Happy New Year 2025!

 Because of my husband's work schedule, we had to put off having our New Year party until this week.  The plan was to have it yesterday (Monday), but instead we had a "snow day".  Where we live, we don't get snow every winter, so the children have to go out and play in it when we get a decent amount.  We definitely have snow right now!  I'll write about that adventure in the next post.  Back to the party!

Last night, since we'd been outside in the snow, I didn't have time to get all the party food ready.  I usually make things from scratch, so I need to be inside to do that.  Instead, I fixed BBQ smokies, "blanket dogs", and pizza for supper. Our 10 year old made his "famous ranch dip".  He also helped with wrapping smokies in pizza dough for the blanket dogs.   For dessert, I also made chocolate chip cookies.  I did get fudge made for the party the next day.

Today, I started after breakfast to make the party treats that I didn't get to yesterday.  Treats include: chex mix (my version), cinnamon rolls, deviled eggs, cheese-ball, popcorn, and a tray with pepperoni and cheese.  For prep: I make the cinnamon roll dough in the bread-machine.  Once that's done, the dough is turned into cinnamon rolls, left to rise for an hour, and baked.  After it's cooled, I frost with cream cheese frosting.  Yum!  Chex mix is simple enough, but you have to bake, stir, bake, stir, etc. at 15 min intervals for an hour. The deviled eggs, thankfully, were easy to peel.  Don't ask me how to get them to peel easily.  It just worked this time.  For cheese-ball, I had to let the ingredients soften so I could combine them. Then, it needs to chill for a bit so it's not so soft.  The children put together the pepperoni and cheese tray.  For popcorn, we have a Whirley Pop.  Fresh popcorn is so much better than microwave!  

 

These are just a few of the treats, with the cookies and fudge included.  I had to get a picture fast, before everyone started eating!

Everyone enjoyed the party food!  We included any leftovers from the night before, just to make sure there was enough.  The party is just for our family, but there are a lot of us.

 

A New Year's thing the children like to do is throw as many blankets as possible on the living-room floor and sleep there.  So that's what they did last night.  I prefer my bed.  

After all the party food, I put my bread machine to work again.  This time, sourdough bread.  I'll have to write about that another time, too.

May the Good Lord bless us with a wonderful 2025!