We are heading out early this morning to watch the High School Football game in Falmouth. I have a thermos filled with coffee and a bakery box of cake balls, chocolate chip cookies, banana bread and pumpkin bread to share.
I just finished making a chocolate cream pie and an apple pie for our dinner later today!
Tommy and I were laughing yesterday because we couldn't quite remember when there was a time that we actually cooked a turkey.
Although, since we are both pretty good cooks we decided we will figure it out. I am making a glaze from roasted shallots with maple syrup and rosemary-it should be delicious!
The blessing of staying home this year is that we get a chance to reconnect as a family and focus on what is important. At least we won't have to spend the day traveling.
To those who read my blog: thank you and happy thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Gratitude!
If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart
Five things I am grateful for today:
1) My home: especially my super comfortable bed and my kitchen fireplace
2) Morning Coffee: especially when I wake up before everyone else and watch the sunrise while drinking it fresh brewed with a bit of milk
3) The completion of my little 'cookbook': it's small but sweet and I created it from start to finish on my own and feel grateful that I did it
4) Sophia: last night she told me I am the best 'mommy in the whole wide world'
5) Smells from Baking: the whole house smells delicious from baking cake balls and chocolate chip cookies
Sometimes it really is the little things that can make the most difference.
Five things I am grateful for today:
1) My home: especially my super comfortable bed and my kitchen fireplace
2) Morning Coffee: especially when I wake up before everyone else and watch the sunrise while drinking it fresh brewed with a bit of milk
3) The completion of my little 'cookbook': it's small but sweet and I created it from start to finish on my own and feel grateful that I did it
4) Sophia: last night she told me I am the best 'mommy in the whole wide world'
5) Smells from Baking: the whole house smells delicious from baking cake balls and chocolate chip cookies
Sometimes it really is the little things that can make the most difference.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Game Night, Lemon Cake, Football Dinner & Deprived Husbands!
On Wednesday, I decided to bake a lemon cake for my family. It had been quite awhile since I let them taste something I'd made because often it's going out the door for a party or filling an order. We also played the game 'Apples to Apples' which everybody loves. Sophia played on my team and had a blast just hanging out with her older siblings.
Just recently I have been very aware of how in just a few short years Nathan and Bella will most likely move out and Sophia will not have them around as much. I try to get them all together as often as I can just to do something fun. I made a fire in the kitchen fireplace because it was a cold night.
On Thursday, we all went to a Football Dinner at the school for Nathan. It's a tradition where the Varsity players serve the parents and the rest of the freshman and JV players.
Tommy commented to one of the other dad's about how when his wife bakes he doesn't get to taste much of it since I am either filling an order or giving it away. He pointed out that the chances of the other dad getting more of my baking than he would is pretty strong since I usually bake for people around the holidays. They joked about how he would invite my husband over when I passed out my holiday baking gifts.
Since his birthday is right around the corner, I'll make a point of baking him a special cake so that he won't feel so deprived!
Baking is funny that way though. As much as I enjoy it- it takes a lot of time and effort to get just the right amount I need so that I tend to be a bit protective of what is cooling on the cooling racks.
Just recently I have been very aware of how in just a few short years Nathan and Bella will most likely move out and Sophia will not have them around as much. I try to get them all together as often as I can just to do something fun. I made a fire in the kitchen fireplace because it was a cold night.
On Thursday, we all went to a Football Dinner at the school for Nathan. It's a tradition where the Varsity players serve the parents and the rest of the freshman and JV players.
Tommy commented to one of the other dad's about how when his wife bakes he doesn't get to taste much of it since I am either filling an order or giving it away. He pointed out that the chances of the other dad getting more of my baking than he would is pretty strong since I usually bake for people around the holidays. They joked about how he would invite my husband over when I passed out my holiday baking gifts.
Since his birthday is right around the corner, I'll make a point of baking him a special cake so that he won't feel so deprived!
Baking is funny that way though. As much as I enjoy it- it takes a lot of time and effort to get just the right amount I need so that I tend to be a bit protective of what is cooling on the cooling racks.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The Holidays!
The kids are home today. Nathan has two friends here and Sophia has the girl from next door over. They are busy!
The boys have been throwing the football around, playing video games and drinking soda- lots of soda. The girls are upstairs trying on dress-up clothes, flipping through books and playing pretend. I have to admit it is really nice having everyone around today.
I've been brainstorming party plans for the upcoming holiday season. It always arrives sooner than I feel ready.
This year I am throwing caution to the wind and hosting a Holiday Open House. I think by this weekend I should (seriously) get a head start on my holiday baking.
For the party I know I will want cake balls and Christmas cookies to serve to guests. Luckily those are two items that freeze well.
I am not quite sure what we will be doing for the Thanksgiving Holiday this year-although I know we will continue with one important tradition. I am sure I probably wrote about it last year on this same blog.
We put together either a whole bunch of turkey sandwich lunches or buy a slew of gift cards and pass them out to people in need. It's been a great way to instill in the kids the importance of reaching out to help others.
The boys have been throwing the football around, playing video games and drinking soda- lots of soda. The girls are upstairs trying on dress-up clothes, flipping through books and playing pretend. I have to admit it is really nice having everyone around today.
I've been brainstorming party plans for the upcoming holiday season. It always arrives sooner than I feel ready.
This year I am throwing caution to the wind and hosting a Holiday Open House. I think by this weekend I should (seriously) get a head start on my holiday baking.
For the party I know I will want cake balls and Christmas cookies to serve to guests. Luckily those are two items that freeze well.
