I love holiday baking! And I better with three cookie exchanges in the next week!!
Tomorrow I'm going to our Raleigh Chi O Alum group exchange. I bought a huge thing of Craisins at Costco a few weeks ago so I wanted to make cookies with them. I thought I'd make the oatmeal white chocolate cranberry cookies that I made for Thanksgiving for one of the exchanges but I wanted to see what else was out there with Craisin's.
I searched on Kraft Foods this afternoon and thought this Kris Kringle recipe sounded yummy. I halved the recipe since I thought I only needed 3 dozen. I made the dough then realized after looking at the evite that I needed more like 4 dozen. So although Kraft Foods calls these "Big Batch" cookies, mine are little and I was able to make 43 ~ 6 bags of 6 cookies plus 6 on a plate to share and 1 for me to try later as dessert!
Kris Kingle Cookies, adapted from linked recipe (I halved)
Ingredients
1 c (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 c sugar
1/2 c firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 packages baker's white chocolate, chopped (I used 2/3 c of white chocolate chips)
2 c dried cranberries (I used 2/3 c Craisins)
2 c chopped pecans, toasted (I used a lil bit of chopped pecans I had in the pantry, not a huge fan of nuts in sweets)
Directions
Heat oven to 375.
Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with mixer until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Blend in flour, baking soda, and salt & mix well. Stir in nuts, cranberries, and white chocolate.
Drop rounded spoonful of dough onto baking sheets. I lined my kinda crappy ones with these and my good nonstick sheet was fine.
Bake 9-11 minutes (My oven worked best baking right at or a lil less than 10 minutes). Cool on sheet for 3 minutes then transfer to cooling rack.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Christmas Decorating!
I made an unexpected trip to Midlothian this past week to help my parents and grandparents decorate. I went after work and made it home in time for dinner with family including my brother & his girlfriend. We then decorated the living room & more formal Christmas tree.
The plan for Saturday was to decorate the stairs in the AM, then get a tree, decorate the outside then decorate the tree & rest of the inside. But that plan changed because of the rain & SNOW (it didnt stick but was still pretty to see)!! So instead we decorated the inside then Mom, Nana & I ran a few Christmas errands. I can't wait for Christmas morning; I might just have pick out the Kitchenaid stand mixer I've dreamed about at Costco with Nana!!!!! I'll update with pictures from my parent's house and of my mixer Christmas morning. Until then look at it from the Amazon picture. :)
I left Sunday morning and kept up the decorating spirit at our house. I put up the owl tree, decorated the tables & mantle. We got our tree from Lowe's and I think we picked a good one! We finished decorating the tree late Sunday night. My grandparents & Bocce then stopped by our house on the way home Monday. Jason & I left work and did a few projects. Nana & I made bows & hung pre-lit wreaths on the windows & front door. Jason & Pawpaw gave our mailbox a major makeover. They sanded off the peeling paint, repainted white primer, put on a new rubber box that won't rust and redid the hanging numbers. It looks awesome! I'll have to update with pictures of the mailbox and our precious wreaths!
The plan for Saturday was to decorate the stairs in the AM, then get a tree, decorate the outside then decorate the tree & rest of the inside. But that plan changed because of the rain & SNOW (it didnt stick but was still pretty to see)!! So instead we decorated the inside then Mom, Nana & I ran a few Christmas errands. I can't wait for Christmas morning; I might just have pick out the Kitchenaid stand mixer I've dreamed about at Costco with Nana!!!!! I'll update with pictures from my parent's house and of my mixer Christmas morning. Until then look at it from the Amazon picture. :)
I left Sunday morning and kept up the decorating spirit at our house. I put up the owl tree, decorated the tables & mantle. We got our tree from Lowe's and I think we picked a good one! We finished decorating the tree late Sunday night. My grandparents & Bocce then stopped by our house on the way home Monday. Jason & I left work and did a few projects. Nana & I made bows & hung pre-lit wreaths on the windows & front door. Jason & Pawpaw gave our mailbox a major makeover. They sanded off the peeling paint, repainted white primer, put on a new rubber box that won't rust and redid the hanging numbers. It looks awesome! I'll have to update with pictures of the mailbox and our precious wreaths!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thanksgiving
We spent Thanksgiving in Charlotte this year. We celebrated the holiday with my mom's side of the family. We ate an amazing Thanksgiving buffett at Cypress. Mom was able to get an apartment for us to stay which searved as our gathering spot. We celebrated birthdays and played a lot of games ~ uno, Mexican Train Dominos & Left, Right, Center. My brother was the overall game winner for the weekend. It was very nice getting together with everyone and was fairly drama free!
