Hey ladies!  So, I can’t say that my house is quite clean…but, I’m back with a really long post.  Christmas was so fun this year…here’s a few pics from the past couple days: Here’s Audrey, on Christmas Eve, opening the presents from her siblings.  In one of my Christmas tradition posts, I shared with you how everyone has to say something nice about the recipient before they can open their presents from each other.  We heard some great stuff!  I love hearing the boys call their little sisters “cute” and that they are “fun to play with.”  My favorite part was when Audrey told Shane that he is “nice” to her and his eyes welled up with tears because he knew he had actually been mean to her that day.  An hour later, he completely fell-apart and had to have a heart-to-heart with his daddy.  Shane is my little sensitive child, it’s so cute (another tradition we have is to always eat baked potato soup for Christmas, so check out the recipe below!)

Caden and Shane, during the sibling gift exchange on Christmas Eve.  I can barely get Caden to wear pants, don’t ask me about a shirt.

Isabelle on Christmas morning…

Dan only requires 3 things of me to be coolest, most hot-rockin’ wife ever…good food, good lovin’, and guns.  Easy.

We almost ate Joey for Christmas dinner, but we decided to have roast chicken instead.

This mess multiplied by every room in the house = no post yesterday.

Christmas Eve dinner (like I’ve mentioned before) we always have Baked Potato Soup…topped with bacon and cheese (very important).  It’s one of those meals that is perfect because everyone loves it, even my picky eater.  I usually double the recipe so that we have left-overs for at least two more days…we like it that much.  This recipe came from my mama, who has served you up some Tropical Passion Dessert and Nutty Craisin Chew.

To make it (not doubled) you need 6 Idaho potatoes, butter, flour, salt, chicken broth, milk, chicken bouillon (optional), grated cheese, and bacon (NOT optional.)

First, bake your potatoes (6 of them.)  Poke holes in them so they don’t explode and throw them in the oven for about an hour at 350.  I know what you’re thinking…that kid is how old??  And, he’s using a knife, how sharp??  Back off, he’s fine…besides, he’s allergic to homework so he’s got to do something to keep him busy.

When the potatoes are done, make a roux using 5 TBS of butter, 5 TBS of flour and 1 tsp. salt.  First, melt the butter in a large pot, then whisk in the flour and salt and let cook for about a minute.

Then add your broth and milk, slowly, while whisking.  Let cook until thickened, stirring constantly.  Once thick, cut the potatoes in half (length-wise) and scoop out the good stuff into the soup.  * If you like your soup more salty/chickeny…you can add a couple tsp. of chicken bouillon granules (or 2 cubes.)  Let the soup heat for a few more minutes to bring the potatoes to temperature and serve!  Oh wait…you HAVE to have bacon and grated cheese on top.  I used to fry up a package of bacon, until I discovered the huge bags of precooked bacon at Costco.  I love them, they make life so much more simple.  I’ll pop a bunch of pieces in the microwave until they are crispy, break them into pieces and there you have it…bacon to top the soup.

Serve with breadsticks or rolls, for dipping, and a yummy green salad.

For the past couple years, we’ve had this New Orleans Bread Pudding with caramel cream sauce for Christmas morning breakfast…along with something savory, like a breakfast casserole or breakfast fajitas.  It’s such an easy dish and always gets people talking, it’s scrum-diddly-umptious!

For this recipe you need: 1 loaf of day-old french bread, milk, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

For the caramel sauce, combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 TBS flour, and 1 cup whipping cream in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil.  Remove from heat and add 1/4 cup butter and 2 TBS vanilla (yes, that’s TABLEspoons.)  Pour over individual servings of bread pudding.

Don’t worry, we have until January 1st before we have to start our diet.