December Books

December was a long month of sitting in bed healing. So I had some time to read. I enjoyed all the books I read!
I don't really recommend One last dance, it was full of tid bits from newspapers and interviews. I plan on reading the biography that I believe his wife wrote.
I started The Girl that played with Fire and A case for Christmas. But I won't get them done for a little while.

Not sure if I included these last time or not.  But I read these recently too.

Did you read anything that you recommend?

xoxo
-N

Happy New Year!

May you have had a great 2011 and a wonderful 2012!

Happy New Year!

xoxo
-N

Living Close to God...Review

Living close to God (when you're not good at it) by Gene Edwards

Have you tried harder to have a consistent time with the Lord-but failed? Does your mind wander during prayer, and do you run out of things to say? Do you question why it is so hard to fellowship with the Lord?
Gene Edwards faced these questions and struggles. And he found a better way to walk with the Lord than merely trying harder to pray and read the Bible.

 Living Close to God sounded like a really good book for me. I have been having a hard time trying to remember to pray right when I wake up in the mornings. Especially when I'm woken up by my kids or an alarm very early. When I do remember to pray I tend to wander off in my thinking and lose my train of thought. I really thought this book would help me "retrain" ways.

After reading the book I have taken away a few things.
1. Pray as soon as I wake, even if I only have 15 seconds
2. Pray a thankful prayer, don't ask for anything.
3. Have a reminder placed somewhere

What I didn't like about the book is that it was so repetitive! This book could of been condensed much smaller. It might have been the shortest book published. I was a bit disappointed in the book.




-Nicole

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I also want to wish Jesus a Happy Birthday!
May all my readers, friends and family have a blessed day!

We have had a very active fun {melt down city} filled day and I cannot wait to show all my pictures.

xoxo
-N

My Wish List 2011

 

                                                           Coach Watch White w/ aqua

                                                                    Grey Knee high boots

                                                                       Grey Leggings

                                                                     Boot Socks

                                                               H & M stripped sweatshirt

                                                              H & M Fur Vest...LOVE!!
If you haven't noticed I'm O.B.S.E.S.S.E.D  with anything Grey!!
The new H & M store opened about a month ago in downtown Denver and I haven't been yet but I drool over there clothes online. I've asked Rog to get me clothes from there for the last month as Christmas presents, so we will see if he actually listened (highly doubt it).
I'm almost positive I'm getting the watch. He pointed it out back in September for my birthday and I talked him out of it.
I already bought my self a new running outfit so when I am able to run again, I'll be super excited to wear it.
They boys should have a great Christmas this year. I'm so excited to start new traditions and spend quality time with my family. Just being with them is enough blessings for me this year. We have really missed the hubs around here. I see a lot of games going on and a lot of competitions cause I'm always up for winning a challenge!

I hope that every one has  Merry Christmas!

xoxo
-N

{Easy} Glazed Donuts

I have to say this is the fastest easiest way I have found so far to make doughnuts. What is funny is my family loved these more then they loved the doughnuts that took me 2 hours to make! I guess sometimes easy is better!

Glazed Donuts

Ingredients:
1 can large biscuits
Powdered Sugar
water

Open biscuits and cut hole in the middle. Drop biscuit into deep fryer or pan of hot oil. Fry until golden brown. Mix Powdered Sugar and water until thick consistency. Put hot donut directly into donut glaze! Put on cooling rack for a couple minutes. I used the middle for donut holes and coated the entire thing with glaze. Eat and Enjoy!

Do you have a go to donut recipe?

xoxo
-N

Caramel Pumpkin Monkey Bread

My family loves Monkey bread and I always just make the original one. This time I wanted to of course add my favorite..Pumpkin into it. And when can you ever go wrong with the creamy delish caramel? Oh yeah, NEVER!

