I Wear Many hats

Snow

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:16:00 +0000

Here's my back porch. I worked from home for the first time, the day sure does fly by! And it is very productive without the phone calls and interruptions. However, I am more organized at work, I have all my files and 'stuff' right at my fingertips.

Made a Fresh Homemade Chicken pot pie last night, it turned out pretty good. Tasted great!!

Brownie Monsters live at my house

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:05:00 +0000

Toffee-Coffee Brownies

1 19.8-21 oz. package brownie mix
1/4 c. toffee pieces (no chocolate coating)
2-3 Tablespoons instant espresso powder or instant coffee crystals
3/4 c. canned vanilla frosting
1 Tablespoon Irish cream liqueur or coffee liqueur
1/4 c toffee pieces (No chocolate coating)

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9x9x2 pan with foil, extending over the sides of the pan. Grease foil, set aside. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions. stir in the 1/2 c. toffee pieces and the espresso powder or coffee crystals. Spread batter in prepared pan.

2. Bake for 35 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Use the foil to life the brownies from the pan. In a small bowl stir together vanilla frosting and liqueur. Spread frosting mixture over cooled brownies. Sprinkle with the 1/4. cup toffee pieces. Cut into squares. To store: Place bars in a single layer in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

I really don't like canned or boxed things, I prefer to make things from scratch just like my mother did. I don't think there's a lot of convenience there because it isn't all that difficult to do....that said, I don't have premaid frosting in the house...so I made this to top the brownies in the photo:

Coffee frosting:

3 c. powdered sugar
1/4. c. butter (I suppose you could use margarine, but I don't have it in my house)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons boiling water
2 tablespoons coffee liqueur or 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder

Mix all in a bowl with electric mixer, spread on cooled brownines.

New Baked Egg recipe was good

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:19:00 +0000

Steve got me new Fiesta Ware coffee cups for Christmas. I didn't know what to do with the little cups that came with the 5 piece place settings.....I had a recipe that called for Ramekins. I didn't have any ramekins, so I made do.

Baked Eggs
(serves 2)
4 whole eggs
1 small clove garlic, minced
1 T. fresh parsley, minced
4 T. sour cream or creme fraiche
salt and pepper
Equipment: 2 buttered ramekins, a shallow pan to bake in

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Butter the ramekins and put about half the garlic in the bottom of each, along with a tablespoon of sour cream and half the parsley. Crack 2 eggs into each ramekin, season with salt and pepper. Top with remaining garlic, sour cream and parsley, and place in the baking pan. Fill the pan with warm water until it comes about halfway up the sides of the ramekin and place in the middle rack of the oven. Bake until set, about 20 minutes. Serve with toast.

Snowed in for 2 1/2 days: PHOTOS

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:03:00 +0000

Isn't it lovely? There's plenty here if you want to borrow a little. I won't be sad.

Isaac is 6'2" the snow is way taller than him after piling it up. This all came from between the house and the garage.

This drift was as high as our kitchen window. OUCH!!!

View out the kitchen window of our house.

Snowed in day 2 1/2

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:21:00 +0000

Ok, I've taken CLR to anything that has a water lime build up, now I'm cleaning the junk drawer. Lord help me, how does all this stuff get in this one little spot? I have like 10 9V batteries and 15 or more AAA's. Only 6 AA's. No C's or D's (can tell there are no little kids here opening gifts or needing batteries to make it run).

I'm bored. Taking some chili and a sleeve of crackers to the housekeeper to see how she fared in this weather. She's off today, I bet she is sad she can't do anything on her one weekend off.

Merry Christmas!!!

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 17:36:00 +0000

I think we've hit a new record. Generally the kids were up opening gifts early in the morning, today it was 10am before we started, we had the traditional Overnight Raisin Oatmeal Pancakes, a cup of coffee, then opened our gifts. It's never been 10....it's been 10 before 6am, 10 after 5 am, even 10 after 4 am one year, but never 10am, the kids would have exploded if they would have had to wait that long!!!