Its a busy & pretty rough year for my mom's parents and her sisters. Ma fell and broke her hip last January. She had surgery, went to a rehabilitation center & tried to relearn to walk which didn't work very well so now she is in a rehabilitation/nursing home within my grandfather's retirement community. Mom, her sisters, & I tried to be there as much as possible over the last year to give my grandfather & grandmother a break.
At this point, I've gotten used to how Ma is now and get excited to see her & how she interacts with us. Mom & I hung out with her at a couple of meals and a "work out" session. It was wheelchair pilates. The vast majority of older people lifted their legs a lil, clapped and stretched; Mom & I did the same but full out & we got sweaty!! Ma's left leg which she fell on does move well but we got her to move her arms & kick her right leg.
But seeing my brother & cousin see her for probably the first time in a year was pretty sad. It made me realize how much really had changed since last year when we were all together at Ocean Isle; running around shopping etc. I know aging happens and my brother & I have been very lucky to have four grandparents our whole lives, but I'm not ready to lose any of them yet! For now, I hope to spend as much time with my family as possible and be grateful for the blessing of family.
Its a busy & pretty rough year for my mom's parents and her sisters. Ma fell and broke her hip last January. She had surgery, went to a rehabilitation center & tried to relearn to walk which didn't work very well so now she is in a rehabilitation/nursing home within my grandfather's retirement community. Mom, her sisters, & I tried to be there as much as possible over the last year to give my grandfather & grandmother a break.
At this point, I've gotten used to how Ma is now and get excited to see her & how she interacts with us. Mom & I hung out with her at a couple of meals and a "work out" session. It was wheelchair pilates. The vast majority of older people lifted their legs a lil, clapped and stretched; Mom & I did the same but full out & we got sweaty!! Ma's left leg which she fell on does move well but we got her to move her arms & kick her right leg.
But seeing my brother & cousin see her for probably the first time in a year was pretty sad. It made me realize how much really had changed since last year when we were all together at Ocean Isle; running around shopping etc. I know aging happens and my brother & I have been very lucky to have four grandparents our whole lives, but I'm not ready to lose any of them yet! For now, I hope to spend as much time with my family as possible and be grateful for the blessing of family.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
I've been trying to come up with cookie recipes for the two cookie exchanges I'm going to in December. I think I might have to make these as a trial before Thanksgiving to see. I loved making white chocolate cranberry sugar cookies last year around the holidays and I think adding oatmeal might be a great addition!
Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
from Good Things which she adapted from recipe on the back of Craisins
Ingredients:
3/4 c. butter, softened
2/3 c. packed dark brown sugar
a little more than 1 1/2 c. oatmeal
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 c. dried cranberries
2/3 c. white chocolate chips
Directions:
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment.
-In bowl of stand mixer, combine butter and brown sugar and beat on medium high until light and fluffy in texture and color, about 3 minutes, while you gather other ingredients.
-In large bowl, combine oatmeal, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt, stirring to combine.
-To butter and sugar add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine well after each addition, then add vanilla.
-Stop mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl and turn back on lowest setting.
-Add oatmeal mixture, then cranberries and white chocolate, beating just until barely combined.
-Remove bowl from stand mixer and bring over to baking sheets.
-Best way to do this is with your fingers (although messy) - pick up loose balls of dough about 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter and place onto baking sheets at least 2 inches apart (I place 11 cookies on each sheet, dividing dough into 22 cookies total).
-If you have leftover cranberries and white chocolate chips, top cookies with a couple of each.
-Place in preheated oven and bake for exactly 10 minutes.
-Remove from oven, cookies will be slightly golden around edges and middles look a bit underdone.
-Let cool 5 minutes on cookies sheets and then place on wire racks to cool completely before serving.
*I will edit her recipe instructions once I make them and add my own pictures. I don't have a kitchenaid stand mixer so I'll be using my electric mixer. *
Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
from Good Things which she adapted from recipe on the back of Craisins
Ingredients:
3/4 c. butter, softened
2/3 c. packed dark brown sugar
a little more than 1 1/2 c. oatmeal
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 c. dried cranberries
2/3 c. white chocolate chips
Directions:
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment.
-In bowl of stand mixer, combine butter and brown sugar and beat on medium high until light and fluffy in texture and color, about 3 minutes, while you gather other ingredients.
-In large bowl, combine oatmeal, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt, stirring to combine.
-To butter and sugar add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine well after each addition, then add vanilla.
-Stop mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl and turn back on lowest setting.
-Add oatmeal mixture, then cranberries and white chocolate, beating just until barely combined.
-Remove bowl from stand mixer and bring over to baking sheets.
-Best way to do this is with your fingers (although messy) - pick up loose balls of dough about 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter and place onto baking sheets at least 2 inches apart (I place 11 cookies on each sheet, dividing dough into 22 cookies total).
-If you have leftover cranberries and white chocolate chips, top cookies with a couple of each.
