Girls’ Weekend '12

Back in June, Lisa, Casey, and I went on our annual Girls’ Weekend.  This year we decided to head to Greenwood, MS for a weekend of cooking, relaxing, pampering, and great food.   This year was our 5th year!  We skipped one year due to mine and Casey’s wedding that year.

This was my first time to  Greenwood; it was a pretty drive back seeing the farm lands.  We had the weekend book with a stay at The Alluvian, a Viking cooking class Saturday morning, the Spa Sunday morning, and great dinners for Friday and Saturday night. 

Friday night, we had a low key night planned since we were all driving in after work.  We had dinner reservations at Giardina’s.  We were able to reserve one of the private tables.  Sadly I didn’t get a good picture, but here is one.
The courtyard at the Alluvian. We enjoyed the evening after dinner for a bit before the mosquitos starting eating us.

Saturday morning, we took advantage of the breakfast buffet at the hotel. 

We had a bit before our class started at 10, so we walked around downtown for a bit.  Then the fun began!!  We decided to take the Cupcakes & Cake Balls class.  It was a blast!  We didn’t go over board with sugar intake, but we did sample everything we baked.  Here is a hodge-podge of photos.

The “menu” for class.

The class kitchen before we got a hold of it.

The

fun is starting!


The aftermath of our class.


Before/After

All of our goodies we baked

More of our goodies

Beautiful golden caramel. 

Caramel Apple cupcakes cooling.

Casey making Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Coconut Rum Cake Balls

Practicing my icing skills.

Lisa adding the final touches to her Red Velvet Cake balls.

Would have been a great picture if it wasn’t blurry!  Still the best time!!

Saturday night, we had reservations at Lusco’s.  Like Giardina’s, you can reserve a private dining table.

 
Sunday morning we had spa appointments.  The Alluvian spa is one of my new favorites.  The masseuse was the best I have ever had.  She provided the right amount of pressure; never once did I have to ask her to lighten up.  I tested out the claimed best shower; pretty nice having 9 shower heads on you at once. 

Overall the weekend was fabulous!  I love you guys so much!  I’m already looking forward to next year’s trip!

The holidays are upon us!

Whew.  Time has been flying by the past few weeks.

Let’s see what has been going on.

Last week was super busy with preparing for Thanksgiving at our place.  I had nothing to worry about; just that I am truly my mother’s daughter.  Brian and I tried to do a little here and there to get ready for the Big day, but never fails I put it off.  Wednesday, thankfully Jimmy let me leave at 2, we finished cleaning house and I cooked, the cornbread for the dressing, mixed up the dressing, cooked 2 pecan pies, and bake a caramel cake.  Boy, staying up till midnight to make caramel icing must mean I love my family a lot!   I honestly believe it wouldn’t be a holiday if I didn’t stay up late making something for it.  Growing up (still today as well) my mom would always be up late the night before cooking or baking. 

Thanksgiving was wonderful!!  For my first time cooking a turkey, it turned out GREAT!  It was a nice golden brown color and so tender it was falling off the bone as Brian tried to carve it.  (Did I mention he craved it!?)  All the food turned out lovely and we had WAY too much to eat. 

After lunch, Brian and I cleaned up and hit the road to Hartselle for a few days.  We were welcome with a lovely Thanksgiving Day supper of dried white beans, fried potatoes, and cornbread. Friday’s lunch was yummy!  Mom had all of our favorites prepared for lunch.  Dad out did himself once again with a smoked turkey (which by the way is the only way I’ll eat turkey now.)

Saturday we drove back in time to quickly unload the car, pack a cooler, and head to Oxford for the Egg Bowl.  Alas, the game did not turn out in my favor, but overall we had a good time.  It was very cold!  We were wimps and left at the half, but listened to it (thank you XM radio!) on the way home.  I was glad we came home when we did; it was already 9:45ish when we got home.  Here are a couple of shots of the game.

 

Sunday was devoted to decorating the house for Christmas!  I am not finished just yet (I will be sharing photos.  I just wish I could take cool artistic photos like everyone else does of their decorations.) and the house is a big mess right now due to everything strung out.

I hope everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving and was able to spend time with friends and family! 

Vroom, Vroom.

Over the weekend, my parents came for a visit.  Mom had finished up a project for me and wanted to bring it to me, so I suggested they come stay the night Friday.  I decided to make turkey meatloaf, soy sautéed green beans, rosemary-garlic potatoes, and a key lime cake for dessert!  Brian and I did not want this to be a “working” weekend so we decided to head over the Automobile Museum.  I had never been; and was pleasantly surprised. 

Here are a few pictures from the museum.

Saturday morning I made a favorite for breakfast.  It has been years since I had these and my first time to make them.  If you remember back in the day when Hardees's had AWESOME cinnamon biscuits (before they changed the recipe and started using applesauce in them), you will love these.  This is the recipe.

Cinnamon Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 2 C self-rising flour
• 1/4 C shortening
• 1 T sugar
• 2/3 to 3/4
• 1 C raisins (optional)
• Cinnamon chips (see recipe below)

Directions:

Cinnamon Chips:

• 1/2 C sugar
• 1/3 C shortening
• 1 T plus 1 t cinnamon

The night before, mix sugar, cinnamon, and shortening.  Melt all ingredients.  Pour on foil-lined cookie sheet and place in freezer.  Next morning break into small pieces (keep frozen until use).

With flour, sugar, milk, and shortening; make biscuits.  Add raisins and cinnamon chips last.  Mix fast so the chips will not melt.  Roll and cut out like biscuits.  Bake at 400 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.  Frost with frosting (see below) while warm.

Frosting:

• 1 C powdered sugar
• 1 T milk
• 1/2 t vanilla

Brian’s response to these was; “You need to make these every morning.”  I responded back with maybe on weekends. :)

I was hoping to have pictures of a couple finished projects, but one is not completed yet (due to my lazy self) and the other needs to be cleaned up some before pictures are taken.  I will try to get some tonight of the completed one to share.  I’m uber excited about them! 

It's that time of year!

This week has not turned out like I was hoping. I had plans to bake Christmas goodies each night so Friday I could make little goodie bags for my co-workers. Well, that didn't go as plan due to I got sick. Thankfully I didn't get full blown sick and am feeling much better today, but Tuesday I had no energy and all I wanted to do was lay around. Yesterday I decided I wanted to nip this in the bud before it got worse, so off to the dr. I go. He didn't think I had anything major, so he gave me a steroid shot to clear up the mild fluid I had in my ears (which I don’t know is any better, but I’m not spacey feeling anymore nor a headache and sore throat). Well, I completely forgot that steroids keep me awake most of the day and night. I didn’t get much sleep last night even with the pain pill I took for my throat in hopes it would knock me out. When I got home from work I had all these energy, that before services last night I baked Puppy Chow (which I had completely forgotten about until I was looking at the family cookbook and saw it!) and Russian Tea Mix. I was going to make Chocolate Chip Bonbons after church but decided I’ll do it tonight along with Cinnamon Bars, Spoon Cookies, and possible Boiled Cookies.

I know next week Dad and I will make the Chex mix we make each year. If I had big enough bowls to mix it in and pans to bake it in I would do it this week, but alas Mom has the stuff I need. I did realize last night I need to get a big bowl like the yellow one or the stainless steel one she has to mix the puppy chow in.

I’m so ready for this week to be over with so I will be off till the New Year. Work is slow this time of year so the days go by slooooooow. There is only so much you can look at on the internet (and it’s worse at the office due to our VERY slow network).

Everyone mark your calendars to January 8th! Turn into Wheel of Fortune that night to watch a friend of mine, Deborah, on the show.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!