Holidays | I Should Be Folding Laundry

Archive for Holidays

Finally here

Sunday, December 26th, 2010

By Beth

Yesterday was Christmas. I’m not sure how a day so anticipated can come and go so quickly.

Throughout the day yesterday, my mind went back to Christmases past.

Christmas 2007 – we told Anna and Noah (and Brian’s family) that I was pregnant and pregnant with twins. (what an exciting day for Brian and I!)

Christmas 2008 - we were mourning the loss of James & Jake, hopeful for another baby and not having any idea that a little baby was there, in my belly already but that baby wasn’t meant to be.

Christmas 2009 – 26 weeks pregnant, on the tree hung a secret note from the ultrasound tech, telling us the gender of the baby in my belly.

It’s a boy!

and now there is this year.

This baby, the big boy and big girl. Here, finally, not only in our hearts but, finally, in our arms. (Which are wrapped firmly around them.)

So, thankful for yesterday. Not just because it was Christmas but because it was a peaceful Christmas.

sweet babies

Feeling more joy, more pride, more love, more peace than I thought my heart could possibly contain.

stockings

kids-on-Christmas-Eve

It was good.

I hope yours was good, too.

Categories: Holidays, JJF

Ritzy Peanut Butter Cookies

Monday, December 20th, 2010

By Beth

Here it is, another super-easy Holiday recipe for you!

Anna and I whipped these together this morning. From start to finish, these took about one hour and I can not stop eating them. But since they’re so easy, I will be making more.

They are so good.

This is what you need:

Grab a butter knife and make peanut butter sandwiches. I’m not going to lie, this really is so simple, uses just a few ingredients and there’s no need to turn on the oven but it can be pretty tedious.

Fortunately, I have a lovely helper, who was willing to take a break from playing Barbies to come and help her Mama.

She attempted the sandwiches, but we figured out the best way to do it was for me to spread the peanut butter on the bottom cracker and she would place the cracker on top.

Make sure you keep the flat side of the crackers facing out. (hint: the more peanut butter you use, the tastier the cookie.)

(duh)

In the meantime, take the almond bark and cut it up into pieces.

You want to melt the almond bark. I use a double boiler because I like the consistency and the consistency. (does that make sense?) You can microwave the bark, just be sure to take it out often to stir while melting, do not overcook and about halfway through dipping the sandwiches, you’ll want to place back in the microwave to keep it from becoming to thick and cold.

Brian helped take a few photos. He took one of Anna and I. (yes, her apron is an Anthropologie towel clipped to an ugly-ish apron using binder clips. So what?)

Once the bark is nice and melted, you’ll want to dip the sandwiches completely and place on a cooled cookie sheet. I definitely recommend placing the cookies on wax paper. Just trust me, it will make your life easier.

I recently purchased a candy dipping tool set by Wilton. I bought it at Micheal’s, it cost less than $10 and let me tell you, it made this process much easier.

However, for years I’ve used forks and spoons and it works just fine. So, you need not be fancy. (see binder clips.)

Once you’re done dipping, place the tray in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. (feel free to decorate with sprinkles, etc, I prefer leaving these clean and simple. Feels super festive to me on a super cute plate.)

And then you’re done.

One pack of almond bark should cover about 50 sandwiches.

And then you’ll eat one and then you’ll agree with me that these are incredibly delightful.

I store these cookies in the refrigerator. I have no idea how long you should store them because they never last more than 8 minutes in my house.

I’m off to make another batch.

Enjoy, friends!

(Santa plate is from this Etsy shop, I could NOT be happier with this purchase and it’s not the only thing I bought, but the other item is a secret, but it’s equally awesome.)

Categories: Handmade for the Holidays, Holidays

Handmade & stuff

Saturday, December 18th, 2010

By Beth

Can you believe I’m posting on a Saturday?! Neither can I.

It’s not that I don’t like posting on Saturdays, it’s just that I never seem to have time. And not that I have time right now but I wanted to share a few things with you that I think are very important and it should not surprise you this important stuff has to do with food.

Below, I have reposted one of my most popular posts from last year. Remember my Handmade for the Holiday series? Really tasty food that is unbelievably simple to make? Well, see below for the repost and then early next week I will be sharing a NEW recipe. So, if you run to the grocery store this weekend, please pick up these THREE, yes, just three items. I’m all about preparing you.

Ritz crackers

Peanut butter

Almond bark

Do as I say and also as I do. You’ll be glad you did. (I promise.)

Also, Megan asked me to post the photo of my kids visiting Santa in color, I just can’t resist her, so I’m doing just that.

santa-in-color

Remember, I don’t use flash, I really cranked up my ISO for this shot. (ISO 3200)

A few other questions answered:

Anna’s boots are from Target. That Santa is at Bass Pro Shops. We take our kids there every year, not only is it free and they give you a free printed awesome photo, but you’re allowed to take pictures! And the staff is amazing and the Santa is perfect and there’s even a fake reindeer that looks really, really real. Like too real. Like maybe it’s real and I just put my kids’ lives in danger real.

Yes, I signed up for the discounts at Justice.

Now onto the recipe that you must try.

I know quite a few people who do not like to bake, who say they don’t know how or who are just too busy to do so. So, I’ve decided to share one of my favorite recipes that is so easy, I guarantee ANYONE can do it. The best part? It’s a great gift…I promise it is.

