Recipes & Bargains

Remember when I posted the link to the Quilter's Daily Deal?

Have you checked it out yet?

Well, here is the best deal of all.......FREE!

Yep, just the $5.00 postage.

Friday's Deal.

There are 80 triangles in this pack.

Cute 1930-40 reproduction looking prints.

I couldn't believe FREE!

I purchased 3 Mary Engelbriet's "The Caroler"

charm packs for $3.99 each. Such deals!

I was in a cooking mood this weekend!

And when I'm "in the mood" I have to take advantage.

The house smelled wonderful all weekend.

Friends came for dinner and almost had to take a nap before they left.
All of these recipes came from the

Sugar Pie Farm House recipe forum.

You have to check it out......those ladies can cook!
The Pecan Pie Bars taste just like Pecan Pie.

Only easier to make.

It's a Paula Deen recipe so you know it's gotta be good.

Don't ya just LOVE the recipe cards?

They're by scrapbook designers Orchard & Broome

from the Jessica Sprague website.

If your wanting to learn digi-scrapbooking

Jessica is one of the best.

She has tons of FREE (there's that word again)

tutorials with step by step instructions.

There are 4 cute-cute designs in the

Bleecker St. collection.
This style may be a little light for the blog.

If your looking for bargains check out your local

Hobby Lobby.
All of the Fall merchandise is 80% off.
And it's not even Thanksgiving yet!
Most of the Christmas treasures were 50% off.
I picked up some beautiful gift wrap & matching tags.

I bought these 2 plates for $2.00 each.
Will look great filled with cookies for hostess gifts.

Hubby and I are going to St. Louis for Thanksgiving.
To visit family and friends.
I have so much to be thankful for this year.
Mainly, that it's almost over! Ha-ha.
We're going to stop at 2 Quilt Shops on the way down.
Both are in the latest edition of the "Quilt Sampler" magazine.
My camera will be smokin.

This darling fabric is from JoAnn's.
Aren't the cupcakes just the cutest?
I made 2 "Tie One On Day" aprons out of it.
One with pink, the other brown, polka dot waist band & ties.
I also added a small pocket with white rick rack trim.

This print is my new favorite.
So bright and cheery.
Have you made your apron yet?

I can't wait till Thursday.
Girlfriends day out.
We're going to the Holiday Sale at the
"Apple Butter House" a large barn filled with treasures.

I can always seem to find something
I can't live without there.

Sorry I'm so long winded.
Didn't realize I had so much to share.

Gobble-Gobble
Hugs

Put the "give" back in Thanksgiving

“Women clad in aprons have traditionally prepared the Thanksgiving meal,

and it is within our historical linkage to share our bounty.”

Four years ago, I noticed that Thanksgiving was talked about

in terms more commonly associated with stress, than joy.

I remembered my mother’s absolute love of Thanksgiving,

as a day more than anything else of sharing and gratefulness.

So I created National Tie One On Day™ as an annual opportunity

to return the “give” to Thanksgiving by sharing our good fortune

with someone in need of a kind gesture.

National Tie One On Day™ has nothing to do with purchasing

anything special or even driving!

Participation is simple.

On the day before Thanksgiving, November 25th this year,

pause in the preparation of your own meal,

wrap a loaf of bread or other baked good in an apron,

tuck a prayer or note of encouragement in the pocket,

and tie one on…an apron, of course!

and deliver the wrapped bundle to someone without your bounty…

a neighbor, friend or family member in need of physical or spiritual sustenance,

a bit of recognition or just a kind word.

I know it to be true that whether you live in a high rise apartment building

or on a quiet block,

no matter which direction you walk out of your own front door,

someone deserving of a gesture of kindness is close by.

National Tie One On Day™ is a win-win, for the participant and the receiver. By embracing National Tie One On Day™, you will make someone else’s day brighter.

EllynAnne Geisel

A chance to use up all those fat quarters you've collected!

Each apron takes 1 fat quarter and 1/2 yard fabric.

Here are 2 aprons I made yesterday afternoon.

QUICK and EASY!

It takes approximately one hour to make.

Yep, An Apron In A hour!

Wanted to show how the ties wrapped around and tied in front.
Unfortunately, my modeling days are over.

