Lent

So it is Lent again and once again I have given up something I love-desserts! Why I do this, I do not know but I do. Today while I was at church, Mother Abby talked about temptation. I really took this to heart. Some of my friends ease the Lenten burden by allowing themselves to eat or have the item they have given up during the week on Sunday. We never did this growing up so I always continue my Lenten observance on Sunday as well.

This weekend has been tougher. My niece, Kelsey Baby made cupcakes. They are vanilla with white icing my favorite. They are sitting on the counter calling my name. I am avoiding temptation and writing a blog:) I figure if Jesus could die on a cross, I can avoid a cupcake. His strength was greater than mine but I am going to live up to him because I can.

I also am trying to do something nice daily which my friend Tracy does. Again not the easiest weekend but I am channeling my Aunt Marion. She always has a big heart and is the most forgiving person I know. So I am thinking about her when I need to do the right thing.

Well one week down and five more to go!

Thoughts found

Sometimes it's hard to figure what life is about. My brain is finally working now my body,s giving out.

Or perhaps

I'm right on schedule for a very special date. My body's is running right on time, but my mind is running late.

Presents

Back on January 10, Jim turned 44. It was a very special birthday because he got to spend the whole day with his mom. He has not done that since he was little. Between school, activities and working, this was the first time in a long time.

Mom loved presents. She liked to pick out just the right gift for you. She would watch intently as you opened your gift. Beaming brightly when she saw the joy in your face. She probably liked getting gifts just as much. She would study the package. She would shake the box. She would carefully unwrap and save the paper. She savored opening the present and how much thought and love you put into it.

Jim says he got the best present by spending the day with her. He even joked he did not have her at the hospital at 2:00 am on his day of birth. She became an angel on 1/11/11. I am sure she is still giving out presents in Heaven. I know she me the best present-my family.

2010 Comes to an End

So Jim wanted to know about writing to this blog. I finally remembered my login information so now I can write again. I am writing from my iPad. It was a gift for my birthday which has been useful for the whole family.

Here is a recap of 2010:
Jim has been training for marathons. He will be running the NYC marathon in November 2011. He has also applied to run up the Empire State Building again at the beginning of the year. He is still working at the hospital but is now working days which is a wonderful treat.

Jess is now a freshman in high school. She continues to ride her horses and still loves to read.

Nicole is at the Jr/Sr High Scho this year. She played field hockey and will play lacrosse in the spring for the town and school. She is still dancing and was picked as one of the youngest dancers to open the annual benefit show.

Molly is six months old now and is a bundle of crazy. She keeps us all on our toes and makes palying fun. She loves playing with her cousins and goes to school. She is our maltipoo:)

I am still at Jetblue and working on the Disney Moms Panel. I will be back full time starting January 1 answering questions about the Disney Vacation Club.

Our big trips this year included another voyage the Disney Wonder. This time we visited Key West which was a fun stop.

I will try to update this a little more frequently:)

The phone

Nicole has been wanting a cell phone ever since Jessica got her phone for graduation two years ago. Since Nicole never really goes anywhere without us, we told her she would get her cell phone for graduation too.

Well for the first few months after Jess had hers, Nicole began to lobby why she should get one. Jim and I decided that if she stayed on the honor roll for two years, she could get her phone in May of sixth grade. Well true to her word, she made the honor for two years. Luckily for her, school issued reports a month earlier so we honored our word.

Of course, the shiny pink phone never is far from her side and it beeps with all of her friends' text messages.

Congrats Nicole!

Classic Shortbread for a Classy Lady

This month we read The Help at book club. Tracy, the classiest lady I know, picked Classic Shortbread. Somehow this fit with her pick as I could see the ladies eating these.

Enjoy!

Classic Shortbread

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for the pan
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1. Sift together flour and salt into a bowl. Put butter into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Gradually add confectioners' sugar; beat until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture all at once; mix until just combined.
2. Preheat oven to 300F with rack in the upper third.
3. Using plastic wrap, press dough into a buttered 10-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. With plastic on dough, refrigerate 20 minutes. Remove plastic wrap. Cut out a round from the center using a 2 1/4 inch cookie cutter; discard. Put cutter back in center. Cut dough into eight wedges with a paring knife. Using a wooden skewer, prick all over at 1/4 inch intervals.
4. Bake until golden brown and firm in center about 1 hour. Transfer pan to wire rack. Recut shortbread into wedges; let cool completely in pan. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

Note: I do not own the pan in the recipe. I simply used a round baking dish and lined it with parchment paper coated in butter. Not as fancy but just as yummy!

Peanut Brittle

My book club, Tequila Tuesday, read the book Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons when we first started over five years ago. The one character in the book whom I most identified with brought peanut brittle to the club every month. I continue this tradition with my own club as I think they like the brittle more than me:)

Here is the recipe I use and it is all made in the microwave:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup peanuts or other nuts just not dry roasted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon baking soda

In a 2 quart microwaveable cooking dish, mix the sugar and corn syrup. Microwave for 3 minutes. Remove, stir in peanuts and microwave 3.5 minutes until light brown. Remove and stir in vanilla and butter and microwave for a minute. Remove and stir in baking soda until foamy and pour onto lightly greased cookie sheet. Cool and break into pieces which can be stored up to one month in a sealed container.

Note: This recipe can not be doubled. I tried and it was ugly. If you need it to set quickly, put it in the refrigerator to cool. It makes it honeycombed inside which my friends like. Also, the humidity plays with the texture so stick it in the fridge for sure when it is humid. To make clean up easier, use hot water immediately into the dish when done.