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Friday, December 31, 2010

2011 Cupcakes

What better way to ring in the new year than with cupcakes?
add some champagne and the hubs and I'm there...


spice box cake mix with butter cream frosting
gingerbread cookie topping
(tip: use melted white chocolate instead of frosting on the cookie, 
it will dry hard to the touch in minutes and prevent smudges)



butter cream frosting:
3 sticks butter (room temp, very important)
1 stick Crisco
1 and 1/4 bags of powered sugar (I use 2lb bags)
1 tsp vanilla extract
3-4 tbl spoons of milk (maybe more)
 
I think the trick to better frosting is to beat the butter, beat it real good! 6-8 minutes good. If you have a kitchen aid then no problem, just walk away... but if you don't, get a buddy because your arm is gonna be really sore! Then add the Crisco and beat for another minute or two and add the rest of the ingredients. Leave the milk for last and only add it if you need to. A good way to tell if the frosting is too thick is when you pop the mixer up, if most of the frosting stays on the paddle... it's too thick. Add the milk one table spoon at a time, mix and lift the mixer again.

gingerbread cookies:
  • 3-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1-3/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1-3/4 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon shortening, melted and cooled slightly
  • 1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon molasses
  • 1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup and 1 teaspoon water
  • 1/2 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 
Sift together the flour, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon; set aside. 
In a medium bowl, mix together the shortening, molasses, brown sugar, water, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients, until they are completely absorbed. Divide dough into 3 pieces, pat down to 1 1/2 inch thickness, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. (I usually leave this overnight)
Preheat oven to 350. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet (i use parchment paper). Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. 
Have a very safe and happy new year...
I had planned on posting our family year in pictures, but didn't get to it yet... 
it'll have to happen in 2011! :) See you on the flip side!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Top 10 in 2010: blog edition

I'm starting my 2010 recap...
sifting through pictures... 
laughing/crying/awwwing as sweet memories of this past year come flooding in.

2010 was a great year for the Reagan Family, and I'll get to that tomorrow...
 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2010 was also a great year at Relatively Reagan

I thought I would share my 10 most popular/my favorite posts from this year.
picked by comments/hits/and just my gut feeling! haha



I love the idea of reveling the gender with family/friends this way...
when we get pregnant I'm going to have to do this again for sure!!


#8: 10 on 10: 
post 10 pictures on the 10th of every month
I am determined to do this every month in 2011



This is one of the highlights of my year... the day I met Bakerella!


who knew getting things checked off my to-do list would be so popular! haha


I got a TON of emails about the artwork on our kitchen shelf...



the 4-1 spots are all food related
I guess that is my true calling!  






&
I LOVED making these... 
and since they were featured on so many sites 
(thanks Tatertots & Jello and Be Different to name a few) 
these were by far my most visited pages for 2010.


Happy New Year!
2011 is gonna ROCK!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Christmas 2010

Our Christmas was so special...
full of traditions, laughter, way too much food, adorable kids we love, and together time.
I loved every.minute.of.it.

Here are a few pictures
I'm sure way more than most of you care to see...
but, my family reads this blog 
and I know that the ones that could not be with us for Christmas this year will cherish them. 
We missed yall.

Christmas eve at Mom & Dad Eatons


 








this just goes to show... that adults can make just as big of a tornado as kids can! haha



Christmas Morning @ Mom & Dad Reagans






 








Christmas afternoon @ Grannys in Atlanta









 And now, were home sweet home...
cleaning up from the holidays.
I can't take me tree down yet. just not ready.
I've been back to work, and now just getting all excited about New Years!


Bloggers Gift Exchange...

I'm a minute late posting this....
we had a wonderful and fun filled Christmas holiday, I hope you all did too!
I'm still busy downloading and organizing pictures and getting them ready to share.

I participated in my 2nd bloggers gift exchange this year...
the first one was notasfun since I never recieved a package, but
I decided to give it a try again.
especially for me, the pleasure is all in the giving.

I was partnered with Kristin at From the Stomach to the Heart
she writes a food blog and I am itching to try some of her yummy ideas!

Our swap:



 Thanks Kristin! Hope you had a wonderful holiday!! :)

Thanks to Survey Junkie & Simply Stacie for hosting!!
see the blog hop here

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Checklist

I bet I have more lists than Santa...
chores that need to be done
gifts to wrap
cards to mail
people to spend time with
goodies to bake
movies to watch
errands to run
crafts to create
work, work, work

Sometimes we can get all wrapped up in the "doings" of Christmas that we forget the reason that we are celebrating this season. I am happy to say that this year has been my most calm holiday season yet. We didn't go crazy with the gift buying (we draw names on each side of the family, and mostly just buy for kids), I limited the crafts so I wouldn't have a million projects going on at the same time, I ordered and mailed our cards early and I was finished shopping last weekend. I am ready to soak up this wonderful time of year with the hubs and the family (and my work family of course, I'll be spending countless hours with you over the next 2 days).





  

 


I hope you all have a VERY Merry Christmas...
I have one additional post scheduled for this week, a link up for a gift swap that I participated in.... 
will go up on Friday. 
Other than that, you can find me gazing at the tree, stuffing my face, laughing, and snuggling by the fire. 
{oh yeah, and working}
Lovies.