Challenging the New Year December 31, 2008

I’ve decided to participate in the Body and Soul Challenge over at Martha Stewart’s Whole Living. One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to be healthier, both in body and spirit. And since I’m not above gaining advice from a few self-help gurus, I think this Challenge might be a useful boost to starting the new year on the right foot.

There are five weeks total – each week has a goal, and each day has a particular focus. I think I will try to blog about each day’s focus and what I’m doing to accomplish the goal. It might be fun! Does anyone want to join me?

Here’s to a healthier 2009!

Favorite Photo Moments from Thanksgiving December 14, 2008

Grandma loves her baby!

I thought little Pilgrims had good manners!

I love these girls!

No Thanksgiving is complete without barefoot football!

Dear Lord, Help the South! December 12, 2008

Get a load of this commercial I caught on local TV last night. I was rolling on the floor with laughter! I wish I hadn’t missed taping the advertisement for “geee tar heee row” and the discussion on tasty squirrel dumplings…

To Santa with an AK47: Merry Christmas from the North Carolina Mountains!

The Yummy Season December 11, 2008

I LOVE the season of food! October brings pumpkin, November brings Thanksgiving, and Christmas bring ginger and peppermint! So much flavor, so little time.

I was on a huge pumpkin kick in October which brought a lot of surprises to the table, especially for my “I just like bland food” husband. I took pictures, but never got around to posting…. But we had pumpkin and chicken stew, pumpkin walnut bread, pumpkin chocolate pie, roasted and caramelized pumpkin seeds, and pumpkin cookies.

Last week I made out the menu schedule in the calendar and later found this written note:

“So instead of all things pumpkin, we will now enjoy all things gingerbread. I wonder what January will bring?”

Yes, my dear husband, bring on the gingerbread. It’s called enjoying the flavors of the season!

These waffles made a great supper the other night; for youth group Sunday, I made one of my favorite holiday desserts, Gingerbread from the Williams-Sonoma Desserts cookbook; and next Friday, we’re hosting a youth group gingerbread house decorating party. This cheesecake might be good on the Christmas dinner table – I’ll have to bake up the leftover dough from the gingerbread houses. Hmmm, I need to keep doing some research to see what else can be made and baked in gingerbread.

Yeah for the holidays!