Christmas Wrap Up and on to NYE!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday!  Chris and I had quite the whirlwind of traveling and celebrating!  But overall it was so wonderful to be with so many family members and friends.  Here's a few pictures from Christmas day at my parents.

Santa was very good to us this year!

 We had a bit of a Buckeye Christmas!  Both Chris and Mitch got new jerseys for next season!

Dad and Mom got Moose Mugs!

 Last week I promised a Mudslide Pudding Shot recipe and I'm not one to go back on my cocktail promises so here goes!  Chris' coworkers have really taken a liking to pudding shots so its become a requirement for each gathering.  Last week we were invited to our friend Yogesh's house for Indian cuisine and holiday celebrating before we left for home.  No party at Yogi's is complete without pudding shots so I decided I wanted to switch things up and make a different recipe.  I found the Mudslide recipe and thought it would be a good change of pace and I had all the ingredients on hand!

Mudslide Pudding Shots
Ingredients:

- 1 (8 oz.) container of extra creamy cool whip

- 1 packet instant chocolate pudding

- 3/4 c. milk

- 1/2 c. Bailey's 

- 1/3 c. Kahlua

Instructions:

- Mix milk and pudding together in mixing bowl till smooth.

- Add in Bailey's and Kahlua until well combined.

- Fold in cool whip (make sure it is thawed out, you can't use it when it's still frozen it will make your shots soupy from too much mixing).

- Spoon into small shot glasses (I use disposable ones with lids for easy freezer stacking).

- Store in freezer until ready to serve.

- Enjoy!

Well on to New Years!  This year Chris and I are celebrating with friends at a hotel downtown.  The past couple years I've made a New Years cocktail so I'll have to share that with you!  I love the glitz and glam of New Years fashions (what can I say, a cheerleader's love for glitter never dies)!  I am so very thankful for all the blessings and excitement 2012 has brought me and cannot wait for all that is to come next year!

Cheers!

Steph  

Trees, trees, trees!

The holiday season is in FULL swing with parties, shopping and decorating!  A couple weeks ago Chris and I set to the task of decorating our townhouse.  We're up to a total of three (artificial) trees, call me crazy but I just love decorating trees in themes!  A good majority of our decorations were given to us from our parents to start us out when we first moved out so although it may be a hodge podge of things they have some sentimental meanings.  To add to the holiday merriment I've included a recipe for Gingerbread Coookie Martinis!  These are so fun and very festive for the holidays!

We inherited my parents large (7ft) tree for our living room, which has been in my parents living room since I was a baby!  Some of the branches are a little worse for wear but I think it gives it character.  My parents have bought my brother, Gran and I a Wendell August ornament every year for our stockings since I was born.  My ornaments are all a gold color plus Chris started buying me Miami ornaments which are gold as well, so being a themes and consistency person I set out to create a theme for this big tree!  We decided on red and gold, I got all kinds of branch fillers and ornaments at Big Lots and Hobby Lobby.

A few years ago my Gran gave me a small tree with some pink decorations since that's my favorite color, over the years she and a few other relatives have added to my pink theme.  This little tree hangs out in the kitchen on our bar cabinet.

Pretty in pink!

Last but certainly not least, our basement tree.  This was the first tree I bought on my own for my first apartment.  I originally went with a red and silver Miami theme.  Chris' aunt has bought him the Hallmark Collectors NFL football player ornaments every year since he was little so we wanted to put those out this year.  What better place than our mostly sports themed basement!  Plus Chris spends the most time down there as that's where his computer is set up so why not bring some holiday cheer to his working from home and football watching?

I'm pretty sure my love for multiple themed trees runs in the family.  Here's a look at some of the themed trees around the family!

My Mom's Moose Tree!

My Great Aunt Chookie's tree,
this one is for all her glass ornaments!

Now for the cocktail!  My aunt forwarded me this recipe she found on Facebook and I decided to tweak it based on my tastes and what I had available.  It called for making your own gingerbread syrup but I had found something similar at World Market so I just used that instead. 

Gingerbread Cookie Martini

Ingredients:
- 2 oz. vanilla vodka
- 2 oz. half and half
- 1 oz. gingerbread syrup
- 1 oz. kahlua
- orange wedge (or other citrus should work or a damp towel will work)
- brown sugar
- gingerbread cookies or iced molasses cookies

Instructions:
- Rim chilled martini glasses with brown sugar using orange wedge and brown sugar sprinkled on a plate.
- In a shaker with ice pour in vodka, half and half, gingerbread syrup and kahlua, shake and strain into martini glasses.

- Cut a slit into cookie and place on rim of glass, float it on top or just serve next to the glass.  This is more for decoration than anything else, the cookie gets a little soggy when it gets wet so prepare accordingly.
- Enjoy!

This is a great dessert drink for the holidays!  With the possible end of the world coming and all the holiday travel this may be my last post before the holiday so I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!  I hope you and your loved ones have a very safe and wonderful holiday! 

