Better late than never.....RIGHT??

I'm running behind....I made some of these homemade peppermint marshmallows for some gifts. I only got a few delivered before Christmas. So I made more tonight:

I'll combine them with homemade cocoa and deliver them tomorrow.

I'm not sure about the cocoa in all honesty. My family really likes it, but I tend to think it needs more cocoa. Or chocolate chips....hmmmm.....

Better late then never.....RIGHT?? I figure if public schools are still out than it's still "The holiday season" so maybe I'm not TOO bad....yeah I know...it's bad. oh well!!

I have to say, we're now totally addicted to homemade marshmallows. They taste SOOOO much better than storebought. Hubby is dreaming of different flavors and roasting homemade ones over a fire. I'm pretty sure they'll be fantastic. We'll see....BUT just an FYI....peppermint weeps...so they won't stay pretty for too long...and especially not in cold. Still taste good and aren't too sticky of shaken in a bit of powdered sugar.

(FYI you can click the word "these" above for the recipe I used. However, I did not use the full amount of peppermint extract. Some may want to eat them and well....it can be a bit overpowering to me. In fact I put even LESS in this second batch and more vanilla then the recipe calls for)

Happy 2010

We had a true southern meal to kick off 2010 today....

Our menu:

Country Ham

fried in a cast iron skillet with a mixture of Brown Sugar, a touch of apple juice and a bit of water

A mixture of Collard Greens and Turnip Greens

(that's what you get when you take the kids to the store with you and they are so thrilled by the big bunches of leafy greens they want both)

Black Eyes Peas

(no not from a can...as in dried, soaked and cooked for a few hours)

and Parker House Rolls

(I know I know southern tradition calls for cornbread....but well....LOOK at these...really, we're changing tradition at our house!)

oh yeah....

and so for you I give you one of our new favorite recipes

PARKER HOUSE ROLLS

1 cup whole milk

2 pkg dry yeast (I didn't quite have that...but just used what I had)

1/2 cup butter, melted

3/4 -1 tsp salt

1/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

4 1/2 to 5 cups flour

about half a stick more butter will be needed for brushing

Warm the milk just a bit (you only want it warm to touch...to warm and it will kill the yeast)

Mix 1/3 of the milk and the yeast in a small bowl and let it sit for about 10-15 min (should be bubbly). In a large bowl (I just used my kitchenaid bowl) combine remaining milk, melted butter, salt and sugar. Beat until the sugar is dissolved. Then add the eggs. Beat. Add the milk/yeast mixture after it is bubbly.

In my stand mixer I added flour...slowly...just about 1/2 cup or less at a time. When the dough gets stiff add dough hook and knead for about 5 min. Until it's a beautiful satiny dough ball.

Place dough in a greased bowl. turn so it becomes coated. Cover and place in a warm location to rise for about an hour. Dough should double.

Punch down dough and roll on a slightly floured surface to 1/2" thickness. Cut with a large circle cutter (a glass or something about 3". I used a pampered chef cutter sealer thing for fried pies)

brush circle with butter. Fold over into a half circle and pinch to seal closed. place in greased pan (like a 9x13). After all are done, cover and let rise another hour. Place in 350 degree oven for about 20 -25 min. Remove from oven and brush again with fresh melted butter.

insanely perfect to use the leftoves for b'fast....with a slice of the ham on the rolls!! sigh.....oh yeaahhh!! Southern eating at it's finest!!

HAPPY 2010!!!!!

Oh how I love this man!

I'm sick. Strep throat. which just hit and I mean WHAM-O...no warning. Sunday afternoon/evening. I'd been great that morning.

Couldn't be worse timing...okay maybe it could...but it's horrid timing for me still!

I don't get sick too often, thankfully, but when I do, it always serves as a reminder to me of the gift I have in my husband.

This is pretty horrid timing for him too. He's swamped with work and needs this to be a very productive week. Yet he's had to cook, clean, nurse, get Rx's, take me to the Dr, buy me some yummy soup, etc etc etc...

And he will absolutely NOT let me worry about any of that and the time it's taken from him.

He tells me he WANTS to do those things. The times I've voiced concern, he has looked me right in the eye and basically told me those thoughts are not allowed.

As much as I HATE being sick this week (HATE it)

I love this man of mine and am so very thankful for him!!

Other things I'm thankful for this week:

Parents who took the kids yesterday so they weren't exposed to all germs at the urgent care, and so hubby could get some work done.

The Dr I saw (my regular Dr had no openings) who took one look in my grotesque throat, and said there was no point in putting me through a strep test...there was no question! She was so kind! Me and my insanely strong gag reflex appreciated that SO much!

Tylenol PM! I'm one to let a fever do it's job and I rarely take anything for fever until it means a lack of sleep...and my 102+ fever meant lack of sleep so I broke down and finally took some....and I'm thankful for it!

Tradition.....

....TRADITION!!! I love traditions. Thought I'd share a few of our Christmas traditions

Christmas Eve night always means the first gift of Christmas....which must be new PJ's for all. And if Mrs Claus can find them...matching/coordinating PJ's for the kiddos. Makes for good pictures on Christmas morning when everyone has brand new, festive PJ's!!


new PJ's are followed by the traditional reading of Twas the Night before Christmas (we're big fans of Robert Sabuda)

and after Twas the Night before Christmas comes the reading of Santa Mouse!

Christmas morning we hold the kids at the top of the stairs. First Daddy interviews the kids at the top of the stairs, it's so fun to watch the videos from past years. but it's also lots of fun to 'torture' the kids a bit holding them off. Then they are let loose for the family room. (note the plate on the table...peppers and tomatoes for the reindeer were eaten, cookies for Santa...and we couldn't forget cheese for Santa Mouse)

One of the traditions carried over from BOTH of our families, is the cinnamon roll Christmas tree being part of the Christmas morning b'fast. At our house GrandMama and Papa come for brunch after presents are opened. Some years I make the cinnamon rolls homemade, sometimes I used pre-made. some years I put cocoa in the trunk's frosting so it's brown and cut a star to put on the top with some yellow or white frosting....but no matter what I get a whim to do or not do...there must be cinnamon rolls in the shape of a Christmas tree to eat Christmas morning!!

I hope that each of you had a simply delightful holiday making and creating memories with the ones you love!! Sorry for the lack of recent posts...after 3 weeks of nearly sleepless nights with the precious baby we were blessed to care for, we moved right into holiday madness. Limited hours in each day and the few free ones were spent crashed!!

Dec 27th 2005

Tomorrow she'll be 4.....I miss her!!