• Praline Cookies - an amazing alternative to pralines!
    Cookies - Dessert - Recipes

    Praline Cookies

    December 9, 2014 - By 

    Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas {Treats}! I love pralines, but often find them to be so sweet that one bite is plenty. When I found this recipe for Praline Cookies, I knew it had to jump to the top of my list. When I made them recently, I was not disappointed in the least! So good. Servings: 24 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 1/2 cup softened butter 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar (I used dark) 1 large egg 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 cup chopped pecans 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup…

  • This Butterfinger Dip can be whipped up the night before that party.
    Appetizers & Snacks - Recipes

    Butterfinger Dip

    December 8, 2014 - By 

    This Butterfinger Dip is so easy and so yummy. It will be gone before you know it. This is great served with graham cracker sticks or thick pretzels. I really like the Honey Wheat Braided Twist pretzels from Kroger with this dip. Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas {Treats}! Servings: 8 Prep Time: 5 minutes + 30 minutes to chill Cooking Time: none Ingredients: 1 8 oz. box of cream cheese 1/2 stick of butter 1/2 cup of powdered sugar 1/4 cup of brown sugar 1 tbs. vanilla 3/4 cup of crushed Butterfingers Serve with pretzels or graham cracker…

  • Chocolate Banana Bites
    Cookies - Dessert - Recipes

    Chocolate Banana Bites

    December 6, 2014 - By 

    Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas {Treats}!I decided to try something a little different for Day 6! These Chocolate Banana Bites are like a little bite of banana pudding covered in chocolate. So delicious! Servings: 30 Prep Time: 30 minutes Cooking Time: 0 minutes Ingredients: 2-3 bananas 1/2 package of almond chocolate bark 1/2 jar of peanut butter 1 box Mini ‘Nilla Wafers

  • Nutella Pumpkin Bites
    Appetizers & Snacks - Recipes

    Nutella Pumpkin Bites

    December 5, 2014 - By 

    Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas {Treats}! Today is Day 5 of our 12 Days of Christmas treats and we’re sharing a simple recipe for Nutella Pumpkin Bites. These are not overly sweet and they are not overly pumpkin-flavored either. I’m not a huge fan of pumpkin spice, so I don’t include that in my pumpkin recipes. Give these a try for your next Christmas party! Servings: 24 Prep Time: 5 minutes + 30 minutes to chill Cooking Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 1 cup of Nutella 1/3 cup of pumpkin pure 1/2 cup of confectioner’s sugar crescent rolls or…

  • Chocolate Chip Cookies - Great to make ahead for this busy holiday season.
    Cookies - Recipes

    Chocolate Chip Cookies

    December 4, 2014 - By 

    Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas {Treats}!This recipe calls for you to make these ahead of time to allow the dough to harden. This makes it so much easier to ball them out for perfectly shaped cookie. Servings: 24 Prep Time: 10 minutes + 12+ hours chill time Cooking Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1 3/4 butter 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 1 tbs. vanilla extract 12 oz. bittersweet chocolate chips Sea salt for sprinkling

  • Snowballs made with Browned Butter
    Cookies - Recipes

    Snowballs {Made with Browned Butter}

    December 3, 2014 - By 

    Today on our 12 Days of Christmas Treats post we’re sharing a great standby. This traditional Snowball cookies are a Christmas favorite in my many households. I know they’re one of my husband’s favorite cookies. I used the traditional recipe, but improved it by using browned butter, which adds a bit of richness to the cookies. Servings: 3 dozen Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes for each batch Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups finely chopped pecans 1/4 cup sugar 1 1/4 cup browned butter 2 tsp. vanilla 2 cups powdered sugar

  • Recipes

    Browned Butter {A how to}

    December 2, 2014 - By 

    1. Put the butter in a sauce pan. 2. Heat the butter on medium high, and stir constantly. 3. When the butter turns to a light tan color, remove the pan from the heat. The butter will continue cook even when the pan is removed from the heat. 4. When the butter becomes a nutty brown color, pour the butter into a room temperature dish and is at the point ready for use. Photo Credit

  • Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Crackers
    Cookies - Dessert - Recipes

    Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Crackers

    December 2, 2014 - By 

    Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas {Treats}! One of my favorite things about Christmas growing up was going to my Granny’s house. She always had tins full of the yummiest treats that she only made at Christmas. Chocolate fudge, peanut butter fudge, and these chocolate peanut butter cookies. Servings: 60 Prep Time: 30 minutes Cooking Time: 0 minutes Ingredients: 1 package of almond chocolate bark 1 package of almond white chocolate bark 1 box of Ritz Crackers 1 jar of peanut butter

  • Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
    Cookies - Recipes

    Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

    December 1, 2014 - By 

    Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas Treats! For the next 12 days, we’ll be sharing some awesome recipes that you can use for those upcoming Christmas parties and get togethers. For Day 1, we’ve got a new and different cookie called Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. Servings: about 30 cookies Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 10 minutes Ingredients: 2/3 cup softened butter 2/3 cup brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats 1 1/2 cups flour 2 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 2/3 cup dried cranberries 2/3 cup chopped walnuts 2/3…

  • Memories of the Month - Taking time to document the important memories from January.
    Life

    Memories of the Month {12.2013}

    December 31, 2013 - By 

    This month I was happy about: Christmas! This month I was sad about: my Dad passing away. Something I accomplished this month was: being able to speak at my Dad’s memorial service, but it was all God!

