Christmas 2015 and New Years 2016!

This Christmas was so incredibly fun. Having children at Christmas time is amazing, endlessly exciting, and exhausting all mushed together. 

This was the first year Lucy had specific requests from Santa: a doll that looked like Lucy and a Hippopotamus.  She was also worried she might cry when she met santa, but decided "I'm going to be brave so Nora will be brave, too." We got the sweetest picture of them in his lap. I'm not going to lie, I kind of wanted a screaming baby pic, because, they are hilarious. (But I'll take adorable, too.) 

Nora discovered the Christmas tree. At first she would roll or crawl over to it and just pet it. Which then escalated to attempting to eat all of the Christmas lights she could possibly reach. 

Our attempt at a picture of 5 wiggleworm cousins.

The excitement on Christmas morning was amazing. Lucy woke Christmas Eve at 2am, came into our room with the biggest smile on her face. I hated to burst her bubble and send her back to bed, but 2am was just a LOT bit too early to start that party. 

Come 7am, she was smiling from ear to ear when she saw all the presents under the tree. She quickly decided that all of the toys were for her to play with (Nora's included.) Thank goodness Nora is a good sharer...so far.

We have a lot of birthdays to celebrate over Christmas!

And some very un-seasonably warm weather that lead to hiking for Jack's birthday. 

On New Year's Eve, we celebrated "Noon Year's Eve" at Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh. We will have to add this to the list every year, it was a great way to involve the kids in the celebration!

We also had a surprise visitor all the way from Colorado. My sweet baby sister Mel (Aunt Mimi). It was the perfect way to start off the new year with laughter and hugs and driving 20 minutes out of our way because we were talking too much. 

Happy 2016! 

Happy December!

My favorite month of the whole year has arrived! And with it, a special little Elf from the North Pole.

Santa mailed the Elf to us on December 1st and it was waiting on the front porch for Lucy. 

(Unfortunately the elf who helped to wrap the present was very sick so she didn't do her most-creative present wrapping.)

Lucy opened her gift from Santa, and we read the book all about the Elf who came to visit our house for Christmas. When it was time to pick a name, Lucy wanted to call it "baby" (perhaps because every time we ask her what her new baby sister's name should be, she calls it "baby"), or suggested the name "ummmmmm". We made a group decision to name him Mr. Pickles this year. 

(Next year Mr. Pickles might have a new name. ) #Thatshowweroll.

He has already gotten into a lot of mischief and Lucy's reactions are hilarious. 

"Mommy the Elf make a big mess. Clean that up."

As she's giggling at the sight of Mr. Pickles and "Aunt Barbara" in a marshmallow bubble bath: "I eat all the bubbles--(shoves marshmallows in her mouth by the handful.)

We are loving this new family tradition and are so excited for Mr. Pickles to be here until Christmas!

Do you have an Elf at your house? What sort of mischief does he get himself into?

Happy Christmas Eve!

We've been busy spreading Christmas cheer around the house...

What are you up to this Christmas Eve?

Ain't it purty!

Wishing you and yours a Christmas filled with peace, joy, love, family, and LOTS of icing!

Merry Christmas!

Samoa Bark

Happy almost Christmas.

You may or may not be familiar with bark.

Not of the tree variety.

The Chocolate bark variety.

Usually in the form of peppermint. Only problem is, I am one of those WEIRD people who hate mint and chocolate mixed together.

It reminds me of toothpaste.

And no. I've never had chocolate mint toothpaste.

Let me introduce you to MY version of peppermint bark.

Samoa bark.

Yep.

Like the Girl Scout Cookies.

But in messy, break off your own piece, and shove it in your mouth girl scout cookie kind of way.

Hello there.

I can't take credit for these magical beauties.

Cookies and Cups can.

I can, and will, however share the recipe I used with you. Barely  slightly adapted.

Make them. And then share them with the people you love.

So you don't eat the entire plate in one sitting.

