merry christmas!

Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!

Peace, love, health and happiness to you and yours. :)

cranberry walnut bourbon goodness

I got this recipe from my friend Colleen last year when she brought us a meal during Gary's stroke recovery/rehab. I fell in love with this dessert immediately. Moist, colorful, very flavorful and so easy to prepare. You NEED to make this cake...really!

cranberry celebration bundt cake
[ CRANBERRY CELEBRATION BUNDT CAKE ]


INGREDIENTS
1 - 18.25 oz. box vanilla cake mix
1 - 3.5 oz. package vanilla instant pudding
5 medium eggs
¼ cup bourbon
½ cup milk
½ cup vegetable oil
1 cup Private Selection Cranberry Celebration (can be found in the deli)

ORANGE GLAZE
2 TBSP orange juice
1 ¼ cup powdered sugar

[DIRECTIONS]
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray Bundt cake pan with non-stick spray. Combine first six ingredients in a bowl. Fold in Private Selection Cranberry Celebration. Pour cake batter into Bundt pan.

Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let cake cool and top with orange glaze.
Then share it with your family and friends and wait for the accolades. Or don't share, I won't tell. I'm not one to judge.

It's good stuff, you don't know what you're missing!

yep, yep, yep...we're goin' to the zoo

A couple weeks ago, Michael, Carole and I went to visit my aunt at work. This may sound like a boring thing to do...visit someone at work, but a visit to HER work place is anything but boring. That's because she works at the Columbus Zoo. I'm not sure of Suzi's exact title, but I think she is the Promotions Director. Suzi and her staff coordinate all of the animals used by Jungle Jack Hannah during his visits (and her visits) to Good Morning America, David Letterman, etc. etc.

That day, I was visiting her to work out some details about a charity auction I was working on with The Care Train of Union County, but it turned into a behind-the-scenes tour for us...as usual. Waaaay cool! Suzi also hosted my wedding shower and baby shower at the zoo (way back when)...which was so unique, so amazing and SO FUN!

Our visit started off when Suzi asked if we wanted to see the two baby cheetahs. Ummm, that would be a YES PLEASE! They were only 24 days old when we saw them - so CUTE! It was feeding time when we arrived (that's my aunt on the right).

After they were fed, we were able to hold them (OMG, OMG)!

Michael up close with a baby cheetah and leaning in for a kiss.

Carole getting some soft snuggles...

Aaaawwww...

Hard to believe these little babies grow up to look like this (below). The big cheetahs were very interested in Michael...as a snack...really. Michael didn't even notice - he was glued to the movie on his iPod.

Then her staff brought out a snow leopard for us to check out and pet...but only for a short while because it was getting a little rambunctious and unpredictable (they can jump and they are quick!)

Check out the size of its paws...and notice flattened (I'm done with this) ears.

We saw lots of other animals too (a fennec fox, a dingo, a sloth)---I completely forget the names of some of them. This first one is a clouded leopard.

This is an albino boa constrictor.

What a great time (as always, thanks Suzi-love you tons)! I'm so glad that we live so close to such a fabulous zoo. Make sure you get to the zoo for the Wildlights before January 3rd...it's amazing!

summer dreamin'

Michael helped me clean off the deck and prepare it for winter the other day, when it was a balmy 45 degrees out (it's much colder now).

I think he was a little disappointed his pool wasn't filled with water. Any more, the winter months just seem to get colder and last longer. The thing is, winter hasn't even started yet...

Brrrr, I just get shivers thinking about it.

breakfast casserole

When I need to feed a large gathering for breakfast, I usually make this warm, hearty dish. A good 'ole breakfast casserole.

BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

INGREDIENTS
1 pound pork sausage
1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent roll dough
8 eggs, beaten
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon dried oregano


Place sausage in a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble, and set aside. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Line the bottom of the greased baking dish with crescent roll dough, and sprinkle with crumbled sausage. In a large bowl, mix beaten eggs, mozzarella, and cheddar. Season the mixture with oregano and pour over the sausage and crescent rolls. Bake 45-50 minutes in the preheated oven or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.


Oh, you could also mix in any kind of veggies or leftovers, creating a shepard's pie kind of breakfast casserole. The possibilities are endless!




I'm sure most of you have a favorite breakfast you prepare for the fam...please feel free to share the recipe. I'd love to add something more to my arsenal!