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Great post - my DH has cut off 100% of his sm [2008-12-02]
hateful family, 2 sisters, both parents, everyone. They were abusive when he was younger; they treated me crappy too when I came into the family; and in his 40s he finally said Enough. This may be extreme but we live out of state and they do not have our phone #s or address, nothing. He has chosen to cut them out completely b/c they were toxic and bad for his mental health.
Reminds me of the cartoon I got [2008-12-02]
when I first started working at home of the perfect desk with a washer on one end and a dryer the other and the computer in between. I was in my bedroom until I started feeling like I went to bed, moved to the desk, went to the bed, moved to the computer .... so moved to the living room bya big window where I can look out and am so much happier.
I think an adult coloring book is a great idea...sm, [2008-12-02]
I think it would be a stress reliever. Coloring is relaxing, it doesn't take concentration, you see your progress, you concentrate but it's more of a meditation trance. You just need the time to do it :-)
Great post! nm [2008-12-01]
xx
LOL - that reminds me of the other day when [2008-11-30]
my 7 year old son came home from school. He asked me did I know that kids used to not speak unless spoken too. I told him what a wonderful concept that was that we've lost over the years. He just looked at me horrified. His expression was priceless! :)
Haband is also great for "pretty plus." [2008-11-28]
If I had to guess, I would say 24-26 in plus size. My Mom was that size.
some great ideas! [2008-11-26]
I just bought a brick of cheese so that is easy. also have some grapes, celery, carrots, and broccoli so I can make a decent veg tray with that and ranch salad dressing. i might just have to stop and get some crackers but i can get those at a gas station maybe.
Like you said, I am the DIL! lol but I know I'd make her upset if we left early so I better have some food so we can stay. lol
oh, I make a great salsa [2008-11-26]
and I always keep that stuff on hand. I could make that and just buy a bag of chips. Or if I have tortilla's, which I think I do in the freezer, I could make those into chips!
Thanks! As you can tell I'm trying to stay out of the store. lol
If you like butterscotch, these are great sm [2008-11-25]
We call them haystacks but some people call them birdis just butterscotch chips, peanut butter, and chow mein noodles. You can also add peanuts and/or mini marshmallows. Here's the links to a couple, one from Nestle and one from about.com.
http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/detail.aspx?ID=18477
http://southernfood.about.com/od/candyrecipes/r/bl30427n.htm
I think what you did was great. [2008-11-25]
I'm sorry it turned out that way. You are right, most kids don't play board games or card games any more and lack imagination and development that is necessary for school. I think you can have a mix of both but sadly many parents don't uphold guidelines in their household and it's easier for them to let the TV/video games babysit their children. It is also sad that they are acting so childish when you are grown adults with children of your own. I wouldn't make any effort to be around them or be friendly any further. The mom of the birthday boy, maybe invite her to coffee or a playplace for the kids, just the 2 of you and get to know her better. I can understand that and think it would help her to see what a good person you are and make her own opinion despite what the others may or may not say to her. If she doesn't seem receptive, let it go. You can't control what happens at school but keep your eyes and ears open. If there are any problems that develop between the 2 friends at school, I would address it with the teacher.
that sounds great, with apple juice, [2008-11-24]
but would you give me some idea of temp to cook at, and how long it might take to get soft? Do you wait til its done to add cinnamon and brown sugar? God bless, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
That sounds great - I'll give it a try. [2008-11-23]
A plus is they grow really well. Another item to add to the garden next year if we like them.
Thank you so much. I will always try something new with an open mind. However, I still hate beets and did when I was a kid. But I do like snails. HA HA.
Great idea!...nm [2008-11-20]
ss
That's a great idea actually! (sm) [2008-11-20]
I agree! Even though I don't get along all the time with my extended family, it would beat being alone all the time. You may have to break your lease, oh well. It is happening everywhere right now. You can only do what you can do.
Great story! NM [2008-11-17]
I agree, beans and all legumes are a great source for.......sm [2008-11-15]
plant protein and fiber. Great option for vegetarian.
This is a great beanice dish:
rice
beans (any kind)
onions (chopped small)
olives
turmeric
spices
Fry a little in olive oil or canola oil, then cook in water, 1:2, or 1:1/2, depending on kind of rice.
You can substitute beans with lentils or chickpeas, or put all 3 together....