I don't think my bar stools do it justice!

It's all about the fabric with this pattern!

Here is the link to the FREE

Apron In A Hour Tutorial

Jona's Blog is Stop Staring and Start Sewing

Stop in and say "HI".

************************************************

“Give us this day our daily bread isn’t just a prayer,

The words are also a reminder that to have more

than daily bread is to be blessed.”

EllynAnne Geisel.

Let's help put the "give" back in Thanksgiving.

The Perfect Cookie

The last 2 times I've baked cookies they turned out horrible!

Flat, runny, crispy.

I made them the same old way.

For the life of me I didn't know what the heck I was doing wrong.

I thought for sure, I'd lost my "cookie touch".

And Christmas is coming!

I posted a cry for help on the Sugar Pie Farmhouse recipe forum.

Boy, did the sistas have some great ideas.

Here are a few I'd like to share.

A couple things that have helped me in making cookies: start with chilled butter.

A professional chef once told me that the little flour molecules

need to surround each little butter molecule in order for the cookies to "fluff."

So if your butter is too soft, the flour will mix too thoroughly

INTO the butter and not surround it.

Hence flat cookies.

Also, I have better luck when I chill the dough,

even for just a couple minutes, before baking.

And I also seem to have better luck (at least with choc. chip cookies)

by adding an extra 1/4 c. flour to whatever the recipe calls for.

The mixture ends up a bit more crumbly

(sometimes I have to use my hands to finish incorporating all the ingredients),

but it seems to help.

Lynn

From Terri in Ohio

Just a tip about the butter...make sure it is pliable, but not too soft.

Mushy butter makes for mushy cookies! LOL!

I also chill the remaining batter in the fridge

while waiting for the next batch....that seems to help.

Karen....over beating cookie dough will cause cookies to go flat.

Another thing to be careful of is if a cookie recipe calls for eggs,

watch what size you're using.

If a recipe calls for a medium egg and you're using large or x-tra large,

that makes a HUGE difference....and vice versa
Vivian Lee

I heard that if your baking soda or baking powder is to old,

it can make for some flat cookies too.

I do believe I heard that from one of my older aunts.
Tina

I took all the above advise.

Checked my oven temperature.

Used a new & improved cookie scoop to keep the cookies uniformed in size.

Fresh baking soda & other ingredients.

I read on The Martha S. blog to blend flour & other dry ingredients with a whisk.

But most importantly......

I controlled myself with my Kitchenaid mixer.

It's just so dang easy to use

I think I over beat my dough.

And as you can see from the pictures below my cookies turned out beautiful!

Cranberry Hootiecreeks (what a name!)

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup softened butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)


Directions
1. Combine flour, baking soda and salt.
2 Cream butter, then add sugars, eggs & vanilla.
3 Mix in flour mixture & oats, then cranberries, chips & nuts.
4 Drop by spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet.
5 Bake at 350 for 8-10 min. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Recipe from SPFH "Terri in Ohio"

And this is my old stand by chocolate chip.
The grandkids favorite.

Speaking of an old stand by, check out this pattern.

Better yet, check the price....85 cents.

Can you imagine how old it is?

I'm going to my Sew Whats group tomorrow and I thought

I'd work on a couple aprons. This is my favorite pattern.

Quick, easy. I change the pocket to all the way across.

Perfect for the National Tie One On Day!

And last, but not least, I mailed out the books & aprons on Wednesday!
Should be there on by Saturday.

Opps, almost forgot to mention my last Dr. appointment on Wednesday.

All is well. Finally.

Try the cranberry cookie recipe..... you won't be disappointed!

We have a winner here!

Drumroll Please..........

The official "name drawer" is also my personal nurse,

cook, and best friend.

Mikie. He's a jack of all trades!

There were 31 names in the drawing and almost split 50-50

for book choices.

The name drawn for the Quilter's Kitchen is.....
Terri from Clay Hill Farm!


The name drawn for the Apron Book is.....
Grandma Soucie from Sugarpie Farmhouse.


And because sew many sweet friends entered my give away
I wanted to draw ANOTHER name.
The book "Apronisms"
Pocket Wisdom for Every Day
by EllynAnne Geisel
and a pink gingham apron with
"chicken scratch" embroidery goes to.....
Debbie from Busy As Can Be

Winners, just email me with your address.
I'm heading down to the post office on Wednesday.
Again,
Thank You-Thank You-Thank You!