Pumpkin Caramel Monkey Bread

Ingredients:
1/2 C. Sugar
2 tsp Pumpkin pie spice
3-4 cans biscuits
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
1/4 cup pumpkin

Preheat oven to 350. In Large seal able bag mix sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Cut biscuits into 4th's and place pieces in bag. Seal and toss to coat. Place pieces into bundt pan.
In small saucepan melt butter, brown sugar and pumpkin over medium heat. When it boils stir for 1 minute. Pour over biscuits. Bake 35 minutes. Cool, place upside down on plate.
Serve warm.

Well, I used a bit more pumpkin puree than the 1/4 cup and it was too much. I personally did not like this monkey bread. I won't be making it again.
Have you made this before? What did you think of it?
Do you have a good monkey bread recipe you go to every time? Share with us!

xoxo
-N

Peppermint Bark {Neighbor gifts}

Need a teacher gift idea? or neighbor gift? I decided to make a peppermint bark for my neighbors to go with my Christmas cards this year. They are super simple to make! I like simple sometimes.

Peppermint Bark

Ingredients:
1/2 package Chocolate baking bark
1/2 package vanilla baking bark
Peppermint extract
Candy Canes

Melt bark separately in microwavable containers. Line baking sheets with wax paper. When chocolate bark is melted put a drop of peppermint extract and mix well. Put dollops of bark on wax paper. Going alternatively of each one. Run a knife/spatula through chocolate until mixed.
Crumble crushed candy canes on top of chocolate. Refrigerate until set.
Remove from fridge and break into pieces.
I put mine in cello bags and tied with a red bow.

Yummy!
What did you hand out for your neighbors?

xoxo
-N

Crunchy Caramel Apple Pie

I've been sitting on this recipe for over a year and with organic apples at 88 cents a lb I stocked up and decided to finally bake a pie. I don't know what's gotten into me but I feel like being in the kitchen all the time now. Because I've been bed ridden for over a week? Cause I can't run I have to keep on my feet? Anyway, it's great to keep my blog hoppin' though right. As my neighbor would say, "don't read Nicole's blog, if your hungry"!
Once you see the pictures of this pie, you will want to make it....It's hands down one of the best pie's I've ever had!

Crunchy Caramel Apple Pie
Print
Ingredients:
1 Pastry Pie Crust
1/2 Cup Sugar
3 Tbs Flour
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/8 tsp Salt
6 cups peeled, sliced apples
1/2 Cup pecans (optional)
1/4 c Caramel Topping

Crumb Topping:
1 Cup Brown Sugar packed
1/2 C Flour
1/2 C Rolled Oats
1/2 cup butter
Mix all ingredients together until crumbled

In Large bowl combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt and apples. Gently toss apples until coated. Put in pie shell.
Sprinkle on crumb topping. Put on cookie sheet. Cover edges of pie with foil. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes. Remove foil bake an additional 25 minutes. Remove and add pecans, Cool and add caramel topping.
Serve Warm!

Enjoy

xoxo
-N

Easy Blackberry Cobbler

I got fresh Blackberries at the store for 99 cents...which is pretty cheap here! I bought 4 containers and of course forgot about them. The hubs ate through 2 of them, throwing the fuzzy ones away. Whenever I buy Blackberries I really have the intentions of eating them to get my daily fruit intake. I never do, I always end up craving cobbler!
I asked Rog to make me a cobbler, he never bakes and he's actually really great in the kitchen. Poor guy hasn't had a day off in I don't know how long (over a month?) so when it didn't get made over the weekend I knew I had to do it on my own...But I gave him plenty of shit for it!

Blackberry Cobbler
Print
Ingredients:
  2 1/2 cups Blackberries
  1 Cup Sugar
  1 Cup Flour
  2 tsp baking powder
  1/2 tsp Salt
  1 Cup Milk
  1/2 c melted butter

In medium bowl mix blackberries and sugar, let stand 20 minutes.
In Lg bowl stir in flour, b. powder, salt and milk. Stir in melted butter. Spread in a square pan.
Spoon in blackberries.
Bake at 375 for 45 to 55 minutes.
Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

YUMMY!

xoxo
-N

recipe from bettycrocker.com

Running {dreams} put on Hold

Once again my running has been put on hold. Back at the end of October I was dancing..not very well. Dancing to Justin Bebier with the kids and another couple in their living room. You might be asking your self would she do this sober? Well,wonder no more the answer is NO!
 First I only dance under the influence, and I would never willingly dance to the Beb's!

