Classy Cranberry Sauce

Thought I'd share my classy cranberry sauce recipe on this Thanksgiving morning as I procrastinate and make it very last minute for our own family gathering.

I have been making this stuff for about 5 years, maybe longer. It's my father in law's fault, really it is. I was asked to bring cranberry sauce to Thanksgiving. And I was informed the "real" stuff, not canned. Now I grew up with the canned goodness so this was all new to me. I made 3 batches that year and well this is the winner in my book. Thanks to my in-laws for opening my eyes to the "real" stuff, I refuse to eat the canned version now.

It's highly requested for Turkey Day, and so super easy to make.

1 bag of Cranberries

1 tsp. Cinnamon

½ tsp. Clove

Sprinkle of All Spice

1 cup Sugar

1 cup High Pulp Orange Juice

Rinse and pick out any yucky cranberries. 

In a medium saucepan dissolve and bring sugar and juice to a boil, add cranberries and spices. 

Turn down heat, boil and simmer for about 10 minutes or so. Cranberries will pop and spit at you, so you are warned. 

The sauce will thicken as it sits, then stick in the fridge to cool completely. Adjust the spices to your liking our family really likes clove, apparently. 

Happy Thanksgiving! Now go stuff your faces and enjoy this awesome day with family and friends!

Diamond In The Rough Photography

My fabulous photographer and cousin Lonnie White, took the photo below. I just love Natalie's carefree expression... Check out his website.

3 dog night

I'm dog sitting for my parents. Jada, is a medium size American dog well she looks more like a pot bellied pig, and she is deathly afraid of rain and thunderstorms. Did I mention it rained all day yesterday and through the night? Oh and sweet Teddy (shih tzu) is my mother's other dog, her baby. I know Jada and Teddy well. They were once my fur babies before my mother so kindly adopted them. And our fur baby, his name is Gus, he's 4 years old and about 115 lbs. He's my baby, HUGE and SCARY with the meanest bark eva and a complete love bug. 

Last night I had the absolute best evening with my girls i.e. The Braid. I intruded on my friends dinner with her family and I got to enjoy my fave jail bird burritos last night cooked and served by one of my favorite people. Also, I got to indulge in my teen obsession, Breaking Dawn Part 1. Granted the book was so much better and I thought the movie was a little lame but still a good see. We even ventured down some back roads since the stupid bridge was closed in the ever continuing construction zone. Anyhow, I was very unfamiliar with the new route, (pronounced root BTW Erin hehehe) did I mention it was raining and dark?  And I couldn't see shit?! Pretty sure that didn't help but you should have heard all the shouts of lock the doors, don't roll down the window, creepy fog, and WTF where are we, with tons of giggling pouring from my "hoe".

We made it home, safe, finally.

That drive was a hoot! We even had a little lesson of the haunted creepy ass history of Lawson Rd. with our non-native Texan in the back LOL

Then I got home.

Come bed time, I have Jada in my guest powder bath, since it has no windows. Again she is deathly afraid of thunderstorms. And it was raining and lightning pretty good last night. And Teddy and Gus were in my room, it was late and they usually settle pretty easily. Well not last night. Of course. Constant licking, collars clanging, bitey face games and nudging the door to go out only to bark and want back in a few minutes later. At this point I had had it and finally drift off to sleep after covering my face with a pillow. 

My Gus in Teddy's Bed, how in the world did he even fit?!

Then I'm awakened by my sweet Natalie climbing in my bed. Wheezing like an old woman! Great! Did I mention I needed to be at the office to meet the construction crew at 9AM? And that I'm off tomorrow? And that I CANNOT miss work today? And I have had NO sleep? I start the treatments and she improves, greatly. Asthma has shown its ugly face again... She has been hospitalized before and had a trip to the ER a few weeks ago. This asthma stuff is serious and it breaks my heart knowing there is nothing I can do but try my best to prevent the attacks. It's usually seasonal and allergy related, peaks in the fall and winter months. If I could kick anybody's ass it would definitely be asthma's!

I stop in the nurses office at school this morning to make sure Natalie has her nebulizer and meds and get her on a schedule for the day. And what do I do? Yep, I started crying like a big baby in the elementary school nurses office. Lack of sleep and worrying about my sweet Natalie and lack of coffee had done me in. Surprised she didn't march me over to the counselors office, I kid. I was a hot mess. I could only apologize and try to explain to her why I was so sleep deprived and emotional. I'm sure she thinks I'm a crazy person. But I don't care, really I don't.

Pretty sure the 3 dogs triggered it this time... Even Lego Leighton was all puffy eyed and snozzly. The two culprits are leaving today, happily.

 

size does matter

My dear sweet husband has major size envy right now.

iPad vs. Samsung Galaxy Tablet and well I totally win.

Even my iPhone is way cooler than his Droid, ha! Granted months ago I adored both of his since I had neither. And a love/hate relationship with my stupid crackberry. 

But now that my toys are way cooler I can rub it in until he brings home the next cool gadget. And I'm hoping it's one of those awesome video recorder thingy's, yep that should be next. 

Hope he reads this, hint hint hint!

see. size does matter.

Verdict, please.

Boat or baby is the question. I'm 30, I know gasp. And I was called ma'am tonight at our kiddo's school by a clearly much younger teacher. My oldest son Leighton is about to be 9 and my Natalie will be 7 in February. I feel like I'm completely running out of time to actually be able to keep up with another kiddo. And daycare, my goodness it's insanely expensive and I can't bare the thought of being away from my new baby all day again like the first two. And yes I'm a working mother, always have and unless there are lotto winnings involved always will.

I mean how do you make such a decision anyways? We have been blessed with a boy and girl, can't use the good ol' excuse to keep trying for that boy... I have never thought twice about the first two, granted they were so well planned, not. Yet, I wouldn't change a thing. They are truly what keeps me going in this crazy world I call life.

Even though being an empty nester at the ripe old age of 41 is pretty darn tempting. So is bringing another little person into our lives for pure enjoyment. I mean who doesn't love having all that control and power over their offspring?! Totally kidding, not really but you get the idea.

So, boat or baby?