Still no baby!

Happy Saturday, everyone!  Just an update that I'm still prego...I've tried spicy tacos, walking, had a few bumpy car rides, but lil one seems content in the heat of my body...I'll have to see if I have some old recipes I can share, because right now I'm making pretty basic stuff:)

Wish us luck and for a baby really soon:) 

Happy day AFTER due date to me;)

Yum, whole wheat pasta, spicy turkey sausage, and garlic bread...all hoping, if I go into labor soon, this will give me energy, like a marathon runner;)

Happy Due Date Day to me!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  Stillll pregnant!  Because I'm still pregnant, I obviously need to keep eating treats!  I needed something that didn't need to be baked, because what if I go into labor while it's baking?  Would I forget to turn the oven off and burn the house down??  I would hope not....

So, I made this lovely treat from one of my fave blogs in 20 minutes flat!  Sweet and salty goodness!  And you can eat it in the morning because it has peanut butter, right? ;)

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies, made exactly as Jessica posted:

• 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup corn syrup (or maple syrup or brown rice syrup)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• pinch of ginger
• 1 oz Baker's chocolate, melted

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix together.  Trust me, as Jessica said, it will be very very crumbly!  I ended up adding another 1/2 cup of peanut butter to make it stickier.  Continue to mix until it's sticking together, then roll into 1" balls.  Place the ball on a plate or baking sheet, covered with wax paper, and press with a fork to flatten.   Cover with as much of the melted chocolate as you like.  Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and then eat them up, before anyone else knows you made them;)  My batch made 15 cookies.  I tried one at the 30 minute mark, but it was still a bit warm/crumbly, so I tried another again one hour later, and it was sooooo good!

Thank you, Jessica for this recipe!  Everyone visit her blog linked above - it's amazing and always a great read!

And btw, if I had Smartfood, I probably would've put a piece of popcorn on top of each peanut butter cookie then put the chocolate on top...yes, that is what prego me wants...

It's getting hot in here!

Spicy-ness wise;)  Happy Tuesday, everyone!  Still here, still pregnant!  Tomorrow is my "due date" so fingers crossed for some Christmas magic!

This week I'm trying to use up a lot of foods we already have in the fridge/freezer/cabinets, but also making sure we get a lot of good, substantial, meals in, just in case I do go into labor - need that energy!  Tonight I tried a new recipe, found at cooks.com, for Cajun Shrimp Casserole!  It took quite a bit of time to make, but it was very simple, and perfect for this very cold New England day!  Well, according to everyone else it was cold...prego me thought the 30 degree temp was quite nice;)

You will need:

• 3 stalks of celery, diced
• 1 small white onion, diced
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 lb raw shrimp, cleaned
• 1 can of cheddar cheese soup
• 2 cups cooked yellow rice
• Cajun seasoning - I used cajun seasoning and also a Goya seasoning packet, with some CRP
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs

Phew!  That's a lot of ingredients!

Heat a large pan with the butter over medium heat.  Add the onion, pepper, and celery, and saute until soft.  Add mushroom soup and diced tomatoes, simmering on low for 15 minutes.

Add shrimp and cheddar cheese soup, turning up the heat to medium, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring everything together.

Looks...interesting, right?  I thought so, anyways!  Trust me, the textures and tastes together are perfect!  Once those 15 minutes have elapsed, add the cooked rice and seasoning, stirring it into the rest of the mixture.

Pour into a 13x9 pan and bake 20 minutes.  After 20 minutes have elapsed, broil on high in your oven for another 4 minutes, so that the bread crumbs get a bit crispy on top.

I used a little too much bread crumbs, so definitely don't go overboard with those!  We enjoyed this warm comfort food, that really wasn't too spicy, with some nice clam chowder and rolls.  Definitely filled me up, and finally now, about 2 hours later, I'm craving more food:) 

I'll definitely be making this again, and adding cut up sausage!  Now, where's my ice cream...

Who doesn't love a good Christmas survey?!?

Stolen from the bff's awesome blog!!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

I am the worst wrapper ever...tons of tape, bad edges, and I like to get it done fast!  But I wrap more than use gift bags:) 

2. Real tree or Artificial? 

Always had artificial growing up, which I loved.  Now, the husband and I get a real tree, which I love the smell:) 

3. When do you put up the tree? 

Usually Thanksgiving weekend or shortly after - especially this year with the baby coming in December!

4. When do you take the tree down? 

Early January :(

5. Favorite gift received as a child? 

Probably anything Barbie!

  

6. Hardest person to buy for? 

My dad

7. Easiest person to buy for? 

husband, the motha, brother, bff, anyone except the fatha!

8. Mail or email Christmas cards? 

 Mail for sure - who doesn't like getting a card in the mail??

9. Favorite Christmas Movie? 

Original Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, any Falalala Lifetime movie;)

10. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Pretty much right after Thanksgiving!  So fun to find a perfect gift for someone!

11. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

I don't think so

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? 

the motha's Christmas cookies!  Also, all the appetizer foods!

13. Lights on the tree (colored or clear)? 

Clear

14. Favorite Christmas song? 

O Come All Ye Faithful, All I want for Christmas is You...etc...pretty much anything but anything by the Carpenter's!

15. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

Usually we travel to one of our parents' homes...this year, family will be coming to our new home:)

16. Angel, star or ribbon on top of tree? 

Star!

17. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? 

12:01am Christmas morning;)  At least we did that one year, the year the husband proposed!

 

18. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? 

People that look miserable while shopping, decorating, etc...complaining about all they have to do.  It's not about that stuff, it's about spending time with family and being thankful for everything we have in our lives!

19. What do you want for Christmas this year?

A healthy baby!

20. Traditional colors (red and green) or other colors? 

Mostly tradional, it's so pretty!

So there it is! Now, how about you? Please let me know if you decide to fill out these questions, I'd love to hear your answers!

Falalala Fudge!

Remember this post?  How I promised I would post a picture when I made it again during the holiday season?  Oops, never did post a pic, did I!  Here are those pics since I made some yesterday for my dad's birthday...and because I love fudge and the chocolate-y breath it gives you!!!

 Ingredients, minus Pam butter spray

 Melting together the choc chips, 1 oz chocolate, and sweetened condensed milk

 No, you do not dump in DD's hot chocolate...the awesome husband bought me a large one Friday night, so I drank half then, and half while making the fudge:)

 Keep stirring so it will keep melting together!

 Nuts and vanilla added once melted together, and poured into the pan to chill

 This may or may not be my tongue mark...

The leftover fudge for us to have here at home:)

Everyone should make and eat fudge as soon as possible!  Next time, I'm going to try to add some peanut butter I think!

Oh, and happy online due date to me (doctor's due date for me is 12/15)!!