For all who asked for it at the wedding:
a few dashes of hot sauce
a few dashes of Worcester [sic] sauce
old bay through sprinkled through out and on top when done
8 oz fat free cream cheese
1/2 cup fat free mayo
1 can of baby shrimp
Chill and serve.
I will say that I prefer the more fattening method using real mayo and real cream cheese and we ended up using more than a sprinkle of old bay because we like it with a little warmth.
This dip is best with a mild cracker like a town house that doesn't overpower the shrimp.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Wedding Watch - 11 days and counting
We've moved into the final week of preparation... is it too late to start biting my nails?
We're still waiting on the final RSVPs. In spite of this, we've managed a crude seating arrangement and floor plan. My hope is to have the final setup tomorrow. Half way into this, I realized that we needed more tables... 5 more tables. It took me 3 Wal-marts to find the same globes for the centerpieces (I'd bought all of the others from the other stores).
Tonight, we finish Chloie's dress for the wedding. Modifications again to make the dress unique. I think she'll look cute, and considering the dress consists of 6 pieces, it should go pretty quickly.
We've made plans to bake the cake on Saturday and decorate it on Tuesday. We've decided to postpone purchasing the food until Monday. Until then, we'll be working as much as we can on the smaller details.
We're still waiting on the final RSVPs. In spite of this, we've managed a crude seating arrangement and floor plan. My hope is to have the final setup tomorrow. Half way into this, I realized that we needed more tables... 5 more tables. It took me 3 Wal-marts to find the same globes for the centerpieces (I'd bought all of the others from the other stores).
Tonight, we finish Chloie's dress for the wedding. Modifications again to make the dress unique. I think she'll look cute, and considering the dress consists of 6 pieces, it should go pretty quickly.
We've made plans to bake the cake on Saturday and decorate it on Tuesday. We've decided to postpone purchasing the food until Monday. Until then, we'll be working as much as we can on the smaller details.
Student of the Month
Last night I opened a letter "To the parents of Audie" thinking we'd gotten a bad note. Think again! Audie has been selected to be Student of the Month for December!!! The party is at 2:30 this Friday, and I'll be sure to take pictures and post them here. Talk about proud parents!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wedding Watch - 16 days and counting
One day closer... more things to do... not enough time.
Last night Mom and I finished sewing the lining of my gown. She started on Chloie's test dress, and I braided the shoulder straps we'll use on the finished gown. I even managed to get them even (would you believe it!). Mom hoped to finish Chloie's test dress today while I'm at work, and tonight our goal is to sew the lining into the dress, add the straps, and hem the whole thing.
There it is, the pattern for the dress. We've made some changes, of course, so this will definately be unique.
Last night Mom and I finished sewing the lining of my gown. She started on Chloie's test dress, and I braided the shoulder straps we'll use on the finished gown. I even managed to get them even (would you believe it!). Mom hoped to finish Chloie's test dress today while I'm at work, and tonight our goal is to sew the lining into the dress, add the straps, and hem the whole thing.There it is, the pattern for the dress. We've made some changes, of course, so this will definately be unique.
First Grade "Holiday Concert"
The nerve of some people... "Holiday Concert"... whatever happened to "Christmas Concert"?
In any event, Audie and his class mates got to get up and perform for us last night. At the beginning of the show, there was standing room only. Many proud parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles packed into a cafeteria that I could have sworn was a lot bigger when I went to school there.
This year, the kids attempted to sing in harmony, making for a short program. The music teacher did a good job teaching them. None of the traditional Christmas songs this year; no, things like "Waiting for the winter" and "R&B reindeer". Cute nonetheless.
After the concert, Audie, ball of excited energy that he is, bounced around asking how he did, if we were proud of him, could we see him, did we like it? (answers were very well, yes, mostly, and yes, respectively) Tonight we treat him to ice cream for the occasion.
In any event, Audie and his class mates got to get up and perform for us last night. At the beginning of the show, there was standing room only. Many proud parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles packed into a cafeteria that I could have sworn was a lot bigger when I went to school there.
This year, the kids attempted to sing in harmony, making for a short program. The music teacher did a good job teaching them. None of the traditional Christmas songs this year; no, things like "Waiting for the winter" and "R&B reindeer". Cute nonetheless.
After the concert, Audie, ball of excited energy that he is, bounced around asking how he did, if we were proud of him, could we see him, did we like it? (answers were very well, yes, mostly, and yes, respectively) Tonight we treat him to ice cream for the occasion.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The Cookie Exchange
Now that I've started, I don't know if I can stop...
Last night I went to enrichment at the church. Fun activities included learning to make ribbon bow for gifts, how to make cream cheese mints, and a craft session on making a "12 Days of Christmas" calendar.
The cream cheese mints... now there is a recipe. After trying one of each flavor, I've decided I like the cinnamon and the vanilla flavors best, though you can make them in any flavor/color. Curses to JaNae, now I'm making them for the wedding (if I can find a good snowflake candy mold before it's time). A word of warning - do NOT double the recipe if you are making it in your food processor or in a mixer any less powerful than a KitchenAid... it will burn up the motor!
