Month: November 2017

gingerbread house decorated with candy
BLOG, COOKS

Gingerbread House

gingerbread house
Ingredients

Gingerbread Dough

1 cup sugar

1 cup shortening

1 cup molasses

1 egg

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
lots of assorted candies,mints, taffy, pretzels etc
Icing

2 cans of vanilla frosting

Directions
  • Heat oven to 350°F. Line jelly roll pan, 15 1/2×10 1/2×1 inch, with heavy-duty foil, leaving 1 inch of foil overhanging at each end of pan. In large bowl, mix sugar, shortening, molasses and egg with spoon. Stir in all remaining Gingerbread Dough ingredients. Divide dough in half. Press half of dough in pan.
  • Bake gingerbread about 15 minutes or until no indentation remains when touched in center. Cool 5 minutes; carefully lift foil and gingerbread from pan.
  • Cut gingerbread lengthwise in half, then crosswise 2 times to make 6 rectangles. Cut angles from 2 corners of each rectangle to form roof of house. (The corners make good nibbles.) Cool completely, about 1 hour. Repeat with remaining dough. Decorate houses with frosting and candies.

 

christmas ornament cookie
BLOG, COOKS

Dough Ornament Recipe

dough ornament

Christmas dough ornaments are so easy to make. Make a lots for your tree. These also make awesome gifts for your friends and family.

Ingredients

4 cups All Purpose Flour, 1 cup salt,  1  1/2 cups water

Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 
  2. Mix flour and salt well. Gradually add water, stirring with a large spoon. Finish mixing with hands. Knead until soft and pliable.
  3. Roll out on floured surface about 1/8 inch thick. Cut shapes with cookie cutters. Place on cookie sheets. With a toothpick make a hole in the top of the ornament.  Bake at 325 degrees for  1 hour. Decorate with paint and varnish to preserve.
  4. Take some pretty ribbon and string through the hole at the top of the ornament.
BLOG

Dudley

Loving a dog is a precious thing everyone should experience. This precious little dog was our entire life. His name was Dudley. There is not one day that goes by that our hearts are not saddened by his passing. For over 12 years, he gave his love and lots of wet kisses. He had a nickname and we called him Little DD– which stands for Little Dudley Dog. In 2013, Dudley was diagnosed with canine multiple myeloma. He was treated at the University of Tennessee Veterinary College of Medicine.Treatment is very expensive but your canine companion will get the very best care. The entire staff are amazing.

 

loving big wanda knows dogloving big wanda knows dogloving big wanda knows dogloving big wanda knows dog

loving a cute dog

loving big wanda knows dog

BLOG, PETS

Wallace the Westie

loving a big wanda knows westie

Loving a westie. This beautiful Westie is the inspiration for the Big Wanda Knows website logo. His name is Wallace and on Novemeber 15th, 2017, he celebrated his 15th birthday.

We also have another celebration for this day. Wallace has been cancer free for almost 2 years.

In January 2016, he was diagnosed with lymphoma. His oncologist at the University of Tennessee Vet School told us “If Wallace responds to chemo and his cancer goes into remission his life expectancy will be 1 year.”  Wallace had 6 months of chemotherapy. On the average, the cancer will return 4 to 6 months after the last treatment of chemotherapy.

Wallace is considered a miracle cancer patient. He is still in remission.

 

COOKS

Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes

 Big Wanda knows mashed potatoes

Ingredients
             5  pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
1 stick of softened butte
 one block of softened cream cheese
     1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 Teaspoon pepper
                 Optional fresh or dried chives
Directions
  1. Wash, peel, and cut potatoes into chunks
  2. Put in large pot, cover with enough water and boil for about 20 minutes. You want potatoes fork tender.
  3. Drain and put potatoes in the bowl for your stand mixer. If you do not have a stand mixer you — prepare mashed potatoes in 2 batches using your hand mixer.
  4. Start mixing. Mix about 2 minutes
  5. Add softened butter and mix in
  6. Add softened cream cheese. Mix for about 1 minute
  7. Slowly add heavy whipping cream 1/2 cup at a time. Mix until smooth.
  8. Taste. You might need to add extra kosher salt and pepper.
  9. Remove from mixer and put on trays to cool.
  10. These mashed potatoes are great for freezing.
  11. Divide the mashed potatoes for 3 freezer proof containers
  12. To reheat. Defrost in microwave and add extra whipping cream.