Hi there from Williamstown

Hi everyone!!
Bonnie called yesterday and wondered why I haven't posted a coment?? Have not got Todd's ok yet, so I'm using Bonnie's stuff.

Things are fine here, just enjoying the snow and being shut in. (I know, that sounds goofey, but I do)

It's been so much fun reading all your comments and seeing pictures of the kids. They are all just great.

Not much going on here. Lee has just about got his old Ford truck restored, and promises me a ride soon. I'm glad that's it's coming to an end. I was begining to wonder if maybe I shouldn't go and have "FORD" tatooed on my forehead so he would notice I am here!! He's a hoot!

Well, just wanted to see if I could post something. Hope all are well and doing great in this cold weather.

Love, Linda

(Originaly posted by Bonnie. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

Snoballs

Anyone for a snowball fight . . .



Emily & her friend spent one afternoon making all of these snowballs! The boy's have strict instructions not to destroy any of these! I wonder how long that will last?





(Originaly posted by Kim. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

Another Snow Day

We started the week with a snow day...not much snow, but no school. Since the weather forecast was for a significant snow, Nick made Aunt Emma's Coffee Cake for Tuesday morning in hopes of a true "SNOW DAY".





We woke up to the snow day we've been waiting for all winter. We started with breakfast...Nick's Coffee Cake.



YUM!

Then we headed to Ryle High School for some serious sledding & snow boarding...





On Wednesday...as you all know...more snow & another SNOW DAY! Here are some shots from the yard today.







Nick spent part of the day building an igloo...





This evening, we got the call that school would be closed again tomorrow. I'm running out of ideas for fun...bake, eat, play in the snow, eat, race Mario Kart's and practice our family rock band moves on Wii, eat...any other ideas out there???

Enjoy & stay warm!

(Originaly posted by Kim. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

Rick and Mike having a snow day

(Originaly posted by Father Michael Due. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

BR-R-R-R-R-R-R-R

Here some more pictures of how things look around Florence, Kentucky. We had several inches of ice through the night and then this morning we had about 4-5 more inches of snow.

This is our lattice work above our upper deck. Cool!



This morning the big oak tree in front had some branches touching the ground.



Then the second round of snow came and covered all the ice.......



Pretty, huh.......







Nothing seems to stop these guys.......



When I look at this, I cannot believe the kids will go to school any time this week. (Sorry Kim)

(Originaly posted by Bonnie. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

Winter Wonderland

You have to admit it is really beautiful. Here are some pictures from early this morning in the garden and around the house.

Dad borrowed the Hopper's snow blower and cleaned their driveway ours and the Shrienbeck's. It took about 30 minutes.
Todd, I hope you get to use yours :)

We are supposed to get some freezing rain and then more snow - total of up to 13" by tomorrow afternoon. This will probably be headed toward Todd and Ken by Thursday. Remember "Bridges freeze first".
Amy the pictures of the kids are great! Sean looks like he is in an igloo. Have Fun.

(Originaly posted by Bonnie. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

LaRoy's snow day

Okay...here goes. I really stink at this, and I have forgotten my username and password :) Anyone who could help me with that, it would be appreciated. I will attempt to load the pictures we took in the snow today....sorry if they don't work!
Amy



The kids made an igloo large enough for a small boy.





Here is the small boy!



(Originaly posted by Amy Chris. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

View from my office

It took about an hour and a half to get in this morning! Only a 24 mile drive.

It is getting a little lighter now, but is going to be quite heavy tonight. Tomorrow should be interesting.

At least I have a nice view!



(Originaly posted by Todd. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

Snow Day

(Originaly posted by Ken. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

Funny Airplane Clips

Oh, these are the funniest parts of this movie!!

Totally kid save, by the way . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd9oTKwRyIk&NR=1

(Originaly posted by Todd. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

Greetings from NC

Well hello all,

This is such a great idea. I look forward to reading about all that is going on with you all. It was so good to see alot of you over Christmas, we really enjoyed our time with you all. Loved the memories with Aunt Debbie's food selections, I forgot about those sandwiches.

Here's a picture of the kids, enjoy.



