JenOni

Archives for December 2009

Christmas 2009 —Time to Exhale!

Don’t get me wrong I love Christmas! However it always gets really hectic leading up to the Christmas day. I made two trips to the mall and two trips to the outlets. The tree was picked up on Monday and the kids helped me decorate on Tuesday. It may seem last minute but I always feel like I am truly in the spirit- the week of Christmas. On Tuesday and Wednesday I wrapped all the presents for the kids. My baking started on Wednesday with my favorite oatmeal raisin cookies and red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Since we were over another turkey dinner, I roasted my oven stuffer on Wednesday as well. By Thursday I delivered the cookies and cupcakes to my little diva’s daycare center. I also made some last minute stops at the mall(I know crazy), Target, supermarket and the Wine & Spirits store. My new favorite spirit is Nuvo . Definitely recommend trying it if you have a chance…

Two years ago I bought the Wilton gingerbread house kit. The instructions are a little misleading because I assumed this was a quick, no frills project and boy was I wrong. The kit requires a lot of set time for the base of the house and adding the roof. Time required is between 1hr to 3 hrs. Although we had fun doing it 2 years ago, I decided to try it again this year. My little man started off with the initial set-up but when the house became uncooperative with collapsing he walked away with his hands up. Oh, and I forgot to mention the messy icing that was on every surface in the kitchen. Just like all well intended projects with the kids I was left to salvage the house and decorate it on my own. Needless to say I was not very pleased with the outcome but it was finished and that is what mattered. Next time I will leave this project to all the talented pastry chefs out there.


I also wanted to bake some Magic Cookie bars and finish my side dishes for dinner on Friday. Magic Cookie Bars are a no fail easy bar cookie. If you like chocolate chips, coconut and nuts it is a really yummy bar cookie. The nice part about the recipe is there are variations to the original recipe. You can substitute the chocolate chips for butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, whatever your preference.

By the end of the night I had a nice champagne flute filled with my Nuvo nightcap. I thought the rest of the night would be uneventful when I attempted to put the presents under the tree. In the wee hours of Christmas morning I was underneath the tree organizing the presents and my little diva decided to come looking for me. Well of course I was caught red handed with a good story as to why I was organizing the gifts “Santa ” delivered.

On Christmas morning, the kids were up by 8:00 and ready to go downstairs. The kids were excited while opening their presents and that made the hustle and bustle well worth it.One thing I enjoy about Christmas is indulging on yummy goodies. On Christmas morning I decided to pull out the waffle iron and make the kids semi-homemade waffles. This was a treat because I rarely use my waffle iron. In between cleaning up the kitchen I managed to make homemade rolls, cutout butter cookies and rolled my pie crust.

After dinner which was roasted chicken, cornbread stuffing, greens, sweet potato souffle with pineapples and cheesy macaroni & cheese; I looked forward to my desserts. The butter cookies(the kids ate all of these except for the one), magic cookie bars, red velvet cupcakes and sweet potato pie.

All I can say is a new workout regimen is definitely in the works for the new year after these homemade goodies..

I hope your holidays were filled with friends, family and scrumptious foods! Have a very Happy & Prosperous New Year!

Countdown to Christmas 2009

Each year it seems as if Christmas sneaks up on me and there is never enough time between Thanksgiving and the week of Christmas.
Last night me and my assistants put up our Christmas tree. In the middle of decorating my little diva smashed a few of my glass ornaments(no injuries) and she never said a peep. Wow, after supervising , unpacking boxes, and then putting the boxes back in storage I wished for a really nice cocktail. The real drama started when I assigned only one child to put on the candy canes, What was I thinking? Our finished product was far better than expected. I cannot put any wrapped presents under the tree until Christmas Eve night (or more like the wee hours of Christmas morning) or risk having each present opened before Christmas morning.

Tonight one of my assistants helped me whip up one of my favorite oatmeal raisin cookies. Recipe featured on my “Christmas Cookie”post. These are a special treat for my little diva’s daycare center.


I wanted to bake a different holiday treat for the kids so I whipped up some Red Velvet Cupcakes. Some of these are being delivered to the daycare center tomorrow since there is no need for us to have 24 cupcakes in our house over the next few days. I still have my butter cookies, magic cookie bar and more oatmeal raisin cookies to bake. This is the first time I used a red velvet recipe for cupcakes. One thing about cupcakes is the fact they are very time consuming and in this case a little messy with the red food coloring. Oh, and did I mention the scrumptious cream cheese frosting. I sprinkled the cupcakes with a little red sugar. Recipe for cupcakes below.


Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 pound cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
Chopped pecans and fresh raspberries or strawberries, for garnish
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers.
In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.
Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.
Garnish with chopped pecans and a fresh raspberry or strawberry
Cook’s Note: Frost the cupcakes with a butter knife or pipe it on with a big star tip.