It's nice to be all snug in the house with the snow neck deep in the yard. Nobody has to go to work, we don't HAVE to be anywhere. We're just going to watch old movies, visit and enjoy our company!!!

View out our back door:

Pending, Isaac's computer is hooked up, I don't have a place to stick the SD card...sigh.

Frank McCourt and Julia Childs????

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:02:00 +0000

I'm listening to Frank McCourt's book "Teacher Man" on CD in my car. It's all I can do to keep from bringing it in the house to listen to when I get home from work! What a great story, and it was read by the author himself. I just don't know if it would have been as good if he hadn't read it.......

Julie and Julia on DVD. We watched it tonight for the first time, Julia Childs was a hoot, and Julie Powell is going to get some research done on her.

I've got to know more about Julia Childs, the way Meryl Streep portrayed her in the movie was fascinating! What a lighthearted and happy sould Julia must have been.....she and her hubby were so in love.

I was so tickled about the visit from her sister. It reminds me how I feel when I see Karen Jean or my friend in Colorado, (Karen's namesake) The overall sense of joy, love and contentment to just lay your eyes on them, spend time with them and love on them.

I love both of you Karen's with all my heart....I love you more'n my luggage....name that movie!!!!

Merry Christmas to you all!!!

Happy Holidays

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:15:00 +0000

This year I feel the stress of the holidays. I am generally done with my shopping in Oct. or early Nov. The cookies are mixed and ready to bake, candy is prepared or planned out, and I am ready.

This year I didn't get Steve's list until 2 weeks ago, so had all that shopping to do, it isn't wrapped yet, no cookies mixed or baked. No candies made.

I want to know how you get an invite to a blog that is locked down to people that only are invited??? I had one blog I was following, but after a rough patch it was closed. I think that a new blog was created. I want to reconnect but don't know how.

Maybe I'll get an invite?? I hope so, I love to see the family and hear the antics. SIGH.

Son is home for the holiday

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:17:00 +0000

You don't realize how important it is to have your kids near you during the holidays until they aren't here anymore. Our son arrived on Frontier Airlines this evening. It's good to hear him in the house. I love having him home.

He's a lot easier than his sister. He only wants Chili, Ham and Beans and maybe spaghetti. I think we can manage all 3!!!!!!! What a hoot!

Glitter Ornaments

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:52:00 +0000

Karen sent me a video to watch today. These look so easy and would make great gifts.

Recipe Friday Dec. 11, 2009 Peek-A-Berry Boos

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:55:00 +0000

I love this recipe, I found it many years ago in a magazine. It's been a favorite on my cookie trays every since. Hope to get a photo when making them for our first annual cookie exchange at work. I can't wait for this, we've been wanting to do it for a couple of years. This year it finally came to fruition.

Peek-A-Berry Boos

* 1 cup Packed Brown Sugar
* ¾ cups Sugar
* 1 cup Butter Or Margarine
* ½ cups Water
* 1 teaspoon Almond Extract
* 2 whole Eggs (large)
* 3 cups Flour
* 2 cups Quick Cooking Oatmeal
* 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
* ½ teaspoons Salt
* ½ teaspoons Cinnamon
* ⅔ cups Raspberry Preserves

Heat oven to 400 F.

2. In a large bowl, beat brown sugar, sugar and butter or margarine until light and fluffy.

3. Add water, almond extract and eggs; mix well. (Mixture looks curdled at this point, but that’s the way it should look.)

4. Stir in flour, oats, soda, salt and cinnamon; mix well.

5. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets approximately 2″ apart.

6. With back of spoon, make intentation in center of cookie. Fill in with approximately 1/2 teaspoon preserves. Drop scant teaspoonful cookie dough over preserves.

7. Bake 6-9 minutes or until light brown.

Yields 4 1/2-5 dozen.

First Annual Cookie Exchange

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:46:00 +0000

Snow days always sound funner than they actually are! I have all my stuff ready for the cookie exchange at work tomorrow.

I am all ready for the cookie exchange for work. I've packaged the cookies in little boxes. We're making 6 cookies for each participant, with a dozen brought to taste.

