Christmas is fast approaching, and I've got a new person to bestow gifts upon...
my 8 month old neice, Tera!



Money is tight for everyone this year, but I really wanted to do something that was fun and meaningful. After tearing apart my closet for ideas, I found a bag of stuffed cows that I've collected over the years (I have a thing for cows). Two of the cows were match-y, so I decided to gut them a turn them into hand puppets. Here's a photo tutorial on the toy-to-puppet transition:


Pre-surgery


Side view


I de-stuffed the whole cow except for his head


Gutted cow


Piece of scrap cloth shoved into his head to keep the suffing in


All sewn up


Make sure you leave a hole to put your fingers in


Completed puppets


Celebrating the successful transition with a beer


My dog was trying to eat them the entire time!

Thoughts? Tips?

[Easy Brie Chicken]

Easy Brie Chicken

This is an extremely simple recipe that tastes like it comes from a ritzy restaurant. Cooking the chicken in beer keeps it soooo juicy! I've done this with goat cheese, as well, and it comes out just as good. Pair it up with some potatoes and asparagus, and you've got yourself a classy meal!





This is perfect for those wine-and-cheese party leftovers. You can probably present it a little nicer than I did, but I was starving and just wanted to eat it.

Ingerdients:
1 cup of light beer (I use Coors Light)
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 tsp oregano
4 oz. brie cheese
salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:
1.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C)
2.  Pour the beer into a deep oven-safe dish
3.  Add the chicken and make sure the beer covers it completely
4.  Add the oregano, salt, and pepper on top
5.  Bake, uncovered, for 40 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 170 degrees F (77 degrees C). The beer should be clear-ish when the chicken is done.
6.  While the chicken is baking, slice the brie (leaving the rind on makes it a lot easier to do this)
7.  Once the chicken is done baking, remove it from the oven and drain the juices until the chicken is just barely uncovered
8.  Add the slices of brie on top of the chicken and return to the oven for 3-5 minutes
9.  Remove the dish from the oven and carefully take out the pieces of the brie rind

Enjoy!