Friday Things
1. I didn’t post a Friday Things last week, so let’s talk Christmas! Did you have a good holiday? It’s my absolute favorite time of the year, and this season was no different. I’ve loved sitting on the couch next to the glow of Christmas tree lights and spending lots of time with family. I hope you had a wonderful holiday as well.
2. My brother-in-law bought my husband and I a Dropcam for Christmas so that we can peek in on what Einstein and Duke are up to when we leave the house. It’s actually something we had been talking about buying for awhile, so it was the perfect gift. We set it up for the first time earlier this week when we went to my doctor’s appointment and were gone for about three hours. The entire time we were gone we were checking in on our phones and found that… both Duke and Einstein laid down and slept right in the doorway between our kitchen and mudroom, which is like two feet from the door that leads out the garage. It made us super sad! We thought that perhaps they played, chewed on rawhides, etc. while we were gone.
3. Speaking of my doctor’s appointment, I’m now 38 weeks +4 days and the doctor said the baby could come anytime now; it could be today, tomorrow or three weeks from now. There’s no way of knowing, so we’re just waiting (im)patiently! The nursery is completely ready and everything that needs to be assembled and washed is done, drawers and baskets are organized… now the little guy just needs to make his grand entrance!
4. Rebecca Instagramed a photo of her son on his birthday this week and he was wearing this t-shirt. I so want to buy it.
5. How did you ring in the New Year? We had a relaxing night at home with our parents, hanging out, watching some sports, playing some cards and, of course, eating! Over the course of the last two days, we’ve eaten the following, and then some: veggie pizza, pepperoni bread, slow cooker spicy beef queso dip, buttermilk waffles, beer and brown sugar kielbasa and sauerkraut, and slow cooker macaroni and cheese. It’s been a delicious few days :)
6. Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? I haven’t yet… some years I do and some I don’t… share yours and inspire me!
7. I love this list of 12 Things “Back to the Future” Promised We’d Have by 2015. I think the closest we’ve come is Google Glass; I’m still waiting on my hoverboard and self-drying jacket.
8. If you often need to scale recipes down, this infographic for how to cut a recipe in half is perfect! Beware there is one typo on it, however – half of ¼ cup is 2 TABLESPOONS, not 2 teaspoons, as the image states. This would be great to print out and keep in the kitchen!
9. We need to discuss the Homeland finale! What did you think? I was loving it until the very end, now I want the next season to start immediately! I hate the waiting. At least The Americans is starting back up at the end of January, and then House of Cards in February. I might need to do a House of Cards marathon to remember everything that happened!
10. TGIF! These guys are busy recovering from the holidays today… so much excitement and so many visitors!
Hi Michelle, good luck when the baby comes. I made your peanut butter cheesecake over Christmas with the oreo base, fudge, reeces pieces and ganache.Needless to say it was a huge success.
Oh, my gosh! It’s hard to believe your little one is almost here!!! Can’t wait to see that baby!
I made your kielbasa and sauerkraut recipe. I did brown some spare ribs and added those too. It was awesome! I always did use beer, but the brown sugar takes it to a whole new level! Tell your CCC to take you for a bumpy ride and get this show on the road!
I loved this season of Homeland but the finale was super disappointing to me. It was kind of boring and I kept waiting for something to happen. We’ll see what next season brings.
Michelle,
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!
My dog just sleeps when we’re gone too (unless the doorbell rings, then she goes nuts).
I can’t wait to see your little guy when he gets here.
I haven’t made any resolutions this year.
Annamaria
Read some great resolutions on one of my friends pages:
1. Hug your children more
2. Kiss your spouse whenever possible
3. Walk the dogs daily
4. Laugh with friends, often.
5. Eat more chocolate
6. Drink more coffee
I would add:
exercise regularly, appreciate the little things and enjoy the journey!
Thanks for the Einstein/Duke pictures! They always make me smile.
I made your beer and brown sugar keilbasa recipe for a potluck that I went to on New Year’s Day. Huge hit! Thanks for that recipe!
Sitting and looking at the Christmas tree all lit up is one of my favorite parts about Christmas!
Happy New Year!! Wow – “anytime now” – how exciting!!!! Sounds like you’ve had an awesome Christmas. Ours was split into two days but there was still too much food but all so wonderful! I was trying to figure out which cookies were on your cookie tray and couldn’t name them all – care to give us a tour?
Stay well and relax!!! Sleep now! Wish you and your family a happy and healthy!
Hi Emilia, The cookies in the center are pizzelle, and then from the top, going clockwise: chocolate-covered potato chips, chocolate chip tea cookies, peanut butter blossoms, Hazel’s fudge, snowballs, peanut clusters, and Italian walnut pillows. They’re all on the blog :)
Aha – the chocolate covered potato chips, fudge and pillows fooled me!!! Thanks!
HI Michelle! I cant wait to see some pictures of the baby! It must be agony to wait for him. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to get back into gymnastics. I’ve been wanting to, but you just have too many captivating recipes to try! Speaking of recipes, if you want an amazing cupcake recipe for the New Year you should try this one! It’s a spin off of your ultimate choc. cupcakes and my favorite bakery in Richmond’s Toffee and caramel cupcake. I could not not have started the year off better! Here it is:
-For the Cupcakes:
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
â…“ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
¾ cup hot coffee
¾ cup bread flour
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup Heath toffee bits
-For the frosting
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 Tbsp caramel sauce(I never thought I would say this but store bought is better)
1 Tbsp milk
31/2 cups powdered sugar
Heath toffee bits
-Make the Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a standard-size muffin pan with liners. Place the chopped chocolate and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Pour the hot coffee over the mixture and whisk until smooth. Place in the freezer for 5 mins.
Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside.
Whisk the oil, eggs, vinegar and vanilla extract into the cooled chocolate mixture until smooth. Add the flour mixture and Heath bits and whisk until smooth.
Divide the batter evenly and immediatly between the muffin pan cups. Bake until the cupcakes are set and just firm to the touch, 18 to 21 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then remove the cupcakes from the pan and place on the wire rack or in freezer to cool completely.
-make the frosting: In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, caramel sauce, milk and powdered sugar on medium high speed for about 4 minutes, until light and fluffy. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes with a 1M tip. Top immediately with toffee bits.
Hope you enjoy!
Happy New Year! So exciting that your little guy will be arriving so very soon! Just wanted to leave a comment that we use the dropcam as our baby monitor and love it. Now own two! :)
Here are some of my resolutions:
– Less processed foods
– Increase fruits, vegetables and whole grains
– Give more hugs
– Start my food blog already!
– Make more time for me
– Do ‘Simple Abundance’ again (last time 20 years ago!)
Happy New Year – and all good wishes for your new family!
Loved the t-shirt, I know some teachers who would love this one, http://www.snorgtees.com/commas-save-lives . Totally with you on Homeland. Other shows I need to start are Outlander, The Game, and Mad Men. You already have a your New Years resolution you will be sacrificing your sleep and other small things for your new baby, so just go with what the day brings.
Happy New Year! Exciting times!! It’s been my experience that when you get this irresistible urge to clean – and I mean under the fridge and doing the baseboards type of cleaning – then it’s going to happen within 24 hours. Good luck!
Ha ha about the T-shirt :)
Aww, so good to see Einstein and Duke!