Favorite Cookie Recipe #5

(picture from jif.com)

Peanut Butter Blossoms
Ingredients
1/2 cup Crisco® Butter Shortening
1/2 cup Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Sugar
48 foil-wrapped milk chocolate pieces, unwrapped
Directions
1. HEAT oven to 375°F.
2.CREAM together shortening, peanut butter, brown sugar and 1/2 cup sugar. Add egg, milk and vanilla. Beat well.
3. STIR together flour, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Beat on low speed until stiff dough forms.
4. SHAPE into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
5.BAKE 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
6.TOP each cookie immediately with an unwrapped chocolate piece, pressing down firmly so that cookie cracks around edge. Remove from cookie sheets to cool.

The Prissy Mommy Chronicles Elmo Loves You DVD Giveaway


Both of my kids have literally grown up with Sesame Street(little do they know mommy and Sesame Street are the same age this year)and their favorite character is Elmo of course. We have been through everything Elmo- stuffed toys, Tickle Me Elmo, books and movies. I am really excited about this giveaway and my little diva is still giddy when she sees Elmo on Sesame Street. What amazes me the most about Sesame Street is the number of characters added over the past 30+ years.

Another one of my favorite mommy blogs, The Prissy Mommy Chronicles is hosting a giveaway for the Elmo Loves You DVD. The DVD is a sing-along adventure about love, emotions and friendship. For your chance to win this DVD, here’s the link below:

The Prissy Mommy Chronicles Elmo Loves You DVD

My Little Man’s Cologne

On Saturday me and my little man were headed home from an activity when he said “mom I have something to tell you”. In my mind I was thinking, Oh Lord what happened in school on Friday that he forgot to tell me. After I exhaled, he finally revealed he had a crush on his math classmate. I think my response was ok, what do you say next? This revelation brought on a slight makeover for my little man.

When I went upstairs on Saturday evening the smell smacked me in the face-my little man had doused himself with cologne. I demanded he jump in the shower, whew! On Monday I thought we were through with the cologne, what was I thinking? His crush was obviously going to be in school. He did a quick spritz of cologne before heading out to the bus. Next, he rinsed with mouthwash. This was interesting in light of the fact I have a hard time getting this kid to brush his teeth. I need to thank his crush and I’m sure his teeth are happy. Did any of the kids on the bus stop notice the cologne and his sparkling teeth? and if so what were they thinking?

I’m thinking what is next? shaving and then aftershave? I have to giggle inside to see him transform into this new person, but then I cringe when I think about what is down the road!

Christmas Recipe Applesauce Nut Bread

I first baked this recipe for Christmas in 1978. The recipe was snipped from the local newspaper.

Applesauce Nut Bread
1 cup sugar
1 cup applesauce
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 egg whites
3 tablespoons milk
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted before measuring
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

In a large mixing bowl combine sugar, applesauce, oil, egg whites, and milk; mix until well blended. Into another bowl, sift flour, soda, baking powder, salt, and spices. Stir into the first mixture until well blended; stir in chopped pecans or walnuts. Spread batter in a greased and floured 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.Bake at 350° for 60 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Favorite Christmas Cookie #4


*picture from landolakes.com


Butter Cookies

1cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened
1cup sugar
1LAND O LAKES® All-Natural Egg
2tablespoons orange juice
1tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2cups all-purpose flour
1teaspoon baking powder

Frosting Ingredients:
3cups powdered sugar
1/3cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened
1teaspoon vanilla
1 to 2 tablespoons milk Food color, if desired

Combine 1 cup butter, sugar and egg in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add orange juice and vanilla; mix well. Reduce speed to low; add flour and baking powder. Beat until well mixed.Divide dough into thirds. Wrap each in plastic food wrap; flatten slightly. Refrigerate until firm (2 to 3 hours). Heat oven to 400°F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-third at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to 1/8- to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with 3-inch cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets; sprinkle with decorator sugar. Bake for 6 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Combine powdered sugar, 1/3 cup butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla in small bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often and gradually adding enough milk for desired spreading consistency. Tint with food color, if desired. Frost and decorate cooled cookies as desired

Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipe #3

*picture from eaglebrand.com

Chocolate Chip Treasure Cookies
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
2 cups (12 oz. pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts
HEAT oven to 375ºF. Combine graham cracker crumbs, flour and baking powder in small bowl.
BEAT sweetened condensed milk and butter in large bowl until smooth.
ADD crumb mixture; mix well. Stir in coconut, chocolate chips and walnuts. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
BAKE 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool.

The Princess and the Frog Movie Premiere

Since my little man was off from school I decided to take both kids to see the movie before the weekend rush. We surprised my little diva at school with her new tiara and the fact we were going to see the movie this evening. Thanks to my little man for being such a good sport! He told me to hide him going into the theatre because it was a princess movie. I tried to find my little diva some goodies before we picked her up from school. The animation was exceptional, the music was definitely on point and plenty of comedic moments throughout the movie. Princess Tiana is absolutely beautiful!
The kids appeared to enjoy the movie and my little diva did very well with sitting for over an hour. I am anxious to discuss the movie with other moms to get your thoughts. My lips are sealed on the movie, so hurry and see it this weekend.
The movie was obviously a hit it debuted at $25million this weekend!
Our photos: little diva in the car with tiara, outside the theatre, The Princess and the Frog goodies