Chocolate-dipped Coconut Macaroons

If you love Mounds bars like I do, you will LOVE these cookies! While I'm sure they aren't figure-friendly, they sure are delicious and are worth a little indulgence.

Ingredients
1 (14 ounce) package Baker's coconut
2/3 cup sugar
6 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

for the chocolate ganache
8 oz of semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. heavy cream

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour baking sheets; set aside.
2. Mix coconut, sugar, flour and salt in large bowl. Stir in egg whites and almond extract until well blended.
3. Drop coconut mixture into 36 mounds, 2 inches apart, on prepared baking sheets, using about 1 tablespoonful of the coconut mixture for each mound.
4. Bake 20 min. or until edges are golden brown. Immediately remove from baking sheets to wire racks. Cool completely.
5. For the ganache, cook the heavy cream and chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally.
6. Dip the top of each macaroon in the ganache
7. Let stand at room temperature or refrigerate on wax paper-covered tray 30 min. or until chocolate is firm.

DIY Winter Wreath

Our Christmas wreath has been packed up till next year which means we are in need of a winter wreath to decorate our front door during the dreary months of January and February. After making trips to a few local stores and coming back empty, I figured, "Ok. I can't find a winter wreath I like so I guess I'll have to make one."

And what could be better than doing crafts on a rainy, chilly Sunday afternoon? I went to AC Moore earlier this week and bought my supplies: a grapevine wreath, a 6' wedding garland, floral wire and glittery silver ribbon.

If you'd like to duplicate this wreath, follow these step-by-step directions.

Step 1: Attach the 6' garland to the wreath by twisting one end of the garland around one of the twigs on the rear of the wreath

Step 2: Spiral the garland around the wreath (careful not to get it twisted)

Step 3: Secure the other end of the garland to the back of the wreath

Step 4: Tuck in the various "limbs" of the garland in and around the twigs

Step 5: Make the bow. Take your ribbon and make loops by making Figure 8's. After you have the desired amount of loops, secure the center of the bow with floral wire. Step-by-step directions for making bows can be found here.

Step 6: Afix the bow to the wreath

VOILA! You've just made a winter wreath!

Fish

What kid doesn't like fish?! This afternoon we bought a small aquarium and six little goldfish for Alaina. Okay, she's not the only one who likes the fish -- Rob and I think they're pretty neat too.

We bought 3 orange goldfish and 3 multi-colored fish but now we're on Death Watch. The guy at the pet store told me that it is not uncommon to go through many fish at first until the water gets some bacteria in it. Apparently ultra-clean water with fluoride in it can actually kill the fish. Who knew? The self-proclaimed "Fish Expert" at the store told me all sorts of useless trivia about goldfish... including to never bang on the glass because fish only have a memory of 3 seconds and tapping on the glass scares them and can cause premature death. I digress.

But now back to our tank! We bought a 10 gallon aquarium and have it set up in the living room. Alaina really likes to watch the little fishies swim around and I must admit, I like it too. They make me smile!

1/17/10 Update: We lost 2 calico fantail goldfish within the first 48 hours so we got 2 replacement orange fantail goldfish and now they just died. So we're back down to 4 fish (3 gold and 1 calico) -- still debating whether or not to go get 2 more.

Kicking off 2010

HAPPY 2010 TO ALL OF YOU!

We are starting 2010 off with some excitement in the Pond household! While Alaina has been taking steps here and there for the past few months, today was the day that she finally stood up on her own and started walking EVERYWHERE without assistance. Before she would take a few steps and then sit down, but not anymore. This girl is walking and loving it! We are such proud parents!

Here is a video of Alaina walking (taken earlier this evening).

Alaina's new thing is now to wave at people and say "Bye." She started this over Christmas vacation and everyone loved it! It's so cute! She grins when she says it too as if she's so excited that the adults can finally understand her chattering!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Here it is New Year's Eve and the whirlwind of the 2009 holiday season is almost over. It was a wonderful Christmas and we spent it traveling between Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia in what has become an annual trek. Oh how we wish we lived in the same town as our families!

Alaina was a good little girl this year and Santa was very good to her! Among the favorite toys she got from Santa are a Fisher-Price vacuum cleaner, legos and the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe. Alaina took straight to opening the presents and very much enjoyed tearing the bows off the gifts and ripping the paper. Here she is holding a present she found under the tree:

Alaina was the center of attention every place we visited and deservedly so -- Christmas is all about the children and she had a ball visiting our families and opening gifts. That little girl is loved by so many people!

I must say that Christmas Eve is the most magical night of the year. Going to church as a family and then going home putting the little one to bed and then relaxing with your spouse while waiting for Santa to arrive. It really doesn't get much better than that. It was a very quiet Christmas Eve and we spent it sipping on some eggnog and watching a "Christmas Story" and "It's a Wonderful Life."

Here is hoping 2010 is a happy and prosperous year for all of you and that it doesn't go by as quickly as 2009!!!!!!

Christmas 2008 (left); Christmas 2009 (right)

The Shopper Stopper Blizzard of 2009

December 21, 2009:
We're living in a Winter Wonderland here in Frederick, MD! The Blizzard of 2009 has been dubbed everything from the "WINTER WALLOP" to "SNOWMAGEDDON" but I'm partial to the "Shopper Stopper Blizzard of 2009." What better timing for the biggest snowstorm in 3 years than the last shopping Saturday before Christmas?!

According to weather.com, Frederick got 22" with the entire DC area getting between 12"-30". AMAZING! What wasn't amazing was all the shoveling Rob had to do; he was so sore!

We took Alaina outside in the snow twice and she HATED it! We got her a snowtube so we were hoping to give her a ride around our neighborhood but we were outside for literally 5 minutes each time. I don't know whether she was uncomfortable because we had too many layers on her (think of the little brother in a "Christmas Story") or maybe she was just too cold, but she could not wait to get back inside.

Enjoy the pictures!

1 Year Update!

Alaina had her 12 month check-up on December 3rd and I'm happy to report that she now weighs 22 lbs, 2 oz and is 31.5" tall. Our little girl has grown 10.5" and gained nearly 14 lbs during her first year. She is in the 75th percentile of weight and her height is OFF THE CHARTS. If the trend continues, she will be a tall young lady.

I am also happy to report that Alaina's 7th and 8th teeth have come through! She now has her upper and lower central molars, upper lateral incisors and upper first molars. We have officially said good-bye to Stage 3 baby food and Alaina has now made the switch over to table food like a big girl. Speaking of big girls, Alaina took 4 more steps today!