Oh Gingersnap!

"Gingersnap" is an unfair name for these.  When I hear "gingersnap", I think of fictitious running cookies, miniature holiday homes linked with frosting, and possibly a jar-full stolen by the Grinch.  Reader be warned.  These are not that type of cookie.  These soft cookies (I use the plural because it's physically impossible to eat only one) melt the instant they hit the tongue, and the spices blend together with a grace that brings you home.  I honestly can't make these and not think of the time my mother and I spent in the kitchen around Christmas-time, singing Celine Dion and Josh Groban Christmas music and baking up magic.

Molasses Cookies

3/4 C Butter-softened
1 C brown sugar
1/4 C molasses
1 egg
2 1/2 C flour
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
2 t cinnamon
2 t ginger
1 t cloves
dash of nutmeg

Blend first 4 ingredients together.  In a different bowl, sift together remaining ingredients.  Add to wet ingredients.  Roll dough into balls and semi-flatten the top of the ball in sugar.  Bake at 375 for 8 minutes.  Once again, my dad and husband both enjoy these with vanilla ice cream!

awww... good memories :)

Lovin' You

I openly admit that Tony and I are flat out amazing at this school business.  Our absolute favorite part of school:  no homework nights :)  See?  Aren't we great students?! No homework nights are pretty self-explanatory... one night a week, we try not to do any homework so we can simply connect with each other.  We love playing games (no points for guessing who always wins!), watching movies, walking on the beach, or sometimes just cuddling on the couch.  Everyone always says that the challenging times define your marriage.  If that's the case, we want to make everything perfect, so we decided (more like stumbled upon) a theme song for this "challenging" adventure in college:

If I could make a living out of lovin' you,

I'd be a millionaire in a week or two

I'd be doing what I love and lovin' what I do,

If I could make a living out of lovin' you!

I could work all day and feel right at home

Lovin' that 8 to 5

And never have to leave you here alone

When I'm workin' overtime 

If I could make a livin' out of lovin' you

I'd be a millionaire in a week or two

I'd be doin' what I love and lovin' what I do

If I could make a livin' out of lovin' you

It has been 4 months and 6 days since my best friend became my husband.  I think it's safe to say I still have a major crush on him! 

off to school!

date night... I think we are both pretty excited about it :)

Sundays

5 Things I Love About Sundays

1.) Getting to hang out with my best friend-- I love the moments when Tony and I get to simply hang out and snuggle and get to know each other better.  Focus on us.  We discovered how much we need this time when I left for almost a week for a volleyball trip.  This time helps us reconnect and remember why we traverse through some difficult times.  He lifts me.  

2.) Church-- even singing the hymns on Sunday brought tears of gratitude to my eyes for the blessing of attending this church.  I love the peace and reassurance the gospel brings.  I'm grateful for slowing down and taking time to count my blessings to see how much the Lord loves both Tony and me.  

3.) Friends-- We got to spend some time with some pretty amazing people on Sunday.  I am so glad we have been able to make friends here!  We learned how to play a new game, play with their gorgeous little baby girl (seriously... she's adorable), and even got to eat delicious food!  It's so nice having people to share a bond of mutual affection.  Thank you, Staus family, for being there for us!

4.) Tony got a haircut!  Oh my goodness, I can't even tell you how excited I am about this one.  It finally got so long that i just cut it myself.  I know now how much he loves me because he endured 2 hours of complete torment of anticipation while I hacked away at his mane.  I don't think it was too bad for a first try, so I would be surprised if his hair ever gets that long again.  

Isn't he so handsome? :)

5. Pumpkin Delight-- need I say more?

I guess I better give the recipe, but baker be warned: you absolutely will NOT be able to stop eating it!

Filling:
1 29 oz. can pumpkin
1 8 oz. can evaporated milk
3 eggs
5 tsp. cinnamon
1.5 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cloves
1 C sugar
 Mix all ingredients together.  Mixture will be runny.  Pour into a lightly greased 9x13 in. pan.

