Christmas Breakfast

Well, I made the breakfast casserole and did some modifications from the original recipe posted on here. Both turned out to be a big hit.
Here are the recipes for the casserole and the crock pot grits:

Breakfast casserole
1 pound of bacon cooked and crumbled
6 eggs
4-6 pieces of bread torn
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp of Mrs. Dash
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/4 cup of onions chopped
1/4 cup of green peppers chopped
1 cup of milk

layer your greased casserole with the bread and then the bacon. Mix all the other ingredients together and then pour over your casserole. Cover and refridgerate all night. Take out the next day and cook in 350 degree oven for about 40minutes.

Crock Pot Grits
2 cups of 5 minute grits
6 cups of chicken broth
1 stick of butter
2 cups of water

place in crock pot and stir. Set the setting on low. About 4 hours into cooking I added an additional cup of water, you may not need to. Stir it every once in awhile. This is suppose to cook all night, but I found they are done in about 5 hours. Last 25 minutes of cooking, I added more butter and about a 1/2cup of heavy cream. salt and pepper to taste. so very good!!

Landon and Logan

Logan getting love from Boston

Landon showing off two of his games for his PS3

The Tree

He Loves Him

Don't let James fool you, he loves Boston.

Time for the Christmas Story

James read the Christmas story before the boys opened their gifts. He said he needed a hat to cover up his bedhead, so Landon gave him his pimp hat.

Time to Get Up!

Landon trying to remove the sleep boogers as he says

Logan forever denying it is time to get up

Boston trying to rouse Logan up

Christmas Eggnog Poundcake

James LOVES eggnog, but since he isn't allowed to add the spirits he says is needed to make it taste better, he didn't drink the eggnog that I bought him. Well, instead of letting it waste, I made a cake from it. I took a poundcake recipe and somewhat modified it. Here it is and let me tell you, we loved it.

Christmas Eggnog Poundcake

1 cup butter softened
1 cup crisco shortening
3 cups swans down cake mix plus 6 tablespoons
1 cup eggnog
1 cup flake coconut
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 tsp of lemon flavoring
1 tsp of vanilla flavoring

cream butter and shortening. Gradually add sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beat for one minute each. Add flour and eggnog, beginning and ending with flour. (Make sure you sift the flour) Stir in the coconut and the flavorings. Blend well. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 25 minutes.

DON'T PREHEAT YOUR OVEN. Let the oven start cold.
Enjoy!!!!

Moose Poop Cookies

I obviously love to cook and if I run across a recipe I like, I will try it asap. I just got this recipe and I made these tonight. SOOOO VERY GOOD!

Moose Poop Cookies
2 sticks of butter (1 cup)
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3 cups oatmeal
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups chocolate chips

Mix all together, drop by 1/4 cup portions on a
greased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 20
minutes.

About the Recipe of the Week

I make this breakfast casserole on Christmas Eve night and put it in the fridge to cook on Christmas morning. This year, I am substituting the sausage (because Logan now hates sausage) with bacon. We are also going to be trying out some crock pot grits. I am kind of winging it on the grits. I heard a good recipe, but that person didn't know the "complete" recipe, so I am going to just go with the flow and what I think will be good. Hope you all have a great Christmas. Check back because I will have a lot to share hopefully. Merry Christmas.

Recipe of the Week

BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

1 1/2 pounds sausage 6 slices bread, cubed 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 6 eggs 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups milk 1 teaspoon dry mustard 4 ounces mushroom pieces, drained 1/4 cup green bell pepper, diced 1/4 cup green onion, diced Brown sausage, drain. Layer bread in bottom of 9 x 13-inch well-greased baking pan. Sprinkle sausage over bread. Add cheese. Beat eggs and mix with remaining ingredients. Pour slowly over cheese. Refrigerate overnight. Bake at 325 F. for 45 minutes. Note: Other ingredients may be added or substituted for the vegetables. Serving Size: 8

Landon's Winter Concert at Starr Elementary

Landon is on the front row, second from the middle

Recipe of the Week

I made this cake the day before yesterday and it turned out really good. Ideal for Christmas.

Sugar and Spice Cake

1 18.25 oz package of white cake mix
1 16 oz carton of sour cream
1/4 cup of butter melted
2 tsp apple pie spice
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp of almond extract (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together the first 6 ingredients and the almond extract if you are using it at low speed with electric mixer just until moistened. Increase the speed to medium and beat for two minutes until batter is smooth. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Pour batter into 3 8" pans that are greased and floured. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes.

Vanilla Buttercream
1 8 oz pkg. cream cheese softened
1 cup of butter softened
2 16 ounce packages of powdered sugar
1 tbsp of milk
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1/4 tsp of salt

Beat the cream cheese and butter at med speed with mixer until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and next 3 ingredients beating at low speed til blended. Increase speed to medium and beat until blended and smooth. This makes about 9 cups of frosting.

You could easily substitute the apple pie spice with pumpkin spice around Thanksgiving.
Enjoy!

Me and James

This is especially for my friends who think James is such a hottie with his salt and pepper hair. So Merry Christmas. This is good as you get.

Two Hotties Next to the Christmas Tree

Kailee came to see Landon in the Christmas play at our church. We always take our picture because honestly, who wants pictures of the boys?

Landon as Joseph

Sorry this is dark. The play was so good and funny too. Landon is Joseph and his friend Ashley is Mary. James had a part in the play too. We kept it kind of a secret from my family who was there to watch. They all laughed (as everybody in the church) when James shouted his part out from the audience.

It's Just Us...

Goofy as everything. This was taken after Landon's Christmas play. Obviously we weren't ready.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today my dad turned 70. Logan, Landon and I met him for dinner tonight. James was working as was my brother and his wife. We had a good time. Happy Birthday Daddy! I hope you have many more.

Two of My Favorite People

This is my Godparents. Mama Jo and Daddy Don on Thanksgiving.

James and a Few of His Greats

James with Ansley, Miley and Remi

James and Jackson

James and Miley

James and His Girls

James and his nieces. They are from left to right (for those of you who don't know) Ansley, Kailee, James, Malorie, and Whitney

Thanksgiving Early

Miley (just taking it all in)
Remi playing hide and go seek

Jackson taking the trash out

Remi and Landon (She liked him)

Remi and Jackson

James' sister had thanksgiving early since Ansley came back to SC from Arizona. Here is just a few pics of the night there. It was so good to see everyone. I have tons of pics and I am only posting a few right now. I am sure there will be more to follow.

OK OK OK I'M BACK

Thanksgiving and the time right before then was so busy I had no time to post. I promise to do better now. I almost don't know how that is possible seeing how the most busiest time of year is upon us. I will still try to do my best.