That Cookie Contest

So I hear there is a cookie contest held by the towns local newspaper. I have never entered anything ive made into a contest. Who me? Naw! I'm not that good at anything to be in a competition.

After giving it some thought, I grabbed one of my favoite cookie recipes and started baking. I thought, "why not, its just cookies, nobody can mess up a cookie even if its not prize material. It will at least make me happy to bake something sweet for a change and I dont even have to eat them"....  

OK, there were several broke ones that I just could not put on a plate to be judged so I ate a few of those and put the rest of the ugly ones in a bowl right beside the coffee pot. Why? Because I made an Italian cookie, Cranberry Almond  Biscotti. The word Biscotti means twice baked and that's why they are hard and crunchy, perfect for dipping in coffee. 

This morning the judging begins. I called into work to let them know I'd be a few minutes late and drove my cookies to the destination. As I made my way across the parking lot, I noticed more mature ladies making there way to the door.

"Oh no, I cant compete with that!" I somewhat felt guilty knowing these ladies had a lot more flour on their hands than I ever had!

I made it to the lobby and was greeted by some very happy, peppy employees. I mean, Id be nice and peppy too if I knew Id be eating cookies all day at work.

There ended up being 34 entries! 

The day is coming to an end as I sit here at work wondering if I won or not. I don't mind either way because it was all out of  fun, but I still wonder.....{waiting}

While I wait. Here are a couple Tweets I've seen so far....

"I want to taste that one again." Cookie judge Ken Lemon from WSOC-TV. Gazette Cookie Contest. #GazetteLife.

Gazette Cookie Contest Judge Heidi Flick: "It feels like a hug from your mama." #GazetteLife.

{still waiting}

I just learned that the winners and their recipes will be announced in the food section of Wednesdays newspaper so I'm out to get the paper.....

Wait for it....

Wait for it.....

The verdict is in......Drum roll ...............
....
....
....
....

I did NOT win.

BUT.....My recipe DID make it in the paper as one of the 5 superlatives. My cookies were voted "Most Unique"

(source)

It was fun to have the chance to share some of my baking talent with others. I'm sure it was a difficult decision for the judges. These Biscotti are still a winner in my kitchen and I plan to share a fresh batch with my family and neighbors soon.

Click HERE for the recipe to my cookies plus the other wonderful recipes.
Click HERE to see the three winners and their recipes.

Banana Bread in a Mug

I was craving some nice warm banana bread but since Im still watching what I eat, I didn't want to make a whole one. I've not baked any kind of cake or bread since January! WOW. Knowing if I would have made a big banana bread, I would have eaten the whole thing in a day or two. I still doughnut trust my willpower....Wait did I just say "doughnut?" Just another thing I've stayed away from. Ha.

Anyway, I found a recipe for a banana bread in a mug. Single serve, one cup sweet treat. Made right in the microwave in less than 3 minutes!

 

I caved. I had to make one. In fact, It actually made two. I shared one with my husband which gave it a snarl but ended up eating it. It was not to bad. Surly not as good as my mommas banana bread but it did the trick to cure my sweet tooth at the moment.

 

Now I will share the recipe with you. So grab your favorite mug or ramekin, spray it with cooking spray, and go at it.

BANANA BREAD IN A MUG

 

4Tablespoons- Self Rising Flour

2 teaspoons -sugar

2 Tablespoons -brown sugar

Pinch.- baking soda

1 egg

1/4  teaspoon vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

1 Tablespoon milk

half a ripe banana, mashed

 

Blend flour, sugars, salt, baking powder & baking soda.

Add egg & mix until all the dry ingredients are incorporated.

Stir in vanilla, oil & milk, then mashed banana.  

Microwave 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, depending on your microwave.

 

I was able to get two ramekin size cakes out of this recipe for some reason. It may rise over the top of the mug as it's heating, don't worry, its goes back down a little when you take it out. Use a tooth pick to check center. If it's still runny it's not done yet.  But be careful not to overcook!  

 

 

It taste better cooled.

You can also add some nuts or cinnamon to the batter (optional).

 

Enjoy

 

Christmas Card Time

Tis the season I take time out of my busy schedule to sit a write out my Christmas cards. 

This somehow became my job. Every year I question if I should send them out or not. I mean, do people really care? Do they just toss them in the trash or do they display them? I used to mail out about fifty but my list has dwindled down to about thirty. 

