Home & Season

We sure did have a blast on Christmas eve/Christmas Day. I and the kiddos baked cookies and decorated them for Santa. We even threw reindeer oats in our frontyard…because of course that is what they eat. The best part ever is when Solomon ran upstairs up to our room and screamed, “Mama, dada, Santa came!” That was so precious. The boys and my neices opened all their presents and of course I took lots of pics…priceless. We then got packed and headed out to Corpus to visit both sides of the family. We arrived at My in-laws where the kids opened more gifts. We enjoyed a dinner of arroz con pollo…yum. Then we headed out to view cool Christmas lights. We returned where my mother-in-law had warm chocolate ready for us. The next day we headed out to my mom and dads where of course the kids opened more gifts…and whata ya know…more food. Forget the calories! We had some awesome posole…oh so good if you’ve never had it. Talk about feeling like a balloon. I wouldn’t have changed a thing, no regrets. I know we have all put on some pounds! New Year Resolution….LOSE WEIGHT….of course! Above are some pics of our Christmas. Enjoy, from our family to yours.

I know I know it came and went, but come reminisce with me……. 

It’s Thanksgiving morning, 12:00 a.m. to be exact and I am still awake cleaning the remnents of cookie dough and sprinkles that the kids have left behind on the kitchen island. The kids are all fast asleep and I am placing the last batch of cream-of-tarter cookies into the oven. My sister-in-law is prepping the banana bread, Isaac is cleaning upstairs and Michael is nowhere to be found. My feet ache yet I am determined to have all desserts prepared for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Oh darn, I almost forgot the apple-butter pumpkin pie in the oven, a delicious recipe from good’ole Southern girl, Paula Deen (food network channel).

A few minutes pass and I realize I don’t have enough of the spice I will use for my rub on the turkey. Isaac and Micheal head out to HEB to pick up more…so sweet! They return with Taco Cabana…crazy, you can’t send those two out without having an agenda of their own! I quickly begin toasting the blend of spices as the recipe specifically calls for and then onto the blender it goes. I am beginning to get worried…”will it be good, was this a dumb idea to try and take on the big bird myself?” Ok, enough of the paranoid talk….gotta get the regular pumpkin pie out of the oven. Denise is now onto her pecan pies. I am finally done (2:00 a.m.)…at least for now. Time to go get some rest…at least what I can get.

The alarm sounds, it is 9:30 a.m. Time to rise and shine! The outside temperature has dropped significantly, God you sure know how to bring in the holiday and warm my heart. I am feeling confident. No one else is awake in the home, so I quickly run to the kitchen and begin peeling the sweet potatoes to boil. I get the defrosted turkey out of the refrigerator….Denise and Isaac join me. Denise slices the veggies as I prepare the chicken stock for the gravy. We’re moving now….all four burners are going and the turkey is now being stuffed with lemons and rosemary. Isaac pours the olive oil and I embed the special blend of spices onto the bird. Oh what a site! I run to my room to freshen up…guests will be here shortly. Three hours later its done…WHAT!!! No way, grandma would not approve or believe! All credit is given to the special blend which formed a nice crust and maintained the juices.

12:00 p.m. and I hear Isaac calling, “You’re parents are here.” I run down the stairs, take a quick look at everything. The house smells of fall spices, the freshener is of apple pie, the living room is neat and not to metion the aroma of a suculant turkey. As I open the door I am greeted not just by my parents baring gifts for the kiddos but also by my nephew James and Isaac’s cousins, Abel and Roxanne. Wow…perfect timing. Hugs and kisses are exchanged and we all walk in anxiously to celebrate together. We are later joined by my in-laws, who made it in the nick of time. Picture time….enjoy

 I was a happy camper as I heard many compliments on how delicious the food was. This was by far one of the most memorable Thanksgivings I will never forget. More family joined us later on that evening. Everything went so smoothly, everyone ate, laughed and asked for seconds. Oh Thank you Lord for family, food and fun.

Hello Thanksgiving!

For the very first time I will be making the BIRD…well I will have many helpful hands. I took it upon myself to find a five star recipe. I am making my own rub and will be stuffing the bird with many aromatic ingredients…yum. For the past couple of years Isaac has been the one to deep-fry the turkey…..oh so yummy if you haven’t had it that way. I am excited but at the same time scared out of my mind. When I cook anything the golden words I long to hear are, “Man this is so good!” I just hope it is delicious and that it will be my newfound traditional recipe. I also love to make pumpkin pies and going on 6-year tradition of sweet potato casserole. I absolutely love Thanksgiving & I’d hate to ruin it. I don’t think I’ll actually ruin it but I guess thats my nightmare right now! My parents will be back in town helping to celebrate the Holiday. Then of course the tradition continues on Turkey-day…..buying a Christmas tree and decorating the home. Oh so fun! The kids are excited…..I am so giddy….woo-hoo! Can’t wait. I am multi-tasking at the moment, typing and watching the Food Network channel around the clock. I don’t know if you know this, but I aspire to be the best chef in my home. I really wouldn’t mind going back to school for culinary arts….that may be in the near future…who knows. Okay thats it for now, talking about all this food makes me hungry….gotta get some grub!