The years fly by. Watching an old video and seeing how young everyone was makes me very emotional. I think we had a lot of snacks. Wings, onion rings, dips, chocolate fondue, cheeseballs, quiche, and veggies. I think that's it. The boys are waiting to open the champagne. I remember when Rhonda and Ronnie thought they were drunk. :) Happy New Year to everyone. I hope this will be the best yet.

I am really annoyed with my baking this year! I just burned my 4th. thing. I'm usually a great baker. I just put it in, get busy and forget about it. I have wasted too much butter. You know I obsess about stuff so i'll probably make it again until it's right. I don't know why I bother. :(

Crazy Days!

What a crappy day yesterday. This is why I don't like winter. I don't like all the coats, hats, gloves, and boots. Trying to keep them on the kids is a PAIN! I don't like driving in the bad weather. I REALLY don't like when the power goes out. That is horrible! I almost didn't send Schyler to school, but then I thought, I can't keep him home all winter. I wish school was just fall and spring. :) I need to start my baking. I just haven't had time. It's a mad house always. How am I finding time to write this? Bailey and Bela are probably pulling balls off the tree and Coconut is probably pooping in the house and chewing toys! I guess I'll try to get organized. Calgon take me away!!!!! Oh, I'm thinking about taking the boys to see , "Walking With Dinosaurs." I think they'd love it. Check out the website. http://www.dinosaurlive.com/

chex night

I'm getting tired of the computer! I've been searching for presents online, looking for the best deal. It's driving me NUTS!!!
Xmas will be here before we know it! I plan on making Ronnie some sour cream cookies this week. I really need to write down the rest of my treats. I like my chex idea night I told Dori about. That would be fun. To bad Rhonda lives so far. Darn YOU!!! I need to tell Ronnie about it. I thought we could each make a different flavor , come over and hang out. :) I really pay for staying up late. 6a.m. comes pretty fast.

Cheesecake

I made up the little cheesecakes. You could double the recipe. I only made ten. I also made some spinach and cheese thing but it tasted like spinach pie.
1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese
2/3 c. sugar
1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 t. pumpkin pie seasoning
1/2 t. cinnamon
10 gingersnaps
Put muffin papers in tray and spray.
Add 1 gingersnap.
Mix remaining ingredients and pour into muffin cups about 2/3 full.
Bake at 350 for about 20-25 minutes. They are done when lightly browned and cracked.

Breakfast

For some reason eggs-n-a basket taste better to kids then just eggs and toast. Maybe it has to do with frying it in butter with salt and pepper. I just know they scarf them down super fast. It's not just my kids. Dori's kids loved them, daycare kids used to like them, and when Ronnie was little he loved them. I tried oatmeal again the other day. I added apple syrup, raisins, and brown sugar. Schyler was the only one who ate it. The other 3 would not touch it. They never liked baby cereal either. We make alot of egg nog shakes. The boys love egg nog. They prefer it cold. If you'd like the shake without adding eggnog, just add cinnamon and nutmeg. It will give it that flavor.
Eggnog:
2 eggs beaten
3 T. sugar
2 1/3 c. milk
1t. vanilla
nutmeg and cinnamon
Heat milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla in saucepan on low heat just until warm. Take about 1/2 cup of the warm milk out and add to eggs. Whisk eggs into the rest of the milk. Heat a few more minutes. Keep whisking. I like to add to my blender and mix for a few seconds or use my hand blender. Cool or serve warm.

With the holidays coming I like to look through my endless supply of magazines and cookbooks looking for great ideas for treats and dinners. Isn't it crazy how we spend soooo much time searching for recipes and planning meals? I love this time of year! This year I'm going to make a regular pumpkin pie (Billy has to have that on thanksgiving) and something different. I saw a neat recipe for a turtle pumpkin pie. YUM!! I also might make pumpkin risotto.
In the freezer section at meijers that have all kinds of new raviolies. I'd like to try the pumpkin. They are $4.99 a bag. They are also getting different holiday snacks out, which makes me want to waste money. Remember how I used to go crazy at Target buying neat holiday treats?
I'm also making pumpkin rolls. I know those are Rhonda's favorite. I thought about making cookies to sell, then I said, "am I NUTS!"
Coconut just pooped in the house so I'm done for now.