Saturday, November 29, 2008

Thanksgiving Dinner with the Harringtons

Our Thanksgiving Day started out slow and easy... Not!!! I was fortunate enough to scrub my carpet and wash some blankets before anything else.
Then had to get Mark in the bath, get Tanner in the shower...gather all the food stuff...and take my own shower and get out the door at 10 a.m. Like that is easy for me :) haha At least I didn't have to get the turkey going (Louise had that chore), bake pies (done the night before) or get 3 kids under 4 ready to go... Hurrah!!!

We made it to the Ranches at Eage Mtn by 10:30 ish...and the games had already begun...

The annual Broom Hockey game was already in play with many of the brooms from the $ store already taped and broken... (new idea for next year in the works)... When the brooms were all broken, we got the balloons tied to ankles for "last man standing"...this was brutal. At the last...it was kill or be killed...oh the pain. I didn't play any games this year...Mark made up for it. We then got a game of human FoosBall. Team work is difficult for some, but it was so much fun to watch.
Matthew wouldn't let go of his broom for the whole time... he was one of the last ones standing until Tanner spotted him and then it was kaboom!!!


Mark was goalie helper...yes, he holds a broom very well with a helper :)... After the fun was done, we sat down to a lovely table filled with food, food, food... Ady's favorite was the stuffing (is she a bread girl or what)...Tanner ate the rolls, Matthew ate seconds of everything...as usual. We had enough left overs to share some of everything with all to have a snack for dinner later in the day... that part is wonderful.

Louise gave us a new book, "The Thanksgiving Bowl" by Virginia Kroll, Illustrated by Philomena O'Neill...and a bowl to fill with our blessings and gratitudes. Then we had to guess who said what...we were pretty good at guessing too...
At the end we cleaned up the church, swept and vaccumed and hauled out our trash and goodies. We got home at 1:30 p.m. stuffed and ready for our naps.

I loved the day... Kirk called to wish us a nice day, Seth called to wish us a nice day... it was great to hear from family and visit too.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

T h a n k s g i v i n g 2008

Well the holiday burst is upon us...Thanksgiving and Christmas!!!

Black Friday is coming far to quickly...though it's not black for me cuz' I'm not shopping this year.

We are meeting with Louise and John, Kristy and family; along with Holly's family to share our feast on Thursday.

Then on Saturday we will cook our own Turkey and play some games with the grandkids...They will all be here with the exception of Dylan who is going to Snowflake, AZ with Jessica this year.

I look forward to the holiday season; not the shopping, bustling about, pushing and shoving, the lines at the stores; I love the sounds of the season...watching "The Christmas Carol", making candy, the hymns, the decorations of a tree with soft sparkling lights, snow on the ground (not to drive tho :) ), the way we give a bit more of ourselves, a visit with a friend, the smell of cinnamon in the air, the annual cookie bake with the grandchildren, my mother's 'fruit cake', and of course the music, to sing or to just listen to the sounds, etc.

I think I like more of the holidays, than I do not like... I really don't mind standing in line, I just visit with those in front of me and behind me... make conversation to pass the time... It's hard to not like the holidays... Because we are celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I do feel sad for those less fortunate than ourselves... So I dig a bit deeper into my storehouse and share a bit of our bounty with them... the food pantrys are empty this year with the joblessness...prices have risen again... The call for help is everywhere... I think if we all try to do our part, give a bit more offerings...smile more, give a little time, or a can or two of food, just do something to help the cause...then we will have a wonderful holiday spirit within our homes...

Happy Thanksgiving...
Eat and rejoice in the bounty we have been blessed with...
Give thanks to our Heavenly Father...
Be kind to those around us...

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

I DON'T DO CHOCOLATE...

But... I sure would like to try some of these...
Instead, I will just pass these onto you...
Note the marshmellow recipe... if you make them
call me first, I seem to remember it being different than foil...

These are not worthy of the word "diet" for the holidays...

If you try any, let me know how they were...

Not like I will be trying them...

hehe


Ten Hot Chocolate Recipes

Warm up this winter with a rich, steaming cup of holiday cheer.

Whether you make a luxurious hot chocolate with melted chocolate bars

or create a delectable hot cocoa with fine-quality cocoa powder, these delicious recipes

will put smiles on the faces of everyone coming in from the cold.