Aww! That is great that you got shelter..sm [2008-11-15]
dogs. They need homes too. I guess we should all do that too. :)
Great dogs at shelters [2008-11-15]
There are so many wonderful dogs at shelters. I always say, the only bad thing about a shelter dog is its previous owner! There are lots of mixed breeds but plenty of purebred dogs, too.
Shelters are overflowing these days (more than usual) because of the number of people who are losing their homes. I've heard stories of people moving out of their foreclosed house & just leaving the dogs behind...terrible. Especially for older dogs, who are so hard to find homes for.
"We love dogs" got cut off [2008-11-13]
...
Thanks for all of the great suggestions! [2008-11-13]
I have done most of that already. We don't have a fancy house or cars. Have cut back on all our driving and I have always stocked up on food but that is becoming more and more difficult. Guess at this point we'll just have to go with the flow and see what happens.
I'm pregnant so a holiday job really doesn't make much sense for me, besides we live in the boonies and there isn't much available without a 45 minute drive each way. Hubs seems to have a good job and they are reassuring their employees but its still hard. Seems like no one is out of the path of destruction any more.
Thinking of holidays and extra expenses does not help either. Maybe should think of tax season right around the corner. Atleast that is a little back to the rainy day savings.
Pumba. Reminds of Lion King. LOL...sm [2008-11-12]
She is a pretty kitty and sitting under the tree like she is a gift for someone. lol
This reminds me of an incident a couple of [2008-11-11]
months ago. My parents live 4 hours away and wonlonely people. Now, my parents may not come down but who says we are lonely??? I too went through many years of crying because we didn't have that Martha Stewart Christmas.
Great post...nm [2008-11-08]
aa
That's great to know. Thank you. [2008-11-05]
My cat who is no longer with us used to eat raw chicken at least once a week when I made it. Thankfully she never got sick on it. Luckily my other cat doesnpeople food.
Ugh. Reminds me of (sm) [2008-11-02]
I remember dating this very handsome eligible batchelor when I was in my early 20s. He had his own apartment and a good job. He proudly told me about the fancy set of pots and pans he'd bought, so that was one thing he'd already have when he got married. I don't even care about cooking, but I didn't like the idea of the male picking out stuff for his future wife. I'm sure he made somebody a great husband, but it's funny how that conversation set off alarm bells for me.
My husband also bought a car without talking to me about it while we were engaged, and I was quite shocked. It did say something about his attitude about money and purchases, and I should have listened to those warning bells too.
I come from one of those fighting families. [2008-12-04]
There have been many, but the defining event would have to be at my father's viewing when his own brother started a fight in front of the open casket. If it were a screenplay, it would have to be a comedy, because the reality of it was too painful to endure. Needless to say, I don't deal with my family unless I have to. I've had too many holidays ruined over the years, and when my children were small, I realized that their holidays would be ruined, as well, if I kept returning to these toxic family gatherings. Now we do things on our own, and life is much nicer. We don't have the Norman Rockwell gatherings of 20 or so people, but that's ok. Maybe some day when I'm a grandmother and great-grandmother, our healthy family will have grown to Norman Rockwell size, and then we'll have a family group that wants to spend time with each other. That is so much better than dreading family gatherings!
I'm counting the days 'til Solstice, as well. [2008-12-04]
Great time of year, too. You can enjoy the holiday season at it's most phrenetic, without having to actually take part in the craziness.
'Ring out, Solstice bells!'
I'd say it depends how long you have smoked - sm [2008-12-04]
and how old you are. A friend of mine quit and went about 8 months or so, is now back to a 3-4 cigs a day due to stress, brother died (accidental drug/alcohol OD--plus he had diabetes and hepatitis), then mom got lung cancer (was still smoking at 78, 50+ years smoker, 2 heart attacks), I don't know if she quit but she had stage IV so they knew she did not have long (3 months or so). My friend is still doing the 3-4 cigs a day though she felt so much better NOT smoking. Yes she gained some weight, but she had a 3 floor walk-up apartment so that helped her some. I am hoping she will quit for good here soon. Her stress level has dropped as she moved back in with her dad (though he is not the easiest person to live with)...he wants her to have the house when he dies which is probably soon....he was terribly affected by his son and wife's deaths. Smoking sucks, plain and simple. I am a nonsmoker. I hate the smell, cannot understand how anyone can deal with stinking all the time, having a smelly home, smelly clothes, car, etc. We just stayed in a hotel last weekend, a nonsmoking room....I smelled the cig smoke the second I walked in the door, wanted another room but it was fully booked. It was not too bad but still annoyed me that I had a room, that had a balcony, where someone smoked where they were not supposed to. Sorry, ranting. ---Unless you are over 55 or so and have smoked for 30+ years I would not worry about lung cancer. My DH quit before I met him, had smoked for 12 or so years, pack a day. He is in great shape, lung cancer in his family too. He has been smoke-free for 20 years now. His lungs get sore when around lots of smoke though, and he did have pneumonia really bad right before I met him that I think did some damage (he was seriously ill for 3 weeks) to his lungs as they are very sensitive now as I said. But other than that he is healthy as a horse. Quit. Set aside the money you save and take a nice vacation next summer. You will lose your chronic cough, smell tons better, get your taste buds back, get rid of that stain on your teeth and fingers, and once all the nicotine is gone add a few years BACK onto your life. Good luck!
I'm emailing you...........sm [2008-12-04]
I think January is a great time to stop, although I do have to wonder if smoking will become vogue again since we have a president who smokes.
I had a friend whose mother died of lung cancer with mets to the brain and she never smoked a day in her life either.
You absolutely did the right thing! [2008-12-02]
I have a nephew who is turning 21 soon. This reminds me so much of him. His grandmother bails him out of trouble time and time again - but does he learn anything from his mistakes? Nope. Not one thing. It is a cycle that has to be broken. I only hope that it will be broken before he is also in his 40s like your stepdaughter. I am also a stepmom so I can understand your dilema there and the hurtful things that might be said, etc.
But step or bio, everyone in my family knows my philosophy: I understand that everyone makes mistakes and slips up but when it comes to being in jail, hurting another family member, or taking advantage of someone - I won't participate in the least.
Just know in your heart that you did the right thing for her in the long run. She can be mad, upset, maybe even make hurtful comments but if that's the case she can just as easily ask one of her bioparents as she can ask you.
You have inspired me [2008-12-02]
Kinda of the opposite of you, I function better with organization. I am lost because of the clutter in my house. I am usually a neat freak but I have really let things go recently. I dread the holidays this year and just do nothing instead of doing a little here and there. My clutter has gotten pretty bad (for me) and it is to the point where I just dread doing it but I KNOW I would feel so much better if I just dug in and got it done. Remember your motivation, your daughter's wedding! That is a great thing! You will be so much happier knowing it is nice and clutter free.
Lucky you! I'm a clutterbug. [2008-12-02]
I tried the organization thingie and it was great but I couldnhere but now it.
I love things neat and tidy, but I can't waste 3 months looking for something.
Things that are better NOW........ [2008-12-02]
Cell Phones: If I
ATM Machines: I remember running out of gas on a weekend when the banks were closed back in the 70
The Internet:About 12 years ago, Iremember asking someone what the Internet was, and why we needed it. Now, I Remember the HARD way of doing things in the past? Like buying theater or plane tickets? Looking up directions? Comparing different brands of something you wanted to buy? Selling something you no longer wanted? Looking for a house or an apartment? Getting the latest news? The list is endless. Long Live The Internet!!!!
Google: Who can live without it? Especially Google Earth Google Maps? Now I Back in the day when I had to rely on someone
Digital Cameras: When I think of all the money I spent on film, and then developing said film, and all the film wasted on bad shots in my lifetime, it makes me cringe. I love the freedom and flexibility digital cameras give me to take as many photos as I want, and to experimentwith them,as well.
MP3 Players/CD Players: Think of all the fights youin the car over which radio stationto listen to listen to, and how loud. Then think how they never would Dad could
Solar Lights: I love solar lights! Garden lights! Floodlights! Christmas lights! You can fill your yard with them, and the power source is FREE!!!
Hair-straightening and CurlingIrons: Remember the 60frizzy or too-curly hair with an IRON on your mom Or sleeping with HAIR CURLERS? UGH!!!
You can probably think of a million more great things than I did. Let's hear 'em!
I make these every year. [2008-12-01]
After making the peanut butter part I put the balls in the freezer to get hard. This also makes the chocolate coating a little thicker which my family likes. After dipping in chocolate they return to the freezer. Once hard I put them in air tight containers or ziploc bags and store in the freezer. They come back to room temp very nicely or you can eat them frozen which my son likes. I have had them in my freezer for about 3 months before and they have been just like the day I made them. Of course I usually have to hide them well if I want them to last more than a week. :)
I use regular chocolate chips and about a 1/2 inch square of parafin to 1 bag. How many bags, depends on the recipe. I usually make a huge batch when I make these but I think the standard recipe is 1 bag.
Oh, I have also found it easier to make if you stiffen the peanut butter mixture up a little with extra powdered sugar. When short on time, I have even mixed enough powder sugar to be able to roll without refridgerating first.
If you want a little twist on tradition, they are great to add a cashew or peanut inside the ball or mix in cereal to the peanut butter mixture, rice crispies are yummy.
Unless things have changed [2008-11-30]
As far as I know, you have to have a converter box, if you don't have a HDTV TV. You can't use a DVD or VCR player for a converter. Maybe what they meant, is if you need a converter box, and don't have one, the only way you can watch your TV, is using a DVD or VCR player, playing the DVD discs, or VCR tapes.
I have bought 5 converter boxes, ending up taking two back. First one I got was a Magnovox, and I didnt' like it. My antennas wouldn't fit it.
I took it back and exchanged it for a RCA one. I couldn't get my money back, with the coupon, so, had to exchange it, and am stuck with the RCA one. It works OK. Not great.
Then I reviewed and found the TiVax was recommended. I got it. I liked it, till I got a DVT Pal today. It is better than any of them i have tried. I traded a Zenith for it, didnt' like the Zenith. My antennas wouldn't fit it, either. So I took the Zenith back, got the DVT Pal.
The Pal is the only one , so far, that I have gotten 4 stations. The others I have only gotten 2. With the ZEnith, I got none. I think I'll stay with the DVT Pal. I have one more coupon left.
Cowboy Magic [2008-11-30]
Cowboy Magic is great stuff. If she has any really bad snarls or is matted, use the gel and put it on them and leave it for a while. They It's what I use on the horse's tails when they're a mess and we're getting ready for a show.
No, but I bought a few things from WP [2008-11-30]
I bought a convetion oven a year ago and it puked out this past week when I wanted to broil a london broil.I was very disappointed. Up until then, I used to make cakes and wholeBBQ chickens on the rotisseie which all were great, plus the baking/roasting things. I'm hoping I just did something wrong when but I'm afraid I might not have. I also have his SS pots and pans bought a year before that that are still sitting in the box because I found anoter set of pots and pans that were given as a Christma giflt, so I'm using them.
i will be making chicekn again this week rotiserries style so keep your finers crossed for me. Of course, the warranty ran out prior this happening.
we don't exchange gifts either [2008-11-29]
We stopped exchanging gifts about 30 years ago. When my husband and I first approached the subject, we met with some resistance, but we stood our ground and said we would not be buying gifts. My husband is the oldest in a family of 7. By the time they all married and had children, the number could have been quite staggering to buy for. I was a surprise baby, my sisters being greater than 11 years older than I am, so when they began their families I was too young to buy anything to buy for them and so never started doing so. Now both of our families agree the holidays are much more enjoyable without the stress of the gift buying, worrying about what to get, how much, will the like it, can I afford it, etc., etc. The true gift of Christmas is the love we feel for our families and all we ask is time with them, and everyone agrees on this. We usually bake or take small treats to the families are who have misfortune of spending Christmas at the Ronald McDonald House in our city due to the illness of a child. Often the other kids in the family (the healthy ones) get lost in the shuffle of caring for a child with cancer. There is no gift one can give as great as giving and bringing joy to a family in such a situation. Anyway, my point is that there may be others in the family who will feel the same way, that it is just too stressful, and you may find that they will appreciate the holidays much more if the gift stress is taken out of the equation.
I should add here, I do buy something for my own children but usually one or two things and my grandchildren because, after all, Santa still comes (!) and I do think Christmas gift giving is for children. Watching my little ones open is a gift a truly a fun thing to do and makes me happy. I do ask my kids not to buy for me or my husband because they have young families and can't afford the extra money. I have always told them I would rather they spend time with me any day then go out and buy a gift.
Black Friday.... [2008-11-29]
I donshopon line), buy it and if it if not, oh well, makes no difference to me. My last Black Friday purchases were Cabbage Patch dolls (the FIRST incarnation of them many years ago) for my daughters. That was enough for me.
