enjoy!

enjoy!

Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Years Eve Day and 3 family favorite Dips.

Happy New Years Eve Day!
Its raining in Bourbonnais so happy its not snow!




 We  had enough for a while. Its actually going to be in the upper 50s.
Yesterday started the big thaw, Today the Snow is finally gone just a couple of big mounds left from the snow plows. you can actually see the grass of course its saturated and today as soon as its light enough I will be out their after a month of not being able to get out their you know what I will be doing I have two Dogs need I say more.

 Sally
 They are the best of friends.
Abbie loves her blankey!

Its New Years Eve Day our last day for 2010 now to get used to writing 2011. I sure hope its a healthier year than last year for a lot of our family members who didn't have a healthy year. here is wishing them all good health in 2011 that goes for YOU and ME as well.
 

We had a great day yesterday and it was fun
Aletha, Dennis, Cindy, Brittney, Julie, Steve were here to visit us.
 A great visit.
Thank you guys for coming by..


 We wanted to end the year right and we did with some of our favorite people.



 SHRIMP DIP  


1 can tiny shrimp
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 8oz cream cheese softened 
1/3 cup shrimp cocktail sauce

 2 Talbspoons white onion finely chopped 

Combine all ingredients fold in drained shrimp. 
 refrigerate for 2 hours.

Serve with crackers,
 
 
Our Favorite Nachos


I large bag of white corn chips
1 LB cheddar cheese
1 LB pepper jack cheese
grate cheese together
 
Cover cookie sheet with foil 
spread nacho chips on to cookie sheet sprinkle combined cheeses on top
bake in 350 oven  5  minutes until melted. watching closely for desired doneness.
Or place in BBQ Grill until cheese is melted
 another way we do it is
put chips on paper plate and sprinkle cheese on and microwave for 1 minute or less keeping an eye for desired doneness.
One of our family favorite party snacks.


The birds were over joyed. with the thaw.
Of course the worse is hanging in the wings
All of us from the Mid West know January and February are our worse months of the year.



One final decoration to come down probably some time this week.



Another family favorite 

Pinapple Cream Cheese Dip


1 8oz cream cheese softened
1 small can crushed pineapple drained
1 Talbspoon green pepper minced
1 Talbspoon white onion finelly minced
Mix well form into ball
roll into finelly chopped pistachio nuts Walnuts or pecans. 
serve with crackers. 


Diane Louise
and Family
Thanks For Looking

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Christmas Clean Up..Brittney' s Chocolate Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies

Three Days after Christmas!
Also
Sharing a recipe our grand daughter Brittney made and
brought for Christmas.



We have been working every day since the day after Christmas with Steve helping me bring in the out side decorations. Knocking down the snow and clearing the back deck the best he could we are having a ice and snow nightmare this December.


I know it looks pretty trashy we never had a problem as bad as this year
 with the ice.
The containers are catching the melting snow that turns to ice when it freezes in the evening.
So we can walk out the side door to let the dogs out. And feed our feathered furry  friends..


I  take advantage of him being here to help bring it in so it can dry out befor it gets packed away.. What a job  it all got packed yesterday and also all the little Christmas thingies hanging  and sitting here and their inside the house..


Oh sure its pretty looking out the window but pretty comes with consequences some times.







Doesnt that look YUMMY!!
Or maby your tired of Christmas Cookies, Not me I never get tired of them.
Brown and White Sugar Cut Outs
Easy OREO Truffles
Chocolate Peppermint Pin wheels Cookies 
Carrot Cake, Cream Cheese Frosting
Surprise Cup Cakes
Home made Caramels!!
Just to name a few.. 


Chocolate Peppermint Pin wheel Cookies


Cook Time:13 min
3 Dozen Cookies

Ingredients

1 batch Sugar Cookies, recipe follows

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

1/2 cup crushed candy canes or peppermint candies

Directions

Divide the dough in half and add chocolate and vanilla to 1 half and incorporate with hands. Add egg yolk, peppermint extract, and crushed candy to other half of dough and incorporate with hands. Cover both with plastic and chill for approximately 5 minutes. Roll out doughs separately to approximately 1/4-inch thickness. Place peppermint dough on top of chocolate and press together around the edges. Using waxed paper or flexible cutting board underneath, roll dough into log. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Remove dough from the refrigerator and cut into 1/2-inch slices. Place cookies 1-inch apart on greased baking sheet, parchment, or silicone baking mat and bake for 12 to 13 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through cooking time. Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.


Sugar Cookie:

3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 tablespoon milk

Powdered sugar, for rolling out dough

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color. Add egg and milk and beat to combine. Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of the bowl. Divide the dough in half, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Sprinkle surface where you will roll out dough with powdered sugar. Remove 1 wrapped pack of dough from refrigerator at a time, sprinkle rolling pin with powdered sugar, and roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick. Move the dough around and check underneath frequently to make sure it is not sticking. If dough has warmed during rolling, place cold cookie sheet on top for 10 minutes to chill. Cut into desired shape, place at least 1-inch apart on greased baking sheet, parchment, or silicone baking mat, and bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn brown around the edges, rotating cookie sheet halfway through baking time. Let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes after removal from oven and then move to complete cooling on wire rack. Serve as is or ice, as desired. Store in airtight container for up to 1 week.

Yield: approximately 3 dozen, 2 1/2-inch cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 7 to 9 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 2 hours




Hugs
Diane Louise

Sunday, December 26, 2010

WAS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS




When all through the house

Every creature was hurting -- even the mouse.



The toys were all broken, their batteries dead;

Santa was passed out, asleep in his bed.



Wrapping and ribbons just covered the floor,

While at the other end of the house the family continued to snore.



And I in my Purple Jammies,  Robe  Socks and Old Slippers,

 Went into the kitchen and

started to clean.



When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter.



Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the curtains, and threw up the sash.



When what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a little white truck, with an oversized mirror.



The driver was smiling, so lively and grand;

The patch on his jacket said "U.S. POSTMAN."



With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox

Then quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox.



Bill after bill, after bill, they still came.

Whistling and shouting he called them by name:



"Now  Penny's and Sears

Here's  Target's and Carsons and Wall Mart their all here!!



To the tip or your limit, every store, every mall,

Now chargeaway-chargeaway-chargeaway all!"



He whooped and he whistled as he finished his work.

He filled up the box, and then turned with a jerk.



He sprang to his truck and he drove down the road,

Driving much faster with just half a load.



Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,



"ENJOY WHAT YOU GOT... YOU'LL BE PAYING ALL YEAR!"

Have A Beautiful Day!!







Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas 2010



Sharing some photos take Christmas Morning.


Sally


Abbie