-Place in preheated oven and bake for exactly 10 minutes.
-Remove from oven, cookies will be slightly golden around edges and middles look a bit underdone.
-Let cool 5 minutes on cookies sheets and then place on wire racks to cool completely before serving.
*I will edit her recipe instructions once I make them and add my own pictures. I don't have a kitchenaid stand mixer so I'll be using my electric mixer. *
Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Monkey Bread
The recipe calls it "Breakfast Ring" but I've always heard it as Monkey Bread or Pull-Apart bread. However you call it~ its yummy!! My friend Kara made this last Saturday for our homecoming tailgate. It's one of their favorite family recipes and I think now it'll be one of mine! I'm planning to make this recipe again over Thanksgiving weekend. She used raisins instead of chocolate chips. I didn't have any raisins so I used chocolate chips.
Ingredients:
Enjoy!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cans (12.4 oz. each) refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing
1 pkg (4-serving size) vanilla pudding and pie filling mix (not instant)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1. Heat oven to 375. Using 1 Tbsp of the butter, generously butter 12-cup fluted tube pan. In small microwavable bowl, place remaining butter (I separated into two to make it easier to divide in over the layers). Microwave uncovered on High 1 minute, or until melted when stirred.
2. Cut each cinnamon roll in half crosswise. Place half of roll pieces in pan. (Mom's Tip: Make sure the pieces are facing in the same direction.) Sprinkle with half of the pudding mix and half of the brown sugar. Drizzle with half of the melted butter. Repeat with remaining roll pieces, pudding mix, brown sugar and melted butter. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. (Kara used raisins on both layers, instead of chocolate chips.)
3. Bake 24-28 minutes or until rolls are deep golden brown and dough appears done when slightly pulled apart. Cool in pan 2 minutes. Turn upside down onto serving platter. Cool 15 minutes. Microwave icing uncovered on High 10 seconds to soften. Drizzle over ring. Cut into wedges to serve.
Friday, November 13, 2009
NCSU v Maryland (Chi O Homecoming)
We had a great time last Saturday with a bunch of my sisters tailgating before the game then watching the Pack win!! We were a little worried there at the end but then so glad they pulled out the W!! I made thanksgiving Pillsbury cookies (which looked like lil VT hokie cookies) and Trader Joe's pumpkin muffins (with cransins). I think both went over well. 
Here's a few pictures from tailgating. The top is all the Chi Omegas there at that point; I think I few others came & went. The bottom is my rencent favorite picture of Jason & I.
Here's a few pictures from tailgating. The top is all the Chi Omegas there at that point; I think I few others came & went. The bottom is my rencent favorite picture of Jason & I.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Trader Joe's!
Not sure if I've mentioned Trader Joe's much on here but I love it! The new Raleigh store opened last Friday right near Costco (maybe 2nd favorite place to grocery shop) and only 10 mins from us. The Cary TJ's was more like 30 minutes. I'd usually try to stock up whenever I was in Cary, but now I don't have to!!!! I went tonight to check it out, get dinner for myself, things to take for lunches this week, and few of my TJ's staples (frozen fruit, hummus, pizza dough & sauce, wine, pretzel chips, bananas). $82 later; I had all that plus lots more. 4 packed bags full in fact! I plan to try out their pumpkin muffins for this weekends tailgate, the pumpkin pancake mix sounded yummy for Sunday breakfast, got bagels to eat with the Apple Butter wedding favor from 2 weekends ago, the super friendly check out guy told me I HAD to get the maple cookies, etc etc. I'm a sucker for deals on great food. I'll post later if any new items I got should be recommended. :)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Cranberry Feta Pinwheels
Two weeks ago at Chi O Alum dinner club the hostess, Lauren, made these for her Fall Favorite theme. They were so awesome that we requested the recipe! Beth made them for the party last night and they were a hit again! I hope to make them soon~ maybe for dinner?! or as a Thanksgiving weekend appetizer.
Cranberry Feta Pinwheels Recipe:
1 (6 ounce) package sweetened dried cranberries (chopped)
1 (250 g) container spreadable cream cheese
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped green onions
4 large flour tortillas or wheat flour tortillas
chopped nuts (used about 1/2 cup chopped walnuts)
*Lauren & Beth also added some deli turkey meat, after the filling is made she just put some turkey slices on top before rolling them up*
Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients except tortillas (and turkey), mix well.
2. Divide and spread mixture evenly among tortillas.
3. Roll up tightly, wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least one hour.
4. To serve cut into 12 slices.
Enjoy!
Halloween '09
Before I forget, I wanted to make a quick post about last night. Last year Jason went to work dressed as an office zombie and it was a big hit. Our friends Beth & Dave decided to have a Halloween party this year with costumes required/encouraged! 
