Gingerbread Ornaments

This is a post from Christmas 2008. I'm linking today with Chari @ Happy to Design for "Sunday Favorites" where we can post some of our favorites from the past. I'll be making more of these little guys tomorrow since I need a fresh batch this season

For quite a few years now I've been making gingerbread ornaments for our family room tree. They keep their scent for a couple of years and they're so easy to make!

There are only two ingredients to buy. The recipe is simple because the ratio is 1 to 1.....1 cup of cinnamon 1 cup of applesauce. Easy peasy. You can make as many or as few as you want. This year I made the recipe using 3 cups of cinnamon and 3 cups of applesauce and I wound up with 28. I found that my little guys from last year were still very fragrant and only a handful of the them were broken.....so I needed only a few for the tree this year.

Mix the two ingredients together just as you would for cookie dough . Remember, these aren't cookies......it won't hurt you obviously to eat them, but they don't taste very good because there's not enough sugar in the applesauce. Mix well. It will probably seem a little sticky to you so before you go to the next step.........and this is the fun part.............

powder your hands with cinnamon.

Turn the dough out onto a cinnamon-dusted cutting board or sheet. Pat out to about a third-inch thickness.

Using a gingerbread man cookie cutter cut out each ornament and place carefully on a sheet of waxed paper
.

When you're finished cutting them out, take a big fat pencil eraser and poke a hole in the head. This is so that when they're dry you can take a length of red or green ribbon ( about an inch and a half piece) and make a loop for them to hang from.

Here they are on my kitchen counter where they'll stay for the next 3 days to dry. Give them at least that long to dry.....here in Phoenix with our dry air it takes about that long. In other more humid climates it may take a day or two longer.

 

The finished product. These little guys are from last year. When Christmas is over I usually keep them in a tin or box cushioned with tissue paper and they will be ready for next year.

Believe me.......any room you hang these in will smell heavenly! So Christmasy!!!

 

Good Eats in San Diego

One of our family's favorite places to eat when we're in San Diego is Point Loma Seafoods. The atmosphere is very informal and classy at the same time.......and best of all the food is outstanding. There's an indoor dining room with a great view of the landing, but most of the time we prefer to eat out on the patio. They have quite a selection of dishes, including Sushi, Shell Fish, and some of the best Clam Chowder you'll ever taste.......but on this lovely autumn day a couple of weeks ago we all three chose a classic old favorite......the fish and chips platter with giant cups of iced tea. It doesn't get much better than that!

Here's to revisiting favorite family places,

Jack is Back!

This was my very first post, all about Jack the Scarecrow.....today I'm linking with

Sunday Favorites where we post past favorites thanks to Cheri at Happy to Design .

Jack is still special around our house......hope you enjoy reading about him.

It's always kind of sad, but after sitting on our porch swing from October 1st until Thanksgiving, our family scarecrow Jack has to return to the attic for another 9 months of relaxation. Actually we aren't always sure what he does up there all year when we're not watching. The two youngest ones in our family, the two 5 year olds, are pretty sure he can talk......and they're convinced they've seen him move.

I made him when my youngest son Christopher was in Kindergarten ( and he's 19 now!) So Jack has been in the family for awhile now.

He loves to travel around town........over the years he's been to parties, hayrides, and presided over Harvest Carnivals. He's had his picture taken with young and old. He's quite a social fellow.....never met anyone he didn't like.....or anyone who didn't like him. If he had a Facebook page he'd be the guy with all the friends!

While there's a video tape floating around somewhere of him dancing with several lovely young ladies here in Phoenix, his favorite date has always been my Mom. Here they are a few years back at a church party. He was her constant companion on a 1998 hayride when she was trying to ignore the unwanted attentions of a much older gentleman who shall remain nameless. He finally got the hint.....Jack had saved the day. He's really quite the ladies man.

But at heart he's a real family guy.......here he is with grandaughters Kylie, Kenedee, and Christian last year.

This year, just like every other year, nobody wants to say goodbye.........a quick kiss from the aforementioned 5 year olds........grandaughters Fiona and Kenedee. Love ya, Jack.

