Sunday morning cooking

While this recipe does not exactly "go with" any New Year's resolution on the planet (unless your resolution is to eat more and gain weight), it is a pretty perfect recipe for a Sunday brunch.

My kids love Cracker Barrel's hashbrown casserole.  Like, Gabe could eat two plates of the stuff by himself (not that he gets the chance, are you kidding me?!).

So I set out in search of the recipe for Christmas morning's brunch, found this one, made it, and it was a winner.  And the leftovers?  Even better, especially when you heat it up in the toaster oven under "broil".

(And I wonder why that five pounds won't just fall off?)

Below are the details...the link, the recipe, and the picture (not of mine, you know mine won't turn out that pretty, but who cares what it looks like, it still tastes delightful!)

http://southern.food.com/recipe/cracker-barrels-hashbrowns-casserole-copycat-15242

Winter plan.

Winter in Ohio.

This time last year, those three words almost drove Joe and I to pack up our kids, find a home in Florida, and vacate the midwest forever.

Last winter was the worst one I can ever remember.  We had family dramas trying to suck us in, bitter cold that made it impossible to escape, and more snow days than even the kids could stand.  By March, I was turning into a cranky, frozen snow-witch.

Seriously.  I'm not usually a complainer, but I complained about the cold, the snow, my numb hands, snow days, our house, the kids...I drove MYSELF crazy.

But you know what happened?  Spring came, then summer, and they were the best spring and summer I can remember.  Mother Nature redeemed herself, I enjoyed our yard more than ever before and appreciated each and every warm, sunny day.

Pincushion flowers that greet me every spring in our garden.

This winter, I made a promise out loud, to Isabel and on Facebook.  "I will NOT complain about the winter, or the cold, or the snow".  I will use this time to catch up on home projects, my family scrapbooks, my card-making, learning new recipes, playing games with my kids and Joe.  I will count my blessings for a warm house, and a new heated blanket, and furry fingerless gloves that I can wear when my fingers grow numb (I can even type in them!).

I will patiently wait for spring, and I will not wish away these winter days with miserable complaining.

(Please feel free to remind me of this post if you catch me starting to complain.  Especially in March, when the temptation will be great.)

Do you like winter?  Or do you snuggle in under the blankets and count down the days til spring like me?

GIVE

Give.

"to offer to the action of another".

My One Little Word (thank you, Ali Edwards) for 2015.

My goal for the year ahead is to give more of myself.  More time, more money, more love, more service.  With a kind heart and good intentions.  My bigger goal is to help my family learn to do the same.

There is power in giving.

Yes, you might earn credits for community service (the kids will need that for college applications).  You will probably get that warm fuzzy feeling from helping someone else.

But most importantly?  You will make the world a better place, one giving act at a time. 

I have three children watching my every move.  If I can instill in them the power of a giving heart and its potential effect on those around them?  I will be able to call it a job well done.

Have you ever chosen One Little Word to focus on for the year?