Week in Review:

We stapled the sock to the squirrel's head this week (telling ourselves it looks very much like a Santa hat) so Christmas must be just around the corner. Ahh - the magic of Christmas. When I was a kid, I thought Toyland was on the second floor of Steven's Hardware Store in Effingham, Illinois. That's mainly because there was a sign in the store with an arrow that said "Toyland Upstairs." Plus, once our mom made us wait in the car while she ran up there, so I just assumed that we were not allowed to go there because we'd see the elves working on stuff.

My all-time favorite Christmas gift was something called Tiger Town. It had plastic (stone-like) houses (a-la Fred Flintstone) and plastic palm trees and little plastic tigers with a picnic table and a wheelbarrow. Very cool. ( I wonder if it was made at the hardware store) I also remember being really fond of my potholder loom.

BOOK BABES

We had a double-dose of Book Babes this week. We met on Wednesday to discuss the book, All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren. This book has definitely been made into a movie, twice. The 1949 version, starring Broderick Crawford as Willie Stark was best picture of the year. The movie was re-made in 2006 and Sean Penn played the lead role.

During the evening, we also discussed the tummy-tuck power and dollar value of NYDJ jeans (Not Your Daughter's Jeans) Some jeans were modeled and behinds were scrutinized. Julia stayed home with a bad cold.

On Saturday we were all together for our annual Christmas outing. This year - lunch at Joseph Decuis in Roanoke. Here we are at the restaurant after our delicious meal.

Recipe of the Week:

Wouldn't you know that Bob took off again on Sunday morning for the west coast. He was kind of complaining before he left, then he reminded himself that it wasn't Iraq, it was California. I think he's just tired of flying out there. I suggested that he could have a nice lunch at the Branding Iron in Merced. Anyway, there was no Sunday Night Supper for Rob and me. This coming Wednesday morning, I'm catering a breakfast for twenty people. They've ordered a wake-up breakfast casserole and cinnamon rolls. I got the recipe for these cake mix rolls from my mother-in-law, Darlene, and I think she cut it out of the newspaper. They're really good, and pretty easy to make, but expect a big mess in the kitchen when you make these. (or maybe it's just me)

Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls

1 yellow or white cake mix

4 packages yeast

4 cups warm water

2 teaspoons salt

7 1/2 to 8 cups flour

1/4 cup vegetable oil (in bottom of each pan)

Filling

Melted butter or margarine

1 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons cinnamon

Mix dry ingredients (except flour) Add water and mix. Gradually add flour mixing well. Let dough sit in the mixing bowl for 30 minutes. Divide the dough into two or three parts (I use 2) Roll it out and drizzle with butter and add cinnamon and sugar. Roll up the dough and slice into cinnamon rolls. (about 1 inch thick) Put 1/4 cup oil in the bottom of a jelly roll pan. This adds moisture and prevents sticking. Position the rolls in the pan and let them raise for 1 hour. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until done. Drizzle with powdered sugar frosting.