The 12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge - day 8

Hello, blog friends!  I am liking this frequent blogging thing.  It is a welcome study break.

Today's Challenge?

My Least Favorite Thing About the Holidays

Ewww.  NOT what I want to blog about!!

Unfortunately, this was pretty easy and didn't require much thought.  Even though I love the holiday season, it is definitely one of those times that I really, really miss the people who are not in my life any longer, mostly the ones that have passed away.  

I always think about my Granddaddy, who died just before I graduated from high school.

I see so much of him in me.

Hopefully his best qualities, not the ones that irritated the rest of us.

(But I'm sure some of the irritating ones, too.)

He was a physician, and not a week goes by that I don't wish I could tell him some story from school that I know only he would appreciate.

I think about my Pop, who died when I was in my 2nd year of college.

He was an amazingly great husband and loved his wife until the day he died.  

He taught his sons to be men.

(I pray that God will bless me with such a man some day.)

He called me "sister gal'.

(Oh, I would love to hear that one more time.)

I think about my dear friend Adam.  And Mr. James.  And Mama Watson.  And countless others.  

I think about friends that I miss, relationships that I have not nurtured the way that I should have, and of course, around the new year always think back on the year that has passed and learn from it without having any regrets as to how I lived it. 

sigh

Goodness, this is not the lighthearted post you logged on for, now was it!  Back to cheerier things tomorrow!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

The 12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge - day 7

Happy [belated] Thanksgiving everyone!  I've been away for a few days!  I had a wonderful time away from Memphis with my family, and I hope you had a wonderful holiday with your loved ones, too.

Today's blog challenge?  Crafts and DIY's!  Oh, this just tickles my fancy, as we say in the south!

I've already mentioned Christmas cookies back on day one.  I think most people do that one, so I'll just breeze on by.  Soooo much fun, though!

One of my favorite activities (that also makes a great gift) is sewing!  I know, I know, I sound like your grandma.  But you can make some really amazing things after you learn the basics! It just takes a little time, a little creativity and some cute fabric!

Just an example:  one year my mom and I ran across some super-cute aprons that we knew would make great gifts for her lunch bunch.  They were somewhere in the neighborhood of $45 (I've forgotten exactly how much now) - whoa mama!  That would have been almost $300 for the group, no thank you!  Plus, the fabric was just so-so, it was the style we loved more than anything.  So what did we do?  Go straight to the fabric store, spend about $75 on supplies, and made 8 aprons, cuter than the first.  Yes, that's less than $10 each.  Not to mention that they were super cute, everyone loved them, and we had a ball making them!  Too bad Mom has all of the pictures. (I have got to get better at this picture thing ...)

Another sewing project I've conquered?  Custom bedding.  Yes, this one took about a weekend and much more patience, but if you have time off around the holidays (and family members who will help you) it is the perfect thing to do - you can get exactly what you want!

Not the greatest (iPhone) photo, but you get the idea!  It has inspired me to start making my bed every day.  In my 20's.  Now that says something.  

The things you can make are endless ... my hangup is usually finding the fabric I want for a particular project.  I wish I had more time to be crafty, artsy, use the right side of my brain, etc, but dental school doesn't allow much any time for that. (sigh.)

What do you DIY?

The 12 days of Christmas Blog Challenge - day 3

Today's topic?

The Best/Most Meaningful Gift You've Ever Received

Oh my gosh, this is hard.  "Santa" always did (and still does!) the most amazing job of finding gifts that they he knew Wade and I would love.

Maybe the best approach is a top 5?  Although, I'm sure I will still leave some things out!

5. Christmas 1990 - 95? - Anything and everything American Girl 

I was obsessed.  I probably circled everything in the catalog for Santa to bring.  Mind you, this was back in the day when there were only 3 American Girls:  Kirstin, Samantha, and Molly.

Molly was my first American Girl.  She is very, um, well loved.

I have saved all of my dolls (and the boxes and boxes of their belongings) in the hopes that I will have a daughter one day that can play with them.

4.  Christmas '89? '90? - Gameboy

Oh, soooo many memories!  Wade and I spent so many hours on car trips playing Tetris against each other.  Remember that you had the cord, but then you had to turn them on at the same time, too?  I wish I still had my Gameboy.

3. Christmas 2009 - Wusthof Knives

For someone as obsessed with cooking as I am, this was an awesome gift.  Five new knives.  So sharp and slice so cleanly.  Ahhhh.  They rock.

2.  Christmas 2008 - Willow Tree Nativity Scene

I had been admiring this throughout our last minute Christmas shopping.  I was shocked to find it under the tree Christmas morning!  It has been fun to start collecting things to decorate "my" home.

1.  Christmas 2000 - Baby Grand Piano

You might be thinking this takes the top spot just out of sheer size, but you would be wrong.  I took my first piano lesson when I was 4 years old and continued through high school.  Needless to say, the piano have always been a huge part of my life!  I used to go to lovingly admire other people's baby grands and the grand piano at church, and my parents used to tell me that, if I kept it up (playing, that is), I could probably have one some day.  Fast forward to December 2000:  Mom started acting strange one afternoon on Christmas break, telling me she wanted to "go ahead and take the tree down." (The pretty one in the front room, not the handmade ornament, colored light one.)  I don't even remember the absurd reason why.  I helped her clean up the living room, rearrange the furniture, etc just as the white truck pulled up from Amro Music!  Of course, as obsessed as I was, I caught on immediately.  The piano came with a big red bow.  You know, like the kind some kids get on their car on their 16th birthday.

Best. Present. Ever.  

Over the past 7 years of college and dental school it is safe to say that my skills have regressed.  I still play every time I go home and get a chance and am really looking forward to the day that I have my own home so the piano can come to Memphis with me! (soon.  hopefully very, very soon.) 

What strikes me the most about this list is that every present is special to me because the giver really put thought into it and knew it would be meaningful.  (Okay, I'm not saying a Gameboy is "meaningful", but hours of fun with your brother sure is!!)  I try to do this when I buy gifts, but admit that I often fail in finding that "perfect" thing.  I guess every gift can't be perfect, but over the years, a few are certain to be remembered!

The 12 days of Christmas Blog Challenge - day 2

Day 2 (or 1b. in my case) of this Christmas-y blog challenge is "black Friday/general shopping tips and tricks".

My advice on black Friday?  Sleep in!!

I know, I know, I know, this is practically sacrilegious for some out there, but honestly, when you get up at 4 am most days, sleeping until 6 is a rare treat!  

Every year mom and I talk about getting up and going shopping.  For about 10 minutes.  This, of course, is always in the middle of all of our cooking and ramblings about life.  By the time the dishes are washed and the leftovers are in the fridge; however, we are have laughed that little talk off and set the coffeemaker for a more reasonable hour.

The point of my story?  Enjoy your day, however that may be.  If that is knocking somebody over the head in Target for that really adorable pump in size 8 at 4:09 am, go for it!! I will be cozy, warm and snuggly in my bed.  (And shopping at 11:00, when the really intense people have gone home.)

Happy shopping, everyone!

PS - if you have any really awesome finds or ideas for gifts, leave a comment!  (especially for my brother...he is the best gift giver.  so good, it's almost annoying.)

The 12 (...um...14...) days of Christmas Blog Challenge!

Oh, this looks like fun.  First, thanks to Chelsea for sharing her holiday traditions and introducing me to this little adventure.

Here are the topics:

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season

Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special

Day 6: Gift ideas (what do YOU want? We all have family/friends reading our blogs...so let them know!)

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY  (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?)

Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays

Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe

Day 10: Favorite Christmas Songs/Caroles

Day 11: New Year Resolutions

Day 12: Show us your decorations (indoor/outdoor)

Day 13: Favorite Cookie Recipe

Day 14: Oprah's Favorite Things: What item(s) would you want if you were in the audience?

Yesterday was Day 1, so I'm a little behind already.  Oops!  Better get started.

____________________________________________________________________

Our Christmas Traditions

Bowen holidays are best summed up by one word:  family.

I do not have a single memory of a Christmas or any other holiday, for that matter, that does not revolve 100% around my family:  immediate, extended and honorary.  

A great example - our Easter celebrations every year.  I wrote about it here.

At Christmas, Mom and I always bake hundreds of cookies.  We started this tradition when I was in college; we would have a "cookie drop-in" on a Sunday afternoon with my friends, mom's friends, and Mimi's friends.  As Mimi has aged and become unable to continue this tradition, we have kept baking cookies, but deliver them on pretty trays or platters as gifts instead of having people over.  I hope that one day we can resume our holiday get-together.

Sometimes we have helpers when we're decorating

Gracie, Christmas 2007

Will, Christmas 2008

As for Christmas morning, Mom and I are always up early baking (homemade cinnamon rolls - yum!!) getting a jumpstart on our ridiculously large meal and sharing mimosas.  Dad is always in charge of herding the dogs (yep, I said herding.  With Sooie thrown into the mix of their 5, it truly is herding, especially when meat prep starts happening in the kitchen.  He is a pro, though ...)

When Wade wakes up, he will pour a cup of coffee and (1) comment on the 9:30 mimosas and (2) ask us what time dinner will be.  This is when we feign defensiveness that he would question our cooking methods, rush us, etc, but we all love it! It is tradition, after all!  

When we've all had enough caffeine, the present opening begins.  Now that we're older, it is not so much about opening our own presents as it is about spending time together laughing and talking.  It is always a lot of fun to see what little surprises Santa brought, and also to see everyone's reactions as they open their presents.  

After the presents, Dad and Wade clean up while Mom and I hit the kitchen.  We never rush it, just cook and enjoy each other's company until the food is ready.  Always the same menu, plus (never minus) a few pies.

Some years there are additional family members or friends, some years it is just the four of us and Mimi.  Either way, it is perfect. Always.

At the end of the day, we are always way, way too full, and have shared so, so many memories.  

It's funny; reading back over this I think about all of the things that we do every year, like the Carols and Candlelight service at church, the Snow Village, decorating the tree ... I could go on and on ... that I did not write about!  Hopefully I will be able to write about those as they happen this year!

Wow, writing this has made me so excited for Thursday!!  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

One Sick Pup

She is one sick Sooiedog!

My fur child has been throwing up for five days.  Ick.

After resigning myself to the fact that the chicken-broth diet was not working, we went to the vet this morning.  Her proclamation?  Sooie is "too cute to not feel good."  Agreed.

So after spending all day with Dr. Lynn and her crew, Sooie is back home and sleeping on the couch (thanks to some drug-enduced sedation).

I am so thankful to the crew at Central Animal Hospital for taking good care of my pup!  Now she just needs to get well so that she can run with the big dogs in Jonesboro this weekend.  :)

Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake

Yesterday I mentioned that Jeni had a birthday in October, too!  Another birthday, another birthday cake.  :)

Jeni's cake is special in one extra way; Jeni has gluten intolerance (the precursor to Celiac disease) which means she cannot cannot cannot have wheat or any wheat products.  This makes baking a challenge!  Over the past 3 years it's been like a cross between a puzzle and a fun test trying to come up with recipes that are just as delicious gluten-free as they are in wheat form.  I am, by no means, an expert.  Lots of folks have made careers out of this and can make some awesome goodies!  For me, it's all about treating my friend to a homemade delight every once in a while.  Because, hey, what girl doesn't love cake?

Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake
this is a double recipe - it will fill four 9-in rounds or (my preference) overfill three to cut back to a level top.  With the 2nd method I always have enough for a little loaf pan - perfect treat for the baker!


6 1/4 cups gluten-free flour (I used King Arthur Flour multi-purpose gluten-free, I have also used Beth's Gluten-Free Pantry previously)
3/4 cup cornstarch
4 teaspoons xanthan gum (a must in GF cooking to 'bind' in place of gluten)
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
4 1/2 cups sugar
6 large eggs, room temperature
4 2oz bottles red food coloring
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons salt
3 cups buttermilk
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 tablespoon baking soda


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


Grease, flour, and line cake pans.


In a small bowl, sift together flour, cornstarch, and xanthan gum.  Set aside.

I know all of my cooking friends can take one look at this and tell that the texture is much different than 'regular' all-purpose flour or cake flour, even!

In large bowl of electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs one at a time.  Make sure to beat well between each egg.

In a small bowl, whisk together the food coloring, cocoa, and vanilla.  Add to the batter and mix well.

I lo-oo-oove this bright red batter!  Makes my heart happy!  And that little hint of cocoa?  Adds just the right something that makes 'Red Velvet' Red Velvet.

In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir the salt into the buttermilk.  Add to the batter in three parts, alternating with the flour.  Begin and end with flour.  Make sure to fully incorporate, but not overbeat, each addition.

In a small bowl, mix together the cider vinegar and baking soda.  Add to the batter and mix well.  Scrape down the batter in the bowl, making sure ingredients are well-blended and batter is smooth.


Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.  Bake for approximately 40 minutes (double recipe, 3 pans) or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.  Let the layers cool on a wire rack for approximately an hour, then de-pan and let cool completely.

Doesn't it just call to you from the pan?  Resist the urge - let it cool!


Ice and enjoy!

I crumb coated, let it set in the fridge for an hour-ish, and then covered the whole cake to keep the crumbs off of the top layer of icing.

Paisley in aqua, purple, and light brown seemed right up Jeni's alley.  It was a fun one to do!

I made cream cheese icing for Jeni's cake.  Vanilla and 7-minute frosting are also good on red velvet.


When I am going to decorate a cake I make it a day or two ahead so that I can crumb coat, fully ice, and then decorate without having to rush.  This GF baby did not like that idea!  When I ate the top that I cut off one of the layers (yep, I admit it, I always have to test), it was sooooooo delicious!  After a day of being prettied-up, it had become very dry.  Very fast.  :(  Luckily, Jeni still loved it, but I had tasted the A++ version.  Something to do with the structure and lack of gluten?  I don't know, but it seems to be since that was the only thing that was different about this cake!  Looks like another rainy-day project calling my name and another goody for Jeni.  :)

Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies

In the last month of craziness there were a few breaks - anyone who knows me knows I can't let a birthday pass without a celebration!  My brother, Wade, and my sweet friend, Jeni, have birthdays on the 13th and 18th of October, respectively.  Happy [very belated] birthday to you both!

Wade has always loved peanuts, so when I saw this recipe in one of my new cookbooks, the complete Magnolia Bakery cookbook: Recipes from the World-Famous Bakery and Allysa Torey's Home Kitchen. Click to buy it on Amazon!  So far I like it!  

Crust

1 1/4 cups unsalted butter, melted

3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup confectioners' sugar

2/3 cup finely chopped peanuts

1/4 teaspoon salt

Peanut Butter Filling

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

2/3 cup smooth peanut butter

6 tablespoons sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup milk

Brownie

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 cups sugar

4 large eggs, at room temp

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted

1/2 cup peanut butter chips

Garnish

3/4 cup peanut butter chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

for crust:  

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.  

Form the dough into a ball and press firmly into an ungreased 12x18-in jelly roll pan.  

  Bake the crust for 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool for 15-20 minutes before proceeding.

I chopped my peanuts in my mini processor - so easy! I also lined my jelly roll pan with parchment paper leaving a little hanging off the sides as handles so the brownies would be easy to de-pan.

for filling:  
In a large bowl, on the low speed of the electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and the peanut butter until smooth.  
Beat in the sugar, the egg, and the milk until well incorporated.  Set aside.

for brownie:  
In a medium-size bowl, sift together the flour, the baking powder, and the salt.  Set aside.  
In a large bowl, cream the butter and the sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes.  
Add the eggs and the vanilla.  
Add the chocolate and mix until well incorporated.  
Add the dry ingredients.  
Stir in the chocolate chips.

Reserve 1 cup of the brownie batter.  
Spread the rest of the brownie batter evenly over the cooled crust.  
Drop the peanut butter filling by large spoonfuls randomly over the entire surface of the brownie batter, being sure that some are close to the edges of the pan.  
Next, spoon out the reserved brownie batter close to some of the peanut butter filling. Using a sharp knife, swirl the two batters together to form a marble-like effect.

Bake 25-30 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into center of brownie comes out with moist crumbs attached.  Remove and immediately sprinkle the peanut butter chips over top. 

ooh, melty goodness! so so hard to resist sticking a finger in these babies!

Allow to cool to room temperature before cutting and serving.

Finally, pack-em-up and ship-em-out to the big D!  Happy birthday, big brother!

The verdict?  Good, but next time I'll be making some alterations.  

I called my great friend (and official taste tester) Patrick to come up before I mailed this sweet treat off to Dallas.  The thing about great friends is that they don't hold back.  (Every baker and/or cook needs an honest eater around.) I had my inklings, but definitely knew this  was not a winner when Patrick said, "Do you want my honest opinion? (of course.) Lose the crust." Then He proceeded to do just that, eat the brownie/filling with no crust; he proclaimed it much better.

Patrick was right, baking friends, the crust:brownie ratio is just off.  Maybe next time I will double the brownie.  Or something.  Hmmmmm....sounds like a great rainy day activity.  :)

last exam EVER! ... well, almost.

Ahh!  Over a month.  Boy, oh, boy, have I been a slacker!  

(a blogging slacker, that is.)

In terms of school, I have been going 90-to-nothin'.

Which leads me to the title of today's post ... today was my last [University of Tennessee] dental school test EVER!!!

Can it be true?  Really?  No kidding?  

Truth be told, there are grumblings about some sort of pass/fail sleep disorders class next semester, but for today, such a blissful day, I am pretending it doesn't exist.  No more getting grades on paper exams.  (yay!)  

Sorry, teacher friends, this student is sooooo happy about that.  :)

What did I do to celebrate?

I applied for a big girl job, yep, I did.  "Big girl job" reminds me of that Gilmore Girls episode where Rory and Lorelai discuss being an "ah-dult" and promptly decide that you aren't an "ah-dult" until you say "ah-dult", not "grown-up".  (sigh.  I digress.)  Anyway, I brushed up my CV, wrote a fabulous cover letter, and sent it.  It's my first 'cold' send-off of sorts, so I am now in that tumultuous state of wondering whether or not they will contact me!

On that note, please pray that I will (1.) have patience to wait on things like this over the next few months and (2.) that God will provide the perfect opportunity.  I truly have no doubts that He will, but I (3.) need the open heart to hear His direction.  Transitions are certainly times that are stressful and require a lot of faith that He will provide! (again, I digress. This is what happens when I don't blog for a month.)

So what's a girl to do when she's not studying for dental school exams anymore?  Study for dental exams.  SAY WHAT?  Yes, I said study and exams.  National Boards Part II on December 16 and 17 is the next big hurdle.

Until then, I'm looking forward to catching back up with friends, Thanksgiving and visits from family, (my birthday!), and maybe, just maybe, a "big girl" job.