Sweet Interruptions For the Holidays

WOW!!! Those are beautiful Betty.

Ooohhhh I am soooo doing one of those centerpieces!!!

Beautiful home Betty, I love the snow too but the snow doesn't love me. I love the decorations too. Maybe this next summer I'll get bored on those hot days and craft some Christmas decorations for 2009. Betty it's catching on. Oh, ya'll get a kick out of this, I didn't have any glue for the wood thing the Santa stands on, so the night before last I thought that I would just try to glue it with Fabri-tac. When I got home last night, after the squall line went through and I got back home from dinner with Dave, I checked it and it was glued tighter than a drum, so it worked! Now whether it will hold up with the Santa on it is a different story lol

I would say that was thinking Crissyr.

I didn't want to buy a bottle of glue if I'm only going to use a few drops. Now what Betty gets me into in the future will tell me if I should've just went out and bought a little bottle LOL

Understand perfectly.

Oh!! I got my mixer, I got my mixer!! Happy Days! ^_^

An early Christmas present? What kind of a mixer?

Picture please!!!!!!

Kim it has been a looonnng time since I lived where it freezes for very long at a time, but we froze ours in bundt cake pans or the ring type jello molds .....ready made hole in the center.

I don't have any of that kind of things around thats why I went to the dollar store I think that I soaked it to long in hot hot hot water
This way if it doesn't work I have a tray for all my goodies
Well I needed a break trying my new sewing machine I got the bobbin to thread but I am having the darnest time tring to get the neddle to bring up the bobbin thread My nices is on her way to help me clean but I am going to have her show me how to work this new thing a ma bob
Haven't made peanut brittle yet just got done with the dishes

And this is what I need to get started on so no draft come though my doors

Make sure you have the thread pointing in the right direction when you put the bobbin in. Follow the instructions very carefully with the bobbin, that's probably the most important thing! Good luck!

Brenda

That is almost identical to Mum's brother Machine.....it lives at my house most of the time because mum doesn't like to sew if she can get out of it.........Brenda is right! Once you get the thread in the right direction all you have to do lower and raise the needle and it will bring up the thread.....took me quite a while and a thinking a few bad words before I got it figured out.......then I wondered why it took me so long.......just a little slow on the uptake sometimes.

Ok I did it It,s not very pretty but I it will do the trick I will get better and I did it all by myself

Way to go Kim!!! Good for you, you got it all made and sewn by yourself! I am very proud of you!
Now what kind of quilt are you going to make?
LOL
LK

You got me laughing so hard Iam the floor I have my nices making a cover for the stair case for me so I can get the tree up and 2 sets of lite are out.Well maybe I can hide with other lites

LOL it's a KitchenAid Artisian Mixer, Onyx Black. It's a late birthday present, late to the day!

Oh I got a red last year for Christmas. I LOVE IT!!!!! I bake a lot more now that I have it.

I wanted a red one but it won't match the kitchen. All of the stuff is in the dishwasher, I can't wait to use it! What to bake, what to bake!

LOL Kim, I would have never been able to figure that out. I used to use my grandmothers Singer when I was a kid, but I never figured out why you have to have thread from the bobbin and thread from the spool. I just don't get that!

I think because you have a top and a bottom But that wood be my guess on the bobbin and the spool Here come a story about the bobbin and the spool ^_^ just joking

Ok Sorry I didn't bake yet but its still early Well I got my tree to work not much on the cleaning but my bathrooms are all clean and I had Carly DN to do the curtins other wise it wood have taken me 3 days just to think about this I send tree than curtin
Tham clean

And now this covers my stair case so the heat won't go up to heat empity bedrooms

Dimmer/Kim: Thanks so much for posting the link to here over on the AV forum! I am loving all of this ... the baking as well as the crafts! I used to bake quite a bit, but not so much anymore, just getting old and lazy! LOL. My DH bought me a KitchenAid Professional HD mixer last year and I really like it. The bowl is much deeper than my last mixer and instead of two separate beaters, it just has the one large one. I have a couple of recipes to share. First one is great for the holidays. I just made some at Thanksgiving and will be doing more for Christmas. I always make up baskets of baked goodies for my neighbors for the holidays.

This Recipe came from Taste of Home Magazine October/November 2002


Pumpkin Chip Cookies

1 1/2 cups of softened butter (No substitutes)
2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated white sugar
1 can (15 oz) solid-packed pumpkin
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups all purpose flour
2 cups quick cooking oats
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups (12oz package) semisweet chocolate morsels

In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Beat in the pumpkin, egg and vanilla.

