My Special Friend

Christmas Day 1997: My mom & dad gave me the best gift I would know until this point in life. I loved Weebles unconditionally and for the last thirteen years I've been blessed with the best dog ever! I really mean it--he was cute and tiny (before cute & tiny was so Paris Hilton), loving, easy going, quiet (except when he made that screeching bird noise) & smart (um, he's the only dog I know who has a degree from The University of Alabama, hehe!). Weebs moved to college w/me in 2003 and has depended on me for everything since.

 My monkey moo moo! Weebles was approx. 8 years old here.

I had no clue what all Weebles would teach me over the last seven years...Looking back he taught me to always be happy to see those you love, approach each day & each new experience with enthusiasm, never underestimate the power of praise, play every chance you get, don't be afraid to show your joy, when you are happy - show it, wiggle & wag, take lots of naps and always stretch and yawn before you get up, never turn down a car ride with someone you love, be loyal, don't hold a grudge, when someone is having a bad day - nuzzle him gently, ALWAYS have dessert first and enjoy anything that's offered, sleep in any position you find comfortable, protect and defend those you love, what you look like doesn't matter - it's what is in your heart and most importantly enjoy every day to it's fullest - even if you are sick, in pain, deaf or blind.

My two favs!

Weebles Carter Comer was part of the "nonrefundable" package Paul received when we got married. For those of you who don't know...My mother informed Paul when he asked for their permission that there were NO refunds! :) Ha, it's a good thing he hasn't looked back on his decision.

This past Fourth of July weekend I looked into those beautiful brown eyes and I could see Weebles was tired and crying for help. There was no quality of life left, just pain and suffering. If you think about your dog’s wants and well being, ask yourself what does he want? The answer is actually pretty simple. Your dog wants fun, love, attention, and good health.


My dad once told me that your pet is for your enjoyment, I'm not sure at the time I understood exactly what he meant. I'm sure I was telling him not to feed Weebles something unhealthy or giving him too many treats. :) I think I finally understand the meaning of "It's a Dog's Life". The idea of a Dog's Life is Fun, Energy, Love, Attention and a healthy body that doesn't hold him back.

One of the most loving and unconditional relationships you will ever have is with your dog. Their sense of loyalty and devotion cannot be compared to any other. In return for the companionship they provide, it is our responsibility to show them love and take care of them. Sometimes taking care of them involves making one of the toughest decisions ever. There may come a time when you are faced with the heart break of having to put your beloved dog to sleep. It may seem like an unthinkable decision, but it may be the most loving and selfless thing you can do for your best friend. I had to make this hard decision this past Christmas Eve when I found Weebles at the most uncomfortable state I'd ever seen him. :( It was VERY hard, actually the hardest day ever. If I recall, Paul told someone years ago that the day Weebles passed would be his worst day. I actually rejoiced Christmas Day knowing my baby was in Heaven enjoying his new, healthy body with our Lord Jesus on his birthday.



Weebs has always offered me companionship, comfort, loyalty and piece of mind, when I needed it most. What I did for him couldn't even begin to compare to what he had done for me, for so many years. Deep in my heart I hoped he would just go peacefully in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, I had been prolonging this for five months.

 I'll end with sharing this verse, Luke 12:6: Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. I believe this verse speaks directly to God's love for his creation, even the small and inexpensive birds sold for pennies but God cares about the suffering and life of each and every animal in his creation.

Tarayn and Weebles 2005 during a visit home from NYC

This summer while living w/my parents

 One of weebles fav spots while living at my parents this summer 

 taken this past year

Sept. 2010 ROLL TIDE!

A Christmas Tradition

Each year my cousin (Kendall), mom and I have a Christmas Cookie bake off the week of Christmas when Kendall gets out of school. This year made four for us! I started the day before preparing the icing and sugar cookie dough. Check out the recipe here .

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2010

Kendall and Mom

Very carefully press the cookie cutter

bake and let cool completely

 I made some colorful icing and we went to town decorating! This year was the best so far!

Who thinks my angels are cute? I do!!!

Crazy with the sprinkles!

Our final product! Four years of practice has done us good! :) I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've been proud enough to photo the final product.

Do you have any special Christmas traditions you share with your family? I hope to continue this tradition with my children one day.

Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your families!

White Chocolate Bread Pudding

About 8 years ago my parents, Paul & I discovered a fantastic restaurant in Crystal Beach that wasn't far away from our beach house in Destin. Little did we know we would fall head over heels in love with this place!! It's called Camille's at Crystal Beach and I seriously LOVE this place. I can't go to the beach anytime of the year without having dinner here. If any of you have experienced Harbor Docks on the Destin Harbor then you'll love Camille's! Charles Morgan owns both restaurants along with many other famous restaurants in the area.

To all my B'ham folks: You can also experience this yummy, delishiness at Chuck's Fish located on 280 or if you're in the Tuscaloosa area head over to that location.

