The Baking Girl : Mini Apple Galettes

The Baking Girl is a fan of the Pioneer Woman.  After a recent episode on mini blueberry galettes, the Baking Girl and I decided we would love an apple version.  Fancy as the name sounds, a galette is really just an apple pie with no top crust. I think I posted a regular sized galette before but I can't seem to find it.  Anyhow this is just a miniature version, perfect for little hands and mouths.

There is nothing complicated with this recipe, it uses a typical pie crust and apple pie recipe. It's an easy recipe for children to follow and if you are a fan of convenience you can always use store bought crust.  We have done that a few times.  The original inspiration, if you are a fan of blueberry is here - http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2014/07/mini-blueberry-galettes/

Pictures to share:

cutting the crust down to size using a soup bowl

apple filling

hard working little hands

ready for the oven

the caramel on the bottom of the pan is yummy!

another baking success

Feast of St. Lucy 2014

I am writing this under the influence of drugs - allergy drugs, that is.  I was exposed to an unknown allergen late Thursday and finally ended up going to urgent care Friday evening. The effects of the medicine prevented us from having our usual early morning St. Lucy breakfast today. I did make it to morning mass but crashed on the couch shortly after. Bernadryl is good that way. Since this is such an important feast in our household I knew I couldn't let it pass without celebrating. We decided to celebrate this evening instead with breakfast for dinner. It worked out really well and the kids were thrilled that the tradition continued.

Before my brain gets all fogged up again here are some pictures to share:

"that's St. Lucy"

you've seen these a million times and here it is again because Christmas tableware is so festive

white chocolate candy pretzels, I do not have pictures of the kids making this as I slept away the allergy itch

store bought cinnamon buns saved the day

I will always remember today -a friend of mine who is moving to Texas (tomorrow!) gave me this gift.  I was in a groggy state when she stopped by but I will see her in Texas soon so she will get a proper thank you.  Thank you Sara!

I hope you all had a wonderful feast day.

Christmas Decorating - Keepin' It Real Edition

This time last week my floors were nicely swept, there was not a speck of dust anywhere, my kitchen counter was empty, the laundry bin was empty and I sat on the comfy couch victorious over another successful Thanksgiving and the deep clean that preceded the feast.  What a difference a few days make. Once the Thanksgiving dishes were put away and the Christmas decorations were brought up the mess quickly escalated. It was hard for me to function in domestic chaos made worse by the coughing/sore throat/fever bug that came through our house. We were all sick and weary and not in prime shape to finish a very big task around here that is Christmas decorating.  So we have decided to downsize the decorating for the time being. We are skipping the live tree (as of today's decision, it may still change last minute) and just sticking to our 5ft. fake tree.  That means less decoration to put out and put away.  I am up for that kind of Christmas this year, simple, no frills.  Well okay, some frill but not ALL the normal frill. Just this year.  Because despite all my complaining about clutter I love Christmas.  I love a festive home. I love every piece of decoration we have, most of them were thoughtfully acquired either by inheritance or purposely purchased.  They have meaning and I am not about to bury all those memories in the name of minimalism.  Not yet.  Maybe when I'm eighty.

And as usual, I have pictures to share. Those of you with OCD tendencies may now walk away from your computers :-)

if it's a surface it will be filled with stuff

mirrors needed to be hung

the ugly before the pretty

but this, the Advent wreath, brings peace in the midst of clutter - that middle candle was from a program in our parish called ADORE, a family adoration night

the kids Advent calendar that reveals a different Scripture passage each day

I shouldn't be complaining, my kids do most of the decorating

the oldest two decorated outdoors

I have yet to finish this altar/mantel

each year we get a special ornament for one another, this one is mine

this one is my husband's

this one is for the baseball playing boy

my husband's Santa collection on the piano

saving the best for last - an empty manger

And now you know why I will never be a Christmas minimalist.

Thanksgiving Recap

Thanksgiving week is over. We are back to books despite the coughing, sneezing and some lingering sore throats.  I think I had it worse than anyone in my household.  I started feeling yucky on Thanksgiving day and by the time the weekend rolled around my voice was almost gone.  I'm still hoarse, this looks like it's staying around for a while.  

Did you brave the stores during Thanksgiving weekend?  I don't think I have ever shopped on Black Friday. My many years in the retail industry has given me a different perspective of sales, Black Friday or Boxing Day (in my country of citizenship), it is not worth the big to-do.  

Anyhow, we had twenty six of the clan over for Thanksgiving dinner.  Two turkeys, copious amounts of potatoes and other goodies, it was a beautiful feast.  Our seating arrangement worked out perfectly, we had an adult table, a highschool and below kids table and a college-aged kids table.  It's amazing to sit there and see all the kids growing up.  I felt old! And accomplished - in a "my house is perfectly clean" kind of way  LOL.  

We did have one missing niece at the table.  She plays college volleyball and their team was playing a tournament game so she wasn't able to fly home for Thanksgiving.  We were able to watch her play after dinner on tv.  Unfortunately, they lost to a very good team.  

Here are some pictures to share - while my house was tidy.  Tomorrow I will post about that messy-maker called Christmas decorating.

the makings of a family feast, we eventually separated these three tables for a better seating arrangement

cousins/ bff's

this is my in-law's special wedding china, this is only used for Thanksgiving, don't be fooled I ate so much more than that dinner roll ;-)

I get hungry everytime I look at this picture

a preview of tomorrow's post - taking Fall decorations down and putting Christmas decorations up