Snow snow everywhere SNOW!!!

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:55:00 +0000

AND I HAVE PROOF!!!!!!!!

Satellite TV didn't work

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:51:00 +0000

When I got home from work last night the satellite TV wasn't working. We watched 'Walk the Line' on DVD. That is a great love story between Johnny Cash and June Carter.

I could watch it over and over. My other favorites are Shawshank Redemption and Tombstone. Hook, Pretty Woman and Top Gun rank up there amongst my favorites. I really am not a movie person....I can't sit for hours and watch movies, I'm generally doing hobbies or working around the house.

It was good to spend a couple hours watching this favorite. Once it was over the satellite worked. Strange, but OK by me.

Today I'm going to change out my phone, hopefully get the Droid by Verizon...........my phone has been ready for an upgrade for about 6 months, but I wanted to see what the new phone would do, read reviews and see if there were any good deals. Since there are, I'm going to jump on it!!!

Thanksgiving was fun

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 04:38:00 +0000

Isaac never ceases to entertain the babies while we are there, they have such a good time with him.

Nutty Bacon Cheeseball Recipe Friday December 4, 2009

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:23:00 +0000

Nutty Bacon Cheeseball

1 pkg. 8oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 c milk

2 c. (8 oz.) shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese

2 c. shredded monterey jack cheese

1/4 c. (1oz) blue cheese

1/4 c. finely minced green onions (white parts only)

1 jar (2 oz) diced pimiento

10 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

3/4 c. chopped pecans

salt and pepper

1/4 c. minced parsley

1 T. poppy seed

Place cream cheese in mixer bowl. Attach bowl and flat beater to mixer. Turn to speed 2 and mix 1 minute. Scrape bowl. Speed 2, gradually add milk, mixing until well blended, about 1 minute. Scrape bowl. Add cheeses, onions, pimientos, half of bacon and half of pecans. Turn to speed 4 and beat until well blended, about 1 minute. Season with salt & pepper.

Transfer half of mixture to lg. piece of plastic wrap. Form into ball: wrap tightly. Repeat with remaining mixture. Refrigerate at least 2 hrs until well chilled.

Combine remaining bacon, pecans, parsley & poppy seeds in pie plate or lg. dinner plate. Remove plastic wrap from each cheese ball: roll in bacon mixture until well coated. Wrap in clean plastic wrap & refrigerate until ready to use, up to 24 hrs.

Yield: 24 servings.

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:11:00 +0000

I have so many holiday traditions, but will have to stick with the cranberry muffins. They are the one thing the family wants each year. We've had them for over 30 years each Thanksgiving and Christmas. The kids love them, and so do the adults. The second recipe is the Christmas pancakes. We have them every Christmas morning for breakfast before opening gifts. A tradition we adopted once I discovered the pancake recipe in a magazine.

Cranberry Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons orange zest
1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups chopped cranberries
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

Cranberry Spread:

1 (8 ounce) can whole cranberry sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup margarine

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray or grease a 12 cup and 6 cup muffin tin. (I use the large muffin pans and double the recipe.)

Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, orange peel, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger. (I mix this all together in a zip lock bag a week before the holiday to let the spices flavor the flour. I leave out the orange peel as it can mold inside the bag.)

Cut in shortening; stir in juice, vanilla, eggs, cranberries and nuts. Pour into muffin cups and bake for 25 minutes or until brown.

Prepare the topping in a saucepan over low heat by whisking together the cranberry sauce, brown sugar and margarine. Cook until heated and smooth. Remove from heat and serve as a spread for the muffins.

Christmas Pancakes

Ingredients

2 cups quick-cooking oats
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup raisins

Directions

In a medium bowl, mix together the oats and buttermilk. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.
The next morning: In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the oatmeal mixture, eggs, butter, and raisins. Stir until just moistened. Allow batter to sit 20 minutes before cooking. If batter is too thick, add buttermilk 1 tablespoon at a time, until the batter reaches the desired consistency.
Heat a lightly greased, large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Pour 1/4 cup batter onto the hot griddle for each cake. Cook pancakes until bubbles appear on top, flip, and cook until lightly browned on bottom.

Recipe Friday Nov. 27th Pumpkin Oatmeal Raisin cookies

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:03:00 +0000

Got this recipe from TastyKitchen. They're really good, a soft cookie if you like that kind. Steve would rather eat chocolate chip all the time, but I am not a chocolate fan.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Ingredients:
2 c. flour
1 1/3 c. quick cooking oatmeal
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. butter or margarine softened
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. sugar
1 c. canned pumpkin
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c. chopped walnuts or pecans
3/4 c. raisins

Preparation instructions:

Measure dry ingredients together, combine well. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease baking sheets, (I used parchment).
In a large mixing bowl combine butter or margarine, brown and white sugars together, beat until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla, mix well.
Add flour mixture, mix well. Stir in nuts and raisins. Drop by rounded teaspoonsful onto prepared baking sheets. Bake 14-16 min. or until cookies are lightly browned and set in the center. cool on large bakins sheets 2 minutes, remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes about 4 dozen 120 calories per cookie.

Breast Cancer Pink Glove video

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:35:00 +0000

Once this video gets 1 Million hits there will be a large contribution to the hospital where it was filmed. Pretty fun.

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:05:00 +0000

Hello all, have a safe and happy holiday. Our son is now in his room enjoying solitude, a luxury he is denied while at school. He's watching his favorite shows and I just made him go shave his face. He doesn't run out of razors too much while gone. I think he has a nice face and I want to see it.

It's good to be home, I'll sleep so much better in my own bed tonight. Pies are almost done baking, tomorrow I'll do the muffins, then we'll go to Steve's brother's house to have Thanksgiving with them. They're excited to see Isaac, he's not been around much this summer. We haven't seen him since July, hard to believe it's been that long.

Pumpkin pie, Holiday and Thanks

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:07:00 +0000

I'll be off to get Sonny tomorrow.

I've baked Mike's pumpkin pie, I'll deliver it to him at work tomorrow along with a cool whip for topping. He enjoys getting one to share with the neighbors on Thanksgiving. I have made him a pie every year since we started working together (2001??) . He's always speechless and not very gracious. I mean that with all the sincerity in the world, you have to KNOW Mike to appreciate that remark. He's my most favorite person in the world to poke and pick at..........he takes it all in good stride. I've adopted him to be my brother. SHHH!! Don't tell him, we want him around to enjoy the holidays.

Here's my masterpiece, they always look best when it is a pie you aren't taking for your own family to allow them to see your pie making skills. (or so it seems)

While on our trip to Arkansas with my dear in laws Steve got me a Pandora bracelet. I just LOVE it, I've gotten birthstones for all the family members, Eeyore, a giraffe, my favorite animal on the ark, a snake because my grand kids love to chase them in the yard. A 'mother' charm because I think that defines your greatest accomplishment in this world, esp. if the children turn out good!!!! An owl for my baby girl who is such a 'hoot', a to go coffee mug because I am a fan of mochas, lattes and cappuccinos.

It has ballet slippers for my little 'performer' Miss O. It's a ton of fun getting charms for it, I've worn it almost daily since I got it. Thanks STEVE!!!!

I wish I could have gotten a better photo of Eeyore, he has a gold bow on his rear end, it cracks me UP!!!! I collect hearts so I have a gold heart on there, and a pumpkin, we were in Arkansas in Oct. so that one is to remind me the time we spent with Jim and Joyce, they are so special to us all the time. So happy we could spend a week with them on that bus trip.

Thursday we'll give a special "What/Who I am thankful for" prayer to Kim, Kevin, Pattye, Pete R, Sharon, Barry, Chadd, Linda, Betty, Scott, Mark, Marc, Paul and Lianne.

I am so thankful for healthy grand kids, sisters Michelle and Wendy, Riles, the 3 Study kids, and most of all my good friends, they're the strongest of all because they put up with me for 3 days in Tucson every year many years in a row, Feb. 2010 will soon be included. Matt, Aimee and Sandy, I'm sorry......naw, not really!!! Let's don't forget RHONDA who endured all of our antics...she was the sturdiest of all because she was expecting her last little boy during that trip, we didn't make her sick ONCE!!!

Oh and my newest most delightful friend RUTH. I love her open honest personality. What I love most is she plays no games, shoots from the hip and leaves no question where you stand. Without all that you can get down to the business of enjoying each others company and becoming good fast friends. I adore her already and we've only known each other a short time.

Lastly my hubby and those 2 children I am most proud of, thanks for putting up with your crazy wife and your lunatic MOM.

If you're wondering why all this 'mush' is coming early, I'll be traveling most of tomorrow and Wed. When I get home I'll spend the rest of Wed. baking, Friday I'll be traveling again, I won't have time to post!!!

Thanksgiving recipes Nov. 23, 2009

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:08:00 +0000

Cranberry Delight Spread

1 8oz. package cream cheese
2 Tablespoons concentrated orange juice
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tablespoon sugar
zest of 1 orange
1/4 c. finely chopped pecans, optional
1/4 c. finely chopped dried cranberries

Town House Crackers

1. In bowl of electric mixer, combine cream cheese, orange juice, cinnamon and sugar on medium speed until smooth.
2. Fold in orange zest, pecans and cranberries. Refrigerate. Garnish with cranberries or zest of orange. Serve with Town House Crackers. Makes 1.5 c. spread

Thanksgiving recipes

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:29:00 +0000

Some things just bear repeating. I'll repost the cranberry muffin recipe, it's one of our best.

This has been a family favorite for 30 years, this recipe was found in a magazine when I first married. It's been a family tradition for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I generally place all the dry ingredients into a zip lock bag a week before the holiday, this allows all the seasonings to meld into the flour, giving the muffins a much better flavor. I also grind the cranberries, zest the orange, and then put them into a freezer container with the vanilla and orange juice. We like them fresh baked, so I grab it all, assemble and bake on Thanksgiving or Christmas day.....all I have to do is cut the shortening into the flour. It's so great to have all the work done ahead of time.

Cranberry Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons orange zest
1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups chopped cranberries
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

Cranberry Spread:

1 (8 ounce) can whole cranberry sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup margarine

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray or grease a 12 cup and 6 cup muffin tin. (I use the large muffin pans and double the recipe.)

Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, orange peel, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger. (I mix this all together in a zip lock bag a week before the holiday to let the spices flavor the flour. I leave out the orange peel as it can mold inside the bag.)

Cut in shortening; stir in juice, vanilla, eggs, cranberries and nuts. Pour into muffin cups and bake for 25 minutes or until brown.

Prepare the topping in a saucepan over low heat by whisking together the cranberry sauce, brown sugar and margarine. Cook until heated and smooth. Remove from heat and serve as a spread for the muffins.

Recipe Friday Nov. 20th Sweet Potato Casserole

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:33:00 +0000

This is a traditional casserole we cook every holiday, we don't do sweet potatoes with marshmallows on them since finding this recipe. It's the bomb.

Sweet Potato Casserole

3 cups mashed cooked sweet potatoes
1/2 c. white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 c. melted butter
1/2 c. cold milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. packed brown sugar
1/3 c. all purpose flour
1 Tablespoon butter
1 c. chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray one 2 1/2 qt. casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, 1/4 c. butter, milk and vanilla. Pour into prepared dish.
Mix together the brown sugar, flour, butter and pecans, sprinkle over casserole.
Bake at 350F for 25-30 min.

Got the crud

ccnoahsark@hotmail.com (Cindy) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:15:00 +0000

I spent the whole day in bed today, I was up for about an hour to drink some hot tea and take some ibuprofen. I ache, my throat feels swollen, I can hardly swallow, and I have a ton of drainage. I just don't have time to be sick!!!

I'll be at work tomorrow at 0600..........the refrigerator there needs a good cleaning. Then I'll catch up on my work from today.........and then go see New Moon after work.

I am looking forward to that, I rarely go to the movies, but this one I can't miss.