Combine the flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoonfuls @ 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. Enjoy!

Another cookie recipe, 1960's version from an elderly neighbor who has been gone for many years now. A favorite with everyone I know.


Snickerdoodles (Cinnamon/Sugar Cookies)

Mix together thoroughly:

1 cup solid shortening (1 crisco stick)
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs

Sift together and stir into creamed mixture: (I haven't sifted in years, and they come out fine!)

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Chill dough (I don't do this either, cookies don't flatten as much if dough is not chilled.)

In zip lok bag put 3-4 tablespoons sugar and 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Roll dough into balls the size of small walnuts. Place balls of dough into zip lok and shake to coat. Place @ 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned.

At the holidays I drain and cut marachino cherries in half and just before cookies are done baking I stick a half cherry in the middle.

Overnight Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees & cover cookie sheets with aluminum foil.

WHITE COOKIES:

2 large egg whites (throw the yolk away or use for something else)
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup (6 oz) mini chocolate chips

Beat egg whites until almost stiff. Gradually add sugar and continue beating until peaks form. Blend in vanilla and fold in chocolate chips.

Drop by teaspoonfull onto cookie sheets. Put into the oven and TURN OFF HEAT!
DO NOT OPEN OVEN UNTIL MORNING!


CHOCOLATE COOKIES:

Before folding in the mini chocolate chips, blend in 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder.


ALTERNATIVE BAKING:

Heat oven to 250 degrees and bake for @ 1 hour. Turn off oven and let sit for @ 2 hours.

These cookies melt in your mouth! Easy and very good!

Here's a very popular and easy dessert recipe that a friend gave me. I made it for Thanksgiving using a yellow cake mix and pecans but am making it this weekend for a Pot Luck using a Chocolate Cake mix because I think Chocolate & Cherries are wonderful together! And, instead of chopped pecans I might use chopped cashews, haven't decided for sure on the nuts yet. This recipe is what a lot of folks call Dump Cake ... you can use most any fruit pie filling.

Cherry Delight

3 - 21 oz cans cherry pie filling
1 - box yellow cake mix
1 - cup chopped pecans
2 - sticks melted butter

Grease 9x12 baking dish. Pour canned cherrie pie filling into dish, sprinkle cake flour over cherries, sprinkle chopped nuts over cake mix, melt butter and pour over top. Bake at 350 degrees for @ 45 minutes.

Top with a generous dollop of cool whip or whipped cream before serving!

Lynn
So glad you came to see us and leave some good recipes I am making Peanutbrittle in Mricowave its just rang smells like a drug lab here with the peanuts hope I did this right it look weid

10 Mintues Never fail Microwave Peanut Brittle
1 cup sugar,1/2 cup Lite corn syrup,1 cup raw peanuts 1/8tsp salt
1 tbsp butter,` tsp vanilla,1 tsp baking soda
Combine top 4 in 2 quart glass bowl Nuke on high 8 mintues after 4 take out and stir
add butter nuke 2 more mintues Brittle sahould not get to brown than Stir in vanilla and baking soda
Spread on butter baking sheet cool and than break
This is mine
I bet you guys can't wait till I go on vacation and stop cooking

This recipe came from my youngest sister who is an awesome cook! One of my favorite pound cakes, very moist and just the right sweetness!

Cream Cheese Pound Cake (grease & flour a 10 inch tube/bundt pan or @ 5 of the little mini loaf pans.)


1 1/2 cups softened butter
1 - 8 oz package softened cream cheese
3 cups white sugar
6 large eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon vanilla

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition just until blended.

Combine flour and salt. Gradually add to the creamed mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in vanilla.

Spoon batter into prepared pan(s) and bake at 300 degrees for @ 1hour and 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. *** Note: if using the mini loaf pans, bake at 325 degrees for @ 40-50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack @15 minutes. Remove from pan and let finish cooing completely.



You can also glaze the pound cakes if you like. (I've never gotten this far ... usually I don't remember the glaze, it does add more sweetness ... which is a good thing!)

Glaze:

Stir together one 16 oz package of powdered sugar with 5 Tablespoons of milk and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Spoon evenly over cake tops. For a thicker glaze, use just enough milk to moisten the powdered sugar and this will make a glaze that won't drizzle down the sides.

Oh Kim, That Peanut Brittle looks so yummy! I have not made that in years! I have a recipe somewhere around here for Cashew Brittle which is good too!

This recipe is great anytime of year! Very Yummy and always a hit with everyone who loves chocolate!

