Granola!

This weekend has been full of baking, shopping,cleaning and ending with my brothers graduation.  I'm pooped, but excited for a fun filled week.  I came across a recipe for granola in the December Issue of the Rachael Ray magazine for Berry Christmas Granola a few weeks ago and it peeked my interest.  I normally make my Mom's fabulous caramel corn recipe for folks at work but decided to try something new.  So off I went to my favorite Amish bulk food store to gather the yummy ingredients.  Only in Amish country will you hear the cashier ask to the man in front of you if he will be "butchering the hog today".  To her disappointment he will not, just making ring bologna.
After making a double batch of this and being pleased with it I had plenty of ingredients to make another double batch.  Here's the recipe;

Berry Christmas Granola
Rachael Ray
4 cups rolled oats
1 cup sliced almonds
2 T sesame seeds
1/4t salt
6T unsalted butter
1/4 cup honey
1 cup salted, roasted pistachios shelled and coarsly chopped.
3/4 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup dried blueberries

1. Preheat the oven to 275 F.  On a large baking sheet, toss together the oats, almonds, sesame seeds and salt.   In a glass measuring cup, combine the butter ad honey, pour over the oat mixture and stir with a rubber spatula to blend.  Spread evenly and bake for 30 minutes, stirring and spreading once with the spatula during cooking.  Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
2.  In a large bowl, combine the pistachios, cherries and blueberries with the cooled oat mixture and toss to combine.

Since I'm using this recipe as a gift I packaged it in mason jars with a lovely festive ribbon.  Tada!  If you are looking for an easy fast homemade gift, here ya go!

As I said I ended my weekend with my brothers graduation from LCCC.  Great Job Dave! We are all so proud!

Gingersnap Cupcakes

As I searched to find something yummy to take to my work's holiday luncheon I came across these bad boys, Gingersnap Cupcakes.  It appealed to me in a number of ways #1 I had all ingredients on hand and didn't have to run to the store, #2 these are Gingersnap Cupcakes, and #3 well it's clear that I am a Ginger so I tend to gravitate to all things gingery.
Ginger kids!
I love Picky Palate's recipes, I have made several items from her lovely site.  She just posted a hot chocolate cupcake recipe that I'm tempted to give a whirl!
My Mom's theory on never making a single batch of anything, just in case, was instilled in me.  So I made a double batch, some for my work and some for the hubby's.

Dollar Store Christmas Decor!!

I have some great Christmas decorating ideas for you :-)  Of course I did not take pictures of the process of all of these but they are so simple I have faith you will be able to do it without.
Josh laughed when I told him I wanted to hang snowflakes in the windows. Perhaps it was when I said "glittery sparkely" snowflakes?  I found them in packs of 5 at the dollar store, so this literally cost me $2 (I got two sizes).  Tied them all with white string, or you could use fishing wire if you have some and hang! So easy! And I like how they spin and glitter against our Christmas tree.

Next up, Joy!

I got these letters for under a $1 each, paint also under a $1 and you guessed it ribbon on clearance for under a $1.  Painted 2 coats of paint on the letters, once dry flipped them over and hot glued ribbon to the back and hung them up!  I'm almost tempted to do this to all the doors in the hallway.  Maybe do, Peace, Love, Noel?  The posibilities are endless!!!

Dark Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons

This past weekend we had a family Christmas party, and while the cheesey Bingo game and prizes were a definate hit, I have to say I made some bangin' coconut macaroons. 

Of course I had help from my friend Ina Garten.  By the way, does her name bother anyone else as much as it does me?  So this recipe is below, I kicked it up a notch and melted dark chocolate chips and dipped them half way.  As an afterthought I think it would have been better to drizzle these since the chocolate is almost too overpowering.  I guess I should have just listened to Ina in the first place.  Mad props Ina, these are awesome.

Coconut Macaroons
Ina Garten
14oz sweetened flaked coconut
1 can 14oz sweetened condensed milk
1t vanilla
2 xlarge egg whites at room temp.
1/4 t kosher salt
1. Preheat to 325F.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. In large bowl, mix coconut, condensed milk, and vanilla till combined
3. In medium bowl, with mixer fitted to whisk attachment on high speed, whip egg whites andsalt until medium-firm peaks form.  Carefully fold egg whits into coconut mixture.
4. Drop two rounded teaspoonful portions onto prepared cookie sheets.  Bake 25-30 min. or until golden brown.
5. Jen's step- wait till cookies have cooled, in double boiler/make shift double boiler melt chocolate chips.  once melted dip your cookies and place onto wax paper til they have set.

