Cranberry jello goodness recipe

First of all, if anyone thinks of a good name for this thing let me know. This is such a good alternative to cookies and cakes (if you're looking for one), and even if you don't care about that kind of stuff... it's just plain good so try it out and let me know what you think.

What you'll need:

1 can (8.5 oz.) crushed pineapple
1 pkg. (3 oz.) black cherry gelatin
1/2 Cup of sugar
1 Tbls. lemon juice
1 Cup gorud FRESH cranberries (this is the best part)
1 small unpeeled orange (quartered, seeded, and ground
1 Cup chopped celery (I know this sounds weird but trust me it's yummy)
1/5 Cup chopped walnuts

Whatcha do:

1. Drain pineapple, reserving syrup
2. Add water to syrup to make 1/2 cup
3. Dissolve gelatin & sugar in 1 Cup boiling water
4. Add syrup & lemon juice
5. Chill til partially set.
6. Add fruits, celery, and nuts
7. Chill in 5-C ring mold overnight (And if you know what the heck a 5-C is please let me know. For now I'm just gonna use a glass bowl)

Serves 8-10

ENJOY!!

Now I know what a Thanksgiving turkey feels like...

Well, I'm probably not going to eat anything else til Christmas. Every year I ask myself, "why do I continue to eat when I'm not even hungry?!?" Is it because it only comes once a year? Is it because I'm afraid I might never get another meal? So while I continue to digest 72-hours worth of eating I thought I'd blog a little... ya know... work off those extra calories.

So, Clay and I went to Georgetown to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family (we swap off the holidays. One with his, one with mine, then the next year we switch 'em). And no, not Georgetown, VA... Texas. If you've never really been there and driven around the little historic neighborhood near the square, you really should. Especially if you have an appreciation for beautifully taken care of homes (which we do).

This house was actually purchased from a Montgomery Ward catolouge like a billions years ago or something. Aparently shopping for a home was as easy as flipping through a magazine. Wouldn't that be nice?

This is Matt and Tiffany's house (Clay's cousin). It's basically everything we want in our first house. So cute.

The kitchen

Living/Dining room (original 1950 hardwood floors)

We ate plenty of food. Nana K spent like 3 weeks preparing everything... well... maybe not 3 weeks, but there was an ABUNDANCE of food. Enough to feed a small country. I thought I'd list out my favs and then end with a new recipe I got for a cranberry gelatin yumminess.... I don't know the "official" name for it, all you need to know is that it was Delish!!

My top 5 favorites this year:

1. Cranberry gelatin yummy salad thing (I'll put this recipe in it's own post that way you can find it easier)

2. Nana K stuffing (unfortunately, no recipe for that one)

3. Chocolate fudge cake.

4. Chocolate fudge cake icing (it was so good I thought it deserved it's own place in the top 5)

5. Homemade rolls (they're alllllllllmost as good as the ones I make... what can I say)

Yoey & Maggie-Moo

So, if you've never met my niece and nephew... then you are missing out on two of the cutest and sweetest kids on this planet!! We FINALLY got to go down and see Christa and Joe (Clay's sister and her hubby) the weekend before last. They live right outside of Gatesville out in the middle of nowhere! I just couldn't believe how quiet it was out there. They've got all kinds of animals out there-- dogs, cats, sheep, cows, horses, chickens... We had a lot of fun.

Joey had a soccer game, so we got to see him play a little bit. SO CUTE!!!!

huggin' his aunt deska... I wish I had a picture of him running to me. Melts your heart.

the gang gettin' ready to eat. I'm in heaven right now.

Maggie-Moo

Joey was showin' off his tramp skills.... and by tramp I mean trampoline.

the cutest thing I've ever seen.

he had a little pilgrim program at school that night. He was DEFINITELY the cutest one up there... and the loudest. We're so proud.



she's the only person I know that can wear a messy face all the time AND pull it off. Work it girl.




She's looking for an escape route.

It amazes me how long a bounce house can entertain a child... needlesstosay, it was a very sad day when we had to take her out of the bounce house.

Just Call Me Martha.

Sorry for the lapse in time between now and my last post. It's crazy how busy life gets... And we don't even have KIDS YET!!!

I won't sit here and tell you EVERYTHING that has gone on between then and now... cause that's the whole reason I never blog. Instead I'll just jump right in and eventually... you'll catch up.

Yesterday Clay and I started putting up Christmas decorations. And those of you who are thinking, "Christmas decorations?? NOW??" I'll have you know that I waited a whole 2 WEEKS longer than usual. What can I say? I love Christmas.

My dad signed me up for a wreath decorating workshop this past weekend. It was soooo fun. It might have been a little more fun if I wasn't the ONLY one there. That's right. But anyway, I got a beautiful wreath that is now displayed at the top of our staircase. I'm so proud!! The pictures could never do it justice so you'll just have to come by and see it. I'll fix you some hot chocolate!!

A friend of ours said that we should put some mistletoe right above that picture...

My masterpiece!!

The Biz... turning her face away from the camera. She is SUCH a snob.