It's Christmas Time

O really enjoyed putting decorations on the Christmas Tree.  

Time to bake cookies...

Andes Creme de Menthe Chunk Cookies 

• 1/2 cup salted butter-softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 pkg 10 oz Andes mint baking chips (or 10 oz andes candies cut into pieces)
• 2-2/3 cups sifted all purpose flour

Blend butter, sugars, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla and eggs until mixed.  Stir in Andes baking chips and then flour.  Chill approx. 1 hour in refrigerator.  Measure out about 1 oz of dough.  Form a ball and flatten slightly.  Raise oven rack one level above middle and bake on non stick baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for approx 8-10 minutes (for my oven 11 minutes was perfect).  Cool on pans for 2 minutes before removing.   Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Note: Make sure the dough is at least 2 inches apart.  The cookies will spread quite a bit. My first batch ran together.  

Stuffed Pepper Soup

Here you go Vick. Hope you enjoy it.  This makes a large pot of soup.

Stuffed Pepper Soup

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 3 bell peppers
• 2- 29oz cans tomato sauce
• 2 -29oz cans diced tomatoes
• 2 beef bouillon cubes
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 -1/2 cup brown sugar (to taste)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon wortchester sauce
• 2 cups cooked rice

Brown beef over medium high heat.  Drain fat ( I rinse the beef).  Add peppers and onions to the meat and saute for 3-5 minutes.  

In a large stock pot combine meat mixture with tomato sauce, tomatoes(with juice), boullion, brown sugar, salt and pepper, worchester sauce.  Bring to almost boil and reduce heat to low.  Cover and simmer 30-45 minutes.  Stir in rice and heat through.

Serves 10 or more. 

I heart faces...Hands

More Barn photos

Barn photo shoot...O's three year photos

Well, we tried this shoot again.  This time I got some really great shots!  Thank you Melissa for all your help tonight.

Barn photo shoot....FAIL

I had the opportunity to shoot O's three year pictures at a friend's house tonight.  He was not in the mood for a photo shoot.  Here are the only ones I could get and they are fairly grainy, boo.  Hopefully he is better when we go back Thursday. Thanks M.M.

B & W conversions

I am trying to perfect my B&W conversions.