Chocolate Crinkles

by Meredith

These are my favorite Christmas cookie.

Blue Ribbon Crinkles

• 1/2 C. vegetable oil
• 1 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
• 2 C. ganulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 t. vanilla
• 1 C. flour
• 2 t. baking poweder
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 C. powdered sugar

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes
Makes six dozen

Mix oil, chocoate and sugar in bowl. Blend in one egg at a time until well mixed.
In separate bowl, mix vanilla, flour, baking power and salt together. Once well mixed, stir into oil mix.
Chill several hours or over night.
Take teaspoon and form small balls out of batter. Roll in powder sugar and place on cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
Cool cookies, but place small marshmellow in center before completely cool.
Mix up simple chocolate frosting or buy canned frosting. Drip over center.

Edible Arrangements

by Meredith

A friend of ours just sent us a gift from Edible Arrangements. It was absolutely delightful and a wonderful surprise. I'll definitely go to them next time I'm looking for a gift to send a friend.

Baked Apples

by Meredith

Still have some apples left over from earlier this fall?  Me too!  One thing I love to make is baked apples.  It's so easy and they make a perfect side or dessert.

{Wash apples and core off a little on top and bottom}

{Sprinkle a good amount of cinnamon and sugar on top of each apple}

{Bake 350 degrees a good hour}

For the Love of the Fair: The Great Minnesota Get Together is Still Great

I have gone to the Minnesota State Fair every year of my life. Even when I was not even a year old, my parents stuck me in a stroller and carted me around the grounds. It's been a yearly tradition ever since. Before me, both of my parents went - every year. I guess you could say this tradition has run in the family since my great grandparents moved to Minneapolis from Iowa many years ago.

Every year, my day at the fair consists of the same things, it's almost like a 'yearly routine.' This doesn't mean I find it boring, I actually still enjoy it year after year. I find it comforting almost. Through the entrance off Como Avenue. Past the raft ride. Right, to the corn dog stand. Left to the French fries. Back across the street to the Dairy Building for milkshakes. Kitty-corner to the Agriculture Horticulture Building to look at the biggest vegetables. Out the other side to the Food Building, where the cheese curd stand is. Then outside to watch the parade and shop at the Bazaar. Then do the Skyride and Midway...

Nearly 2 million people are expected to attend the fair this year and most like me that keep coming back each year have their own approach.

Some will go for the long day, sopping up enough of the deep-friend, sugar-coated, high-volume, shoulder-rubbing experience to hold them over for another year. Some will visit in several short, four-to six-hour bursts. Some will go early in the day. Others won't show up until late to hit the midway and watch the fireworks.

Regardless of how you 'do the fair,' the event is nice because you don't have to do anything in a specific way. It's a day without rules. You can eat the greasiest food item at 10 in the morning, wear a goofy hat in the shape of a pickle, pig, etc, or watch a concert in the middle of the afternoon, and that's OK. At the fair there are no set meal times. You can do whatever you want.

Check out the Minnesota State Fair here for more information!

Really? McDonalds Facing Lawsuit Over Happy Meals

The Center for Science in Public Interest is giving McDonald's up to 30 days to stop promoting toys with the purchase of their Happy Meals, saying that the company is contributing to the obesity epidemic that the country is dealing with.

As for McDonald's they insist that "getting a toy is just one part of a fun, family experience," said spokesman William Whitman.

"Tempting kids with toys is unfair and deceptive, both to kids who don't understand the concept of advertising and to their parents, who have to put up with nagging children," said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in Public Interest.

My personal opinion is that parents should be responsible and take control of deciding what their children eat. When I was five, If I had the choice, I would have eaten a McDonald's Happy Meal every day, but my parents of course didn't allow this. I can see the Center for Science in Public Interest's side, but cannot agree with their call to action. There are a lot of other fast food chains out there doing the same thing, but because of McDonald's size and history of success they are getting blamed for consumer's great lack of self control.