Fleur de Aleta

The end of our year brought on a visit with family and friends.  What a blessing :) Cammie and Collin were in town for us to celebrate Cammie's 15th birthday party.  And we found out that one of our friends (he's part of the family, we've known Rene for so long) was in town as well.  Lucky for us, we were able to visit with everyone and even had some time to put up Mardi Gras decorations.  Below are some pictures: Cammie's 15th Birthday Party: Someone forgot to sign the card :) Greg's brother, Jerry, and his two kids (Collin and Cammie) For more pictures, click here. After the birthday party, we met up with Rene for supper at Zea's restaurant.  Rene sent us a Christmas present.... a book of "art"  *COUGH*  It was the art of motorcycles!!  But Rene made sure to point out, "Tell Aleta the word "art" is in there."  Uh Huh  :) See, Greg, I'm not the only one who takes pictures of food!  Below is a picture...

When Cammie and Collin came to visit, I asked Cammie if she felt like making cookies.  She was all for it and a real trooper with learning how to use the cookie press (it just came in the mail the same day as they visited). Here are a few pictures of the fun: Someone is going to have a sugar rush! Greg thought we were taking too long making the cookies, look at his expression.  Lol So, here's the funny thing....  Greg mentioned that we were going to make sugar cookies.  When Cammie tried the first batch of cookies, she said, "Those are awful!"  Greg tried them and liked them and so did I.... the thing is.... Greg loves a particular type of cookies and that was the recipe we tried.... and it wasn't sugar cookies..  Cammie had in her mind, sugar cookies and instead was eating shortbread cookies.  Hehe.... She now knows that she doesn't like shortbread cookies! Below is a picture of how the cookies came out - to get the rec...

My husband loves shortbread cookies, so the first type of cookies made... where his favorite. Ingredients: 2 cups butter, softened  (4 sticks of butter) 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup white sugar 4 cups all-purpose flour Sugar Sprinkles (and adding this in as an afterthought - almond extract) Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F Soften butter Add butter to bowl, add sugar. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy (low on mixer, use wire whip) Add vanilla, mix (if adding almond, add this then) Add flour and mix well (with mixer, use dough hook) Put through cookie press and form cookies onto baking sheet. Add sprinkles on cookies Bake for 14 minutes on low rack - or until the bottom of the cookies are slightly brown. Allow to cool.  For best flavor - next day :) * The reason I have the almond extract listed as an afterthought is because the original recipe didn't call for this, but the shortbread cookies we've tasted from the stores have that almond flavor, which is great.

This year, Christmas started early with early gifts from Greg (he surprised me with the Kitchen Aid Mixer, but I needed a mixer before Christmas for baking and he was a little disappointed that I opened the gift early.. but it was so thoughtful and sweet of him!).... Today, Greg said, "I feel as though we had a Second Christmas!"  My cousins in Maryland sent us two boxes filled with gifts for us and our baby.  We were touched and opening the gifts like little children :) Below is a picture and video: To see the video on YouTube, Click Here.

Did the title get your attention?  I could help but tease him.  It's something he wanted for Christmas.  Balls.  But honestly, they are pretty cool.  Magnetic balls.  I forget what they are called.  I had to order them outside of the US.  Greg showed me a YouTube video on making the balls into a sphere shape, so we tried it out. First we had created triangles with the balls, then what I called "petals" - then put the petals together: Once you turn these pattern together, it forms a hollow sphere.. pretty neat :) We went to Greg's parents' home for Christmas, here are just a few pictures :) Christmas Eve night, Greg and I made Oreo Truffles, for the recipe, click here. Proof!  Someone liked the truffles :) To see more pictures, click here and scroll to the bottom .

