A Giveaway, Lunch and Dessert

Isn't this the cutest doll you've ever seen? And it is being given away here. It's about Annie is a cute blog and she makes the dolls. She has the patterns too so you can make your own. They are all so precious. Good luck everyone!! (including me)

I'm trying to make healthy lunches. Last week I made a salad from Bulghur, tomatoes, olives and feta. So good for me and so tasty too. Today I made a soba noodle salad for the next couple of days. What do you take for lunch? I'm so spoiled by being able to come home for lunch that it's hard for me to plan ahead. Since I'm only working 6 hours a day, I only take a half hour so it's easier if I take something and eat at my desk.

The recipe is from this month's Everyday Food.

Cold Soba Salad with Feta and Cucumber

1 package (8.8 ozs) soba noodles (Japanese buckwheat noodles)

1/2 English cucumber peeled into long ribbons and thinly sliced

1/4 head red cabbage thinly sliced

1 shallot thinly sliced

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

3 T olive oil

salt/pepper

4 ozs crumbled feta

Cook soba according to package instructions and drain.

In a bowl combine cucumber, cabbage, shallot, parsley, lemon juice and olive oil. Add soba season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until chilled, top with feta cheese and serve.

Tonight I'm having barbecue ribs, dijon potatoes and steamed broccoli with lemon and garlic oil. For dessert it's Brownie Pudding Cake. I can hardly wait for dinner. I have to idea where I got the recipe. I've had it for years.

Brownie Pudding Cake

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar

4 T unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup milk

1 T oil

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup chopped nuts

1/3 cup sugar

3/4 cup boiling water

4 servings

In a medium bowl stir together flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 T cocoa powder and baking powder.

Add milk, oil and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Stir in nuts.

Transfer batter to an ungreased 1 qt casserole.

In a small bowl stir together 1/3 cup sugar and 2 T cocoa powder. Gradually stir in boiling water.

Pour the mixture evenly over batter in the casserole.

Bake 350 for 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean. Serve warm.

An Exciting Day and Award

What an exciting day!! Are you all watching our new President Obama and his beautiful wife? I missed today's activities because of work but I'm making up for it tonight. It is such an exciting time.
I received this award from my wonderful friend Mandy at the Vintage Kitten so I thought I would come out of hibernation to post. Mandy is such a fun lady and I love reading her posts.
Anna and Bailey wanted to say Hi also. It's hard to get a good picture of them together but happened to catch them this weekend. Both of them looking so innocent!!

I'm taking a break for awhile. I spend way too much time on the computer and my house is a mess and I really want to get some things done. I had some dental surgery that more or less knocked me on my ass but I'm feeling better now. Thank you all so much for your concern and checking in on me. I love you all. I'll try to post more often.

My New Treasures

I was so lucky to win some giveaways before the holidays. I hope you enjoy seeing all my new treasures. The above picture is part of Sher's package.

This wasn't really a giveaway. Andrea was lucky enough to have a friend who gave her lots and lots of linens and dishes. I mentioned I loved the blue bird plate an she said she would send it tom me. I was so thrilled!!! She included the beautiful hankys too!! Thank you Andrea.

Crystal had a giveway for her tatted snowflakes. I will receive one a month and this is the December snowflake. I just love it!!

Doesn't it look dainty? I have never tatted nor do I know anything about it. It looks like a lot of work though. Crystal did a beautiful job. Thank you Crystal.

Sher has a monthly giveaway and I won!!! YEAH!! Thank you Sher. This is my new favorite teacup.

I lost a picture that included everything in the package.....don't you wonder where things go sometimes? I love the tags. I will use them on special presents this year. Aren't the stockings pictured at the top the cutest things you've ever seen?

I love vintage aprons and these are so special. I will add them to my collection. Thank you Sher.

Anna's Traumatic Experience

Happy Holidays everyone. My Mom was going to post a giveaway post tonight but I pushed her off of the computer because I had to tell you what happened to me. It was the most awful experience. I really don't know what was so exciting about the gifts anyway. There was nothing Bailey and I could play with or eat, but she was really excited. She kept saying things like Oh how pretty or how cute or how wonderful....Women!!

Speaking of eating.....My Mom whom I love very much (most of the time) took me to the doctor last night for my yearly checkup. What a traumatic experience. Bailey and I both hate it. She puts us in our carrier and takes us for a ride in the car. I pretty much howl all the way to the doctors. He weighs me and pokes around my eyes and ears and tummy. Then he comes in and sticks needles in my butt. Well on top of all that he said I WAS FAT AND I HAD TO GO ON A DIET. I weigh 11 pounds now do you call that FAT? So do you know what I did when I got home and Mom let me out of that stupid carrier?

I ran for the food bowl and I really chowed down. YUMMY!! We also had to stop at the kitty food store because Mom had to buy us some special food. I also have gingivitis and have to eat Dental Care food and I have to go back to the doctor in 6 months. If I'm not better he will have to clean my teeth. Oh the stress I'm going through is unbelievable.

I'm sorry to interrupt my Mom's giveaway post but she said she would post it soon and to wish everyone a happy happy Christmas. Bailey and I wish you a Merry Christmas too!! If you have Crab or Lobster for Christmas would you please call us because my Mom is having prime rib....YUCKY!!!

Christmas Spirit Award

Happy Holidays everyone. My lovely friend Melissa from Sunbonnet Cottage has awarded me this wonderful award. Melissa is the sweetest blogging friend. I love her because she is so thoughtful and she cheers me up. If you haven't visited her please do. She is so sweet.

I told her I wasn't really in the holiday spirit but I'd give it a try.

1. The words of Merry Christmas: I like wishing people I don't know a happy holiday when I see them in a store either helping me or just walking by.

2. The Hustle and Bustle: I'm not to sure I like the hustle and bustle anymore. I used to when my kids were young and at home with all the baking and shopping and decorating the huge and I mean huge tree.

3. Time with Family: It is always fun to have the kids and grand kids over to open packages and eat and eat and eat. We always have a special time together.

4. Decorating the Christmas Tree: I don't do a tree anymore. We always had the biggest tree we could find when the kids were young.

5. The Comforts of Home: I love being home cuddling up with my Anna and Bailey. I love quiet evenings.

I need to pass this on but since it is almost Christmas and I know everyone is super busy, I'll ask anyone stopping by to please join in.

Happy holidays everyone. Tomorrow I will try to post some wonderful giveways and gifts I've received. It was like Christmas when the mailman came.

BRRRR IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

I didn't mean to take such a long break but time has really gotten away from me. I've had some things going on that took a lot of time plus trying to do some baking and wrapping etc.

It has been so cold here. We are breaking records made in 1897 and 1901.....Whooppee. It has warmed up from minus 18 to almost 40. We are suppose to have another frigid weekend too. It's been a good week to do lots of baking for the holidays. Before Thanksgiving we were breaking heat records when we were topping 75 degrees. Weird weather this year and I think I'm almost ready for Spring. We aren't getting a lot of snow just cold and more cold.

This morning on the way to work I stopped at a light and there was a teenager in shorts, short sleeved shirt and thongs. He had his hands in his pocket, I wonder if he was cold? I'm wondering if his Mother knew he was running around like that?

I hope you are all getting your shopping, wrapping and baking done. I've tried to visit a few blogs and everyone has such beautiful decorations and trees.

Have a wonderful rest of the week and stay warm.

Hugs,

Nigella's Cake

I made two of these cakes yesterday. One to enjoy now and one safely tucked away in the freezer for Christmas. The recipe is in Nigella's Christmas book that is only published in the UK. I was reading on some website about the book and that this chocolate cake was in it.

I knew that Mandy, The Vintage Kitten's wonderful husband had just bought her the book so I asked her if it was in fact in it. She gratefully offered to send it to me. Well since the measurements are in grams, etc. She also sent me little "Mandy notes for Judy" so I would succeed.

It is a very rustic looking cake (thank goodness I knew that) so I wasn't upset when it cracked a little and then I kind of dropped off some of the sides taking it off the springform pan. And yes, I ate them. The second one came out a lot better. I guess practice makes perfect!!!

I took good notes for the first one so the second one was a lot easier too. I have a small scale and have decided I really need a better one. But for my first try I'm happy. And now with all of Mandy's notes (which I'm keeping for future use), I may try more recipes. It was definitely a learning experience and I think I succeeded. A special thanks to Mandy, I couldn't have done it without you. OK I'm going to go eat cake now. I wish you were here to have some with me. But since you aren't I'll just have a piece for you too!!