Big Pete

Big Pete arrived in the mail! I feel everyone's judging eyes when I talk about him, but he makes me so happy. I love how heavy the glass is, and how I can hold it with one hand, but it feels so much more comfortable using 2 hands. I can cup it like a chalice, or a goblet. I can drink 8oz and not see a dent.

50th Anniversary Cakeballs

I baked and rolled up 2 batches of cake balls today for my grandparents' 50th anniversary party next weekend.  I'm making 25 centerpieces with them.  I bought clay flower pots and dowel rods with bases, and round styrofoam balls.  I'm going to make cakeball topiaries!  From what I measured, I'll need 400 cakeballs for all 25 centerpieces.  I'm just going to make as many as I can, and make do.  I can't promise 400.  I made rainbow sprinkle and butter pecan today.  I still have to bake and roll chocolate, lemon, carrot, and red velvet.  That will get me almost half of what I  need, and I'll see which ones I like best for the rest.

I am keeping them in the freezer until I'm ready to dip them in chocolate, but I don't want to dip them too early or they'll go bad. You can't refrigerate them once you've dipped them.  We're leaving for San Antonio next Friday, so I have to have them all done by the end of the night Thursday night.  I'm hoping I can get them all dipped and decorated Wed and Thurs.  It is going to be a LOT of work for just 2 nights.

Matt has his Fantasy Football draft today/tonight.  I think he's spending the night there, so that means I get to watch some chick flicks tonight and catch up on my reading.

Sharon Price

My parents had me at a young age, so I have always been lucky to have young grandparents. Most of the memories of my grandparents put them right around the same age as my parents are now, perhaps a touch older. As I've grown older, I haven't expected them to age with me. It was a rude awakening when my grandmother passed away 6 years ago today. I've never lost anyone so close to me before, which I suppose makes me both very lucky and in the minority. How is it possible that 6 years later, memories of her bring a tear to my eye?

She passed away 7 months before I met my husband, and it will always disappoint me that she never got to know him or my kids. I wish I could convey through stories what a completely wonderful person Sharon Price was. But I know that no story will be enough for my kids to feel what I feel for her. I am so thankful that my parents make such an effort to be an active part in my kids lives, and I hope Kaylen and Jenson realize how lucky they are.

My failures as a cook

The shame about the Examiner articles I'm writing is that I can only post my success stories! Who wants to hear all about how great someone's recipes are? Nobody. People love failure. That's why we read the tabloids and watch American Idol!

I made mini meatloaves the other day. The taste was great, but they looked like dog food. Jenson actually LOVED them and ate more than we did.

I made twice-baked potatoes, but I didn't use a recipe and I should have. I thought they were too dry. I put a ton of cheddar cheese, cream cheese and sour cream in the potatoes, so why were they still so dry?? Oh, and they were fat free (obviously).

I also bombed on a Pumpkin Soup recipe. Again, Jenson was a huge fan (and so was Kaylen) but Matt hated it. I know it sounds gross, but it actually wasn't bad. Different, but not bad. It had Prosciutto, onions, garlic, pumpkin, chicken broth, nutmeg, and some other stuff.

Manhattan Clam Chowder gets a D+

The Manhattan Clam Chowder wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. I think it just comes down to preference. I prefer my Clam Chowder white and creamy. This one was spicy with a red sauce. I thought I'd like it, but I really wasn't a fan.

I skipped my cardio this morning because Matt and I stayed up late watching American Idol. I know! Its a horrible excuse to miss exercise.