December 24, 2019 ChristmasEve Fun Run-Walk

The temperatures for Christmas Eve were unseasonably WARM

It was the perfect excuse to get outside........... and WALK.
Today, was the 10th Annual Christmas Eve Fun Run and Walk.
The event started in Vic Thomas Park, on our beloved Greenway, beginning at noon.
The public event was hosted by Mike Morris and Marion Childress, 2 avid outdoor area athletes!
There was a 3 mile or 1 mile course.
FB Friend, Karen Crawford posted the following group picture........which by the way did not include a LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE! ↓↓↓

Photo credit Ed Kohinke Sr.

What a bunch of happy people! a phenomenal start to the Christmas Eve/Christmas Day food binge 😁😁😁
One of the highlights was spending a little time with this guy!

and of course........... these people and Bear!

Can you believe how many participants were involved?....... Many had entered this event EVERY.SINGLE.YEAR !

#wyatttheriot loves to have his photo taken!

The sun felt soooooooooooo good...... thanks to LES for taking the rest of these spring like pics 👇

I hardly notice that I walked 12,686 fitbit steps that day!

We all could use a few more sunny warm days, before Old Man Winter sets in!

December 23, 2019 Christmas Brie RIng

A quick, easy, scrumptious, crowd pleaser.

This bacon brie crescent wreath recipe was a cinch to assemble.

Here is the recipe→→BRIE CRESCENT WREATH

 Any left over cheese or bacon can be sprinkled on a salad!

BINGO!.
Happy Eating!

December 20-22, 2019 Christmas with Carinos

Over the river and through the woods,
to Haymarket, Va. we go.
Feel the magic.
Christmas 2019 was celebrated with grands, daughter, son-in-law.
Got to see Santa up close and personal,

Admire the decorated tree,

See the Nutcracker,

Take lots of photos.........hehehehe

c

Chef stirred up a delicious venison chili!

Open presents
Eat yummy food
Watch a Christmas movie.
FA LA LA LA LA
Tis the season!
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

Thanks for the memories of Christmas 2019

December 17, 2019 Cinnamon Rolls and Christmas memories.

Christmas and baking(for me) seem to go hand in hand.  

For years, I would start baking and freezing several month before December. Never mind that I had 3 kids and not a lot free time. My freezer was filled with goodies...... some to keep and eat, and some to give as gifts. I considered myself a creative cook. My Christmas specialty was the SWEDISH TEA RING. Mine usually looked like this! ↓↓↓

or this! ↓↓↓

The recipe for these scrumptious sweet breakfast breads is here: SWEDISH TEA RING 

I fondly remember making fancier tea rings that looked like Christmas trees! 

Time consuming, but fun and thrilling to see each one be unique! 

YEARS WENT BY without any attempts to make the time to do this type of specialty baking.

With kids grown, married, a little more time seemed to be on my hands. 

I've done several bread-type products this fall, but the one that I enjoyed the most was created this week. (and I have to thank my friend Brenda for giving me the boost to do this!)

Here is the recipe:  OVERNIGHT CINNAMON ROLLS 

Working with yeast can be tricky, if you don't follow the directions.

And if your yeast is OLD, it might not work. Make sure your ingredients are not substituted.

 From this moment, letting the dough rise for about 2 hours is important. It should end up looking like this! ↓↓ *HINT......... I turned on my oven to 200 degrees, then turn it off, and placed the pans in the over, covered with a wet paper towel. BINGO!

 Dough is then rolled out, dressed with butter, cinnamon and  sugar, rolled up and sliced.

 Since this was a time consuming project, I decided to make a double batch.

 The aroma throughout the house was divine! Drizzled with cream cheese icing, these cinnamon rolls were irresistible.

 and of course, samples were given out to make sure it was suitable for others!

Soft, fluffy, butter cinnamon rolls............. a successful Tuesday in the kitchen.
MELT IN YOUR MOUTH DELICIOUS!
PS............ Cinnamon Rolls were a stable on Christmas morning at Ron's Mom's house.
EVERY.
SINGLE.
YEAR.
I think she would have been proud of me this week. I thought of her often, and shook my head in amazement at her culinary skills! She was the queen of cooking!
If time permits, I'll try my hand at a few of her other favorite Christmas delicacies.
HAPPY BAKING!