Updating A Tradition

Everyone has their holiday traditions, I am sure, as do we. Every year for Thanksgiving AND Christmas we usually have the same thing for dinner. Most people probably have turkey on Thanksgiving and Ham on Christmas... but not us! We have both... ON both!! We usually have the whole set up on both holiday's, even if it is just Hubz and I.

We usually have turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing (although we do NOT stuff our turkey with it - I know, I know, then technically it's dressing), hot buttered corn, cranberry sauce (jellied!), rolls, and candied yams.

This year, we've changed up a recipe of ours and boy am I happy!! Usually, every year, we use the can of yams and throw some butter and some marshmellows on top and throw it in the oven... done!

Well this year, we're changing it up!!!

Here's a new recipe that makes a WONDERFUL substitution to the "boring" tradition.

Homemade Candied Yams/Sweet Potatoe Pie

This is NOT an exact recipe.. I don't use measuring cups, unless I am baking, so do it to your taste and don't be afraid to taste it as you go, it's the best way to learn how to cook.

3-4 medium sweet potatoes (yes, the orange ones!!)
1/2 stick of butter (yes, real butter, and unsalted please!!)
1 tsp. salt (I use kosher)
1/2 to 3/4 cups brown sugar (light brown, please!!)

1. Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes.
2. Boil over medium high heat until potatoes are fork tender (easy to poke with a fork or knife)
3. Place the sweet potatoes in a mixer safe bowl. Add butter, salt and 1/2 cup brown sugar.
4. Use a blender, stand mixer, emersion blender, or a hand mixer to blend the sweet potatoes and spices to your consistancy.
5. Use a spoon to taste the sweet potatoe mixture. If it needs more brown sugar, add more, if not, don't. Also think about salt too, does it need any of that?
6. Place in an 8x8 baking sheet and top with mini marshmellows.
7. Bake at 350*F until marshmellows are golden brown.

Enjoy!

This recipe made enough for 4 people with not much leftovers so please feel free to adjust it to as many people as you need.

I freaking LOVE this recipe!

Cross Your Fingers

Last night before going to bed Hubz reminded me that I had a doctor's appointment this morning around 10. THANK GOODNESS he reminded me because I completely forgot!!

I was going to the doctor because I was in a car accident 2 months ago and was rear-ended by a lady who was NOT paying attention and to make matters worse, when she did finally see that I was stopped (in front of her) at the stop light... she went to slam on the breaks, her foot slipped off and she slammed on the gas, instead. Lovely.

Since then, I've had HORRIBLE back pains that have proceeded to get worse and it's not migrating into a daily migraine. No pun intended.. if that was a pun. I am not even sure at this point. After so much pain, my brain is shot.

You may think that I am retarded for waiting for 2 months but you see.. if you go to the ER right after it happens they just tell you that you pulled a few muscles and to let it rest for a few weeks.. total waste of time. I had the appointment set before the accident to establish care with my primary care (whom my husband has been going to see for a while) so it just made sense to keep the appointment and just give my back time to heal before going in and wasting my time.

So now my doctor sent me for X-Ray's... all which came back normal. Next step is an MRI to make sure there aren't any hairline fractures or slipped disks, or any of the like. If all results normal, then we'll proceed with sterroid injections in my back in hopes that it will calm down the inflamation and go away. If the MRI results come back abnormal.. we're going to have to do surgery!!! Yes, surgery on my BACK!! My spine!! The thing that holds my spinal cord that connects to my BRAIN!! Nervous, yes, you could say so, that'd probably be a good guess at this point.

We'll see what the MRI results show.... until then, I just sit, in pain, and wait.

Happy Holiday's,
Stephanie

Holiday Traditions

Since the big move, we've settled in, unpacked, kicked up our feet, and enjoyed a few minutes of "us" time before we got back to the daily grind that we call "L.I.F.E.". We were fortunate enough to spend quite a few days hanging out with our Besties.. and as my loyal followers know, our Besties would mean the Evan's. If you can't get ahold of us, get ahold of them because they'll be able to tell you where we are, what we're doing and most likely when we'll be done. We're that close.

They spent Wednesday evening up here while I watched my gorgeous niece for an hour and a half, and can I tell you, this child is now dubbed the "octopus". She's got Octopus arms and she will NOT hessitate to use them. She'll grab something and when you try and get it away from her, she'll grab 5 more things in the other hand. You just CAN'T keep up with this child. But, BOY, isn't she the cutest?!

We spent Thanksgiving Day at their house, enjoying the festivities and all the delicious food. It was a joy to watch Brynlee run around in her beautiful little dress and jabber up a storm.. man can this girl talk.... and talk.... and TALK!

Then on Friday, we always spend the day after Thanksgiving, getting our Christmas tree up and getting the decorations set.. so that was fun..

Then, yesterday, our Besties came over for another Thanksgiving dinner at our house and got to take Christmas pictures together.. well of each other, but we all were in the same room.. so it was quite funny.. here are some of the photos:

(they haven't been edited, yet... but I love them!)

Happy Holiday's!
Stephanie