See my rule is, if I dont get a card in return after two years I mark those people off the list unless its imediate family, they will get one as long as Im welling. Then of course there are former work employees and church members that are no longer in the picture. There is also the ones that have passed away. Some of those are the ones I enjoyed writing too the most. 

My husband and I enjoy getting cards in the mail and pick on each other on who gets to open the next one. I display them all on a hallway door and occasionally stop and read them over and over. We judge which one is the prettiest and which one is the ugliest etc. sometimes it makes us talk about the sender and how grateful we are for friends. So, yes we enjoy every one of them.

Its nice to get a real letter instead of emails or text which is what everything seems to be going to. It lets you know that someone took some time to think about you.

Do you send Christmas cards? How do you display the ones you receive?

Little Vintage Tree

I can hardly wait til Thanksgiving night to put up the tree. My husband will climb to the attic and take down the boxes of decorations which seems a box is added every year.

This year I decided not to put up our big tree and just use a small tree on a table. Unfortunately, we never have visitors and I live on a dead end road where only about 6 neighbors will ever see my tree in the window. My daughter has her own place and therefore, its just me and Nick left to enjoy the lights. This does sadden me. I miss Christmas with a child in the house. A lot of joy leaves when they leave.

We first purchased a small white 4 ft. tree to use. We got it at a 2nd hand store for nearly nothing. As I sat sorta saddened about such a small tree, I was determined to make it look 6 ft. tall from the window. That's when my husband said "Well, I do have an old  6.5 ft. aluminum tree in the attic Dad gave us a few years ago. I can bring it out and we can take a look at it". Woohooo! I was so excited. I can make it work! Whites and silvers were the look I was going for this year anyway. Each branch was delicately wrapped to keep it in mint condition as we carefully put the tree together. It took us like 3 minutes. ha.

Anyone older than 50 may have just had one of these in there home at one time or another. This was the tree used when my husband was a child. I'm sure it brought back some memories. My grandmother used one but I'm to young to remember [smile].

You cannot put lights on these trees for they are made of aluminum which is a fire hazard to electricity and the branches are as fragile as aluminum foil so you have to add light weight ornaments to them. That's why they had "color wheels" to use to illuminate the trees.

Unfortunately, we didn't have that part, but no worries. Nick found a light that changes colors and applied it above the tree to give it the same effect as the color wheel would do. I added a few plastic dollar store balls. Its now PERFECT as the tree changes colors for a fantastic light show of sevral color changes. I tried to add a video of the effects but I just couldn't get it to work for me.

In case your wondering what I did with the little white tree, It sits on the nightstand of my daughters bedroom. This will eventually be our Christmas tree when we move to a little house on the beach one day. [smile].

"No matter how small a Christmas tree is, 

they are all 8 feet tall in the eyes of a child"

 

Thrifty Christmas Stockings

I'm excited to share with you my latest craft, DIY, recycled project. You see, I really really like those cozy looking knitted Christmas stockings hanging in the Christmas shops. I just can't find reason in spending so much money on them. They can cost you around 35.00 each! That's when I got the bright idea to just make my own and it only cost me some pocket change.

I went to the local Goodwill store,  I love thrift stores. I found just the right sweater in white. I chose white  because I plan to do mostly white colors this Christmas. I think it will ad some light on the dreary days we have been experiencing lately. 

I didn't give much planning on how I was going to accomplish making these. I just had a shape in mind and started cutting. By the way, I washed the sweater first because you just never know. I cut the stockings in a position where I only had one seam to sew up.

Then I used a sewing machine and stitched them it up. Ok, these may be a little sloppy but I'm definitely not a seamstress and barely even know how to work a sewing machine. I can do one stitch, that's it. You can also sew them by hand using yarn or thread if you wish. I actually like the imperfect homemade look about them.

I created a couple pompoms and....

wah lah! 

Now I have two high dollar, over priced looking, knitted Christmas stockings that only cost me 2.99. That's a little over 1.00 for each stocking. Win!

Oh but that's not all. I used the sleeves of the sweater and created sweater covers for the a wine bottles. 

That's right, no more hiding the wine when the preacher visits! Ha!

Now I have to go back and purchase another sweater to make a third stocking. Then they "will be hung on the mantel with care, in hopes St. Nick will soon be there."


