The Hunger Games

I made white chocolate covered pretzels for gifts. I still have a few things to bake before I head to Mobile for New Years.

I am starting The Hunger Games tonight. I have to see what all the talk is about. Hopefully, it will be as good as everyone says!

Question:

• Have you read The Hunger Games? If so, what did you think? (No spoilers please!)

Merry Christmas!

Last night I went to my parents house for dinner. My mom has a rotisserie and cooks the best chickens!



We had chicken, homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and rolls.



I made a blueberry cobbler for dessert. It was amazing. I can’t take 100% credit for it since it wasn’t completely homemade. I used Louisiana Cobbler mix and a can of Comstolk blueberry pie filling. It turned out so good though! I will definitely be using this cobbler crust mix again.



My parent’s Christmas tree has shrunk over the years but it still has my favorite ornaments on it. After dinner we all grabbed a comfy seat in the living room and watched It’s a Wonderful Life.

This morning we got up and went to our church for a Christmas service and communion.



This was what I wore to church. A few weeks ago while I was in Mobile we went shopping at the Tanger Outlets in Foley. I bought this skirt at J. Crew and had not worn it until today. Excuse the brassiere in the floor.



I added this cowl after realizing how cold it was outside! My mom made it. If you like it we are working on getting them on Etsy. She has made me two so far and one for me to give as a gift. I absolutely love mine. It is so warm and soft! Once we get them on Etsy I will let you know.

After church this morning we went back to my parent’s and ate leftovers from last night’s dinner. My mom worked on another cowl while I made some of my very favorite Christmas candy, Peanut Butter Balls. We have had these every year at Christmas since before I can remember. They are amazing!



Hi Mom!



My mom put the recipe in our church cookbook.

 

Peanut Butter Balls

by Brittany Ray

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: None

Keywords: dessert Christmas candy

My all time favorite Christmas treat! We have made these since before I can remember.

Ingredients (20-30 candies depending on size)

• 5 tbs. reduced fat creamy peanut butter
• 5 tbs. margarine, melted
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 4 tbs. light corn syrup
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbs. milk
• 1 (12 oz.) box reduced fat vanilla wafers, crushed

Instructions

In a medium bowl, mix peanut butter, margarine, vanilla, syrup, sugar and milk. Mix well.

Separate 1/2 cup vanilla wafers crumbs and set aside.

Add the remaining crushed vanilla wafers into the peanut butter mixture. Stir until completely mixed.

Roll into balls about 1/2 inch to 1 inch in diameter.

Roll balls into the left over 1/2 cup of wafers until coated.

All done! Enjoy!

Powered by Recipage

LOABG pages just got updated!

Bahhhh! Scared you didn’t I!

You should go check out my new Recipe page! I joined Recipage for free. It is really easy and makes finding recipes a lot more convenient. Not to mention it looks all snazzy and professional. I don’t get any benefit whatsoever if you use Recipage or not just thought I’d share it with you if you don’t already know about it.

Also, I updated some other pages in case you want to go look at them. Just added some pictures to make it more fun.

I am working on updating my favorite blogs. If you have any blogs I should check out or if I should go look at yours let me know! I love finding new blogs to read!

Free Printable Gift Tags

I searched for free printable gift tags on Google and I found some adorable tags! I thought I would share my 3 favorites! There were so many cute ones it was hard to pick just 3! I know someone else besides me still has some last minute all Christmas presents to buy and wrap!



These are from Paper Crave.



Love, love, love these! I plan on using a lot of these on this sheet year around! Just not the birds with antler/holy branches not really sure what that is. These are done in my favorite color! That turquoise/teal/Tiffany blue color. They are from Creature Comforts.



I love sending the old snail mail and receiving some too, so of course I liked these tags from Eat Drink Chic.

Question:

• Have you found any cute free printables online? If so, please share!

A Christmas Musical

Tonight I picked up my Mom and we went to our church’s Christmas program. They did a new program this year. For as long as I can remember we have always done the same Christmas program every year. The new one turned out really good and it was nice to have a change. It was all fancy with all kinds of pretty lights.