Luscious Hot Chocolate
1 cup milk
1 cup half and half
1 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
8 tsp sugar
½ tsp vanilla
Heat milk, half and half, both chocolates, and sugar in a saucepan on
medium-low heat until chocolates melt and sugar dissolves. Pour half of the mixture into a blender and mix until frothy. Return to the saucepan and add vanilla. Stir briefly and serve.



Aztec Hot Chocolate
2 cups milk
4 squares baker’s chocolate
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp cardamom
½ tsp ginger
¼ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp nutmeg

Break chocolate squares and melt in a saucepan with the milk. Do not boil.
Whisk until foamy. Pour into mugs. In a separate bowl, combine all spices.
Mix ½ tsp of blended spices in each mug, adding more as desired.


Raspberry Hot Chocolate
2 cups cream
1 cup milk
6 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 T. sugar
½ tsp salt
1 T. butter
1 cup raspberries
whipped cream
In saucepan combine cream, milk, and sugar until hot, but do not boil.
Add chocolate and butter and reduce heat to simmer. Stir until chocolate is melted.
Puree 1 cup raspberries and pour into the mixture, stirring until smooth.
Pour into mugs and garnish with whipped cream and fresh raspberries.

Brown Sugar Hot Cocoa

3 oz. unsweetened chocolate
1/3 cup water
4 cups milk
¾ cup brown sugar, packed
1/8 tsp salt

Melt chocolate and water together in a double boiler.
Slowly stir in milk, sugar, and salt. Whisk until well blended.

Old-fashioned Hot Cocoa with Homemade Marshmallows

Old-fashioned Hot Cocoa

3 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup sugar
4 cups milk
¼ tsp vanilla
Combine sugar and cocoa powder in small bowl.
Heat milk in saucepan to scalding.
Stir 1/3 cup hot milk into cocoa-sugar mixture, and then pour back into the saucepan.
Stir until blended, then add vanilla and garnish with homemade marshmallows.

Homemade Marshmallows

3 T. powdered gelatin
2 cups cold water
2 cups sugar
2 egg whites
2½ cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
butter


In a medium saucepan soak gelatin in the cold water for approximately 10 minutes.
When gelatin has softened, add the regular sugar and gently dissolve over low heat.
Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form and then fold in 2 cups of sifted confectioners’ sugar. Put mixer on low speed and slowly add cooled gelatin mixture. Increase the speed and beat until white and thick, and the mixture is approximately double in size. Line a deep 8x8-inch baking dish with foil, grease slightly with butter, and coat with part of the remaining confectioners’ sugar. Pour marshmallow mixture in and top with more sifted confectioners’ sugar. Let sit for at least 3 hours. The marshmallow should be light and spongy when ready. Loosen marshmallow from edges of tray and invert onto large cutting board. Slowly remove foil and use a large knife to cut the marshmallows into cubes.
Dredge each piece in confectioners’ sugar.

White Peppermint Hot Chocolate

6 hard peppermint candies, finely crushed
2/3 cup whipping cream
3½ cups milk
8 oz. white chocolate, chopped
½ tsp peppermint extract

Beat whipping cream with crushed candies until stiff peaks form.
Refrigerate for at least one hour. In the meantime, heat milk on medium-low heat.
Mix in chocolate and whisk until smooth. Add peppermint extract and stir thoroughly.
Pour into cups and top with peppermint whipped cream mixture.


Banana Hot Chocolate

2 cups cream
1 cup milk
2 T. sugar
½ tsp salt
6 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 ripe bananas
1½ tsp cinnamon
marshmallows

In saucepan combine cream, milk, and sugar until hot. Do not boil.
Add chocolate and reduce heat to simmer. Stir until chocolate is melted.
Puree bananas with cinnamon. Heat puree in microwave for 15 seconds and stir into hot chocolate mixture. Pour into mugs and garnish with marshmallows
.



Milk Chocolate and Orange Cocoa
1/3 cup whipping cream, chilled
1 tsp brown sugar
4½ cups milk
zest from 4 large oranges
2 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
9 oz. milk chocolate, finely chopped
Whip cream with brown sugar until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate.
Mix milk with zest from oranges in a saucepan, heating to a simmer. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes. Strain zest from the mixture and bring liquid to a simmer. Stir in cocoa powder and chocolate, whisking until smooth. Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream mixture.

