Happy Holidays!

The past week was a blitz of Christmas activities and a quick trip to Portland, but somehow I only managed to take the following pictures. I can't tell you exactly what compels me to take a photograph, but it's apparently random....and little strange. Here you go....

While shopping for an HBU shirt in the HBU bookstore, I came across this lone donkey in an HBU shirt. What. the. heck?. HBU's mascot is a husky. Why on earth was there ONE little DONKEY decked out in an HBU shirt?! Absurdities like this make me very happy. I bought it.

On Saturday, December 18, I flew to Portland, Oregon. They've been having an unusually dry December and that Saturday was gorgeous with clear, blue skies. The first thing I saw when I stepped off the (tiny) plane was a clear view of Mount Hood. Beautiful! The rest of my days in Portland were gray and cloudy, but it never really rained. I kind of wish it had.

My first stop, after picking up my rental car, in Portland was IKEA. Then I went to Petsmart where I found this adorable pit bull luggage tag! Which I bought. For myself. I'm much better at Christmas shopping for myself than I am for others.

I spent 3 nights in Portland, 2 of those nights were with Erin! And Leonard! Since I moved from Portland Erin and her boyfriend, Chris, moved into a new apartment in North Portland and got a dog (Leonard). Their apartment was so nice, it was so gracious of them to let me stay with them, and I had so much fun!

After church on Sunday, I came out to my rental car and found that I was parked behind an SUV with a TEXAS license plate! This excited me. Who goes all the way to Oregon only to be excited about seeing a license plate from the state they live in?!

At my favorite thrift store, Village Merchants, I found this fur purse. Of course I did. I had been eyeing one at JC Penny in Houston that cost $40. This one cost $8! Gosh, I love that thrift store!

On my last morning in Portland I ate a pumpkin bagel with cinnamon cream cheese and Stumptown coffee, while observing cool Portland people, do cool Portland things on their Macs. 

I also went shopping on NW 23rd and found this hotdog necklace. No, I didn't buy it. I'm not spending $22 on a hotdog necklace. But I did buy 4 sequined scarves (to give as gifts), an Eiffel Tower key chain, and a new collar for Henry.

My flight back home was crazy and annoying. When we landed in Houston one guy asked the flight attendant, "where do we get our luggage?". She looked at him like he was an alien and responded, "At baggage claim". That's just one example of the lou-lous that were on that plane.

My flight got into Houston at 12:45 am on Wednesday, December 21. That night we celebrated Christmas with my mom's side of the family and I made this veggie lasagna. I adapted it from this recipe.

At Powell's Bookstore in Portland I bought Henry's sister, Cali, this natural, organic, cotton-filled toy that was made to look like a stick. Before I had a chance to pack it up and send it to Georgia, Henry found it, chewed on it, ripped the tag off, and got it muddy. Merry Christmas, Cali!

My Christmas present wrapping theme this year was lime green and silver.

I received a gift on my dad's side of the family in this cat bag. At first glance I thought it was a lion dressed like Santa. Later I realized it was just a regular cat with a Santa hat on, but I loved it nonetheless.

Greg (my cousin's husband) gave me said gift in said cat bag. Here he's modeling one of the sequined scarves I bought in Portland.

My cousin Denise's baby, James.

I made these cinnamon rolls for Christmas Eve brunch. I made these for the first time in 2008 I think and now they've kind of become a tradition. I use the Pioneer Woman's recipe and they're really not that difficult to make. And they are honestly the best cinnamon rolls I've ever eaten. I half the recipe.

Henry receiving his Christmas gift.

Henry's favorite part of Christmas was playing in all the wrapping paper and with all the boxes. It brought my heart such joy to see him so happy.

Here's a close up of the collar I got Henry in Portland. It made from recycled neck ties and he looks sooo handsome in it!

Henry, modeling a scarf I received from my brother and sister-in-law. Isn't he dashing?

This collection of pictures in no way truly represents my Christmas, but it is what it is. 

Merry Christmas!

Homemade S'Mores Party!

Look at that delicious chocolate and bright, white, fluffy marshmallow!

This past September my friend Ashley I took a weekend trip to Austin. While we were in Austin we had s'mores for dessert at this little coffee/wine/dessert place on 6th Street (we're so wild). To toast the marshmallows they had this little mini fire at our table. It was really funny because when the server put the fire on our table he instructed us not to light our marshmallows on fire and wave them around the restaurant. I guess they'd had problems with that...


