Yummy Corn Chowder

Its almost winter time and that mean lots of soup for dinner in the Holbrook House. This is one of my favorite recipes that I make all the time!!! Enjoy!!


Ingredients
6 pieces thick-sliced bacon, chopped
1 medium Vidalia onion, finely chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 small jalapeno, chopped seeds and ribs removed
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups chicken stock
2 large potatoes, small diced
1 cup heavy cream
16 ounces frozen corn

Directions
In a small saucepan over medium heat, saute the bacon until crisp and browned and the fat is rendered. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towel and reserve. There should be about 4 tablespoons of bacon grease in pan.


Add the onions and red pepper to pan. Saute until tender and translucent, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the jalapeno and garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the flour until thoroughly combined. Cook the flour until it reaches a slight blonde color, about 1 minute. Stir in the chicken stock and the potatoes and simmer for 10 minutes; potatoes will become soft. Add the cream and corn. Simmer for 15 more minutes. Pour into a serving bowl and garnish with the reserved bacon.

Pumpkin Cookies

PUMPKIN COOKIES:

cream together...

2 cups sugar
2 cups shortening
2 cups pumpkin
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla

add in...

5 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. pumpkin spice
2 tsp. nutmeg powder


BAKE: 350 for 12 minutes



FROSTING:

1/2 cup butter
4 oz. cream cheese
3-4 cups powder sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Florida 2011

Back in January we went to Disney world
Here were are at the England part of the Epcot center
Hudson was kinda being a tard and would not let us take any good pictures.
Hudson and Dad racing cars.
This was China
Hudson was really excited to go through the viking village
We got pictures with Donald Duck
and a picture with Micky Mouse
Hugh and Hud just out for a lazy drive
Hudson and mom having Tea Time
On the beach in daytona

From the Wall Street journal

I've never forgotten a letter I once received from a reader, who told me about going to a dance when she was a teen. "My mother was waiting for me when I came home," she wrote. "But instead of telling her I had a great time, I regaled her with a scathing description of some incredible nerd who'd tried to dance with me. In essence, I said that this guy had a lot of nerve to expect anyone to dance with a person as weird and ugly as he was.

"When I finished my tirade, my mom said, 'You know, this boy you find ugly and weird is some mother's pride and joy. She waited for him to come home, just like I waited for you, hoping to hear he'd had a nice time at the dance. But when he came home, she saw his face, she knew someone hurt him, and it broke her heart. So the next time a boy asks you to dance, before you turn him down or make fun of him, just remember: Every boy is some mother's son.' "

The reader said she posted her mom's words in her college dorm, and she and her friends recited them before they went out. "It was a lesson in compassion," she said. "Treat everyone the way your mother would want everyone to treat you."

Holiday Cranberry Cookies

CRANBERRY COOKIES
3/4 c. shortening
1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
Cream together until fluffy and add
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 c. flour
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
Blend together and add to mixture. Spread dough on 11x17 ungreased cookie sheet.

2 c. fresh cranberries (I use whole bag)
1 sm. pkg. butterscotch bits
Rinse berries and press into cookie dough. Sprinkle with butterscotch bits
Bake @ 350 for 30 min. Let cool and cut into bars.

We had Hudson 4th birthday party at Chucke Cheese this year. He had so much fun and was glad that everyone could come.
Here is a family picture of all of us. We could barely tear Hudson away from all of the games to get this.
Hud was kicking some trash at air hockey!!
Hudson wanted to put the candles in his birthday cake all by himself.
We think that Hudson was pondering what to wish for while we all sang him Happy Birthday. That or he was just being shy.
We had a grand total of 900 tickets to trade in for some awesome toys. Believe me it was a tough decision for this big 4 year old to make.
Hudson and Dallas got to meet Mr. Chucke Cheese himself.
Here are all of Hudson toys that he got for his birthday. He had so much fun and was glad that everyone came. He is already talking about his next birthday party, presumably at Chucke Cheese. hahahahaha

Hudson is four!!!

4 years ago today our little Hudzilla was born. He is such a blessing in our lives and we love him. He is so excited for his birthday party tonight and I will post pictures later on this week.