Like my pumpkin pie disaster, my chocolate covered strawberries didn't work out very well. I have never used the quick-melt-candy-stuff, you see. I had always used a double-pan with boiling water underneath and chocolate chips melting in the top pan. This time I thought I'd take the easy route, which should always be a red flag.

Everything was going fine. As I was cooking my wild rice soup, I was melting the chocolate. In my opinion, though, it was too thick. It wasn't melting correctly. So, after some time, I decided to add water.

Bad idea.




Not only did it boil over and make a terrible mess, but it clumped up and made it nearly impossible to coat the strawberries.



Though, in the end, I made them work... they're not as pretty as wanted. However, I'm sure they taste fine. Just, to advice you, don't add water. Ever.

Before I get to the promised famous chili recipe, I thought I'd make something else that's a tradition in my family. Though it is a Christmas Eve tradition, Clark and I are moving it to New Year's Eve this year since we partook in his family's Christmas traditions.

Some people think Wild Rice Soup is a required taste. I have personally always loved it and looked forward to the smell of it filling my nostrils Christmas Eve. I'm not sure how to explain the taste, other than there's a celery-onion-creamy-chicken base filled with wild rice and tastes even better if you add bacon bits when you serve it.

I know. That doesn't help much. If you're up for trying new things, I would suggest making this recipe. It is wonderful to make for company because it's easy to make the recipe larger, but try it on your own first so you can make sure you can gush about it appropriately!

Supplies:

- 1 medium white onion

- 4 stalks of celery

- 1 green pepper

- 3 TBLSP olive oil

- 1/3 C flour

- 8 C of hot water + chicken bouillon (or 8 C of chicken broth)

- 1 bag of Uncle Ben's (or any other brand) Wild Rice Soup (the bag is easy because you can stick it in the microwave to cook it right before you need it. If you get the box or what have you, make sure to have sufficient time to cook it!)

- 1 TBLSP parsley

- 1 tsp black pepper

Directions:

- Chop up the green pepper, onion, and celery. You can either puree these in a food processor with the olive oil to make the soup thicker, or you can chop up the veggies extraordinarily finely.
This time I chopped it up, only because my food processor is broken, but normally I would puree it.

- Sautee your veggies, whichever way you've prepared them, in a deep pot. Cook them for about two to three minutes, then add the flour. Mix this thoroughly until there are no separate clumps.

- Add the water or chicken broth. Cook on Medium to Medium-High heat and mix constantly until it thickens. You do not want the soup to clump.

- Once the mix has come to a slow boil, add the cooked rice. Mix this consistently, then add the pepper and parsley.

- Turn the soup on low, cover it, and let it simmer for around twenty minutes. Make sure to check on it and stir it as many times as possible.

It's New Year's Eve. Time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the next. Resolutions are being made, preparations for parties are underway, and even though Christmas was only a week ago, it is considered "so last year."

I have never had a big New Year's Eve since I was younger. For some reason I always got to go to parties with my family then, though I've never been to one now that I'm older. Perhaps it's a good thing. Last year Clark and I spent New Year's Eve on my parents couch in SC. This year we'll be spending it on our own. Though I've always imagined a "When Harry Met Sally" type of New Year's Eve, I am content with spending it at home with chocolate covered strawberries and the amazing husband I have been blessed with.

As people get older, it is important to remember who is most important. As a New Year begins, take time to reflect and be thankful for those in your life and sad for those who have been lost. Look forward to the things to come, and learn from the things that are in the past.

"And here's the hand, my trusty friend, And gives a hand of thine.We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for Auld Lang Syne."

Dinner Christmas Eve.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas and The Nativity Story.


Christmas Morning.






Christmas Night.

December 26th.

After two days of being snowed in we are finally heading home. Though the roads may not be as clear as they should be for us to travel, I'm not sure it's wise for us to stay another day. We've been here for 2.5 days extra... and it's just time to head home.

I don't know how everybody is, but I'm a person who can only be around certain people for a certain length of time. Meaning, if I'm around a friend, or family, or Clark's family, for over five days or so... I start to get anxious. I have to get to my space with my things and just have a moment to sit back and breathe. That way, I can start up with whomever the next day again.

It's only natural, I think, for people to be this way. Usually if we're with people for an extended period of time we'll find ways to get away: go out to dinner by ourselves (meaning Clark and me), go out with friends, shut ourselves in our designated room for some quiet time-- anything. Unfortunately, most visits are jam packed with family time, especially if you haven't seen them in almost six months.

This visit has been phenomenal. With our extra time we got extra eating-outs with the family, a trip to see The Tourist, and quality time playing Cranium. I'm just ready to be home.

I promise posts of pictures and more when I am finally sitting at my own computer!

Well, Christmas has come and gone. Wrapping paper has been discarded of, new presents are still the center of attention, and everyone feels as though they've gained five pounds from all the good food and sweets. Now comes the week of going back to work, still trying to spend time with Christmas presents, and attempting to start a diet that's going to crash and burn as soon as New Year's Eve arrives.

Christmas with Clark's family was wonderful. Though it was much busier and not as low-key as I'm used to, it was very satisfying. In the morning we were up by seven opening presents, which took until near ten o'clock. Then we busted butt to prepare the house for all the breakfast guests, and by twelve the count was around seventeen people total (not all family members). Everyone didn't file out until around three in the afternoon, which is when I was finally able to shower. Then the grandparents took naps, the "kids" played with the new XBox 360 Kinect, and everyone prepared to go over to the maternal grandparents house. Then Christmas was done with those grandparents, and everyone returned "home" exhausted, and crashed in bed.

I actually slept until 8:30 this morning, which for me is amazing. While the initial plan had been to leave for our home today, we woke up to a white-post-Christmas. It is pouring snow, if you can use that word with snow, and there has to be at least four to six inches stacked on the ground, roads, cars, and so forth. We've been told it's even worse at our house in the mountains, and therefore we have to delay going home until things are cleared up a bit.

So, this morning, Clark and his little sister Laura are still playing the Kinect, his brother John is trying to decide what to do with all his gift cards, his mom is back in the kitchen, his dad is organizing the post-Christmas mess, and after I write this blog I'm going to be sitting on the couch with a nice cup of tea reading my new book Columbine by Dave Cullen. Hopefully the pleasant aura of the visit continues and no one steps on each other's toes while we're here for an extra day or so. With any luck, we'll be on our way home tomorrow to recover from this trip and prepare for the next!

Hopefully everyone had a fabulous Christmas and is making plans for the New Year. This is the time to reflect and think of what you can do to make 2011 even better than 2010.