christmas cookie memories...

it seems like a million years ago. i was just a kid. barely 13 i think. my mom used to order christmas cookies by the dozens from someone that she worked with so that we would have them for the season. my brother fred and i would get so excited because we knew there would be a ton of cookies in the house.

mom thought she was outsmarting us by hiding them in this huge tupperware container under the bed in our parents room. as the holiday draws ever closer this year i find that i am more in the spirit this year than in many years past. i find myself wanting to make a ton of cookies, even though i can't find a container to keep them in. i so wanted to find a big flat container of some sort that is airtight like that one my mother used.

i have my annual ornament exchange coming up this sunday. this year i am doing a brunch. but i think i will try to make a pile of cookies too so that everyone can take some home. there is nothing like homemade christmas cookies!

thanksgiving beans...

happy thanksgiving! i spent the afternoon with my best friend notsoccer mom, her son, and her sister. my contribution to the meal were these delicious country green beans and a chocolate pecan pie with real whipped cream!



my whole life i have said i hated pecans and pecan pie. i don't think i have ever actually tasted it. and then last year i realized that i DO like pecans. so, i made this chocolate pecan pie and notsoccer mom said it was orgasmic! :)

how would you like this cake?

10 items or less - Blogging by mail...

I received a package from Heather at Diary of a fanatic foodie! It was filled to brimming with wonderful things!

A bar of pumpkin and clove body soap, some mulling spices, peach syrup, sun dried tomato mustard, apple and black walnut candy, spanish smoked paprika, cocoa chile spices and veggie glace, some gelatin sheets, oh and a jar of pumpkin butter that smelled absolutley fantastic (sadly, it was broken. :( ).

Heather, I can't thank you enough for all of the fun goodies! I have been wanting to try smoked spanish paprika for ages. I had some of the peach syrup on my pancakes yesterday and it was delicious! I can't wait to try the sun dried tomato mustard as I come from a mustard loving family! I might have to grill up some brats if the darn rain will let up long enough for me to get the grill going.

Thanks again to Stephanie over at Dispensing Happiness for organizing yet another wonderful Blogging By Mail exchange!