First Attempt at Apple Pies

I decided to attempt some apple pies. I had never made an apple pie before and church had asked for some to be donated around Thanksgiving. I have no idea how they tasted and they didn't look incredible but I did learn some things.

Calzones, not as good as Grandma Bonnie's but...

I made two calzones for dinner per the request of Bret. His mom makes awesome calzones, pizza, actually everything.
I made a cheese and pepperoni for the kids and a spinach for Bret.

Potato Chowder

I got the cutest soup bowls with trays to add to my snowman collection from Rod for Christmas! I couldn't wait to try them out.
On Christmas day, I made my potato chowder soup. SOOO CUTE!

http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/bacon-cheese-potato-chowder-107301.aspx

Baking for Christmas

I spent a whole day in the kitchen baking for Christmas goodie plates. The kids even helped! We made homemade peanut butter cups, peppermint cupcakes, sugar cookies, and attempted to make Denise's yummy brownies! I had cute Christmas plaid plates that we put the items on and took them out to deliver them to friends.

Holiday Christmas Eve Dinner

I made some HAM for Christmas Eve Dinner. YUM.

We were having Ham-Loaf, Ham-Ice Cream, Ham-Tacos, Ham-Burritos. We still have ham leftover!

Gingerbread Houses

I invited a couple of girls over from church and we decorated gingerbread houses. I made one from scratch with my gingerbread mold - had to use super glue to get it to stick together. I also bought a cheap kit and we assembled that one too.
The girls had sooo much fun. They weren't the prettiest but that wasn't what mattered.
They decided on two people that they wanted to go and sing too and give the gingerbread houses to.

Last Night's Dinner

I really like to read magazines and pull recipes out and try them. When I'm home, I probably try at least one new recipe each week.
This week, it was Three Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake.

http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/three-cheese-chicken-penne-111666.aspx

It was pretty dang good! Whenever I try a new recipe, I always have Bret and the kids tell me if it is a repeat and rate it. Then when I file the recipe, I put their ratings on it.

This was easy to make and had spinach in it - which Bret loves. Try it!

Getting ready for Thanksgiving

I love that I have NEVER made Thanksgiving dinner. I am not a chef by anymeans.

However.....

I do LOVE baking.
Last Saturday, I made 2 apple pies. I had never made a fruit pie before. I tried to call Pauline with my questions. I tried to call Lindsay. Then I called Celia. Celia knew the answers to my questions. I was stuck because my pie crust, my pie pan crust and my canned filling all had different baking directions. I think they turned out ok - I learned a few things too. It was the first time I had the opportunity to use these cute little pie cookie cutters that are fall oriented that were Mom's.

I also made a banana bundt cake. I had never done that. We have a friend who is allergic to bananas unless they are baked. I took him the cake and he started eating it right in the driveway using his hands to cut it! His son said "is it something you made? Then it must be really good!" Got to love that kind of compliment!

I also started on my gingerbread house parts. We are going to Bret's old mission companion's after Thanksgiving to spend a few days and hang with him and his sweet family. He has some smaller kids and I thought it would be fun to make a gingerbread house with them. I have a great mold so I have been making the pieces for the house out of gingerbread and out of chocolate! I'm excited for this project; I'm pretty sure the kids will just be busy eating the gumdrops but that is ok!