Christmas Cookie baking time~

Madeleine, our first great grandchild, smelled cookies and came to visit for the first time last night.

                                                                      
Years ago my two nieces, Nancy and Linda, and I started baking cookies every week end right after Thanksgiving.  We made thousands, ate some but gave most of them away.  Andy and I and the boys would drive down to McConnelsville on Friday night and off we would go baking in our pajamas for comfort and fun. Then that got hectic and I started baking at home leaving a trail of cookies where ever I went.  That was lonesome and when we moved to Many Branches I found a fellow baker across the street and for a few years we baked together.  After that I was done with cookies for many years.  My sister-in-law, Sally came to Columbus with a jar of Mrs. Field's cookies and I was hooked again.  You know the story about that recipe I am sure. Well, it's a great recipe and I am baking it today for Alyssa and Brooks and their friends who will be coming home soon for Christmas.  It only calls for a pound of butter and two bags of chocolate chips and five cups of oats and four cups of flour--it may kill my work horse mixer, but we are still going to plow through it once Andy gets back with the 4 jumbo eggs the recipe need, plus the usual additions for cookies.  Everything is ready and waiting, come on Andy.
Below: My favorite dessert cookie, Butterscotch Dessert Cookie. Better the second day and beyond.
                                                                                      

Nate's adventures in Galapagos Islands

                                                                         Sharks!! Today we snorkeled with sea turtles, sting rays and sharks lol. Too bad I don't have a go pro

-0:13

Nate manages to find the girls; this one is Jamie FROM OHIO, teaching English in the Galapagos Islands,  

Note the bird eating Nate's breakfast.  They are very aggressive seeing as how they were there first. Far left: cigarette men to remind people this is pristine land, but the irresponsible drop them anyway.

Nate travels alone but always meets someone great along the way. Above with Nate and Gabriella.

Nate Lechler

20 hrs · 

Every day I discover something new and perfect in this wonderful place. I still have yet to upload any of the incredible pictures from my camera. But I am looking forward to sharing them when I get the chance. It has changed my life being here, and if you ever get the chance I highly recommend visiting the Galapagos Islands

Nate arrived in South America~

A lot has been happening in the Lechler family over Thanksgiving holiday: a first great-grandchild, Madeleline Elizabeth, and a family party here on Thanksgiving Day, and a family party in New Orleans, and now Nate Lechler has started his winter travels arriving in South America this morning. (AND, OSU beat Michigan Saturday!)
NOTE: Matt, Stacy and their new baby were in shut down on OSU campus while a hatchet man ran wild and was killed by an alert OSU policeman. They are at home and safe.  What next?
Nate in South America.

Nate Lechler at Aeropuerto Internacional José Joaquín de Olmedo.

13 mins · Guayaquil, Ecuador · 

The airlines messed up my flight so now I am spending a day in mainland Ecuador. They compensated heavily though and hooked me up with a sweet hotel with free gourmet food.
TO THE RIGHT: BANANA FLOWER

Nate Lechler traveling to Galapagos Islands from Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado.

8 hrs · Bogotá, Colombia · 

I am now in South America!

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Galapagos Islands

Island · Quito, Ecuador

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Our OSU baby

Our first great-grandchild.  She's here for her first OSU game today. Beat Michigan!

Well don Matt and Stacy.

My workers have arrived YEA

  We always fix two so that everyone can take some turkey home for the next day.
I lure Pam back with pottery.  

I put Glenda to work before she got her jacket off.

Glenda peeling spuds.

Prime rib, turkey and ham                                                           
                   

George and Pam getting ready to wrap presents.  Wrapping a crib is no easy task.                                                                                   

Turkey

Matt's first baby born last night.

Bourbon carrots and make ahead mashed potatoes

                                                     
                                    Love make -ahead dishes especially when expecting over thirty people.  My legs are barking, but on I go.  We'll pop the carrots into brown and  give potatoes  a little cream, a stir, and some oven time. I will make regular mashed potatoes too, I just like a back- up and these chive and parmesan potatoes are delicious. The beef roast is marinating and the two turkeys are thawing--I leave those to my man George. The ham is no problem for the first meal of the day.  I have six crock pots standing in a row for many soups and stews: fish chowder, chili with meatballs, red beans, rice and ham, white bean soup with ham,  and one more I forget what it is. (mushroom soup)  I am trying a big new corn dish for the second meal to go with turkey, beef, mashed potatoes, 2 salads, cranberries, a new cranberry pineapple dish, and many starters and cheese boards, but they go with the first meal.


All four dogs have a spa day tomorrow--all day: bath, clips, shots, exams and Dr. Nicole is wonderful to work all of this in between her appointments.  We do this every year.  Had I been smart, I would have booked it for Wednesday, but nevertheless it will be a good break without them under my feet waiting for things to eat to fall from the sky.  It hits the floor and it is good-bye. Wednesday the big guns arrive to help: Joe (he and Andy are good at running errands and eating) Glenda, and Pam.  Pam is the energizer bunny and there is no sit down with her around. Glenda is the best dicer and deviled egg maker...and wonderful George who can do anything.

The tables are set and covered and Beth has been a big help getting the house under control and today Maribelle is here to clean and do the floors.  Bless their hearts.  Andy has already been to the store twice and recycle once today.  Last night we rearranged the living room for the mother-to-be to receive her gifts for baby Madeleine.  Once I have furniture where I want it I hate moving it around, but after the shower I will ask George and Pam to get it back to its original placement. I need to calm down!

Check back when you have time.  If not have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving, we are so lucky to live in this great nation.

And on we go...

I have loved North College Hill Bakery products since Andy and I were married fifth-eight years ago.
Andy's mother always had their coffee cakes when we came down for the week end.  They didn't last long, I can tell you.  Now my niece, Pam, has shopped for our Thanksgiving Day treats.  She's bought the slider buns that they call rolls but they are perfect for sliders as well as dinner rolls. (This is not Pam shopping in the picture.)  But these are the slider buns destined for greatness.






Cook's Corner's Holiday Cookies section came out today.  It is wonderful.  Alas, my recipe for Grandmother Pearl's raisin cream cookies did not make the cut.  Lisa, the editor did a great job as usual.

I am in full gear today with homemade marshmallows for the sweet potato dish 

Today I am into balls, dips and dressings for salads. Chuys creamy jalapeno dip is good in just about everything on the menu for a swift kick.  I made a double batch. It keeps so well.

1 cup sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
5 tablespoons dry Ranch Dressing mix
1/2 cup pickled jalapeno peppers (a few more won't hurt)
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice.

Cincinnati, Ohio