Merry Christmas Cooper!

Although this is Cooper's second Christmas technically- it felt like his first. He was so cute and had so much fun! He literally played with every single toy (and box and paper) that he was given. It made Christmas morning several hours long. Before I knew it it was 1:00 pm!

We celebrated with my family when we went home for the big party for my grandfather- but we did skype with Naunie and Papa T Christmas morning to open presents together.

Neena and Pop Pop came down for a Nantucket Christmas on Christmas Eve. We had Snow Crab, corn on the cob and red potatoes. For desert, we had Eggnog and German Chocolate Cake. We also went to mass on Christmas Eve. WE spent Christmas Day at Neena and Pop Pop's house and we had a great time. Below are a few pics from the festivities.

Yummy Crock Pot Celebration!

Carrie turned 35 on December 18th, and to celebrate I cooked for her and baked her a cake. I made a Crock-Pot recipe and it was a big hit with Carrie. It is called Chipotle Lime Chicken and Jamaican Peas. It's a little misleading because the "peas" are actually kidney beans and they are mixed in a rice dish cooked in coconut milk. The rice was my favorite part of the meal. You garnish it all with sliced avocado and cilantro. I'll include the recipe- ENJOY and let me know if you make it and if it is a success for you and yours :)

I also baked her a cake this year complete with her favorite "Funfetti" icing. We had a great evening. Carrie is forever misplacing her keys (and phone and wallet and...) so I bought her a wireless key finder from Brookstone. It is so cool. You attach the litle fob on your keys- and then just hit the button on the base and your keys beep!

Chipotle Lime Chicken and Jamaican Peas

Ingredients
1 cup sliced onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
4 pounds skinless chicken thighs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1/4 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon minced chipotle chiles in adobo sauce with 1 teaspoon sauce from can
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 avocado, diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Lime wedges, for garnish
Directions
Arrange onion, celery and carrots in bottom of slow cooker. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper and arrange over vegetables.

In a medium bowl, whisk together tomato sauce, lime juice, chipotle chiles with sauce, and garlic. Pour mixture over chicken.

Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours. Serve half of the thighs with this meal (topped with diced avocado and cilantro and garnished with lime wedges) and reserve remaining thighs for another meal.

Jamaican Rice and Peas:
2 cups instant white rice
1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk
1 cup water
1 (15-ounce) can red beans, drained
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
1/4 cup chopped scallions
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
In a medium saucepan, combine rice, coconut milk, water, beans, thyme, and lime zest. Set pan over high heat and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 5 minutes, until liquid is absorbed. Fold in scallions and season to taste with salt and pepper.

ETSY SALE!!

Hello! I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday! I am going to come back very soon with many wonderful pics of our Christmas with Cooper- but right now I just wanted to make a quick announcement. I am having a Buy ONE GET ONE FREE SALE in my Etsy shop. Shipping is FREE too- but just until 12/31. Please come by- and tell all of your friends. This is to make room for my new pieces for 2009. HURRY- I only have 11 pieces left :) Happy Shopping

White Christmas

(I just love this sign from Etsy!!!)



Mom and Papa T



Mom's Farm

I grew up in West Virginia and one of the things I miss the most is having at least the possibility of a white Christmas. If we get a few flurries here we are lucky. These pics are of the most recent snow at my mom's farm.

My Secret Santa!

Thank you Marlene for my wonderful soaps! I adore lavendar, patchoulli and holiday scents. How did you know that? Also, thank you Kori for allowing me to participate in the Secret Santa- I had a great time!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Last year, we received the most wonderful Christmas gift ever- Cooper. At that time, Carrie had our house completely gutted and I was relegated with Cooper to the back bedroom suite where we slept, ate, washed bottles and lived while Carrie feverishly tried to finish the house. Although I love the house now- it was very stressful and we didn't get to decorate for Christmas! We had no tree, no stockings and I missed celebrating the season terribly. This year- we had a great time picking out our tree and hanging our beautiful stockings made my "grandma Susie". Susie Soler has an etsy shop and she hand-quilted our stockings for us. Each stocking captures our personality, and includes a pocket with a hand written note from Susie to each of us. We will continue the tradition in the years to come leaving letters to each other and to Cooper from Santa.

I had a week off for the first time in my working life, and I had such a great time decorating and getting into the Christmas spirit. I was able to take a day trip to my dear friend Audrey's house and we baked all day. We made double chocolate biscotti, homemade butter toffee and almond shortbread cookies. I'll include a couple of recipes below.

I'm also posting pics of Christmas time around our home. Happy Holidays!


Double Chocolate Biscotti

Ingredients
6.75 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate minichips
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 large egg white
Cooking spray
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 6 ingredients (through salt) in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Combine vanilla, eggs, and egg white in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add flour mixture to egg mixture; stir until well blended. Divide dough in half. Turn dough out onto a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. With floured hands, shape each dough half into a 12-inch-long roll; pat to 1/2-inch thickness.

3. Bake at 350° for 22 minutes. Remove rolls from baking sheet; cool 10 minutes on a wire rack. Cut each roll diagonally into 18 (1/2-inch) slices. Carefully stand slices upright on baking sheet. Bake biscotti an additional 15 minutes or until almost firm (biscotti will be slightly soft in center but will harden as they cool). Remove biscotti from baking sheet; cool completely on wire rack.