the latest

I love to bake...so naturally, this is one of my favorite Christmas ornaments. It's so beautiful! I bought it last year at Pier 1 Imports. It's made completely of glass...and I love it!

I haven't posted very much lately. I wish I could say it's because I have been so busy. I don't really think that's the case. I think my mind is always on my blog, but for some reason or other, I have not been very motivated lately. I'm blaming it on the constant grey skies and the bitter cold weather. I am afraid that I am like a hibernating bear...I'm very much in love with my couch, a warm blanket and a very hot cup of tea!

what's been going on:
Last weekend my niece and nephew came for a visit. We also had a photo shoot at my house...a picture taken of my husband and his six sisters for their parents for a Christmas present. Don't worry...this is not the "good" photo...this was just me snapping a few photos here and there...I was not the photographer for this shoot!

My oldest son was in a Christmas band concert at school last week...they did a fantastic job! Here's a photo of Grandpap helping him with his tie before the concert.



This evening we are going to a neighborhood Christmas party. The people inviting us are asking everyone to bring a "white elephant" gift and an appetizer...should be a nice time. Here's my "white elephant" gift. I have absolutely no use for this in my house.



My youngest son will be in a Christmas program at school on Monday afternoon...I know that will be cute to see!

Tomorrow morning we go to church and then probably some Christmas shopping afterward.

Then....of course....the Steeler game starts at 4:00 pm. I have to watch my favorite player Troy Polamalu. Oh, I forgot, he hurt his ankle, so, maybe no Troy this Sunday! We shall see! Here's a little clip..if you are not familiar with the Pittsburgh Steelers...they are the ones in black and gold and Polamalu is #43.





I'm sorry...I can't help myself...just wanted to share this photo of Troy Polamalu with you...he's just too cute...I hope my husband does not read this post because he will be rolling his eyes! He knows I like Troy, and he's fine with that. He just says that if there was a woman on tv that he thought was gorgeous and he was posting pictures of her I would be flipping out on him...oh man..he's right..it's a double standard! I know! I'm sorry! Hee Hee! :)

Ok, that's it...I'll be back soon with a great soup recipe...15 bean soup with ham...you're gonna love it!

I'm still here

Wow, I haven't posted for a while...but I am off work for the next four days and I will be working on a new post. Yay!! It's been way too long and I miss all of you!



Right now I am drinking a peppermint white chocolate mocha and waiting for the roast to come out of my oven. It smells like heaven in my house right now!

It's a frosty 10 degrees outside and tonight I am planning on curling up with a blanket and a fire in the fireplace and watch the movie "Eat, Pray, Love" starring Julia Roberts. I can't wait! I really want to watch this movie, but I have a feeling it's going to make me want to travel...really bad! And that would be great if my kids were grown and I had about $10,000 laying around....until then, I will have to settle for living vicariously through watching movies!

Six Spice Oatmeal Cookies

Oh my goodness gracious do I love this cookie!
This is by far my favorite recipe for oatmeal cookies.
The six spice combination blends together in the most perfect way.
You can taste each spice, but none of them are overpowering in any way.

The spices are the stars of this recipe.



Aaaaaa...beautiful spices.
I love it!



Use good old fashioned oats in this recipe...not instant oats.
There is something so satisfying about dumping oats into cookie dough...it's just so wholesome!
It makes me feel all warm inside!



Of course I had to use my adorable new set of gingerbread men measuring spoons! I bought them at Pier 1 Imports with my employee Christmas Bucks...a wonderful perk! These spoons are $12.95 and they would make an adorable gift for anyone who loves to bake! I was a little hesitant about the price...but please...now that I have them...I think it was so worth it. Definitely a treasure to use year after year at Christmastime!





Here's a wonderful tip I learned from Martha. Martha Stewart, that is, I always refer to her on a first name basis. My family knows exactly who I am talking about...the last name is not necessary. Martha was the one person that started me on my love for baking and cooking...way back when I was in my early 20's.
Ok...the tip...sorry, about that...using a 1 inch scoop for your cookie dough. This allows you uniformity in your cookies...not that cookies need to be uniform...it just goes so much faster this way, and it really helps on portion control. I can get 60 cookies from this one batch.



Here's the recipe. I really hope you try it the next time you make oatmeal cookies. Of course, you can always add raisins if you like...or dried cranberries for that matter.



Store your cookies in an airtight container. Also, I wanted to let you know that this recipe produces a soft chewy cookie...no hard, crunchy, crumbly oatmeal cookies here!



Enjoy!

The commercial frenzy of Christmas

Normally, when you pull up my blog, you will undoubtedly find a photo and recipe of a delicious sweet treat. Well, today I am taking a little break from the norm and going off course just a bit. I promise you, I will not stay off track for long...in fact, tomorrow I plan to share a recipe with you called "Six Spice Oatmeal Cookies". I promise you, you will adore them! Until then, I have a little something that I would like to get off my chest and I was wondering if you might feel the same way I do.
Here goes:

Each year, as I watch Christmas commercials, it amazes me how much hype and frenzy is shoved down our throats by major retailers. I mean, I get it that companies are desperate to make money...I get it that they are all in competition...I get it...but still, I can't believe how ridiculous it is!

