We’ve had a very festive weekend here in the North East. Thanks to mother nature, my kids were able to play outside in 6 plus inches of the fluffy white stuff after church this morning. Yesterday, I was in the kitchen all day cooking up a storm. First up were Christmas cookies with the girls. The island in my kitchen turns out to be the perfect place for us to gather and cook together. The kids had fun using the cookie press and decorating mint-chocolate tree cookies.
Before the snow came, we were visited by the big man in the red suit on the back of our local fire department’s truck. Here’s a shot of Maya (along with our neighbor Sheila) getting some candy from Santa.
Along with cookies, I also tried out Chicken Spaghetti (since Kathy recommended it in her review of Ree Drummond’s new cookbook). Got the recipe off of Pioneer Woman’s website (how is it that I’ve never heard of this woman until now)? It was excellent!! I also made her scrumptious apple pie and pie crust which were also pretty good.
Speaking of the kitchen, except for some details that are still unfinished (kitchen back splash, hood above the oven, crown molding on top of the cabinets, stonework on fireplace) the kitchen is fully functional! Here’s a glimpse of the space.
We are off to my girlfriend’s annual holiday party this afternoon, so I probably won’t get much reading done today.
Make sure to stop by this blog over the next few days as I will have the final and biggest Everything Austen giveaway!
OMG! Dream kitchen!! *drools* Well worth the wait, I would imagine?
Those cookies looks good too. I think I should bake on my week off…
I LOVE Pioneer Woman! Thank God you found her! She has some great recipes.
I am sooooooooo jealous of your kitchen. I was right; it’s gorgeous!
How impressive that you did all that cooking and baking and your kitchen looks sparkling clean!
Your kitchen looks great. Very nice! And those cookies look delicious.
Your kitchen is just gorgeous! I know you’re really going to enjoy it. Glad you enjoyed the chicken spaghetti too.
Your kitchen is lovely and I know will be used to make many wonderful memories of cooking with your girls!
Beautiful!! Enjoy the holidays!
Oooh, I remember that recipe from Pioneer Woman. She is awesome! And, from a cooking fanatic, I must say that your kitchen is FABULOUS!
I am still amazed at how fast your addition went in. It looks beautiful and the timing couldn’t have been better!
The Kitchen is beautiful! And I love your girls! Especially the one in red. I’m a sucker for kids with Korean-like eyes.
Merry Christmas!
The kitchen looks fantastic already and so usable!
The kitchen doesn’t look unfinished. It looks great. Looks like the kids are having a great time.
Your new kitchen looks phenomenal and that countertop is perfect for cookie making!
Looks to me like you had a really great winter weekend with your family.
Happy holidays!
That’s such a cute photo of your girls decorating cookies! I forgot I had a cookie press — maybe I should use it again. And, ooh, you baked apple pie? Yum! I baked apple pies last month from a Martha recipe, and they were quite delicious.
Your kitchen looks so awesome! Love the open space and the natural light you get in there. Hope you have a happy Christmas holiday, Stephanie!
I LOVE that kitchen!!
Oh I LOVE the new kitchen. It’s gorgeous! I picked up a copy of the Pioneer Woman Cookbook for my mom and I have a feeling I’ll be buying a copy myself!
Darling pictures! Your kitchen looks great!
Your kitchen is gorgeous! Your girls are even more gorgeous…they look like they’re having fun with the cookies. I just picked up the pioneer woman cookbook at the library and can’t wait to try the chicken spaghetti…sounds delicious.
I love Ree Drummond’s cookbook (ok, so I don’t own it yet, but I plan to buy a copy tomorrow!) and her blog. She’s someone I’d love to live next door to. Thanks for the link to her spaghetti recipe. That’s dinner this weekend!! Mmmmmmm.
Your girls are growing up so fast! Where does the time go!