Top Posts in 2011

I have enjoyed other people's posts about their top 5 posts from the previous year so I decided to do that here. I just based it on most page views for posts made in 2011, though, some of the most viewed pages were from 2010 posts.

Anyway, here are the top 5...

5. I Think I Did It



Maybe it's the coffee ice cubes or the fact that a ton of people are looking for a perfect iced coffee recipe, but either way, this post made it to the top five. I feel kind of bad because I am going to share something this week that will make this post obsolete. Seriously, folks, stay tuned.

4. P is for... (part 2)



I would like to think it's my clever "Princess and the Pea" cake that got all the page views but it probably has more to do with the super cute dollhouse, pillow and quilt that were given to my P.

3. P is for... (part 1)




This makes me happy to be in the top five because I'm usually not a crafty gal. I busted out all my secret skills on this party and it seems that people liked it, thank you pinterest.

2. Homemade Pizza Balls

Say hello to my favorite snack recipe for 2011. Those babies were so good. I have made them several times since and have no plans to stop. The Nathan's ball is my fave.

1. Maybe a Tad Biased



Maybe it's the too-cute-for-words pictures my sister took of my P or the subtle announcement at the end that made this the top 2011 post but in all honesty, I'm quite certain it's the fact that my sister linked up to the news. Most page views in one day goes to this post as well. Thanks, sister.

Hope you enjoyed at least one of those!

Puppy Chow - A Christmas Snack Tradition

In yesterday's post I told you about our Advent calendar tradition. Well, one of the food-related doors we opened had a card for puppy chow. Have you had puppy chow? I'm sure just about everyone has. Have you made it? If not, the purpose of this post is to show you how easy it is. I'm pretty sure the recipe is quite standard but I've given it below in the event you don't feel like googling it.

Here's what you need:
9 cups - Crispix cereal
1 cup - chocolate chips (I use milk chocolate, not semi sweet)
1/2 cup - peanut butter
1 1/2 cups - powdered sugar

Don't you just love my festive measuring cups!? I do. Mom got them for me for holiday baking - thanks Mom!

Anyway, get a big pot - one that has high walls so you don't make a huge mess when you stir the cereal around - and melt the chocolate chips. Then add the peanut butter and stir until combined. Next, pour in the cereal and gently fold/stir until all the cereal is coated.

Get a big plastic bag, like a gallon bag or I just use a clean plastic shopping sack, and pour the powdered sugar in it. Then dump all the cereal in the bag, twist the top and give it a good several shakes, spins and rolls. Open it up and grab a couple warm little treats and eat them up. They are great with a glass of milk.

That's it! Once it's cooled, store in an airtight container our separate into little baggies and give as gifts.

CrazyJoy =

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Sorry this is late. I've been in and out, enjoying a few Black Friday traditions, eating, decorating and even grabbed a quick nap. It's been a great couple of days!

Anna posted the new crazyjoy challenge word earlier today so I hoped you checked it out. If not, here you go.



I'll see you Monday where I'll post my photo for the challenge.

Until then, here are some new photos over the last few days...






The collages were made with the diptic app using instagram photos from my phone library. I guess I should mention that I'm a little obsessed with Instagram (free) and Diptic (only 99 cents).

$6 Well Spent

I'm not a big sweets-for-breakfast kind of gal. I prefer sausage gravy over homemade biscuits. However, I do enjoy a homemade pancake or waffle from time to time.

We make pancakes every now and then but have never been able to make waffles because we don't have a waffle iron...until now!



Let me first say that I know you can get waffle irons just about anywhere but I'm a little particular about my waffles. I don't like the Belgium waffles. I like the old, thin waffles with the little squares. It's what I was raised on and you wouldn't believe how difficult it is to find an iron that makes these now! I've been on the hunt for about a year.

This past weekend we hit up the flea market only to find there was no flea market that day. We decided to stop in a little flea-market-type-store on the way home and found this beauty for $6!! I was a little skeptical about it actually working properly but figured what's the big loss if it doesn't?



After we cleaned that sucker up we were pleased to find out it works just fine.



I only makes two waffles at a time and takes about 9 minutes per 2 waffles but at least it cooks evenly!







Sweet P approved of our waffles too!

Oktoberfest Feasting

As I've mentioned, Oktoberfest was this past weekend here in T-town. The plan was to save money by going during the free-admission time and not eating anything while we were there because we had a German feast to come home to. Such was the plan anyway. We made it inside the gates with seconds, and I mean seconds, to spare. We didn't plan on the traffic and had to run for the gates. Sweet P and I made it through, then Eric and then the ticket-takers started moving out saying time was up and everyone needed a ticket. My mom held her phone up with the time showing there was still one minute to go as she pushed on through. They ended up letting her through - along with a drove of others!

