Merry Christmas Eve

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care.....

Christmas is here...can you believe it?

I have been buzzing around here baking and slapping hands out of the treats meant for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Our tradition since Troy and I were engaged is to spend Christmas Eve with the Henderson gang (my family) and Christmas Day with the Thames. Everyone lives within 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours driving distance so it just works. This year we host both families and are excited to get this sleigh rolling.

I've taken a few pics....

Merry Christmas!

I tried some of Pioneer Woman's appetizers...Club crackers with a sprinkle of either Parmesan cheese or brown sugar, wrapped in bacon and baked at 200* for 2 hours....I'll let you know about these....

One of my favorites....Turtles...caramel, pecans, covered in chocolate..

sinful!!! but oh so good!!!!

And, can't leave out Troy's favorite...cheesecake with strawberry puree....

Today we are having fajitas, tamales with chili, Pappasita's bean soup, Paula Dean's spanish rice, and all the fixin's.

Tomorrow will be our traditional Ham, Turkey, dressing, squash casserole, green bean bundles etc....

The Thames family wishes you a wonderful Christmas remembering our Lord and Savior as the reason for the awesome season. May you be blessed this day!

                                                                                            

Easy Delicious Chocolate Cake

Oldest college boy came home for the first time this semester....

so "mom" (me) kicked it into gear....

and did a little baking

I made chocolate cake with marshmallow cream icing...

ok...so the cake was a box...

Betty Crocker Super Moist Devil's Food

but...then I made marshmallow cream icing

Here is the recipe:

3 egg whites

2 T water

1/2 C sugar

1 7 oz jar marshmallow cream

In a double boiler...

(I have a double boiler, but for this I use the bottom pan of my double boiler for my water and then use a heat safe large pyrex bowl to mix the icing in)

anyway....

in the top of the double boiler (pyrex bowl) mix the first three ingredients with an electric mixer until foamy...

Add marshmallow cream

Mix on high speed with the electric mixer until it is thick, pan is full, and icing is stiff and will not fall off beaters....then it's done!!!

The icing is so light and fluffy....

love it....

My mom's recipe....thanks Mom!!!

I made the cake Friday when he got home along with filet mignon, baked potato and Sister Schubert's dinner rolls...love me some Sister Schubert's

Saturday morning....

pancakes from my Southern Living cookbook....my go to recipe for pancakes and waffles...

excellent recipe....

my boys gag and say I ruin the pancakes when I pile the pecans on them...

omygosh...so delicious!!!

Then pot roast in my crock pot Saturday night.

Excellent eating weekend!!! None of it was rather healthy but oh so good....

Oh...me and the boys went to see the movie Captain Phillips on Saturday night...

Excellent movie, pretty intense...loved that is  based on a true story.

And...

in between all of that I worked on a couple pieces of furniture for the fall market that I will have a booth at in November...I will keep you updated....

here is the flyer..