Christmas 2013

Baked Apples

Not much of a 'recipe' but just fun on a cold day:

Use a melon-baller to get top 3/4 of core out of apple (you don't want to go all the way through). Fill up w/ butter, sugar, & cinnamon. Pour water in bottom of pan.  Bake @ 375 for 30-40 min. (Or I used the toaster oven.) Num!

December - Baby it Cold Outside!

All smiles before beddy-bye time

Everything's better w/ polka-dots

 This has been a terribly cold month. -20 is for February, not December. Finally, the girls played outside yesterday when it was 33 (above), but again today, -16. Have to make our own fun indoors!

Rudolph, Frosty, Turban Santa & Holly

Chocolate Lasagna

INGREDIENTS

• 1 package regular Oreo cookies (Not Double Stuff) – about 36 cookies
• 6 Tablespoon butter, melted
• 1- 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 Tablespoons cold milk
• 1- 12 ounce tub Cool Whip, divided
• 2 – 3.9 ounce packages Chocolate Instant Pudding.
• 3 1/4 cups cold milk
• 1 and 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Begin by crushing 36 Oreo cookies.
2. Transfer the Oreo crumbs to a large bowl. Stir in 6 tablespoons melted butter and use a fork to incorporate the butter into the cookie crumbs. When the butter is distributed, transfer the mixture to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator while you work on the additional layers.
3. Mix the cream cheese with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add in 2 Tablespoons of milk, and sugar, and mix well. Stir in 1 and 1/4 cups Cool Whip. Spread this mixture over the crust.
4. In a bowl, combine chocolate instant pudding with 3 and 1/4 cups cold milk. Whisk for several minutes until the pudding starts to thicken. Use a spatula to spread the mixture over the previous cream cheese layer. Allow the dessert to rest for about 5 minutes so that the pudding can firm up further.
5. Spread the remaining Cool Whip over the top. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips evenly over the top. Place in the freezer for 1 hour, or the refrigerator for 4 hours before serving.

I need this a few weeks ago for A coworker's birthday. They loved it so much they asked me to make it again for our Christmas party/recipe exchange. Now all I need is my ugly Christmas sweater and I'm ready to go!

Here's mama's little kitchen helper. 

Thanksgiving @ Gramma & Grandpa Brooks'

Will post more pics when I get my other camera pics on here. Here's just a few from that wkend !

Baby Mini Me

I will hold him & love him & pet him and name him George. This baby gets around. 

5 months for Thing 2

I cannot believe 5 months goes by so fast. Here's my 90%-tile baby bathing :)

My Girls