I was left in a pretty big dilemma as I am a very sentimental person. If someone I care about gives me a gift I automatically LOVE it. It is really difficult for me to return or exchange things because I feel BAD about taking someone's thoughtful gift back. Had I received 2 of the exact same Kitchen Aid mixers I probably wouldn't have felt so bad but I was forced to choose between Metallic Chrome (what I thought I wanted to match the kitchen) and limited edition Susan B Komen PINK! I always liked the pink one but never thought I would actually have it my kitchen. Even more shocking is the fact that my BF (who is extremely OCD and crazy about what goes into the house) actually picked out the pink one for me. HUH? Really? You don't mind that there will be a bright pink mixer sitting on the counter just screaming "Look at me! I'm Pink!"? Hmmm....that's kind of cute. :) I contemplated which mixer to keep for DAYS while they both sat on the kitchen counter in their boxes looking so eager for me to open them. Decisions, decisions...have never been my strong point. I even contemplated keeping them both for a minute (Really? Who needs 2 mixers?).

Anyway, I finally decided to be different and add a splash of color to the kitchen. Pink it is!! I have to say I am so glad I chose the pink...it really is adorable and adds a little "something" to the kitchen, I'm not quite sure what that "something" is but I like it. Every time I look at my mixer it puts a little smile on my face, I know that sounds weird, but it's true. Since I had to return the other mixer that my parents got for me I was able to buy the Kitchen Aid pasta maker attachment (which I have already used a few times...big fan!! I will post the recipes and the story soon) and an Immersion Blender (also a big fan...hello Butternut Squash Soup!). Although I felt guilty (I know...issues) bringing that mixer back to Williams Sonoma, I'm so happy with my new purchases to replace it. So THANK YOU Mom and Dad for the amazing gift(s) and THANK YOU Jeff for the amazing pink mixer...mixing happiness into our lives!! LOL (I had to add a little sentimental cheesiness in there).

P.S. I ended up keeping the clip-less curling iron from my parents..Thank you...LOVE it....adding some waves into the sea that is my boring hair. ;) LOL

Until next time....brighten up your life! Try something out of the ordinary to put a smile on your face. :)

xoxo

Christina

Nikki here, setting the scene: It’s dinnertime at the Keller home. The house is filled with chaos! Lil Degan (9 Mos.) crawling on the floor talking to himself, Ezra (4 yrs.) at the back door playing outside LOUDLY, Bobby (husband) chatting it up with his buddy Jeremy in the living room, I am multi tasking: cleaning up dirty dishes, loading the dishwasher, preparing dinner, reading over Ezra’s school work...5:30PM =Chaos at the Keller home…

I was boiling water for one of my favorite dishes, butternut squash ravioli, I grabbed a nearby dish towel instead of my really adorable RED OVEN MITS to drain the water out into the colander in the sink (my kitchen sink is across from my stove) and all at once: Ezra comes in from the backdoor YELLING “MOMMMMM”, I get caught up in the gas range with the BAD idea dish towel and WHAMMMM… all the boiling water RUSHES on to my bare right arm. SCREAMING I get my arm into cold water. A second later, I am pulling my entire ice tray out and making the water ICE COLD! I sit there…cursing to myself… Husband and buddy are STARING at me silently. I call Jeff Golden, Pete’s BF who is a fireman, tell him my AWESOME news… he says “well, your not in to much pain… I would wait it out unless you can’t take the pain anymore. If you can’t deal, go to the ER.” I think yeah, I have a really HIGH threshold for PAIN… well, not to long after the pain INCREASES… I look at the hubby and say in a very calm voice “I am not going to be able to take the pain… I want to go to the ER.” (For the record: he thinks It’s NOT that BAD). The pain got SO BAD… let’s just say I would have rather had another baby with out DRUGS! Lesson: DO NOT FOR ANY REASON move BOILING water from the stove! Get one of those strainers that you just lift out! WORTH EVERY PENNY!

Here are some pictures of what it took to get Jeff's (Christina's Boyfriend) gifts home! 

The pictures say enough... 

Merry Christmas JEFF! 

Another great idea are these Poach Pods that I picked up at Sur La Table. They come in all kinds of colors and make poaching eggs fool-proof!

Cooking gadgets are always great stocking stuffers! I got a bunch of things in my stocking last year and absolutely loved it! Let us know what cool gadgets your giving and receiving this holiday season!

XOXO,

Happy Holidays!!

Christina

This is a Williams-Sonoma recipe that I make in the fall for my family. 

You can buy the pecan pumpkin butter at Williams-Sonoma or at www.muirheadfoods.com.

Minutes to Prepare: 10 

Minutes to Cook: 40

Number of Servings: 24

 Ingredients

         BASE LAYER:

         1 box Duncan Hines Super Moist Classic Yellow Cake Mix [18.25oz], reserving 1 cup

         1/2 cup butter, melted

         1 large egg

         PUMPKIN LAYER:

         1 jar Muirhead Pecan Pumpkin Butter

         2 tablespoons 2% milk

         2 large eggs

         TOPPING:

         1 tablespoon all purpose flour

         2 tablespoons granulated sugar

         1/4 cup butter, softened

         1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES.

