Happy New Year!

Well, we are heading into 2009! New Years Resolutions I usually do not bother with, but this year I am! What are they you ask?....

*Loose 10 pounds...what is new!
*Start a new devotional....sad to say, I have not done one on my own in awhile and need too!
*Get going on getting into the Credential program at Fresno State....yes, more school, but will only take a year or so.

I think that sounds good to me. Do not want to go overboard!! Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Years Eve. I know I will be in bed before midnight. We are going to Shaver tomorrow and have to save up some energy to play in the snow! I appreciate all of your friendships over the past years and I am looking forward to the next year!

What to make for New Years Eve Dinner...

My sister shared this recipe with me and this is what I am going to make. Some friends are coming over for a few hours, they have little ones too. Hope they like it!

Braised Short Ribs

1-1/2 lb. boneless beef short ribs, cut into 6 pieces
1/4 c. sifted flour, divided
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 can (14.5 oz.) reduced-sodium beef broth, divided
1 large onion, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
1 c. dry red wine, such as Merlot
1/2 c. Kraft original BBQ sauce
1 Tbsp. Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard

Preheat oven to 300. Sprinkle ribs lightly with pepper. Coat ribs with 2 Tbsp. of the flour; gently shake off excess flour.

Heat oil in large ovenproof saute pan with tight-fitting lid or Dutch oven on medium-high heat. Add ribs; cook 3-4 minutes on each side or until browned on both sides. Mix remaining 2 Tbsp. flour with ¼ c. of the broth to form thick paste; set aside. Add onions to pan; cook and stir 2-3 min. or until lightly browned. Gradually add wine, stirring constantly to scrape up any browned bits from bottom of pan. Reduce heat to low; simmer 2 -3 min. to cook off alcohol. Stir in remaining broth. Return to boil. Stir in BBQ sauce, mustard and reserved flour paste until well blended. Bring to boil, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; cover with lid. Place in oven.

Bake 2 hours or until ribs are tender.

**I’ve almost tripled the meat for serving company, but the sauce can be left alone as one recipe, it makes so much!

We like it over mashed potatoes. It makes a tasty gravy!


Dessert

Everyones favorite and simple too. Brownies with ice cream and chocolate syrup!!

Latte Anyone?

I got a new kitchen toy for Christmas. It makes cappucinos or lattes. You put the water in the bottom of it, espresso in the center and fill the top up with milk and you put it on the stove to heat and presto, you have froth and everything. I think it is pretty cool. Here it is. It is small, makes one large one or two small mugs. Yes, I wanted something not so practical...though it will save me money on my latte runs!

Poor little....

sickie poo on Christmas. After opening all of his gifts, this is what he did for the rest of the afternoon. Good thing little man got a Wow Wow Wubzy video in his stocking. At bedtime he said, "it is not fun being sick on Christmas." I felt so bad that he was too sick to play with all of his toys.
Little missie was too cute....atleast she was feeling good!

Too cute, wanted to share!

Restaurant Review

Well, once again my kids are sick, their noses are too runny to bring them to church. So we went to a late breakfast at Red Caboose Cafe in Clovis. They are in the Save Mart Shopping center off of Bullard right before you get to Old Town Clovis. They had the best biscuits and gravy that I have had in California. I grew up eating biscuits and gravy. My grandma and my Aunts are from the South and they made good gravy. Here they made their gravy with bacon and their biscuits were light, not dense like a lot of people make theirs. I like gravy made with bacon opposed to sausage. Sausage makes the gravy too salty and thick. This bacon gravy was smooth with the perfect amount of salt. I am a happy camper now! The Red Caboose Cafe also has trains that ride around the restaurant. Perfect to distract the kids! Overall a good breakfast. Just stinks that we have to drive to Clovis for a good breakfast.

Today was a good day....

too bad I did not bring my camera. Hubby is watching football at his friends and I did not want to stay in on such a sunny day and I did not want to go out and fight through the crowds. We packed up in the car and headed down to Old Town Clovis. We first took a horse drawn carriage ride around town, and off to see Santa! Little man loves Santa because he knows that he will get a candy cane out of it. Next we got ice cream and ran around the ice cream shop since no one was there. Little Missie went behind the counter and flirted with the boys, chocolate face and all. I am glad that we went. Really no plan, just happened. I like days like that.