Who lives in the gingerbread house?

Mommy, do gingerbread men live in the gingerbread house? That is the question that my youngest daughter asked while we were putting together our gingerbread house this year. I snapped a few pictures of our sweet little house covered in white icing and candy of all colors and shapes.
The house now looks like a tornado hit it, a hungry tornado that is. Much munching has occurred since the roof raising.

 The Kit~ picked up at a local craft store

 Oh Mommy I am so excited!!

 Our finished chalet de gingerbread!

 Yummy-O

 Gumdrops, sprinkles, icing, peppermints Oh My!!

Miss Lucy says " and when are you people going to bed"? 

huh? I am gonna attack that house....

The Great Tree Trek 2011

 

Each year we take a family trek to the mountains nearby to look for that just perfect "real" Christmas tree for our house. For 2 years now we have visited the "Greene's Christmas tree farm in Boone NC. and received outstanding service, this year they even met us at the farm for a private appointment when we called. The beauty of the rolling hills are covered in snow with lines of Frazier firs all waiting with anticipation, reaching for the sun.
After a short walk around the farm we found the tree we wanted to take home, the winner, the best in show for the day. Our escort with chainsaw in hand, took care to cut, haul, bail and tie our festive tree to the top of our "family-tank ". We headed back down the mountain once again home to decorate a Christmas tree.

Why are my ornaments on the floor?

Caught!!

The reason is called "LUCY"

Our Christmas tree has gone up in stages this last week, and it is also coming down in stages. Miss Lucy, the newest baby at our house has delighted in all things bright and shiny. Nothing glass or breakable has gone on the tree unless it is well secured. 

I do believe that she thinks this grand bush is hers and is celebrating nightly the joys of having her own decorated tree in the dining room. I had to move the chairs so that she could not stand on the backs and easily swing at her toys.

Hopefully I will get the lately trek to get our tree 2011 pictures 

downloaded and share soon.

Leslie

All dressed up and it snowed...

All dressed up For Winter time now, our blog that is......

I love to change up the scenery as you can tell, and in comes winter complete with a header from last years great "Christmas tree hunt" when we went to the mountains in
the snow looking for that perfect tree.... boy it snowed, as you can see by the roads our trek to the tree farm was not an easy one, but so worth it. We began a yearly
tradition of driving to the mountains to chop down our Christmas tree as a family and spending the day all together no matter the weather. This week we will go again on our yearly trek, thought I would post some of last years 2010 pics. In the mountains near Boone North Carolina.

Here are a few more pics I love:

The blog header above was created with this cute picture, one of my silly kids running up and down this snowy hill....

Here Piggie Piggie Piggie....

Spiced Gingerbread Piggies

Recipe courtesy The Neelys
Food Network Cookies

 

 Prep Time:30 min

Inactive Prep Time:2 hr 0 min

Cook Time:15 min

Level:Easy

Serves:

12 to 16 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup mild molasses
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Royal Icing, recipe follows
• Special equipment: 5-inch-long and 3-inch-wide copper piggy cookie cutter

Directions

Combine butter, sugar, and molasses in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together the remaining dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in increments, and continue to beat until thoroughly mixed together.

Pour the dough out onto the countertop and divide into 3 pieces. Press each piece into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator and chill for 1 to 2 hours, or up to 3 days.

Adjust the racks to the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line sheet trays with parchment paper.

Spread 2 large pieces of parchment paper out and very lightly flour them. Place a disk of dough between the parchment sheets and roll out to 1/4-inch thickness. Repeat with the remaining disks of dough. Rework all the scraps into balls and re-chill before reusing. Repeat with all the dough.

Cut out cookies and place on the parchment-lined sheet trays with an offset spatula, leaving 1 inch between each cookie. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on the sheet trays for 5 minutes, and then transfer to a cooling rack to continue cooling to room temperature before decorating the cookies with Royal Icing.

Royal Icing:

• 2 egg whites
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar, whisked to remove lumps
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• Food coloring, optional

Add the egg whites, sugar and lemon juice to a large bowl. Beat, using a hand mixer, until glossy and stiff, 5 to 6 minutes. Add food coloring, if using, and mix well. Place in icing bags with fine tips to decorate cookies.