A Fun Weekend For All

I am not a big fan of winter. The exception to that rule is when it snows. I love the beautiful white starkness (before the salt and plows make it yucky and gray). Rob is fanatical about weather. He regularly reads weather blogs and when there is a forecast for snow, he checks accuweather obsessively. Our kids are finally to the age where they can actually enjoy snowstorms. In years past the amount of time to dress each child greatly outnumbered the actual time they played outside once dressed. Thankfully there are able to dress themselves and undress themselves (in the laundry room, where we promptly dry the snowclothes in the dryer, energy efficiency be darned!).

Here on Randolph Drive, our actual accumulation was 27 inches. The kids were able to construct tunnels, play with friends, and in general, get some fresh air and exercise (it's hard to walk in snowdrifts when they reach your waist!). On Friday night we "switched kids" with friends and the final tally was that we had three girls at our house and they had three boys at their house. Sunday the kids played outside a good portion of the day and then we went to a superbowl party.

On Saturday night we had a "blizzard party". Basically we invited a few neighbors and enjoyed some snacks and conversation. It seems we don't interact quite as much with the people we live so near, especially in cold weather. We enjoy being outside so much more in the summer and consequently see each other more often. It was nice to be able to catch up and usually my social life is centered around the bus stop (pretty sad).

While the rest of my family enjoyed the outdoors, I was quite content in my kitchen. Rob was busy all of Saturday (9-5) clearing neighbors' driveways and part of Sunday clearing the ends of the snowplowed driveways. On Saturday night I made:
apple pie, carrot cake cupcakes, a veggie tray with a cheese-ball, and pepperoni rolls. For the superbowl party I made: molasses cookies and lemon squares. In my quest to eat lighter I failed pretty miserably in the cheese-ball challenge. I'm not sure if I've shared this before, but I'm not a dessert person. I mostly make desserts because my family loves them. I, however, am perfectly content with a second helping of dinner or something savory.





Three-Cheese Ball
1 80z pkg softened cream cheese
1 small finely chopped onion
2 T worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (I used buttermilk blue)
3/4 cup shredded cheddar (I used "buffalo wing" smoked cheddar)

with a hand-held mixer, combine ingredients and chill for at least four hours (I then topped mine with salted pumpkin seeds)



Carrot Cake Cupcakes
adapted from Betty Crocker's New Cookbook
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (freshly ground is the yummiest)
3 cups shredded carrots
1 cup raisins

1. Mix sugar, oil, and eggs until well-blended.
2. Mix in remaining ingredients and beat for three minutes.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center remains clean. makes 24

cream cheese icing: 1 8oz pkg softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup softened butter, 2 tsp milk, 1 tsp vanilla, 4 cups powdered sugar


Molasses Cookies
adapted from The Pioneer Woman
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup crisco
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp baking soda

mix all ingredients, roll each cookie in sugar and bake at 370 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until the tops are cracked


Pepperoni Rolls
Using your favorite pizza dough or favorite bread dough recipe, (I used the recipe from simplekneads.blogspot.com, thanks Abbie!) cut small strips of dough, wrap several matchstick-sized pepperonis and allow to rise on a cookie sheet in a warm place. Sprinkle with garlic salt, herbes de provence, and parmesan cheese. Bake at 390 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden. Dip into your favorite marinara sauce




Lemon Squares
adapted from Betty Crocker's New Cookbook
1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 powdered sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp lemon peel
2 T lemon juice
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs

1. Mix flour, butter and powdered sugar. Press mixture into 8x8x2 inch baking dish, building up 1/2 inch edges.
2. Bake crust at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
3. Beat remaining ingredients on high speed for 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.
4. Pour over hot crust and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes or until no indentation remains when lightly touched in center.
5. Dust with powdered sugar and cut into 1 1/2 inch squares (25 squares total).