Wednesday, December 29, 2010

We-can-do-whatever-we-want!

WE....

Drank lots of sugar

 Ate tootsie rolls and reese cups...


LOTS of tootsie rolls

 

played freeze tag


 played football



 acted as silly as Ben


 learned Super Mario Brothers 3 tricks from Ben and Aunt MJ


 played Jenga



 walked to get Pizza down the street in Grant Park


 watched Toy Story 3 by the fire with popcorn


slept in our sleeping bags - MJ slept on couch


 ate yummy cinnamon rolls


visited the Zoo


 acted like big tigers


 acted like baby tigers


 acted like a snaggle tooth tiger


 roared like a tiger


 got REALLY close to Pandas


 saw crazy swinging orangutans


 
read Zoo map to decide our next exhibit and needed LOTS of tissues for a snotty nose :)

slowed down for just a bit to please our Aunt 


saw mommy and baby gorilla


laughed at the baby on her mommy's back


pretended to eat lunch in Grant Park (too full on candy and cookies)


 loved climbing on an old bridge in park


 acted like big boys


 posed like models


 reminded Aunt Martha Jan/Marfa Ma Jan that we are still "wittle"


 thought Ben was silly - our Aunt thought he was handsome


 AND made our Aunt the happiest girl in the world!


CHRISTMAS SLUMBER PARTY 2010

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Two holiday recipes

COFFEE CAKE:

Ingredients

2 sticks of butter
1 1/2 cup of sugar
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1 tsp almond flavouring

topping:
1 cup of light brown sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 cup of crushed pecans

yields: 3 cakes in greased and flour tins

bake:  350 for 30 minutes

-sift dry ingredients: sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and flour
-in a separate bowl, cream melted butter & sugar, then add eggs
- next, add sifted dry ingredients and alternate with sour cream
- pour into greased and floured cake tins
- cut 1/2 of topping into cake then sprinkle the remaining half on top

Great served with coffee or milk.  Also a great gift wrapped in saran wrap and tied with a bow.


SUGAR COOKIES:

Ingredients

1/2 cup of butter
3/4 cup of sugar
1 egg or 2 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon of cream or milk
1 1/4 cups of all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder

yields:  25 - 30 cookies

bake: 375 for 8 minutes

- Mix butter, sugar, vanilla, cream, and eggs.
- Sift remaining dry ingredients (flour, salt, and baking powder)
- Stir dry ingredients into buttery mixture
- arrange by teaspoonfuls on a buttered cookie sheet


My mama makes the coffee cakes and banana bread recipes every year, along with the banana bread (recipe in December blog from 2009).  

Please note that the cookies can also be rolled out and cut with your favorite holiday cutter and decorated with sprinkles and icing (I like to use the cookie cutters from my childhood).  There are a few alterations I have made - if you would like to know how to add a few ingredients to make your sugar cookies - chocolate, butterscotch, maple, raisin, spiced, or raisin, I can give the slight changes. 

The coffee cake and sugar cookie recipes are 2 of the ones  I just love from my parents home and the wonderful traditions they created when I was little at Christmas.

Enjoy!



Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Potpourri for Your Cold

Well...It's here.  Cold/Flu Season.  Unfortunately, I have had a bad case of the cold...  A great way to make your home smell great and also clear your nose...

Mint and Eucalyptus Potpourri:

Put 3-4 cups of water in a pot, add your eucalyptus and mint and bring to a simmer.  I added fresh sprigs from my garden.   As the water begins to simmer, lean over and inhale the steam.  It clears your nasal passages, soothes your throat, and smells divine.

Remember that with all potpourris, you can continue to add water as it evaporates, and the same goes with your herbs...  Just add as you like.

Jan & Larry Bike the City

A few months ago, Mama and Daddy came into town and stayed with yours truley, Martha Jane :).  We had a wonderful time.  We biked around Piedmont Park and Midtown.  We had lunch at Quatro, on the park, and we had a drink at Park Tavern.  The night before, we went to dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Callaway at South City Kitchen (one of mine and Mama's favorites) in Midtown.  It was the first time mine and Ben's parents met.  We had a blast!!!


I get my love for bicycles from these two!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Black Rock Mountain

Labor Day Weekend 2010

Ben and I went camping for Labor Day Weekend this year.  We went to Black Rock Mountain State Park in North Georgia.  It was such a treat to get away from the city and get situated in our little camping nook for the weekend.  We had been out of town for several weekends prior and had the next 8 or so weekends ahead booked as well...  Time for a break.  We listened to good music, rode our bikes, went on a great hike to the mountain summit, cooked great meals on the fire, drank wine, and enjoyed smelling like a camp fire and bug spray - I LOVE IT!

                               

 




 


 Filets, sauteed mushrooms & peppers, and grilled cabbage - DE-Lish!  Check out my fire! - I am a pro & slight pyro.

Toe socks are a MUST!  I repeat.. Toe socks are a MUST

 Setting out on our hike.
 I loved these yellow flowers!
 Top of the Summit