Grey and black swirlies

Excuse me while I finish my frozen dark chocolate chip cookie...mmmm something about a cookie being frozen makes it so much better.  On that topic...if you are jumping on the frozen cookie bandwagon, fig newtons frozen are pretty darn good.

I was sitting here eating my cookie and tending to my pretend farm on facebook, yes I had a very eventful night, I'm reminded I've never given you all a full updated look of our grey and yellow office.  I made some finishing touches in the past week.  While it is not fully complete, I will share.  Pardon the random things on the floor and desk.

You get the idea :-)  What's that?  You want to know who did the lovely art on the wall?  Oh that was silly ol' me!  How did I do it you ask?  Well, simple really.  I took two same sized frames and took the glass out.  Then I went to my friendly Joann's Fabric Store and picked out a lovely swirly black and grey designed fabric that was just waiting for me in the discounted remnant pile, while there I also picked up a role of cork board.  It all came together by layering the fabric then the cork board then the backing to the frame and voila! You have your very own personalized cork boards!

We got the desk, chairs and middle drawer from Ikea, the nice yellow mini table perfect for our ginormous printer, on the right at Target on what? on clearance! what what! And the bookcase was from the upstairs bedroom which we are clearing out so we can fit a bed and dresser.

Woo hoo! Slowly but surely we will get this house in tip top shape! Just in time to start all over again :-)

Lo Siento mis amigos.
I have been MIA for awhile now, I have missed you.  Some things have been keepin me busy, the volleyball season kicking into full swing and the ever continuous remodel of our home.  I hope you are doing well and excited for a turkey, shopping and family filled week.
While I have almost had to call in reinforcements to advertise my coaching abilities to some prospective players after 2 weeks my Dad and I ALMOST have a team.  I have found that tryouts are not only for the girls but for the coaches.  I almost feel as if it is a personal attack if they do not choose to be on my team. I mean, come on, am I not the best coach ever?  Seriously I'm kidding best coach ever thing, I try my best.  I Hate this time of the season, and I don't just toss that word around lightly, and every year it seems to get a little more ridiculous.  I do however love that first practice, you know the one that they actually all listen at.
Anyway, Our downstairs is slowly getting transformed and we will soon be able to use our entire house!  Our bathroom has gone from this...

To this in 2 weeks time.

To say that I love it, doesn't even cover my excitement.  It's amazing.  Even more amazing because we didn't have to do anything but pick out the appliances/paint/tile.  Of course we still need to find a mirror, but then it will be a full functionin bathroom, woo hoo!

Year old cake

Well I think you are about due for a UF update.  Things are going well.  I've  tried my hardest to stay within my daily caloric bank.  I have just recently increased my exercise to include going back to the gym and soon enough it will include 2-3 night/week volleyball practices.  I weigh in every Thursday, this week I am happy to report was a good day!  Down 2.5lbs from last week for a grand total of 13.5lbs lost to date.  Woo hoo!
Since my last UF update there was a little anniversary thrown in there.  We got what I hope to be a yearly photo by our trellis.

We then made the trek out to the American Club where we were married a year prior.  And what do you know? It was a lovely sunny day.  Not a rain cloud in sight.  I know I know 'it's good luck if it rains on your wedding day'. This phrase seems so easily said by those that had a lovely sun shining day.  ANNNYWAY we took a few pics there in the gazebo, walked around the property and reminisced about the day.  Our wedding day was truly was our most favorite day ever.

Leading up to our anniversary the big question was, where are we going to eat.  It was easily decided that we would just play it by ear with all the health issues my Grammy had been going through.  So after visiting our venue we had an early dinner/late lunch at Bravo, which in the midst I received a phone call that my Grammy wasn't doing well.  I was determined to enjoy our meal and then afterwards go to the hospital.  After ordering a glass of wine I think we both were feeling a little better.  Our meal was nice, unplanned and quiet.  oh and yummy.  After our meal we went straight home and from there I went straight to the hospital.
Things had settled and my Grammy was transported over to inpatient hospice.
I came home to flowers from my Huuuusssband, a bottle of champagne and year old cake.