Also? You need not turn on your oven.

First…take two cookie sheets and put them in the REFRIGERATOR. Don’t forget this step, it’s of upmost importance.

Do you have a double boiler? ( if you do not have one, that’s okay, I went without for YEARS and just used a regular saucepan with boiling water in it and a heat-safe bowl on top. It gets super hot, so be careful.

This is what a double boiler looks like:

You’ll also need the following:

what you need

Specifically, you’ll need-

16 oz (2 boxes) of Semi-sweet bakers chocolate
Peppermint extract (NOT mint, okay?)
2 sleeves of ritz crackers
some holiday sprinkles, of course!

Friends, what we are basically making is a nice little replica of thin mints…it’s not exact but they are very good. (some people say they are better, but I disagree and I am an expert.)

A cookie. Made with Ritz crackers. Can you believe it?

ritzy'

Begin boiling your water.

Cut up your chocolate, I cut each half in half

Once your water is boiling and your ingredients are ready (I believe in totally prepping before beginning the baking/cooking process, you should, too.) add your bowl or top saucepan to the boiling pan of water. I turn the heat down to medium.

Add the chocolate, stirring often. Once the chocolate is completely melted, add 1/2 tsp of peppermint (NOT MINT) extract. Stir thoroughly.

Retrieve one of the two cookies sheets out of the refrigerator and line with a single layer of wax paper. Dip a cracker into the melted chocolate covering just enough of the cracker that your fingers do not get burned, then use a utensil to dip the undipped side. I use the Pampered Chef skinny scraper, but you can use anything, really.

I also try to keep the flat side of the crackers as the top of the cookie but that’s just me, I prefer the way it looks.

Tap off excess chocolate (do not touch the chocolate with your fingers, you’ll burn your skin off) and place on cookie sheet. If you do not put your cookie sheets in the refrigerator, your chocolate will pool up and your cookies won’t look as pretty, so keep em’ cold. If you do not use wax paper, your chocolate will adhere to the cookie sheet and you will not be able to get them off of the sheet without breaking them. I know this because I’ve done this. This is also known as FAILURE.

You should stir your mixture up nicely after every sixth cookie or so. K?

If you have a broken Ritz, do not use it, just cover it with Cheese Whiz and pop it in your mouth. The last thing you want are crumbs in your chocolate mixture.

ready for cold

I do not decorate all of the cookies because some people prefer non-decorated cookies but if you do decorate them, this is the time to do it, while the chocolate is still nice and melty. (yes, that’s an official term)

Have your sprinkles ready. That’s important.

cookie decor

Once you have filled up the cookie sheet, place back in refrigerator. Take out other sheet and fill up that bad boy with more of the ritzy, chocolate, peppermint (NOT MINT) goodness.

Once the chocolate is all used up…you’re done. That’s it. Place the cookies in the refrigerator for approximately 30-45 minutes.

Remove and place in muffin papers and place in cookie tins. I was able to fill up six muffins liners, five cookies high and then filled up the other side of the cookie tin with Dove chocolate.

Who wouldn’t love this gift?

tin of yum

*if you use mint extract and not peppermint extract, your cookies will taste like toothpaste and that is disgusting.*

*trust me.*

Categories: Friendly, Handmade for the Holidays, Holidays

Tiny Prints | A giveaway

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

By Beth

holiday-card-1

I am in love with Tiny Prints. Their service, their product, the quality, the designers, the nice clean website and their super cute logo are all among the best I have ever seen.

So, when Tiny Prints approached me about doing a review of their Holiday cards, it didn’t take me long to say “yes.” In fact, I probably screamed and jumped up and down in excitement. And when I told Brian, he screamed and jumped up and down, too, because he loves free stuff. (and Tiny Prints.)

I went to their website to choose the cards of my dreams and I found so many that I couldn’t even make a decision.

holiday-card

Talk about a good problem to have.

I’m convinced they have a card for everyone – contemporary, vintage, whimsy; whatever your style, no doubt, they’ll have what you’re looking for – believe me, I’ve shopped while in many different moods and every time I thought “THIS IS IT, THIS IS OUR CARD.”

holiday-card-2

And the next day, I’d search again and find something new.

But I found it, THE CARD. I found it last night and I’m not going to show you because part of the fun Holiday cards is receiving it, right? But I’ll show you, soon.

In the meantime, I have 50 Holiday cards to give away to one lucky winner! Any card, it’s the winner’s choice! (how friendly is this giveaway?!)

What do you need to do to be entered?

First, head on over to Tiny Prints and check out their selection. Tell me which card you would love to send out. (I’ll pretend you sent it to me, k?) But don’t worry, if you win you can pick any Holiday card, no matter which one you told me about.

Second, do not say “pick me.”

Third, you can share the exciting details about this giveaway on your Facebook page, blog or your twitter account and leave the link in the comments! (up to four entries per person, please leave your links in separate comments in order for your entries to count.)

This giveaways ends tomorrow night (December 1) at 10:00pm CST. So, get busy! (open to US and Canada)

Good luck, friends. And thanks, Tiny Prints!

(I was not paid to do this review but was given free Holiday cards. Which is just as awesome.)

(some comments are under moderation, if you do not see your comment pop up right away, it will, I promise!)

Categories: Giveaways, Holidays