Year in Review: This Year's Top Ten

I thought this might be fun for some of you who are newer here. I use Google Analytics to monitor my blog traffic. Let me tell you--it is always interesting to see what brings readers over here.  Some are surprising, some not.

And yes, I am a nerd like that.  

So for this year (actually from February until now--when I started Analytics) here are the ten most popular links that brought readers this way.

1. Recipes ~ wow...that's flattering...hopefully no one was disappointed!

2. White Enchiladas ~  this is such a good one!

3. Homemade Vanilla Wafers and Banana Pudding ~ thank you, Alton!

4. Best Ever Muffins ~ I don't even care to admit how many times we've had these this year.

5. Homemade Ranch Dressing ~ thank you, Mom, for introducing this one to me (us)!

6. Homemade Enchilada Sauce ~ a close friend of mine from my former job introduced this to all my former co-workers and they are in love with this sauce just as much as I am (and apparently everyone else too!). 

7. Fresh Cherry Muffins ~ awww, shucks, this is one of the first recipes I posted here.

8. Spicy Pickled Carrots ~ thank you again, Alton!

9. Chocolate Chip Cookies ~ this one just makes me laugh.  Really?  But they are pretty good.  ;)

10. Brown Sugar ~ More of a tutorial, but a good tip nonetheless! 


Here is to another fun year in blogging! 

Coming Soon!

When the kind folks at CSN Stores contacted me and asked me to complete a review for them, I jumped at the chance!  CSN is comprised of over 200 websites, including everything from luggage stores to furniture and fashion.  CSN also carries tons and tons of wonderful kitchen items, and we all know that having fun in the kitchen is very near and dear to my heart. 

Please check back soon and I'll let you take a peak at what I was able to review!

Blanco Chili

I have been wanting to try a white chili for some time.  Plus, I had some cooked up great northern beans sitting in my freezer that really needed to be used.  This past week I finally did it, and I am wondering why I waited so long?

Hubs was very impressed.  He asked where I got the recipe from and I told him I didn't have one.  I glanced at a couple different recipes several weeks ago, but this recipe was entirely my own creation.  Not bad, if I do say so myself--and Hubby thought so too.  ;)

Blanco Chili

2 Tbsp olive oil (you could use butter too)
1 cup chopped onion
2 Tbsp flour
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans (or about 3 cups) great northern beans
1 1/2 cups cooked turkey, chopped (chicken would be just fine)
6 cups turkey stock (again, chicken works too....just using up Thanksgiving leftovers from the freezer)
1 4 oz. can diced chilies
1 1/2 tsp cumin
3/4 tsp ground coriander
Salt and pepper, to taste

Sour cream and chopped cilantro for garnish--avocado and monteray jack cheese would be wonderful as well!

In a large stockpot over medium high heat, saute onions in olive oil.  When onions are tender, add in garlic and flour and cook for 1-2 minutes.  Add in stock and heat through.  Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Soup should be nice and thick when ready to serve.  


This recipe is linked to:

Beauty and Bedlam's Tasty Tuesday
Blessed With Grace Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Designs By Gollum Foodie Friday
Finding Joy in My Kitchen's Countdown to 2011
Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap
Hearth 'n Soul Recipe Swap  
Life As Mom's Ultimate Recipe Swap

Stockpiling Moms Great Recipe Swap

Christmas Treasures

We had a wonderful, very relaxed Christmas Day.   I was able to get a lot of my (cooking) prep work done on Christmas Eve afternoon, so all I had to do was put the roast in the slow cooker and put together the carrots and twice baked scalloped potatoes on Christmas Day.   I did a really easy breakfast, so I spent a very minimal amount of time in the kitchen.  I do like to cook, but I don't like to feel like I am missing time with my family, so it was nice to be avoid being in the kitchen all day.

My Mom and Dad sent Peanut her very own kitchen set for Christmas--complete with bottom mount freezer.  I know.  We actually received the kitchen in the mail (from costco.com) about six weeks ago and Hubs put it together when we first received it.   So in the garage the kitchen sat, awaiting it's introduction into the life of a very excited 2 year old little girl.   

And so excited she was...when she came downstairs Christmas morning she exclaimed "Pwesants!" {Presents!} and then she just stopped and smiled and looked back and forth between us and the kitchen.  You could practically see the wheels turning...a 'frigerator....pots, pans....[wooden] food galore....that little kitchen is just my size....I can actually reach that counter....I can cook like Mommy!

Needless to say she was thrilled, and she proceeded to saute cantaloupe, eggs, and bananas for us for breakfast--in the same pan.  It was quite....um, tasty.

