A White Christmas Eve

It snowed today! Yesterday it was 77 in the afternoon, today it started snowing around noon and is still going strong - Texas weather is definitely unique. The snow kept us from a few of our holiday plans, but at least it was fun to photograph.

Merry Christmas

Hope you get a laugh from our Christmas card.

Have a wonderful holiday!

8 more days...

til my Project 365 comes to a close.

I started taking a daily photo after reading about Project 365 on Photojojo when I was looking for a new hobby over winter break last year. Since the 1st of the year was coming up the time was right to challenge myself with something new. It's been fun and fulfilling to look back and see photos for things I would have otherwise forgotten, and to see my photography skills (and Matt's too) improve. I wasn't perfect by any means, but I had a lot of fun and managed to get a photo almost every day for the whole year - yippee!

A few I like best:

Cheesy Ravioli Bake

This was delicious! Next time I'm doubling the recipe for sure.

Cheesy Ravioli Bake
Adapted from Spice in My Life.

Ingredients

One large bag frozen ravioli (or tortellini)
1/2 jar marinara sauce
1/2 jar Alfredo sauce
1 cup frozen spinach, thawed
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease an 8x8 pan.

Bring large pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions.

Combine marinara and Alfredo sauces, spinach, and seasonings. Bring to a simmer over medium-low while pasta boils.

Drain pasta and add to sauce. Pour into baking dish, layering with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until sauce is bubbly and enjoy!

Cranberry Stuffing Cups

These are great as a meal or side dish - yum! They're supposed to be rolled into balls, but muffin cups worked just as well.

Cranberry Stuffing Cups
Adapted from Thanksgiving Recipes.biz.

Makes 12 cups or 8 balls.

Ingredients

1 pound low-fat Italian sausage
8 oz of herb seasoned stuffing mix
1 white onion, chopped *You could add celery or carrot too.
1 egg
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup chopped cranberries *I used dried cranberries.
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a skillet over high heat cook the sausage and vegetables completely.

Remove from the heat and drain any fat.

In a bowl, beat the egg; then stir in sausage mixture, stuffing mix, broth and cranberries. I also added a dash of salt, pepper, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning too.

Fill 12 greased muffin cups with stuffing or, using your hands, form the mixture into about eight balls and place on baking sheet.

Bake for about 25-30 minutes, until browned.

For Mike

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

{Angie's bridesmaid gift, 2004}

{San Antonio Sombrero from Grandma and Grandpa, 2008}

{Alaska, 2003}

{Santa Fe, 2005}

{Denton Wassilfest, 2009}





{The Little Chapel-in-the-Woods, 2005}

Granola Squares

My second attempt at chewy bars turned out even better than before, I thought these made a great snack.

Chewy Granola Squares
Adapted from Road Running Energy Bars on SparkPeople.

Makes 9 bars. *Or double and use a 9x13 pan.

Ingredients

1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
1/2 cup nuts *I used raw sliced almonds.
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup milk *I used rice milk.
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup sugar-free maple syrup (or another 1/4 cup of honey)
1/4 cup olive oil
*Some people add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips or other nuts too.

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray 8-inch square baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, combine ingredients until smooth.

Spread batter in prepared baking pan, and bake for approximately 20-25 minutes until bars are cooked all the way through.

Cool completely before cutting.

Fall Wrap-Up

With December already underway, I'm reflecting on the fun we've had this semester. Time really does fly!

Highlights from the fall...

• Starting my 4th year as the librarian at Bright, a job I treasure and enjoy everyday!
• Celebrating my 29th birthday with a trip to the Fort Worth Zoo and lunch at Joe T.'s
  
• Trying new fried foods and seeing Oprah at the State Fair with my parents
• Going to my 10 year high school reunion football game with Angie and meeting her sweet new baby boy Hudson
• Making it to Octoberfest in McKinney for the 2nd time
  
• Heading to Austin with Maggie for the Texas Book Festival
• Celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary with dinner at The Greenhouse, our favorite Denton restaurant
  
• Enjoying a fun week off for Thanksgiving Break by visiting the Rare Book Room at UNT (where Matt works part-time), spending time with family in Haslet and Bonham, and going to the Tech/Baylor game with college friends at the new Cowboys Stadium
• Having fun with family and friends
  
• And teaching ourselves how to do a decent job grooming Duncan (now that he's been officially uninvited from returning to any local groomers) - ugh
  

Upcoming fun: Holiday parties, two weeks off for Christmas break, a little vacation to Natchez, Mississippi, and the completion of my year-long Project 365 photography venture!

11 for 12

The end is in sight! Only one month left with Project 365, and since lots is usually going on this time of year hopefully I'll have more than Duncan and dinner to shoot.

A few from November...