Cheers!
-Steph

Surprise! We're engaged!

Hi friends!  Well I know I promised a post about our Christmas trees but....Chris surprised me this weekend with a topic that surpasses our trees.  He proposed! We are so excited to take this next step in our relationship and would like to thank our families and friends for the incredible amount of support and love!

So now for "the story" the part all the girls ask about and all the guys tolerate while they wait for a beer.  After a rough day at work on Friday I was ready for a cocktail and some catching up with Chris' siblings who arrived home from college.  We went over to his parents for happy hour like we do every Friday then had some dinner with his family.  Afterwards, Chris suggested we go look at Christmas lights, which he takes me to do each year and is one of my favorite things to do so I happily agreed!  We decided to go to a lights display at a nearby state park.  It was AWESOME!  We were so impressed at the different themes and set ups they had.

Brutus!  Go Bucks!

Santa riding a pontoon!

Santa in a lawn chair soaking up some rays!

The SS Santa, this was one of Chris' favorites!

After that we went to a few more neighborhoods around town then headed back home.  When we got home Chris turned on the Christmas tree and said "Did you know today is the 14th?" I replied "yes, its been all over the news, its so sad" referring to the unthinkable tragedy in Connecticut (what a terrible shame, our deepest thoughts and condolences go out to the victims and their loved ones at this tremendously hard time).  The 14th (of October) is also when we started dating many moons ago.  So we have a tradition of when we remember its the 14th we count how many months we've been dating.  This time it had been 62 months!

Chris asked me "Did you know it's been 62 months?" I said "No, but that's a really long time!".  He said, "Is it long enough to get engaged?" I replied, "Well eventually".  He said, "How about right now?" to which my eyes probably almost popped out of my head as he got down on one knee and pulled out a beautiful ring!  Then he asked, "Will you marry me?" to which I replied, "For real?" (What a dink!  One of the greatest moments of our lives and I ask if he's kidding?!  Smooth Steph, real smooth).  After realizing that he was in fact, NOT kidding I immediately said yes and starting flapping around like a ridiculous human bird.  I stopped jumping around long enough for him to place the ring on my finger (fit just right!) and we hugged and kissed and were so elated then I stop dead in my tracks and say "Wait a minute, did you ask my Daddy?", I'm pretty traditional so it was very important to me that he ask.  He chuckled and said, "Steph, you're pretty much the last to know in your family."  He had asked my Daddy, my brother and my Momma, talk about going above and beyond!    

Ta, da!  It's official!

Afterwards, we started making some calls but it was later in the evening so we saved all of our extended family till the following day.  We went back to his parents for champagne and chocolates.  Man did he surprise me!  I had NO idea it was coming!  I thought it was going to be around New Years Eve but he got me!  The days following have been a flurry of phone calls and texts and Facebook this and that but it has been a hurricane of excitement!  Now begins the wedding planning, thankfully we had previously talked about a timeline and we aren't getting married till 2014 so we have ample time!

Luckily for us, my Gran and aunt were in town for my cousin's swim meet and we had plans with Miami friends Saturday night so we got to tell them the good news in person.  Plus with Christmas coming up we have all kinds of family gatherings planned where we can celebrate with them!  

So as previously promised up next are trees and Christmas cocktails and Mudslide Pudding Shots! 

Cheers!

Steph  

Holiday Pinterest Potluck!

Well holiday madness has officially begun!  This past weekend Chris and I had our company holiday parties (on the same night) and we decided to host a holiday themed Pinterest potluck.  Both holiday parties were very fun, it's always good to let loose with co-workers from time to time.  And who doesn't love dressing up for the occasion?!

Chris and I at our holiday parties, we clean up pretty good!

Saturday we had decided to host a Holiday Pinterest Potluck with a small group of local friends.  With all the holiday inspired recipes floating around on Pinterest we wanted to give some a try!  We had all kinds of goodies including: avocado goat cheese dip, christmas tree veggie pizza, crockpot buffalo chicken dip, BBQ and Ceasar chicken sliders and peanut butter reindeer cookies!  For cocktails we featured Pomegranate Martinis and Candy Cane Shots which is what I'll be sharing in the blog today!

Christmas Tree Veggie Pizza!
Courtesy of The Campbells

Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies!
Courtesy of The Heffelmans

Part of our delicious spread!

Pinterest potlucks are easy and so fun!  It takes some pressure off the host/hostess by having guests bring a dish to share and it creates great conversation starters if everyone you invited doesn't already know each other.  Some of my girlfriends and I do this every so often to spice up our group get togethers!  It also serves as a great trial run for recipes you want to take to other holiday events but haven't made yet.  The week previous to the potluck I collected everyones recipes, put them in a Word document and printed them for everyone to take home afterwards.  This made it easier than having guests try and find each other on Pinterest the following day for their recipes.