Don’t mind the chipped nails… I took a nap trying to get rid of a headache today and didn’t have time to paint my nails. Good news – the headache went away!



When we got there the bottom floor was pretty full so we ended up sitting in the balcony which I liked because you could see everything.



They had a fellowship afterwards with food but the line was so long to get into the gym Mom and I decided to head over to Jason’s Deli instead. We were starving and didn’t want to wait.



I ordered the Turkey Wrap with no sprouts but they gave them to me anyways, fruit and a cup of broccoli cheddar soup. Fruit wasn't too good but I probably shouldn't have ordered it since it is December and all...



Mom had the small potato. If you don't say small they give you 2 potatoes. Way too much!



We both took advantage of the free soft serve.

One week left of work then I am off until January 2nd! I am pretty excited. Friday can’t come soon enough!

25 Questions About the Holidays

(Source)

I probably shouldn’t wait till my dirty clothes pile looks like this to wash clothes…. So while I am waiting on one load to wash I am going to answer the holiday questions that have been showing up on everyone’s blog.

25 Questions: Holiday Style

• Eggnog or hot chocolate?

Hot Chocolate! I have tried eggnog but have never liked it.

• Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Wraps! When I was in middle school and high school I loved wrapping presents so I would even wrap my own.

• Colored lights on tree/house or white?

When I was growing up we never put lights on our house but I always loved the colored lights on houses when we would go Christmas light looking. We always put colored lights on our Christmas tree.

• Do you hang mistletoe?

My Granny used to hang mistletoe in her house.

• When do you hang your decorations up?

This year I put my tree up before Thanksgiving. I went to Mobile and wanted my decorations to already be up when I got back. Usually when I lived at home we would put everything up the day after Thanksgiving.

• What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Whoa I have to pick just one?!! We always have a ton of different dishes that are all so good! I love hashbrown casserole, green beans my aunt on my dad’s side makes, spinach dip, I could go on and on…

• Favorite holiday memory as a child?

When my grandparents were alive we would always go to my Dad’s parents, Daddy Ray and Mama Ray, house for lunch. It was always served at 12 p.m. whether whoever made the dressing or any other dish was there or not. Haha Daddy Ray ate at noon and that was just how it went down no exception. After eating and visiting with my Dad’s family we would head over to my Mom’s mother’s, Granny, house. We would eat dinner there. I was always so full by dinner time from lunch but I always found room to chow down again.

• What is on your Christmas wish list?

I don’t really have a Christmas list this year. Trey and I already exchanged gifts since he had mine shipped to my apartment and I just couldn’t wait with it sitting under my tree. Plus his arrived at his house the same day so it was only fair!

• Do you open a gifts on Christmas Eve?

When I was growing up I always had to wait till Christmas morning to open everything. Looking back it made it so much fun and suspenseful.

• How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

My tree at my apartment has colored lights, silver garland and ornaments I found different places that I liked. Also it has a few homemade ornaments.
My parent’s tree has always had colored lights, cranberry garland and homemade ornaments and sentimental ones we collected over the years.

• Snow? Love it or dread it?

Depends. I live in Central Alabama. We hardly ever get snow. When we do everyone panics and basically the town shuts down and the grocery stores make a ton of money. We did have a “blizzard” in the 1990’s. I guess I am indifferent because I hardly ever get to see anything more than sleet and flurries.

• Real tree or fake tree?

When I was younger we would go to Murphy’s Tree Farm and pick out our tree and let them cut it down. Those where some wonderful memories that I will have forever. Now, the cats climbing the tree and breaking ornaments, getting stuck by the needles, sticky fingers and all the sweeping that took place are memories that aren’t so great. I wouldn’t say I would never have a real tree again but for now I have a fake one that has been passed down from my Aunt.  

• Do you remember your favorite gift?

I can remember several Christmases that stick out. One year I got a tv, Nintendo (the gray box with mario and duck hunter). I remember I was so excited. Another was when I got my Barbie house. It was huge and I loved it. I got an American Girl doll one year and adored it.

• What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you?

