Dead Reckoning

I finally made them!

I've made cinnamon rolls before -

the overnight kind

the quick biscuit kind

the "refrigerator tube" kind ;-)

But these, my friends,

are the cream of the crop,

the grand-daddy of cinnamon rolls...

... Pioneer Woman cinammon rolls!

So fun to make.

I did the dough last night,

no kneading involved,

and prepared and baked them this morning.

The recipe makes six pans of rolls,

so I gifted out four pans without much trouble!

A New Year's breakfast tradition??

I think so! :-)

Cranberry Muffins

Cranberry Muffins

12 servings

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries (I used craisins)
for topping
2 tablespoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Fold in sour cream. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and salt; stir into the creamed mixture just until moistened. Fold in cranberries. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two thirds full. Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over muffins. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool in pan 10 minutes; remove to a wire rack and enjoy!

Supper Menus
December 28th-January 2nd

Monday
game snacks
Tuesday
out for supper
Wednesday
fettuccine alfredo, olive garden salad
Thursday
burritos, taquitos, tortilla chips and dips
Friday
out for supper
Saturday
out for supper

New Christmas Things :-)

When putting away the Christmas decorations this year,

I had several new things to date

~2009~

my daughter's new santa ornament

my son's new snowman ornament

a western santa and snowman from Mr. H. :-)

origami santa and snowman ornaments made by my son

and a very special set of

"the twelve days of Christmas"

ornaments from friends!

It will be so fun to find them next December and recall memories of 2009!

Merry Christmas to all,

and to all a good night! :-)

White Christmas

More Gingerbread Houses!

The cookie kind.

And the foam kind.

Both sweet! :-)

Elf

Christmas music has been added

to the playlist in the side bar

starting with song #51! :-)

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

It's the 1st day of Winter!

Is Jack Frost nipping at your nose? ;-)

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Winter Barn" by Michael Humpries

Supper Menus
December 21st-26th

Monday
venison jalapeno cheese sausage, white rice, homestyle cheese muffins
Tuesday
fried chicken tenders, mashed potatoes and brown gravy, fried okra, dinner rolls
Wednesday
poppy seed chicken, lettuce and tomato salad, dinner rolls
Thursday
hosting Christmas Eve dinner for friends
Friday
attending Christmas dinner at Mr. H.'s parents
Saturday
hosting Christmas dinner for my parents

Sweetest Gingerbread House Ever

Created by the sweetest 4th grader ever. :-)

Homestyle Cheese Muffins

Homestyle Cheese Muffins

12 servings

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Mix egg, milk and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in cheese. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with crispy bacon and enjoy!

These are great to serve for breakfast, and I think they would also be really good along side chili as a change of pace from the usual cornbread.

I love these!

These are just so pretty.

When I saw them at The Inspired Room,

I knew they were just my style.

And they would be perfect to decorate

the tables for a company supper.

Simple, inexpensive and cozy.

One for the children's table.

And one for the adult table.

Love them.

Where has Mrs. H. been??

She's been a little busy...

making candy

to box up for teachers.

Making lots of Christmas chocolate pops

for classmates and attaching to gifts.

Doing some baking of course. :-)

Red and green m&m cookies!

Just a little bit of decorating.

And some simple entertaining.

The holidays have begun!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Cinnamon Chip Scones

Cinnamon Chip Scones

(from Simple and Delicious magazine)

12 servings

3 1/4 cups flour
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup cold butter, cubed
1 cup buttermilk
1 package (10 ounces) cinnamon baking chips
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Combine flour, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in buttermilk just until moistened. Fold in chips. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently 10-12 times or until dough is no longer sticky. Divide in half; gently pat or roll each portion into a 7 inch circle. Brush with butter and sprinkle with remaining sugar. Cut each circle into six wedges. Separate wedges and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 425° for 10-13 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm and enjoy!

A Christmas Story

Scenes from Old Fort Parker

My son's school took a field trip to Old Fort Parker.

I went along as a chaperone and enjoyed a wonderful time

learning some more history of the state of Texas.

from the website ~

Old Fort Parker State Historical Park is a reconstructed fort that pays tribute to the Parker family and other pioneers who paid a high price to settle in Texas.

The Parkers and other members of their church came to Texas from Crawford County, Illinois in 1833. In 1832, Daniel Parker, a staunch theologian, had gained permission to settle in Texas. After organizing those who wanted to go to Texas into the Predestinarian Baptist Church, they all left Illinois in July of 1833 in ox- drawn wagons. Daniel and the majority of his followers settled near the present City of Elkhart, where a replica of their Pilgrim Baptist Church still stands in their memory. Other members of the group preferred to settle farther west, near the Navasota River. Elder John Parker and three of his sons (Silas, James, and Benjamin) began in December 1833 to clear land and to construct "Parker's Fort."

On May 19, 1836, Comanche Indians attacked the fort; 5 were killed, 5 were captured, and the 21 survivors made their way to where Palestine is today. The most famous of the captives was Cynthia Ann Parker. She adapted to Indian ways and later married Chief Peta Nocona. Quanah Parker, the last great Comanche chief, who was involved in the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon, was the most famous of their three children.

Momma it's cold outside!

Let's just stay home!

There is no place like home...

What did I receive at the Ladies Christmas party?

This!

It made me cry.

One, because I loved it so much.

And, two, because we had put our house up for sale

only hours before I opened this gift!

I don't know where my next

~home sweet home~

will be,

but I'm ready for the adventure! :-)

No Cost Gifting

Our gift exchange gifts for the Ladies' Christmas party

I attended this evening had to be homemade, recycled or

less than $5 store bought.

And the gift couldn't be wrapped in store bought paper!

My gift was homemade from the kitchen and didn't cost me a dime! :-) I filled a jar with cowboy cookie mix, wrapped it in some red gingham fabric and tied it with a red bow.

Merry Christmas!