Enjoying the Season

Don't you think Sunflowers are the epitome of a Fall day.....I do. I've never grown them in my garden though I've always planned to......just like I've always planned to grow pumpkins. Hasn't happened yet (go here for my pumpkin excuse post). Anyway, I enjoy these flowers wherever I find them.

There was an abundance of Sunflowers at the Pumpkin Farm we went to last weekend. Thats where I snapped the shot of the gorgeous flower above. Look closely and you'll see the bumble bee enjoying it too.

And of course there were those "specially picked out pumpkins" to take home. Hope you're enjoying this Autumn Season as much as I am. If not, what are you waiting for? It's everywhere you look and it won't be here for long.....be sure to enjoy it while you can.

I'm linking with Today's Flowers.....please drop by their site for more flowers!
And be sure to drop by Mellow Yellow Monday too!

Bacon Quiche Tarts on Easter Morning

Here's a scrumptious little recipe that I got from my cousin Debbie. They're little quiches made in a muffin tin.....and as an added bonus they can be made ahead of time, reheated, and they taste just as wonderful! I think they're particularly good for Holiday breakfasts or brunch buffets. That's why ever since I got this from her I've been making them for our Easter morning breakfast. Just serve with a quick fruit salad or a pretty little dish of melon cubes. Be sure to bake plenty because, believe me...... no one is going to be satisfied with just one.

I don't think there's anything more refreshing on a warm Spring or Summer morning than to serve glasses of iced water with lemon and orange wedges!

Speckled eggs on the table, all ready for hiding later in the afternoon. If you'd like to know how to make these you can find the directions here on the Southern Living website.

Debbie's Bacon Quiche Tarts

Ingredients

1 8 oz. package cream cheese

5 tsp milk

2 large eggs

1/2 cup of shredded cheese

2 Tbsp chopped green pepper

1 Tbsp chopped onion

2 tubes refrigerated crescent rolls

(there are 8 in each tube, you will have 4 left over for other purposes)

6 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled and divided evenly into two parts

*Beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Add eggs, cheese, green pepper, onion and mix well. Separate dough and mold into greased muffin cups. Sprinkle half of bacon crumbles evenly into each cup then pour egg mixture over the bacon. Top with remaining bacon. Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Serve warm. Makes 1 dozen.

* Filling and bacon crumbles can be made ahead of time and kept refrigerated overnight.....then in the morning all you have to do is mold the dough into the muffin cups, fill, and bake.

ENJOY!

Be sure to check these out.......

Today I'm linking with Foodie Friday, Food on Friday, Friday Feasts,

Follow me Friday , Friday's Favorite , Friday Follow

and Tablescape Thursday

Easter Bunny Cake

Back in the 80's I picked up this cookbook at a used book sale. It was first published in 1966 and it turned out to have so many great ideas in it. I've used it over and over through the years. The nice thing about this is that while all of these cakes are made with mixes, they can easily be adapted to use with homemade cakes too. Just use your own favorite recipes. I've seen copies several times over the years and they're well worth picking up if you run across one.

I've made this Bunny cake for so many Easter dinners. It's so simple to make and turns out looking great AND tasting great every time. Guaranteed.

Easter Bunny Cake

Bake any layer Betty Crocker layer cake mix in two round layer pans (8 or 9 1/2 inch) as directed on the box. Or use your own favorite recipe. Cool. Cut one layer in half. Put both halves together with a prepared frosting (either a can of Betty Crocker White or Cream Cheese Frosting.........or again, use your own recipe if you like.) Stand cake upright on cut edge.

With a sharp knife cut a notch about a third of the way around the semicircle, forming the rabbits head. Save cutout piece for the tail. secure in place with a wooden pick. Frost the entire rabbit with remaining frosting. Sprinkle generously with shredded coconut.

Make ears of white paper; color inside pink with a crayon or colored pencil. Use pink jelly beans or gumdrops for eyes and nose. Form an attractive nest around the bunny with tinted green coconut ( see instructions below) and place a few Easter Eggs (jelly beans) around him.

Freeze the other layer for later use, or make another bunny.......color the inside of his ears blue and you'll have a " Mr. and Mrs." for your Easter dinner table.

Tinted Coconut:

Place one cup of coconut in a a jar or plastic bag. Mix 1 or 2 drops of food coloring with 1 teaspoon of water. Add to coconut. Screw on lid or fold close bag and shake until coconut is uniformly colored.

Here's a photo of 2 year-old granddaughter Kylie the first year she discovered the bunny.

Enjoy!

Today I'm linking with these great sites....Just click on the names for the link and be sure to check out their cute buttons in my sidebar!

Friday Follow

Foodie Friday

Friday Feasts

Friday Food

Vintage Recipe Thursday

Inspired on Friday

I'm Lovin' It Fridays

Show and Tell Friday

Funky Junks Saturday Nite Special

Strut Your Stuff Easter/Spring

Making the World Cuter Monday

Tasty Tuesday

Rainbow Cookie Repost

Since we're fast approaching April, where in some parts of the country many of you will be getting those lovely "April Showers", I thought it would be appropriate to republish this post from January 2009. These cookies are quick and easy and look so pretty when you're finished. Next time there's rain in your forcast, grab that pretty little apron of yours and fill your home with the smell of these little beauties.

Vintage photo from Pillsbury Children's Choice Cookbook circa 1982

Monday January 5, 2009

Yesterday was one of our rare rainy days in Phoenix. While much of the time I enjoy our mild winters and sunny days, I have to admit I love to wake up to the sound of rain. I'm always torn between wanting to snuggle up by the fire with a good book and enjoy a cozy day inside, or on the other hand wanting to get outside and enjoy it. I know some of you may not understand that, but around here a nice rain is something to get excited about. Yesterday being Sunday, I was able to do both. In the afternoon Jim built a fire for me in the fireplace and among other projects (like continuing to put away Christmas decorations), I got out a favorite old cookbook and made some Over the Rainbow Cookies. Actually we usually just call them "rainy day cookies". It was always fun to do this when my kids were little, and you know what? It's still fun.

These are super quick and easy because you use the prepared roll of cookie dough. The recipe comes from a small paperback cookbook from Pillsbury called "Children's Choice Cookbook". I think it cost me all of $1.98 back in 1982, but I have gotten as much , if not more, use from it than many of my other more expensive ones. These are lovely cookies to make on a rainy day. You can store them in an airtight container and they keep very well, but let me warn you....they won't last long. If you have a favorite sugar cookie recipe you can use it and add different flavorings to it such as almond or orange or even lemon......they're really tasty that way.

Actually, did you know it is so simple to make your own cookie dough rolls and freeze them? Then you can have them on hand whenever you decide to do quick baking like this. I plan to do a post in the near future on some of my favorite homemade mixes and I'll include one for the sugar cookie rolls.

In any case these are particularly fun and easy to make. Today I woke up to a bright, sunny Phoenix morning. It was lovely.....temps in the sixties.......I got some work done out on the patio that I have been planning to do. I've got to say though.....I certainly enjoyed having a couple of "rainy day cookies" for lunch to remind me of yesterday.

Over the Rainbow Cookies

17 ounce roll Pillsbury Slice and Bake Sugar Cookies

Blue, Green, Red, and Yellow Food Coloring

Small amount of Sugar

Allow dough to soften at room temperature. Divide dough into four equal parts. To first portion of dough, add 2 drops blue food coloring; to second portion add 2 drops of green coloring;

to third portion, add 2 drops red coloring; and to fourth portion, add 2 drops of the yellow coloring. On a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper, shape green dough into an 8-inch log. Press dough slightly to flatten one side. Cover roll carefully with blue dough, keeping semi-circular shape. Continue layering yellow and red doughs in same manner, gently pressing layers of dough together. Wrap; chill until firm, about 3 hours. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Using a sharp knife, slice roll into 1/8 inch slices. Place cookies, 1 inch apart, on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned; sprinkle lightly with sugar. Cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

I hope you've enjoyed this repost. Be sure to visit Chari at Happy to Design for more gems from the past on Sunday Favorites.

