Snoring

RT had quite a few vacation days left this year.  He can only bring over so many days into the next year.  His department has been quite busy and it has been difficult for him to get away for long (and short) periods of time.

RT asked me if we could get away in November.  Unfortunately, the kids had school and I couldn't get time off (I work part time and don't get paid vacation days).  So, I told him to take some time off and go on vacation by himself.  He enjoys hiking and wanted to do some longer hikes in the Smoky Mountains.  This was his time to do it.

I didn't want to appear too excited for him to go.  I was a little jealous that he was able to go on vacation, but I envisioned this as a nice "vacation" for myself (wink, wink).

The first night (and every night thereafter) I slept in the middle of the bed.  No one hogging pulling the blankets.  No one snoring.  No one breathing their bad breath in my direction.

It was quite nice.

RT returned at the end of the week.  We got in to bed and the minute his head hit the pillow, he started snoring.  He snored loudly all night.  He apologized the next day.  That day, he took a nap (and, I'm sure he snored).  Again, when we went to bed, he started snoring right away.  Two nights without sleep.

The third night, I woke him up and told him to "roll over."  A lot of good that did....he rolled over and snored some more.

I think all of RT's snoring was punishment for me getting so much sleep while he was away.

I'm thinking he needs to go on another vacation (and soon) so I can catch up on my sleep.

Halloween Candy Cupcakes

So, your kid(s) went trick-or-treating on Halloween and you still have Halloween candy leftovers.  What do you do?  You make some cupcakes!

What?

You heard me.  Make cupcakes.

It's very simple.  Make your cupcake batter.  Place your cupcake liners in the cupcake tin.  (I like to use the silicone liners myself).  Open some of your small candy bars in your trick-or-treat bag and place in each liner.  Pour cupcake batter over the candy bars and bake as usual.

Here is a link to my original post for pictures.

Now you can share some of your Halloween candy with everyone!

Black Friday

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving Day and is the biggest shopping day of the year.  For retailers, it marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.

For those of us working, it's a crazy, long, tiring day.  If you are shopping, it can get crazy out there.  Be safe.

Also, be nice to the store employees.

Song suggestions for today:

Man In Black - Johnny Cash
Paint It Black - The Rolling Stones
Back in Black - AC/DC
Black Cat - Janet Jackson
Black Magic Woman - Santana
Black or White - Michael Jackson
Black Widow - Iggy Azalea

Happy Thanksgiving

In the year 1621, the Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving feast.  They invited the great Indian chief, Massasoit, who brought ninety of his brave Indians and a great abundance of food.  Governor Bradford and Captain Miles Standish were honored guests.  Elder William Brewster, who was a minister, said a prayer that went something like this;

"We thank God for our homes and our food and our safety in a new land.  We thank God for the opportunity to create a new world for freedom and justice."

Linus Van Pelt
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Graham Cracker Crust for Pumpkin Pie

Once again, I cooked down a pumpkin.  This time, I used the crock pot to cook it.  It took less time and was so much easier than last year.

It's pretty easy.

Cut pumpkin and scrape out seeds.   Cut in smaller pieces and place the cut side facing down inside the crock pot.  Put lid on and cook on high for 2 hours and a fork can easily pierce the skin).  Let cool.  I then cut off the skin and placed in a food processor until smooth.

I walked away with enough pumpkin for 8 pies.  I froze the pumpkin in bags (3 cups of pumpkin to a bag).

I decided to try making the pie with a Graham Cracker Crust and it turned out delicious.

If you need the recipe for the pumpkin pie, click HERE.

Here's the recipe for the crust:


Graham Cracker Crust

1/3 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar*
1 1/4 cups finely crushed graham crackers (18 crackers)**

Melt butter.
In mixing bowl, add crushed graham crackers and sugar and mix.  Stir in melted butter and mix well.
Spread mixture evenly into a 9 inch pie plate, pressing onto bottom and sides of plate.
Bake at 375F for 5-7 minutes or until edge is lightly browned).
Cool completely before filling

*I used half of this amount.  I figure that there is sugar in the graham crackers.

** I used the food processor to crush the graham crackers.


Let me know if you try making homemade pumpkin pie!

Enjoy!

A Week of Being Thankful - Day 8

Bonus day!

It's not too late to join in!  Comment with what you are thankful for in your life!

I'm thankful for "Cupcake Wars."  Well, you are probably thinking about the TV show with the same name.  I'm referring to the cupcake wars that occurs in my kitchen on the weekend.  We enjoy watching the show and RT and Bella like to recreate the show in our kitchen.  It results in a huge kitchen mess fun filled times for the two of them and a huge kitchen mess for me lots of cupcakes.

A Week of Being Thankful - Day 7

I'm thankful for leftover night.  You gotta love that one day a week where you don't have to cook.  Well, I enjoy it.  Hey, and everyone can have something different!