Family. I love all of the parties you get to see everyone together. Since all of my grandparents have passed away we don’t get together much anymore. I really miss it and didn’t know how important it was when I had it. So makes sure to enjoy all the time you have with all of your family!

• What is your favorite holiday dessert?

My Aunt Julie’s Peanut Butter Balls. They are so good! Hopefully I can post the recipe one day soon!

• What is your favorite tradition?

My favorite tradition was having lunch at Daddy Ray and Mama Ray’s and then dinner at Granny’s. Unfortunately, we don’t usually get together anymore.

• What tops your tree?

When I lived at home we always had the same Angel every year. At my apartment I have a silver glittery star.

• Do you prefer giving or receiving?

Giving! I love picking out presents for others. I really like giving them to them and seeing their faces. That didn’t happen this year with Trey’s but I wanted to make sure he got them before Christmas was over.

• What is your favorite Christmas song?

I love them all don’t make me pick!

• Candy canes, yuck or yum?

Not a huge fan. But I use to like the fruity ones, especially the rainbow ones.

• Favorite Christmas movie?

A Christmas Story and Elf!

• What do you leave for Santa?

Used to leave homemade cookies.

• Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?

I used to wake up and run to my parent’s room to wake them up so I could open my presents.

• Do you prefer to shop on-line or at the mall?

If I shop early enough to beat the crowds the mall. I don’t like all the crazy crowds. I’d rather not stand in line for an hour to buy something.

• Christmas letter or Christmas card?

Christmas cards!

Question:

• What Christmas traditions do you have?

Bama Glama TV Show Premiere

(Source)

Last night I attended the premiere party for Food Network’s new show Bama Glama with Perry. She was nice enough to let me be her date. It was definitely an experience to check off the list.



The show is about a wedding planner that is from Northport, Alabama.



There was rumors of a celebrity showing up. I had my fingers crossed for Paula Dean. I was close… Paula’s bestie was there and a fake Justin Bieber… Oh well so no celebrities but it was still an interesting night.



This is Scot Wedgeworth he is “Mr. Bama Glama”.

The premiere party was at Opus in Downtown Northport. There was a small table with food but I couldn’t tell what anything was so we didn’t try any of it.



The show comes on Food Network on Fridays at 7 p.m. Central Time.

Cinnamon Swirl Cookies

I finally get to share my cookie swap recipe with you! After hours of looking through recipes I finally settled on making Cinnamon Swirl Cookies. I am glad I did because I really like them! I ended up having to make 2 batches to get 3 dozen plus some extra for me!



Cinnamon Swirl Cookies
(Printable Version)
Adapted from Good Housekeeping
Makes about 18 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 stick light butter, softened
• 4 oz. fat free cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Instructions:

1. In an electric mixer bowl, using the paddle attachment, beat butter and cream cheese on medium speed until creamy (2 minutes).
2. Reduce speed to low and gradually add in flour.
3. Remove dough from bowl and shape into a small rectangle. Wrap in plastic wrap and place in fridge for 1 hour or freezer for 30 minutes. Just enough time until dough is firm enough to flatten with a rolling pin.
4. In a small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
5. Lightly flour a flat surface for rolling dough. Flour rolling pin and roll dough our in a long rectangular shape. Make sure dough is in a even and thin sheet.
6. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over all of the dough.
7. Roll dough starting from one of the longest sides.
8. Water may be used to seal the edges and keep rolled.
9. Cut log in half and place on a small pan. Cover in plastic and place in fridge for 2 hours or freeze for 45 minutes.
10. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
11. Remove one roll of dough at a time. Cut roll into 1/4 inch wide cookies.
12. Place cookies on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.
13. Bake for 12 – 14 minutes. Cookies should be lightly browned.
14. Cool on a baking rack.
15. Repeat with remaining roll.

I mailed my cookies to:

• Mother Thyme
• Becoming Bianca
• Orlndofoodie

Click on their site to see what cookies they made! To see the cookies I received click on the "Cookies, Cookies and More Cookies" link below.

I can't wait till next year!

More Posts on The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap:

• The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2011
• Cookies, Cookies and More Cookies!