It all gets layered in a large clear glass punch/trifle bowl. It looks really pretty in a clear glass bowl but it doesn't change the awesome taste one bit if all you have is a huge plastic bowl. ^_^

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE

1 Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix (or I've substituted 2 boxes of Brownie Mix)
1 Cup Kahaula (or for non drinkers like me, 1 cup Marachino Cherry Juice
6 Heath toffee candy bars (or use any other of your choice)
4 boxes instant chocolate fudge pudding
2 large containers of cool whip

Bake cake or brownie mix according to directions on package. While cooling, sprinkle the liqueor or juice over cake to moisten. When cooled, cut cake into squares or chunks.

Prepare pudding mix according to package directions.

Crumble/break candy bars into pieces.

Layer as follows:

Cake Chunks
Pudding
Candy Bar Pieces
Cool Whip

Cake Chunks
Pudding
Candy Bar Pieces
Cool Whip

If you want to be fancy, you can decorate the top with chocolate bar shavings, maraschino cherries or chopped nuts.

Good Lord, just reading the recipes make me gain 10 pounds!!!!

Lynn You are on a roll Kool
Yesterday they had some kind of chocolate thing going on Down Town Chicago . The hit was Chocolate and Bacon That sounds pretty sick to me But you never no till you tryed it


This message was edited Dec 4, 2008 4:43 PM

Okay I am going to do one more thing tonight this tskes thr longest but its easy as pie
Appetizer
Savory Pretzels
32 oz bad of pretzels
1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch dressing
1 bottle of Orville Redenbacher popping oil
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp garlic salt
Put pretzel in very large bowl. Mix the ingredients in a small bowl than pour over pretzels Mix every 15 mintues( So I watch Ugly betty and Grays and when a commercial comes on I stir every 15 mintues ) Than Spread over paper towel on the couter for overnite
In the Am put in baggies

For spice use Hidden Valley Fiesta
1tsp chile powder
1 tsp of cayenne pepper
They do have low fat pretzel

I had a great one at the Party last night....one lady took Dried Apricot halves, rolled each half. Then she wrapped each half in 1/2 Slice of bacon, secured it with a toothpick and baked at 400 degrees until bacon was cooked just crisp. I could have eaten the entire plate by myself!!

OHH those do sound good..........

OMG! These all sound soooo good! Ditto what heavenscape said! If I could get caught up with work I coud try some of these...

mmmmmm .... everything sounds so good! I agree about gaining weight just reading them!

Okay, now getting away from recipe's ... this is a quick and easy craft - some of y'all may have heard of it ... it's been around for quite a few years! My sister was a girl scout leader years ago and the girls used to make these at the holidays. I went digging and found most of the needed supplies stuck in a drawer so made one to show you how. The only yarn I had was a very dark green so it doesn't look as good as the bright Christmas green color does. I will post pic's and demonstrate how these are done. These are very quick and easy to make. I am not crafty, so if I can make them anyone can! I remember making some using even smaller rings ... perfect for package ties or even a lapel pin.

Little Yarn Christmas Wreath

Supplies needed:

3" Metal Rings - purchased at any craft store
1 Skein of Green Yarn
1- 2"x 2" square cut from a piece of cardboard
a few teeny ornaments or bows for decoration

Cut a bunch of pieces of yarn @ 4" long and set aside for ties.
Take the ball/skein of yarn and grab one end and wrap around the piece of cardboard @12 times (don't wrap too tightly because you will need to slide it off the edge of the cardboard), cut the end so it's no longer attached to the skein. Slide the little bundle of wrapped yarn off the edge of the cardboard and tie with a piece of the 4" yarn, then tie it onto the metal ring. Keep doing this until the entire ring is covered, you can push them together to make it tight. After the entire ring is covered cut all dangly edges that are hanging. Tie a red ribbon on for hanging and decorate with tiny bows or those tiny little ornaments.

Here's a picture of the supplies and two bundles tied to a ring and a completed ring.

Oops ... forgot the picture


edited to describe what you are seeing in the pic.

Metal ring
2"x 2" piece of cardboard
piece of yarn for tying
cardboard wrapped with yarn
little bundle slipped off cardboard and tied
two little bundles tied to wreath (I haven't trimmed the tied strings yet)
completed wreath

This message was edited Dec 4, 2008 7:59 PM

Here's a picture of a wreath hanging on my frig ... no decorations on it yet so I just stuck a little silk poinsettia and a teeny red bow to show what it would sorta look like.