Samoa Bark
adapted from Cookies and Cups

• 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate + 2 oz for drizzle
• 35-40 shortbread cookies 
• 11 oz caramel sauce
• 3 cups sweetened flaked coconut
• 2 Tbsp water

Melt 12 oz chocolate chips in microwave in 30 second intervals until silky. Spread out on parchment paper into a thin layer. 

Place shortbread cookies in intervals on the chocolate. (You could also break them into pieces and crumble atop the chocolate.)

Place the cookies & Chocolate in the fridge to chill and harden.

Toast coconut for 10 minutes on Low heat, stirring constantly and watching to ensure coconut doesn't burn.

Remove coconut. Add caramel sauce to pan, and cook on Medium for 1-2 minutes until hot and bubbly. Add coconut back into pan, and toss with caramel. 

Spread caramel and coconut over shortbread & chocolate. Heat and drizzle remaining chocolate over bark. Place in fridge to cool and harden ~10 minutes. Break into pieces! Eat Eat Eat!

"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." Luke 2:16-20

Sugared Balsamic Berries

Christmas is coming!

Yep.

Whether you like it or not.

I am happy to say all of the shopping in the McWonderful house is Mc-FINISHED. Phew.

And everything is wrapped.

You think I'd have some sort of peace about me, and be in chill mode. Nope.

Instead I'm fretting that I forgot something. Or someone.

Who did I forget?

Arg.

Oh to relish the final days before the feasting, family, and presents begin.

Here's to hoping its all a big joke and no one has been forgotten.

In the meantime, I will eat fruit and put my Christmas stress on hold.

I discovered this treat at my nephew's Christening.

Don't be afraid.

You can't taste the balsamic. Well you CAN. But it's not what you think.

The balsamic and sugar create this amazing glaze that hugs the berries and draws out their natural flavors and sweetness.

And then you will want to jump in the bowl and swim around for a bit.

It's like taking a swim in a berry flavored pool. And not feeling guilty because its fruit. Duh.

Please ignore all of the sugar that goes along with it.

Thankyou.

This is the perfect accoutrement to your holiday feasting. If only to cleanse your palette between meals.

Sugared Balsamic Berries
2 cups blackberries
2 cups strawberries, tops removed, and sliced in half
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Mix together balsamic and sugar mixture. Toss berries in balsamic glaze, or drizzle glaze on top of berries. Do not drench berries, this should form a thin glaze on the berries.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, 

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:13-15

Red Chile Chicken Nachos!

Has there ever been an food you love SO much that you could eat it on anything?

And you crave food that belongs with this certain thing so that you can eat them together?

For my husband, that would be Buffalo Sauce, on Chicken.

For me, Guacamole. I'd eat it on anything.

Except for maybe pancakes.

That would be weird.

Unless you made mexican pancakes.

Remember that Guacamole recipe I shared with you?

Make it.

Today.

And then make these to go under it.

The secret to Red Chile Chicken Nachos? Ask your Mexican friend Frontera to help:

Then, dive in.

Oh, don't forget to buy red and green christmas colored chips from Trader Joes.

They taste like Christmas.

Red Chile Chicken Nachos
1 8oz. packet of Frontera roasted tomato + mild red chile sauce
2 large Chicken breasts
1/4 cup chicken stock
1 tbsp butter
1 bag tortilla chips
1/2 can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups guacamole
2 cups salsa
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 jalepenos, sliced

1. Marinate chicken breasts in sauce for 45min-1 hour. (If you have time)

2. Assemble tortilla chips on the pan, cover with cheese and jalepenos. Add drained and rinsed black beans to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high 1-2 minutes until beans are warm and tender. Add  on top of tortilla chips.

3. On Medium-High heat, sautee chicken breasts 2-3 minutes on each side, to brown. Pour in the rest of the sauce you were marinating chicken in. Add chicken stock (ensuring that the liquid level comes about halfway up the chicken breasts). Place lid on pot and simmer for 10 minutes until chicken is cooked throughout.