Cold Chocolate Eggnog

This recipe is served cold.
4 eggs, separated
½ cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 T. pure vanilla extract
2 cups milk
1/8 tsp salt
1½ cup whipping cream, whipped to soft-peak stage
1/3 cup grated semisweet chocolate

In a large bowl, beat together egg yolks, sugar, cocoa, and vanilla until thick and smooth.
Slowly stir in milk, mixing well. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Remove just before serving. Beat egg whites with salt until soft peaks form. Fold whipped cream into chocolate mixture, then gently fold in egg whites. Serve immediately, garnished with grated chocolate.


Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate
4 squares baker’s chocolate
2 cups milk
2 T. peanut butter
marshmallows
Break chocolate squares and melt in a saucepan with milk.
Do not boil. Stir in peanut butter until mixture is smooth.
Pour into mugs and garnish with marshmallows.

Dress up Your Drink
Here are a few tips for adding some extra pizzazz to your favorite hot chocolate or cocoa recipe.

Richer Flavor
For a richer, more decadent beverage, use whole milk instead of water —
regardless of what the recipe calls for.

If you want an extra-rich drink, add a teaspoon of sweet butter to the bottom of each cup before you pour in the drink.

Garnishes
Marshmallows are great, but why not use whipped cream as a blank canvas to create a truly whimsical drink. Try topping whipped cream with chocolate shavings from your favorite candy bar. Or use colored sprinkles to reflect the occasion — red and green for Christmas, or pink and red for Valentine’s Day, or rainbow sprinkles for birthdays. Or sprinkle chocolate, butterscotch, or peanut butter morsels on top. Also, consider candy stick stirrers such as peppermint, butterscotch, or raspberry, for a hint of extra flavor.

Cup Rimmers
Give a touch of sophistication to your hot chocolate by adding a rim of flavor to your cups.
Try crushing peppermint candies in a food processor, or using colored sugars for a sparkling effect.
You can also create your own custom-flavored chocolate powders. Just place the mixture in a large soup bowl. Moisten the cup rim with a wedge of orange and dip it in the mixture (about 3/8 inches deep) until it is evenly coated. Carefully pour the hot chocolate or cocoa so you don’t drip on the rim.

Sunday, November 02, 2008

October and Halloween

Halloween is a scary time at our house...

We had many visitors...here are just a few .

BOO!!!

We saw clowns...












Mark on his way to mutual on Thursday night...
he was so funny...and thought he was scary...
well, maybe just a touch...clowns can be very spooky...

We saw monkeys...



See Matthew's banana!!!

He was so cute and really didn't feel very well...

Elephants...





Adylin was an elephant again this year...

She wanted to be a monkey also, but all the costumes were gone

by the time she changed her mind ...again!!!





power rangers...





Tanner and Poppie went shopping to get a special costume. Tanner worked at our house cleaning the garage and helping Poppie put up our new porch lights... This is what they got...and Tanner had a blue one from last year at home... Oh my!!!

We all had fun this halloween time...
The monkey and elephant went to my work and
pulled in a ton of candy on Oct. 30...
since the state of ut does not work on Fridays...



Then Holly's kiddos came over around 4 p.m. to go around
to a few families in our ward...



This was Adylin's year... she didn't want to stay in
she wanted to go out and say "twick or tweet..."
and get C A N D Y !!!



Matt was all but sick...and wouldn't stop to save my life :)
he was going to get his canny too...


Tanner had a party at school and knew they weren't going out much...With mom 50 years preggo...walking door to door wasn't really an option..

All in all a good time was had by all of us...even poppie (tho his fav is the candy...)

THEN Mark did the funniest thing... he decided to go out along with all the "other" kids in the neighborhood...he took off out the front door in his socks and headed towards the Boom's house. I didn't even know he was gone until the doorbell rang and we had trick-treaters...but no Mark to hand out candy. I headed on down from the computer room to hand out candy and start to look for Mark... He was no where to be found inside or out...I got a bit scared...since his new meds he has been feeling very good...and Mike said he was upstairs with me?? NOT...

Then what to my surprise a short stout man boy comes up the sidewalk with candy tucked into his shirt... waving at me... all happy...and stuff...DAH!!!

I met him and the street light and told him to hand over his goodies... he wanted to hold my hand and I was not going to help him out (to much)... I told him he scared me and he said he was sorry...but only wanted me to help him home...Dah...his poor back and legs were hurting and he was limping...but I made him walk a minute before helping him home. He wanted more candy...Mr. Piggy...I was glad he was feeling good...but this was a bit to much even for me!!!