Thanksgiving Dessert Recap

I am proud to report my first attempt at making a cheesecake was not a complete disaster. In fact, I dare say it was a success!


For the recipe, see this blog post.

Along the way, I learned a few things:

1) 3 c. of gingersnap cookie crumbles = 1 box.

2) I LOOOOVE gingersnap crust. It's amazing and so unlike any I've ever had before. :)

3) If you want to make the cheesecake slightly less calorie-saturated, use 2 packages of regular cream cheese and 1 package of 33% reduced calorie cream cheese. I stayed away from the "fat free" cream cheese because it had added sugar in it (and sugar is my enemy .... except in ginger snap cookies). ;) The consistency is still good and like a regular cheesecake, but it's not quite so rich .... so even if you get a big slice, you won't fee like you overindulged *too* much. :)

4) "no sugar added" cherry pie filling ain't my favorite.


5) In place of regular or "no sugar added" pie filling, I found a great alternative. I returned home and was thinking "I want to put something on my cheesecake. And in the fridge, I spotted my no sugar added Tree of Life cherry jelly (pictured above). It is the best cheesecake topping EVER (well, without added sugar/sweetener).

Our little secret — Christmas trees

The day after Thanksgiving seems the most appropriate for setting up the Christmas tree. Even if the retail stores have had Christmas stuff out since the beginning of October (sheesh).

Can you keep a secret? Really?

Ok, here goes: we don't have a Christmas tree. And we don't go get one at a tree lot or farm either.

Growing up, my family had a fake tree, which was fine with me. It lived in the basement and made its way out every year the day after Christmas.

In college, I split the cost of a small tree with a roomie, but when she moved on, the tree went with her. Didn't really bother me, though. One less thing to move, right?

Then I moved out on my own, and Esse the cat came into the picture. I honestly have to say I'm not sure how she'd take/interact with a Christmas tree. Would she climb it? Likely. And it'd be a battle all Advent, so I admit my laziness over the whole thing.

What I DO do for Christmas, though, is get out the Advent wreath (which the cat has chewed several of the candles on ..... what would she DO with a tree???) and the nativity sets out. And that's "decorated" for Christmas.

I don't really think of myself as a "scrooge" per se. I actually like ornaments and Christmas music IN MODERATION.

This all has pushed my brain into gear. There has to be some middle ground for people like me, right? And then, I was introduced to the ornament tree! :)


I actually think this could be a nice compromise on the tree front. As in, it gives me something to hang ornaments on, but isn't a real or fake tree.


There are some smaller table-top options, but I am digging the "full-sized" ones, which range from 47 to 90 inches tall.

Here are a few interesting ones I've found online:

Gold tree, but I"m not sure how I feel about a gold tree...

Another one in black or gold, yet again, I'm not sure if black is something I'm crazy about either.

Here's one with beading. I wish they had a better picture online. Can't really tell much from the photo.

A more rounded option, which I find interesting. I also like the Fleur de Lys on the top.

Does anyone know of a location where I can see something like this in person? It's just difficult to tell with some of these online photos.

Q: What constitutes an emergency?

There I was, in Hays at my fave Chinese restaurant. Getting something I KNEW I shouldn't .... but I was all the way in Hays. And there was China Garden. AND the number IS programmed into my phone. So why waste it?

BUT I was making an effort to be good, so I ordered something little (mini crab rangoon!) instead of the big heaping serving of egg fried rice I really wanted.

There I was, at the register and I saw the dreaded words "no credit card for charge under $6."

Uh-oh. I don't carry cash.

So I'm trying to explain this to the lady, and come up with other items I can order to get up to $6. Then I remember THE EMERGENCY $20. You all have an "emergency $10 or $20" stashed in your wallet, right?

Well, I said "I think I have an emergency $20" and the lady (who spoke VERY broken English) looked at me and I could see she was trying to work out how $20 could be an emergency or some such white person nonsense. I think I finally explained I keep a little something stashed away in a not-so-obvious place so in case of an emergency, I have a little money.

Because, really, being in Hays where your favorite Chinese restaurant and them not taking a CC for a purchase under $6 IS an emergency.

