Cooking - YUM!

Another soup, split pea with ham.  It turned out very good.  It is from the "Soup Book" that I am trying to make a new recipe from every week - it may not happen during the holidays.Isn't my potato masher cute?  I don't use it often.  I don't make mashed potatoes from scratch very often.  But this recipe: "Steak with Blue Cheese Butter and Sour Cream Potatoes" could mean trouble - they were the best!  I forgot to take a picture of the finished meal.  I am sure I will make this again.Fresh herbs make such a difference - cilantro in this dish made it so good, and with my new Chef's knife chopping was a breeze. 

 This is black beans and chicken on a crisp corn totortilla.  Loved it! Quick and easy to prepare.

I tried a new Chinese dish last week - "Yum Yum Chicken", served with Jasmine Rice. It was a hit with Dave and my co workers the next day. 

It wasn't the most healthy meal since it was lightly battered and fried.  I very seldom fry food but this was worth it.  Much better than anything bought at a restaurant.

The best rice!

This cake was the sweetest, richest cake ever.  I made it for my co worker who loves chocolate and peanut butter.  This is chocolate cake with chocolate icing - Reese's Peanut Butter Cups chopped on the top and Peanut Butter Malted Milk Balls.  Even the people that don't usually like this combination raved about the cake.

Happy Thanksgivng

We had a different Thanksgiving this year.  We had dinner with some of my favorite people - but we didn't cook - we went to Cracker Barrel, and it was delicious and the wait was only 20 minutes. No cooking and no clean up - what a treat.

Courtney - all grown up and in Nursing School, we are so proud of her.

Turkey, ham and all the sides you want, plus a drink and dessert for $8.99.  The service was impecable.

Aunt Jeannette - looking good as ever!  A young 80 something??

We did a little shopping before dinner.  The Christmas trees and Christmas decorations were beautiful.  I want to see Pam's tree - she is decorating it in red and lime green - sounds gorgeous to me.

It was great spending time with some of my favorite family members. I just wish Amy and her family could be here.

Aren't they cute?

Pam thinks Courtney looks like Amy, in this pic I think mother and daughter look a lot alike.

We all had pumpkin pie for dessert, except for Dave who doesn't like pumpkin - he had chocolate cake.  The only problem eating out is NO LEFT OVERS!  I just may have to make a mini turkey dinner for us.

The Last Home Tech Game

We headed west for the last home game of the season.  It was a beautiful weekend.  Tech against North Carolina State.The drive was oh so nice and sunny.Entering Blacksburg.I was working on this the entire trip - a Christmas Present.Another fly over - always breath taking.  They fly over after singing the "National Anthem".  The game was a winner - 38/10.  Yeah! Go Hokies!  This fall has gone by so fast!

Just Having Fun

We have really enjoyed having Meighan.  She is such a good girl. Bandit loves her.

I am glad she brought her winter coat - we have had some rainy, cold weather.Meg loves to cook, so we decided to make a cake for her to take home for Mommy, Daddy and Alex.She chose lemon!!

This is the first time I have used my Wilton Cupcake Pan.

So far so good.  We had some batter left over so we made cupcakes for us. They were yummy.

The cake was good, but as we were decorating it the weight of the icing was too much for the soft cake and it started to slant.  I think using the cake mix was a big mistake.  Next time I will use a bundt or pound cake recipe.

Meg loves sitting on Grandpa and watching "Enchanted".  We watched it 3 times and had a blast dancing each time.  I think this is one of my most favorite movies in a long time.

Sami's 3rd Birthday!

Meighan in Samara's room - she made friends with some of the girls.Pin the Tail on the Donkey!What fun!Castle cake made by Monica.  Very cute - much better than a store bought cake.YUM!More fun outside.  Aidan raking the pile.Then joining in the fun.One of the Mom's joined in the fun. Good Sport! Her kids loved it.

 

We had fun!  Happy Birthday Samara!