Happy New Year!!

(graphic from "Free clip art" on Hubpages)

LIFE I AM THE NEW YEAR
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Life I am the new year.
I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.
I am your next chance at the art of living.
I am your opportunity to practice what you have learned about life during the last twelve months.
All that you sought and didn't find is hidden in me,
waiting for you to search it out with more determination.
All the good that you tried for and didn't achieve
is mine to grant when you have fewer conflicting desires.
All that you dreamed but didn't dare to do, all that you hoped but did not will,
all the faith that you claimed but did not have --
these slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened
by the touch of a strong purpose.
I am your opportunity
to renew your allegiance to Him who said, "behold, I make all things new."
I am the new year.
-- Author Unknown

Red Velvet Shortbread Cookies - reworked

I didn't bake as much this year as I usually do. We usually have too many cookies left over and then I eat them all. That is really NOT what I need to do. So I scaled down my baking. Plus I ran out of time. I did make these but subbed holiday M&M's instead of safe chocolate chips (since he passed his peanut challenge in October). And I took Kinnitoos Vanilla Sandwich cookies and dipped them in chocolate. It's easy and everyone likes chocolate covered cookies. But I saw this recipe for red velvet shortbread cookies on Tastykitchen.com and they looked so festive that I just had to make them. The recipe also didn't include egg, so that was one ingredient I didn't have to sub for. They turned out delicious and I'm having one right now with my coffee (and yes, I've started my New Years Diet but that doesn't include a morning cookie at the moment).

Gluten Free, Egg Free, Nut Free (and can be dairy free) Red Velvet Shortbread Cookies



Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup Bette's Gourmet Featherlight Rice Flour Blend (Authentic Foods)
2. 1/4 brown rice flour
3. 1/4 cup arrowroot starch
4. 1/4 cup sorghum flour
5. 1 tsp. xantham gum
6. 1 tsp. baking powder
7. 1/2 tsp. baking soda
8. 1/3 cup sugar
9. 2 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
10. 1/4 tsp. salt
11. 1/2 cup butter or dairy free margarine, cut up
12. 1 Tbs. red food coloring (or adjust until you get the color you want)
13. 3 ounces safe white chocolate chips
14. 1 tsp. shortening
15. sprinkles (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a food processor combine the flours, xantham gum, baking powder, baking soda. Cover and pulse until mixed well. Add the sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Cover and pulse until combined. Add the butter/margarine and the red food coloring. Pulse until mixture resembles crumbs. Then continue to process until mixture clumps together.

2. Scoop dough onto parchment paper and knead for 2 minutes. Press dough until approximately 1/2 inch think. Cut with round cooking cutter and move cutouts to cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Continue with scraps until all dough is used.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until middle is set. Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool.

4. In sauce pan, melt white chocolate chips and shortening over low heat, stirring constantly. Dip half of each cooking into melted chocolate and add sprinkles if desired. Place back on parchment paper until set. Store in sealed container.

Enjoy!!

Another Christmas has past...

The older I get the faster time seems to fly. I can't believe that Christmas 2009 is behind us and that we are looking to 2010. My boys are getting so big. I just want time to slow down a bit so that I can savor this time when they are little. Every time I turn around another child is wearing floods. I can't seem to keep them in pants that actually fit.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were rather quiet at our house and I was able to take in every second of the wonder. They boys were excited for Santa's arrival. Mom on the other hand was feeling a terrible upper respiratory infection coming on (and oh did it ever! I think Santa brought toys and GERMS with him...)



Before Christmas Eve mass



Milk and cookies for Santa and some carrots for the Reindeer



The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

Present opening happened so quickly that I don't have any "during" pictures



But they look happy in the "after" pictures so I guess that Santa did good



Checking out the stockings

Grandma and Grandpa came over later with more presents and then we visited the other set of Grandparents the next day.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!

Merry Christmas

Luke 2: 1 - 14
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1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'i-us was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.
7 And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
10 And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people;
11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"

My oldest son is getting coal this year

This morning I was in the kitchen looking for new and wonderful recipes to make for Christmas dinner. My son comes in the kitchen and gives me a really big hug (which he doesn't go often) and says lovingly, "Thank you Mom". And I said "Your welcome, honey".
(Boy) "Thank you for working my Christmas party at school yesterday".

(Mom) "You're welcome. I enjoy being there with you and your classmates. I had fun".

(Boy - as he's walking away) "Thank you Mom. Do you want to know why I said 'Thank You' again"?

(Mom - thinking it's going to be something really sweet) "Sure, honey".

(Boy - yelling as he runs off) "Because you're forty and you probably couldn't hear me".

You better run boy. I may be forty, but I'm still faster....

Guess he forgot who does the Christmas shopping in this house.

Fa la la: We're in the home stretch

Only 8 days left until Christmas. Are you excited? I am. And a bit behind.