I am not quite sure what we will be doing for the Thanksgiving Holiday this year-although I know we will continue with one important tradition. I am sure I probably wrote about it last year on this same blog.
We put together either a whole bunch of turkey sandwich lunches or buy a slew of gift cards and pass them out to people in need. It's been a great way to instill in the kids the importance of reaching out to help others.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Quick Idea for Leftover Halloween Candy!
We've decided to invite some friends over tomorrow to watch Football. Although, it has been a touch and go kind of week with all the 'bugs' going around. We'll see.
Later today, I am going to get a batch of chili started and have meatballs and sub rolls on hand. I found a delicious recipe for a new salad that I'm going to try with lettuce, pepperoni and white beans. If plans do get cancelled due to sickness-at least I will have a head start on dinners for the week!
It's going to be one of those Incredible Cape Cod kind of days I live for-sunny and a slight chill in the air.
It's funny how much our kids change as they grow. I told my youngest I wanted her help on Saturday to start raking all the leaves in the yard. Her immediate reply with a huge smile: "YEAH! I can't wait!"
I mentioned to my oldest that I was hoping for a little help in the yard and he said, "AAH! MOM-- Not on Saturday!"
Hopefully, I can convince him to help for a bit before he's off with a friend: either riding his bike or playing football, off looking for adventure!
Here is my quick idea for what to do with leftover candy. I make chocolate cupcakes. I fill the cups half way with cake batter then drop in a piece of Halloween candy in the center. I am using nestle crunch but Snickers, peanut butter cups and Hershey bars work just as well too. I fill the cups all the way then bake, cool and frost!
You'll have to try it for your self to see how good they are!
Later today, I am going to get a batch of chili started and have meatballs and sub rolls on hand. I found a delicious recipe for a new salad that I'm going to try with lettuce, pepperoni and white beans. If plans do get cancelled due to sickness-at least I will have a head start on dinners for the week!
It's going to be one of those Incredible Cape Cod kind of days I live for-sunny and a slight chill in the air.
It's funny how much our kids change as they grow. I told my youngest I wanted her help on Saturday to start raking all the leaves in the yard. Her immediate reply with a huge smile: "YEAH! I can't wait!"
I mentioned to my oldest that I was hoping for a little help in the yard and he said, "AAH! MOM-- Not on Saturday!"
Hopefully, I can convince him to help for a bit before he's off with a friend: either riding his bike or playing football, off looking for adventure!
Here is my quick idea for what to do with leftover candy. I make chocolate cupcakes. I fill the cups half way with cake batter then drop in a piece of Halloween candy in the center. I am using nestle crunch but Snickers, peanut butter cups and Hershey bars work just as well too. I fill the cups all the way then bake, cool and frost!
You'll have to try it for your self to see how good they are!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Flapper Girls, Mermaids, Gangsters & Pumpkin Cakes!
It has always been the little things that make me the most happy. Cases in Point:
My Flapper Girl costume turned out cute! Although if truth be told I had a hard time with all my props. I found one of those long black cigarette holders and fake cigarettes that looked as if it were lit when I puffed on it. I kept losing and dropping my props throughout the night!
The next day I was out walking in the neighborhood with a girlfriend and we found my fake cigarette on the ground. I'd lost it the night before on the way back home. I also had long white pearls, two inch heels, a feather in my hair, a black rose choker around my neck and long black gloves. Tommy made a pretty good gangster too. He had a fake gun, a white silk tie, a rose corsage tucked in his pocket and a cigar. He didn't have as much trouble with all his props as I did.
At the party, we saw my middle daughter's Science Teacher who made a great 'Mad Scientist'. She had a lab flask from which she drank her party drink.
On Saturday, Sophia woke up not feeling well. She woke with a cold and slept most of the day. Although, she rallied right up like a true party girl when it was time for trick or treating. I loved her Mermaid costume. I never did find a red wig so I bought a long blond one and dyed it red myself.
The only baking I was able to squeeze in last week were the two bundt cakes that I frosted orange. I grabbed sugar ice cream cones and frosted them green. I stuck them in the middle of the cakes so they'd look like pumpkins and brought them with me to the Halloween Party!
I did receive a cookbook order through Amazon last week though-I felt like a real professional downloading the label and shipping it to the customer right from home in my pajamas while drinking coffee!
My Flapper Girl costume turned out cute! Although if truth be told I had a hard time with all my props. I found one of those long black cigarette holders and fake cigarettes that looked as if it were lit when I puffed on it. I kept losing and dropping my props throughout the night!
The next day I was out walking in the neighborhood with a girlfriend and we found my fake cigarette on the ground. I'd lost it the night before on the way back home. I also had long white pearls, two inch heels, a feather in my hair, a black rose choker around my neck and long black gloves. Tommy made a pretty good gangster too. He had a fake gun, a white silk tie, a rose corsage tucked in his pocket and a cigar. He didn't have as much trouble with all his props as I did.
At the party, we saw my middle daughter's Science Teacher who made a great 'Mad Scientist'. She had a lab flask from which she drank her party drink.
On Saturday, Sophia woke up not feeling well. She woke with a cold and slept most of the day. Although, she rallied right up like a true party girl when it was time for trick or treating. I loved her Mermaid costume. I never did find a red wig so I bought a long blond one and dyed it red myself.
The only baking I was able to squeeze in last week were the two bundt cakes that I frosted orange. I grabbed sugar ice cream cones and frosted them green. I stuck them in the middle of the cakes so they'd look like pumpkins and brought them with me to the Halloween Party!
I did receive a cookbook order through Amazon last week though-I felt like a real professional downloading the label and shipping it to the customer right from home in my pajamas while drinking coffee!
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