And now for our cocktail recipes!  The Pomegranate Martini is always fun and it goes along well with Christmas decor.  This recipe came to me from Chris' mom who put together a few of her favorites in a recipe book for me on my 21st birthday.

Pomegranate Martini
(sorry no picture, forgot to take one!  I'll have to load one after I make them again)

Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Citrus vodka
- 1 oz. POM pomegranate juice
- splash 7up or Sprite
- splash triple sec
- pomegranate arils (the actual fruit part of the pomegranate!) for garnish, if desired

Instructions:
- Put all ingredients (except pomegranate arils) in a shaker or pitcher with ice, shake or stir.  When making small batches I tend to shake, when making martinis for a group I use a pitcher and stir.
- Pour into chilled martini glass with pomegranate arils at the bottom.
- Enjoy!  (Cautiously, these pack a punch for those who aren't seasoned martini drinkers!)

I found this candy cane shot recipe on Pinterest and couldn't wait to try!  It's easy and very delicious!

Candy Cane Shot

Ingredients:
- peppermint schnapps
- Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
- crushed candy canes

Instructions:
- Crush candy canes in a plastic bag till there are no large chunks remaining.
- Wet shot glass rim with water and dip into crush candy canes.
- Mix equal parts peppermint schnapps and white chocolate liqueur in a shaker over ice.
- Shake, strain into shot glasses rimmed with candy canes.
- Enjoy!

Served on a festive plate these shots
really enhance the holiday spirit!

Note: I didn't rim my glasses with the candy canes as they were disposable shot glasses and the candy canes wouldn't stick to the rim so I just sprinkled some candy cane at the bottom of each glass.

Only a few more posts to come before Christmas!  Can you believe it's almost here?!  Next up I'll be showing off our Christmas trees this year!  And stay tuned next week for a new edible shot recipe!

Cheers!
-Steph

Doggie Treats!

Well friends I've decided to switch things up a bit!  (That or I've most definitely lost my mind, I'm still questioning my crazy factor, ask Chris and he may say I'm off the charts nuts!)  I decided to give making dog treats a try!

Just to give you background and explanation into the inner workings of my thought process around this idea, this past weekend Chris and I made the trip to Detroit to see our friend Matt (and his sweet and spunky golden retriever pup, Bailey) as well as go to the Lions v. Colts game.  Matt's family lives in Ohio and he's a typical boy who doesn't bake goodies for himself much, especially since he has a gluten allergy.  So when he's in town or in this case when we're visiting I always like to have a little extra GF (gluten free) snack or two for him to enjoy (I mean it's only fair right?!).  Well as I was planning my standard GF treats for him (rice krispies, brownies and buffalo chicken dip are his favs) I thought: "why should Matt get all the goodies?!  Bailey deserves treats too!"  So off I went (to Pinterest of course) to find an easy treat for his adorable pooch.  I found a recipe that only called for four ingredients and looked pretty easy to make.  So to the store I go, list in hand and filled with excitement over a new recipe to try!

Poochie Peanut Butter Treats
(Makes 20-30 treats)

Ingredients:
- 2 c. whole wheat flour
- 1 c. rolled oats
- 1/3 c. peanut butter
- 1 1/4 c. hot water

Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Prep cookie sheets (I cover mine with foil so I don't have to scrub baked on cookie off them), spray with cooking spray and set aside.
- Mix dry ingredients (flour and oats) together.
- Add peanut butter and water and mix until well blended.  (You can use a mixer but it really didn't take much for me to use a spatula and my hands.)

- Knead dough into a smooth ball.
- Prep rolling surface by spreading flour on counter and rolling pin.
- Roll dough about 1/8th to 1/4th an inch thick.  (The thickness really depends on how much you want to roll the dough and if you want to create thick or thin cookies for your pet, but you'll have to adjust baking time accordingly.)
- Use cookie cutters to cut shapes for treats.  (I used a dog bone shape I found at Meijer.  You can bake it as one big sheet and then just break it apart but what's the fun in that?!)

- Place on cookie sheet, bake 25-30 minutes until golden (depending on how thick you make them adjust your time accordingly.  If you'd prefer them to be more chewy then pull them out of the oven five or so minutes earlier.)

- Let cool then give to your favorite four legged friend to enjoy!

I had some thinner treats leftover from when I rolled the dough out again so I took those over to Chris' parents' dog Harley.  Both dogs enjoyed their treats very much!

Harley - anxiously waiting for his treat!

Bailey - lounging around

 The Colts ended up winning the game in the last four seconds!  Talk about exciting!  Well not quite for Chris as he is a Lions fan but for me I was happy my team pulled out another win!  Ford Field is a really cool stadium and they had a Christmas tree decorated in Lions colors that we snapped a picture by.  Overall we had a great weekend trip!

Merry Christmas from a house divided!
(Wearing our brand new jerseys!)

Up next, time to ring in the holiday season with parties, potlucks and decorating!  Recipes and fun to come!

Cheers!
Steph