Thanksgiving [2008-11-29]
1939 to 1940
Abraham Lincoln href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt>Franklin D. Roosevelt broke with this tradition. November had five Thursdays that year, and Roosevelt declared the fourth Thursday as Thanksgiving rather than the fifth one. In 1940, in which November had four Thursdays, he declared the third one as Thanksgiving. Although many popular histories state otherwise, he made clear that his plan was to establish it on the next-to-last Thursday in the month instead of the last one. With the country still in the midst of The Great Depression, Roosevelt thought an earlier Thanksgiving would give merchants a longer period to sell goods before Christmas. Increasing profits and spending during this period, Roosevelt hoped, would help bring the country out of the Depression. At the time, advertising goods for Christmas before Thanksgiving was considered inappropriate.
sorry for your situation. it is a [2008-11-28]
shame there is so much focus on the gifts. no, i doncharity begins at home). God bless.
Ah! There is your problem, Singers are worthless! sm [2008-11-27]
Seriously, they are. They have been made in Japan for 35 years or better. Japanese sewing machines are the WORST. Janhome (sp?), White, Necchi, Juki...all Japanese and all terrible things! Brother is from there too these days. They don't keep their tension, they are notoriously difficult to thread and they don't stitch worth a $hyte.
If want something you can use for many, many years...you get a Pfaff, an Elna or a Bernina. They are European made. Pfaff has lots of bells and whistles for less money (I swear by a Pfaff and own 4 of them (2 regular, 2 sergers). Bernina is an excellent machine, but plenty of money gets you basics and fancy stuff like an extra presser foot is very pricey (A Pfaff ruffler is like $100, but a Bernina is more like $250).
I know Pfaff's best. They have a hook around back to thread your needle for you. They have a fully adjustable tension and it DOES hold and will revert back when you change it. This is something a Singer will never ever cooperate with. Change the tension once and it won't go back no matter where the knob is. They are dead easy to thread and do so in a way that you never have to thread a slot, hole or needle eye. I know you are thinking too much money. One, you get what you pay for, and two, a second-hand Pfaff that has been reconditioned by a factory-trained mechanic is every bit as good as a brand new one.
Unlike the Japanese machines, European ones have almost no moving parts, and they are modular. Burn out a motor (I have done this) and the old one snaps out and the new one snaps right in. I can also tell you I was a professional dressmaker of 10 years. In that time I killed a Singer serger, a Juki serger, a Singer lightweight, a New Home and a Necchi. For the second half of those years, I went to a Pfaff. I used the first one so much I wore the carbon brushes out in 15 months, grooved the armature on the motor and had to replace the motor!!! It worked great after that and I sold it for $200 less than I had paid for it new. Right now, to replace the 4 I have would cost me $20,000, but I own the very best, latest thing when I bought what I have. I own the first sewing machine model to retail for over $3000 (at $3399) but I didn't pay anywhere near that because you CAN negotiate on prices of sewing machines at independent retailers. I traded something in and bought 2 new regular machines with a total retail of $5000 and walked out with both for $1800 and that trade in. On a used machine they often make even better deals.
No Virginia, it is not you! It is the SEWING MACHINE.
Holidays are hard [2008-11-26]
My parents were divorced so my sister and I spent many years shuffling between two houses. When we each got married and had our own families the situation got even more complex. My parents are now deceased and my sister and I are estranged (even though we live in the same town), so in some ways life has gotten simpler. I still get very emotional and depressed around the holidays because of my dysfunctional childhood and negative expectations, but I don't have as much guilt and stress anymore.
My husband's parents and family are back in our hometown 600 miles away, and for the last few years he's gone back there for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas with our youngest child. I don't begrudge him that because his folks are elderly and I don't want him to have any regrets later. I can't go with him because we have a lot of animals to take care of, and frankly, I'm really comfortable just hanging out at home with them anyway. We have adult kids too, and two grandchildren, and I encourage all of them to live their lives without the burden of guilt and feelings of obligation. If they can come by and have dinner or visit that's great, and if not BIG DEAL. Honestly, it's just a day. Things got easier for us when we realized we didn't necessarily have to celebrate a holiday on the exact day it was scheduled.
I really understand your not wanting to let your mom down, and I would feel the same way. Your husband is a big boy and has made a choice, so that's on him, not you. He's probably being a bit immature and stubborn on this one. I hope you'll extend the invitation to your husband one more time, then go to your mom's and enjoy yourself whether he comes along or not.
lol gotta have that pumpkin pie! [2008-11-26]
thatmade the pies this year. I just supervised. I was quite surprised he wanted to help. He was hesitant on making the pie crust and kept wanting me to finish it for him but I stood ground and told him he couldn't possible mess it up and that I wouldn't have given him the option if I thought he would fail. He's very proud of the pies now that they are done. Even said he'd like to try the pumpkin this year! I dont' think he's ever had a bite of pumpkin before.
