Scones...

Lemon Blueberry, and they were good!

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.

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

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

Maple Popcorn

Recipe:
Pop the corn and place in a brown grocery sack... about half a brown grocery bags worth.
Salt and shake in the bag.

In a heavy sauce pan mix:
1/3 c. maple syrup
2 tbs. water

bring to boil, syrup mixture needs to be at softball stage. I use a candy therm.
Poor over popcorn, and shake the bag, keep shaking... Are you still shaking? You can stop now!
Allow to cool and serve in a pretty bowl.

This is a crowd pleaser, and its low calorie.

Blessings~

Simple Pleasures

Some of life's greatest pleasures can be found on a plate... The comfort of summer evenings, cool breezes, and tasty fruit. Simply wonderful!

Blessings

Something tasty!

Fresh!Hot!!!
Dounuts!!!

Yum! And so good dunked in hot coffee...
I used Anna's School house donuts recipe from Pleasant View Schoolhouse.

French Toast

Warm and cozy eating...
Here is the back story...
I thought I would be a wonderful mother for my two cute kids. I got up a little earlier and made french toast, and delicious sausage for an extra warm breakfast. Yet my two stinkers slept and slept and slept until around 9:30. Later when I rounded the corner what did I find the cute kid doing??? Eating from the can of pringles...
Lets just say: It's a darn good thing I love those two!! :)
The breakfast was at last enjoyed by all!

Smells like fall...

tastes like heavenand so cozy with butter!
Pumpkin peacan loaf, a little afternoon treat.

Jam

Every year my grandma made Jam, but not just any Jam~ Raspberry Jam from berries grown in Canada. (She would stow away redman tobacco ( from the U.S. )and trade it for huge fat berries). Gotta love her. So I decided to give it a try. I think I had it a little easier, because I purchased my berries locally (Sorry Redman~no trades for you). I got out the old Fanny Farmer Cookbook... And whipped up a few jars... The result, kinda grainy not at all like grandmas. I don't know what I did wrong, but will try again next year. I feel some what ashamed... I got four jars. Grandma about 60. Berries you beat me this year, but wait till next year!!

Oatmeal Bars

These were very delicious, and so simple to make! The perfect pairing for a good cup of coffee. Oatmeal Fruit Bars
1c. a.p. flour
1c. quick oats
2/3 c. brown sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 c. butter
1 c. jam

In large bowl mix flour, oats, sugar, and soda together. Cut in butter to resemble course crumbs. Press mixture into a 8x8 lightly greased baking dish, reserve 1 cup. Spread with your choice of jam, I used pomegranate-raspberry. Sprinkle the remaining mixture over the top and press lightly. Bake at 350 for 30 mins or until top is golden. Allow to cool this will allow it to firm up, cut and serve.
Enjoy

A sea of cupcakes

Audrey hits the kitchen again. She has been waiting weeks to make these little cupcakes. Sprinkles and all. She even dressed them up for a grand parade in the kitchen.

Oh so yummy. Many are boxed up and ready to go to daddy's work. The soldiers in the office are sure to enjoy these little guys.

Happy 4th and blessings to all!

Fresh Bread and yummy pecan pie.

I have taken to making our bread from scratch. It tastes so much better than store bought. I use an easy recipe and mix the dough in my kitchen aide mixer. It tastes so good when it is warm.

Here is the cute guys birthday pie. A derby pie, pecan and chocolate chips. Delicious! Odd thought we should dress it up a bit.

Blessings

Lemon Boys

So delicious. Anna from Pleasant View Schoolhouse made these sweet cookies a while back. I finally got around to making some. A basic sugar cookie recipe, with lemon icing. They were the perfect treat after dinner.

Lemon Boys, so tasty.

Mouth watering dinner.