Tis the season


I've shared this at:
cooking-crafting-j-j-link at pluckys-secondthought
two-uses-tuesday at sarahcelebrates
amaze-me-monday at dwellings-theheartofyourhome
romantichome.blogspot.com/

DIY Christmas Card Coasters

Last year I decided to keep all of my Christmas cards in hopes to find something to make with them this year.

I also happened to have a box of ceramic tiles left over from some repairs we had to do years ago.

1.) I figured out something useful to make with them,

And 2.) No, I'm not a hoarder.

My daughter came to visit and I know how she likes to make things with me so I suggest we make some coasters with those Christmas cards I had been saving.

She was all for it so I grabbed some tiles, the cards, felt (for backing), scissors, glue and modpodge.

First we glued felt to the backs to protect the furniture. 

We chatted up the girl talk as we carefully chose and cut our cards then we glued them onto the tiles. 

After the pictures were in place, we painted a layer of modpodge over the whole thing to seal it. Just like if you were to seal a puzzle. 
If you don't have modpodge, I read where you can water down some Elmer's glue and it will work just as well.

Within 30 minutes we recycled those Christmas cards and tiles into little pieces of art.

I will be using these during the Christmas season and she had a set to take home for herself. I always enjoy time spent with my daughter. We laugh and talk like best friends. We share stories of our week and plans for the future. We had fun making this quick little craft together.

 

These would also make nice little gifts for the office, neighbors, friends and family.

Stay tuned, I cant wait to show you my next project I will share soon!

Ive shared this at:

comshow-and-tell-friday at romantichome

thursday-favorite-things at katherinescorner

cooking-crafting-j-j-link at pluckys-secondthought  

amaze-me-monday at dwellings-theheartofyourhome

romantichome.blogspot.com



Can We Just Have Christmas?

Its not even Thanksgiving yet and the Christmas season seems to have already begun and with that comes people that are already finding ways to ruin Christmas for those who celebrate it. I think we should at least get through Thanksgiving first,

But any who....

Whether you believe in it or not, Christmas is a day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. No matter what religion you are, where you are from or how you believe, Christmas is Christmas.

I really don't care if the local mall makes their Santa display a glacier or a field of daisies, Its just a photo booth. Take your tot to another mall that has the look you want. Don't just stand there snapping photos and writing a journal, just go shop where you feel the joy of the season. 

I don't care if a company sells drinks using of a red cup, blue cup or a white cup featuring some creepy looking goddess, its just a cup. Its used then thrown away.

I don't care if you say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holiday", I will politely smile and say "Merry Christmas" right back. As far as I'm concerned, your saying "happy holy-day" anyway.

I don't care if you play Christmas music in your store or if you choose to play rock and roll. Its just music and if the music interferes with my shopping experience I just make it a quick one.

I get it. Even though most people say they are Christians, many are not "born again" Christians, therefore people have different views, different faiths or no faith at all. Everyone gets offended one way or another. No wonder the traditions are fading and non-believers never believe. Because everyone argues about every little thing. No one is getting the true picture. There is more problems in the world that we need to be worrying about.

Cant we just have Christmas?

My home and family will be filled with Christmas joy of giving, loving and sharing the true meaning of Christmas. We will turn off all the negativity the world is throwing at us and celebrate the birthday of our Savior.
I will go to church on Christmas Eve, 

I will have a Christmas tree and walk through Christmas lights holding hands with my husband reminiscing about the good old days. 
We will be playing Santa as we place presents under the tree for our grown daughter just so we can hang on to those childhood memories. 
I will watch all the Christmas and Hallmark movies I can watch.
My car and office radio will be playing all the Christmas music I can find whether it be "Away in a Manger" or "Jingle Bell Rock". 
So instead of finding something wrong with every little thing that has to do with Christmas, sit back and enjoy what we still have left.

Can't we just have Christmas?

Instead of arguing about everything that offends you, just ignore it. Christians have to do this every day. Let it go. 
Instead of worrying about who wants to celebrate Christmas their way, Celebrate your way. 
Instead of worrying about the music that's played, stick in your earphones and play the music you like. 
and for the love, If you don't like the color cup a coffee shop uses, take that cup and fill it up for a homeless man that will be more than grateful to have a drink.

So Can we please just have Christmas?

Now excuse me while I drink my coffee from a Dixie cup.