New Year's Traditions

Maybe it is a Southern thing, but for as long as I can remember I have eaten black eyed peas and cabbage on New Year's Day.  This year we will have them for New Year's Eve as well.

Why you ask?  Well it is a family tradition where I came from.  And I love following a family tradition. It is what carries a family from one generation to the next.

For those of us in the southern United States, it is very common to be offered a generous helping of black-eyed peas or cabbage on New Year's Day.  And some folks eat it just after midnight on New Year's Eve.
According to Southern folklore, black-eyed peas are supposed to be the first thing you eat on New Year's Day in order to ensure good luck and prosperity throughout the coming year. Cabbage is supposed to represent money.
Even people who do not typically care for black-eyed peas or cabbage will at least eat a spoonful or a bite or two just to ensure good luck for the New Year. Who wants to chance it, right? 

Now do I truly believe this?  Not at all, but like I said it is a tradition so I keep it going. 
Plus it is fun to have a tradition.  And frankly if you know how to cook black eyed peas and cabbage they are just GOOD!!!!

It is believed that this New Year's practice started around the time of the Civil War. Black-eyed peas were first planted as food for livestock, but later became a staple for Southerners, particularly slaves.
General Sherman’s Union troops destroyed or stole all the other crops from the Confederates, but left behind the black-eyed peas thinking they were only suitable as livestock food. This made the black-eyed pea an important source of nourishment for the surviving Confederates.

There are numerous beliefs about what the black-eyed peas represent and what they should be eaten with to ensure the prosperity and good fortune.

All I know is we always eat them with cabbage and cornbread. 

And we always cook both the black eyed peas and cabbage with ham, hamhock, a ham bone with some meat on it or salt jawl/pork jawl.  It gives such a wonderful flavor.

Black eyed peas are

All I know is we always eat black eyed peas with cabbage and cornbread!  This year we are cooking a pork loin to go with them.

We always cook both with a ham bone, ham or salt jowl/pork jowl.  It gives a wonderful flavor to both black eyed peas and cabbage!  Many recipes call for bell pepper with black eyed peas.  And some with both bell pepper and stewed tomatoes.  We pass on the tomatoes, but do cook them with onion and bell pepper.  And since we had a ham on Thanksgiving I have a lovely ham bone to toss in with my traditions.
So that is why we eat black eyed peas and cabbage.  And a few ways to cook them.  The internet is full of recipes for both.

What New Year's traditions do you participate in?  I would love to hear!  Do you go out on New Year's Eve?  Or stay in?  How do you entertain your little ones? Do you watch the ball drop on the tube? Or is this just another night?

We are staying in and will continue our Downton Abbey marathon of season 1 in anticipation of season 2 starting January 8th.  Who needs to go out partying when you have good food and a good British series that is set during the Edwardian era!!!!  The boys enjoy it too!  We'll let them stay up a little later, but we never make it to midnight. "IF" we make it to midnight we have horns and poppers. In fact with the party going on next door this evening we will never get to sleep! Maybe I will let the boys go outside and scream HAPPY NEW YEAR and blow their horns at midnight.
In all honesty it will likely go like this......we plan to make whoopie pies after supper.  Then we'll all get on our jammies and settle in for the marathon.

No matter what you eat or do this evening I pray you are safe and have a Happy New Year!!!!

See you in 2012!!!!  It is going to be an amazing year!!!!(think positive...its all about attitude!)

Planning for 2012

Are you ready? I can not wait for a NEW YEAR!!! I love new beginnings!! 2012 will be an amazing year!!!
As I typed this post yesterday I was waiting on my dough to rise. I was making my first ever yeast bread by hand.
No bread machine!!!
It was pretty easy I suppose. The hardest part was kneading the dough for SIX MINUTES!!! But since I have amazing strength in my upper arms it was a piece of cake. ((wink-wink)) It also had so many steps of waiting for the dough to rise and do this and do that, but it all came out good.

At this time last year I had a few things floating around in my head that I wanted to make sure to learn in the year 2011. Stuff in the kitchen. I am completing the last one today....the bread.

