A Day at My Granparents' House

After hours preparing to go to my Grandparents’, we finally hit the road and got in our car. The car was jam packed, (which was hard to do since our car is a suburban) and there was barely room to fit ourselves. But, despite the definite lack of space, and despite the difficulties that cramped children often produce, the car ride mostly went along uneventfully.

When we got to our Grandparents’ house, Ella and I quickly fell to work wrapping gifts for our cousins. After that, Ella and I assisted our Grandma in making spaghetti.

My family makes all of our spaghetti homemade, and because lots of people would be coming to this gathering, it took a long time to make this spaghetti. First, we made our homemade meatballs. These, we seasoned with several main seasonings, such as parsley, Romano cheese, and saltines. We blended these flavors into the meat with our hands and it was then our meat stopped smelling like rotting muscle. We cooked these in a skillet till nicely browned, and then we set them in a large pot.

Next, we had to make our delicious sauce. We mixed sauce, Romano cheese, tomato paste, sugar, and water to this. Then, we poured the sauce over the meat balls and put it in the fridge for Sunday.

After this, we cleaned up and Abe and Daddy started watching the original batman movie. Tonight my mom and dad are going out with my grandparents and the kids are staying home alone tonight. We love going to my grandparents’ house!

Prep for a Late Christmas

Usually, on Christmas all my family on my mom's side gathers. (this is almost always a big achievement because my mom has eight children in her family and because there are seventeen cousins total) This year, however, my grandma and grandpa were not home for Christmas, and so we had to postpone the gathering to New Year's Day. We are leaving on Friday, even though New Year's  is on Sunday, and so today I have been baking a lot in preparation. But even though the day has been very busy, there has still been time to invite our close friend and neighbor, Eleanor, over, and to play our new video game.

Today I was kept busy by making my all time favorite bars, Dutch Almond Bars, and also my Dad's favorite, Ginger Creams. To top it off, my mom and I are making Tacos and Black Bean Enchiladas, family favorites, for dinner.

Our Kitchen is a mess, the house smells of cooking, and I am totally enjoying the rich experience of home cooking.

The dutch almond bars I just took out of the oven, and I am whipping up the delicious glaze that goes with the bars. I love making these bars! They have five ingredients and are so easy!

Next, I start working on the ginger creams. They are half way between gingerbread and molasses cookies. I frost them with my special buttercream and they are delicious. Because you have to chill them, I start scooping them onto the cookie sheets later then expected.

Now, I am working on the tacos meat. Cooking taco meat is not exactly rocket science, so I get this done quickly. Now I can ease into my dinner chair and relax.

A Tragedy Among Us

Dear Citizens of Earth etc,
The day that is now has brought upon us a tragedy, of which I now speak. Marwin, the beloved pet, and chicken has been beckoned into the light.  I knew not that this day would be so tragic, but it was, and I think I shall remember it all my life.

My day was just a normal day, full of normal things, but it went down hill fast when I received word that   Marwin had possibly received fatal injuries. My aunt and uncle tried heroically to save the poor creature, but her severe wounds did their job too well, and Marwin took her last breath and settled into an everlasting, finally peaceful, sleep. (i.e, Uncle Tim "put her to sleep")

I will miss you, Marwin, forever.

                                    

                                   

  

Announcement!! No.2

Dear Citizens of Earth etc,
My dog, Barnabas, I felt needed to be looked at by the world. So, I made him a blog. His blog has just been started so please pay him a visit.

P.S I know this is the shortest post in the history of the world.
From Mia

Monday Recipe No. 1

  Dear Citizens of Earth etc,

It has come to my attention that the world is deeply lacking because my family has not shared many of our recipes with it. So, starting this Monday, I will be sharing recipes with you. 

Double Fudge Brownies
From: My Grandma

You will need:

• 1 1/2 c. unsifted flour
• 1/2 tsp. bkg. soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2/3 c. butter (1 stick)
• 1 1/2 c. gran. sugar 
• 1/4 c. water
• 1 - 12oz. pkg. choc. chips
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 4 eggs
• 1 c. walnuts (optional)

Melt butter, add water, sugar, & chips. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add vanilla, flour mixture. Grease 13x9x2 bake and 325 degreed for 50 min.

Favorite Christmas Recipe No. 1

                                         Beverage Slush


From: Grandma (on my Dad's side)
You will need:

• 1 - 46 oz. can unsweetened pineapple juce
• 5 cups water
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 -12 oz. can frozen orange juice
• 1 -12 oz. can frozen lemonade
• 4-6 over ripe bananas

Puree the bananas in the blender with an additional cup of water. Mix all of the ingredients in an extra large mixing bowl. Freeze for about 24 hrs. Stir after every 6 hrs (or less)

To eat, scoop into a glass -about 2/3 - 3/4 full. Fill the glass up with Sprite. 

Fits into a 5 qt. ice cream pail. (barely)