MAJOR OOPSIE!!

This has been the week from hell!

First we had the crazy ice storm..will share photos of that

possiably tomorrow..but that's a big maybe because I'll be busy cleaning up THIS!!

Thing 2 said he was hungry so I decided I

was going to make him shrimp..so I get the pan of oil out

turn it on medium, go get the shrimp and realize it had already been eaten...

So.......I go to the stove shut the oil off...and walk away..

I hear noise in the kitchen but figure it's Thing 2 scurrying around STILL

looking for something to eat because he didn't want anything else that I had offered him..

DARN YOU SNOW DAYS!!

I go out into the kitchen and have a FULL BLOWN fire going!

APPARENTLY I didn't get the knob completely over, therefor the burner was actually turned on to

blazing hot burn your house down high!!

I can tell you I have never been so scared or freaked out I don't think in my life. I possiably even pee'd a little!

I grabbed the fire extingusher and used that...it was helping but the fire was still spreading and I had emptied the entire can!!

Crap!! Ah..box of baking soda-Thank GOD I got the bright idea to make my own laundry soap! I had a HUGE box of it!

That got the fire out fast...except the cupboard was still smoldering and I couldn't get it to stop. Mr. Handsome rushed in with a crow bar and ripped it off the wall..

In all the chaos I managed to get Thing 2 out of the house (Thing1 was at work with Mr. Handsome) I rescued the dog and FROGS and threw the cat down in the basement because I knew the dogs would eat him alive (Hey don't judge me! The fire was out there was just black smoke all over!)

I kid you not when I say it looked like night time in my house!

Only a few things got wrecked, but I am really sad to say good bye to my beloved Ronco Knives..I love them so so much! (A few can be salvaged)

Is it possiable to get new handles put on? Anyone??..

Nicely lovely scorchy burn up the side of the cabinet....ugh..sigh..

How absoultly disgusting this looks! The stuff all over the stove is from ripping the cabinet down..

Thing 1 and Thing 2 and Mr. Handsome were very helpful in working on the clean up this evening.

Mr. Handsome worked until he couldn't stand anymore cleaning all the walls we had JUST painted.

Still lots of cleaning in our forecast but my sister is coming in the morning to help me, and a special thank you to my parents who kept the boys warm (because every door and window was open and the heat was off) and for going and getting cleaning supplies.

Also thank you to everyone who called and sent messages letting us know you were there if we needed you and that your help was availiable.

We are very lucky this did not get even more out of hand...God certainly was walking beside me today!



Chewy Brownie Cookies

Chewy Brownie Cookies

2/3 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 tbsp water
3 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp soda
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet
chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecan, optional

In a large bowl, cream the shortening, sugar, water, and the vanilla until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs. Combine the flour, cocoa, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add to the creamed mixture. Beat just until blended. Stir in the chocolate and the nuts if desired. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 F for 7-9 minutes. Do Not Overbake. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool. Makes 3 dozen

These are SUPPOSE to have chocolate chips in them..HOWEVER..I went to get my chocolate chips out of the freezer..and my lovely husband had a snack attack and there were NONE in the freezer so I had to substitute with the m&m's...otherwise I'm sure they would look alot better..

They are good and chewy tho!!!

Give em a try!

Santa Hat Confections

These "cookies" are so melt in your mouth yummy!

Dan's family refers to them as styrofoam cookies.

Give em a try they are fun to make!

I didn't have any red sugar, so I took food coloring paste and put it in a bag

of white sugar and I squished it all around. I didn't get red, more of a darker

pink..but ole well I think they are still cute :)

Ingredients

• 2 egg whites, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup sugar
• Red colored sugar

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 200º F. With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until soft peaks start to form. Beating all the while, add the cream of tartar and vanilla extract, then slowly add the 1/2 cup of sugar. Continue to beat until the peaks stiffen.

2. Spoon the meringue into a quart-size plastic bag. Snip off a corner and pipe 2 dozen 1 1/2-inch-tall Santa hat triangles onto a parchment-lined baking sheet (you should have about 1/4 of the meringue left).

3. Sprinkle the triangles with the red sugar, then use the remaining meringue to give each one a pom-pom and trim. Bake the hats until they're hard but not browned, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave the hats in it for an hour to crisp before removing.

Cake Mix Cookies

Earlier today I thought I'd make some cute santa hat cookies for Caleb to
take into his class for his Christmas party. But to my sadness..he was too cool
for those little Santa hats :( He was bummed that "those" were the cookies
he "had" to take into class...so here I sit..midnight making a whole new, different
batch of cookies. I needed something quick and easy because we had a cub
scouts meeting tonight and didn't get home until 9pm. So I remembered I had 2
cake mixes in the cupboard so I did a quick cake cookie mix search. (Thank
God for google!) I remembered a friend from Canada made these for us when
she visited us here in the states, so I knew they were pretty yummy.
(Thanks Amy) So this is what Caleb is now taking to class. He is long fast
asleep but I'm sure he will be happy in the morning to know he doesn't have to take
those "santa hat's" to school lol.......

CAKE MIX COOKIES

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1 package of cake mix (any flavor)
1 large egg
1/4 cup of oil
1/4 cup of water
1 cup of chopped nuts, raisins, oatmeal, coconut, chocolate chips, M&M'S® etc. (anything you like in cookies)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cake mix, egg, oil, and water. Beat until well blended. Stir in remaining ingredient (s).

Drop by teaspoon about 1 inch apart onto greased cooke sheet.

Bake for 15 minutes or until done. Makes about 4 dozens. Yummy!

Peanut Butter Chippers

Peanut Butter Chippers

6 tbsp butter, softened
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk chocolate chips

In a small bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter, and the sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and the salt. Gradually add to the creamed mixture. Mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 F for 11-14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks. Makes 3 1/2 dozen

Under the peanut cookies you can see m&m cookies, yep I made those too but I cheated :) I bought chocolate chip cookie mix (got a great sale!) and mixed walnuts and m&m's into it. Fast an easy!!!

Peanut Crescents Cookies

Peanut Crescents

1 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 cup finely chopped
salted peanuts
Confectioners' sugar

In a small bowl, cream the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the water and the vanilla. Gradually add the flour. Mix well. Stir in the peanuts. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle. Shape rounded tablespoonfuls of the dough into 2 1/2 inch crescents. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 F for 15-18 minutes or until set. Do Not Brown. Roll the warm cookies in the confectioners sugar. Cool completely on wire racks. Roll the cooled cookies again the confectioners' sugar. Makes 3 dozen