Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from my family to yours :)

Question of the day!

What would the cover of your romance novel look like?

Alphabet Project!

Aubrey and I have decided to do an alphabet project.  Once a week we are going to take a picture that's an object, color, or concept that starts with a letter of the alphabet.  Today's letter is "A."  I've chosen to leave today's pictures title-less; maybe you should title them for us.

Use Whatcha Got

 We all have food that goes unused because of inevitable Thanksgiving over-shopping.  Lucky for me, all of our remains can be used for baking!


Better Than Toast Breakfast Crescent Rolls


Two packages Pilsbury crescent rolls
Cream Cheese
Strawberries
Sugar

Quarter the strawberries and toss in sugar
Spread cream cheese onto crescent roll dough and place strawberries in the middle
Roll them up
Bake at 375° for 14-17 minutes

I didn't have any strawberries and since this post is titled, "use whatcha got,"  I used strawberry jelly.

 


Pumpkin Pie Bars


Crust and Topping
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
12 tbsp. cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup old-fashioned oats
½ cup chopped pecans

Filling
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree
1 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Butterscotch chips, for topping

Preheat oven to 350°
Line 9x13 pan with foil and lightly grease
Mix together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar
Add butter and mix until it resembles coarse crumbs
Stir in oats and pecans
Set aside one cup of mixture for topping
Press remaining mixture into the bottom of the greased pan
Bake for 15 minutes

For the filling, combine cream cheese, sugar, eggs, pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, and vanilla

Pour filling into pan over crust
Sprinkle with the reserved crumb mixture and butterscotch chips
Bake for 30 minutes

I replaced butterscotch chips with chocolate and pecans with walnuts.



Use whatcha got!!

Thanksgiving :)

I worked the entire week of Thanksgiving except for Thanksgiving day so I only had time for this one contribution.  But judging by the rate these were eaten I'd say I chose a good one.

Chocolate Dipped Pecan Wedges

Crust

2 c flour

1/2 c granulated sugar

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 c cold butter or margarine

1 egg

Filling
1 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c granulated sugar
1 c butter (do not use margarine)
1/2 c honey
4 c coarsely chopped pecans
1/4 whipping cream
1 tsp grated orange peel

Glaze
2 c semisweet chocolate chips
4 tsp shortening
salt if desired

     Heat oven to 375°.  Line 13x9 pan with foil and grease with shortening.  Mix together flour, granulated sugar, salt and butter until it's the consistency of coarse crumbs.  Add egg and press into bottom of greased pan.  Bake for 15 minutes.

     Reduce oven temp to 325°.  In sauce pan cook brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter and honey until butter melts.  Increase heat and boil for one minute.  Remove from heat and add orange peel, whipping cream and pecans and pour over crust.  Bake for 40-45 minutes.

     Cool completely and cut into 6 rows by 3 rows, the cut squares diagonally.  Microwave chocolate chips and shortening until smooth and dip each triangle.  

November 11th

Question of the day:

What was your wish for 11:11 today?

Easy as pie... or muffins.

Pumpkin Spice Muffins!

Listen up because this gets complicated!

1 box of spice cake

1 can of pumpkin

1 cup of water

1 dash of cinnamon

350° for 20-25 minutes!

Now I know this is very labor intensive and I apologize, but I have faith in you!
p.s. This recipe is weight watchers friendly!

Impromptu Photo Shoot

       Before this job I wasn't all about having my picture taken.  But when you're behind a camera all day long it can be a major stress release to be in front of one, being goofy like the customers are too shy to be.  It's the perfect way to separate the hecticness of the ensuing holiday season, and our outside lives.  For those of you who aren't in the know, christmas for a portrait studio like ours would drive the strongest of men into hysterics.  

Question Of The Day!

What's under your mattress? 

Tonight's Find

Question Of The Day!

What category on a quiz show would you choose to get the best chance of winning?

I Just Can't Help Myself

I am addicted to baking.  I can't even eat the things I make and I still do it!

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies


1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ cup creamy peanut butter
½ cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
½ cup rolled oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
*350 for 10 minutes or until lightly golden on edges*
Cool completely on cookie sheet

No Work Today!

Dried Apple Pie 


3 c dried apples
2 1/2 c apple juice or apple cider
Pastry for a double-crust 9-inch pie
3/4 c sugar 
1 tsp cinnamon 
2 Tbsp flour
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt

Heat juice or cider to boil

Pour heated juice or cider over dried apples 

Let sit for one hour

Cook apples in juice for 10-15 minutes on low heat 

Drain excess juice

Mix together sugar, cinnamon, flour, nutmeg, and salt 

Add to apples and mix well

Pour mixture into pie crust

Top with second crust 

Brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar 

Bake at 400 for 50 minutes or until done

Eat!

This might not be the most beautiful pie ever, but I'm still proud.  

It's pretty great for my very first one!

Question of the day!

If you only had one quarter, and no cell phone, who would you call?

Everyone remembers their first time...

Erin made me take my first wheat grass shot. She said I did better than she thought I would! At least I didn't throw up.

What To Do When It Snows

BAKE!

We found everything we needed for Oreo Brownies and Banana Bread (the Starbucks recipe) 

The brownies are always a good baking warm up because you can buy the brownie mix and cookies.  The only work involved is adding water, oil, eggs, and dipping the cookies.  Here, I'll show you. 

Bake at 350 for 20-27 minutes 

Then, it's important to take a break and fix the sink you just broke.

 

BACK TO BAKING!!

Banana Walnut Bread

2 c flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg

1 1/8 c sugar

1/2 c vegetable oil

2 Tbsp buttermilk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 ripe medium-large bananas

1/2 cup walnuts

Pre-heat the oven to 325

Grease bread pan

Blend together flour, baking soda and salt and set aside

Mix together egg, sugar and oil

Mash bananas

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients

Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla 

Pour batter into greased pan and bake for 60 minutes.

After the oven door is closed with the bread safely inside,

DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN