Entry Table

Who says clutter needs to be ugly! A little silver and something living can make clutter look, well... pretty!

Coasters....

I made some new coasters for the house, trying to use up my left over yarn.

Scones...

Lemon Blueberry, and they were good!

Pillow Talk...

Got ya, I am talking pillow cases! Loving seeing how this pillow case is working up so quickly. Loving the spring colors, spring is just waking up around here!

Blessings

Early morning light

Blessings

Morning is my favorite time! I love the sunrise, the early light, and coffee! How about you, share your favorite time of day.

Rye Bread and Dill Butter!

Very tasty

Easy Galatta...

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened ( I used whipped cream cheese, since that was what I had on hand).
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch, divided
1 whole egg, separated
2 cups prepared Fruit
2 tablespoons sugar, plus a little extra for sprinkling
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 refrigerated pie crust from 14.1-ounce box
Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 400 degrees.
Bring crust to room temperature.
Mix cream cheese, egg yolk and vanilla and 2 tbsp of corn starch together until light and fluffy.
In another bowl mix 2 tbsp of sugar and 1 tbsp of corn starch and let it linger.
Unroll pie crust, spread cream cheese mixture leaving 1-2 inch border on pie crust. Top will mixed fruit. Fold edges over and brush with egg white, and sprinkle with course sugar. Bake for 30 min. Allow to cool and remove from pan. Best served warm. Enjoy!!!
Fresh or frozen fruit works well.

Wall Art...

I was wanting to hang some of my art... Some old, some new, some thrift-ed and some handmade. So here is how it turned out, I am still thinking it over, a new frame or two, maybe? Try to avoid looking at all the mess.

Cakey Cookies: Thanks Martha

I have been searching for a good recipe for cakey chocolate chip cookies... Finally my search is over! Martha had a recipe that passed the test. I am not a fan of c.c. cookies, so I could really care less if they are crisp, flat, chewy or cakey! However, the cute guy LOVES cakey cookies. So after many taste test we finally found one that hit the spot! So with out further ado...


Cakey Chocolate Chip CookiesMakes about 3 dozen

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups (about 12 ounces) semisweet and/or milk chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter with both sugars; beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low; add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
2. Drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
3. Bake until cookies are golden around the edges and set in the center, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

* Here is the only substitution I made... I used butter flavored Crisco in place of the butter. I find the melting point to be higher for Crisco, therefore the cookies bake up instead of flattening out.

Blueberry Muffins...

and gluten free, made with brown rice flour. :)

Homemade Rolls...

These Rolls are a family favorite! I have been making them for years, and they don't seem to hang around long. The rolls are very easy to make, especially when I employ the use of my bread machine. I usually make my breads by hand, but this recipe is so easy in the machine. In fact, I only use the bread machine to make dough. I purchased my bread machine at the thrift store for less than 5.00. So don't run out and purchase a new machine. :)

Homemade Rolls
Place ingredients in machine in order they appear in recipe...

1 1/2 c. warm water
1/4 c. oil
2 tbsp. Honey or brown sugar
2 tsp salt
4 c. all purpose flour or half wheat flour/ half white
2 tsp. active dry yeast (make a small well in top of flour)

Set machine to dough cycle and let it run. When the dough cycle is done ( my machine it takes 1 1/2 hours), punch dough down and let rest 10 minutes. (I only do this if I am feeling generous with my time). Pinch off balls of dough a little smaller than a tennis ball or larger than a golf ball if you want smaller rolls. Fold dough to bottom to make smooth top, gently dust with flour and place in a greased baking pan. Place on the stove top (warm area) cover with dish towel and let rise for 30 minutes. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20 minutes.
~Blessings

Just to take the chill off...

Taco Soup
1 lb. ground sirloin
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 pack taco seasoning
1 can pinto beans
1 can white kidney beans
1/2 diced onion
Frito Chips

Brown onion and ground beef, drain if needed. Add beans, tomatoes, and seasoning packet to stock pot and one or two cans of water, and simmer at least 30 mins. Dish out and top with fritos and cheese. Enjoy! It is guaranteed to take the chill out of your bones!
~Blessings

Finger Knitting

Last week I took the time to whip myself up a little gift. A soft, warm neck cozy. I managed to use up some left over chunky yarn and learn a new skill. It took all of 25 min. to make. Time well spent if you ask me, I know my neck thinks so!

Granny Squares

I have a new project started...

Here is the simple truth I have CAD (crafting attention disorder). I have so many half done projects lying around. It is criminal! I can't help myself, I see something and jump right in. Currently I have 2 blankets in the works, a baby sweater, a kitty doll that only needs 1 leg to be finished. I have a needle point canvas 3/4 of the way done, 2 different sets of half done Christmas ornaments, and the list goes on... Why do I do this? I think I need an intervention... Oh they will all be finished-eventually, just not today!
I blame it on my love for yarn, it is soft, cozy, colorful, soothing, forgiving, and did I mention soft... I prefer knitting, but crocheting comes in a close second. So I meander back and forth between my projects a little here and a little there, hoping nothing else pops into my mind to add to my all ready full basket!
Today I am sure I will pick up, hold, work a few stitches, and stare at the pile of fabric that is sitting in a dinning room chair (I believe I will have to feed it soon).
So here is to a day of fun!

Loafing around...

Yesterday I finally caved and decided to try to make a rustic loaf of crusty bread. The recipe is very simple and can be found here. The process is easy and takes almost no time, however the wait can seem like an eternity. I mixed up the ingredients and let the dough rise for 14 hours! But the wait was worth it. The bread was tasty and I was one happy lady. If you have a dutch oven I highly recommend give this recipe a try. If you are a bread lover this recipe will not let you down.

Resting

Ready to Eat

Next time I will go a little lighter on the dusting...

P.S. If you are in need of a good laugh there is a post you need to read over at The Pioneer Woman. I laughed so hard at the end of the post when I envisioned the look I get from the cute guy, because I literally could stand in for her in the post. Enjoy!

~Blessings

Family Fun

A visit home...

Papa's Smile

Cousins Coloring

Mama Cooking

Sweet Smiles

Little Brother contemplating

Big boys playing Yahtzee

Little boys laughing

Families Gathering

I hope your holidays were filled with love and family. I know mine were!!

~Blessings