Sunday, December 12, 2010

Old man Winter...

Winter really blew in today with a wet snow....we are actually supposed to get several more inches before the week is out.  It makes things seem more like Christmas coming as we are doing all the preparations though so I don't really mind.  It looks so pretty too...but it can all go away in January!!!
 It's time to make goodies too, so I was working on that today.  We had our annual Christmas muscial in church today and with all the Christmas songs, it put me in the mood to bake.  On the "Barefoot Contessa" I saw a fun recipe this week....
 She melted white chocolate, put a stick in it and added "goodies"...nuts, chopped dried fruit, etc. 
 It looked easy enough, and it really was as I melted the chocolate in the microwave, yet it took me all afternoon to make these.
 I usually make all from scratch but after watching Sandra Lee on the cooking channel too ("Semi-Homemade")  I used Pillsbury sugar cookies to make these (yes, I watch too much food channel) and cooled them in my outdoor refrigerator, ha! Don't worry, if I saw a flock of birds fly overhead, I'd move them!!
 Here are the results...
 Guess I will diet on January 1st!  Below is one of my co-workers, (dark clothes and hair front row ) Shay (click on link to see her pre-twins birth!) just lost 60 lb in 3 months!!  She has six children and lost it following the birth of twins two years ago....Congratulations...you look great girl!!  Behind her Judy, another co-worker and her twin sister (in white top front row) also did well.
-Ummhumm, as for me...hopefully, January.
I started to get wrapping done too, since I am in this festive mood....
I really enjoy doing it!!
Decorating too is done...
So all that is left to do is dream of Visions of Sugarplums in  a sleepy head!!

27 comments:

acorn hollow said...

we got a bit of snow also. But rain now. you cookies look great.
cathy

Hope said...

there is nothing like snow to make the season right!
the cookies look great!

love the photo's!

H said...

love the snow here today!

yaya said...

Those goodies look delish Donna! Your home and yard look beautiful in all seasons...your gifts also are the prettiest and just getting an empty box with those bows is gift enough! Now getting to work this week will the challenge! P.S...Larry will kill you!

Dana and Daisy said...

that looks yummy. Your newspaper looks like a paper I am familiar with... I wonder of it is?

Dana and Daisy said...

oh thanks for answering! The Times Gazette I was thinking of is Northwest Arkansas Times Gazette.

Blondie's Journal said...

We are having a lot of snow and more to come this week. Seems the whole country is getting it! Or just the cold weather. I love the cookies. Amazing that Ina can make them in a half hour and it takes us all day!!

Stay warm and have a good week! :-)

XO,
Jane

Molly said...

Donna - I really don't envy you the snow. We have actually got green grass again and the road is clear well for a short space - we are promised more snow again at the weekend! Love all those choccy creations and the outdoor refrigerator. Dare I say 'Cool! :0)

Stacy said...

I love the cookies and candy, those look beautiful. Looks like you had a very busy weekend. I came home from church in the mood to bake too. I however didn't get that far.

North of 25A said...

I am seriously impressed. Those cookie pops look amazing. We had so much rain yesterday that if it had been snow we would have been snowed in for days.
Ho ho ho,
Colleen

Tammy @BeatriceBanks said...

Sounds like you've been a busy girl! I'd love to see some snow here in GA. It's freezing so we might as well have some white to go along with it.
The little candy pops look delish! Easy is my kind of cooking.

Deb Shucka said...

Thanks for visiting my blog, Donna. I'm so glad to find you here. It looks like you're really in the spirit of the season. There's nothing like Christmas cookies for that. Yours look amazing. I'm with you - there's always January.

Roadrunner Chronicles said...

Great post! Looks like everyone is getting into the spirit of the season. And those Christmas goodies look yummy!

jen said...

Thanks for linking up today. I've actually been looking for an easy dessert for a dinner I'm hosting on Thursday. Thanks to you and the Barefoot Contessa!

very merry vintage style said...

pretty snow scene! those cookies look yummy, too! Thanks for stopping by my blog

Jamie said...

Love those cookies with the drizzles, and a little drizzle just fancies everything up, funny how that works! Those pictures of the snow make me want to cozy up with a book and crackling fire. Too bad it was 80 degrees here in Arizona today!

Wanda..... said...

The treats look wonderful and festive! Your packages are wrapped very lovely too, Donna. Lots of Christmas spirit coming out with all the snow!

Kerri said...

I love Semi Homemade!
Your lollipops look great!

Evie's Story said...

You're a dear! I would certainly take you up on that babysitting if you lived closer:-) Thanks for the encouragement!!

Love all your creative decor and goodies. What fun this time of year is!!
hugs
M

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

Your snow is beautiful! It is so hot here today I am running the AC so it does not seem like Christmas is almost here.
Your goodies turned out great but it would take me a long time to do them too. Wish I could do something like this sugar free for my granddaughter.
Your home really looks pretty for the holidays
Merry Christmas
Maggie

River-Rose said...

Donna, Your cookies look sooooo good that I can almost smell them. Yum Yum! Sounds like it was the perfect day to fill the house with such wonderful treats!

Kerri said...

Hi Donna- just noticed that you're from Ashland...I'm from good old Mansfield! I moved away after college and live in PA now...but all of my family still lives in Mansfield!

Linda P. said...

Everything looks beautiful and yummy as always. Makes me miss our Christmas get together over
dinner :(
But viewing your blog was almost like being there:)

Jeanne Henriques said...

Donna...I love all that you have been doing for Christmas. The snow could not have come at a better time..I can tell it has inspired you. I think you did a fantastic job baking..Ina would be so proud :) I ordered her new cookbook for my sister and mother..shhh!.

I am with you on your plans for January 1st...diet city says she who polished off 2 brownies tonight!
Loving these holidays!!

Best wishes to you and your family Donna for a wonderful Christmas :)

Jeanne xxx

Beth Dunn said...

Love a fresh snow. Getting the wrapping done--so motivated!
xoxo
SC

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Your now pic is incredible.

I just adore your cookie~pops...they look wonderful. Ya wanna toss one my direction???

I make candy out the wazoo and finished up yesterday with my truffles. I chose one day to wrap and wrap I did...for four hours straight baby. It's those eight grandkiddos I tell ya!!! Heeehehe!
The Ponderosa is decorated and all I have to do is cook up the dinner and enjoy!

God bless ya and have a most amazing weekend sweetie!!!

Karen Whittal said...

They look so amazing, you really have a talent for this, just thinking about it and I am tired already I love to cook, but bake..... the shop is MUCH easier