The Hunt is On

I can't tell you about this until it's over, but somebody I know and love is on a scavenger hunt...

Gift Idea

My sister, my mother and I have an annual tradition of a going out for a holiday dinner, just the girls.  We've been doing it now for twelve years.  We also exchange gifts at the dinner.

Every year I try to think of something special to give them.  This year, a random post on Pioneer Woman turned me onto this year's gift.

They are so cool.  I really want one for myself (black with the owl design, please) but I was restrained and only bought them for my mom and sis.  I included a couple of holiday dish towels and a recipe for tres leche cake (also courtesy of the PW).  A lovely gift that seemed very much appreciated.

I didn't take pictures of the ones I gave them because their names are on them and my husband (who works in privacy) would have a hissy fit, but trust me when I say these are a good value and a one of a kind gift.

This is a picture of my mother's gift to my sister and I.  She got each of us eight place settings of this beautiful Lenox holiday ironstone.  VERY GENEROUS.  I set my dining room table for the holidays and just walk through there every day to enjoy it.

Mini Gingerbread Houses

This was the Friday night fun.  Friday afternoon Big Red and I attended Tank's Winter Sharing concert at school.  We happened to notice that the Kindergarteners (sp?) were all taking home these adorable mini gingerbread houses made with graham crackers and decided we had to do it too!

The houses are built around half pint milk containers using a can of store bought frosting.  We put ours on paper plates.  The trees are upside down ice cream cones.

I can't recommend this activity highly enough.  Even my boys, who are not crafty, really got into it. 

We usually do a gingerbread house, but it was so much fun making the little ones.  They are adorable centerpieces on my kitchen table.

All You Can Eat, redux

Cool.

No Knead Bread

So if, like me, you are lazy and like bread, then this is the recipe for you!  This bit of genius is not mine, of course...

I am, as with most things, late to this party.  Most folks have been making no knead bread for the last two or three years.  BUT, I think I can safely say that it changed my life in a small, carb-y way.

I followed the instructions exactly as presented in the Bitten blog and here are the results:

This was paired with my first batch of goat cheese...and I plan to make the bread again as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy.