White Christmas

I grew up in Florida, the only white Christmas was at the beach. Rome Georgia had a white Christmas in 1989. Aaron was almost 2, and we went to Tucker to visit Randy's parents as the snow was falling in Rome. Today, we had a wonderful white Christmas. It started around 9:30, and continued all day. We drove out to Berry, but they were not letting folks in the gate...even with a sticker, unless you lived on campus. We stopped outside the gate and walked around to take pictures. It was cold, but so beautiful!

My mother-in-law goes all out with her decorating!

Too wet for sledding, but Aaron was ready!

Grandmommie's house in the snow.

Berry Beautitful

Emory barns between the new dorms. They really look like ski lodges with snow on the lawn.

Barnwell Chapel

No bike riding today.

The new Kilpatrick Commons with the Cage Center in the background.

Kids on the porch at Krannert.

No tongues stuck to the pole, but they had to try.

Kids with Grandmommie.

Aaron getting his kicks at snowy Berry.

Lighted tree outside the gatehouse, courtesy of SGA.

After the snowy walk, the we came home and have been playing the Wii eversince. That's another post, but in 22 years of children, and it is our FIRST game system.

The Best Birthday!

Did you know that 50 is a number? Well, lots of people freak out when that happens to coincide with their birthday. I rejoice! I've been fortunate to live for half a century. I've never once dreaded the BIG 5-0. My wonderful family put together a surprise party for me. It was PERFECT, except that some of my friends were not able to come...we missed you! (Hailey, Stacee, Emily, Tiffany, Chris & Heather and many more)

Drew & Emily Landis were the host home of the surprise. This picture is of an unhappy Rory Pascual & Drew.

Alyssa was the coordinator of the surprise party. She did Facebook invites, mailed invitations, then a FB reminder. She even got my mother-in-law to make my favorite coconut cake. She picked the cake up on Friday afternoon and hauled it around until Sunday. Carrie & Aaron helped Randy come up with the guest list.

I admit being suspicious when Drew called and invited us to stop by their house before we went to a concert. He remembered that we were going to concert at Cobb Energy Center. Our plan was to eat Chipotle before the concert, but Drew said they would feed us! You can see some of the great finger foods we enjoyed in this picture. That is Michael Muchnik (Spivey's husband) with Drew.

Two Kelli's are better than one!

Randy and my three oldest girls. Abby was our adopted student, and Carrie favors her so much. People often ask if they are sisters. It was great to see Abby & Joe. They left Lizzy & Joshua with the grandparents so they could enjoy some adult conversation.

Kelli & Janelle. Hadn't seen Janelle for several years. She is back in the Atlanta area.

My oldest boys, Joe & Drew. Joe and Abby won the long distance award. They live in Raleigh NC. They were visiting relatives in Atlanta area at just the right time!

Adam Greene & Randy. Adam brought his lovely wife Florence to the party. Great to see Adam.

We love Drew & Emily's house. Here's a view from the stairs. Kate is the photographer in most of these pictures. Michael & Matthew Muchnik, Sarah, Rory, and Adam's wife Florence enjoying some conversation.

My sweet Evie! It had been too long since I saw her.

Jonathan holding Rory, as Sarah looks on. Sarah didn't know many folks, but she fit right in & made some new friends!

Helen & Ryan were a part of the festivities. They live in Rome, but I have to come to Atlanta to see them.

Jonathan & Sarah's precious girl, Rory.

Kate loves her!

Here's the whole crew that came. The list that the kids made had about 70 former students on it. This party was perfect because it was all young people that have been a part of the Nobles family when they were in college. I have learned so much from the students in my life, and I was delighted that they would share my 50th birthday with me.

A few of the kids couldn't come but sent cards or their regrets. I got a head start on the party on Saturday when John, Amanda & baby Ava Alford were in Rome. They were visiting Michael & Kelly Smith and stopped in for some cookies. On Sunday our neighbors, Tracy & Robby Batchelor ate lunch with us after church. Of course, I didn't know about the party at this point - but they all did!

The reason we were ALL together on a Sunday afternoon was because we had tickets to a Straight No Chaser concert. They are an A Capella group that we love! We saw them in 2009, and I decided I wanted to go to their concert for my birthday. That is how the party plans started. We were going to be in the area, Drew & Emily were willing to host, and the rest is history!

After the concert we waited to meet the group of 10 guys we know as SNC. Aaron & I both follow all of them on Twitter, so we feel like we know them. After every concert they have a meet & greet. They sign autographs, and you can have your picture made with them. The group started at Indiana University in the mid 90's. They went professional after a YouTube video went viral a few years ago.

Aaron asked Walt, the music director of SNC, if they could sing Happy Birthday to me. The lady in front of us took the picture and emailed it to me!

This is Ryan & Dave from SNC.

Mike is my favorite voice in SNC. Shhh, don't tell Ryan.

I had a wonderful time at my party and the concert. Thanks to all those who came, and to my wonderful family for putting it all together. I could not think of a better way to celebrate than with my young friends!

Vanilla Wreaths Sugar Twists

We refer to these cookies as wreath cookies. The recipe is the same as the chocolate pinwheels with a few minor changes. So, to make this cookie go back to my last post for the ingredients, and follow the remaining directions.

Cut dough in half and add green food coloring to half of the dough. Cover and chill until firm. On a surface sprinkled with sugar, roll the green dough into 5 inch ropes. Repeat with the white dough. Twist the dough together to form a wreath. Bake at 375 degrees for 5 minutes. You can use red hots or red icing to give them a holly berry look, but my kids prefer just the wreath.

Tip - this dough is sticky and will require more flour than the recipe calls for, so have it ready.

