Winter wonderland

I heart Christmas. My happy place is in the kitchen baking with the fireplace going and traditional Christmas music on full force. My new space is significantly smaller than my previous plus I purged like nobody’s business during the move so I was honestly curious about what I’d be doing to make the joint festive. I'm pleased to say that I made it work!

 

We always had real trees in the past and while I loved the smell of fresh pine or balsam, I didn’t love the fear of a house fire and constant monitoring of furry kids so it didn’t topple or dry out (my admonishments that the base was not an additional water dish were surprisingly ignored). I bought a 6’ pre-lit artificial tree from Target so I could reuse year after year and am pleasantly surprised that the size is just right and that I'd kept just enough ornaments to make it look full.

Of course my kitten thinks many of the ornaments are there for her #goodthingsheissostinkingcute

 

Here ye, here ye

Evidently there was an important meeting ...

about who could lie where



Little Helper

Now if he'd just fold / hang too.

RIP Maddie Rose

Our sweet Maddie (aka The Moose or Madagascar) went to the great doggie park in the sky today. We discovered a mass on her side just 10 days ago and it turned out to be an aggressive cancer. She was getting weaker and not her self by the day so time to let go. So sad. Chunky and Sassy went with me to the vet ... Chunky had some alone time with her before, nuzzled her head during and carried her in when it was done. The vet has an outside area for euthanasia during good weather and it was perfect ... Maddie loved to be outside - so much so that she went on many unapproved adventures over the years. Hard to believe how fast the time has passed the last 12 years.

 

Loads of love

I went to load the washing machine and saw Sookie in her familiar position atop the dryer. I was startled a moment later to see an extra head. Unfortunately neither one was interested in helping me with the laundry.

Cutie Patooties

My Sookie cookie girl and Sassy's Mittens (I call him "Love Bug"). How cute are they?!

Furry Fun

  This is Mittens who weighs all of 3 lbs sharing a water break with our 80 lb "moose", Maddie. This little guy has no fear.

Kittens named Mittens

I must be crazy. Sassy has been begging for a kitty and I've put her off up 'til now, but her BFF works at a pet store and gifted her with one of their new kittens as a birthday gift. I was in a fog from another nasty cold when she called so clearly not in my right mind. It's a he, only a few weeks old so itty bitty, mostly black and his name is Mittens (Mitt for short) because he has white paws. The name was my idea ... I have a feeling Sassy threw me a bone because I finally said yes. We introduced him to Sookie and he took to her right away, but she could not have cared less. This could be interesting.

Win some, lose some

This rosemary garlic bread recipe was a huge hit! I don't have a finished photo due to some drama and the work-in-process photos seemed silly to include without a finished product. I made the bread early in the morning (my great grandmother always said that was the best time to bake ... low humidity or pressure or something like that). They turned out beautiful, 2 gloriously browned loaves with rosemary and garlic dotted perfectly all over the tops. Gorgeous. I left them to cool and five minutes later I heard odd noises so went back to the kitchen only to find two empty pans and one of my dogs, Abby, rushing away. I could have cried. It is a super simple recipe, but I was low on flour and rosemary. I went to the store and made another batch on principle. There was significantly less rosemary and the dogs were relegated to the backyard for the entire process. Next time I may make them side by side on the same pan as well as add garlic to the itself rather than just on top.

The mint brownie recipe is another winner. The kids told me these were too chocolately as if there is such a thing, but Hubby and I love them. Very rich ... a little goes a long way which is better for my waist. These remind me of the Cocoa Gems my great grandmother made.

The potato salad and peppers were okay. I think I'd add garlic to the peppers and though the salad was okay I guess I'm a traditionalist for mayo, mustard, dill and celery seed.

Bon Appétit

Kitty Love

Another cat post. Pre-accident hubby made fun of how close Sookie and I were. She follows me everywhere, cuddles and even likes to "chat" while I shower. He called her pathetic. Look who's all buddy-buddy now?!

Furry Friends

We have bird feeders in our front yard outside the kitchen window. There are quite a few squirrels who enjoy eating the food / shells the birds discard. One squirrel in particiular has taken a shine to Sookie our cat. It jumps up on the outside window ledge and looks for her. Sometimes Sookie is already there and other times we call her to say her secret admirer is at the window. They start out with a staring contest and then progress to a slow motion dance, shifting from one side of the window to the other. Sookie makes a lot of high pitched noises when her friend comes calling. I'm not sure what's going through her cute little head, but I don't think it's birdfood.

Friend or Foe?

Sassy's boyfriend won her a goldfish at the county fair - Stefan I wanted Friedrich - I thought that was a better fish name but I lost that one. Sookie the cat is VERY interested in Stefan the fish.

Stare down -


I started to get nervous when she put her face in the bowl -


Then REALLY nervous when she stood up and looked like she was going fishing!

We put a plastic lid on Stefan's bowl (with holes of course). Sookie guards her new "friend" faithfully -

Who moved my cheese?

