2009 Pierogi/Cabbage Roll Making

Alice went a little nuts with the flour . . .

Another great evening with my Polish Cousins! Mom and Dad flew in late Wednesday night - so we planned our annual cooking event for Friday. Most people came - but Uncle Jim couldn't make it, and cousin Jamie was very much missed - however - food needed making. I made sloppy joes to keep our energy up - every Nordin brought a veggie tray :) :) - and Jill. . . . yum. . . I'm still loving your Harry and David dip you brought!! I'm totally addicted! :) I love this event every year - and love hanging out with some of my best friends. . my cousins and my brother! :)

And here's who came to hang out:

Jon, Gen, Pen


Dad & his big sister :)


Uncle Greg and Auntie Mary Joy


Penelope (aka Randy from A Christmas Story) ready to go home


Cousins (plus a cranky L3)


Miss Alice - showing off her flour-covered sleeves


2nd Cousins (minus Penelope - who had to get home early)


The (original) Little Red Hens (god, I hate this picture)

Birthday Left-Overs

So, we missed Uncle Carl's 70th Birthday party - but were lucky enough to get the invite to help finish off some of the left-overs at Jon & Genevieve's house! Lonny3, Alice, Lonny & I loved hanging out with our Nordin Cousins!

Craft-O-Rama 2009

Another successful craft fair for Lon and Jaime. . . and for me. I got my sweet potato fries and Jamaican meat pie (twice!) . . .and got a great purse for Julie from Christopher Straub - who was a sweetie to SIGN it and pose for a quick pic!!! :)

Smilin' Lonny3

I had to post this picture of Lonny3 and Icky. I got the kids ready to go up to Sue and Bob's while Lon and Jaime were at the Craft Fair - and found the boys hanging out on the couch while Alice was getting dressed. :)

Cracker "Toffee" Cookies

Ok - I need to respond better when people ask for recipes (sorry Tracy!!) Here is how I make this treat:


Ingredients

* bar pan lined with saltine crackers
* 1 cup butter
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 2 cups milk chocolate chips (or peanut butter chips!)
* optional - sprinkles or chopped nuts for topping



Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Line cookie sheet with saltine crackers in single layer. (I also line the cookie sheet with tin foil first.)

3. In a saucepan combine the sugar and the butter. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. Immediately pour over saltines and spread to cover crackers completely.

4. Bake at 400 degrees F for 5 to 6 minutes.

5. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Let sit for 5 minutes.

6. Spread melted chocolate and (optional) top with chopped nuts.

7. Cool completely and break into pieces. (I keep these refrigerated to keep them "crisp")

Happy Thanksgiving

Another great Thanksgiving! I hung out with the Nordins again this year. We had lots of yummy food, we mapped out our shopping schedule for tomorrow, watched Elf, played Taboo, and then after everyone else left - Julie, Heidi, and I watched a movie. I am thankful for cousins who are also friends. :)

The Benicks


Greg & Mary Joy


Kelsey & Abby

One Fall Day

We have the greatest neighbor guy - who used his riding vacuum thingy to pick up most of our leaves - but there was still some to be cleaned up. I mowed and mulched whilst Lonny and Alice raked. And after we were done - we enjoyed the beautiful day!

I love this photo!





Jaime & Lonny3

Cutest Family Ever Enjoys Fall


Alice & Lonny3

Baking with Alice

Alice and I made the yummiest "cookies." She was a BIG help - putting in the butter, putting in the sugar, stirring, laying out the crackers! We got to try ONE before Alice had to head to bed. - we only kept a few - the rest went into a cool winter-y tin for our neighbors - who picked up most of our leaves with their riding vacuum! (and I loved these toffee cookies so much - and DANG they are easy! - I made more :)


Here ya go dad - this is a photo of someone else's product - but ours pretty much looked like this also. :)

Lancaster Craft Fair

Julie and I took Friday off to get up in the morning and head up to Lancaster . . . few things not planned . . .Heidi ended up in CT at a funeral . . . Donnie joined us to go BACK to hunting. . . Julie drove her van . . . which needed a new tire. . . anyway - we made it!

I got to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa a lot - and I had them all to myself! The craft fair was a good time - and Phyllis came!!


Thanks for a great weekend Grandma and Grandpa!! See you SOON!

Bye Bye Joolie!

Jaymie spent the night Saturday so that we could get up early and hook up with Julie and Mike. This was our chance to visit with them before they move to Florida next week! We met for breakfast at The Original Pancake House in Edina (YUM!!) - and then carried our conversation to Caribou. We had lots of laughs, but the time finally came where we had to say goodbye. Jaymie and I did pen-in our trip to Florida in August - so hopefully it won't even be a year before we get to see our Joolie again! (love you Jules!)