As were we eating our s'mores, and commenting on how good they were, we came up with the bright idea of making our own homemade s'mores, with homemade marshmallows and homemade graham crackers. Back then it was only a dream, but last night we made it a reality!

The marshmallow recipe was actually really easy to follow. They were made in 13 x 9 inch pan, which made one GIANT marshmallow that had to be cut into smaller cubes. Which was fun! I was surprised at how easily the giant marshmallow came out of the pan and how easy it was to cut it into cubes. Just make sure you have plenty of powdered sugar on hand. It makes things less sticky. 

Once a marshmallow cube was cut, I dipped all six of its sides in powdered sugar so that they wouldn't all stuck together in the bag. 

 Here are all the marshmallows, happy in their Ziploc-bag home. Ready to be eaten. Homemade marshmallows are so soft. Seriously. It's a wonderful sensory experience. They're like little, heavenly pillows. I want to jump in a giant pile of homemade marshmallows. 

On my way to the s'more-eating event, I saw this beautifully decorated tree. Huge, old oak trees are one of my favorite things about Houston... 

Ashley made the graham crackers...

Paula bought the chocolate and melted it in her fondue set...

The finished product. We didn't toast the marshmallows (which I still kind of want to try), but the chocolate was melted from the fondue pot and everything was very delicious and rich. 

Paula enjoying a marshmallow while Samuel enjoyed an intense game of Monopoly ;)

Ashley enjoying a s'more...

The recipe...

Springy, Fluffy Marshmallows 

From Smitten Kitchen

3 1/2 envelopes unflavored gelatin

1 cup cold water, divided

2 cups sugar 

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 egg whites 

1 tablespoon vanilla 

Oil (I used Crisco) bottom and sides of a 13 x 9 inch rectangular metal (I used glass) baking pan and dust bottom and sides with some powdered sugar.

In the bowl of a standing electric mixer or in a large bowl sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water, and let stand to soften.

In a 3-quart heavy saucepan cook sugar, corn syrup, second 1/2 cup of cold water, and salt over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to moderate and boil mixture, without stirring, until a candy or digital thermometer registers 240 degrees, about 12 minutes. Remove pan from heat and pour sugar mixture over gelatin mixture, stirring until gelatin is dissolved.

With standing or a hand-held electric mixer beat mixture on high speed until white, thick, and nearly tripled in volume, about six minutes if using standing mixer or about 10 minutes if using hand-held mixer. 

In separate medium bowl with cleaned beaters beat egg whites until they just hold stiff peaks. Beat whites and vanilla into sugar mixture until just combined. Pour mixture into baking pan and don’t fret if you don’t get it all out. Sift 1/4 cup powdered sugar evenly over top. Chill marshmallow, uncovered, until firm, at least three hours, and up to one day.

Run a thin knife around edges of pan and invert pan onto a large cutting board. Lifting up one corner of inverted pan, with fingers loosen marshmallow and ease onto cutting board. With a large knife trim edges of marshmallow and cut marshmallow into roughly one-inch cubes.Sift remaining confectioners’ sugar back into your now-empty baking pan, and roll the marshmallows through it, on all six sides, before shaking off the excess and packing them away.

Marshmallows keep in an airtight container at cool room temperature 1 week.

Butterscotch Haystack Bars

For several years now I have made Butterscotch Haystacks every year at Christmas time. Normally, butterscotch haystacks are comprised of Chinese noodles, salted peanuts, peanut butter, and butterscotch chips.

Butterscotch Haystacks from Christmas 2009

A couple of weeks ago I saw a recipe for salted nut bars, which sounded good, but as I looked at the recipe I ingeniously realized that those ingredients could easily be altered to create Butterscotch Haystack Bars!!! I couldn't wait to make them!

The result? Delicious! Do I like them as much as I like butterscotch haystacks? Yes, but in a different way. The classic butterscotch haystack is very crunchy due to the noodles. These bars are definitely softer, but there is still a crunch from the noodles and peanuts. I would say these almost borderline on fudge....I'm not exactly sure what technically qualifies a sweet as being "fudge", but these must be close.

I am absolutely in love with the salty sweet combo in these bars and that they're so easy and quick to make! If you love butterscotch haystacks, I would encourage you to give these a try.

