HESSON NYE Party 2016

I love my Hesson family! Tonight we partied like it was 2016! Revived the pizza party at Mom and Dad's house. Had a blast talking to cousins, aunts, uncles and eating Dad's delicious pizza! 

Family traditions are so important to me! My family is so important to me! It was a special night full of fun and memories!

Apple-Cranberry Sauce

Apple-cranberry Sauce

1 lb cranberries

1 Cup apple cider

1/2 Cup honey

1/2 apple chopped 

Dash of ground ginger

In a saucepan on medium heat, combine all ingredients!

Stir occasionally and simmer until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, 12 to 15 minutes.

Cool and store in a covered dish in the refrigerator.

Bring to room temperature to serve.

Can be prepared up to 4 days in advance.

Basic Pie Crust

Basic Pie Crust (adapted from @alanachernilla #homemadepantry)

1 Cup (2 sticks) cold, unsalted butter; plus extra for greasing the pan
1 1/4 Cups all purpose flour
1 Cup whole wheat flour; plus additional to flour the counter and the dish
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 Cup water

 Cut the butter into 1/2 inch cubes and combine with flour in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using your hands, toss the mixture to coat. Put the bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes.

In a measuring cup, combine water, salt, and apple cider vinegar. Stir until salt is dissolved. Put the cup in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Take the bowl out of the freezer and blend on low with paddle attachment until it looks like coarse sand.

Take the cup out of the freezer and with mixer still on low, slowly pour the wet ingredients into the bowl.

Stop mixer when dough comes together in a ball (20ish seconds).

Turn dough out onto the counter and press together into a large disc. 

Cut in two equal parts, wrap in waxed paper, press into a disc, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to 3 days)

Grease 9 inch pie plate with butter and lightly dust with flour.

Take dough out of refrigerator 15 min before you are ready to roll it out.
Unwrap dough and place on lightly floured surface. 

Starting in the center, use your rolling pin to shape the dough into a circle about 12 to 14 inches in diameter and 1/4 inch thick.

Gently fold crust in half, then fold that semicircle in half again so that you have a quarter circle.

Line up the corner in the center of your pie plate and gently unfold.

Fill the crust with your pie filling. 

Repeat the rolling process with the second disc of dough. It can be used to lay on top, cut into strips for a lattice, or for another pie altogether.
Use your fingers to crimp the edge of the dough along the edge of the pie plate.
Cook according to your pie's directions.

Maple Pumpkin Pie

Maple Pumpkin Pie (from @realsimple)

Okay, admittedly aside from using whole foods this isn't particularly low in calories. But, you gots to live a little, people!

1 piecrust fitted into a 9 inch pie plate

2 large eggs

1 15 oz can pure pumpkin puree

1 Cup heavy cream 

1/2 Cup maple syrup 

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger 

1/2 tsp salt

Set oven rack in lowest position and heat to 350.

Place pie plate on a foil lined baking sheet.

In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients. 

Pour into crust and bake until center sets. Around 60 to 70 minutes.

Cool to room temp before serving.

Halloween 2016

I have never claimed to be awesome at Halloween. In fact, I fear it is quite the opposite.

Despite Jared's best efforts, I have hardly taken to this holiday.

We did put a few things out front this year, but we brought them in because of Hurricane Matthew. Surprise, surprise, they NEVER went back up! 

I always think this will be the year that I buy costumes and treat bags and go all out with decorations. Then it is time to do all that and I think about how much that all costs and I just can't justify spending my money on things that are going to get ruined, eaten, or that I have to find a place to store 11 months out of the year.

You may call me a Booge, and you would be correct.

Once again, my children picked their costumes out of our dress up bin 10 minutes before we left the house. They carried reusable shopping bags to collect candy.

 I did, however, get a pumpkin to be carved,  

 purchase cute Halloween glasses for the children,

and manage to arrange to be with friends for festivities! 

Yoda (I did go as far as borrowing this from a friend!)

Ninjago (3rd year in a row)

Elsa 

Storm Trooper (2nd year in a row)

Jedi Knight

All in all, we had fun and I didn't have to sacrifice my sleep or get carpal tunnel from using a glue gun! Plus, as a friend pointed out, I have a fun house that I had this many costumes to choose from in the first place!

St. Patrick's Day

I associate my favorite holidays with the food eaten on those days. I love having traditions associated with yummy food and my favorite people. Believe it or not, I have Irish heritage on my dad's side. His mother's (my grandmother's) maiden name was McCormick! I thought I'd share our signature St. Patrick's Day dishes with the recipes I use. Enjoy!

Note: I always add extra milk!

In a crockpot, pour 12 oz apple juice add sliced (lengthwise) carrots, and 3-5 pounds corned beef with spice packet. I like to brown it on the stove in a little oil first. Cook on low for 7-8 hours Remove beef and let rest. Add sliced brussel sprouts and turn crockpot up to high and cook additional 20 minutes. Slice beef and serve.

Note: I know corned beef isn't really a traditional Irish dish. Shepherd's Pie would be more accurate, but we really like this recipe so this is the one we pull out for this day. We also love Shepherd's Pie and eat it throughout the year. :)

Note: I do not add caraway seeds or raisins because I do not like them. I slice it, butter it and spread on some strawberry jam. It is so good!

Be Mine

I know I can be a total scrooge, but in the case of Valentine's Day I love it! 

I don't love all the candy the kids bring home from school valentines, especially when the Christmas candy has finally been eaten up. I love the spirit of Valentine's Day and trying extra hard to show love to those special people in your life. 

This year, I found this cute little mailbox in the Dollar Spot at Target (I think they renamed it to Bullseye's Playground. Lame because now, everything is not all $1.) Each day I put something in the mailbox: candy, a picture of a donut indicating that there were donuts in the kitchen, little heart valentines for everyone with things we love about each child written on them, etc. When the flag is up, there is a special something. It was fun!

I asked all my kids' teachers if I could come to the class party. Only Ethan's said yes! I was a little bummed to miss on the others, but it was fun to do something special with Ethan.

On Valentine's Day, Uncle Tony visited with a special surprise! He gave us a bearded dragon. Ethan named her Alexandra. She is so cute and we all think she's super cool. Thanks, Uncle Tony.

Ethan is especially smitten! He loves hanging out with Alex and she is the first "person" he wants to see when he gets home from school. 

Jared surprised me with flowers! My real present was new linens for our recently painted downstairs bath. Best present ever! I love having soft towels for our guests. 

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Happy Easter 2015

Easter was fun and relaxing this year. It was a beautiful day and we were able to focus on our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ and all that He has done for us. His gift of death and resurrection are truly the greatest gift given to mankind. We also enjoyed an Easter egg hunt and yummy cookout at Stacey's house.

These babies should be here within a month!(Andrea 36 weeks and Stacey 34 weeks)

Grayson took home quite a stash of eggs.

Ethan found the "Golden Egg." It had $2 in it!

Landon also found many eggs.

Waiting to start the hunt.

Mom hid the eggs and then the children were released by age to find them. Miriam got to go first and she had a great time finding her eggs. She was so cute. She cheered for herself and raised her eggs high in the air every time she found one. 

Earlier in the week, Grayson also had an Easter egg hunt at school and an Easter Hat parade.

Jared helped Grayson make his Easter Hat. It is a cowboy hat with paper eggs and bunny ears. Jared said the bunny ears looked more like donkey ears. I think that would be even more appropriate than bunny ears because Christ actually rode a donkey into Jerusalem the week before Easter. So, donkeys are actually more relevant at Easter than bunnies.