Tamales 2011

The last time I made tamales on my own is was December 13, 2005.

Six years ago. 

Of course, that wasn't the last time I made tamales. I have had a couple of Christmases at my Arizona home since then.

Christmas 2010 - at my parents house.

But never again have I made them by myself.

Why?

It's not that tamale making is exceptionally difficult.

It's not.

It's not that it takes a lot of preparation and makes a big mess.

It does.

It's that tamale making is more than the outcome.

It's about family time and tradition, about celebration and being together.

Tamale making just isn't fun when doing it alone.

When the CarPoolQueen mentioned that she was up for some tamale making, I was very excited.

Today we will skip the yarn isle, and head to CPQ's kitchen.

Anybody who has made tamales knows that there is nearly always a story that rolls through this happy event... and anybody who has read CPQ's blog, or spent some time with her knows that with her there is always an adventure, with laughter and fun... I cannot wait to see the stories this day will hold.

Happy Wednesday!

The "M" Recipes

If your anything like me, the last thing you need is another recipe for sugar filled deliciousness.

But I'm going to give you one (or three) anyway.

Honestly, I am ready and willing to give up the sugar for a day or two...or at least until after lunch.

This girl has been sugarfied.

Before recipes though, I hope you and yours had an awesome Christmas.

The La Vida House had a wonderful Christmas. It was restful and quiet. I spent much of Christmas Eve and Day between silent contentment, and thankful weepiness.

Oh, and I spent 7 hours on Christmas Day (and 5 hours the day after, but who's counting?) helping The Girl put 3500 Lego pieces together, making a house and a medieval market.

This was my first time ever building something with Lego's.

The Mister and both kids are longtime builders.

Lets just say that after I got over my "oh-my-goodness-these-pieces-are-not-in-any-order--and-oh-goodness-it-seems-like-a-big-ole-mess" I really had a great time!

Speaking of builders...When The Mister and I were making our lists and checking them twice, we decided that we would give The Boy (who enjoys making things from wood) his own wood working tools and safety gear, and the Mister would help The Boy make a work bench that was a smaller version of his own.

The Mister had all the supplies ready and waiting, and yesterday he and The Boy built a workbench.

This is a picture of one happy boy:

Our Holy-day was good. Really, really good.

OK, now to give you what you came for:

Marshmallows, Mexican Wedding Cookies and Molasses Cookies:


Marshmallows


2 TBLS Gelatin (unflavored)
1/4 cup cold water
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1TBLS corn syrup
1 TBLS vanilla
powder sugar
corn flour

Dissolve gelatin in 1/4 cup water. Set Aside.

In large saucepan cook sugar, water, syrup to 240 degrees. Occasionally giving a stir with a wooden spoon.

While waiting for sugar to boil up to 240. Take Parchment paper and line a 9x13 cake pan. Then GENEROUSLY sprinkle pwdr sugar and cornflour on parchment. Set aside.

Put gelatin in mixing bowl (use whisk attachment if have a freestanding mixer) Slowly pour sugar mixture into bowl while whisk is on medium speed.

Allow to mix until candy turns white and is doubled in size.

Add vanilla.

Pour over prepared cake pan. Sprinkle GENEROUSLY with more sugar/flour and then carefully use your hands to pat it down into pan.

Wait an hour or so to completely cool and set.

Cut into squares and roll into sugar flour mix left in pan.

Enjoy!

Mexican Wedding Cakes--This is my Mom's signature cookie. I cannot remember a Christmas without them.
1 cup butter (room temp)
2-1/4 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1tsp water
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup sifted pwdr sugar.
1/4 tsp salt

Set oven to 325.
Mix butter, sugar, vanilla, water and half the flour.

Add rest of flour. Add Pecans.

Shape into 1 inch balls. and place in oven for 20 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.

Let cookies cool slightly.

Roll them in powder sugar.

Eat them.

Yummy.


Molasses Cookies --This is my mother-in-laws recipe. These are very tasty.
3/4 cup soft shortening
1 cup dark brown sugar (packed)
1 egg unbeaten
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp slat
2 tsp baking soda
1tsp ginger
1 tsp clove
1 tsp cinnamon

combine shortening, sugar, egg. eat til fluffy (have I ever told you I LOVE the word fluffy. I do.)
Add molasses. sift dry ingredients and add to mix (I never sift, I just add) Mix well. Chill dough thouroughly.

Shape into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar.

Bake 350 for 12-15 minutes.

Watch them disappear.

All right. I gotta run. Today I am cleaning house and taking names.

And then, if the kids play there attitudes right, I might take them to a movie.