I've been at the school all week for various projects/plays/musical shows. Today was my only non school day and as luck would have it the Little Man came in my room at 4:30 AM complaining that his throat hurt. Surely it couldn't be strep. He just finished his last round of antibiotics for strep on Sunday. But he was crying and he had a fever and it sure "looked" like strep. And it looked like my free day was no longer free. I was going to finish my Christmas shopping today, but you can't drag a child with strep through crowded stores. Well I could, but then I might be giving the gift of strep to many people for the holidays. The good thing about getting up at 4:30 AM is that it allowed me to get my Christmas cards addressed (but I don't have stamps) and the treat bags for tomorrows school Christmas party put together. At least I was productive. The pediatrician confirmed it this afternoon. It's strep and he is on another course of antibiotics. Sadly he'll miss his Christmas party tomorrow at school. He missed his Halloween party because of strep. This has been going on way too long.

Some highlights from the past week:



Monday we built gingerbread houses. The Little Man's allergy friendly one didn't hold up so well and we had a roof collapse. So what's a mom to do? Stick a big wad of marshmallows on the inside of the house and call it an avalanche. He was still a bit disappointed but we tried our best.


They did the nativity at school (I don't have pictures of that, only video) and then Noah's Ark. The Little Man was the rainbow.



Taking a bow.

Just keeping busy with Christmas prep

The days are flying by and December 25th is getting closer. Things are getting done but I still feel like there is much to do. The boys presents have all been bought and wrapped. I have about 50% of the family members presents bought.

The house is all decorated and looking festive for Saturday Evenings "business" Christmas party. Except that the porch lights keep blowing a fuse, in the actual lights. I've fixed it a few times, but since the temperatures went to 18 degrees F and the winds are 50 MPH, they are currently out and staying that way until I find my parka. Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well please for Saturday's party. I'm a tad nervous...

I think I have all of next weeks school activities on the calendar and I have one allergy friendly gingerbread house ready to go for Monday's house building.

I even managed to find 2 out of 3 teacher's gifts (by accident). I stopped at a local nursery yesterday to pick out a wreath for our front door. Apparently the winds were so high that they blew the roof off of their greenhouse (It's a HUGE greenhouse) destroying all the stuff inside so they had to close down to get everything put back together. So I stopped at a local farm instead and found a wreath, but also found some really nice gift baskets filled with local honey, pure maple syrup, pancake mix, Amish apple butter etc. They're really cute and hopefully it's something the teachers will actually use.

I haven't started baking yet. And there is still a bit of shopping to do. But I think things are, dare I say, under control.

Oh and I posted the other day about honey baked ham possibly being gluten free. I emailed them just to double check and here is their response:

Dear Janeen,

Thank you so much for your email. We always enjoy hearing from our
valued guests. To answer your question, there is no wheat, rye, barley,
oat, eggs, or tree nuts in The HoneyBaked Ham. If you need anything
else, please let me know.

Warmest Regards,

Bill Walters
Guest Experience Manager
The HoneyBaked Ham Company of Ohio
11935 Mason-Montgomery Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45249
Office: 800-394-4424 ext. 4103
Fax: 513-583-4191
bwalters@honeybaked-oh.com
Visit us on the web at www.honeybakedforyou.com

I'm still not trying it on Christmas(I already bought our ham that I will make myself) but I will consider this for the future!

And after all that, I'll leave you with this:


(pre-hair cuts)


(same day, post hair cuts)



And to all, a good night :)

Wheat Allergy Alert

This came over from FAAN today:

WHEAT ALLERGY ALERT
December 7, 2009

College Inn is recalling “College Inn® No MSG Chicken Broth” due to undeclared wheat.

The product was distributed nationwide.

The 14 ½-oz. cans are mislabeled “No MSG” and bear any “best by date” with UPC 2400032230.

Consumers may return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may call (800) 552-7684 or visit www.CollegeInn.com.

DUDE, Honeybaked Ham is now gluten free

I had no idea! But while doing research for WEGO Health today I came upon this post from Allergn Free Please and that's what she said. So I went to the website and in the FAQ section it says :

What are the ingredients in The HoneyBaked Ham®?
Ham Cured With Water, Salt, Sodium Lactate, Sugar, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Diacetate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite.
Glazed With Sugar, Gelatin, Paprika (Color), Maltodextrin, Food Starch - Modified, Dextrose, Spices, Natural Flavor [With Brown Sugar. Invert Sugar], Natural Flavoring.
*** You are now free to enjoy any of our signature meats (HoneyBaked Ham, Sliced & Glazed Turkey, HoneyBaked Deli Style Boneless Ham) without wheat gluten!


SWEEEETTTT!!

I'm not sure I'm going to try this on Christmas (I have a fear of spending Christmas in the ER). But we will be trying this out for future reference.

Just thought I'd pass this along for anyone else who'd like to be lazy and buy a ham instead of make one (which is actually really easy).

Time sucks that get me every time

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