The Way to a Man's Heart- Pecan Sandies

Pecan Sandies

Not too sweet, but with a wonderfully buttery and nutty flavor, this cookie, I've often heard called a "Wedding" cookie, is a suitable treat anytime and disappear quickly!

Ingredients-

1 Cup of Butter (2 sticks)

1/3 Cup Sugar

2 Teaspoons Vanilla

2 Cups All Purpose or Self-Rising Flour (either)

1 Cup Chopped Pecans

¼ Cup Powdered Sugar (confectioner’s sugar)

2 Teaspoons Water

Directions-

1. Preheat oven to 325º

2. Beat Butter for 30 seconds

3. Add Sugar and beat until fluffy

4. Add Vanilla and 2 teaspoons water; beat well

5. Stir in flour and pecans

6. Shape into balls(about 1 inch balls)

7. Place on ungreased cookie sheets

8. Bake for about 20 minutes

9. Cool completely and shake a few at a time in a Ziploc bag with powdered sugar

Tuesdays with Taryn- Losing my Kitchen to the Man of the House

I'm writing this on Monday, as I listen to the thunder and rain and hope that the power doesn't go out before I need to fix supper. As of tonight though (actual Tuesday) the kids will be off school for their break for two weeks. Stepson will be going to his mom's until Christmas Eve and then after that, who knows.

As a family we have a very busy week coming up. Hubby has to work nearly every day, but this coming Saturday he will be off and intends to spend his time baking Chess Cake and Lemon Drop cookies. I figure Girly-Girl and I will tackle the peppermint bark, peanut butter fudge, chocolate cookies, dipped pretzels, and spritz cookies sometime later this week, as we head into the weekend. Too many chefs spoil the soup, or well, get under each others feet and, frankly, on my last nerve. This will be round 2 of the treat making for family and friends. I did the majority of it for my family and friends before Thanksgiving, but now we're doing the 2nd batch for hubby's family's side.

Besides all that, I have a few other things I need to work on- hubby wants sausage balls (Bisquick, sausage and shredded cheese), I'm going to attempt my very first pumpkin log/roll and I've had a hankering for a chess pie. Hubby's cake tastes very similar, but it's just not chess pie, which I haven't had in years.

We need to lay out the turkey in the fridge to thaw on Thursday, the ham on Saturday. We have Christmas breakfast with hubby's dad's side and though I was going to try making homemade cinnamon rolls with bread loaves, I couldn't find any in the frozens, so I'm just going to make a pan of cinnamon pull-aparts, aka- Monkey Bread. Then I'm going to have to convince hubby to fix the turkey on Christmas Eve afternoon because I don't think he realizes how much room it will take up in the oven when we have all kinds of other dishes to fix on Christmas Day that need to put in the oven. There is also the little detail that, no matter how well prepared, I'm not a fan of hot turkey. It doesn't cut well and to me, it seems "spongy."

That brings me to the title of my post. I think I'm losing my kitchen to the man of the house. Ever since hubby's attempt at baking a whole turkey turned out really good, he believes we MUST have turkey AND ham for Christmas, that he needs to be in the kitchen like a head chef and I find myself feeling like I've been reduced to a sous chef. I think hubby forgets that the cooking used to be MY thing on Christmas Day and I fear he's on the fast track to kicking me out of my own kitchen.

Of course, I do the cooking nearly 95% of the time during the rest of the year and I don't mind taking a load off, but I'm still expected to make homemade mashed potatoes and his favorite- mac & cheese (can I honestly admit that mac & cheese is one of my LEAST favorite foods? I like it okay, but I can live without it, especially when I have to make it.). Hubby's Mom is bringing green beans and punchbowl cake and my mom is bringing a plethora of things that are "necessaries" with a turkey dinner- cranberry gel, stuffing to go with the turkey (I'm planning to make gravy from the drippings and we'll have yeast rolls); baked beans and potato salad- for those of us who'd like something a little different with ham and fruit salad, per my dad. Oh, and hubby is insistent that he must make deviled eggs, like my grandma showed him how to make last year (when I was sick and they booted me out of my kitchen- see the pattern?)

The table will be laden with plenty of food and our home will be filled with lots of love and laughter, I'm sure. I guess, if I lose my kitchen for a short time, it's all good. Maybe I won't be the one who's so exhausted at the end of the day. ::wink::

Favorite Christmas Treats- Guilty as Charged

There is just something about the goodies you can get this time of year that you just can't get any other time. My husband's favorites are the Reeses Christmas Trees, which we jokingly call the Reeses Arrowheads because they didn't go to too much trouble on the shape of the mold for them, but he (and I) love the fact that there is SO much more peanut butter in them than a regular Reeses cup. One of my favorites is of course the Little Deb Tree cakes. I once made up a song about it...I can't remember it now, but it was to the tune of "O Christmas Tree" and detailed how wonderfully edible they are. LOL

I love the store bought Holiday butter and sugar cookies. The cheap ones, which for some reason always taste better, but I'm also a fan of those Danish Butter cookies in a tin. When I can't find cookies like those, I can always make my grandma's Basic Spritz cookies, which are a buttery type cookie made with a cookie press.

