Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas, everyone!! This is my favorite holiday ever because it's Jesus' birthday, and we spend time with family and friends. I spent my Christmas with my parents, grandparents, aunt and uncle, and sister! It was absolutely amazing fun!! 
My Grandma suggested we play the newlyweds game (I think that's just too cute!), so we did. It turned out very interesting; my parents won; they got ALL the questions right on the first round, and the majority of them on the second. My aunt and uncle got second place, while my grandparents got last (a total surprise!).
Christmas dinner was spectacular: with the famous Over the Rainbow Macaroni and Cheese (it truly IS "over the rainbow"), and my Grandma's perfect Collard Greens. The turkey was roasted to perfection, and the butternut squash and mashed potatoes; oh, you could not go wrong!
All in all, my Christmas was sooo perfect!!


I wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas, and have great fun in the kitchen!!


-Sandra


P.S. the macaroni and cheese was gone less than an hour after it was done!! Looks like mom will have to make more tomorrow :)




Saturday, December 12, 2009

It's My Birthday!!!

Today is my favorite day of the year: it's my birthday!! I had the pleasure of inviting friends over and we listened to Taylor Swift (my absolute FAVORITE singer) and went shopping at the Domain!! Well....we went window shopping but hey we still got to go!! A special package arrived from...(I'm not naming any names) and a special Williams-Sonoma gift card was in it, as well as some Homemade Apple and Pear Crisp Jam (Apple and Pear Crisp recipe by Ina Garten)!! Thank you to everyone for making my birthday special!!


Merry Christmas and have great fun in the kitchen!!

-Sandra

Friday, December 4, 2009

Snow!!

As I write this it is snowing outside!! Finally!! I've been waiting for this all year!! My family and I are going to play in it soon (if the snow sticks). Considering it is going to be my birthday in eight days, this is a GREAT present. 

For those who live where snow is falling: Have fun in the snow!!

And have great fun in the kitchen!!

-Sandra

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Its Here - Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Finally Thanksgiving is here, after days and days of cooking and cleaning, it's time to sit down and eat!! My family is here: my Grandma Sugar (mom's side), and my Grandma and Grandaddy (on dad's side). We're all tortured because of the turkey cooking in the oven. All the herbs just make your mouth water! We made a lot of things ahead of time: Apple and Pear Crisp by Ina Garten, Pineapple Cheese Pie (family recipes), Over the Rainbow Macaroni and Cheese, and my Grandma made Sweet Potato Pie!! We also made: the dressing, and the Collard Greens. I'm so tortured. 

Pics to come!!

Happy Thanksgiving and have great fun in the kitchen!!

-Sandra

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

It's Almost Here!!

Thanksgiving is almost here! This past Saturday my Grandma Sugar came from Chicago. Since then we have been shopping -not only for Thanksgiving but for the house- and doing...oh just about everything! Yesterday we all went to the grocery store to buy the ingredients we needed, it took us around an hour-and-a-half, and two grocery carts! 
I had the pleasure of buying a Honeycrisp apple (I would've taken a picture but I ate it before I realized I was supposed too). It tastes very sweet, slightly tart, and has a crispy bite to it. I highly recommend it for anyone who is looking for a new type of fruit to try. It works as an excellent snack. I looked at pictures of this Honeycrisp apple online and apparently they don't do it justice. At the very least, this apple weighs about 1lbs, and is about twice the size of your fist (in my opinion). But none the less it is amazing.
This morning I have started making the collard greens (with the help of mom and grandma of course), and later on we will make the Pineapple Cheese Pie. 
Tomorrow comes the famous Over the Rainbow Macaroni and Cheese, Ina Garten's Apple and Pear Crisp, and many more recipes.

More to come!

Happy Thanksgiving and have fun in the kitchen!!

-Sandra

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Thanksgiving Preparation

Let's face it. Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday! But the cooking, the decorating and the CLEANING; it just takes it all out of you. So this year I'm trying to make things simple. Which isn't working that well. Since I have all my grandparents coming down this year, I will be slightly distracted from the other preparation. I've been persuading my rockin' awesome choleric-sanguine mom to go to the store and get all the ingredients for the fantastic meal early, but since my mom isn't the fastest choleric-sanguine in the world, we are going to be packed with things to do at the last minute. 
My Grandma Sugar (mom's mom) is arriving on Saturday, and since she's been so busy lately, we're just going to let her relax. But if she wants to go and shop and party, hey there's no stopping her! (I call her Grandma Sugar because she's so sweet and gives us lots of love)
My dad's parents are coming down on either the day before Thanksgiving, or the Tuesday before. So that means we have more to prepare, and so little time to prepare it. 
So with all this said my secret is out. My mom and dad are not the fastest people in the world like my grandparents are.
This year I have decided to explore my possibilities. I am leaning towards the idea of making Ina Garten's famous Apple and Pear Crisp. And hopefully my Grandma (on my dad's side) will make her delicious Sweet Potato Pie! Not to mention my mom's Pineapple Cream Cheese Pie.

More to come!

Have great fun in the kitchen!


-Sandra

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

New Blog!

Hey, everyone! I just created a new blog: Dark Countess. It has ideas, for shopping the latest fashions, accessories, color schemes, and more! Be sure to check it out!