It is a cheese bread. Not as cheesy as I would have liked, but since I am new to bread making I am unsure if I could add more cheese. It was so good fresh from the oven.

I have overcome my fear of yeast this year!!!!

During the week of Christmas I learned how to make homemade cinnamon rolls. And just after Thanksgiving I discovered I could make a super easy yeast pizza crust. Thanks Renee!
Also this year I tried several homemade mac-n-cheese recipes. I finally found one I would clean a toilet for. SO yummy!! My kitchen projects are done!!!!

So now I am planning for 2012.

I LOVE a new calendar to start the New Year!!!

Looking ahead to 2012 I have more kitchen projects I want to accomplish, ideas to explore and maybe a few goals. I don't like to set myself up for failure, but I do think it is good to have a list of things set in place. I also think it is a good idea to have goals as a couple and as a family.

In order to keep them I think it is a good idea to write them down. If I don't write them down it will never happen.
So here are just a few of the things I hope to accomplish in the year 2012:

1. Reading the Bible. Our church is doing this for all who want to participate. I am going to give it a try, again. I have tried several times before and lost interest(that sounds so bad!)very quickly. I hope the M'Cheyne Bible Readings using the bookmark version helps!!!!

2. Live more simply. I think we live pretty simple, but I also know there are others ways we can change. I am talking about doing without needless "stuff". I want to be able to stop when I say "I need this or that". I want to learn to stop and think..."Do I really need it"? I want to use what we have. Learn to think, "Can I/we make it?" Living simple can go in all kinds of directions for each individual family. I just want to open our eyes to what it could truly be like to live a simple life.

3. Making/cooking more homemade meals and snacks. This sounds super easy and may be for some women, but I am talking about the whole meal! And I would love to TOTALLY get processed foods out of our life! We don't eat much as far as processed foods, but there are some. This will be a little tough for me, but with work I know I can do it. It is a transition that we will all have to adjust to, but in the long run we will eat better and feel better!

4. Learn to can veggies/fruits from the garden. We have wanted to try it for a while now. 2012 is the time to learn. We pray our Spring/Summer gardens produce more than last year so we can have at least half a pantry of can goods from our garden.

5. Eat only fruits and vegetables that are in season. Can you imagine what they put in and on all those fruits and veggies that DO NOT grow in the winter months in your area? Or have you ever thought about where it was grown or how far it traveled to get to my market? And it still looks good? This will likely be the hardest of all my goals for 2012. And why I pray our garden goes crazy this new year. God did not intend for our food to be sprayed and shot up with poison in order for us to enjoy it all year long!!!!

6. Learn to make homemade rolls, biscuits and PRETZELS. Who doesn't love a homemade roll or biscuit? And homemade pretzels....well if you do not like big doughy pretzels there is something wrong with you!!!!

So there you have it. Just a few of my ideas/goals/resolutions(whatever you want to call them)I'll share for now. I know me and I know the list will get longer as the months go by.  I hope you get a chance to sit down and make a list.  Resolve to finally get done something you have been putting off for a while.  You will feel so much better when you do!  Taking that first bite of the bread I made was divine. Knowing I made it with my own two hands was pure satisfaction!!!!

Happy New Year for 2012 to you all!!!

Make sure to come back tomorrow and see why we eat black eyed peas and cabbage on New Year's Day.  I'll share the way we cook up a family tradition.

Father son project

For Christmas Brant and the boys received this gift from my parents.  A father son project. 

After the newness wore off on all their toys and such Matthew started in on wanting to build his little box.  Daddy set aside today and set up not one but two stations/tables and they all went to building.  This was nothing for Brant since he is really good with his hands and builds things often.

But it was time consuming helping two 6 year old little boys.

I'll let the pictures tell most of the story.............

Here they are looking everything over.

 Daddy sets up a table for each son.

 Matthew using the drill....it is not their first time to play/use Daddy's drill.

 Ryan's turn to drill.

I think this screw needs to be a little tighter.

 Hammering is the best part!

And Brant finished both projects without a busted finger.

 All done!  And proud!

 Ryan cleaning up their mess.  They love sweeping!

 Ryan's finished "treasure chest".

