Ringing in the New Year

Another year has come and gone again. It also seems unreal that Christmas is over and done. I baked dozens upon dozens of cookies this year. I had two people who paid me to make cookies for them, which I was more than happy to do, but let me tell you it was a lot of work. I am not as young and energetic as I used to be.

I will be starting to craft again in earnest and will be listing some new things on Etsy in the next week or so. Please be sure to come on over and visit all of the talented crafters over there. I will be listing some of my patterns for sale in the coming weeks too!

Happy New Year!

Hurry and run on over to a fabulous giveaway!

Another cookie recipe!

In the spirit of baking I am posting another cookie recipe handed down from my grandmother. I have no idea how old this recipe is but it is a keeper for sure :) Enjoy!

Grandma’s Coconut Cookies


½ C Butter
½ C Shortening
1 C brown sugar
1 C white sugar
2 eggs
1 ½ C coconut
1 ½ C oatmeal
1 ¾ C flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. soda
1 t. vanilla

Mix shortening and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Add coconut, oatmeal, and flour, mix well. Add baking powder and soda. Mix well and drop by spoonfuls onto un-greased (preferably parchment paper lined) baking pans.

Bake at 350 degrees until cookies just barely begin to brown. Let cookies rest about 3-5 minutes before removing.

Note: This is a cherished family recipe of my grandmother’s. These cookies can be tricky to make, they are supposed to be a chewy cookie, but sometimes they don’t turn out that way, every time I make them they are different, but are delicious. If the dough seems to be too sticky, add a little more oatmeal rather than flour!

December is in full swing.......

Sorry for the length of passing time since my last post. I am keeping myself very busy trying to get all the crafting done that I can before I stop and begin my Christmas baking. I am an absolute nut for baking cookies and making treats for family and friends at this time of year. I have created a monster of sorts because I now have 2 friends who want to pay me to bake cookies for them. I am flattered but know I've got my work cut out for me.

So in the spirit of baking here's one of my favorite cookie recipes......

Frosted Date Creams


Cookies
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 1/4 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 package (8 ounces) chopped dates
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Vanilla Frosting
1/2 cup butter or margarine
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 to 4 tablespoons hot water


1. Heat oven to 400ºF. Lightly grease cookie sheet. In large bowl, beat 1/4 cup butter, the brown sugar, sour cream, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and the egg with spoon. Stir in flour, baking soda and baking powder. Stir in dates and nuts.
2. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
3. Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter over low heat. Stir in powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla until blended. Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until frosting is smooth and spreadable. Spread cooled cookies with frosting.

Holy Cow!

I received a very nice note from Bastille Bleu on Etsy. She has picked my snowman face stocking and Etsy shop to feature on her blog article "A Prim and Proper Christmas", along with other primitive artists. Thank you so much! I am tickled pink :)

Please be sure to run over and see her great blog!

Bastille Bleu

Newly listed on eBay and Etsy

My newest creation, some snowman ornies!

Happy news for me!

I have joined a new group on etsy.com called Old Farmhouse Gathering, or OFG for short. I hope to make some new friends and learn from some very talented artists. Please be sure to search Ofg team over on Etsy. We appreciate a peek or two from you all :)

Busy, busy, busy!

I am kicking into high gear making items for Christmas. Look for new items in my etsy shop!

Sad day!

A dear friend lost her beloved kitty, Mac, this weekend. I gave my kitties lots of extra love when I heard the news. It is heartbreaking losing a pet and especially so when you must make the decision to put them down. We cannot prolong their suffering for our own selfish reasons but it is the most difficult thing to do.

God Bless Mac!

Giveaway at Cinnamon Berry Lane Primitives!

Run, run, run as fast as you can and enter to win a wonderful primitive Santa! He is prim perfect!

Caramel Corn Recipe

I see so many bloggers listing recipes and since I am crazy over recipes, I thought I'd share a few of my tried and true favorites from time to time. This caramel corn is to die for and so very easy to make. Nothing says Fall to me like caramel corn! I do hope you enjoy this!

Caramel Popcorn

Ingredients:

12		cups popped popcorn, (do not use microwave popcorn)
1		(9.75-ounce) can (2 cups) whole cashews
1		(5-ounce) bag (1 1/2 cups) pecan halves
1		cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4		cup butter
1/2		cup light corn syrup
1		teaspoon baking soda

Drizzle Ingredients:

1		cup dark chocolate chips
1 1/2 1/2		teaspoons shortening cup white baking chips

Heat oven to 250°F. Place popcorn, cashews and pecans in large roasting pan.

Combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil (7 to 8 minutes). Continue boiling 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda.

Pour butter mixture over popcorn mixture in pan; stir well. Bake for 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven; place onto waxed paper or parchment paper. Cool completely. (DO NOT BREAK INTO PIECES.)

Place chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon shortening into resealable plastic food bag. Microwave on HIGH (100% power) for 30 to 45 seconds; knead bag. Continue microwaving at 15 second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut tiny corner from bag; drizzle melted chocolate over popcorn mixture. Repeat with white baking chips and remaining 1/2 teaspoon shortening, microwaving on MEDIUM-HIGH (70% power). Drizzle over popcorn mixture. Let stand until chocolate is set (3 to 4 hours). Break popcorn mixture into pieces.

Store in container with tight-fitting lid or resealable plastic food bag.

Recipe Tip
Chocolate and white baking chips can be melted separately with shortening in a small bowl in microwave or in small saucepan over low heat until melted. Drizzle chocolate mixtures with fork or spoon.

Christmas listing has begun!

I just listed some rag quilt Christmas stockings in my Etsy store. Sadly Halloween crafting is over and now it is time to start a new holiday. We crafters are always ahead of our time LOL

Have a blessed day!

Find me on Etsy and eBay!

Won't you be so kind as to take a look at my items at Etsy and eBay? Just click the links to the right and they'll take you there! Thank you :)

Fantastic Giveaway!

Run straight over and enter to win a fabulous goodie package from oodlekadoodleprimitives. You don't want to miss out on this one!

Free epattern from Olde Homestead Barn!

Run and hurry to get a great free Pumpkin Harvest Centerpiece e pattern from Olde Homestead Barn :)

Giveaway at A Primitive Gathering!

Run on over to A Primitive Gathering and enter to win some wonderful goodies!

Wow, this long, really?

I cannot believe it has been so long since I posted anything here! Time flies when you are having fun or so they say!

Winter Weather!

Well, not much going on here at the moment. A winter weather advisory in effect for tomorrow. A small amount of snow BUT high winds will create white out conditions. I sure wish I could stay warm in cozy in bed tomorrow morning, but I'll be up and at work at 7 AM. Then it is predicted very cold temps for the rest of the week. Subzero by the end of the week for lows.

I don't know about all of you but I am truly tired of winter. Dry skin, bundled up so much you can't move just to stay warm and not enough sunshine! BLAH.......when is the first day of spring again?

2009

We are now into the 6th of January already. It seems this year is going to fly by as fast as the past year did. I am trying my hardest to live up to my resolutions of getting organized and finding ways to be more productive. If only I had a maid, cook and a million dollar bank account. My dreams would be much easier to reach. Instead I work full time, do all the cooking and cleaning, and handle all the financial responsibilities. And my husband thinks I am nuts when I say I'd much rather be a man. Now I am not saying all men are alike, but from talking to my friends, it seems most of them are! Enough of that rant, I surely don't want to make anyone upset. I just get so frustrated that I cannot find enough time in a day and there is always something around the house that needs doing.

I am slowly working on some Valentine projects, here is one that is currently listed at eBay.