Happy (last) Monday (of the year!)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas 

from the 

La Vida Dulce Family 

to yours.

With Love,

Kellie, The Mister,

The Boy, The Girl,

Kona the Wondermutt,

And introducing:

~  Sophie Joy  ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We pray that your day will be filled with renewed wonder in Christ!

"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

Weekend Recap

I have a bazillion things I would love to write about but it's the week of Christmas and I know you don't have the time to read a long post.  So I am going to mete out my weekend news over the next few days...

First on the agenda: Christmas Pizza (and why the Internet is out to get me.)

As I have posted on this site about eleven-ty times, Saturday night is pizza night. I have a bread maker so making crust is super easy.  I usually make the crust and bake them just a little bit (without topping) so that I can put the finished pizza directly on the oven rack for a crispier crust. 

Well, on Saturday evening I got the first crust baked and placed the second crust in the oven. It was at this critical point that somebody distracted me with a questions and I neglected to set the oven timer. That need-to-know-right-now question led me to a Google search. That Google search led to the checking of email, and the skimming of headlines, and a quick search on You Tube on how to train puppies to do this, when suddenly The Boy says, "Do you smell smoke?"

AUUGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!! My pizza crust!

The entire middle portion of the crust was burned.

Exhibit A: 

To say the least I was a bit frustrated with myself. As a matter of fact, there may have been swearing involved, but I'm pleading the fifth. 

Seeing my irritation, and wanting to diffuse the situation, The Mister wisely suggested that I should take a picture, you know, for the blog. Which TOTALLY turned my mood around. (Does he know me or what?)

That, I thought to myself, is a great idea! You can turn this bundt pizza into a "Christmas pizza" and then post it to the blog like you meant it to happen...

So that's what I did.

La Vida Dulce!

And the Pendulum Swings

The tables are set.

The lights are twinkly.

But let's be real for moment, shall we?

Remember yesterday, when I walked around with a bird on my finger all day? My out look sunny and my disposition light?

Well, I'm still full of anticipation, except today I am aware that I also carry great fear. 

Often irrational fear. 

I have written about major fears in my life on this blog before. Fear of failure, fear of change, fear of being out of control, the list goes on...

Some times the fear is reasonable, but many times the fear is unfounded. For instance this Sunday in church when, all of a sudden, I was racked with anxiety. Or this morning, as I kissed The Mister and he drove off into the foggy morning, and my mind went to the fear gutter.

Instead of praying about my fear I chose to let my imagination make it worse: What would I do without him? How would I get my life in order? Where would I live?

Suddenly an audible voice inside my head said: STOP!

Whew! Thank you Jesus. Chasing my thoughts is exhausting.

Tonight I will give a 15 minute devotion on Luke 1:46-55: Mary's Magnificat.  I love this short piece of scripture because Mary's song can be our song. Should we choose to sing it.

It's a song of the past that rings true in the present, and gives us great hope for the future. It's a song of praise to God who reigns in heaven on earth, who has been (and will be) true to His Word. 

This song is the antithesis of fear. It's a focus on God and His love in a time that was certain to be difficult. If there was any reason to fear in the life of this young woman, it would have been in this time. But scripture says she didn't fear (vs. 38), because God was in control. 

In the verse just before Mary's song, we read these words twice : Be not afraid. (Vs. 13 and 30)

This morning as I bustle around trying to make everything "just so" (which is what I do when I'm afraid), God is reminding me that I don't have to be afraid. 

So, the tables are set, the lights are twinkly, and God is in control.

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour." - Luke 1:46-47

La Vida Dulce!

Christmas Meme

Thank goodness for this meme! Early yesterday morning after my work out I did something awful to my back. Now I cannot sit or stand or lie down for more than five minutes. Luckily, I happen to be married to my Physical Therapist. He say's I am what they call "non-compliant" in the therapy world, but he helps me all the same.