This recipe is my rendition of our favorite thing on the menu:

White Chocolate Bread Pudding

9 egg yolks

2 ½ cups of sugar

2 tablespoons vanilla

24 oz white chocolate bars or 1 bag of morsels

1 quart whipping cream

1 ½ loaves frozen white bread w/crust trimmed

*I've made with french bread before and it's great

1 cup graham crackers *Optional, I haven't done it this way

Directions:

Bring cream to boil, beat egg yolks with whisk until pale yellow. Slowly combine cream and egg, immediately adding chocolate. Mix until chocolate has melted. Continue mixing while combining all ingredients (egg, sugar, vanilla, chocolate & whipping cream). Prepare a 9x13x2 pan with three layers of frozen bread. Pack tightly. If you don’t use all the bread it’s no big deal. Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs on top before baking, be generous.

Preheat oven 350 degree & cook the dish for 15 min. Take out and let chill in refrigerator then bake again prior to serving for 45 min.

Puree

1 bag of frozen raspberries

1 cup sugar

Blend raspberries and sugar, add water as needed.

Enjoy!!!

My Nana's Sausage Balls

A sweet friend of mine recently told me that she was disappointed when I menioned sausage balls in my last post and didn't reveal the recipe so, here it goes... this is my Nana's (who passed away in 2006) recipe. ENJOY!

Nana's Sausage Balls

1 lb sausage (hot)

2 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese

1 cup bisquick

1 cup all purpose flour

dash of garlic salt

 

Start with all ingredients at room temp

Mix flour and bisquick

Blend sausage and cheese together

then mix everything together

I like to roll mine into individual balls so I make sure they are nice and cheesy!

Prepare sausage at room temp. Mix in bisquick, shape into balls and bake at 350 for 15-20 min.

I hope you enjoy! I like to keep these frozen so I have them ready when Paul is craving them. :)

Christmas Goodies

 Each Christmas season I have a few recipes that I tend to lean on (sugar cookies, sausage balls, fudge & pecan pies). I'd like to share a few recipes with you all since they were such a hit last night at the Holiday Market. :) Thank you to everyone for coming and to my sweet friends that all have been blessed w/beautiful talents!

White Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter 

1 cup powdered sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 ½ t. almond extract

1 t. vanilla

1 t. salt

2 ½ c. sifted flour

Source: Annies-Eats

Directions: 

Cream butter. Add powdered sugar. Blend in egg, almond extract, vanilla, salt and flour. Chill dough until firm. Roll to ¼” thickness on well-floured surface. Cut with cookie cutters. Place on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375° for 8-10 min. Cookies should not brown. Frost and decorate when cool. Yields ~40 cookies.

Royal Icing

2 large egg whites
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
3 cups confectioners sugar, sifted

In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the egg whites with the lemon juice until combined. Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth. The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air. Cover with plastic wrap when not in use.

 

Cappuccino Fudge

1 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow cream

½ c. sugar

2/3 c. heavy whipping cream

¼ c. margarine/butter

1 t. instant coffee powder

¼ t. cinnamon

¼ t. salt
1 t. vanilla

1 (12 oz.) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Adapted from: Annies-Eats

Directions:

Line an 8” square baking pan with aluminum foil; set aside. In a 2 qt. saucepan, combine marshmallow cream, sugar, cream, butter, coffee powder, cinnamon and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue to boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and chocolate chips until smooth. Pour into prepared pan. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Place on cutting board and cut into 36 squares.

Merry Christmas, Y'all! 

* This is a new fudge recipe I tried this year and it's delish! And VERY easy to make! Enjoy!

Christmas w/ The Comer Fam!

Merry Christmas from The Comer Family

It's def Christmas time...did anyone else feel like they had the department stores decorated earlier this year than normal? Or am I just getting OLD!? HA!

Paul and I look forward to this special time each year and I'm ALWAYS ready to re-decorate my house and bake yummy goodies.

I've already mentioned that I LOVE Christmas so  I wanted to share a few of my fav photos with you!

This is my kitchen table decor-Red snowflake candles, Target.com

The 2010 Comer Christmas Tree at the new crib! It was a bit of a struggle to find the "right" spot but we found a perfect spot in the living room for us to enjoy! Next year we will be adding a tall, skinny tree for the dining room. :)

I wish this pic would get me warm just looking at it. :) I'm freeeezzzing!

Lollie, my lil elf!

Another one of my sweet baby! {Weebles is still alive just in need of a cute hair do}

A new piece to my collection {notice the ornaments are a nativity}

A few of my Carolers {the rest are in the dining room} and a nativity my parents brought us back from Guatemala this past April.

More Carolers and an Angel painting I painted!

More Carolers! :) {Still not the dining room collection, they are the best}

A beautiful Santa! Isn't he a gorgeous Santa?

Merry Christmas!

Please don't leave us off your Christmas card list this year. :) Leave a comment or email me for our new address!

P&B Snap, Crackle & POP!

In my last post, Funfetti Cake Pops I told you guys I was in charge of desserts for a baby shower I helped host recently. These were my second choice and were a HUGE hit!

