Since I have lots of extra time and am putting off vacuuming...I thought I would try and write some of my Christmas tags in Farsi. Yes, that is white out where I tried to be 'clever' and Omid told me not to venture out of my first grade Farsi. Can you read it? Points if you can!

Snow Shovels

We finally got our snow shovels! This is what happens when you call Home Depot, Lowes, Lutz, WalMart & Parkrose Hardware 25 times a day & asking if they have received any new shipments of shovels. They remember your annoying phone calls and set aside a couple of shovels for you. Persistence - it pays!

All this hard work has been replaced by at least 3 more inches (& the stuff is still falling!).

Netflix This!

Run Fat Boy, Run!

This is a great little movie our friend Jenny recommended to us last week. It's fantastic! All you marathoners out there will really appreciate it!

Track Santa!

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.html

Poor Remy has cabin fever more than the rest of us. His breed requires lots of exercise every day and we haven't been doing right by him lately. So today he and I went for a walk. We tried to run in the field next to our house, but the snow was too deep, making it impossible. Remy just kept running where his feet didn't sink too deep. Go Remy go!
Look at that handsome, custom-made sport coat.

Hey Ya! Charlie Brown

I stole this off a friend's Facebook page. Love it!

Starbucks' Cranberry Bliss Bars

Starbucks was on to something when they invented their Cranberry Bliss Bars. I discovered them 2 years ago and was instantly in love. But...they are a hefty price for a little bar. The Oregonian newspaper thought so too. Their food writers came up with something that tastes (to me) 100% like Starbucks' version. Thankfully, I had all the ingredients on hand and baked them this morning. Try them...you won't be disappointed.

Cranberry Ecstasy Bars

Cake:
1 c butter
1 1/4 c brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c flour
1 t ginger
1/4 t salt
1/2 c dried cranberries (minced)
1 1/2 oz chopped white chocolate chips
1/4 c minced crystalized ginger (I don't add this)

Frosting:
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
3 T. butter
1 c powdered sugar (+ 3 T) **I only use 1/2 c - I don't like sweet frosting.
1/2 t. vanilla
1/8 t lemon zest **I used the zest of one whole orange and the taste was super!!
pinch salt
1/3 c minced dried cranberries **Do not add in frosting. You will sprinkle these on top of frosting.

Drizzle:
1 oz white chocolate
1/4 powdered sugar
1 tsp milk

Preheat oven to 350*. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper & then grease the paper. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs & vanilla. Add flour, ginger & salt. Fold in cranberries & chocolate (& ginger if using). Spread batter in prepared pan & bake for 20-25 mins. Remove from oven and cool completely in pan.

Remove cake from pan & trim off edges so cake is uniformly flat. Make frosting. Spread frosting on cake. Sprinkle cranberries on top of frosting. Refrigerate cake for one hour. Make drizzle. In small saucepan (over low heat) melt white chocolate & whisk in sugar and milk until well mixed. Scrape into a sturdy plastic bag. Cut a tiny corner of the bag and squeeze to drizzle the chocolate over the entire frosted cake.

To serve: slice cake lengthwise down the center, making two long rectangles. Cut each rectangle into four equal portions. Slice each of these in half diagonally. Makes 16 bars.

Refrigerate any leftovers.
Enjoy!

Frosted cake - ready for the drizzle.

White chocolate drizzle.

Snip off a corner and drizzle away.

Ready for the fridge (for the drizzle to set).

Bon Appetit!

Snow Pix

I live next to a talented photographer. My neighbor Jodie is so good. She always has a camera with her. She sent me these photos last night. I am freely posting them on my blog (hope that's okay!) as I was too lazy to take my camera out of the safety of the garage (#1 fear of falling on the snow/ice and #2 it was too darn cold). Enjoy the Jodie pics!!! Sam & Matty
Amy

Sam, Matty, Tess & Amy


Remy



Matty

Jodie & Ruby!

Tess (look at the determination on her face)

Matty, Jodie, Ruby & Tess

Matty

Matty

Matty

A good son

This is my boy (said like a true Amuricun). He is a good boy. He woke up this morning and went outside to shovel snow (& didn't even eat breakfast). Here he is eating breakfast (an egg sandwich his lovely mother made him).

Here he is reading my blog (what a loyal boy!).

I felt bad for this boy last night. We had all the desserts on the table and by the time the boys came to the table, all the apple crisp was gone. This boy was so sad. So...I promised him I would make another one. As we speak, there is a new apple crisp in the oven - just waiting for him (Nas & Omid to share).

Lin, Ward, the girls & Jack stopped by at 11:00 a.m today and stayed for the day. Ward & Omid ran to the store and picked up Omid's parents for dinner. Nas & Lia

Jack - a rare nap by the fire.

Playing Golf. We also played Apples to Apples...and I WON AGAIN!!!!


Fari & Mansour

Tammie & I

Lin, Tammie & I

Ward: Making his famous mashed potatoes.

Lin

Remy & Jack: waiting for a handout.

Jeff and Tammie.

Dinner!

Omid

Lin & Ward had cabin fever today so they stopped by to pay us a visit. Our neighbors, John & Jodie were outside too and everyone stopped to talk in the alley. Omid brought out the propane heater and we stood around for aobut 30 minutes in the cold. Omid brought out very cold beer and Jodie brought out cocoa with Southern Comfort. Omid and Ward ran to the store for provisions and we decided to have a party. We invited our friends the Stevens' & I sent Sarah an invite via Facebook. We will see who shows up to eat all the food. We have: prime rib, 2 chickens, one ham, and baked potatoes. Plus, I gave Lin the task of baking brownies while I made an apple crisp.

hot chocolate w/o Southern Comfort

friends!


This beer is called Brrr! Really!!!

Apple Crisp

4 cups sliced apples (6 med)

2/3-3/4 c packed brown sugar

1/2 c flour

1/2 c oatmeal

3/4 t cinnamon

3/4 t nutmeg

1/3 c soft butter

Heat oven to 375*. Place sliced apples in a greased pyrex (9x13). Blend streusel until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. Bake 30-35 mins until apples are tender and top is brown.

**I sprinkle the top of this dessert with the raw sugar before baking!

Snow Dog

I just watched Goliath's video and had to make my own of Remy and the ice covered snow. But he simply refused to perform. I only wish I had taken a video of him at 6 a.m. when he was outside for over 10 minutes trying to find the perfect spot. It was hilarious.

So...here is my video which is mainly me (talking too loud & telling my son to avoid certain packages in the snow) trying to get Remy to "perform!"

Omid and I spent a good part of this afternoon looking for a snow shovel. You see, earlier this week, I was not feeling a bit sorry for the people who didn't have snow shovels and then went out last minute looking for one. I was smug in knowing that our garage held our snow shovel safe and sound. Then...when we went looking for it - it wasn't there. Gone! So...we sheepishly went looking for one. All the stores were sold out. I guess I learned my lesson.

I found this movie while blogstalking my friend Sarah's mom's blog. It's a short film called Volition. Warning: grab a tissue.

Christmas Shopping (Finally!)

Yesterday Omid packed all of us in his big car and drove to Clackamas Town Center so we could finish our Christmas shopping. The mall was packed. After shopping, we headed over to Macaroni Grill (Olive Garden is better!) and had lunch. We thought for sure we would have to wait forever for a table...but there were only 2 other tables with diners.

The mall was full of deals. Macy's had the best deals of all and I spent most of my time in there. Nordstrom had a few deals in Brass Plum only - but enough for Nas to be happy.