Happy Thanksgiving!

Let's start the evening off with a huge Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! This has been a truly blessed week for myself. I have a ton of things to be thankful for. As I each people on Facebook list their 30 days of thankfulness, I think to myself. I should do that. However, I would forget and lately I haven't getting on Facebook everyday. (I know it's hard to believe!) Here is what I am thankful for:

1. I'm thankful for all the blessings GOD has bestowed upon me over the course of the last year.

2.I am extremely thankful for my entire loving and supporting family. I know the holidays sometimes stress us out (more often than not) but we always encourage each other through it. I am extremely thankful for those who are willing to jump in and lend a hand when needed.

3. I am thankful for family, that you know you can ask a favor of. 

4. I'm thankful for my amazing fiancé! As we approach the holidays I'm not the easiest person to be around (especially when I am cooking)

5. I am thankful to have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, a bed to sleep in, and food in the cabinet. (okay, I know that should count for at least 3.)

6. I'm thankful to have a career.

7. and I'm thankful for the friends who support me.

Those a just a few, if I really sat here I could make the list A LOT longer. However during this Thanksgiving season, I have experienced two dinner, and will be attending a third here tomorrow. I have tried two new things. One of which were the Oreo balls in which I wrote about early in the week.

The newest adventure was cooking that Thanksgiving Day turkey for the whole family get together. I do not recommend committing to cook something so important for the first time, without a practice run. I was extremely nervous that I would really mess up the turkey and there would be NO turkey for dinner. Even though my mother said it would be okay if that happen. Making the turkey is a huge responsibility. 

This year I took my mom's instructions and my Better Homes and Garden cookbook (you know the red and white one) and cooked the turkey in a bag, and to the exact temperature it was supposed to be cooked. Nothing fancy.

Well I would call it a success. The turkey was eaten very nicely. Only dark meat was left over, and people were wanting to take some home. To be honest, there was a little part of me that felt very important to be have been given this huge task. 

I can't wait until next year to get to make the turkey my own way. I have a whole year to plan.  My comment to my grandma was, I will do the turkey next year, but I will do it MY WAY! (I can't wait!)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Oreo Cookie Ball

I know I always say that I am going to give up writing about food. But then I can't because I LOVE food, and I love to try new things. I lucked onto this awesome new recipe the other day and thought it would make for a good, quick and easy Holiday desert.

Oreo Cookie Balls....

Ingredients:
36 Oreos (finely Chopped)
1 pkg cream cheese
Chocolate chips (can be white chocolate)

Step 1 - Crush Oreos, mix in package of Cream Cheese. Roll into 1 inch balls and then freeze for 10-15 minutes. I placed them on wax paper to make it easier.

Step 2 - Melt chocolate, and dip Oreo balls into the chocolate, and place back on wax paper. Once all Oreos are dipped place back in freezer until the chocolate has hardened.

Comments:
These cookies should make about 48 balls, however since I probably am not good at measuring 1 inch balls, I only had 24. They are very rich. These would be great with ice cream, or a tall glass of milk.

Once I figured out the whole melting chocolate thing! These were pretty easy to make. I will definitely be making them again.

You can find the complete recipe if my version isn't good enough at Allrecipes.com

They were a huge hit at my own Thanksgiving, and I hope someone else has the opportunity to enjoy!

Have a great Thanksgiving!!

Wow! Time Is Flying!!!

In my last blog the school year had just started, and we were working on learning the new technologies. Since then the state has come back with our school grade, and we have earned a number of different accomplishments. At this time it is not all public knowledge. However, our school did score a 4.0 which makes us an A school. So cool! We have started a new nine weeks, and it is going way more smoothly than the previous one.

I have managed to get through the 5 & 6th grade costume party, and 7th and 8th grade dance. Turned right around with my co-sponsor and began planing the Stu. Co. Veterans Day program. I am pretty pleased with the program that has developed this year. It is always such an honor to be able to put this program together. Our program will be hosted on the 12th of Novembers, since the 11th is on the weekend. On the 13, 14, 15, I will be starting to help with the talent show try-outs, which will take place on December 20th. Life just never stops at school!

The wedding planning has been going really well. The decorations are underway and almost all dresses are purchased. We were planning on making the flower girl dresses but found a great deal at JC Penny for $25... You really can't be that! This is how all of the planning has been going. Only a couple of hiccups but isn't that expected?

With everything that has been happening it is making time just fly by. Before we know it Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here. Then New Year's Eve,  Valentines Day, and then the BIG DAY!! I am so looking forward to pulling everything together and marrying the man of my dreams.

In the process of everything else we have started fixing up the house for after the wedding This weekend project was taking and ugly peach back room to a a nice country green room, and putting in a new floor (hopefully tomorrow). Andy will be building some kind of pantry and shelving system in the back room for canned goods/ and appliances. I can't wait to see the finished product.

Well that is life so far, can't wait for the next update.

Recipes you should try:

BBQ Pork Chops

BBQ

4-6 Pork Chops

Throw them in the crockpot for 5-6 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high, and they are delicious.