and pepper... really GOOD!
I just mixed it up, but i think next time I will top it with Parmesan and bread crumbs and stick it under the broiler for a few minutes to brown the top. It was really good. I will have to make it again to get the measurements down, but it was a keeper. Maybe my new go to mac and cheese!

My favorite Corn casserole... easy!

http://http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Awesome-and-Easy-Creamy-Corn-Casserole/Detail.aspx?ms=1&prop25=27119130&prop26=DailyDish&prop27=2009-11-19&prop28=DailyRecipe&prop29=FullRecipe&me=1

Thanksgiving Panic? Check out this site.

http://http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Thanksgiving-Menus-for-Beginners-to-Experts/Detail.aspx?ARBMID=2277&ARFMTID=1

Baby Steps

I have a friend and she shares this little insight: She said after the birth of her second child someone in their church came up to them and said "Congratulations - welcome to parent hood." She says she really wondered what he meant by that because their first child was 3 years old. They had obviously experienced parent hood. She goes on to say that it only took her a couple of weeks to realize what that friend meant. Two kids rocks your world! Last month was my baby girl's first birthday, and just now we are coming out of the "we just had a baby" fog. Crazy huh? I mean she is one year old. We should be getting up in the morning, jumping into our neatly ironed clothes, sitting down to a warm breakfast, gathering up our things for the day (which of course were packed the night before) and loading up into our car which is of course up to date on oil changes, freshly washed, and free of cheerios or last week's newspaper. At least that is what I thought. Well, actually even before I had kids I never operated that way - but maybe I thought kids would make me be that way. After all - those are things adults do - aren't they? And I am now and adult - I mean - I am in my thirties, I have a husband, kids, a mortgage, a job, friends... sounds pretty adult to me. To that whole concept of life I say - HA! About the only part of my vision of my life that is true is we do "jump" into our clothes, but they are not neatly ironed - sometimes they are still in the clean laundry pile. But the jumping is usually done because we slept late - we do gather our things - which are NOT packed the night before - and we load up into our car that is covered in cheerios, last week's newspaper, plus a plethera of baby dolls, purses and sunglasses (courtesy of Cinderella - my diva) and is about 1000 miles over due for an oil change. And that - My friend - is on a good day! But everyday I get up, get dressed, get my kids dressed, get to work, get home, get them bathed, dinner cooked, get them to bed, and at least save time for a good night kiss for my husband, I call a great day! I survied another one. The funny thing is, I thrive on this Chaos. What would I do if I had it together? What would I panic over in the morning if I could find the perfect hairbow for my princesses or a matching pair of socks? What would I apologize for if people didn't have to move a diaper, a pair of ballet slippers, and a sippy cup with chunky milk out of the passenger seat of my car just so they can ride to lunch with me? And what would my mom sigh about if she came to my house and could see the floor of my laundry area? Life would just be empty - wouldn't it? So I will take one day at a time and little by little it will get easier, one day my prince and I will look around, the house will be in order, the yard will have been mowed recently, the kids will be playing peacefully, and we'll say to each other "Let's have another baby."

My Prince is the Bomb

So, most of my posts are kind of sweet, a little sappy. And if you look at the blogs I follow, they are about home, parents, gardens, all the things I want to be. A really organized home maker, an avid gardener - that is environmentally conscious, and a wonderful parent. But what I am is LUCKY! Go to the blog "Chronicles of Watson Way" to see my prince... he is a hottie, and let me tell you, there is more to him than just good looks. He is wonderful! We have had a rough go of it lately. The economy is really getting to us. But my prince, he wasn't rattled by it... he started making plans. Plan A plan B plan C, D, E... I laugh when he gets to plan Z but what I really feel is so thankful. Thankful to have a man who cares for his family, who wants to provide, and who always needs a goal. He puts his mind to anything and accomplishes it! He has made the best of these hard times, he suffered like many, but found many many alternatives to survive. I am so blessed to have this man in my life. He loves God, he loves his girls, and he loves me... what is that about?! How did I get him, I don't deserve him, but am sure glad I have him, and since I do, I think I will go cuddle up next to him! Later...

The "eyes" have it

Some days I barely survive! Today was that kind of day. Work was really good, then off to what should have been a really great afternoon, but I let things get in the way of that. LONG story short, I came home fit to be tied. My poor prince caught the brundt of that (as usual). We did some chores, got the girls to bed, and my prince with them, and now I am sitting alone in my quiet house, really loving every minute of it. Kind of reminiscing about when it was always this quiet and I am scrolling through pictures on the computer, looking at my life caught on these images, and I see this one. My newest princess, and the eyes catch me! I am done reminicing about quiet, and simple, and clean, and organized, and I am reveling in messy, loud, disorganized, and full of life. How could you look at that face and want anything else? I will save neat, and calm for retirement. Right now give me loud, messy, and LOVED!

Rainy Days

Lots of people get the blues on Rainy Days. And I must admit after several days in a row, I do too. But today I don't mind. My girls are sleeping, and I am avoiding the growing chore list. But that is ok. Rainy days make me lazy, I read magizines, talk to my husband, and just chill. I start day dreaming about places I want to go, or things I want to do to the house and get caught up in an undercurrent of "I wants" pulling me further and further from reality, until I find my self surfing the internet looking at new homes or wanting to knock out a wall at my house and put in a luxury master bath with a jetted tub. I continue on this wave until something like looking away from the computer to a HUGE stack of papers on the desk pulls me back to reality. Then I look from the papers over to the bulletin board that displays a penguin my daughter made that has her handprints for feet, and a picture made in Sunday School of a cross on a hill. Then... I pause... and think about what I am dreaming of... and realize... I have everything I have ever dreamed of. Yes, I really do like rainy days.

My Life Now

I am not a blogger, I think that is evident by the fact that I just posted a blog written in october 1 month after my second child was born, however, I really like the idea of journaling. Here is what is going on in my life. We have two children now and that has rocked our world, however, it has made it better than I could imagine. I am loving life. Prince Charming has gotten a pretty sizeable pay cut at work, so we have gotten creative, and found blessings in that. I have started making our own baby food, which is really easy. I will post some of the favorites. I have also started making our own laundry detergent which is easy too (that idea is thanks too a very frugal and inspirational family member :) ) I can post that link too. There are just little things I find myself doing, that have really changed our lifestyle, and I promise to try to start posting them. If they help others, that would be worth all this blogging thing.