Holiday Spirit

Snowy dusting...still flurrying.

My Christmas Helper...

My big boy helped me decorate the house, make the cookies, and now we are enjoying the light dusting of snow. I hadn't made spritz cookies with my cookie press since we got to Kentucky...I forgot how easy and how quick and how tasty they were. I think we'll be making more today if I can get to the store and pick up some more butter. We also made the infamous cut out cookies that you paint with egg yolk/food coloring. JMS said..."I ate a star cookie...and it was delicious!"

As far as decorating, we added candy canes to the tree on Friday. JMS calls them "candy treats."

Update on my crocheting...well, I can't exactly say or display too much because most of them are Christmas presents, but let us just say I made a scarf, a pull over type poncho, a throw pillow, and I'm finishing JMS's sweater - hopefully before Christmas. I have one arm and the hood left to do for his sweater. I've gotten really fast and learned some new stitches in the process. And, I'm sure my husband is happy to see any yarn that comes into the house is quickly put to good use.

Update on my recipes...well, we tried a new recipe for chili and it turned out really nice...ever put beer into a bowl of chili?

1 lb ground beef

1 small onion chopped

2 garlic cloves minced

1 can dark kidney beans

1 can light kidney beans

2 cans stewed tomatoes

1 can whole tomatoes

1 bottle of beer (I used MGD.)

1 can tomato paste

1/4 cup chili powder

3/4 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp hot pepper sauce

1/4 tsp sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Brown the beef and onions and garlic; drain. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer until ready to serve. We topped with cheese and oyster crackers. The oyster crackers gave it the extra salt it needed. Mmm.