4. Remove pan from heat. Using 2 forks, shred chicken. Add 1 tbsp butter into pan and return to heat for 1-2 minutes until the butter has made its way through the sauce.

5. Broil nachos on HIGH for 2-3 minutes until cheese has melted.

6. Top nachos with chicken, guacamole, and salsa. Enjoy amigo!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-12

Baby It's Cold Outside: Kale & Garbanzo Bean Soup

The weather outside has become frightful.

And a fire inside would be delightful.

Make sure you don't catch the croup....

By making this Kale & Garbonzo Bean Soup!


Ok ok enough with the rhyming.

But fo real. Who turned the heat off outside?

Every year, when the weather gets cold, and I find myself avoiding trips outside at all cost, I crave soup.

Something toasty that warms you up from the inside out.

That also doubles as a hand-warmer.

Poor circulation is a real problem. Shake my hand and you will understand. Winter weather = hands of ice for me.

So to warm up your hands, and your stomach, whip up a pot of this soup.

Oh, and it qualifies as a sometimes-atarian recipe. [If you ignore the chicken stock.]

Sausage would also be delish in this soup.

Ok I'm done. Enjoy your soup.

Kale & Garbanzo Bean Soup
1 32 oz. box Chicken Stock
1 lb Kale, rinsed
5 cloves garlic
1/2 cup baby portabella mushrooms
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 large zucchini, quartered
1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
2 TBSP evoo
1/4 cup wine
Salt & Pepper, to taste
1 tsp nutmeg

1. In a large pot, add 1 TBSP evoo and 3 cloves garlic, minced. Sautee until garlic is brown. Add 1 cup chicken stock and Kale to pot. Stir to ensure Kale is coated with garlic/broth mixture. Cook Kale on medium-high for 5 minutes covered, and 5 minutes longer, uncovered, until wilted. Add salt and pepper to taste.

2. While Kale is cooking, in a separate pan, sauté 1 tbsp evoo, remaning garlic, zucchini, mushrooms, and onion until tender (3-5 minutes.)

3. Once Kale is cooked, add zucchini, mushroom, and onion mixture to large pot with Kale. Add remaning box of chicken stock and nutmeg. Cook on Medium for 10 minutes, until the flavors have married. Add salt and pepper if necessary and enjoy!

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"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them." Luke 2:6-7

NOEL

NOEL

noun \nō-ˈel\
  Christmas; also, a shout of joy at Christmas for the birth
      of the Savior. [Obs.]
     

NOEL. A word you hear over and over this time of year. 

But what does it mean? 

Christmas. 

A shout of joy at Christmas for the birth of the Savior. 

What a sweet sound that must be to His ears. 

This season evokes a lot of joy in peoples lives. Christmas trees, decorating houses, buying and giving gifts to the  people you love. Christmas parties, Christmas carols....

But for some, it can be stressful and maybe even a bit discouraging. 

But the good news is, He promises he has great things in store for you. They're written all over His book. 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a       hope, and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

May you find a reason to shout for joy this Christmas time. May the FIRST Noel bring you joy, peace and hope for   the new year to come, and the promises He has in store for you.

NOEL How-to: 

*N,O,E,L large monogrammed wooden letters

*Christmasy paper (found at Michaels)

*Red Velvet Ribbon

*Modge Podge

*Hot glue & gun

Modge-podge paper to letters (follow directions on Modge Podge or find a how-to video online). When completely dry, assemble ribbon in a V on back of letters. Hot glue to letter and point of V. With ribbon, assemble a bow, and hot glue to V shape. Hang from hooks around your home.

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"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child." Luke 2:1-5

Funfetti Mug Cake

How great is ice cream after dinner?

Or just plain dessert in general?

Well last night my husband said to me "you know what would be great right now, ice cream. Let's go get some ice cream."

