Back At It

Hi, everybody!  Long time, no blog!

How were your holidays?  Nate, Ike and I had a fabulous Christmas and New Year's Eve.

We were able to enjoy time with both of our families.  There was a shortage of gifts at each location.  Can anyone guess what my dad (on the right) got?  We so tricky. 

Ike loves opening gifts.  He loves to help each person open until he realizes that the gift is not a dog bone or dog toy.

Speaking of Ike, he was looking quite fashionable during the holidays.  On Christmas he sported a red plaid jacket and his Charlie Be Good tie.

We went for a snowy hike on New Year's day and he threw on a scarf.  Because it was chilly.  He's always prepared.

This is turning into one of those crazy animal blogs, isn't it?  Someone call an intervention once Ike starts writing the posts. I feel like we're just steps away from that happening.  Seriously. Intervention.  I need to put someone in charge.

Squirrel. 

Speaking of being in charge, Nate and I spent a good chunk of time unplugged this past week.  I felt like the internet was controlling my me.  I have control issues.  So I kicked the interwebs to the curb.  (Except for Instagram.  Instagram is basically like electricity.  A necessity.)  We completed a puzzle.  We watched movies.  We took walks in the snow.  I became obsessed with crochet (more on that later).

Blogland is sucking me back in but I'm back to being in charge.  Look out.  We'll be back next week with quick recap of 2013 and new goals and projects for ol' 2014.

How were your holidays?  Let's get all first world and tell us about your favorite gift (given or received).

Peppermint Oreo Truffles

Merry Christmas Eve!  It's frigid here in Iowa. As in below zero frigid.   After I finish this post I am going to research real estate in Key West.  I think decorating a beach house would be fun.  Ike would love the year round walks.  Now if only we can get Nate on board.

We spent a lovely few days at my parents' house. We did some baking. I love baking. I mentioned earlier that I decided to actually record some of our favorites so I can easily find the recipes next year!

I whipped up these peppermint Oreo truffles.  

As I was photographing them, my dad wanted me to be sure to mention that I didn't make the Oreos or the candy canes.  Always helpful.  So just so we're clear, I didn't make the Oreos. Or candy canes.  But I totally made all of the truffles.  And I ate all of the truffles.

This recipe is adapted from Kraft.

Enjoy!

We hope you all have a fantastic holiday!  We'll be back sometime next week!

Dolly's Mix: A Party Snack Mix

Happy Monday morning!  Nate, Ike and I have been enjoying a laid back weekend with my family.  I'm pretty sure the only things I have done in the past two days is eat, crochet, nap, crochet, eat, nap, crochet.  You get the idea.  I even got bored once or twice.  I haven't been bored in ages.  It's been amazing.

My mom told us that she cut back on baking.  Which means there are only 87 varieties of cookies and snacks instead of 98.

Nate and I both demanded Dolly's Mix.  Dolly's Mix is the absolute best snack mix in the world.  I broke down and asked my mom for the recipe.  I was pretty sure it included something illegal in it because it's so amazingly delicious.

Turns out the amazingness is from popcorn oil and ranch dressing packets.  It all makes sense now.  I should be disgusted but it tastes too good for me to care.  Sorry arteries.  I'll eat something healthy later this week.

This is a recipe my mom has been making for years.  She's not sure of the source other than a co-worker from the past.

I've gotta go sucker punch my brother and steal the Dolly's Mix bag he just opened.  (Yay, exercise.)

Be sure to check out our "cook it" page for more recipes!