P & B Snap, Crackle & Pop Brownies

1 box brownie mix, prepared in a foil-lined baking dish

1 cup sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1 1/3 cups peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 cups Rice Krispies

Source: Kevin&Amanda

Prepare brownies per the directions on the box and bake in a foil-lined baking dish. Heat sugar and corn syrup in a heavy bottomed saucepan over high heat until mixture starts boiling. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla until smooth. Pour over rice krispies and stir to combine. Immediately press the peanut butter and rice krispies mixture over the brownies. ENJOY!!!

Funfetti Cake Pops

Funfetti Cake Pops

Last week I helped a few fun girls host a baby shower for one of my best friends. I was in charge of the desserts which means TROUBLE for me. ha! I LOVE sweets and thoroughly enjoy baking and tasting! :) I have been hearing about cake balls & cake pops for quite sometime now but haven't been up to the challenge to try them out! I couldn't have asked for a better group of girls to "practice". They were very complementary {thank you} and these funfetti cake pops were delish!!!

First bake your cake per the directions on the box and cool completely.

Next, mush the cake and icing.

Freeze the mixture so it's easier to work with.

Roll mixture into balls and insert lollipop sticks for easier dipping and eating!

Melt white chocolate, dip, decorate and EAT! {ENJOY}

I used lots of PINK sprinkles since Whitney is having a girl this go around!

Have fun & enjoy these yummy treats!

Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas!

Did I mention I don't like Christmas?!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

I love everything about it... celebrating the Birth of Jesus, the crowds, the pretty store fronts, the colors, smells, real Christmas trees, baking cookies, ornaments, nativities, Christmas lights, seeing the little children at the mall sitting in Santa's lap, shopping for Christmas presents, giving to the less fortunate, Christmas music, decorating the tree and drinking hot chocolate w/marshmallows.

This Christmas I'm keeping Christ first! I'm reminded of the verse Luke 2:11 "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." Because of  his actions, we can receive forgiveness from our sins, restore an intimacy with our Creator, discover our life purpose, live life on Earth more abundantly, and reserve an eternal home in Heaven.  These are the reasons why I celebrate CHRISTMAS!

Please set aside a special time to read the Christmas Story in Luke 1:5-56 through 2:1-20. 

Merry Christmas!
Tarayn

Guilty Pleasures

First, I want to give a shout out to my beautiful cousin, Heather! Her and Ben got engaged last night and we all couldn't be happier for them!!!! Her ring is beautiful......... Congrats Ben & Heather!!!

I have a few guilty pleasures {something one enjoys and considers pleasurable despite feeling guilt for enjoying it} Fashion, Food {especially unhealthy foods high in sugar and/or fat}, Football and Fellowship!

Tonight, Paul & I devoured one of my fav all time meals!!!

GRILLED CHICKEN & WAFFLES!!! scrumptious, I know! :)

I'm sure you've heard of the famous Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles but if you haven't it's SO yummy! Paul and I ate there last Jan. when we saw the Tide play for the National Championship. :) 

Evidence we were there! It sure didn't feel like it...what a whirlwind!! 

Speaking of national champions... {I just can't help myself} The word Schadenfreude comes to mind-- pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others. Sorry, to all my AU peeps. :) It's healthy competition, right?

Hope you enjoyed Catching up with the Comer's! :)

Feel free to leave a comment (but please know I'm kidding about AU)

Christmas Market

Hey Everyone! A few friends and I are having a small scale Christmas Market next Thursday, Dec. 9th from 3-8pm at my house. Please join us for Christmas Cheer and some unique shopping! :)


All items are handmade: Classic White Nativity, Children's clothing, hand sketched stationary & unique paintings all for sale.



Merry Christmas!

Corn and Shrimp Bisque

Paul has been traveling a lot since we moved and since he's been on the go & eating out I wanted to have a good, home cooked meal for him to enjoy last night. I would say this is one of our fav's! Since we both LOVE seafood & a fine meal I chose to prepare this Corn and Shrimp Bisque recipe. 

Corn and Shrimp Bisque 

1 stick of butter

1 small bunch of green onions, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 cup finely chopped parsley

2 tbsp flour

1 quart heavy whipping cream

1 quart of milk

1 lb Swiss cheese, shredded

2 tbsp sherry

1 1/2 pounds of shrimp

2 small cans sliced mushrooms, drained

1 large cream corn

1 large can yellow corn, drained

2 large potatoes, chopped

red pepper to taste

salt to taste

1 tsp garlic powder

Source: passed down from a cajun friend. :)

Directions:

Melt butter in large pot, saute onions & parsley. Blend in flour, cream, milk and cheese until cheese is melted. Add all other ingredients, except shrimp. Cook on low heat for 30 min. Stirring occasionally, making sure it does not stick to the bottom of the pot. Fold in Shrimp and cook an additional 30 min. add salt and pepper as if needed. Serve with French Bread or in a bread bowl!

Melt butter in large pot, saute onions & parsley

Blend in flour, cream, milk and cheese until cheese is melted.

Add all other ingredients, except shrimp. Cook on low heat for 30 min.

Fold in Shrimp and cook an additional 30 min. add salt and pepper as if needed.

The final product! Looks yummy! Paul almost didn't let me take this photo. :)