Here!

Debating on what I want this blog to be about. I have tried to write here many times over the past month (plus) but deleted everything I have written. Do I want to be honest? Do I want to say all the things I truely think? I'm not sure....

But I am so sorry for leaving you hanging for this past time. I never did finish the cookies and told the girls they were not getting them this year. I can only hope I'll be able to fulfill my wish next year. I don't like to dissapoint even if it is in my own head.

That said I will try hard to continue this as best I can.

CC Part 3 and more

Well, I did a batch of "Spicy Oatmeal Cookies" last night and they did not turn out well. The taste was good (quite good actually) but the cookie itself was weird. These were very thin and I like a cookie with bite. These were so thin you could use them for a credit card and grab a snack at the same time. I added a bunch of oatmeal after the first firing and it was better but not enough. Who knows what I did wrong. lol This was definitely the first cookie recipe I have ever used pepper in.

Tonight I also made a cookie recipe that wasn't a cookie recipe. It was a "tea cake" recipe. They are very yummy and are cut out like you would a sugar cookie. And with the amount of sugar in them you would think it would be a sugar cookie!

I did have to call my mother to see if she had any idea what sweet milk was. She didn't know(shocker there since Mom knows everything about cooking) but we figured out that it is regular old milk. Apparently it is an old southern term used to differentiate regular milk from buttermilk. Did you know you could make buttermilk by adding a tablespoon of vinegar (I think) to a cup of regular milk? That was your lesson of the day. lol

So, the cookie count now (although mostly depleted after Husband took a two tins to work)

Chocolate Chip - 9 dozen
Cupcakes - 15
Spicy Oatmeal - 3 dozen
Tea Cakes - (44) 3 1/2 dozen

I am so far behind last year it isn't funny.

On to other news. I debated on sending Robmonster to school or not today. He was up till 2 this morning coughing. Poor guy. But, he did well at school so I should feel better, right? He wasn't even too bad today! Maybe his not feeling up to par is affecting his stubbornness? I can only hope he stays this way for a while if that is the case...heehee.

I love and hate this age. He is stubborn and obstinate and even lying a bunch. But he is thinking and trying and able to do things he was never able to do before. I'm in a quandary here, lol Let him show his independence or beat him into submission? ARGH!

CC Part 2

First batch of chocolate chip cookies are done! I like to do these first because they hold up well over time. It is my sister's recipe from probably 25 years ago and still the best in my opinion. Amazingly there is no butter in them!

1 batch made 113 cookies this time which translates into roughly 9 dozen. I admit that two of the cookies were deformed and had to be eaten directly off the cookie sheet...heehee.

Chocolate Chip cookies - 9 dozen
Cupcakes - 15

Cookie Countdown

Sunday 10:21

Cookies - 0
Cupcakes - 1 batch

They turned out yummy. I haven't made a "made from scratch" cake in ages and it turned out pretty darned good!

Is It Ever Over?

This season seems to go on and on and on and on. We never seem to be finished shopping. And that is the easy part! Thankfully Husband loves wrapping so I don't have to deal with that part.

But, every year I bake lots of cookies. I mail some to the girls, give some out to local friends. and Husband takes a bunch to work. So far I have no cookies made. Not even one batch! I am so behind I am going to have to be a baking fool the next couple of days. Watch out for flying flour!

Of course part of the blame goes to being sick. All 3 of us have some ailment going on. But we are troopers. We will survive the season. And probably live to pass it all on to the next unsuspecting fool...heehee.

Ugh

It seems that the Christmas spirit is best displayed by eating out. Husband called earlier to say he wanted Chinese tonight. Ho Ho Soy Sauce!

Snow

It is snowing right now. The forecast called for possible flurries so I'm not too worried. Yes, I do like snow but only when it is warm enough to go out and play in it. The high tomorrow is 19 friggin degrees! ACK!

Husband and I disagree on snow lately. We moved up here knowing it was the snow belt. I was ok with that. But now we are here and I have lost my ability to drive in it. Which means I would be quite happy to welcome a little global warming. (kidding) Husband is desperately waiting on the storm of the century to hit our little corner of the world.

And that storm keeps missing us by inches. Last week Chicago got slammed with a ton of snow. We got a dusting. Tonight the county over west of us is expecting 6-12 inches. We are expecting a dusting. Poor husband is very frustrated! He only got to use his new snowblower once last year and is dying to break it in right. Maybe if he weren't so naughty Santa might send him some for Christmas...heehee.

Feeling Lucky

Some days are just better than others. Nothing spectacular happened today and I'm not even in the best of moods. But I realize I've been far too self involved lately. I totally under-appreciate the people in my life and the stage we are in. We want for nothing. I get to stay home with the boy and we are still able to pay the bills and put money away. We have very little debt, a nice house in a nice town. We are relatively healthy as long as you don't count this never-ending cold we all have. It took a lot of hard work to get to this place but it was worth it. Good times and bad.

I need to take a step back sometimes to see these things. And in this rushed season full of materialism we all should take a moment or two a day to stop and think about the things that count the most. Family.

Busy Days

It seems that weeks go by without a single thing changing in my routine. The days blur together and before I know it another month has passed without so much as a blip in the radar. And then come the holidays. Suddenly there is a flurry of activity. Plans to be made, gifts to purchase, lists to be made. The anxiety level raises in direct proportion to the depression. I really don't care for the holidays. Never have. There is a huge build up only to have a few moments of joy and then it is all over. And we are left with just winter.

Winter isn't so bad. I do like the snow. The real problem is the lack of sun. I get so tired of over cast days where it is so blah and too cold to go out and play. The boy gets cranky and mommy gets even crankier. lol Husband is so fond of the holidays and would be thrilled if they happened every month! He can have them!

So, the next few posts will probably be rambling messes of how frustrated I get. Be warned...I can be a tyrant!