For my own organization...and happies...

Christmas Menu~

Breakfast: pull-apart coffee cake,

scramby eggs,

fruit,

sausage patties,

Dinner: seafood gratin,

green salad,
crusty bread

Dessert: pumpkin caramel mousse,
roasted quinces and pears with creme anglaise ,
apple pie,

cherry pie

Recent Food Catch-up

Last night, I tried a new popover recipe. Popovers have always been a favorite in the Burnett (my mother's) family, and there is much mystery surrounding them: never open the oven in the middle of baking or they'll fall! My grandmother even swears her oven stopped being able to pop popovers, so now they can only eat them when someone else makes them. Well, I love the things, mostly because their hollow insides provide a perfect vehicle for butter and jam... I had to document how POPPED these guys were, just for posterity! And I'm glad I did, as they immediately fell when I turned the oven down. I'm talking flat as a pancake. Oh well, someday I'll understand why...

Before our cruise, we had a ton of crusty bread and lots of eggs to get rid of, so I made a strata. I used a recipe that called for spinach and pancetta (I used bacon), and it was delicious, I have to say. Crispy on top, sort of creamy in the middle. Very savory. Yum.

Gingy-Bread Housens and Tree Geschmitzen

The virgin gingerbread house

Extreme Make-Over Home Edition

Jesse's contribution

Jud's contribution

"Humbug!"

Tara reviews our work

The Christmas Card Picture...

We decided to be grown-ups this year and send cards. Why not include a picture for relatives we haven't seen in years? Armed with dogs and a self-timer, we began the ordeal. Who could have known...



We begin: Jesse sets the stage with the dogs.



First attempt.



Third attempt produces demon dogs and husband.



It might appear that things are going well. With a second look, you might notice the glimmer of surprise in Jud's eyes, and the dawning horror in ours...



Jud has infused the air with a scent only a hound could produce. He is very proud.

Our resolve is waning.

We're getting tired.

Desperate.

Hungry.

Delirious.

Slap-happy.

Come what may, this was our last-ditch effort. Attempt number 45. After an hour at Walmart, 20 of these gems were sent out to long-lost friends and relatives. If you do not receive one, it is only because we were very hap-hazard in our card-sending (i.e. my old boss was sent a card, while several grandmothers were left out...)

Let it Snow!

I love the first snow of the season. As long as it's not it September, as it often was in Idaho. It has finally come, and just in time for Christmas. Here's Jesse trying to figure out the snow-blower...

Although I'm not looking forward to driving around Spokane in it, I'm glad we'll hopefully have a white Christmas.

Christmas Tree Hunting with Kelly

The other day, we took a trip to Jesse's Aunt Pam and Uncle Dean's to help Kelly pick out a Christmas tree. A quick stop by Krispy Kreme, and we were on our way. Pam and Dean live about an hour away in northern Idaho, and it was nice to get out of Spokane for a bit.

Off to a good start, we bundled up and set off into the woody area around the house. Spirits were high.

Here's Kelly milking the last of the juice from her camera battery. Yes, Kelly, I have even more pictures than I've posted here, if you can believe it...

After some hemming and hawing (and some teasing from Jesse), we found a tree that met standards. The boys went to work.

We had to take a quick photo op. at the nearby elk statue, of course. By this time, little Adam was done.

But Jesse wasn't. The Knight and his trusty elk-steed...

I had to include this sequence because it makes me laugh (and feel a little bad). This is what seems to happen lately whenever I try to play with Soli. I guess it's not a good idea to flash a camera in a happy baby's face...

By the end of the day, we were all tired, but content. I know Jud was spent--he slept on the boys the whole ride home.

Happiness is...

Christmas cookies. Jesse and I have yet to have a Christmas at home. In years past, we have finished busy semesters full of papers, plays, and puppies (and one especially stressful year, pneumonia), hopped in the car, and driven off to be with family. Consequently, I have never had the time to do some serious holiday baking. After dinner last night, everyone was either upstairs or down, the dogs were asleep, the fireplace was flickering, and the kitchen was clean. A perfect opportunity. So I turned on a little "Christmas with the Crooners," washed my hands, and went to work. My Grandma Peggy recently gave me some of our family's recipe classics. So I zenned out and whipped up some Nutty Nuggets and set aside some Anise Seed Cookies (which have just come out of the oven). Isn't it funny what things become special to us? I'm not a huge fan of walnuts in general, but these cookies bring back wonderful memories of afternoon teas with my grandparents in their Ashland sun room. One more Christmas away from my family... I hope they know how much I love and miss them this time of year.

Nutty Nuggets:

1 Cup butter

4 Tbsp sugar

1 Cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla

2 Cups chopped walnuts

powdered sugar for rolling

Cream butter and sugar, add other ingredients. Chill dough. Roll into 1-inch (ish) balls. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. When cooled slightly, roll in powdered sugar. When completely cool, roll again.

Home Safe and Sound

Welp, we're back. The cruise was great, as was Disneyland. Disneyland + Christmas = almost too much to bear. So much happiness. I'll post some pictures soon, but as of now, most of them are on Facebook. It was really great to see family, and we didn't have any major meltdowns. So Hi Ho, Hi Ho. You guessed it. Back to work we go. We got the house all Christmasified today, and caught up on a little sleep. And now back to the real world. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

By the way, this is what you get when you live with two men and a teenager: they all lost weight on the cruise! I haven't the courage to weigh in. Think I'll wait a week or two...