Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Gingerbread Bars.....

Here is a recipe for a tasty dessert bar for the holidays!


Ingredients:

1/2 cup melted butter
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1t vanilla
1/3 cup molasses
1 egg
2 cup flour
2 t baking soda
1T cinnamon
1t ginger
1/2t nutmeg
1/2t salt



Directions:
Preheat oven to 350'

Line a 9x13" pan with parchment paper, with paper hanging over edge to make it easy to remove.  Spray lightly with cooking spray.

In a large bowl combine butter and sugar using an electric mixer.  Add vanilla and molasses and then mix in egg until well combined.

 In a separate bowl combine all dry ingredients and then slowly add to wet ingredients.  Batter will be thick.  Press into the pan.


Bake for 20 minutes.  Bars will appear to be uncooked but will firm up once cooled.


Serve with whipped cream:




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Saturday, November 23, 2019

Grilled Cheese Waffle....


I love strolling through Trader Joe's, especially their cheese section.  The other day they were handing out samples of Creamy Toscano Cheese and it is a delicious combination of Parmesan and Cheddar. 



 I couldn't resist buying some!
I decided to grate some and mix it with Monterey Jack to make a grilled cheese sandwich.



I never owned a waffle maker until recently when I found a mini one for only $5.  I have used it a few times and decided to have fun with my lunch and make my sandwich in the waffle maker.  I trimmed off the crust, so that it would fit inside, buttered each side  and it "fried" up quite quickly:


A perfect little lunch with a side of pickles and a few chips!


I have also used it with cake mixes to make desserts:


I think little ones would get a kick out of this!  I sure did!

Monday, November 18, 2019

Apple-Banana Bread....


As you probably already know, I love quick breads!  

Here is an easy recipe for Apple-Banana Bread that is delish!


Apple-Banana Bread:
Cream:  1/2 C + 1 T butter, 1/4 C sugar, 2 eggs, 1t vanilla.
Mix in a separate bowl then add to creamed mixture: 2C flour, 1t baking pdr, 1t baking soda, 1t cinnamon 1/2 t  salt.
Stir in 2 mashed bananas and two chopped apples.
Bake @350° for 50-55 min in 2 greased and floured bread pans.



Saturday, November 16, 2019

Hafner's Christmas Wonderland....

Hafner's, a local garden center, sets up a lovely display of themed Christmas Trees every year.  
Here are a few of my favorites from this year:


A red cardinal tree to remember those who come to visit in mysterious ways!


The jolly ol' guy beside a tree filled with lots of Santas:


Patience Brewster on a sweet MacKenzie-Childs Table:


A special tree for the dog lovers:


Pretty pastels:


For the grown-ups - BUT who wants a toilet ornament???


SALUD!


For the Coca Cola lovers:


A beautiful flocked tree:


When our children were young, we always went to Hafners to buy our fresh tree and they were always a beautiful, perfect shape.  Their pointsettias are so beautiful and large!  They also have a limited selection of boutique clothing and jewelry, fresh vegetables, artificial and fresh trees, and  a . Core restaurant. In the spring it's the place to go for flowers and bushes to plant as well as an ice cream cone!

It's certainly a place to visit at this time of year to get you in the spirit and give you some decorating inspiration!

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Red Pepper Jelly....





We love Harry and David's Sweet Pepper Jelly mixed with cream cheese and served as a spread with crackers - I make it every time we entertain a crowd and it goes quickly!  



Here is a recipe for Red Pepper Jelly that is just as tasty when mixed together with cream cheese:

  RED PEPPER JELLY

1 1/2 C finely chopped red pepper (1 large)
1/2 C finely chopped green pepper
2T finely chopped jalapeno pepper
1/2 C Apple Cider vinegar
6 T SURE-JELL powdered pectin 
2 1/2 C sugar


I sterilized 5 jars that were about 20 oz total ( I save odd jars for this purpose) and kept them filled with hot water until needed.  Add the peppers, SURE-JELL and vinegar into a large saucepan and bring to a rolling boil, stirring.  Add sugar and return to a rolling boil for about 2 minutes, stirring.  Remove from heat and pour into jars.  When cool refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. 


I mix about 4-5 oz of jelly to 8 oz cream cheese and blend with an electric mixer and serve with crispy crackers!


This is a perfect little hostess gift with a package of cream cheese and a cute spreader knife!

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Brownie Pops....



I was asked to bake for a fundraiser Bake Sale and I decided to try something new.

I pulled out my "Babycakes baker"....

...and a brownie mix to prepare "Brownie Pops"


I wasn't sure how this would work as the babycake baker is designed for cake mixes.  The brownies took longer to bake and were tricky to remove, but it worked!

I found cute pastel lolipop sticks and dipped them into the melted candy wafers so they would adhere to the brownie balls:


Then I dipped the brownie balls into the melted chocolate, swirling as I pulled each out and scattered with a variety of sprinkles:


The mix made about 26 pops!


Each was wrapped in a small treat bag ....


...and tied with different colored ribbons:


This was a quick and easy way to make individual servings for a bake sale!



I even held back a few for John and I:


YUM!


Here's another way to serve them:


I usually make a lot of cake balls, freeze them and then they can be dipped when i need a quick dessert!

Sunday, November 10, 2019

It's all in the presentation....

I am sharing these ideas with the Ten on the 10th group.  Our monthly challenge must cost less than $10 and we post connecting links on the 10th of the month!



I believe that the presentation of a gift is just as important as the gift itself.

Here are a few ideas for gift wrapping your holiday gifts and each idea costs well under $10 to make.




SNOW MAN TIN CAN

I took a large commercial size can and spray painted it red, drilled two holes, one on each side, and tied a ribbon through each hole for a handle.  The snowman was an unpainted wooden ornament purchased for $1 at a craft store.  After painting it, I adhered it to the front with glue gun.  

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SNOWMAN BAG

I laid a white paper lunch bag flat and traced a small plate to create the curve and then cut on the line. I folded the top down about 2-4 inches. The hat, eyes, nose and holly leaf are cut freehand out of a craft foam sheet and then glued them on (I punched small stars out of the eyes to add a twinkle). The hat band is a scrap piece of ribbon and I used a marker for his pebble mouth.

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SANTA BAG

I laid a paper lunch bag flat and a square (about 5") of green holiday fabric was cut out and glued on the front side. A strip of fake fur was glued along the bottom edge. His eyes were little painted dots and his nose is a pom pom. To fold the hat, fold back from corner to opposite corner of the fabric to form a triangle. Then fold down the top point forward. A jute bow was glued on the tip of the hat. Santa's beard was a 7" x 11" piece of muslin, folded in 1/2 to form a 7" x 5 1/2" strip. Glue a 7" piece of jute inside the fold. Tear small strips, 1/2"apart, up towards the folded edge with the jute, stopping 1/2" before fold. Glue this in a curve onto bag.

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PRINGLES CAN
Wrap a Pringles can in wrapping paper or scrapbook paper and adhere a floral pic and bow.  Perfect for "cookies"!



SNOWMAN TIN
Take a soup can and wrap in craft paper.  Create the snowman with squares of card stock , rubbing chalk on edges for dimension, adding mini buttons and a foam hat and nose.  Tie on a tag!

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Choose a theme to wrap your gifts such as these....Black and white and a sprig of greenery and berries

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Every gift is a wish for your happiness!!

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Visit these other creative women to see how they spent their $10: