Christmas Recipes

I know Christmas is past, but here are a few more dessert recipes that are good year round.

Grandma's York Mint Brownies

3 sticks butter, melted

3 C sugar

5 eggs

1 C cocoa

1 t salt

1 T vanilla

2 C flour

1 t baking powder

24 (1 1/2") York Peppermint Patties

Heat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13" baking dish. In a large bowl, stir together butter, sugar, and vanilla. Add eggs, stir until blended. Stir in flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Blend well. Reserve 2 C batter; spread remaining batter in pan. Arrange patties in single layer over batter, about 1/2" apart. Spread reserved batter over patties. Bake 50-55 minutes. Cool completely in pan. Cut into squares.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

1/4 C sugar

1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C peanut butter
1/2 C Butter, softened
1 egg

1 1/2 C Flour

3/4 t baking soda

1/2 t baking powder

Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped

Heat oven to 375. In large bowl, beat sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, and egg on medium speed. Stir in flour, soda, and baking powder. Shape dough into 1” balls; roll in additional granulated sugar. Place 2” apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are light brown. Immediately press 1 candy in center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

Red Velvet Cake

1 1/2 C sugar

1 C Crisco

2 eggs

1 oz. red food coloring

3 1/2 T cocoa

1 t vanilla

pinch of salt

1 t baking soda

1 T vinegar

2 1/2 C sifted cake flour

1 C buttermilk

Cream together sugar and Crisco. Add 2 eggs. Make a paste of food coloring, cocoa, vanilla, and salt. Add to first 3 ingredients. Add baking soda dissolved in vinegar. Add flour. Lastly, add buttermilk. Pour into 2 round cake pans. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or 12 minutes for cupcakes. Do not overbake.

Make a paste of 2T flour and 1 C milk. Cook until thick; cool completely. Add 2 sticks softened butter, 1 C powdered sugar, and 1t vanilla. Beat at high speed until light and fluffy. (If icing looks curdled, it may be too cold. Microwave for 5 seconds. If it looks runny, it may be too warm. Set bowl in a sink of ice water for a few minutes.)
Buttercream Frosting

Christmas Thereafter, The Plusses and Minuses

(Originally written Monday, not posted until today due to laziness.)

We survived. The days after Christmas are always a little sad for me. It's actually over. It takes months to prepare and it's over in just a few hours. But then, I smile and think to myself It's finally over! So here is my Plus and Minus list for today.

Christmas: The Days After

+ I don't have to wrap any more presents for a long time!

- Now that the magic of Christmas is past, we are just at the beginning of the very long season of winter.

+ We still have plenty of Christmas baked goods. I made Peanut Butter Blossoms, Chocolate Crinkles, Chocolate Covered Pretzels, and Red Velvet Cupcakes. I was also able to bring home some of Grandma's Peppermint Brownies and my Aunt's Sugar Cookies. Recipes, anyone?

- I put on a little weight while I was down with my bum ankle. These delicious home-baked sweets are not going to help that situation at all!

+ Hubby was extra thoughtful this year. I am now the owner of an iPod Nano (my first iPod), a huge, adorable, red speckled stock pot, a Nikon Cool Pix camera, a lamp, and 2 pairs of pajamas that are too small.

- I figured out why Target's pajamas cost $15 and Victoria's Secret's cost $50. I requested that Hubby abstain from his annual VS purchase because they are so darn expensive. But the set he bought from Target would fit a 10-year old girl and look like they will last maybe a dozen washes. I have VS jammies that are easily six years old. Next year, I may just allow him to splurge.

+ My kids received so many neat toys that should hold their attention throughout this long, cold winter.

- My kids received so many toys that will clutter the house, break prematurely, make loud noises, and cause fighting.

+ I am thrilled to have all the boxes and bags put away and all the trash removed from the house. My house is finally to the "livable" point.

- This huge Christmas tree in the middle of my living room window is getting on my nerves.

+ My house will look so open and clean when I get all the Christmas clutter down.

- My house will look so bare and empty when I get all the Christmas decorations down.

+ The kids are still off school.

- The kids are still off school.

+ Our Christmas schedule changed this year, allowing us more time for opening and enjoying gifts and relaxing while enjoying each other's company. I cherish the memories of sitting down with my four children on Christmas morning, reading the Christmas story from Luke 2.

- Hubby is sick and went to bed at 6:00 PM tonight.

+ I know I'm due to be sick.

+/- I have about 360 days before we have to do this all again.

Yesterday

Typing that title automatically sent me singing the Beatles tune by the same name. Trying to find time to blog this time of year is so difficult. Yesterday was a day packed full of so much stuff. Fortunately, I started out with a clean house due to the Christmas party I hosted for my church teen group.

So I set out to finish my Christmas shopping. I ordered the majority of my gifts online this year but refused to internet buy for Hubby. He would see the receipts. So I decided to wander around Target for an hour and half with no clue what to buy. Baby Girl always insists that I drive her around in that huge semi-truck of a shopping cart. I hate it. I'm neither a good driver of a car nor a shopping cart. But this one is just plain ridiculous. I crash into things all over the store. And then five minutes into the trip, Baby Girl refuses to sit. (This pic is not her...it's the only one I could find of the Monster Cart.) During yesterday's trip, she figured out how to hide in clothing racks. I was stressed to the max and unfortunately lost my temper. I grabbed her out of the middle of a rack and forcefully put her back into the cart, all while raising my voice. This is something I never do in public. And lo and behold, there was a woman standing 5 feet from me who witnessed the whole thing. I was sure she would call security on me and my screaming toddler. She must be a mom who sympathized with me because she didn't utter a word.

So with the shopping officially done, I headed home to find a stack of four UPS boxes on my porch for the third day in a row. (God bless delivery drivers this season!) I geared up for hours of gift wrapping. I became emotional wrapping my Grandmother's Christmas present. I came to the realization that this was likely the last Christmas gift I may ever wrap for her. The dementia is overtaking her life. The evening before, she complained about my husband and kids who came to visit, referring to them as a man she'd never before laid eyes on who had a slew of kids. She said she'd be shocked if there was anything left in the basement after their visit. Surely they were filling their pockets. This broke my heart. When she was later told that the man was my husband, she didn't understand how I could have a husband...I'm only a child. It's heart wrenching.

After the children were tucked into bed, I discovered I was missing my wedding ring. I only wear one piece of jewelry and have not lost it in 14 years. I tore apart my bedroom, thinking I had removed it five minutes earlier to put lotion on my hands. Hubby tore apart the house. Finally, when I was in tears, he suggested that maybe I left it in Baby Girl's room an hour earlier when I lathered her with lotion after her bath. Not caring that she was sleeping, I barged into her room and began searching in the dark. Viola! Hubby continues to be my hero!

Then at 3:00 AM, Son #2 woke up sick. He is a champ. He never complains or whines when he's sick. He gets the job done and goes on with life. But he was bummed about missing the Christmas party at school and spoiling his year and a half of perfect attendance. Poor guy.

But here is the after pic of the day:

I consider it a success, in spite of the difficulties. I'm anxious to get caught up so I can enjoy Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year. (I don't think I coined that phrase. It may be borrowed. Pardon the plagiarism.)

Christmas Must-Reads

There is nothing quite like a good book and a mug of hot tea on a peaceful, snowy evening. I get in the mood to read every Christmas season. And I have a couple books that I like to read each year. The Swaddling Cloth by Nan Pamer is the best religious Christmas novel I have ever read. Deep and well written, it tells a captivating story with a Biblical background. I can honestly say that I couldn't put it down. It graces my bookshelf year round. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves reading and Christmas.

And when I am in the mood to read something humorous and lighthearted, I pick up John Grisham's Skipping Christmas. Not only does it make me laugh out loud, it reminds me of someone who used to be a part of my life. I have never seen the movie based on this book because I'm sure it will only disappoint me. But John Grisham never disappoints. So if you haven't read it yet, you need to get started.

Both of these books are relatively short and can be read in a couple hours or days. As soon as I get all my Christmas responsibilities finished, I can be found in my favorite reading chair with these two books and my mug of tea.

National Free Shipping Day

Today- Friday, December 17, 2o10 is National Free Shipping Day. It is the last day that most retailers will guarantee delivery by Christmas Eve. Since I have been off my feet for these past few days, I have taken great advantage of companies that offer free shipping for online shopping. I have yet to pay shipping for any online purchase I have made so far. Many websites offer free shipping for orders over $50. So I was organized and figured out how to group gifts for family and friends into orders of $50. But today, it's even better than that! 1008 different stores are documented as having free shipping on any order! 715 more stores are offering free shipping with a catch. For a list of these retailers, click here.

Also, before you hit the button to submit your order, take a quick second to Google online coupons for wherever you are shopping. Yesterday, I saved over $30 at Bath and Body Works due to a 20% off + free shipping coupon. I also had the same luck at Kohl's. Just beware of shady sites that require you to click on a link or share your email to get the code. Reputable sites show the code without any special clicking. And remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it just might be.

So, online shoppers, start your engines! Shop on! But beware and make good purchasing decisions today! I'm ready to get my shop on...

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

People-watching is one of my favorite activities. I love it when I have the time to just sit on a bench and observe the crowd as it passes by. As a mom of 4, I don't have much time for people-watching any more. Actually, people are probably watching me. But sometimes you observe things even when you aren't looking for them. I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Good - I was overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers at the hospital yesterday. I was managing my crutches like a 12-month-old who is just learning to walk. People offered to give me their place in line, they opened car doors for me, asked if I needed help, and I even had one offer of a ride home by a kind nurse. It restores your faith in humanity.

The Bad - The day before my debilitating injury, we had an unseasonal rainstorm. It amazes me how cars will not pause to let a woman in high heels, carrying a baby and an umbrella pass. They would prefer, instead, to continue at a normal pace, not worrying about splashing mud puddles on pedestrians.

The Ugly - Alone at the mall food court, I was able to observe the mother and young son ahead of me in line. He couldn't have been older than five and was a total sweetheart. The mother only stopped texting long enough to place her order. She ignored her son and yelled at him for bothering her. When he questioned where the straws were located, she coldly answered, "Right there," without looking up. "Where?" he asked. "Right in front of your face!" she yelled. I calmly picked up a straw and handed it to him. His innocent big brown eyes looked up at me and he smiled. Precious. Then the mother demanded that he move the tray and drink along the line. She texted. He commented on how the bars on the counter were like train tracks. No response. She had no clue how sweet of a child she was blessed to have. I pray that I don't take my children for granted, yelling at them for no reason (in public, especially) because I have a lot on my mind. Sometimes I try to be thankful for the lessons I learn just by watching others make the wrong decisions. It was 4 days ago and I still think about the boy. I hope he has a good Christmas.

Down for the Count

In just a split second, all your plans for the day, the week, and the month can be drastically altered. At 8:00 AM yesterday, I missed the bottom step in my home and came crashing to the floor. A doctor's appointment and X-rays at the hospital diagnosed that I had a bad ankle sprain. Here are the problems caused by this event:

• I cannot walk on my foot and must keep it elevated and iced.
• I am in moderate pain but hate pain medication.
• I have 4 kids.
• I am totally awkward with crutches.
• My arms are totally sore from trying to learn how to use crutches.
• Christmas is in 11 days and I am not ready.
• My house is growing messier by the moment.
• I have a party at my house on Monday with 20 teenage girls.
• I am supposed to prepare a good amount of food for this party.
• My husband is totally occupied with a busy schedule at work and I'm practically a single parent.
• And worst of all, the homemade Christmas cookies have run out and I can't do anything about it.
• Also, my mom and I make nutroll each Christmas and I don't see how in the world that's possible this year.

But I try to see my glass as half-full.

• I have a legitimate reason to be completely lazy with no guilt attached.
• My mother took off work to watch Baby Girl.
• Homemade meals are being brought in.
• It's too cold to go out anywhere anyway.
• I can probably finish my Christmas shopping online.
• I am getting caught up on my television watching.
• I can probably wrap presents with my foot elevated.
• I have a beautiful snowy landscape out my window to admire.

So blog posts may be few and far between. I'm not going anywhere, doing anything, or taking any pictures. I'm not baking anything or trying new recipes. To put it frankly, I'm pretty much a bore right now. So keep me in your thoughts. I hope to return soon with exciting adventures, stories, and photos to share. Merry Christmas!
Love,
Gimpy

Christmas Memories

When I was a little girl, my favorite part of Christmas was finding all of my ornaments and placing them on the tree. My grandmother bought each grandkid their own unique oranment each year. She marked each with our name and the date. It was such a special tradition...we couldn't wait to see our new ornament each year. So now my own tree is decorated with a mish-mosh of ornaments. None of them match but they all carry special meaning. This red and white bulb was one of my earliest ornaments. I can see that it's dated 1978 on the bottom. I was two years old.

When Hubby and I were engaged, he moved into the house we now share just before Christmas. As a surprise, I borrowed a rickety old tree from someone to put up while he was at work. We had no ornaments yet (all of mine were still on my mom's tree) so I had to improvise. I made strings of popcorn, hung candy canes, and begged 3 old ornaments off my mom. She couldn't remember where she got them and never put them on the tree. I still have the 3 red and white gingham ornaments on my tree to remember the days when we didn't have much.

In 1996, we were married. Our wedding colors were hunter green and gold and our theme was cherubs. I know...but you have to realize it was the 90s. We found these Christmas ornaments, which I fell in love with. We spray-painted them gold and included them in the centerpieces at the reception. Most of them have broken since but one remains to grace my tree each year.


When we were newly married with young kids, life was hard. Ends didn't always meet since I gave up my teaching salary to be a stay-at-home mom. We were still adjusting to sacrificing our own needs to be better spouses. Tension was high at times. A weekend at a marriage retreat was a life-changing time. Couples sat around a bonfire, sharing special moments with one another. All the husbands were asked to make a S'More for their wives. (Mine was burnt, but that's not the point.) It was romantic and revitalizing. After the retreat, Hubby and I found this S'Mores ornament at an Amish gift shop. So it now hangs on my tree to mark the change from hardships to bliss.

As life progressed from being single, honeymooners, and young parents to a having a large family, ornaments started revolving around children. My mom picked up the ornament tradition and started buying one for each of my kids every year. One year for Halloween, the 3 kids dressed up as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Cowerdly Lion. My amazing mom found these bread dough ornaments to signify that year. (The poor Lion broke.) They hang together on my tree to remind me of my sweet children (well, minus Baby Girl who wasn't born yet.)

But my all-time favorite ornament is because of a very early memory from my childhood. This little elf bell hung on our tree every year. It was my favorite. I always wanted to take it down and ring the bell. My mom wouldn't let me because it was old and fragile. It was from my great-grandmother. I remember getting upset because I thought the simple task of ringing a bell was something I could handle. So when I moved out, I stole the bell from my mom's tree. Don't worry, I informed her of the theft. I explained that it held so many memories for me and that I wanted to have it. She didn't argue. So it is the first ornament on the tree every year and has the most special spot. And no, I don't let my kids touch it. Too much meaning.

Randomness from a Mom of 4

Son #2 just explained to me the phrase being a talker.
"It means you talk a lot."
Thanks for clearing that up. I've always wondered.

My children's favorite meal is Make Your Own Night. It means Daddy is working late and you get to choose between one of the staples: Spaghetti-Os, chicken noodle soup, Ramen noodles, or chicken nuggets. Big Sis specially requested tater-totters tonight.

Hubby is in peak season at work so he's been working late every night. I feel like a single mom. He spends an hour or less with us in the evenings before he goes to bed. But the up side is that his peak bonuses will be more than enough to pay for Christmas.

I remember when Son #1 was younger, he asked what I was getting Daddy for Christmas. I knew he couldn't be trusted. So I lied and said I was getting Daddy a trash can. As soon as Hubby walked in the door from work, he proudly exclaimed, "Mommy got you a trash can for Christmas." So this year when Big Sis asked the same question, I gave the same answer. She blew it too. But the bad news is, Hubby really does want a trash can this year.

Silly me thought Baby Girl was taking a fabulously long nap today. Nope. Instead, she was styling her hair with a paste made of Vaseline and Desitin. The picture doesn't do it justice. This incident called for an immediate bath.

Baby Girl has a Little People airplane that plays a song when you push a button. Her brothers changed the ending lyrics as follows:
"High and low, high and low, up in the sky and away we go,
With a cloud over here and a cloud over there, I'm not wearing underwear."
So now every time this song plays, I sing along, using the new invented lyrics. Thanks, Boys.

While we're on the subject of incorrect song lyrics, Big Sis taught her baby sister to sing
"Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is by the stream."

And instead of Foofa from Yo Gabba Gabba being "pink and happy," my kids think she's "freakin' happy."

Christmas Cards

I was so excited about the small, orange box the guy in the brown truck delivered yesterday! My free Shutterfly Christmas cards arrived! They were everything I hoped they would be and I was very pleased with them! They now are all addressed lay waiting to be stamped. Shutterfly photo cards will be a new tradition for me! Thanks again, Shutterfly!