I finally managed to tear Peanut away and give her her bath, and as she was playing in the water, I asked what other things she could cook in her kitchen.   She quickly responded, "Eggs and muffins and fruit and veg-tables and else...." {and other things}.

And boys, I tell you.  When I brought Peanut down after her bath and the Hubs saw her in the same dress she wore for our family celebration of Christmas, he had a confused look on his face and asked why she was wearing the dress again.  I guess he didn't quite understand that we girls wear our Christmas dresses on Christmas--even if we don't go anywhere.  Duh. 

Then the poor little Peanut did dishes all day.  Every time we had to go do something (take a bath or a nap, etc.) she responded "I do dishes first."  She must think I do the dishes a lot, because that was her constant task throughout the afternoon.

The Peanut also received this precious little ornament from her other grandma and grandpa.  I think it is quite fitting.

And for the time being, the timer on our camera is working out great, as the Peanut just thinks it is the funniest thing to see/hear the camera snapping pictures on the tripod.

I hope you all had a wonderful, relaxed Christmas as well.  How did you celebrate? 

Menu Plan Monday

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  We did, but I am so sad it is over.  Does anybody else feel that sense of sadness when Christmas is over?  I know I do--but I am also one of the ones that starts getting excited about Christmas in late summer.  I know.  But I can't help it.  I just love Christmas.  Anyhow, for this week, we will be having:

Sunday-BLT Carbonara, green salad with homemade ranch dressing

Monday-Chicken Parmesan, mashed potatoes, green salad

Tuesday-Tortellini Bake, and-you guessed it-green salad (I have some lettuce to use up!)

Wednesday-Steak with blue cheese sauce, baked potatoes, green salad

Thursday-Beef barley stew, green salad 

Friday-Pizza with homemade sauce and homemade crust, green salad

Saturday-Leftovers

For other great recipe ideas, visit the Organizing Junkie. 

Merry Christmas!

From our home to yours....

have a wonderful Christmas celebrating the greatest gift of all.

Look at All That Snow!

We went to the ChristmasTown tonight.  Although we went a little later in the season than last year, there was a ton of snow there this time!

These pictures may not do it justice, but according to Hubs estimation, he thought that there was at least two feet of snow on the rooftops.  The huge mounds of course, are from clearing the parking lots, but still!  Let's just say, I've never seen snow like this in SmallTown and definitely not ever in Hometown.  Some of the locals even sled down hills in the downtown area...but it looked painful to me.  However, I'm not that adventuresome, so what can I say?

And look at Peanut's little darling hat.  My dear friend's talented mom made it for Peanut--custom.  Our last trip down, Sarah's mom sat there and just whipped it up like it was nothing.  Isn't it just the cutest?  I was hoping to get a cute picture of her in it for our Christmas card, but you know what they say about the best of intentions.  Yeah, it just didn't happen liked I had hoped. 

Peanut wasn't a terribly cooperative photo subject tonight as she was too distracted by all the goings on around her.

What a difference--his without flash, mine with flash. Crazy, huh?


And on our way back, Peanut was getting restless, so I told Peanut we were headed home.

Her response: "Go see candies!"  {Go see the gingerbread house} Is she my daughter, or what?

I'd say she had fun this morning, wouldn't you? 

Decorating the Castle

At least that is what Peanut called it.  I was constructing the gingerbread house and Peanut saw it and said,  "Mama building a castle!"

This is my first one (excluding those I did as a small child--and those I only decorated) which is all from scratch and for some unknown reason, the roof didn't come out right.  User error I am sure--but I really don't know what happened.  I had the choice of either a ginger skylight or make late construction modifications.  I went with the pretzel stick modification.  Each year, I will get better at this, right?  Right?  Please tell me I am right.

But Peanut had a grand time and that is why I did it.  I am sure we won't be eating any of it.  I do have a major sweet tooth--but not for candy or cookies that have been sitting out.

Someone loved the Skittles.  She had more candy today than she's had in her entire life.  And not because I was allowing it.  She kept sneaking them.

She also enjoyed "Putting candies in the door!"

It took all I had not to straighten her pieces and to allow her the creative liberty she wanted...but I did.

And I am glad I did.  

This is definitely going to be a fun tradition to keep.  Tonight we are off to ChristmasTown and to drive around and look at Christmas lights...with homemade peppermint hot chocolate. We did it last year, but I think Peanut will definitely be more into this year as every time she sees lights, she exclaims, "Dose pretty!"  {Those pretty!}

What traditions do you have?