I'm going with Oreo Truffles, because that's the original name, but my friend, Kristen, calls it Reindeer Poop whenever she makes it because it's lumpy and she makes it during Christmas. It's sweet.  Very, very sweet.  I like sweet, but it's a bit much even for me.  Oddly enough, when we brought the truffles to Greg's parents' gathering, the guys liked the truffles; the girls didn't. Ingredients: 36 Oreo Cookies, Finely Crushed 1 pkg (8 oz) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened 2 pk (12 oz)  Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted Instructions: Crush the Oreo cookies.  Measure 1/4 cup of the cookie crumbs and reserve this to the side (will be used as the last step) Soften the cream cheese, mix cream cheese with Oreo cookies until blended. Shape into 1-inch balls.  Melt the chocolate - place unwrapped chocolate into microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high 2 1/2 minutes or until chocolate is completely melted, stirring every 30 seconds. Dip the balls into the melted choc...

For Christmas Eve Day, Greg and I decided to brave the malls, knowing we already had our gifts bought and some of them already delivered.  We were fortunate to find a close parking place in the mall garage, though the lady behind us was obviously lacking Good Cheer as she swung her arms and yelled with impatience.... One restaurant we enjoy going to, but don't frequent, is P.F. Chang's.  Again, fortunately, even though it was noon, there wasn't a wait at all at P.F. Chang's.  It was nice and quiet and a delightful meal.  Greg and I took the calm moment to do a bit of people watching. Across from us, a couple was sitting at a table.  Based on the woman's unnatural tone to her laughter and the space between them, I asked Greg, "Do you think they are married or dating?"  Greg replied, "Most likely a second or third date.  They aren't comfortable with one another, but they are interested, based on their body language turning towards each other....

My husband was a little surprised when I mentioned something I'd like... and I was really surprised that he bought it, knowing I don't cook that often.  But I love it, because it makes cooking a lot easier. This year, we were signed up for making one dish twice (for two different parties), Sweet Potato Crunch... As I started to get the ingredients together, I asked Greg if he could take down the mixing bowls.  Being pregnant, he doesn't want me using the step ladder and the bowls were up high. I heard him moving things behind me and he said, "Here you go!"  I turned around and WOW! I love it!  It makes cooking so much easier :)  Here's the sweet potato crunch; the recipe is already on this blog.  Mixing everything was a breeze for the recipe and it came out great! Our next endeavor with the Kitchen Aid Mixer was bread...  this was a first time making bread for me, so I was a little anxious about it :)  We used the easiest bread recipe that came wi...

Kim and Bill invited us to their Christmas party and we had a lot of fun.  Lots of laughter and good to catch up with friends that I haven't seen in a long time. Kim & their daughter, Ashley Meet the Artist:  Ashley   She was working on the iPad and I asked what she was doing. She showed me her artwork and I was really impressed! Bill and their son, Billy Sue & Ashley - fashion models with their new handmade scarfs This next picture makes me smile, because it proves that adults can have fun with kid's toys too :) Greg opening the gifts from Kim & Bill.  Lots of thoughtful gifts for our baby.  Awwww I don't have a picture of it, because I was playing shutterbug, but I also opened a gift from Sue to our baby - "Baby's First Christmas" outfit - I've been wanting to buy one and loved what she gave us! To see more pictures from the party, click here to go to my Picasa site - you wi...

This week we visited with family and friends.  It was fun to share in the smiles. Below is a picture of adorable "melted snowman cookies" made by Cindy and her daughter, Elizabeth. Cindy tutors children and she made the cookies for the students. Last night Greg and I went out to eat with Sally and Bruce.  They came back to our home and Greg showed them the bear hat.  He took the below picture and calls it "Sally Bear"  - too cute! Today is my grandmother's Christmas party, but we are unable to attend it, because it's during the same time that we will be attending a funeral service.  Asking for prayers for Greg's brother-in-law's family... My parents are unable to attend my grandmother's Christmas party as well.  We offered to drive to my grandmother's home on Friday (yesterday) and brought my parents' gift to her.  Greg brought his iPhone and Facetimed with my parents so they could watch as my grandmother opene...