Butterscotch Haystack Bars
adapted from Bake or Brake
1 1/2 cups Chinese noodles
1 1/2 cups salted peanuts (no skins)
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup peanut butter chips
3 Tablespoons butter
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups miniature marshmallows

In an ungreased casserole pan (use 11x7, 9x13, or mine was 10x10) evenly spread the noodles and 3/4 cup of the peanuts.

The noodles.  

The peanuts. 

In a medium saucepan melt the butter, peanut butter chips, and butterscotch chips over low heat. Add the sweetened condensed milk and the mini marshmallows and stir until the marshmallows are completely melted and the mixture is smooth.

Pour the mixture into the pan, over the noodles and peanut, spread evenly and sprinkle the other 3/4 cup peanuts.

Refrigerate to let the bars set up. Then cut  and serve either cold or at room temperature. I prefer them at room temp for sure.

Look! Fall leaves in Houston! I know it's December....but still! Fall leaves!

When it's Cold in Houston...

Cold weather in Houston seems unnatural. Awkward almost. Like Niles Crane in a football uniform or something. When I'm cold in Houston I feel like Houston is trying to be something it's not. Heat, humidity, steam, and sun - that is Houston's natural state.

This image came up when I googled "snow in Houston". Ha.

Since I moved to my new apartment at the beginning of October, I have been more acutely experiencing the weather in Houston. For most of the fall it was still warm and humid. Therefore, my apartment was warm and humid. I have a small window AC unit, but I think it doesn't work properly, needs the filter changed, or window AC units just suck in general. This is my first experience with a window unit, but I will say it doesn't seem to keep me cool unless I'm standing directly in front of it without any clothes on. Not that I do that.

In the past week or so Houston has gotten cold. And I don't mean just cold for Houston (we get chilly in the 60's). I mean actual cold. Cold as in 30's and 40's. That's cold, right? And while my apartment has a crappy little AC, it has no heating element whatsoever. Unless you count the oven, which sometimes I do.

My first night in my apartment since it's turned cold, it dawned on me rather quickly, that wearing a sweatshirt and piling a couple of extra blankets on my bed was not going to suffice. I made a quick trip to Target and purchased a small space heater and an electric blanket. God bless the person who invented electric blankets. When it's cold in your home, there is nothing better than getting in a toasty, electric blanket-heated bed! It's heavenly and makes the cold actually kind of fun. The only problem is, now I don't want to get out of bed in the morning. Warm electric blanket versus frigidly cold apartment? The only thing that helps is knowing that I can drink coffee with this creamer (I only drink it at Christmas time):

For some reason last night's cold was especially bad. At one point I could see my breath. In my home. Cold. My toes felt numb. The water from the faucet was so cold it hurt while I was brushing my teeth. My computer was too cold to touch (stupid aluminum). My facial moisturizer felt like it had been in the refrigerator. All my clothes feel like they've been in the fridge. My towel doesn't dry after my shower.

My solutions? Coffee. Wine. Cooking stuff in the oven because it heats the whole kitchen. The famous electric blanket. The space heater (which is really only effective if it's pointed directly at you and at close range). Hot baths. Hot showers. Sweatshirts. Long socks. Boots. Scarves. My coat I bought for Chicago. I haven't worn gloves in my house, but that might be next. House slippers. Layers. Flannel pajama pants.

This probably sounds crazy to people who are accustomed to cold weather, but in Houston it's really pretty novel. I'm actually excited that I get to wear my flannel pajamas and that they actually keep me warm instead of having to peel them off in the middle of the night because I'm too hot. That's what I keep telling myself: to enjoy wearing scarves, sweatshirts, and a coat because it's so rare in this part of the state.

I'm also looking at the overall situation of lacking central heat/AC in my apartment as an opportunity to experience life more fully. We live in a modern society where we can make it feel like winter inside when it's really 112 degrees outside. But for most people, throughout history, they've had to experience the elements. If it was cold or hot outside, they were cold or hot inside. So, I try and glamorize and romanticize it that way. Like I'm a character in a book set in the 1700's or something.

It's also more natural, creative, and cheap. I like the idea of acting appropriately for the season. Dressing warm in the winter, eating and drinking hearty, warm things seems appropriate. Dressing lightly in the summer and eating fresh fruits and drinking cold drinks also seems appropriate. Not having central heat/AC saves a lot on my electric bill as well.

I have no idea how long I will live in this apartment, but for now I'm really enjoying it....cold and all. Plus, this is Houston, it could be back in 70's by this weekend. I love this city.