That’s a Wrap

Another Christmas has come and gone and a good time was had by all here in Cowtown.  Rae Rae said   “ I love it” every time she opened something, whether she knew what it was or not.  So sweet and appreciative she is.  She awoke on Christmas morning and asked for a drink of water, acknowledged that Santa had came and went back to sleep (weird).  She woke up again at 10:00 am and insisted that her Momma open her present that she had bought her before she would open her own.  How sweet is that?  Gracie girl didn’t want Christmas to end and was absolutely lovable.  Nana’s Angel is such a big girl now and appreciates family before gifts.   I am a firm believer that Christmas is for kids and our Christmas would  not be nearly as fun without our little ones. 

Mini Me will be blessing us with another sweet girl sometime in the next month and a half and I will be hosting her baby shower on the 8th. I’ve already started preparations for the event an I’m looking forward to the out of town company. 

Hillbilly will have 5 days off next week and we are really looking forward to the time together…alone.  Time alone may be a bit hard to achieve with First Born living with us again but such is life. 

I’ve decided that I won’t be making ANY New Year Resolutions this year but will continue working on last years list.  It seems I’ve only accomplished one of last year’s resolutions….Bring on the New Year because I am going to make it MINE!

Cranberry Cosmo

Ingredients

• 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger vodka
• 1/2 fluid ounce cointreau
• 1 teaspoon Rose’s lime juice
• 1 1/2 fluid ounces cranberry juice
• 1 twist lime zest, garnish
• fresh cranberries

Directions

1. Pour all the ingredients into a shaker with lots of ice. Shake vigorously for several seconds and strain into a cocktail glass rimmed with sugar. Garnish with a lime twist or a few cranberries.

Merry Christmas

 

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight.  I hope each of you have a wonderful Christmas.

My Mother-in-law is going to be here at 4 today and I haven’t even cleaned the house yet so I’m out of here, talk to you after Christmas.

Christmas Cookie Baking

A Christmas wreath tutu.

Ready for the oven.

Sweet nieces. 

Messy kitchen.

Mission accomplished.

Tortilla Roll Ups

Here is another appetizer recipe that is affordable to make and always a crowd pleaser.  You can really make this recipe your own by adding different ingredients.  You can’t mess this up, really!

Ingredients:

• 2  80z cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 can green chilies
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1/4 cup green onions, sliced small including green part
• 1 jalapeno chopped fine or 2 Tbsp chopped  pickled jalapeno
• 2 or 3 dashes Tabasco
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, or maybe a little more
• large flour tortillas
• picante sauce

Directions:

Combine all ingredients and taste and adjust seasoning if needed.  Spread  1/2 cup or so of the mixture on the tortillas and roll up.  Cover with plastic and place in refrigerator until firm then cut into 1 inch slices.  Serve with picante sauce for dipping.

Variations:

• Add sliced roast beef before rolling and add fajita seasoning instead of garlic and salt
• add a layer of refried beans or refried black beans and some chopped black olives and add jalapeno juice instead of lime juice
• add spinach and herbs instead of green chilies and jalapenos and use spinach wraps instead of flour tortillas

Just use your imagination and come up with your own filling!

Sausage Balls

Ingredients:

• 1 lb regular breakfast sausage
• 2 1/2 cups bisquik
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/3 cup finely chopped celery
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and form 1 inch balls.  Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Baked French Toast

I’m gearing up for Christmas cooking and I’m putting this on the menu for Christmas Morning so that Hillbilly won’t starve before dinner.  I haven’t tried this recipe myself yet but it gets great reviews so I’m going to go ahead and post.  You make most of it the night before which will help you out on Christmas day.

Ingredients

• 1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• Dash salt
• Praline Topping, recipe follows
• Maple syrup

Directions

Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.

Praline Topping:

• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well.

Take it Easy

and enjoy the season.

It’s In The Mail

Rae posing with her fake smile before she mailed her letter to Santa (she’s such a mini Mini Me).  She didn’t like her red jeans that her Mom made her wear but she loved her new shoes.  She said “I can wear them with jeans and I can wear them with Christmas dresses, I have two”.  The child never stops talking, it’s hilarious! 

We took her to sit on Santa’s knee but it was a  NO GO.  She said “he is too old”.  We opted for writing a letter at Macys instead.  Gosh, I love Macys at Christmas time, I had to put blinders on to get out of there without spending a fortune.  I had to dodge 42 perfume ladies to get to the mailbox; it’s apparent that they work on commission.  I told them that I was JUST SMELLING but thanks anyway.

Before we hit the mall I went a long with Mini Me to the baby doctor.  Have I told you that he isn’t sure it’s a girl anymore?  Crazy, huh?  Both sonograms since he told her that, he hasn’t been able to see the gender at all.  The not knowing is driving us crazy but it’s fun too.  It would be great to finally have a boy in our family.  Maybe I’ll sit on Santa’s knee and tell him I wish for a grandson because I BELIEVE.