My family and I have started the tradition of giving some of our family and friends tubs of homemade treats, so this year, the spritz cookies made the list of goodies. Another favorite is Peppermint bark, Chocolate Cream Cheese cookies, my hubby's Lemon Drop cookies, dipped pretzels, Chess cake and Peanut Butter fudge.

I've attempted Chocolate Fudge a couple of years in a row, but this year I decided against it. I've yet to find a no-fail recipe that works for me, so I'd rather not use my family and friends as guinea pigs until I get it right. ;)

I have done butterscotch haystacks before, but the flavor and aroma of butterscotch tends to overpower all the other flavors and sort of takes over. I have a recipe for Rolo Turtles that I'd like to try that simply involves small twist pretzels, Rolos & pecan halves.

 This year I'm going to attempt making a Pumpkin Roll, which I hope is as easy to fix as the Youtube video I watched. I might have to watch it again before I fix it, just to make sure I understand what I'm doing with it.

Pumpkin pie is always a favorite dessert and pecan pie, or turtle pecan pie. I personally would love a chess pie. Hubby's chess cake comes close but it's still just not quite the texture I expect with that flavor.

My dad has done a fruit salad for our Christmas dinner here in my home. My grandma has made apple pie. My mother-in-law and her husband usually brings us more treats than we can shake a stick at.

And Christmas Eve morning, when we have breakfast with my father-in-law's bunch, I've done a variety of dishes, from Pineapple Surprise to breakfast burritos. I think one year I made monkey bread, another time a honey bun cake. This year I'm thinking of making homemade (or almost homemade) cinnamon rolls with thawed bread loaves that you let rise and then bake and homemade cream cheese icing or maybe just my powdered sugar drizzle. I haven't decided yet.

As you can tell, food is kind of the center of our holiday celebrations. I am guilty as charged.

What are some of your family favorites or holiday traditional goodies that you enjoy?

November 1st- NaNoWriMo Begins- Essentials

One of the essentials I've always had on hand during NaNo is snacky things, especially AFTER I quit smoking 3 years ago. Usually it was gum, mini candy bars, especially Reeses cups and chocolate in most any other form, etc. I mean, really, the day after Trick-or-Treat- who doesn't have some candy just lying about all over the house? I have kids and even if they hide it, I'm like a bloodhound, with a nose for the sweets. I can sniff it out, Sherlock Holmes style.

This time around though, I thought I'd curb the chocolate, which I could probably demolish in the first few DAYS of NaNo and instead opted for some old-fashion candies- Chick-O-Stick, Bit O'Honey and Mary Janes. I also snagged some Laffy Taffy because I can suck on a piece of that for quite some time and be happily typing away without realizing it.

But I also grabbed some Brach's Maple Nut Goodies, Trolli's Peachie O's, my all-time favorite chewy Twizzlers and Gummi Bears. Now mind you, I've come to realize that I prefer Gummi Worms to Gummi Bears and you might ask why- well, the bears seem tougher to me and after a while, I just kind of get tired of picking arms and legs out of my teeth. I don't have that problem with worms, as they have no arms or legs to speak of. ;)

On top of the sweet treats, I've also got honey roasted peanuts and this weekend's grocery day, I intend to find some Chex Mix to add those into cause occasionally I do need something salty. I've also got some knock-off Teddy Grahams as well. In the fridge we have fruit cups and string cheese, and I'm pretty sure I have some microwave popcorn, too, so I don't think I'll be at a loss for things to nibble on.

Truth is, the supply is great and I will eat some of it, but often times I find myself so deep into the writing, once I really get going, that I forget I even have the snacky foods around. In the meantime, I guess my bedroom will just have to smell of all the sweet treats and old-fashion aromas of a candy shoppe as I step on the gas pedal and gun it down this writing highway.

I probably won't be around much today as I hope (fingers & toes crossed) that I will blow my word count out of the water and get a LOT written but I will try to update word count on my Widget in the side bar each day. Hope you get off to a great start if you're participating in NaNo as well!

What snacky items, if any, do you like to keep on hand as you write- during NaNo or any other time? Would love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and tell me about your favorites!

Boo! Happy Halloween!

To all those with children who'll be out tonight trick-or-treating, please remember to dress in bright colors or use those glow sticks and necklaces, flashlights, reflective garments, etc. Keep those babies safe and sound and if it's going to be a cold one where you live, be sure to dress warmly! Don't forget to brush after all the sweets and have fun!

For those who might partake of mid-week Halloweenie parties- be safe, have a designated driver if there's drinking involved and watch out for the little ones!

And don't forget- It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown airs tonight on ABC (7PM Central/8PM Eastern-check your local listings) for those who might enjoy a little Peanuts tradition!

I'd also like to say-

Bright blessings and warm wishes for those celebrating Samhain Eve today and Happy Halloween to everyone!

No matter what the day brings, I hope everyone has a wonderful time and a safe holiday!

(I got to get ready for NaNo- It starts TOMORROW!!! CAN'T WAIT!)