Christmas Cookies!!

Monster Cookies

These are cookies my mom used to make when I was a kid.... watch out because it makes enough dough for between 12-20 dozen but the dough freezes well (I almost prefer making the cookies after I have frozen the dough much less mess!)
I have made my annual batch and plan to be sharing some with my office today and some with friends and family in the next few... the great part is after the holiday season I usually still have some dough in the freezer to snack on or cook :) This pic is after my office devoured some!

CrossWay Progressive Dinner

This year for our annual Christmas Celebration instead of having our traditional adult party we had a wonderful progressive dinner. … It was so much fun and I was able to host with Lisa at the Browns Home… (THANK YOU TAMMY & JIM!!!!) while they are gone.
My night started out at the Balthazar Family home with appetizers and yummy cider! Then I came back to the Browns where dinner was in the oven heating up (THANKS TERRIE) We had Lisa Ryan & the kids, Terrie & grandson along with Stan & Adrienne.
It was so nice to sit and have a meal together and to fellowship. And then off to the “church” for Dessert and entertainment.
The Slideshow went off after a slight delay due to technical difficulties… if anyone has pics of all those of us who walked over to “fix” the problem I would love to see them!

I did take a picture that could have been very bad but it turned out cute and alright! I walked up on a little girl from my caregroup (age 1) drinking out of a coffee cup... I thought she just had water and it looks so cute so I snapped a picture... little did I know that she had picked up her mommy's coffee!!! I am just snapping away... thankfully the coffee wasn't too hot or her mommy saw what was happening just in time. GREAT Kendra just let the baby burn herself. (ah sigh)

Here are just a few pics along with the Menu (& recipes) from the night. Just click on the menu item to see the recipes we used.

Poppyseed Chicken

Pirogues (I buy frozen and just sauted onions and then pan fried them. I put mozzerella Cheese on top when baking them in the oven ~ 25minutes)

Green Bean Casserole (by Sweet Pea & Mommy)

Fruit Salad (by Bubbaroo & Mommy) (Cut up Fruit of your choosing and at last minute mix with cool whip... good light snack or addition to any meal) Lisa's recipe that only Bubbaroo & I could remember her making hehe!

Dip Night

Okay so I thought it beneficial to introduce everyone to the "dip night" idea.

Alas I am not the inventor of dip night but I did benefit from it on Friday Night. Jessi and I implemented our version last night. A family from our church was telling me that they enjoy a dip night about once a week. She makes dips (everything from Crab Dip to Spinach Artichoke dip to mexican layered dip) and her family sits around with crackers and/or chips and enjoys the dips. What a fun way to have a meal! Jess and I were talking about the idea and started getting hungry so we made a trip to the grocery store to get the makings of some dips. We made sausage dip and I also picked up some frozen spinach artichoke dip. We decided that next we will try the spinach artichoke dip. (The frozen kind doesn't compare!) It was quick and the thing about the idea that I really like is being able to try out dip recipes in the comfort of your home.... not making them to take somewhere and realizing it isn't that good of a recipe!

So it is not my idea but a way to learn from another amazing woman in our church! One of my thoughts was that it is a great way to get others in the kitchen and also a nice way to leisurely eat. It would be so great for a family game night! I am needing to get more dip recipes though. Which if you know me very well you will know or soon find out that I LOVE new recipes! Next is a dip with Feta Cheese.