I have nothing against shopping. I have nothing against buying Christmas presents...for the ones you really love and cherish as a way of giving them a gesture of appreciation. I have nothing against Christmas trees and twinkling lights. In fact, that's all really very fun. However, what I am irritated about is how AGGRESSIVE the campaign for shopping and spending gross amounts of money has become.

Of course, we all know, it's been this way for some time. It just amazes me how the retail industry uses commercials to psychologically try to make people think that they are REALLY MISSING out if they don't get to their store, and fast, to HURRY UP and fill up an entire cart full of merchandise. Hurry, hurry, time is running out. For what? Why would we have to feverishly make large purchases to show our family and friends that this is how we love them. Clearly the message here is SHOP, SHOP, SPEND, SPEND, BUY, BUY! It is kind of insulting...as if we are all mindless drones willing to obey the underlying message of "GIVE US YOUR MONEY, WE DON'T CARE IF YOU HAVE BILLS, AS LONG AS WE MAKE OUR QUOTA!"

First of all, what I'm thinking here is...for the majority of the people in this country, there's a limit to their spending during the Christmas season. Even if you have saved a nice little chunk of change for the holiday, who do you know that WANTS to mindlessly spend hundreds of dollars on things that may or may not even be useful to the person receiving it. Retailers obviously know that America is in a recession...of COURSE they know...I'm thinking the best way for them to get us to part with our hard earned cash is to use ads that LOOK as if EVERYONE is out there spending with wild abandon, buying up every toy and sweater and electric razor they can get their hands on. Retailers are using the age old tactic of "everyone's doing it!" I'm sure it's easy to get sucked into this vacuum, after all just look at the families in the commercials. Everyone is smiling, there eyes are twinkling...the moms and dads in the commercials are gorgeous, dressed in new winter coats with hats and scarves that coordinate perfectly...their children are adorably dressed, well behaved and buying gifts for Grandma because of course, they are only thinking of others and not themselves. Oh wait, don't forget that shiny new forest green Range Rover they all go running happily back to....cause that's an affordable car for a family of 6.

For real people?!?!
I ask you, is this an accurate portrayal of how it really goes down?

Ok, as I am writing this, I am wondering how many of you will find me cynical. I don't mean to come across this way...I just wanted to express my feeling of...of...of, I don't know, what is this feeling...disgust? Maybe that's too strong a word, but then again maybe it's not.

Hey...look...right there, you just knew I couldn't get through a post without a cookie recipe!

Ok, focus!

Having said all that, I can assure you, we ABSOLUTELY celebrate Christmas in our house! Our children WILL have presents under the tree. My husband and I WILL go Christmas shopping. And yes, it's fun to tuck away gifts from children's searching eyes...it's fun to buy the perfect give for the ones you love. The house WILL be filled with Christmas music throughout the month of December...and the Christmas cookies WILL be coming out of my oven on a regular basis. I regard myself as a fairly normal person who enjoys Christmas just as much as the next person. I have a feeling that a lot of people feel the same way I do.

However, I will be taking the time to talk with my children about the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it. I will read to them the story of Christmas...and that special night...long ago, when Christ our saviour was born.

I know that all of you know the true meaning of Christmas...I don't have to tell you. I'll just leave you with this.



Luke 2:10-14
...the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men
with whom He is pleased."

How to make a lattice pie crust

A homemade pie is a wonderful thing...and a lattice pie crust on top of your pie is even more wonderful!

Have you always wanted to make a lattice pie crust on top of your apple or cherry pie but were too intimidated to try?

Well...I want to teach you how to do it! It's easier than you think!

Here's a step by step, full-proof, easy method! Please give it a try! This holiday season, present a show stopping pie to your family and friends!

First of all, make your pie dough. You will need a double crust pie recipe. Use my full proof double pie crust recipe found here.

Make dough, divide in half. Use one half for bottom crust and use one half for making lattice.

STEP 1
Roll out one dough half into the shape of a square the size of your pie pan.



STEP 2
Cut dough into strips approx. 3/4 inch wide.





STEP 3
Take one strip and lay it down the center of the pie.



STEP 4
Continue to lay half of the strips across the pie spacing approx. 3/4 inch apart.



HERE'S A TIP
Trim strips along the edge of the pie as you go. Be sure to leave a little hanging over.



STEP 5
Fold back every other dough strip at the center of the pie.



STEP 6
Lay one strip of dough across pie in the opposite direction just below the folded dough strips and laying across the strips that are laying flat.



STEP 7
Unfold strips laying them over the strip you just placed.



STEP 8
Fold back alternate strips of dough.



STEP 9
Lay strip across pie just beneath folded dough.



STEP 10
Fold those strips down over the strip you just laid down.



*Continue this process until the rest of the pie is covered.



















*Turn pie around and finish the other side just the same way.

*Here is the completed lattice.



STEP 11
Pinch the edges of the top and bottom crust together.



STEP 12
Flute the edges of the pie crust with your finger tips.



*And here is the finished lattice pie crust!



As you can see, it's really quite easy!
It's actually a lot of fun to do!
I know you can do it...give it a try next time and your family and friends will be very impressed!