Oh FUDGE!!

Well I knew it,I was getting sick.I felt like I was on my death bed yesterday but today is better.
I'm still not up to eating much but at least I'm keeping what I do eat down now.I absolutely hate being sick,I'm praying my kids don't get whatever I had.
I'm going to start baking for Christmas tomorrow night,(I wanted to make sure I was germ free before I started)I have to make 4 lbs of fudge for 2 school "winter" parties and then I'm making some cookies.
Here is my very fave fudge recipe,I've been making it for almost 12 years now and it's pretty much goof-proof.I think the peanut butter and milk chocolate are the best!!!

Famous Fudge ~~

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz. can) Evaporated Milk
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 cups (9 oz.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels,(or whatever flavor you prefer)
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
LINE 8-inch-square baking pan with foil.

COMBINE sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly, for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

STIR in marshmallows, morsels, nuts and vanilla extract. Stir vigorously for 1 minute or until marshmallows are melted. Pour into prepared baking pan; refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into squares

FOR MILK CHOCOLATE FUDGE:
SUBSTITUTE 1 3/4 cups (11.5-oz. pkg.) Milk Chocolate Morsels for Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels.

FOR BUTTERSCOTCH FUDGE:
SUBSTITUTE 1 2/3 cups (11-oz. pkg.) Butterscotch Flavored Morsels for Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels.

FOR PEANUTTY CHOCOLATE FUDGE:
SUBSTITUTE 1 2/3 cups (11-oz. pkg.) Peanut Butter & Milk Chocolate Morsels for Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels and 1/2 cup chopped peanuts for pecans or walnuts.

Feelin like a slug

Have you ever had one of those days that you could sit on the couch in your robe all day and not move?That would be me today.I'm not feeling well and I'm cold.It's like 18 degrees outside and my house is basically warm other than the kitchen (which for some reason has never been easy to warm up)and of course that's where I spend most of my time.
I think I'm getting a virus or maybe just tired I don't know.The weekend went well,we watched "Deck The Halls" on Saturday and while it's no Oscar worthy show by a long stretch it is funny and a cute Christmas movie to watch with your kids. They watched it 3 times in all by last night I think. I made homemade pot pie and mashed potatoes for dinner then on Sunday I went grocery shopping,cleaned up the basement and bathrooms then we FINALLY got some lights up outside! I know,I'm so behind it's not even funny.I'm not even close to being done with my shopping yet and I still have baking to do,etc etc,oh well.I'm trying to slow down this year and enjoy the season,maybe I've slowed down a bit too much!
Here are a few of my fave Christmas links,some are new ones I've found and a couple are sites I visit every year.
cute~
http://www.santalady.com/stories.html

We visit this one every Xmas eve with the kids~
http://www.holoworld.com/santa/

I've been addicted to this channel for several years now and around this time of year they show all the good,sappy xmas movies. They're good to watch with the family
http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/publish/consumer/home.html

love this one
http://www.anoldfashionedchristmas.com/index.html

right up my alley
http://www.victoriana.com/christmas/default.htm

great site that one of the teachers recommended
http://www.northpole.com/

great recipes
http://www.smithfield.com/paula/index.php

I saw a recipe on Rachel Ray today that I do believe some of my family members will be receiving for Christmas, it looked so yummy and very easy.That's exactly what I need right now,easy! I think I might need another cup of coffee right now too,the kids wwill be home soon and I have to snap out of this or it's going to be a long night.

Here is the pot pie recipe,not quite homemade but close enough! I never have any of this left over.

Hearty Chicken Pot Pie~~


1 package (16 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1 cup cut-up cooked chicken(I use canned)

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup Original Bisquick® mix
1/2 cup milk
1 egg

I add 1/2 tsp each of ground sage,thyme,and tarragon

1. Heat oven to 400ºF. Mix vegetables, chicken and soup in ungreased 2-quart casserole.
2. Stir remaining ingredients in small bowl with fork until blended. Pour into casserole.
3. Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.

The Christmas Rose

We're off to see Santa this afternoon, I HOPE to be able to get a picture of all the kdis together.It's always a gamble so I'm crossing my fingers!

Here is a story I found today,I love Christmas and roses so I think this is just beautiful.



Christmas Rose Legend~

When the Magi laid their rich offerings of myrrh, frankincense, and gold by the bed of the sleeping Christ Child, legend says that a shepherd maiden stood outside the door quietly weeping.

She too, had sought the Christ Child and desired to bring him gifts. But she had nothing to offer, for she was very poor indeed. She had searched the countryside over for one little flower to bring Him, but she could find neither bloom nor leaf, for the winter had been cold.

And as she stood there weeping, an angel passing saw her sorrow, and stooping, the angel brushed aside the snow at her feet. And there sprang up on the spot a cluster of beautiful winter roses, -- waxen with light pink petals.

"Nor myrrh, nor frankincense, nor gold," said the angel, "is offering more meet for the Christ Child than these pure Christmas Roses." These the shepherd maiden carries to Jesus, who smiles broadly and touches them, turning them pale pink.

Christmas art

My 4 yr old daughter drew this pretty purple tree for me today,(the same one who drilled me on Santa last night)I helped her with the outline but she did all the decorations herself.
I have so many pictures,cards,and little homemade presents that my kids have made over the years and they mean so much.
She called this one her "princess tree" and I do think this tree is positively magical!

My Christmas Santa fairy

A few years ago I got this adorable fairy type Santa,he even kind of looks like an elf with his little pointy shoes. I put him on our bed every year and last night my 4year old girlie was staring at him and says"why is he pink and why does he have wings?"
ummm,"well he's not the real Santa"
she says"does Santa fly?"
Me~"No,he rides in the sleigh and the reindeer fly"
her~"then why does he have those wings??"
me~ummm,"I don't know"
her~"are they just in case the reindeer break down?"
me~ummm,yea that's it..
You gotta love a 4 year olds mind

A little prayer

My oldest daughter found out yesterday that one of her best friends was just diagnosed with Leukemia.
She's going in for surgery to remove a giant cancerous lump from her neck today.
We're all in shock and praying for her and the family.She's only 12 years old.
If you're visiting me here or just stumbled across my blog,please take a second to send some good thoughts and prayers her way,I know the family would appreciate it.Her name is Tabitha.
I can only imagine how her parents feel and how frightened that little girl must be at this time.
~Thank You

It's just me.....................