In Which It's Finally Christmas

We LOVE Christmas. Its just been a bit hard to get into the Christmas spirit this year, I don't know if it is the 70 degree weather, the fact that we had a pretty non existent Thanksgiving, or the events last week that make celebrating a bit hard. (Luckily there are bright people to help us process. I particularly liked these thoughts. 1 2 3 4)

I have been dutifully listening to Christmas music, doing my shopping, and wearing my adjustable Santa's Hat and today I finally managed to convince our lagging half that it is indeed Christmas. The conversation went something like this...

Friday Funny

 It's Friday!! 

 And it's almost Christmas!! 

 And what says Christmas more than 

 FLAME SAX!!!

love to ya'll. 

Birthday Shout Out

Hey friends in the Blogosphere!

Did you know that today is my momma's birthday? Yup, she gets to celebrate her birthday on 12.12.12. Too bad she isn't turning 12. Or born in 1912. But I guess that would just be awkward for me. 

Happy Birthday Mom!

Thanks for showing me unconditional love at times when I possibly didn't deserve it, teaching me that its okay to try new things while baking and while making friends, and showing my sister and I that nothing was going to stop us from chasing our dreams - especially the fact that we were girls.

(Thank you also for giving me the big Harper head. At least it isn't as big as this cabbage.)

Recipe Book Challenge Numero Uno

So far I have checked one thing off my list and watched "Dude, Where's My Car" which was just as silly as I thought it would be.

One of my goals this year was to cook something out of each of my cookbooks, which is going to be an interesting and delicious quest. 

The first on my list was a total gimme, a family recipe I go to whenever I need a slice of home (get it, cuz its a pie?). Its from a Dutch cookbook called "Eek Smakelijk". Don't ask me what that means, its Dutch people! This cookbook is old and belonged to my Grandma. Its from like way long ago. I know that because in the recipe book it says the recipe was submitted by Mrs. Ken Kleis. And it calls for margarine  Which I never use cuz all I have in my fridge is actual butter and some hippy spread that is supposed to taste like butter.

This is the best apple pie, ever, ever, ever. 

Dutch Apple Pie

9" Pastry shell

5-6 tart apples sliced (Marty likes them peeled too)

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon (I always use way more)

2/3 cup flour

1/2 c brown sugar

1/3 c margarine (or actual butter)

Preheat oven to 425. Combine applies, sugar and cinnamon and place in pie shell. Mix flour, brown sugar, and butter until crumbly. I always make a very generous portion of the topping. Sprinkle over apples and bake 15 mins. Reduce heat to 375 and back 35 mins more. In my old funky oven it takes longer.  

Feel Good Friday

There are many reasons to feel good today.

1) Its almost Christmas. And I L-O-V-E Christmas. We put up our tree on Sunday, meaning we took it out of the box and placed it by our shoe rack. Peabody loves it.

2) I get to listen to this song over and over.

3) Kate Middleton's pregnant. And will most likely be naming her child D'Brickashaw, Hershel the Kvetching One, or Steve.

4) I get to see my sister so very, very soon. Did you know she is kicking booty at teaching first graders in Costa Rica?


And now for your Friday Funny. I really don't like this show all too well but this is a very funny clip.