Christmas Cookies Round I

Well, the time has come to start my annual Christmas baking! I'm going to attempt to add a variety of cookies this year, and not just my norm! I started tonight with my granny's Peanut Butter Blossoms! For the longest time I thought my granny had made up this recipe! Little did I know! :) This year I added a new twist to it -- I decided to use colored sugars instead of the plain ol white ones and I'm quite pleased with them! Here is the recipe and a picture if I can figure out how to post a picture in this silly wacky thing! So far so good!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

1/2 c granulated sugar

1/2 c packed brown sugar

1/2 c creamy peanut butter

1/2 c butter or margarine, softened (I just use the stick margarine)

1 egg

1 1/2 c flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

Granduated sugar (can use colored sugars too)

About 36 Hershey Kisses (or stars), unwrapped

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In large bowl, beat 1/2 c sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, butter and egg until well blended. Stir in flour, baking soda, and baking powder (I use electric mixer) until dough forms.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls; roll in sugar. On ungreased cookie sheets, place about 2 inches apart.

Bake 8 - 10 minutes or until edges are light golded brown. Immediately press 1 kiss into center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.

Makes about 3 dozen. . . however, I always get more than this -- maybe I roll the balls smaller than 1 inch? They are always good! When storing them I place a piece of bread in the bottom of the container to keep them moist. :)

Enjoy

Give me a reason!

I know I had stated I was going to quit using this site and use another, but I decided I'd just keep with it. . . and then I had not posted forever and a day! Maybe it's because I took a break from life, got caught up with facebook, whatever! Life has been handing me lemons, and damn it I've been trying to make lemonade out of them. . . but I fear I need a buttload of daggone Splenda right now! Here, let me catch ya up on my life :)

I'm still working as a para-professional on a temp status. This means that ol Stacey-poo does not get any PTO, benefits, funeral pay, etc. I'm doing OK with this, even though it is not what I had expected to be doing at the good ol ripe age of 34! Student loans are on a deferrement status (can't squeeze blood from a turnip can ya?), and we are getting by -- by the hair on the chinny, chin, chin though! Most days I enjoy the job, but there are days that I just come home and want to cry! But, God is providing!

My ol Trusty Rusty scares me to death every day! I mean, it's like a walking heart attack for me to get in the darn thing on a daily basis! But, like I said, God provides! That thing is still running! OK, so I do get odd ball looks when I start 'er up and it squeeks and rumbles for the first 45 seconds. . . and the driver side window can no longer roll down (poor LJ about had a cow when the window came falling in at me one day in the ATM line. . . ), I have to use a straw or something to put in the heater thingie to make it go (and only on high), and that I have to pound on the dash board to get my lights inside to show up. . . . but it runs and THERE ARE NO BANK NOTES on it! I do pray that I make it to and from work w/o having to use my hazard lights and pull over on 73rd Avenue! (my husband just laughed when he read over my shoulder! That was so not funny Pagan!)

This year, due to lack of funds, my family is making a lot of Christmas gifts for adults! Of course, I have all these ideas and now I must find the time to actually implement the projects! But, since we have been eating at home more often, we are home more in the PM's and I've already started! Yeah, I know you are all wanting to know what we are doing, but I cannot say until after the holidays because I'd give out secrets! I'm only hoping they all turn out OK! Only time will tell!

We have not put up our tree yet, nor any other holiday decor. . . which is kind of depressing, because it should be up by now, but I just have not had time! As many of you know, my Granny had been battling end stage lung cancer. . . we were home the weekend before Thanksgiving, as she was admitted to the hospital and not doing well. TomTom and I were home Thanksgiving weekend and returned home on Sunday. On Sunday night Granny took her last breath and is now in the hands of the Lord. So, we've been home since Monday night for the funeral. . . and of course things are tense all around. . . although it's a sad time, it's also a happy time! No longer is she in pain and with her maker! How can one not be happy about this?

Of course, as with any funeral, you start talking to people you've not seen in forever. It's like they come out of the woodworks. . . And tonight my lil sister and I spent a few hours with our cousin JohnBoy. He is now living in Mississippi (all his life he lived in Lousiana until recently) and I'm pretty sure it has been over 10 years since I've met him, as tonight was the first night he ever met Eluides! We had a nice time sitting around the kitchen table talking, chatting, and of course, gossiping! You cannot live in the Thomas family without the gossip for cryin' out loud! So, it was a nice evening. I'm sure I'll catch up with some other folks this week, but only time will tell!

So, yes, I've been busy, but not THAT busy! Just rather lazy! Shhhh, don't tell my secrets!

I'm still looking for my career job! I still need to finish cleaning my house up from the daycare (yes, there are still daycare items in the 'play room' but what the heck, I don't have the $ to furnish it, so why rush right?), I have a ton of baking that I'll be doing starting next week, and lots of homemade gifts to start on! So, the holiday season is going to keep me hopping, counting my blessings, and taking trips down memory lane. . . .

So, if you have a memory of me/us you want to share, please, feel free to post it here! Give me a reason to blog more often wontcha?