Topping:
1/2 box of yellow cake mix
1/2 cube unsalted butter
pecans
dash of cinnamon

Sprinkle the cake mix (dry!) to cover the runny pumpkin mix.  Add chopped pecans to the top.  Melt butter completely and drizzle on top.  Lightly sprinkle with cinnamon.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes and try not to enjoy it too much!  Can be served hot or cold.  My daddy likes it with ice cream :)

Sloppy Joes

Life seems to provide homey pleasures during times of stress and anxiety.  Last night's remedy? Sloppy Joes and biscuits.  I have never made Sloppy Joes, so they posed a new mountain to climb.  I definitely made things up as I went along, but they actually turned out pretty good!  I would recommend this recipe to anyone who is a fussy eater, doesn't like ketchup, or simply loves a different taste to traditional food.  Even though we made a pound of meat, somehow it is all gone!  I think Tony liked them :)

Ashley's Special Sloppy's

1 lb. turkey burger

1 small onion, chopped

1 green pepper (optional- but trust me, it's good)

1 T freshly chopped garlic or 2 1/2 T dried garlic

1.5 C. tomato sauce

2 T brown sugar

1-2 t. cumin

1-2 t. chili powder

1-2 t. paprika

1 T Worcestershire sauce

little less than 1 t. balsamic vinegar 

salt and pepper to taste

Saute turkey burger, chopped onion, and green pepper in a pan until meat is brown.  Drain any grease, although that is optional because turkey burger is quite lean and some fat is recommended to help all ingredients blend together well.  Blend in all remaining ingredients.  Start with 1 teaspoon of the spices, and keep adding to taste.  Turkey burger needs more spices than ground beef.  Let the meat simmer until it's at your favorite consistency.  Serve on biscuits or buns and enjoy!

Whole Wheat Biscuits

2 C. whole wheat flour

1.5 t. salt

4 t. baking soda

6 T. butter- softened (DO NOT MELT)

1/2 C. milk (start with 1/3 and work your way up-may need up to 1 C)

Sift dry ingredients together. Mix in butter and don't be afraid to get your hands dirty.  Add milk in, starting with 1/3 and add more as needed, although the dough should be pretty sticky.  Put a large square of aluminum foil on the counter and lightly, but thoroughly, flour.  Put the dough onto the floured foil and knead until dough stiffens (maybe 8 kneads).  Roll out flat, about 1/2 inch thick and cut out biscuits using a glass or round cookie cutter.  Put on lightly greased pan and bake at 400 for 8-12 minutes.  

This is a little late, but here is the picture of Little Big Town!

Home

Happy to be Home

My definition of home: where ever Tony is.

My volleyball team traveled to Pueblo, CO this weekend for a tournament and I won't lie, being away from Tony that long absolutely devastating.  The conclusion: newlyweds should never be separated.  The tournament was actually very fun, and I loved the opportunity to hang out with the girls and get to know each of those amazing people a little better. I'm so grateful to be a part of their lives.  

The weekend admittedly didn't have a great start.   My phone died on the trip over to Colorado.  Just flat out decided to quit.  I didn't have a phone the entire week... add that to missing my husband like crazy... not a pleasant experience.  Then, a large storm in Billings prevented my family from flying down to visit me and watch the games.  I injured my sternum (who does that, right?), so I was in severe pain all weekend.  Somehow, one of my warm up shirts has disappeared.  I missed several important classes while I was away.  I felt like nothing could go right!  I took some time to re-evaluate my mess and I decided what was wrong was my attitude.  I was determined that this weekend would be horrible.  I didn't take an opportunity to count my blessings

1.) We got to tour the Olympic training center.  WOW! So inspirational and motivating.  We got to see the pool that Michael Phelps trained in, the weight room, the gymnastics room, and several other legendary places.  It struck me that we were just looking at rooms and gyms.  What made the inspiration was the work and the people.  Oh the feats you can accomplish when you work. 

2.) We went 3-1.  Such a good start to the season.  Home opener on Wednesday at 7.

3.) My sister's dog, Molly, got horribly ill on Thursday and had to be rushed to the vet.  She injested a strong rat poison while at the cabin and was internally bleeding to death.  Had my family come down to Colorado, she certainly would have died.  As is, they were able to help her to the best of their ability and currently she is doing well, although the vet is still cautious.  I'm so grateful for that storm that kept my family in Colorado: Molly's need was clearly greater than mine. 

4.) Our flight from Denver to New York, although uneventful, turned out to be simply awesome.  Little Big Town, the country band behind one of favorite songs of all time (Boondocks), was on our flight!  After we landed, some teammates and I introduced ourselves and took a picture with them.  They were actually so nice, too.  

5.) Coming home to my loving husband, wrapping myself in his arms, and realizing that home truly is where your heart is, made this trip ultimately worthwhile.  Tony is my home, my life.  I'm unbelievably happy just to reunite with him.