Typical January weather.  It's been little warmer than usual this month so far.  We got our first measurable snow and it wasn't even 1/4" but with 50MPH winds it was blowing sideways. A perfect day to stay inside and bake a cake and make some soup.  I like snow if I don't have to be out in it.  The squirels in the tree outside my living room window were having a good time, maybe they like snow.

a cold winters nap

January is kind of a blah month, add a cold, travel and the post holiday clean up and it's the perfect storm for taking a nap.  Here's what you need;  a comfy couch, warm blanket, sleepy kitties and dog, hot chocolate and a new magazine.  Ahh!  there is hardly room for me with all the animals but I get settled, in read a few minutes and I'm just dozing off when HACK! Hack!! Here comes AH now he's sick too.  Oh well it was nice while it lasted.

Baked potato soup

There is nothing like a big pot of soup on a chilly January night.  Plus a big pot means extra times you don't have to cook.  Unlike most soups this one is pretty quick.

3-4 potatoes baked or nuked, cooked and peeled
1 onion chopped
1# ham cut in bite size pieces
2 cups broccoli or peas
3C chicken stock
2-3C milk
3T butter
3T flour
1# sharp cheddar cheese
Cook the potatoes first and let them cool.
Put butter and onion in a dutch oven and cook until translucent
Add flour and cook a few minutes to get out the raw flour taste
Add the rest of the ingredients and heat through  until cheese is melted, watch carefully so it doesn't scorch.
Reheats great but doesn't freeze well

Vegtable soup

Soup is a staple around our house all winter.  I make huge batches, we eat it a couple of times that week and I freeze the rest or give it away.

2-3# chuck roast cut into cubes and remove any extra fat
3-4 potatoes peeled and cut into cubes don't make them too small or they'll just turn to mush
4-6 carrots peeled and cut into chunks
1-2 onions peeled and cut into chunks
1 lg can diced tomatoes
1 bag of frozen mixed vegetables
1T oregano
1-2 garlic cloves crushed or use garlic powder
3-4 beef bouillon cubes
salt and pepper to taste
Brown the cubes of meat in a little oil cover with water and simmer for 1 hour.  Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer until the meat and vegetables are tender about 1-1/2 hours.  Or just dump everything in the crock pot and cook on low all day.
This is even better served with hot home made bread and butter.

My favorite cookies in the whole world

Mexican wedding cakes


4 sticks butter do not substitute at room temperature
1C sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/2C flour
2C nut finely chopped
12oz Hershey kisses buy extra for snacking
Powdered sugar
Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla add the flour and nuts until well mixed.  chill 1-2 hours.
Unwrap(the longest part of this recipe) the kisses and use about 1T of the dough around the kiss.  Be sure they are covered completely. 
Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.  They should be set but not brown.  Cool I put them in a gallon size zip bag and add 1-11/2C powdered sugar and shake gently.  Just keep them stored in the bag.  They also freeze well.

Spice mixes continued

Another recipe for spice mixes I made up as gifts this Christmas
Taco seasoning
21/2T chilli powder
11/2T paprica
2T cumin
2tsp oregano
1T garlic powder
11/2T onion powder
1/2tsp cayenne pepper
1tsp salt optional
Mix together and store in an air tight container.  Use with any Mexican dish start with 1or2 tsp and work your way up.  This does have a kick but is not too hot.

Sugar free hot cocoa mix
1part cocoa
3 parts sweetener that is a sugar substitute that measures the same.
Mix together and use 2-3tsp in a cup of hot milk.  Put it in after the milk is hot or it won't mix well.
I usually use 1 can of cocoa and 3 cans of sweetener and store it in a Ziploc bag.  I drink it every morning and AH drinks at least a cup per day and the bag will last 2-3 months.

New years resolutions

I don't make resolutions.  I'm not going to loose 50# eat perfectly and exercise everyday.  I can only try to do better.  Why set yourself up for failure so early in the year with impossible goals?  I do however believe in taking stock of how things have gone for the past year.  So find a quiet place away from all distractions and take a few minutes to ask yourself some of the harder questions.  Have I treated the people I love with kindness and respect?  Have I tried to treat others the way I want to be treated(including the rude, obnoxious  people I'll never see again)?  How is my relationship with God, my spouse, my family, friends and my community?  Am I living my life to the fullest?  Am I happy where I am in life right now?  If not what changes can I make?  Remember you can not change anything in your life except you.  If you keep doing things the same old way over and over how can you expect your life to change?
 Have  joyous and wonderful 2012.