I hope the day finds  all of my  DS friends well and doing the best they can at this very stressful time of the year. I am still not my " normal " self, whatever that is!!! I don't think I'd recognize my old self anymore. I sure do miss her, she was a real go getter and lots of fun, always up and doing something, starting the day with a smile. Boy, have I ever changed a lot but with a positive attitude I am hoping to get some semblance of her back again one day. Cause I really find that this way of life is no fun to live with, actually it sucks but you all know that.

I've been up for along time but not sure what I really accomplished. Been walking in circles the last few days, complete brainfog. I can't get out of my own way!!! I did do a few chores this a.m. like call the company that delivers the propane for our fireplace. We are suppose to be on automatic fill. Well, the last fill was June. now that's really ridiculous. So I called and they had forgotten us on their weekly deliveries, I was a little annoyed but it was not buddy's fault so there was no need to take his head off. He was very nice and made sure my name was on the list for next weeks fill. now if next week comes and goes and no fuel then i'll be pissed!!!

I also called my vice principal regarding a form we have to fill in called the " Child Abuse Registry". It must be filled in by anyone that deals with children. If your name pops up your out of a job. Anyway, I was confused by the last part, she told me that it needed to be verified by a notary or commisioner. They are getting one in to do the whole staff one day after school and she will cal and give me the date. good, one less thing for me to fret about.

I made a call to my hairdresser to see if she had any flatirons left for my daughter at Xmas. Luckily, she has an order coming in on Tues, and will put one aside for me.

then I started to wrap, I should actually say bag or box stuff. I avoid wrapping if at all possible. I HATE it. I have little patience with themeasuring, cutting, tapping etc.. but , somehow this year i ended up with a lot of stuff that had to be hand wrapped, oh, darn. anyway, I got all my daughter's gifts wrapped/bagged etc. I only have her and my husbands stocking stuffers to do. I'm sure you find this a most exciting day LOL I' ll move on to something more exciting um.... now what could that be? Oh, I know, I cleaned the kitty litter box. Oh, boy was that fun, the highlight of my day!! I am being sarcastic ofcourse.

anyway a few people have asked me for a boiled icing recipe. I will write them below, with my comments.

This is the best one for flavor and texture it's called seven minute frosting:

Combine in top of a double boiler:3/4 cups of white sugar, 1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar, few grains of salt, 3 tablespoons cold water,1 unbeaten egg white. Place over the bottom of the double boiler which has rapidly boiling water. Beat with an electric beater on high for 4 to 7 minutes until frosting is stiff enough to stand in peaks Make sure you scrape the sides and bottom of the pat while cooking. Remove from heat and fold in 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla. this is enough to cover a 9 inch pan. For a 9 inch layer cake double the recipe and this will take longer beating time. Lots of work but so.... yummy. i can eat it with a spoon.

                   Boiled Frosting ( Mountain Cream Frosting )

Combine in a saucepan: 2 cups of white sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar, 2/3 cup of Stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil and cook, without stirring until syrup reaches 245 on candy thermometor. Remove from heat. Beat 2 egg whites until very stiff. As soon as the syrup stops bubbling gradually pour in slowly the syrup to the egg whitesBeat with and electric beater on high until the frosting is of spreading consistancy. Then fold in 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Frosts a 9 inch layer cake.

This is good but not as good as recipe # 1.

Now the cheaters way to do it, not quite as good as #1 but very close, I use it when I'm in a hurry. Take one large container of cool whip, beat with electric beater until it thickens slightly, then add 1/2 cup of brown sugar packed, beat on high until firm peaks form, keep on adding sugar until it thickens or you like the taste. this a kind of trial and error method but it does work.

For all my recipes I use a chocolate cake.

anyway for those that requested the recipe, here it is. Happy cooking, Debbie