Jason thought of bringing back the zombie idea. After seeing Zombieland recently and not really having any other or better ideas I thought why not?! Most of our other friends were sticking with couple theme; Ellen & Clark Griswald, 
Cousin Eddie, Cow & Got Milk, etc. 
Jason thought it would be funnier if one of us was a zombie and the other a zombie catcher/killer. He researched it and thought he could pretty easily be Shaun from Shaun of the Dead, as zombie movie I haven't seen. So we ran around yesterday getting white face makeup, black hair dye, black lipstick, fake blood, ripped a jacket from Goodwill & an old black skirt & white shirt for me. Jason cut & bloodied up an old dress shirt of his and trimmed his facial hair into a goatee. He also made a cricket bat & name tag like Shaun has in the movie. 
I think it worked out well. I definitely freaked myself out when I'd see myself in a mirror last night! And UPDATE, when I saw the pictures I wondered why no one told me I looked that BAD! Next year I wanna be something cute!!!
Beth & Dave did a great job with the food & beverages. I think everyone had a great time last night. We saw them at Bojangles this AM if you know what I mean!! :)
Jason thought of bringing back the zombie idea. After seeing Zombieland recently and not really having any other or better ideas I thought why not?! Most of our other friends were sticking with couple theme; Ellen & Clark Griswald, 
Cousin Eddie, Cow & Got Milk, etc. 
Jason thought it would be funnier if one of us was a zombie and the other a zombie catcher/killer. He researched it and thought he could pretty easily be Shaun from Shaun of the Dead, as zombie movie I haven't seen. So we ran around yesterday getting white face makeup, black hair dye, black lipstick, fake blood, ripped a jacket from Goodwill & an old black skirt & white shirt for me. Jason cut & bloodied up an old dress shirt of his and trimmed his facial hair into a goatee. He also made a cricket bat & name tag like Shaun has in the movie. 
I think it worked out well. I definitely freaked myself out when I'd see myself in a mirror last night! And UPDATE, when I saw the pictures I wondered why no one told me I looked that BAD! Next year I wanna be something cute!!!Beth & Dave did a great job with the food & beverages. I think everyone had a great time last night. We saw them at Bojangles this AM if you know what I mean!! :)
Cheryl & Brian's Wedding!
The weekend before this one, we were down in Greenville, SC for my good friend from college's wedding. It was a great time for sure! 
We actually ran into the bride taking some pictures in front of the hotel before the wedding. The photographers who are friends of theirs, did an awesome job, but they also had easy on the eye bride & groom! 
The locations were fabulous. Quite a trip up the mountain to get to "Pretty Place" for the ceremony, but man it was a view!! The ceremony itself was really special & very them. We passed their wedding rings around to all the guest for them to warm them with love.
Cheryl was gorgeous! She and Brian looked so happy & excited. I cried for the first time in a while at the wedding! 
The fall foliage made a beautiful back drop!
After the trip down the mountain, we regrouped to celebrate the new Mr & Mrs Cass! 
The cocktail hour was outside with yummy appetizers and Electric Lemonades as the signature cocktail. The Chi O girls crowded around the couple.
Their first dance was really sweet.
The reception was at a restaurant called The Lazy Goat. Funny name, but great place~ good food & drinks & fun! 
Cheryl & her Chi O sisters. We had a great time catching with college friends & partying with some of our favorites!
They left to bubbles, which make for fun photos; then they ran back inside to keep the celebration going on. 
Beth, Kevin & I ventured out to The Oyster, a cute lil bar on the other side of the hotel for an extra late night beer or two. :-P
We actually ran into the bride taking some pictures in front of the hotel before the wedding. The photographers who are friends of theirs, did an awesome job, but they also had easy on the eye bride & groom! 
The locations were fabulous. Quite a trip up the mountain to get to "Pretty Place" for the ceremony, but man it was a view!! The ceremony itself was really special & very them. We passed their wedding rings around to all the guest for them to warm them with love.
Cheryl was gorgeous! She and Brian looked so happy & excited. I cried for the first time in a while at the wedding! 
The fall foliage made a beautiful back drop!
After the trip down the mountain, we regrouped to celebrate the new Mr & Mrs Cass! 
The cocktail hour was outside with yummy appetizers and Electric Lemonades as the signature cocktail. The Chi O girls crowded around the couple.
Their first dance was really sweet.
The reception was at a restaurant called The Lazy Goat. Funny name, but great place~ good food & drinks & fun! 
Cheryl & her Chi O sisters. We had a great time catching with college friends & partying with some of our favorites!
They left to bubbles, which make for fun photos; then they ran back inside to keep the celebration going on. 
Beth, Kevin & I ventured out to The Oyster, a cute lil bar on the other side of the hotel for an extra late night beer or two. :-P
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