With that said, I rolled my ankle dancing that night. Pretty bad my ankle swelled twice it's size and turned black and blue. It was actually black and blue for 3 weeks. I iced it and elevated it for some time and it just seemed like it wasn't getting any better.

I ran several times these past few weeks ignoring the shooting pains in my foot. I did this because I convinced myself that I just needed to regain the strength in the muscles after babying it for so long.
Well, once I was done running/walking this morning I left the gym in a bit of pain. I drove straight to the Dr.'s.

Of course I was sweaty and stinky but didn't realize I haven't shaved my legs or put lotion on them for a good 2 weeks (day before my surgery)...Embarrassing much.

Got through that just for them to put me in that ugly blue open toed shoe looking Velcro crap!
YUP...I get to walk in a post op shoe for the next 3-4 weeks!!!
I have a fracture in my left foot! At least it isn't broken right.
This is exactly why I didn't want to go to the Dr.'s they always put you in the ugly shoe!
I'm sucking it up just so that I can run again and that's the only reason why!

xoxo
-N

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Marshmallow filling

We did a friendsgiving this year with our neighbor friends a couple Sunday's ago instead of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. We did this because our husbands worked on the holidays plus we are like family now since we have known each other for 6 1/2 years.
 They love our kids like they were there own and that's something special in a kids life that only comes around maybe once.
I remember when I was a kid and my next door neighbor was awesome, I spent so much time with them, I loved them. I grew up to babysit there kids and now I just keep in touch with them on facebook. But I'll never forget them!
Anyway instead of the traditional Pumpkin Pie, my husband asked me to whip up some pumpkin whoopie pies instead, cause he just loves my last batch of Old Fashioned Whoopie Pies. It's like his new obsession or something. And he say, "whip up" like it's a 5 minute drive thru window order. This isn't McDonald's buddy.
But I did it anyway and of course anything you make with Pumpkin turns out A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!

Yes, they are as good as they look. Make them and you'll know what I'm talking about!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Marshmallow Filling
Recipe

Ingredients:

Filling:

  1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

  1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

  17-ounce jar marshmallow creme

  2 teaspoons maple extract (optional..I left this out *wish I didn't)

Cake Cookies:

3 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

3/4 tsp ground nutmeg
3/4 tsp ground cloves
6 TBS (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup (packed) brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1  15-ounce can pure pumpkin
1/2 cup milk
Nonstick vegetable oil spray

Preparation

Filling

Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add marshmallow creme and maple extract; beat until blended and smooth.

Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.

Cookies:

    Sift first 7 ingredients into large bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and both sugars in another large bowl until blended. Gradually beat in oil. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating to blend between additions. Beat in pumpkin. Add dry ingredients in 2 additions alternately with milk in 1 addition, beating to blend between additions and occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. Cover and chill batter 1 hour.

Preheat to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment; spray lightly with nonstick spray. Spoon batter onto baking sheet to form cakes (about 3 level tablespoons each; about 12 per baking sheet), spacing apart. Let stand 10 minutes.

Bake cakes until tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through baking. Cool cakes completely on baking sheets on rack. Using metal spatula, remove cakes from parchment.  (High Altitude: Bake directly on sheet, 9 minutes)

Spoon about 2 tablespoons filling on flat side of 1 cake. Top with another cake, flat side down. Repeat with remaining cakes and filling.

Can be made 8 hours ahead. Store in single layer in airtight container at room temperature.

Anyone else make a wonderful Whoppie Pie? Let me know if you make this one and how you like it!

xoxo

-N

Courtesy Recipe here