Food Friday

Whew, I am tired of cooking. I admit it. I am about to close the kitchen for Christmas and make Randall get Christmas Eve supper at Pizza Hut and Christmas lunch at KFC! I am only partly joking too...don't tempt me. Ha! I have made bread, cinnamon rolls, candy, cupcakes, a cake and pumpkin butter this week for gift giving...along with cooking dinner for my family each night. Can a girl get a little "atta girl" love??!! I hear ya...thank ya! Love all you bloggie pals.

These are the mini cupcakes I made for Henry's class party. I used a tartlet pan. It makes the perfect size for their little fingers and mouths. The local grocery store by my house gave me the little elf picks. The sweet bakery lady was unable to make the little cupcakes for me, as I had so hoped, so in return she let me wheel my cart back into the bakery and go into cake decorating heaven. I was overwhelmed with choices. I came out all smiles with these little elves and the reindeer you will see below. She also gave me a big hug and told me Merry Christmas. I love a local grocery store....the monster chain stores would have never, ever given a girl an elf or a hug...just sayin!

I made this little cake and used the adorable reindeer my fabulous bakery lady gave me. I took it to Henry's previous class because we could not let Ms. Maribeth and Ms. Stephaney feel unloved at Christmas. Henry still makes a daily visit to their class because he is a rotten mess!

I gave his teachers these little happies, each in a sassy Belluvah tote bag. I gave them a loaf of my bread and my homemade pumpkin butter (recipe below). I also painted them CD ornaments. I had so much fun making all of their little happies and seeing their smiles and hearing about the yummy bread and butter. We are blessed with such great, devoted teachers who love our boy and appreciate some of his mama's bread and butter!

Pumpkin Butter

1 (29 ounce) can pumpkin

3/4 cup apple juice
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

While I was cooking all this up my little walker came in to see if he might get to taste test for me. He loves the bread. I think he would eat a whole loaf if I would allow it. He is also very fond of the cinnamon rolls...just like his daddy.

I was wrapping up cinnamon rolls to take to school, friends and family. I had them all over the counter. I also had Henry in his counter seat eating yogurt melts...or so I thought. I looked up and that little foodie of mine had reached over and grabbed a cinnamon roll out of one of the pans and was in mid bite...priceless! My camera was on the counter and I was able to get a snapshot of the foodie in action. He ate that whole roll all on his own and cried for more when he finished. He comes by it honest, I reckon!

Happy Food Friday!

Abby