GREASE A 13X9X2 BAKING PAN AND SET ASIDE.

1. Divide cake mix, reserving one cup in a small mixing bowl; set aside.

2. With the remainder of the cake mix, stir in the melted butter and one egg.

3. Press this mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

4. Mix the jar of Muirhead Pecan Pumpkin Butter with two eggs and milk. Spread this mixture over the pressed mixture in the baking dish.

5. Stir the reserved cup of cake mix with the flour, sugar, 1/4 cup of softened butter, and cinnamon. Mix together until it's crumbly. Sprinkle over the top of the pumpkin layer.

6. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.

7. Cool and cut into 2" squares. Makes 24 squares.

Number of Servings: 24

The story:

Pete was in a hurry, SHOCKER I KNOW, and didn't think it would be a BIG deal if she put the spaghetti in BEFORE the water started to boil... hummm...the pasta literally became MUSH!  Maybe there is a reason it says "put in boiling water!" Dinner was interesting...

Lesson of the day: Read and FOLLOW the directions! :) 

XO, Nikki 

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (optional substitute 1/2 c. applesauce)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 4- 4 1/2 ripe bananas, mashed well
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

Heat oven to 350. Grease and flour 5x9x3 inch pan. In a large bowl mix oil (or applesauce), sugar, and eggs. Blend in bananas. In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients; stir into banana mixture. Add milk and vanilla; mix well. Stir in chololate chips (optional). Pour into prepared pan. Bake about 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.* Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan; cool on wire rack.

* I like to take the bread out a few minutes early (~10) while it's not quite done in the center, immediately remove from the pan, and wrap in aluminum foil. It will continue cooking through in the aluminum foil leaving it extra moist.

Enjoy!!

xoxo

Christina

Honey Almond Chicken

• 2 boneless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 1/4 cup lemon juice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Arrange chicken parts in a baking dish.
2. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat, and cook onion 5 minutes, until tender. Stir in honey, almonds, and lemon juice, and continue cooking 2 minutes, or until heated through. Pour over the chicken, coating each piece.
3. Cover dish with aluminum foil. Bake chicken 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove foil, and continue baking ~15-25 minutes, until chicken juices run clear.

Enjoy!!

First I decided to make the Avgolemono Soup because George (Jeff's Dad) brought us some lemons from his lemon tree. This soup was amazing...possibly my new favorite soup. I did modify the recipe a bit...I substituted Orzo for the Arborio and I increased the amount from 1/4 cup to about 3/4 cup. Squeezing the juice from the fresh lemons was a bit of a mess but worth it. I recommend using cheese cloth over the lemons as you squeeze them to keep the seeds from getting in the juice. I guess now I need to buy a juicer!!  The soup turned out great! I think next time I will try adding chicken as well. I have left-overs for a few days....LOVE it!

I decided on the beer chicken marinade based on the ingredients I had available...what does that day about me? lol...I don't even drink beer but lucky for me Jeff keeps the fridge stocked. :)

The chicken turned out moist and delicious. We grilled it 6 minutes on one side 5 minutes on the other.

I can't take credit for the sweet potato casserole...George got it on QVC...I had no idea that you could even buy food on QVC..but you can!!...and it's actually really good! This sweet potato casserole reminds me of the sweet potatoes they have at Ruth Chris....YUM!!

Check out the Avgolemono and Beer marinade recipes below....2 thumbs up!

The real reason we do it is there are plenty of "Perfect Models" for you to try and emulate such as: Martha Stewart, Rachel Ray, and Paula Dean. We think you need a couple of screw ups to help you get out of the mess you will inevitably get yourself into! You can count on us to have already screwing up a dinner party with some important guests... (your boss, your significant others boss, or your in-law's... I am not sure which is worse)! We hope you learn, share, and assist the next screw up! Life is much better when you can laugh it off!

Quick story: I was serving at a lunch at the Hyatt in Phoenix, AZ. (I was a newer banquet server). The managment gave me the table with the toughest Sheriff in the country! Sheriff  Joe Arpaio! *Next to him was a real pretty woman in an all white suit. I watched my every move, making sure I served from the LEFT and picked up from the RIGHT. Clearing the correct service pieces with each course! I thought I was in the clear with only the dessert left to serve... as I was pouring the coffee... I didn't pull the lever up to allow the liquid to pass through the spout...I kept tilting the thermos thinking "WHY WON"T THIS STUPID THING POURRRRRRR.... and splash! All the HOT coffee came rushing out hitting the mug and bouncing onto the ALL WHITE SUIT lady! She jumped up and I was already trying to pat her down with the only dusty rose napkin available! Let's just say she was courteous to me...and the Sheriff didn't take me to jail.