It was a fun start to the event. We walked from tent to tent, hearing various sounds of music and cheering and smelling all kinds of tempting treats.



We hadn't been there 20 minutes before the beer (the husband's beverage), potato pancake and Ludgar's Bavarian cream cheese cake had been purchased.



With full bellies it was time to work a little of those calories off with a little chicken dancing. Sweet P once again wooed the crowds and had everyone around her clapping and smiling.



It was a good time. I think I need one of those German hats for me and Sweet P next year.

The rest of the weekend was filled with family, a lot of football watching and more German feasting. Last week I mentioned a few recipes I wanted to try and I made all but one. I also added one I didn't mention so here's the reviews...

First up, the Wiener Schnitzel and German potato salad.



I tried this chicken schnitzel recipe but used tenderized-boneless pork chops for the meat. The husband said it was the best schnitzel he's ever eaten and that it reminded him of the one he would order as a kid at Ursula's (Tulsa restaurant no longer in business). I thought it turned out pretty good.

Then there's the German potato salad recipe that I mentioned last week. Again, the husband loved it and said it was the best potato salad I've ever made. Personally, I prefer a cold, smashed potato salad but it went well with the dinner.

Next up is the recipe for apple strudel I also mentioned last week.



After I converted everything in her recipe, I decided to use puff pastry instead of phyllo dough. I like puff pastry, it's easy and I'll use the leftovers. Plus, I didn't feel like taking the time to do the whole buttering the 4-5 layers or phyllo. I'm lazy.



The puff pastry ended up working out really well and the strudel was amazing. Really folks, delicious. I used honeycrisp apples inside and topped the strudel with some icing to really take it over the edge in the healthy department.

And, last up, I tried this recipe for homemade pretzels.



They were a huge hit. I read a lot of the comments on the recipe and ended up going with 4 cups of flour and using my kitchenaid with the hook attachment to knead the dough. That thing made this recipe SO easy. The pretzels smelled amazing and were perfect right out of the oven.

The recipe calls for sugar but the husband didn't care for the sweetness of the dough. I didn't mind but will probably use less next time I make them. They were also really good covered sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and coated with melted butter. Such a great treat.

After all the German food cooking and eating I have determined that the German folk aren't too concerned with calories and I'm happy Oktoberfest only rolls around once a year.

That Explains It

I'm assuming the post yesterday will answer a few questions as to my lack of presence here. A good friend called and asked if I was ok because I hadn't been posting so I decided I better clear it up here.

Yes, we are expecting another little one. Due date is set for April 1. Seriously, I'm not foolin' (get it, due date on April Fool's, yes I'm a nerd).

That means I'm close to 10 weeks along. It's a bit early than I wanted to share the news but the husband has been telling pretty much everyone - including strangers - so I caved and decided to share the news here too.



I haven't been feeling the greatest and I've been extremely tired. Like, I wake up and feel like I need a nap and have been falling asleep on the couch just after we put P down to bed (8pm). I don't really have a routine when it comes to writing this thing. Sometimes I write in the morning (when I was doing Insanity and up before the rest of the house - clearly I'm no longer doing that crazy workout) sometimes I write when P's down for her naps. She still takes two naps a day and I've been trying to nap when she does but I just can't fall asleep during the day. And, other times I write at night, but seeing how I'm falling asleep at 8 or 9 I just had the energy or desire to do it.



As you guys know, I really like food, however, I have been feeling nauseous all the time and just cooking food makes me want to puke. Too much for ya in the morning? Sorry, but seriously, the other night I was cooking ground turkey and almost had to stop and leave the house all together. The stench permeated the house and I didn't think the stink would ever go away. Needless to say, I didn't eat that meal and I certainly didn't have the stomach to stand near it to take a picture!

However, if I don't have to cook it, food isn't so bad. Bring on the donuts and ice cream.

All that to say there probably won't be many food posts for a bit. And since food is something I talk about a lot here, that probably means I won't be posting as often.

So, there you have it, I'm pregnant and preparing for a new little one. Ohhh, I am so excited about holding a teeny-tiny, sweet-baby-smelling little one.

Anyway, happy Wednesday and thank you for all the sweet comments yesterday!

It's Here!

My sister first told me about it. I have since looked on every Starbucks shelf I've entered with no luck of seeing it.

But then it happened. I was checking out and there it was, staring me right in the face!