I'm also linking to Tempt my Tummy Tuesday with Lisa at Blessed with Grace

Making the World Cuter Monday with Tiff at Making the World Cuter

Tasty Tuesday with Jennifer at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

Mouth Watering Monday with Rachel at A Southern Fairytale

Tuesday at the Table with Cole at All the Small Stuff

An Arizona Autumn

In mid-September the National Forest Service here in Arizona begins their daily Fall Colors report. In the low desert we will see very little, if any, leaf change..... but in the high country it is an entirely different story. The colors across the peaks are absolutely breathtaking and since the season is very short, it has always paid to keep track of when the trees are at their most colorful. It's a lovely drive just a couple of hours north of Phoenix ......a drive we always look forward to this time of year.

The landscape begins to change as we leave the desert floor and head north on I-17 towards Flagstaff.

Oak Creek just outside of Sedona, the beautiful red rock country.

Arizona maples on Rim Road near the Mogollon Rim........

Gorgeous show of foliage in Oak Creek Canyon

A grove of Aspens near Christopher Creek

Autumn in the White Mountains .....

Country road near Flagstaff.....

"Ditch Camp" in the White Mountains .......

Bassett Peak .......

Slide Rock in Oak Creek Canyon..............

So before very long we'll be stealing away for a day (or maybe two ) to enjoy the lovely sights of the season........what's it like in your part of the country? Do you have colorful leaves falling right outside your window, or do you enjoy driving to the mountains to see the sights? What special little things are you doing to enjoy this incredible Autumn season?

Today I'm linked to these two great sites.

Just click on the photos to see more lovely outdoor shots.

An Autumn Meal

September

The breezes taste

of apple peel.

The air is full

of smells to feel;

Ripe fruit, old footballs,

Burning Brush,

New books, erasers,

Chalk, and such.

The bee, his hive,

Well-honeyed hum,

And Mother cuts

Chrysanthemums.

Like plates washed clean

With suds, the days

Are polished

With a morning haze.

John Updike

Isn't September just such a lovely month? And doesn't John Updike's poem

capture it so well? Or at least as well as a lovely month can be captured with mere words?

In just a couple of weeks it will be "officially" autumn in the northern hemisphere whether or not it exactly feels like autumn yet . In the West it is still very warm, but from what I've been reading across the net that's not stopping anyone from jumping right into the season, whether its in decorating or cooking or in organizing households for the new school year.

So here's my first contribution to the new season..........a meal I've been making on the first day of autumn for quite a few years now. It's from a little cookbook I picked up in the late 80's and the quick and easy main dish is called Skillet Sombrero Pie.

Photo from "Holiday Cooking with Kids" by Janet Wilk

Skillet Sombrero Pie

Makes 6 servings

Prep time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

I pound ground beef

1 10- ounce package frozen corn, thawed

1 8-ounce can tomato sauce

1 16-ounce can tomatoes

1 tablespoon instant minced onion

or

if you're like me you add 1/2 diced onion instead

1 1 3/4 -ounce package chili seasoning mix

1 6-ounce package corn chips

1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Equipment:

wooden spoon

large deep skillet

1. Stir ground beef and onion in skillet over medium heat until it browns

2. Stir in corn, tomato sauce, tomatoes, and seasoning mix

3. Turn heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes

4. Arrange chips in ring around edge of skillet

5. Sprinkle cheese in center and cook until cheese melts, 3 to 5 minutes

6. Serve pie directly from skillet

I usually serve this simply with a green salad. Like in the photo, we have "Monster M&M Cookies" for dessert and if the weather is cooperating, even a little bit, we have the hot apple cider to drink........otherwise it's great big glasses of ice cold apple juice.

Hope you're making plans to enjoy the great season ahead!

I'm linking up with these sites on this lovely "almost autumn" weekend. Be sure to visit them..... just click on the photos........

I'm also linked to The Inspired Room for Fall Nesting Week!