Snow in Atl... In March...?

Well it happened again. Atl. got snow and I have pics to prove it. It was fun.. Here for a day and gone the next. Just the way I like it. Buy the end of week, we will see temps near 70. Yeah!!

Hello fellow bloggers... I'm back

Hello -

Sorry for the time way.. I have been busy with school and other things.

I can't think of a better way to come then to talk about food. I made this delish dish for dinner tonight and I wanted to share it with you in pic form . Stuff chicken with veggie toppings and crushed bacon. It turned out wonderful.

Hope everyone is doing well...

My first Paula Deen Christmas Cake

Hello Bloggers:

I have completed my first Paula Deen Christmas Cake. If you will notice, I used a receipt in one of her magazines. My cake does not look just like hers but I found out as I was baking, I only had one 9in. cake pan. OH NO!!! So I used a bunt cake shaped like a cathedral. It looks so good and tastes..... yummy. I'm taking it to out family holiday party this weekend. I hope they like it.
I'll let you know. I challenge everyone to try one of her receipts. I felt like I had her looking over my shoulder saying.... Steven, I'm so proud of you! You did a wonderful job. I just love Paula Deen. I wish she was in my kitchen ALL the time.

2008 Christmas Tree is up!!!!!

Well.... I got my tree done, decorated, and presents under the tree. I wish all could see my house. It looks the best it has looked. Sat. and Sun., I'm going to Alabama to visit Mom and family for Christmas. Dad is coming up from Florida to visit with us. Good eats and fun with family! I will take pics and share later. Hope all is well with everyone in blogger world.

Getting ready for Holidays

What do you think of my new mantle piece. It's the first year I have created this out of hemlock, nandina w/berries, magnolia's and cedar clippings all from my yard. If you could see it in person, I know you would be quite amazed. I suprised myself. Still decorating the house. Hope all of you are having a great week. More to come.

Welcome to December.....

Hello out there in blogger world. It's Monday and that means that the Thanksgiving "hype" is come and gone. Back to school and work for me.

Yesterday, I did a little decorating in my yard. Put up some lights in my leyland cypress trees and also hung some reeves on my new retainer wall. I'm not done yet but stay tuned and you will see some more Christmas spirits around the house.

Take care and have a good week.

Steve-O

My fans requested it..... So, here it is

PEPPERMINT ROAD CHOCOLATE CHIPSTERS

Makes 40-45 (2 1/4-inch cookies)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups (9 ounces) semisweet chocolate minimorsels or semisweet chocolate morsels, chopped (divided)

1 cup crused peppermint hard candy or candy cannes (divided)

1 3/4 cups all-purpose white flour

1/2 cup minus 1 tablespoon unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, slightly softened

2 1/2 tablespoons corn oil or other flavorless vegetable oil

3/4 cup sugar

1 large egg

Scant 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cooking tip: Crush the candy into chocolate miniorsel-sized pieces by placing it in a double layer of plastic bags and smashing with a kitchen mallet or a back of a large, heavy metal spoon. ( I use a hammer)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line several baking sheets with aluminum foil. Grease the foil or coat with nonstick spray.

In a food processor, combine 3/4 cup of the chocolate morsels, a generous 1/3 cup of the peppermint candy, the flour, cocoa, and baking powder. Process in on/off pulses until the chocolate and candy are finely ground; set aside. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together the butter, oil, and sugar until lightened and fluffy. Add the egg, salt, and vanilla and beat until well blended and smooth. Beat or stir in the flour mixture and the remaining 3/4 cup chocolate morsels until evenly incorporated.

Shape portions of the dough into scant 1 1/4-inch balls with lightly greased hands. Place on the baking sheets, spacing about 2 1/2 inches apart. Dip a large, flat-bottomed glass into cold water; shake off the excess water. using the bottom of the glass, press the balls into 2-inch rounds, diping the glass into the water between cookies.

Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, in the upper third of the oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until almost firm whe pressed in the centers. Reverse the sheet from font to back halfway through bakig to ensure even browning. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle some of the remaining peppermint candy over the cookies; (yum!!!!) don't sprinkle too heavily, and discard (or eat) any candy chunks larger than chocolate-chip size. Using a large, lightly greased, flat-bottomed glass, press down on one cookie at a time to embed the candy. Regrease the bottom of the glass as needed. Return the sheet to the oven and bake for 2 minutes more, or until the candy barely melts.

Transfer the sheet to a wire rack and let stand until the cookies firm up slightly, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a spatula, transfer the cookies to wire racks. Let stand until completely cooled.

Store in an airtight container for up to 10 days or freeze for up to 1 month. ENJOY!!!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

My hope is that everyone across the world has a wonderful Thanksgiving! May your hearts be filled with love and happiness.

Tour of Johnstown, PA

Today we went on a whirl wind town of this snowy city. What a beautiful place with all the snow. We went to the inclined plane. Apparently, after the great flood of 1898, this incline was built to lift the upper management out of the valley to safety. Interesting facts about this plane.

We also went to the flood museum and learned about the three great floods in the valley of Johnstown. The latest flood happened in 1977. I bought book about this flood at the museum. Very, very interesting stuff.

We later went to the University of Pittsburg at Johnstown. My friend is a English professor there. The campus was pretty with all the snow. I will post some pics of our trip. Hope all is doing well... One more day till Turkey day.

Yeah!!! My Psychology final is over

While I was at my friends house, I had to take my final in Pshychology. I passed!! I'm so glad that class is over with. Now I have to finish all of my other classes when I get back home. No problem.... Today was a good at in PA. I just sat around avoiding the cold weather and visiting. Tomorrow, we are going to see the town. I will try to share some pics with you of my adventure. Well, the cook has just shouted out, "It's dinner time", so I better go while its hot!

Have a great thanksgiving!!!

Snowy pics of where I'm staying

My first post!

I just created this blog page today (Nov. 25th). I am visting some friends in Johnstown, PA for Thanksgiving. Boy it is cold here and snow is everywhere. I'm not used to the snow and do not see it in Georgia that often. So it's a treat to see. But I will be glad to get home to the warmer weather. I'm having a good time, tomorrow we are going site seeing around the area. Will post more later.