Yeah, that says Iced Coffee Blend. I didn't get the pound of coffee (yet) and bought the little packets of VIA to try first.

Man, oh, man. I made one yesterday morning and it was great. It was only lacking the extra whip I like to add but it did the trick. Now I need to go back to the store and use my coupon for the pounder bag!

Some Things Don't Always Turn Out Right

But they can still be good.

Take, for instance, my recent tiramisu fail. My sister asked me to make tiramisu for her and I happily agreed.

She, and some friends, were going to eat it on Friday and it needs to set 48 hours before it's really good. So I needed to make it Wednesday. We had plans that evening and I hate feeling rushed. I came up with a plan. I went to the store Tuesday and got all the ingredients so I could start on it first thing Wednesday morning and have it finished by 2pm.

Everything was going according to plan. I made the mascarpone filling, whipped the cream and brewed some espresso. All was good.

Then I started layering it.

Lady fingers. Espresso. Mascarpone filling. Whipped cream. Mascarpone filling.

Hmm, something didn't look right. It looked a little goopey. Why were there so many lady fingers left? Oh, stink. I had forgot to put the second layer of espresso-drizzled lady fingers down.

At that point I kind of wanted to call it quits. I wanted to call my sister and tell her I failed. I wanted to hurl the bad batch out down the drain. (dramatic much) But, I regrouped and headed back to the store.

The second one came together pretty quickly and I didn't hurl the bad one down the drain. I stuck it in the refrigerator in hopes that it might still be good. I mean, it's mascarpone, whipped cream and lady fingers. How bad could it be?

Not bad at all. It may not look good, but it still tasted good.

I had a good plan. I think my subconscious sabotaged it. I was bummed that I wouldn't get to eat any of the tiramisu I was making for her and then I ended up with an entire 9x11 pan of goopey goodness!

More Snow, More Food

We got hit with another 4 inches of snow. I'm okay with it now because I finally got out of the house. It's amazing how energizing going to the store can be!

Here are some icicles.

And Super Bowl food. Because watching all those commercials needs wings, cheese and guacamole!

What was your favorite commercial? Mine were both VW's. The Darth Vader spot and the Beetle. Not offensive, funny and creative. Good stuff.





And now I am preparing to babysit my sister's kiddos. 5 4 kids in my house. 1 of me.

I think poo-poo cookies are needed.



This is going to be awesome!!

How to Survive an Oklahoma Blizzard

Cook, take pictures of it and eat. A lot

I don't want to talk about this snow issue any more but I think I may be starting to lose my mind! I've been stuck inside my house for what seems like weeks but has only been 4 days. 14" of snow doesn't melt very fast. And, we're supposed to get more!

So I have been entertaining myself with a little baking and a lot of eating.



My mom told me about a WW recipe that uses won-ton wrappers as a crust and a muffin pan for mini quiches. Well, I didn't have any wrappers or the recipe so I made up my own version.

I made these before the snow hit using leftovers we had in the fridge. 

• 1/4 C cooked sausage
• 1/4 C chopped mushrooms
• 1/2 a yellow pepper - chopped
• 4 sliced green onions
• a handful of mixed cheddar cheese 
• 5 eggs - slightly beaten
• a little cream 
• and some salft and pepper

I sauteed the onions, mushrooms and peppers.


Then added the sausage and cheese to the cooked veggies.


Mixed in the eggs, a little cream and some salt and pepper.


Cooked them at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes or so. And bada-bing. A complete breakfast in a muffin!



Two nights ago we ordered a Ken's Style Pizza from Mazzio's. It was AMAZING. I highly recommend.


And last night I got my sister's top secret chocolate chip cookie recipe and made my husband his favorite treat while he was at work.



Not such a good idea. Me, bored and alone with a giant plate of cookies.

Did I mention I like to snack when I'm bored!

Not the best answer to beating the boredom but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Face Mug = Awesome!

image from holycool.net

I saw this on holycool.net and cracked up. It also made me realize it's almost the second month into a new year and I have yet to eat a donut this year!

I know, hard to believe. And wouldn't you know it, as soon as I was aware of my lack of tasty pastry eating, I started craving donuts!?

Figures, but now I kind of feel like seeing how long I can go without one.


And this is for Sweet P's aunt! (sorry her face is blurry, I was focused on the shirt)

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

Starbucks Carmel Brulee Latte

Really, need I say more?

Another reason to love this time of year = Startbuck's Carmel Brulee Latte.

It goes great with a day of Christmas shopping or just sitting on the couch!