In your food processor (or with a mixer) combine:
3 oz. cream cheese (preferably softened)
3 cups confectioners sugar
1 Tbsp. butter
a few drops of desired color
a few drops of desired flavor (to taste)
Blend until the consistency of modeling clay. Refrigerate as necessary to keep the mix from making a mess. Roll into balls, then roll in granulated sugar. You can leave in balls, flatten with a fork, decorate the top, whatever you want to do, just make sure you let them sit to harden for two hours before eating. They can also be molded using candy molds (the sugar keeps them from sticking to the mold). The mints may be stored on your counter top for 2 weeks or frozen for up to 2 months.
Now this little calendar... let me tell you that it took a little bit to do, and I ended up finishing it at home, but it was well worth it! Let me preface this by saying that I am not a scrapbooker. I have never scrapbooked. I still might never scrapbook, but this was a lot of fun; and to see the variation as each sister did her own was wonderful. There were so many ideas, colors, wow. Each little "door" on the calendar has it's own raised ornament over a frame, and inside it has a scripture and song for each day of Christmas (or a service for each day). This is a sweet idea that I might take to make for Christmas gifts next year (so if you're reading this next year, don't be surprised).
Each sister this evening brought 6 dozen of her favorite cookie for the cookie exchange. I ended up bringing home a full platter of cookies. My kids will be on a sugar rush for a week. My only regret is that I didn't get the recipes for some of these fabulous cookies.
Our next enrichment is in February, and I'm teaching cake decorating. The sisters in Relief Society are checking to see which of my Top Secret cake recipes they would like to learn. I'm hoping they will have as much fun learning as I do decorating!
Last night I went to enrichment at the church. Fun activities included learning to make ribbon bow for gifts, how to make cream cheese mints, and a craft session on making a "12 Days of Christmas" calendar.
The cream cheese mints... now there is a recipe. After trying one of each flavor, I've decided I like the cinnamon and the vanilla flavors best, though you can make them in any flavor/color. Curses to JaNae, now I'm making them for the wedding (if I can find a good snowflake candy mold before it's time). A word of warning - do NOT double the recipe if you are making it in your food processor or in a mixer any less powerful than a KitchenAid... it will burn up the motor!
In your food processor (or with a mixer) combine:3 oz. cream cheese (preferably softened)
3 cups confectioners sugar
1 Tbsp. butter
a few drops of desired color
a few drops of desired flavor (to taste)
Blend until the consistency of modeling clay. Refrigerate as necessary to keep the mix from making a mess. Roll into balls, then roll in granulated sugar. You can leave in balls, flatten with a fork, decorate the top, whatever you want to do, just make sure you let them sit to harden for two hours before eating. They can also be molded using candy molds (the sugar keeps them from sticking to the mold). The mints may be stored on your counter top for 2 weeks or frozen for up to 2 months.
Now this little calendar... let me tell you that it took a little bit to do, and I ended up finishing it at home, but it was well worth it! Let me preface this by saying that I am not a scrapbooker. I have never scrapbooked. I still might never scrapbook, but this was a lot of fun; and to see the variation as each sister did her own was wonderful. There were so many ideas, colors, wow. Each little "door" on the calendar has it's own raised ornament over a frame, and inside it has a scripture and song for each day of Christmas (or a service for each day). This is a sweet idea that I might take to make for Christmas gifts next year (so if you're reading this next year, don't be surprised).
Each sister this evening brought 6 dozen of her favorite cookie for the cookie exchange. I ended up bringing home a full platter of cookies. My kids will be on a sugar rush for a week. My only regret is that I didn't get the recipes for some of these fabulous cookies.
Our next enrichment is in February, and I'm teaching cake decorating. The sisters in Relief Society are checking to see which of my Top Secret cake recipes they would like to learn. I'm hoping they will have as much fun learning as I do decorating!
A Whitty remark to start with...
Usually customary in a new anything, a welcome note is provided as a prelude to things to come. Perhaps the customary should be anything but.
Initially I loathed blogging. I couldn't understand why people would spend hours pouring over their keyboards only for a random stranger, or perhaps a friend or family member, to happen upon their ramblings. Did it negate the need for personal contact as a convenient method of mass communication? After seeing my sister and now my parents blog away, I have come to like the idea of blogging. Now I can share!
Allow me to introduce myself:
Serendipity –noun 1. an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident. 2. good fortune; luck.
I feel that I have been fortunate, and whether by accident or by (grand) design, I happen upon wonderful things. May the things you find here be as serendipitous for you.
Initially I loathed blogging. I couldn't understand why people would spend hours pouring over their keyboards only for a random stranger, or perhaps a friend or family member, to happen upon their ramblings. Did it negate the need for personal contact as a convenient method of mass communication? After seeing my sister and now my parents blog away, I have come to like the idea of blogging. Now I can share!
Allow me to introduce myself:
Serendipity –noun 1. an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident. 2. good fortune; luck.
I feel that I have been fortunate, and whether by accident or by (grand) design, I happen upon wonderful things. May the things you find here be as serendipitous for you.
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