(Originaly posted by Scott & Patti Jenkins. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

Greetings from NC

Well hello all,

This is such a great idea. I look forward to reading about all that is going on with you all. It was so good to see alot of you over Christmas, we really enjoyed our time with you all. Loved the memories with Aunt Debbie's food selections, I forgot about those sandwiches.

Here's a picture of the kids, enjoy.



(Originaly posted by Scott & Patti Jenkins. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

Hi Everyone!

Hi Everyone!
Just got the "rights" to enter the family blog. Thanks Todd for creating this site! I am sure it will be filled with lots of exciting things, ideas and memories.
I have no recipes to share at this time because I haven't cooked in a while. Thank goodness for Lean Cuisine....if they only worked! Guess you can't have everything.
Well just wanted to be added to the blog. Not much going on at this time of year. Oh, I know! I am having a colonoscopy next week. I know I am the one who usually comes up with something fun to do. It's my first so I can share that experience next week.
Unitl then...take care and stay warm!
Aunt Debbie/ Deb/ Mom

(Originaly posted by Debbie. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

Hail to the Chief

In honor of Martin Luther King Day today and the Inauguration of President Barrack Obama tomorrow, I am sending a recipe for World Peace Cookies. Seems only fitting. I have no idea why they are named World Peace Cookies but they are well worth the effort to make. They are probably our new 'favorite' cookie. The weather here today is cold with a little snow remaining on the ground. Perfect for a hot cup of coffee and one of these cookies. Todd, you can make these really fast with your new mixer! :)
Dad has had a terrible cold and we have not ventured out for days. We were watching some of the events at the Lincoln Memorial yesterday and I thought what a great honor it would be to be there and get caught up in all the 'hoopla'. I am sure Ken and Todd would beg to differ with me. Anyway, tomorrow is a very exciting day and we will be watching the 'swearing in' here at home.

Enjoy, MOM

WORLD PEACE COOKIES
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 stick plus 3 tablespoons (11 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
* 2/3 cup (packed) light brown sugar
* 1/4 cup sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel or 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into chips, or a generous 3/4 cup store-bought mini chocolate chips

1. Sift the flour, cocoa and baking soda together.

2. Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy. Add both sugars, the salt and vanilla extract and beat for 2 minutes more.

3. Turn off the mixer. Pour in the dry ingredients, drape a kitchen towel over the stand mixer to protect yourself and your kitchen from flying flour and pulse the mixer at low speed about 5 times, a second or two each time. Take a peek — if there is still a lot of flour on the surface of the dough, pulse a couple of times more; if not, remove the towel. Continuing at low speed, mix for about 30 seconds more, just until the flour disappears into the dough — for the best texture, work the dough as little as possible once the flour is added, and don't be concerned if the dough looks a little crumbly. Toss in the chocolate pieces and mix only to incorporate.

4. Turn the dough out onto a work surface, gather it together and divide it in half. Working with one half at a time, shape the dough into logs that are 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap the logs in plastic wrap and refrigerate them for at least 3 hours. (The dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. If you've frozen the dough, you needn't defrost it before baking — just slice the logs into cookies and bake the cookies 1 minute longer.)

Getting Ready to Bake:

5. Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats.

6. Using a sharp thin knife, slice the logs into rounds that are 1/2 inch thick. (The rounds are likely to crack as you're cutting them — don't be concerned, just squeeze the bits back onto each cookie.) Arrange the rounds on the baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between them.

7. Bake the cookies one sheet at a time for 12 minutes — they won't look done, nor will they be firm, but that's just the way they should be. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack and let the cookies rest until they are only just warm, at which point you can serve them or let them reach room temperature.

(Originaly posted by Bonnie. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

January Breakfast

This hungry guy joined Pop and I this morning while we had breakfast. He is really a beauty. We really love to watch the birds while we eat.



Speaking of eating - these biscuits are the lightest, flakiest I have ever made. I found this recipe a couple a weeks ago and have been dying to try them. Today was the day. They are a little time consuming, but well worth the work. They are delicious. I did not cut the recipe in half, hence I have enough biscuits to feed the multitudes. It should not be too difficult to cut this in half.