Look who turned 1 year old in October!
And let me tell you she is a girly-girl.
Every grandma's dream!


Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl!




Oh, I'm taking some photos for a post on perfect cookies.
The last few times I baked cookies they didn't turn out.
I ask for, and received, great advice from the Sugarpie Farmhouse gals
and will share the results later in the week.

Now, just to keep my hand outta the cookie jar!
Have a great week.

Blog Give Away!

I'm giving away two great books & aprons!
My way of saying "Thank You" for your encouragement,
support, and for continuing to stop in and check on me during my recovery.
Hopefully, I'll be posting on a more regular basis now
that my medical problems are behind me!

Your first choice is "The Apron Book"
Making, Wearing, and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort.
By EllynAnne Geisel.
One of my all time favorites!
Full of beautiful photos and a variety of vintage apron patterns.
I'm sure you won't be able to make just one!

Also to go with the book, this darling reversible blue waist apron.
Rick rack, polka dots and large floral.
How 1950's!

OR

Your second choice is "The Quilter's Kitchen"
An Elm Creek Quilts Novel with Recipes
by Jennifer Chiaverini.
Full of wonderful recipes and the continuing saga
of Sylvia Bergstrom and the Elm Creek Manor.



Plus this hand embroidered, smocked, muslin waist apron.


Such beautiful details on this little apron!
Wonder if it was made for a gift, or to wear for a special occasion?
As EllynAnne Geisel says
"Every apron tells a story".


Just leave a comment below letting me know

which book you'd like to win.
Next Monday morning I'll pick a winner for each book.
If you share my give away on your blog/or with friends
please enter twice.

Until then, I'm heading downstairs to clean and oil my longarm!
I'm putting on a practice piece on to see if I even remember how to quilt.
After Wednesday's Dr appointment I'm expecting to resume by life.
Hopefully, no surprises!

Stay warm, it's raining here today and cloudy .....like it could snow any minute.

Good Baking weather!

It's OFF...It's OFF

My wound vac was removed this morning.....YEAH!

I am so HAPPY!

It's not completely closed yet, but close enough.

Now, I might be able to get down to some serious quilting!

I will need to practice a bit to see if I remember how the darn machine works.

Like riding a bicycle, they say.

YEAH! YEAH!

************************************

Ohhhh, I just have to share this site with you.

But please, don't tell your husband is was me who told you.

EVERY night at midnight they offer a new "Deal of the Day"

THE QUILTER'S DAILY DEAL TODAY IS

Moda's Civil War "Homefront" charm pack for $3.95

Shipping is only $5.00 total for everything you buy.

***************************************

This weekend we were in Tomah for a family wedding.
My DIL's sister was the beautiful bride and everyone in the family was in the wedding party.

Starting with my youngest grandson (blondie)

My oldest granddaughter was a Jr Bridesmaid.


My oldest son and his oldest son were ushers.


My youngest son was a groomsmen.

And my daughter in law was a bridesmaid.
Such a proud mama I am.
Don't just love a man in a tux!

Not much happening this week. Trying to play catch up on housework.

Happy Fall!!

While I've been unable to work (longarm quilting)

I'm getting tons of binding done.

I thought I'd share a few of my favorite tools.

This little gadget ($5.00) makes mitering corners a breeze.

Glenna from Quilt 'n Stuff

also provides a "how to" video on her site.

Sometimes it's just easier seeing it done!

I'm sure everyone has seen & used these binding clips.

So much safer than straight pins.

Weren't these originally used for hair curls?

Isn't this hat adorable!

From Linda's Rosebud Hats

Linda has 22 beautiful Rosebud hats available in

her Esty shop right now. Check it out!

I love the handmade fabric rose

and the cording around the turn up brim!!

Of course, I think the model, my youngest granddaughter,

is just the cutest!

This recipe is from Robin Sue's blog Big Red Kitchen
She made it for her pumpkin cake.
I thought hmmmmmmm......
would be delicious on my pumpkin bread.
Warm out of the oven.
And believe me it was!