  • Life

    Year in Review 2013

    December 30, 2013 - By 

    My favorite moments of 2013: ================ [January] Over MLK weekend, we went to the mountains with the S family and stayed in their cabin. So. much. fun! ================ [February] Rob, Alex, and I attended our family Church Retreat for the 1st time. While we were there, Drew was also there with the youth. Drew played in his first season at Jr. Varsity Soccer.

  • Life

    Court of Honor

    December 16, 2013 - By 

    During the Boy Scout Court of Honor/Christmas Party, Drew and Vincent were recognized for their leadership as Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader.

  • Memories of the Month - Taking time to document the important memories from January.
    Life

    Memories of the Month {12.2012}

    December 31, 2012 - By 

    This is my last monthly summary for the year! I’m really glad I did this this year. It will be great to look back years from now and have a quick ‘summary’ of each month. I plan to keep doing it in 2013. I’m wondering what I else I should ask myself each month. Is there anything useful that could be added? Any suggestions? This month I was happy about: enjoying the holiday season. This month I was sad about: nada. Somethings I accomplished this month were: hitting a problem head on and being able to resolve it even though…

  • Life

    Year in Review 2012

    December 30, 2012 - By 

    My favorite moments of 2012: ================ [January] Hanging out in Atlanta with the family for Drew’s 14th birthday. ================ [February] The week with my niece.

  • Life

    See Ya, 2012!

    December 30, 2012 - By 

    What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before? Ziplined through the jungle of Honduras Did you keep your new years’ resolutions and will you make more for next year? I don’t think I really had any besides the same ones I always want to do. Did anyone close to you give birth? My sis-in-law, Jill, had a baby girl in November. Did anyone close to you die? Yes, Rob’s Grandmother What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012? Less stress, less worrying, more peace. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon…

  • Life

    Christmas Day 2012

    December 29, 2012 - By 

    Christmas Day was busy. We started off with homemade sausage balls and apple strudals. Then Rob and I looked in our stockings and the boys showed us what they had in their stockings, since that’s the one thing they can look at before Rob and I get up. Then the obligatory pics in front of the Christmas tree. Finally, what the kids had been waiting for since 6:30 am, the opening of the presents! Daisy’s looking for hers. Great gift, lil’ bro! Daisy ripping open her 2nd present. After opening gifts playing his new games. My sweet girl hanging out…

  • Life

    Christmas Eve 2012

    December 27, 2012 - By 

    Christmas Eve and the day before, I was busy baking and cooking. In the late afternoon of Christmas Eve, Alex performed in our church’s children pageant. He was a shepherd (without a headdress for some reason). Our preachers welcoming us. Afterwards, we went home to eat the Christmas Eve meal that I had prepared was similar to what I did last year. Instead of doing green beans, I made baked beans. We had: Honey Baked Ham Hash Brown Casserole Homemade Baked Beans – recipe coming soon After our dinner, we watched a Christmas movie and then went back to church…

  • Carnival Dream::Day 8 {Disembarkation & Daytona}
    Travel

    Carnival Dream::Day 8 {Disembarkation & Daytona}

    December 27, 2012 - By 

    ~ Day 1::Day of Embarkation ~ Day 2::Fun Day at Sea ~ Day 3::Cozumel ~ Day 4::Belize ~ Day 5::Roatan 1 ~ Day 5::Roatan 2 ~ Day 6::Costa Maya ~ Day 7::Day at Sea ~ At port in Port Canaveral On the last day of the cruise, you get up, eat breakfast, and head to the location where you sit until your tag number is called. You see here that our tag number was 34. We came to realize we were the 2nd to last group to be called. How did we get that lucky? We have no idea. **sarcasm**…

  • Life

    Family Date Night {Hockey}

    December 22, 2012 - By 

    Friday night we enjoyed our family date night in Columbus to see the Columbus Cottonmouths. They beat the Mississippi Surge 5-2. Here’s a few pics from the game. When the game concluded we were famished so we went to Carrabas for a yummy dinner. I found this quick highlight video.