RRRRRRRRum Balls

These are soooo easy to make and a great gift for a friend or a potluck at work during the holidays.

Ingredients
1 box chocolate cake mix
1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 c powdered sugar
2 tbsp spiced rum
toppings of choice
parchment or wax paper

Directions
1. Cook cake mix as directed on the back of the box, I usually use Duncan Hines brand it's always so moist and easy to make.
2. After this cooks, usually about 20 minutes or so, wait for it too cool and then crumble the cake into a large bowl.
3. Mix in the cocoa powder, powdered sugar and spiced rum.
4. Next, take a spoonfuls of this mix, take it in your hand and roll it into a ball (make sure your hands are clean!)
5. Roll the ball into a bowl or your favorite topping an then place it on a piece of parchment paper. Some topping suggestions are: sprinkles, nuts (chopped), mini chocolate chips, powdered sugar... or keep them plain.

Turkey Day

This was my first Thanksgiving in my first home and it went wonderful. We had my parents, my mother and father in-law and my sister and brother in-law and my niece. It was my job to make the turkey, and I also made a few desserts and some corn bread mini-muffins. Josh, my husband made his always wonderful garlic mashed potatoes. My mom made her famous stuffing that is filled with mini sausages, apples, walnuts and celery among other things. My mother in-law made her extremely yummy yams. And my sis-in-law made some brussel sprouts drizzled with olive oil, wow they tasted great!

For dessert I prepared red velvet cupcakes and also a loaf of pumpkin bread which went perfect with french vanilla ice cream. We were all so stuffed afterwards.

For the turkey I used an oven bag, which you coat the inside with 1 tbsp of flour so the bag won't explode while it's cooking. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Clean the turkey inside and out, remove insides and pat dry. Brush olive oil on the turkey skin and sprinkle some dried rosemary and parsley all over it. Inside I placed a whole onion cut in quarters and 2 celery sticks each cut in half. Put this in the bag, slit the top of the bag with six 1/2 inch slits, close it and place in a roasting pan. I placed a temp gauge into the turkey breast to keep an eye on the temperature of the turkey. Cook in the oven for about 3 hours. Make sure the temperature is at 185 degrees in the center of the breast before you eat it. If it's not, just cook it longer. Ours took about 3 and 1/2 hours.

Sweet Potato Fries

I've been wanting to make these for a while, and thought today was the perfect time for a nice warm snack. In this recipe I just used one medium yam, which was enough for about 15-20 fries. You could definitely multiply this recipe as a side dish for the entire family.

Ingredients:
1 yam (sweet potato)
2 tbsp olive oil
salt
pepper

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees and place a baking sheet lined with foil in the oven.
2) Cut the yam in half long wise and width wise so you have 4 equal parts. Then slice these into about 6-7 equal pieces long wise.
3) Add these slices to a bowl and mix together with olive oil and desired about of salt and pepper to taste.
4) Take the baking sheet out of the oven and place the yam slices on the foil, but put this back in the oven for 15 minutes. Flip all the slices and bake for another 15 minutes.
5) When they are done they should be a little crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Let them cool on the pan for a few minutes. Eat with some ketchup or plain. Either way it's so yummy.

The Baking Essentials

There you are on a Sunday, it's 12pm you still haven't showered and you're in your pajamas and you're desperate for a chocolate chip cookie! There is no way in hell you're going to the store, it's a lazy day and it's chilly outside. You know those kind of days right??!?

Well, for those particular days I always find it a good idea to keep a steady supply of some baking essentials to at least whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies, brownies or even muffins.

My Essentials List:
1 bag of all-purpose flour
1 bag gradulated sugar
1 bag brown sugar
1 bag powdered sugar
baking soda
vanilla extract
cocoa powder
1 bag chocolate chips
at least 4 eggs
cup cake wrappers
milk
cinnamon
3 sticks of butter
peanut butter
1 box instant cake mix
1 box instant brownie mix
vegetable oil