All the recipes that I have shared are a part of the Christmas tradition at the Nobles. I use them for my Kindermusik, piano and college students. Sometimes my family actually gets to eat them!

Pinwheel Cookies

Pinwheel Cookies are a Christmas tradition at the Nobles. These cookies aren't especially festive, and they aren't the easiest to make, but we like them...so we make them. Alyssa likes the dough, and says these are her favorite cookies. My best description is they are sugar cookies.

Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies

4 c. flour

1 c. sugar

1 c. margarine

1/2 c. milk

1 large egg

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 c. cocoa

Mix all ingredients, except the cocoa, together in a large mixing bowl. Knead an additional 2/3 c. sugar into the dough. Cut dough in half and knead 1/4 c. cocoa into one half. Roll onto wax paper. This will require MORE flour because this dough is sticky. Now you have one long sheet of white dough and one sheet of chocolate dough. Put both sheets on a cookie sheet and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Remove from the refrigerator and roll the two sheets together, then roll into a log. Use a serrated knife to slice into 1/4 inch slices. Place slices on cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 5 minutes.

Gingerbread Cookies

Some folks don't like gingerbread, but I love them. I like to make them, Kate likes to decorate them and several in my family like to eat them. Here's an easy recipe, but you may need to go to the store for the molasses.

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. shortening

1/2 c. dark molasses

1/4 c. water

3/4 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. ground allspice (I admit to not using this)

2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

mini-chocolate chips

writing icing

Beat sugar, shortening, molasses and water in a large bowl on low speed until blended. Stir in remaining ingredients except chocolate chips/icing. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, 1 to 2 hours. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Sprinkle wax paper with flour and roll the dough with a rolling pin until 1/4 inch think. Cut with gingerbread man cutter or any favorite cut-out, sometimes I use a Christmas stocking. Using a spatula, lift the gingerbread shape onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate with mini chocolate chips...eyes, buttons. Bake approximately 5 minutes. Let cookies cool and then finish decorating with icing.

Some of my gingerbread men have only chocolate chips, others have a combination of chips/icing. This recipe makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Holiday Candy Cane Cookies

These cookies will make your holiday even sweeter. They look and taste like candy canes. People often ask me if I crush peppermints to make them, but it's as simple as buying peppermint extract! I make the dough and refrigerate overnight, then bake them the next day. This makes the dough easier to work with, and less sticky. These favorite cookies have 3 sticks of butter!!!

Holiday Cane Cane Cookies

1 1/2 c. softened butter

1 c. sugar

1 large egg

2 tsp. peppermint extract

4 1/2 c. all purpose flour

red food coloring

Mix all ingredients in a large mixer, adding the flour last. Divide the dough in half and add red food coloring to one half. Cover dough and refrigerate overnight. When ready to bake, heat oven to 350 degrees and begin rolling dough into 4 - 6 inch ropes. Roll white dough and red dough together, and twist together to make a candy cane shape. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 4 - 5 minutes. When you remove from the oven, let the cookies stay on the cookie sheet for several minutes to firm up. This will allow you to remove them without breaking the cookies. This recipe makes about 6 dozen cookies.

You can freeze these cookies, and take them out when you need them. Keep the candy canes separate from other cookies, otherwise all will taste like peppermint.

Warning: children often pick these cookies because of the color and shape, but they don't always like the peppermint taste.

Another easy favorite

A few years ago I found this great recipe. Everyone loves them, wants the recipe, and says they are amazing. The best part, simple and no bake! The bad news - lots of butter. All the good stuff has too much butter. Just like the Peanut Butter Kiss Cookie, they are not holiday decorative...but make them and you'll amaze your friends.

Chocolate Oat Bars

2 sticks of butter, melted

3/4 c. brown sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 c. oats

3/4 c. peanut butter

8 oz. chocolate chips

In a saucepan on the stove, melt butter and add brown sugar and vanilla and mix well. When well blended, add oats and let cook for 5 - 10 minutes on low. In another saucepan melt peanut butter and chocolate chips together until smooth and creamy. In a 8 X 8 glass dish, layer oats on the bottom with peanut butter mixture in middle and oats on top. Refrigerate for at 2 - 3 hours. Remove from the refrigerator and allow bars to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before cutting into squares. These bars can be frozen to use later.

Funny story about these bars. I had just finished working with a Berry vocal student, Amanda. We were working on her music for the end of the semester juries. I asked her to come upstairs and have a cookie. She left my house, and a few minutes later she calls me from WalMart. "Mrs. Nobles, what goes in those cookies?" I gave her the ingredients - it was 9:30 at night. I found out the next day that she & her boyfriend (now husband and father to baby Ava), immediately made the chocolate oat bars. They wanted to eat them that night, so they stuck them in the freezer and ate them an hour later. I still think of Amanda whenever I make these bar cookies.

So Easy...cookies to make right NOW!

I love to bake cookies. During the year I bake at least one batch of chocolate chip cookies per week, from scratch. As the holidays approach I spend LOTS of time in the kitchen baking cookies. I freeze them and pull them out when I need them. I use them for the college caroling & give them to Kindermusik and piano students.

I'll post several recipes over the next few days, but here is the EASIEST cookie I have EVER made. These cookies are not decorative, but yummy and gluten free!

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

1 egg

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of peanut butter, creamy or crunchy.

bag of chocolate kisses

Mix the egg, sugar and peanut butter together in a bowl. Drop a spoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 5 -6 minutes. Watch them carefully because they can burn on the bottom. Once the cookies are out of the oven, place a chocolate kiss in the center. Let them cool on the pan for a few minutes before putting them on a plate or in your mouth! Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Enjoy!