They quickly took them to their rooms and started filling them with all kinds of little boy goodies.

In all it was a fun project for them.  The instructions said it would take about an hour.  With two it took almost two hours.  The boys found out it was not as easy as they thought.  And real hard working men don't stop for a lunch break......they eat while they work. 

Wordless Wednesday-Detoxing from the holidays

Looking ahead.......

I trust everyone had a Merry Christmas.  I know we did! I feel very blessed. We enjoyed the down time and family being here.
Today we worked frantically to get rid of ALL signs of Christmas!  Now don't get me wrong, I love all the decorations and the reason we celebrate, but when it is over I am done. 
Christmas is only in my heart now.
I will miss the build up to it, the baking of treats, the endless activities, visits from family, the music and so much more.  But I will probably miss more then anything the boys excitement about the Christmas season and THE LIGHTS!  I do love the lights!!!

They were so excited this year to decorate the real tree!

This was Christmas Eve......so excited for our family getting together to open gifts!

Little boys' rooms all aglow.

Christmas Eve-setting the mood......picture above and below.

Their excitement and the warm glow of lights...candles or Christmas lights make for such a festive time. 

There will surely be something else for them to get excited about very soon.  And candles(or a cozy fire)will do nicely for a while!!! 

I am glad it is all put away because I am now looking ahead.

I love this time when all things look fresh and new after a month of red and green.  I can see clearly today and my mind is looking ahead to the new year.

Ahead to new plans, new goals, new projects, new books, new recipes, new FUN!!!!  A new year brings new hope for a whole slew of possibilities!!!!

Are you looking ahead yet?

Merry Christmas from The Fontenot Family

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

Christmas card 2011-Peace and Joy to all! Love The Fontenot Family

I use to be good about sending out cards. Every year at the end of November I would sit down and make my list.  I would then get my cards out as soon as possible. 
Something happened though....I stumbled, I couldn't get up and life changes sometimes.  I am not so good at getting those cards out.  Not anymore.  Sad I know. 
I feel blessed by all the cards we have received this year!  Thank you so much for taking the time to think about our family.  I have all intentions of doing better next year. Promise, but feel free to remind me.

For now I had to come up with something different. I did the next best thing. 

Last night I made all the guys put on a nice shirt and we took our own pictures.  I am way too frugal for a professional photographer.

You must always have a silly picture.

They were not crazy about the idea, but worked with me.  Just like six year old little boys!

Who are these boys? They are too old to be my babies!!

Taken by Matthew.

Now I can relax and move on.  Christmas cards have been sent out!!!

I hope you all are ready for a joyous time with family and friends in just a few days.  I know I am!!!  As well as two very excited little boys!!!!

I will be taking a break from my blog for a few days to enjoy that time with family, but wanted to make sure to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  I am so thankful for all my new friends/readers that I have made this year on my blog. I love reading your comments.  You make sharing our little world so much more fun!!!
I pray over this Christmas season you take time to remember just what it is truly all about..... The Birth of Jesus. Without His birth there would be no Christmas. 

Make memories, enjoy family and above all eat something SUPER SWEET(hehehe)!!!!

And if it is warm enough in your neck of the woods get outside and have some FUN!
Merry Christmas from The Fontenot Family!

You contact me........leading2forever@gmail.com

Pen Pals

The boys are pen pals with a blogging friend's children.
I am sure you remember Danielle from Blissful and Domestic ......her children are the ones.

The boys and her children try to keep up with one another at least once a month.  December rushed by without the boys sending them anything.
BUT we had an idea to wish their pen pals a Merry Christmas.

Danielle, I hope your littles enjoy it!!!!

Merry Christmas from Texas!

Christmas Jar Memories-Cupcakes and Cookies

Well I am way behind on our Christmas Jar Memories!  I'll admit it is all my fault.  You see that is what happens when you have too many things going on during the month of December!!
I'll save that for another post. 
BUT this weekend has been a great time to play catch up.  Cupcakes are one I will add to the jar every year now, cookies were one we pulled and tonight we will watch "Jingle All the Way"......another we pulled from the jar.

First up the cupcakes.............did you know that Thursday, December 15th was National Cupcake Day?  I didn't either!  And was SO bummed because I would have made a BIG day out of it with a party and all. 

So we did the next best thing.  We had our own cupcake day on Friday night. 

We met at my sister's and decorated cupcakes.  And then gobbled them up!  It was a fun time for the boys and nice to spend some time with my sister, BIL and one of my nieces. 

I am thinking this will be part of our Christmas Jar Memories every year now!  I'll host next year Alicia!

Alicia, Ryan, Matthew, me and Maddie

Last night we were in a rush to make sure we had time to bake sugar cookies....you know the messy kind where you roll the dough out and it sticks so you have to use flour and more flour and then they still stick and you eventually get them up and on the pan to bake?  Those are the ones! 

I am not a fan of making sugar cookies!

I'll admit it brought smiles to the boys' faces and gave me a chance to use some aged cookie cutters that bring back lots of memories for me. 

You may remember a post from last year about these cookie cutters . 

My Mom gave me a tin of all kinds of cookie cutters.  Not just any cookie cutters.  These are cookie cutters I used as a little girl.  And now I get to use them with my boys.

We got out all the Christmas shapes and went to town!  I had to try the angel....she baked up quite fat!
Look at all these shapes. An angel, Christmas tree, star, sleigh, reindeer, gingerbread man, Frosty oh and a camel....you know the Wise Men rode camels.

We baked our pan of Christmas shapes and moved on to other shapes. There are cookie cutters for every occasion.  These below are my favorites!  If I could come up with a fail proof sugar cookie recipe I might make them more often.

Anyway we are just about done with our Christmas Jar Memories.  Just a few more this week and watching "Jingle All the Way" tonight.

Then we will prepare for Jesus' birthday. 

It has been fun to do our memories as a family. And that is what it is ALL about.  Giving my boys the little memories they will look back on one day and I hope want to make them part of their little family in years to come.
None of it has cost much and I didn't put it in a box with a bow on it.  It all came from the heart.

Hope this coming week brings lots of memories for you and your family.  We have a full week and I look forward to family coming our way.  A little shopping, cooking and making more memories.

Merry Christmas!

Espresso Fudge-a MUST give gift!

If you love coffee and you are crazy about chocolate then you will be crazy in love with this Espresso Fudge!!

Oh my.....it is so good! 

This is my third year to make it and give away as gifts.  OK, I keep a little for us too!

The richness of the chocolate fudge with the taste of coffee is wonderful. This fudge is simple to make and turns out perfect every time.  I did change it up last year by adding espresso powder instead of instant coffee powder.  I thought it could use a little bit more of a coffee flavor. Funny, it doesn't give it that much more of a coffee flavor, but it enhances the chocolate flavor.  It adds some goodness.  I had never used espresso powder before, but can tell you I will be searching for recipes now.  I had no luck finding it at Kroger, Target or Starbucks.  I finally found it at William Sonoma.  It was more than what I would usually pay, but worth it for this fudge and especially since most of the fudge will be gifts. I love giving homemade gifts. 

$10 bottle of goodness

                                                          
It is a perfect gift for someone that likes coffee.  And because it is so rich you do not have to give much. 
A few big pieces in a cute tin, on a sweet little plate or in a festive box and you have a special homemade gift.  I hope my recipients like it as much as I do.
Let me know if you try it.  Here is the recipe.

Espresso Fudge
Ingredients:
1(7oz)jar marshmallow cream
1/2 c sugar
2/3 c heavy whipping cream
1/4 c butter
1 1/2 t instant coffee powder
1/8 t cinnamon
1/4 t salt
1(12oz)bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Line an 8” square baking pan with aluminum foil; set aside. In a 2 qt. saucepan, combine marshmallow cream, sugar, cream, butter, coffee powder, cinnamon and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue to boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips until smooth. Pour into prepared pan. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Place on cutting board and cut into 36 squares.

Enjoy!!!

December in Texas

Although I would love to have weather that goes along with the season, you can't get much better than this. 

December in Texas and the boys are outside playing with NO shoes on!!!  Barefeet baby!!

Yesterday's high was around 60 and today it will climb to 70.  Perfect for little boys to run around and play outdoors. 

It doesn't feel right sometimes when you know it is almost Christmas, but I was born and raised in Texas so I am use to it.

Happy Wednesday y'all!

Jingle Bell Rock

Have I got a treat for you today!!! Just a little something to get you up and moving on this Monday morning.
I try to share this every year so without furter ado I give you Matthew and Ryan performing "Jingle Bell Rock"!

Happy Monday!

**I love how Ryan can not seem to stay with the music. And he says jingling feet!  Not jingling beat.  They were so CUTE! And have changed so much**

Peppermint Fudge

Yesterday I was busy working on my list of goodies.  I marked off Peppermint Fudge so I thought I would share the recipe. This is SUPER sweet and makes a great gift to give to friends, teachers, co-workers or heck just keep the whole pan for the family! 

And the boys helped too!  They helped me crush the peppermint.  And loved doing it too!

Look at that face! He is really getting into it!

Making peppermint fudge is a Christmas tradition for me.  The boys will take a good portion of it to church on Sunday to share with their Sunday School class.  Although it is fun to have sweets around during December, my favorite thing to do with them is share. 

I hope you'll try it and make it part of your goodies for the Christmas season!

Peppermint Fudge

2 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
5 oz. can (2/3 c.) evaporated milk
7 oz. jar (2 c.) marshmallow creme
8 oz. almond bark
1/2 c. finely crushed peppermint candy
Red food coloring

Line 9-inch square of 9x13 inch pan with foil so that foil extends over sides of pan; butter foil. In large saucepan, combine sugar, butter and milk. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add marshmallow creme and almond bark; blend until smooth. Stir in peppermint candy. Add desired amount of red food coloring. Pour into prepared pan.
Cool to room temperature. Score fudge into 36 or 48 squares. Put crushed peppermint candy on top of fudge. Refrigerate until firm. Remove fudge from pan by lifting foil; remove foil from fudge. Using large knife, cut through scored lines. Store in refrigerator. Makes about 2 1/2 pounds.

Happy Friday!!! 

Do you make a list?

No, not a gift list!  I am talking about a list of sweets you will bake or make during December. 

I don't know about you, but if I don't write it down and have that list handy I will forget all about the things I want to make.

Since I typed up my list I have had to add some to it.  And last night we marked off the Homemade Peanut Butter Cookies with Hershey Kisses.  These are so simple to make, but I only make them once a year.  It is always during December.  I guess you could say they are Christmas tradition for us.

And today we are making Peppermint Fudge!  YUMMY!!

Do you make a list for your December sweets? What is a must have in your family?

Christmas Links

Today I am sharing a few blogs full of Christmas spirit!!  They will surely get you in the Christmas spirit and keep you there!  Go check them out!   Lots of crafts, decorating ideas and amazing stories that pull your heart strings too.  Enjoy!                             

Keeping the Christmas Spirit Alive 365

                                                              

Blissful and Domestic

Deck The Halls of Home with Joy

 

MaMe Musings

I am headed out shopping!  Happy Wednesday!

 

Christmas Jar Memories-LIGHTS

Last night we ventured out to look at Christmas lights.  This was our third FUN idea from the Christmas Jar.

We headed to Texas Motor Speedway for a light show.  It is called Gift of Lights.
Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway is the newest holiday event in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. With 1.7 MILES of LED lights, the drive-through experience was something fun we could enjoy as a family. Yes, I said 1.7 MILES!!!  It literally took about 30 minutes to drive-through the whole thing. 

It is a very slow drive so the boys unbuckled and crawled up front with us.  Matthew sitting in my lap and Ryan riding the horse.  It was cozy!  They loved it.

And we just so happened to go on a night it was FREE!!!  Now that is my kind of Christmas Jar Memory!!!!!

After looking at more than a million LED lights my eyes were a little messed up, but it was a nice evening out with the family.

This was out favorite part!

 A tunnel of lights!  Very pretty to drive through.

I hope you get a chance to get out and see the beautiful display of lights this year wherever you are!