I have some good friends who are originally from Burma, and every once in awhile, I'll pass along a catch phrase to them, but we live far away now, so it made me smile to introduce one of my insane phrases or habits to an unsuspecting foreigner.

Black Friday for Photographers :)

In the last few years, I've been amused to see the photo industry focus its efforts at photographers.

Justin & Mary's workshop. Killer info, great opportunity. I seriously want to be one of the people they photograph .... I think it'd be a blast. :)

In years past, Totally Rad Actions has also had some alluring specials.

Know what? I've only been out on Black Friday once. And have no intention of venturing out this year. Probably will be sitting at home with a cup of tea. :)

My Thanksgiving contribution(s)

With a major holiday this week, I've been trying to figure out how to marry my insane eating with some good old fashioned pigging out. DIfficult, I know.

A few months ago, I was reading Real Simple Magazine and found a few dessert recipes that don't call for *a lot* of sugar. So I'm making BOTH! :)


First, this Gingersnap Cherry Cheesecake looks divine! For me, I'll omit the cherry topping, but others who want can add it on!

***EDIT: CLICK HERE TO READ MY BLOG POST ABOUT CHANGES TO THE CHEESECAKE RECIPE.***


Next, for those of you who can't do flour, this looks great! Flourless Chocolate Cake. I think the cherries could be added on top of this ... or ice cream, too!

Also up for me: my famous garlic mashed potatoes.

I'm also going to give a hand to making my mother-in-law's corn casserole and maybe one or two other items. She's an amazing cook and I'm not sure if I can measure up, but I'll certainly try!

Roasting a chicken

I expanded my horizons this week. I roasted a chicken.

Once before I purchased a whole chicken, but I put it in the slow cooker, and it sort of fell apart and was a big, fat mess.

But I found THIS RECIPE and thought I'd give it a whirl.

Now, let me say a few things:

1) it was WAY easy to follow!
2) I had all of the ingredients (except for the chicken) around the house. I like a recipe where it doesn't call for anything fancy
3) it smelled AMAZING in the oven
4) shoving a lemon into a chicken is NOT as easy as it sounds.
5) I only seasoned with salt and pepper, but the skin was OH SO DARN GOOD!!!!

Let me also say IT MADE A DARN MESS OUT OF MY OVEN. Seriously, love this recipe. Hate what it does to the oven. Oh, it's a total disaster.

Erik asked if covering it in foil would solve the issue ... and the short answer is that I don't know. The skin needs to brown/crisp, but people out there, would it solve my messy oven situation?

The day after roasting it, I made chicken broth the old fashioned way, and it was surprisingly easy! So yesterday we had Amanda's amazing chicken rice soup for dinner. :)

Crossover

Workin' like a maniac over here.

So much that a few times this week I've said to Erik "let's order in ... I am being so productive I don't want to get out of my productivity groove!"


This new getting ready room at Kingman is top-notch.

Also top-notch is that my buddy Joel was around, so I was able to see him for a few minutes. :)


Things are so busy and a bit crazy, but I really have stepped back and see it as a blessing. I've never been more busy with families. Also is working on wedding and engagement albums .... it's a bit chaotic at times, but it can only be described as a blessing. And I try to remember that every day and be thankful for it every second.

My new literary obsession

I tend to get bored. Easily.

So when I'm editing photos/toning and working on orders, it's really great to have something to keep my mind going. I know a lot of photographers listen to music ... but I tend to flit around too much with music. I can't stay focused and decide on only ONE thing to listen to.

Enter: Audio books!!!!!

I'm a reading junkie, but with my eyes engaged to look at/tone/edit, I can't physically read at the same time. So I listen to books on CD. I lurrrrve it. Especially the 'whodunnit' books.

I have to admit, I'm a bit of a coward when trying new authors. I have tried and true authors who I'm loyal to, and don't really venture out. But a week ago, I was at the library, and I'd listened to all of the books on CD that were checked in. Uh-oh. So I took a nervous breath and checked out a new author.


I have to admit, I really thought it sounded lame. Not really interesting. But I figured 'what the heck?' .... and was totally shocked and surprised at how much I enjoyed the book.


Since the first, I've plowed through 2 more and am on my 3rd.