After telling him we already had ice cream in the fridge, I went on to finish crafting. I'll fill you in later on that.

Several minutes later, after wiping my hands clean of modge-podge,  I went to grab some ice cream for myself.

And found the carton in the trash can.

What?

How?

Not cool.

Except I had never said out loud that I too wanted ice cream. I too thought it would be great right now.

After the hubby apologized, while licking the bowl clean, I moved on and decided to make mug cake.

Mug Cake (mugg ca-ke): noun, a baby cake made in 2-5 minutes in the microwave.

I remember a while back seeing this lady on TV who had hundreds of mug cake recipes. Hundreds. And I was thinking, get a life lady.

And how was she not 100 lbs overweight? If she ate that much cake.

I always thought it was silly.

I will never make mug cake. If I want cake, I'll make cake. Whoonthisearth makes mug cake.

Well, when the person you love eats the rest of your ice cream, which you had been dreaming of eating while crafting... you do. Yes, you make mug cake.

You make a mug cake out of a mole hill.

please also notice the Christmas mug.

I found fabulous and easy recipes online like this Chocolate Caramel Mug Cake at Table for 7, but since baking and I rarely get along, I decided this could totally be made with cake mix.

And it was divine.

It washed all of my ice-cream-carton-in-the-trashcan worries away.

Next time I will figure out how to make a mug cake of icing to go with it.

Funfetti Mug Cake
8 tablespoons Funfetti boxed cake mix
1 egg, scrambled
1 TBSP vegetable oil
3 TBSP water
Cooking Spray

Spray a mug liberally with cooking spray. Add egg, oil, and water to cake mix, and mix with a fork until creamy.

Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute 30 seconds. Microwave 30 seconds more if still gooey.
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"At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,  where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:39-45

Grecian Potato Giggles

Growing up, my parents were awesome about having us down together as a family and having dinner.

My parents were excellent cooks and I'm about to introduce you to one of their concoctions. I think the two of you will get along merrily.

Grecian Potatoes. Greek Potatoes. Potatoes of the Greeks.

I'm not even really sure that Grecian is a word. My parents used it when they talked about these potatoes. So therefore it is. A word. Add it to your dictionary.

They made these about once every couple of weeks and we always scarfed them down.

My sisters and I would sit around the table and talk, incessantly taking turns when someone stopped for a breath. And somehow, or some way, we would always end up in fits of giggles.

Over nothing.

Like laughing so hard Greek potatoes may or may not come out your nose. Ok thatneverhappened.

But what did happen was the laughter got to such a ridiculous level that my dear father, bless his heart, would quietly take his plate of food, and walk into the living room without nary a word. And he would finish his dinner in front of the TV.

Where 3 teenage/pre-teen girls were not giggling themselves into hyperventilation.

And after he left we would say"sheesh dad, get a sense of humor." Laughing yourself into hysterics is SO not annoying.

Again, I say: bless. his. heart.

With one sister in Texas, and another with one foot out the door to move away, I miss those moments. And I can't wait for the day when we can all gather around the table for dinner again. For magical fits-of-giggles moments.

Let me introduce you to the magical ingredient.

For about $3.99 you will be thankful to add it to your spice cabinet. And it absolutely has everything to do with the *Ancient Greek Formula*.


It comes packed with flavors of garlic, salt, pepper, "parsley and five other spices" (which I'm guessing are part of the secret ancient greek formula.)


Make it. You won't regret it. And it may or may not make you break out into fits of Grecian Potato Giggles.

Grecian Potatoes
1.5 lbs baby yellow potatoes, cut in half
2 TBSP EVOO
2 TBSP Cavenders All Purpose Greek Seasoning
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup onion, diced

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut potatoes, and onion, and toss with EVOO, garlic, and seasoning.

Bake for 30 minutes, turning potatoes 2-3 times until tender and crispy.

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Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?”  The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 

And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.” 

And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:34-38