Thanks, Di! They are actually pretty quick to do after you do a few, I call them the "5 second frosting job". (grin) Even if they aren't perfect, they're fast! Party-music, I like kale with beans too. Well, I actually like beans and I like kale, so it's kind of a natural combo for me and kale is super easy to grow, so I always have some. Those little "sprinkles" on top of the cupcakes are something called "pearls", she had a black and white wedding, and regular sprinkle were just too small, so I bought the bigger pearls at one of the hobby stores that have a cake decorating section, probably Michael's or Hobby Lobby. I think they were a Wilton product. There's another tip you can use too, but I don't know what it is, because I don't remember anything any more. (sigh) Sol, my friend, I'm so glad to see you check in here again. Yes, Madison is just as "hammy" as Makayla was, a drama queen in the making. Or is that Drama Princess? Annie

I talked to Ashley and she puts the kids all over Facebook, so she doesn't have a problem with me posting pictures of the girls here, although I'm still a bit apprehensive about it. Anyway, I planned to bake bread, but Madi and Maci came to spend the night Wednesday night as their Mom was "on call" at the hospital and their Dad had mandatory SWAT training or some such thing. So, Madi wanted to bake a purple cake with pink frosting as a Valentine's present for her family. Pixistix' Hot Milk Cake became purple, and the buttercream frosting was definitely pink. I let her add the color, which may not have been my best idea ever, LOL. We used the little pans that my girls used to bake cakes when they were small, and it was funny to hear them "reminisce" about back when they were kids, since Amanda is 32 and Ashley is 25. Way back when, you know? (grin) After

What, no one is eating? Well, we are! We went to Elery's family Christmas, where we ate well. His daughter brought macaroni and cheese, youngest son brought raw vegetables and a crockpot full of loaded mashed potatoes. His middle son provided broccoli with cheese, some au gratin potatoes and a big dish full of sweet and sour meatballs. Elery and I brought a stuffed turkey roll, pork tenderloin Wellington stuffed with dried apples (yes, I've been watching Alton Brown again, LOL), and "bacon sushi", which is a bacon weave covered with a layer of seasoned grassfed ground beef and rolled with cheese in the center, then smoked. I made cookies and fudge and we took a roll of venison sausage, just in case there wasn't enough meat. (grin) I also made sugar cookies, fudge in three flavors, a gluten free peanut butter cookie with a peanut butter cup center, some of Grandma's Chewy Molasses cookies, pecan pie bars and the white chocolate/maraschino shortbread that is a favorite of his middle son. We've had some not-so-photogenic meals too, like pizza at Madi's birthday party and a bagel with cream cheese when I took stepmom for some outpatient surgery last week, but this week I'll make something better. I promise! Annie

Fun family Annie! I need to try ann_t's meat tort. I say that every year but it is on my list. We had some failures. Christmas day was dysfunctional family day. No one told me family was waiting...when we walked in and trying to settle after a long drive...yikes. I was hounded trying to un-pack...did not know so many people were there. And a sit down dinner was waiting. I had prepped so many sides but this and that niece and nephew had to eat by 5 and sister wanted all to be perfect...they started digging into my cheese and treat platters before i could pee. Horrible meal. I gave up and had a glass of wine. I had 6 cheeses and olives and ghost pepper salami and salmon charcuterie all prepped to platter but they dove into the containers before i could plate them...savages. My homemade flatbread was still in the truck yet to be unloaded. : ) (thought it was to be a quiet evening with my parents)...prep and eat around 7. My mother, now 86, tried to make a traditional turkey meal but it was so unnecessary. She cooks blonde. (not hair). Just safe and under done. The turkey was started 5am like the ye-olden days, Dressing bland and not baked fully, gravy white and floury. Sweet potatoes boiled in water to death. She stressed knowing i was on my way not knowing family showed up and waiting...(my sister that does not cook and expected miracles). The turkey sat 3 hours covered. How do they not know safe temp as i have taught them for years!? . I had all the fixings prepped to go into the oven but they were done well after all the family left. (did not know the extra family were even to be there). Family that does not cook and thinks those of us that do should provide for all. Grrr. "Almost forgot- Christmas apps were amazing! Crab cakes, mini lobster quesadillas, shaved filet mignon crostini and mini sliders." Yum! We had better successes the following days. : ) The best oyster stew ever. Finally perfected that one. Then oyster fritters for breakfast this morning...