I called home on my way from work and Sassy requested that I make her favorite dish for dinner. It just so happens her favorite is pre-prepped and ready to cook from Let's Dish. I suggested she get it started since she is perfectly capable and has volleyball practice at 7:00. She greeted me at the door and we got to talking. All of a sudden I realized the dogs were nowhere in sight. I asked Sassy if she started dinner. Yes I asked if she left the bags out on the counter. Yes I thanked the Lord immediately that I always kept cream cheese and Parmesan on hand because I knew these key ingredients were no longer in the pre-prepped packaging. So here's what we're having for dinner - thought we'd share because it's delicious, even if the furry kids ate the cheese.

Risotto-Style Chicken With Asparagus
Prep To Freeze: 10 minutes
Time To Cook: 20 minutes
6 servings

3 cups cooked chicken breast, cubed
1 cup instant rice 3
Tbsp chicken base
2 teaspoons minced garlic, or 2 cloves, finely chopped
1/4 to 1/2 tsp black pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil 1 cup fresh/frozen asparagus, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces (substitute green beans or broccoli, add 1/2 cup red bell pepper if desired)
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
4 ounces cream cheese

Place chicken in gallon size freezer bag and seal tightly. Place the rice, chicken base, garlic, pepper and olive oil into a sandwich size freezer bag and seal tightly. In another sandwich size bag combine the asparagus, red bell pepper and cheese. Seal. Wrap cream cheese in foil (or use fresh when preparing meal). Place the chicken bag, rice bag, vegetable bag, and cream cheese into another gallon size freezer bag. Seal and label. Freeze flat for storage. Use within two months.

To Cook: Set the cream cheese out to soften while you cook the rice mixture. Place the frozen rice mixture into a skillet or wok. Add two cups hot water. Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until rice is cooked (medium to medium-low heat). Stir in chcream cheese and contents of the vegetable bag into the rice mixture. Cook for 5 minutes or until cream cheese is melted and asparagus is tender. Sprinkle with bacon before serving.

Yum!

Bake off

The title should really be "I baked my ass off". If only that were really possible. Or alternately, "The furry kids ate my sugar/roast/cookies and lived to tell".

I made four types of cookies today and listened to Christmas music. I am slowly but surely becoming one with the holiday season.

I made two of my all time faves - Rugelach and Pistachio/Craisin with icing. The Pistachio/Craisin cookies are super simple and very festive with green & red. I chop pistachios and craisins, then press into sugar cookie dough (homemade or store bought). Bake according to directions and drizzle with melted white chocolate or almond bark (melt, cut off tip of plastic baggie and squeeze or melt in bowl and dip in half of cookie).

I tried two new cookie recipes - PDub's Festive Fruitcake and Giada's Lemon Ricotta. The fruitcake cookies are not my favorite - perhaps they'll grow on me. They have a lot of brandy in them so that could work in their favor. The Lemon cookies are keepers - light and lemony delicious.

When I came home from work yesterday Chunky was cleaning up the mess in the kitchen Sookie (cat) made after she'd gotten into a bag of powdered sugar. Hubby cleaned up tiny bits of a plastic bag which had been the safe haven for a thawing beef roast this morning. And I took a break from cookie baking to fold clothes and returned to find a batch of Rugelach missing from the cookie sheet cooling on the counter. The furry kids are getting coal for Christmas.

RIP Sadie Mae

I wasn't sure if I would blog about this or not. The profile to the left has been changed to reflect one less furry kid in our home. Sadie Mae is gone and I hope she's playing with Maisie Daisy in a vast field of catnip at this very moment. You may recall photos of her laying in Maddie's bed or taking Abbie's food - that's the most we saw of her. She wasn't cuddly, friendly or interested in anything but sleeping and eating. She's been making messes all over the house to the point where certain areas smell like a cat box. It didn't matter where I moved her litter box, she just wouldn't use it regularly. She had also taken to going outside most nights. I didn't really mind, but worried she would bring something back into the house to make the other furry kids sick. She's also has been throwing up a lot - under my bed of all places. We adopted Sadie 9 years ago and don't know how old she was, but she was definitely an adult. We found her at the vet amongst the rescues and took her in. She and Maisie were best buds and unfortunately after Maisie died a year and a half ago Sadie has never been the same. She had a good 10+ years and I'm glad this was her home.

Never be a dirty bird

Meet Hootie!


I had a lot of good names for the new baby if I do say so myself - Pepper, Verdi, Zazu, Popeye. I had one I didn't share - Woodsy. That was my Dad's nickname for my mom and a story for a whole other post (they were divorced when I was two). For some obscure reason I got to thinking about a connection between the names Woodsy and Hootie and would you believe there is one?! Give a hoot, don't pollute!

Shocking news

RIP Kiwi Jr

With heavy hearts; and a tear in our eyes
after all these few months; we must say goodbye
Please understand; we've done all we could
if there was anything we could do; you know we would
So with heavy hearts; and tears in our eyes
for now friend; we say goodbye

Meet 'n greet

Remember my mom's beloved Kiwi? Well, we'll be meeting Kiwi Jr on our visit. I hope he doesn't stalk me like Kiwi Sr did. I'll try better not to utter "stupid bird" within ear shot.

Fat cat in a big bed

She wouldn't dare do this when Maddie the Moose (aka the 85 lb owner of this bed) is around - that's what I call chutzpah!

Feeding time at the zoo

Abbie (the dog) doesn't mind sharing her dinner with Sadie (the cat). These two even sleep snuggled up together in bed ... on my side of course.