Extra-Flaky Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

4 1/2 cups white lily all-purpose flour (I used generic all-purpose)
2 tsps cream of tartar
2 tsps baking soda
1 1/2 tsps salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter cut into pieces
1 3/4-2 cups cold buttermilk
9 tbsps unsalted butter, softened and cut into 1 tbsp pieces
1 tbsp unsalted butter melted

Preheat oven to 450° (500° if using a convection oven). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In bowl, combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Cut cold butter or shortening into dry ingredients with a pastry blender. (Mixture will resemble coarse crumbs, with no large chunks of butter.) If butter gets very soft at this point, refrigerate mixture for 20 minutes. Add 1 3/4 cups buttermilk, stirring just to moisten all ingredients. Dough should be soft and moist; add remaining 1/4 cup as needed. Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface and knead gently about 10 times, or just untll dough holds together. Roll or pat dough into a 14-by-10-inch rectangle. With short side nearest you, spread top two-thirds of dough with 3 tablespoons soft butter, leaving bottom third, closest to you, unbuttered. Fold dough into thirds by pulling bottom third up over center and then pulling top third over middle. Turn dough so short side faces you. Pat into a 9-by-12-inch rectangle. (I used a rolling pin - it gets messy, but it gets done). In same manner, spread again with 3 tablespoons soft butter and fold letter style. Turn once more in the same manner. Pat into a 9-by-12-inch rectangle (I used the rolling pin again); spread with remaining 3 tablespoons soft butter and fold up. Work quickly and gently so as not to overwork dough. Pat (roll) dough into rectangle 3/4-inch thick on floured surface. Cut into squares with a sharp chef’s knife. (I used my round biscuit cutters, because I love them). Place on pan, 1 inch apart. Lightly brush tops with melted butter. Bake in center of hot oven about 20 minutes (about 12 minutes in convection), until golden brown and firm. Serve hot, warm or room temperature.

Enjoy. I hope to be sending more later.

MOM

(Originaly posted by Bonnie. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)

Chili Bowls

Winter has finally arrived. Snow has been blowing all day and it is quite cold. Unfortunately for the sledders and snow boarders in the house, the snow is not sticking. We are having the perfect cold winter night meal, White Chicken Chili, served in the great chili bowls that Mom & Dad gave to me for Christmas. Thought I would share ...



(Originaly posted by Kim. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)



















White Chicken Chili

2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 cups finely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground coriander
2 (4.5 ounce) cans chopped green chiles, undrained
1 cup water
2 (15.5 ounce) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14 ounce) can fat-free, less sodium chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup chopped frest cilantro
1/2 cup chopped green onions

1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken to pan; cook 10 minutes or until chicken is browned, stirring frequently.

2. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion to pan, saute 6 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; saute 2 minutes. Stir in cumin, oregano, and coriander; saute 1 minute. Stir in chiles; reduce heat to low, partially cover, and cook 10 minutes. Add chicken, 1 cup water, beans, and broth; bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in hot sauce. Ladle into bowls, sprinkle with cheese, cilantro, and green onions.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!! I hope this finds each and every one of you happy, safe and well.
The LaRoy's and Wiehoffs had an unfair share of illness since Christmas Day. They are all on the mend now and ready to tackle anything in this new year.

I heard last night on the news that the 'Washington' area had high winds and many were left without power. I hope this did not move into the Virginia area. Todd and Ken, we hope to talk to you both later today to catch up since Christmas Day.

Dad and I had a quiet New Year's Eve at home last night. We rented a couple of movies and had lights out by 12:10.

Over the Christmas holiday, I talked with most of the family and told them that in the new year we would be contacting them with information for logging on to our new 'blog' page. Patti was particularly excited and said she had often had the same idea.

Now that the rush of the holidays are over, I hope to really get into this whole 'blog' thing.

I hope to be able to attach pictures and graphics.

Enjoy the remainder of your holiday season.

Love MOM

(Originaly posted by Bonnie. Imported from old blog by Admin on 7/17/2009)