Sugar Cookies?

This is my go-to sugar cookie recipe.  Although if you aren't frosting the cookie and you are just eating them plain, they have a pretty mild sweetness.  I almost think of these as more of a shortbread cookie.  I do think they are perfect for frosting, because the frosting is so sweet, so the not so sweet cookie balances it out a little.  I got this recipe from my husband's aunt, who uses this recipe to make Belgium Biscuits (sugar cookies sandwiched with raspberry jam for filling, and frosted on top with vanilla icing--although these are a little different from the Belgium Biscuits I found online), which are a family tradition stemming from their Canadian heritage.

But I digress.

I just love this recipe when making either the Beligium Biscuits or a good ol' frosted sugar cookies.  Yum, yum, yum!

Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter (room temperature)
3/4 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
2 1/4 cups flour

Cream butter and add in sugar.  Mix until combined.  Add in yolks, vanilla, and salt and mix thoroughly.  Mix in flour until just combined.  Refrigerate dough for 1-2 hours.  Roll dough out and cut into shape(s) desired.  Line cookie sheets with parchment (or Silpat baking mats) to prevent the edges of the cookies from browning.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-11 minutes.  Allow to completely cool before frosting.  Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Frosting

1/4 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Food coloring if desired
Milk

Cream butter and mix in powdered sugar one cup at a time.  Add in vanilla, food coloring, and milk, one tablespoon at a time until frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.  Frost cookies as desired. 

Jumbo Raisin Cookies

I only make these cookies once a year.  And I only make them because I love my Dad.  Now don't get me wrong--these. are. wonderful.  Every time I have one, I think to myself, why don't I make these more often?  And then I remember--they are a lot of work.  They are not over the top cookies, like these--but I just don't care much for the process of baking the cookies, having to let them cool completely and then having to frost them. 

Because I am impatient like that.  

But, as I mentioned I love my Dad and if I could give him a lifetime supply of these at his disposal, I would.  A funny little sidenote on these little bits of deliciousness:  I actually used to make these cookies as a Christmas gift for both my Dad and my Grandpa (what can I say?  They are easy to "buy" for!).  I would make a double batch so I had some to package (in these boxes) for both my Dad and Grandpa, and have enough leftover for the goodie platter at Christmas.  In the last years of his life, my Grandpa would often times be staying with my parents for an extended period around the holidays.  My Dad and Grandpa would each make sure to eat these cookies off the goodie platter before breaking into their own personal stash.  And when the goodie platter was gone, they would each try and get the other to open his own box first. 

I guess I should have made these more often, huh? 

I made some for my Dad last week when we stayed at their house, and needless to say, he was thrilled.

Jumbo Raisin Cookies

2 cups raisins
1 1/2 cups water

Boil raisins in water until softened.  Drain raisins, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.  Set both aside and let cool. 

1 cup shortening (not even close to real food, but trust me on this one.  You could also use palm shortening too, but I haven't tried that yet so I can't speak to the results, although it would probably be fine)
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 Tbsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda, to add to raisin liquid

Cream shortening and add in sugar.  Once combined, add in eggs and mix thoroughly.  Add in cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, baking powder, salt and vanilla and mix until combined.  (Sidenote: I always mix in my spices/flavorings with the wet ingredients to insure they are fully incorporated.  I know you are supposed to sift all the dry ingredients together, but I told you--I am that lazy.  It's always worked for me, but it's probably breaking some chemistry cooking rule that I am not aware of.)  Once the reserved raisin cooking liquid has cooled, add in the baking soda.  In thirds, alternate adding in the flour and raisin liquid to the shortening/spice mixture, allowing each portion of flour and liquid to combine thoroughly before adding the next.  Once combined, fold in the raisins.  The dough will be fairly thick.  Almost biscuit like. 

Drop by large spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for about 13 minutes.  The cookies should be just starting to brown on top when you pull them out. 

Allow cookies to cool completely. 

Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened (room temperature is best)
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 - 1 tsp vanilla (to taste)
Milk

Cream together butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla.  Add in milk in tablespoon portions until frosting is still thick, but easily spreadable.  It usually takes about 2 tablespoons. 

Frost cooled cookies.  Once frosting is "set", store cookies in an airtight container, separating the layers of cookies with waxed paper.  Makes about 4 dozen cookies.


This recipe is linked to:

Beauty and Bedlam's Tasty Tuesday
Blessed With Grace Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Designs By Gollum Foodie Friday
Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap
Hearth 'n Soul Recipe Swap