Found my Scrabble game sm [2008-11-26]
Went online to Walmart at 4:30 AM, they had thenew jubilee edition for $10 less than Hasbro direct, ithas a carrying case, curved letter holders, lazy Susan turning board. The only thing I didn I donseedy and I would not enjoy going there in the dark AM, so I did well. I have gotten my two grandsons interested in Scrabble as this is the only part of my brain that works well and itBeat Grammie - better than being glued to the Wii. LL Bean has a great wooden set but it's $99 and would be hard for them to carry around.
Here's mine for bugeyes... our version of buckeyes... sm [2008-11-25]
I hear that I am a good candy maker and my secret is I don I eyeball everything! Lazy! So the measurements I give are kind of guesses... but you can look up recipe for buckeye candy too. We changed the name of ours to bug eyes because they kind of looked like bulging out bug eyes
Peanut Butter - approx 2-3 cups. I use Skippy Honey Nut. In a household taste test with another regular brand this got higher review. Definitely go for a creamy kind and don't use all natural.
3-4 cups powdered sugar (I specifically remember the recipe called for 3, but when I looked in the box there was not that much sugar left in there, so I dumped it in. So basically one whole box of powdered sugar)
2 sticks butter
1 package of chocolate chips. I I think the recipe was actually for those melting choc chips, but I think those don
Beat BP and 1 stick softened butter in very large bowl until PB is really creamy then slowly add in sugar until it seems to hold together well enough to form balls. I say slowly on adding in the sugar so you can stop whenyou can make good balls that are moist and not crumbly. Probably about 1-inch size balls or so. Use waxed paper on a baking sheet and stick in the freezer for about an hour.
When hour is up, melt chocolate and about half of the other stick of butter together in pot on stove. You can microwave but I think slowly stirring over the stove is easier to monitor. When all of the chips have melted together, you are done.
Don I put tiny slivers of unmelted chocolate in the middle of the uncovered part to look like pupils. Keep in fridge until set.
I hope someone enjoys. This is probably a very common recipe, and like I said you can probably find it somewhere with real measurements!. But it is so easy, one of those ones I can make without looking at the instructions over and over and everyone loves. I cannot wait to make them, after typing about it!
Sounds like a very nice way to get [2008-11-25]
pregnant. Great post!
I think you hit the nail on the head. [2008-11-25]
I have also had a few more days to think about what the other posters said too. Whether I want to admit it or not, hormones do make the moment seem worse and make me want to snap into all or nothing.
You have some great ideas. I agree that she didn't need to get me a gift if she wasn't coming to the shower, and probably would have preferred that rather than get me a gift of the wrong gender. At any rate, I will send her a nice thank you and call her to see how her wedding went since I was not able to be there for the big day. I will also make mention to her that evening before I leave that I would still like to see her, if even for a few minutes. It's a male/female shower at a sports bar so if nothing else I would like to get to know her husband better.
I don't want this to ruin the small bit of friendship we still have left or my shower but she was honestly the only person I was really looking forward to being at my shower. but I must get over that and be greatful that we are still friends in some way.
Alton Brown's website [2008-11-25]
Check Alton Brown's website for recipes. I am a pretty good cook and make Christmas cookies for all of our neighbors and friends every year. Cookies or not, if there is something that I just can't seem to pull off I go to Alton Brown. I have not found a recipe of his that hasn't worked for me yet. It took me 15 years to make a pie crust but I was only able to do it well with Alton Brown's recipe.
I know he also has some recipes where you can make 1 dough and then divide it to make 4 different cookies. I think his black-and-white cookie is that way. Also, marshmellows are not difficult to make but they are so impressive and everyone loves them! It's a little messy with all the powdered sugar but the kids LOVE to make them. Its minimal ingredients and its like a science project when it grows in the mixer. You can also get extracts and make mint marshmellows, strawberry, whatever you want. They go great with hot chocolate. Actually I think this year we are only doing those and sugar cookies because everyone loved them so much the last few years. and maybe some fudge, to give me an excuse to make it. lol
where does this book plug in? [2008-11-25]
Great, now even reading bedtime books to my kids is getting outsourced!
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