One of the things I like about the books is the sleuth is a baker by trade. And along the way, the puts in these amazing recipes in the book. The downside for me listening to them is that I don't stop to write them down as I hear them. I figured I"d be clever and go to her Web site: Murder she Baked (a clever spinoff/play on words from "Murder she Wrote'", but the actual recipes aren't on the Web site! Boo-hoo!!!!! (well, the names of the recipe is on there along with the corresponding book, but you have to get the book to get the recipe). I guess I'll have to go check out the books and make copies!

Let me just say the "cherry bomb cookies" sound oh-so good!!!!!

Also, much like the Carol Higgins Clark books, these aren't dripping with unnecessary sex, sex, sex. The story is driven by the STORY, which I very much appreciate.

Bathroom short cut

It's not really a big secret: I don't like cleaning bathrooms. At all.

I'm pretty lazy/lax about it.

A few months ago, however, I read a tip in a magazine that I find to be handy/helpful in the bathroom arena: Store a container of Clorox wipes under the sink, then spot clean as needed.


This does NOT replace regular bathroom cleaning (but who am I kidding, I don't clean them regularly). But when the counter is all hairy or has a toothpaste smudge, I pull one of those out and it's a quick clean.

It's been a really positive change. And I can neither confirm nor deny that I used several to clean all of the baseboards in the guest bathroom before company arrived. It's great in a pinch. I even feel like I'm doing a little "light" cleaning in between the times I really work up the energy to give the entire bathroom a good scrub. Besides, if I do a little "light" cleaning in between the big ones, the big ones won't be such a daunting task, right?

I was telling my sister about this, and later she cautioned me to not use these to clean the mirrors. They evidently leave the mirror a streaky mess. Just FYI.

Slammin'

Slammin' busy, y'all.

For retail, the "Christmas Season" is from after Thanksgiving (or a little earlier, say, Oct. 1) thru December. For me, we try to have all orders in by Dec. 1 so I can deliver in time for Christmas. So, this is MY Christmas "retail" season.

I apologize for the blog neglect.

But here's the thing: being crazy out of my mind is SUCH A BLESSING. I'm thankful for the clients and the expansion. So I'm not complaining (the complaining is left to our cat, for those of you who are curious).


One of the stylists from the salon on the main floor of my building. :)


Cutie-pie family session from this morning.


Super-awesome panoramic float wrap (15x30 inches, top, compared to the VERY popular 16x24 inch size, bottom). I've NEVER ordered a pano from one of my images, and I'm glad a client told me this was what they wanted. I actually love it! :)

Our "big sister"

Last night, I made THIS RECIPE (using jelly in place of Nutella), then called up my sister and said "I just tried one of Melissa's recipes and it's AMAZING!!!"

Who is Melissa?

I think of her as our surrogate big sis: Friendly, approachable, kitchen goddess. I even showed Dad how to make Melissa's grilled corn on Labor Day. See, she's part of the family.


When I left home for college, I don't really think I thought much about cooking. How much I enjoy it has been a large surprise for me. But I do. I like throwing things together and seeing what happens. I don't know if I'd go as far to say that food is an artistic expression for me, but I see how it could be.

But back to Mel (I can call her that because, after all, she IS our "big sis"!). We "met" a year or so ago. One Sunday afternoon, Erik and I were flipping through channels and ran across the marathon of all episodes leading up to the season finale (for the record, this is my favorite way to watch a show/series). We were excited when she won, and I DVR her show so I can watch it when I have time.

What I really like is her practical approach to cooking. Nothing too fancy. Well, for ingredients, I mean. The dishes seem fancy when you put it all together, but the ingredients are things I keep around.

A few weeks ago when I saw her made the pastry recipe (first link on the top of this post), I freaked out. Because it's a recipe of hers that I can actually make and EAT. It's SOOOO easy! Butter + cream cheese + flour. That's the pastry. And let me tell you .... it's heaven. The cream cheese makes it so tasty!

See, because we're family, I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Mel. I love her approachability and charm. I hate that she uses red wine vinegar and sugar with a high degree of regularity in her recipes. And sugar includes using bacon to add flavor to a dish b/c it's cured in sugar, so it's off limits for the likes of me.

So Mel, big sis, let's have some recipes that are more digestive friendly!!!!!