Happy Thursday!

~~~

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I buy one gi-normous roll of double sided wrapping paper at the Costco. IF you do this you have to be committed. That roll will last at least two years!

2. Real tree or Artificial? For the first 11 years we used real, but in my cranky old age I got tired of finding pine needles in the house until July. So two year ago we bought a pre-lit tree. Turns out everybody was allergic anyway. Now we can all breathe fine through the month of December.


3. When do you put up the tree? The Day after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas if The Mister is working. If not I give him one more day, because I am generous like that.


5. Do you like eggnog? To me it's like sweet mayonnaise. So, no. With the exception of the year we received homemade egg nog from a friend (and co-worker of The Mister). I didn't realize that it was "real" eggnog, and after a cup full, I would have eaten mayo out the jar with spoon, without the slightest care in the world. Good times.)


6. Favorite gift received as a child? a life sized handmade Raggedy Ann Doll. (how I wish I would've kept that now.)


7. Hardest person to buy for? The Mister's Mom and Dad.


8. Easiest person to buy for? Myself...(Just kidding!) (Sort of)...The kids.


9. Do you have a nativity scene? No. I need to change that.


10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail! It's my favorite part of the holiday hub-bub!


11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Wow...that's a hard one...Oh! I remember! There was one year as a teenage when my brothers gave me one of those suctions cup sticky things for the back window of your car...it was of Kermit the Frog flipping the "bird", which was on a spring so it would wave back and forth. They were in the 6th and the 9th grade, so you know they were shopping at Spencer's. i am certain that that was never in my car.


12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I don't know if I have a favorite, but I do enjoy Christmas Vacation for a good laugh, and I also enjoy Elf, for the same reason.


13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually way into December, but this year I was nearly done by the 4th. Which felt good. I just have to get everything mailed out now!


14 . Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Only for the white elephant gift exchange.


15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Homemade fudge and my Mother-in-laws recipe for Ginger Cookies.

16. Lights on the tree?

Color! and lots of them!


17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night.


18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? This year we are staying home in NC. 


19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Absolutely! 


21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We let the kids open them one on Christmas Eve, while we sip hot cocoa, eat popcorn and watch a Christmas movie. Then we torture them by making them sleep in on Christmas morn. But don't feel too bad for them. Sleeping in for this early bird isn't really what you think it is. 


22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Crabby people. 

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Our tree is filled with decorations that have meaning to us. And we allow our kids to decorate, so it will never make it into a decorators magazine, but it's beautiful to us!

Oh and also, you will NEVER find tinsel on my tree. I had an unfortunate event as a child that involved my 18 month old brother who got hold of tinsel while under my charge. He choked on it and I've hated tinsel ever since. (FYI: that baby lived to tell this story...Every. Blessed. Year.)

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? This is the time of year that I wished owned a private jet so i could quickly (and easily) travel all over the country to see my peeps, but other than that, I lack for nothing. 

In "The Zone"

The most exciting thing happened this week, which has stirred-up the craft zone that lives in my heart.

A friend of mine from church has a friend who is an interior decorator who specializes in custom drapery. This weekend they are having a garage sale. This interior decorator lady was selling her high priced fabric for $4/yard!!!

And she let me come to her house and buy fabric before the crowds.  So I have been busy, busy, busy trying to think of all sorts of things to do with this fabric!  

Speaking of sewing projects...

I have already made the bed for our new little addition. The bed was harder than I anticipated and I am not totally pleased with how it turned out. Coming up with this bed without a pattern was difficult for this right-brained mind of mine. 

I think I used too much stuffing the bottom of the bed, and not enough in the sides.

I hadn't intended for it to be reversible, but somehow it ended up that way. Go figure.

Although this didn't end up exactly like my mind had envisioned, I think it will do. 

Also, if you are trying to make any gifts this year I highly recommend taking a look at this list. 

It is a list of 100's of things you can make for Christmas this year. 

Also I am folding paper like a maniac to make a variation of these star ornaments, which will be mailed to friends far away. I am also making these ornaments for the people in my life who are nearby.

I am also thinking about making a few more of these. Although not in the amount I made last year! 

All right. I should run. The Mister has today off and so we are taking the kids to a friends house so that we can shop together. By the end of this day I should be done with my Christmas shopping!  Yippee!!

Happy Friday Y'all!

Because I Can hardly Contain My Joy

Meet Joy, the Maltese puppy.

In this picture she is only 2.5 weeks old. She's older now, but this is the most recent picture we have of her.

She will be coming to live with us on Christmas Eve...

As a surprise gift to The Girl.

I am so excited about this new addition to the family that I have had trouble sleeping at night. Which is just as well since I will probably be spending the next 6 months getting up to take her outside in the middle of the cold Carolina nights.

Last night, my friend K2 and I, went Christmas shopping to find all the assorted puppy items that one needs: a crate, puppy toys, dog dishes, puppy shampoo, a collar and a leash.

I was on an all-out hunt for a pink collar and leash. 

More ashamedly, a pink collar and leash that I plan to tastefully bedazzle with some beautiful rhinestones. 

Yes, I own a Bedazzler.

I am also in the process of sewing up a puppy bed, and matching little girl/doggy capes. Pictures to come.

Y'all, I may have lost my mind. 

But it's sure is fun!