Christmas cookies!

recipe for sugar cookies and royal icing here. taste test: the supervisor

Crafter's Wishlist

Following the trend seen on this blog [here and here]. I'm making my own version of a "Crafter's Wishlist". I'm sure there is more that I can add, but these are a few things that I've been wanting lately.

1. Sewing Machine Case:

[image source]
I've had my own sewing machine for about 2-3 years now and I still don't have one of these! My sewing machine can get quite dusty in between projects...not to mention that it would be much easier to move it from place to place with one of these.

2. Yarn:

[image source]
I love, love, LOVE to knit! I want to use this lovely cotton yarn to make a fun blanket for Callie. I'd also like to get my hands on some more wool yarn to make some more cozy hats and mittens - because winter has only just begun!

3. Cables needles[image source]
In the next year or so, I would love to learn to knit cables...these are a must when knitting cables, I hear :)

4. Fluted pastry cutter:[image source]
To make my pies prettier :)

5. Fabric:[image source]
I made Braden a blanket out of fleece way back when we were dating...and we still use it all. the. time. But I want my own now...and apparently Braden isn't going to return the favor and make me a blanket (hear my sarcasm?) so might as well make one for myself! :)

6. Headlamp:
This one is cheesy, but I don't care! I'd like a headlamp...the kind you strap to your head to read a book in the dark....but I will most likely use it in the car to see my knitting. It gets dark early with the time change and I need something to do when we drive to St. Louis for Christmas. I'm sure other passersby will think I'm crazy! I'm also pretty sure that I have a headlamp around my apartment somewhere...just need to find it!

Pumpkin Cupcakes

For Callie's Birthday on Saturday (more on that later) I made Pumpkin Cupcakes.

They were amazing! I ended up tripling the recipe and had more than enough batter for 3 dozen cupcakes. The recipe was easy and I would definitely make it again. The cupcakes were moist and actually tasted like pumpkin...and the cream cheese icing was a big hit!
Check out the link above to make your own! :)

Fall

I love fall for so many reasons:

Pumpkin patches and apple picking.
Hayrides and bonfires.
Leaves changing color and cooler weather.
Warm clothing and snuggling with my favorite blanket.
And my most favorite thing, baking:Fall is the best time for baking in my opinion, and today I made some banana muffins.
They are delilsh :)

After these are gone I want to try this pumpkin muffin recipe!

Baked Oatmeal

My mom has been talking about a baked oatmeal recipe she's been making alot lately and I got to try it when we were in town this past weekend. Let me tell you, it's amazing! Like having an oatmeal cookie!
Here is the recipe:
3 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, etc.)
1/3 chopped walnuts

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Spread in a baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

I know there are much healthier versions of this recipe out there...but who can resist butter and brown sugar with your oats? :)

Iced Vanilla Latte

I've been on a caffeine kick lately. During the summertime heat I like my caffeine to come in the form of the frozen variety...mocha, java chip, green tea, etc. But recently I've switched it up and have tried iced coffees and iced lattes. They do just the trick and have less calories and help me resist the urge to get that extra whipped topping that adds another 70!

image via

Today though, I made my own iced vanilla latte! Saves money and tastes (almost) just as good.

*6 oz. double strength coffee, cooled.
Note: I make my coffee with a french press so I put
4 tablespoons of coffee grounds in 6 oz. boiling water.
(For the caffeine deprived: 6 oz. = 3/4 cup)
*1 1/2 cups milk
*1 teaspoon vanilla extract
*1 tablespoon sugar
*ice

Stir all ingredients together, drink, and enjoy!

What's for lunch?

Don't let that smile fool you! Meals usually aren't quite so cute!

She does loves her Puffs and anything that is from my plate:...but when it comes to the baby food...not a pretty picture!

So far the only baby food that I don't have to force her to eat is sweet potatoes! Haha!
Guess she's trying to teach me to share! :)

Thank you PW!

Thanks to Pioneer Woman, I made this lovely cake today:Strawberries, cream cheese icing, pure yummy-ness...well, I hope so...I'm being good and waiting 'til after dinner to cut into it! :)

Recipe here or here.

What's For Dinner?

I had everything I needed to make tacos for dinner the other night...tortillas, meat, cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes...EXCEPT I did not have any taco seasoning for the meat! I can't remember ever having plain ground beef in my tacos without taco seasoning! haha!...so I searched the internet for a "home-made taco seasoning" recipe....if it existed. Of course it existed!

Here ya go:
1 tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. each ground cumin, garlic powder, paprika, powdered oregano and sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix all ingredients together and stir into your cooked ground beef with some water. Presto! Perfect seasoning for some wonderful taco meat! :) I won't be buying the mix anymore. That's for sure.

P.S. Braden didn't even notice ;)

No Bread Machine Needed

I just tried out a great bread recipe from Amy Furstenau's blog All That I Love. It's pretty great! I'm always on the look-out for a simple, "no bread machine required" recipe. So check it out if you're interested...I thought I'd pass it along cause I liked it so much!

image from all that i love

The best part about this recipe is that it makes 2 loaves. I sliced into one right after it came out of the oven and the other one I will probably toss in the freezer for later.

Recipe from here. Seen here.

Buttermilk Coffee Cake Recipe

I've been in the baking mode (or mood?) lately and last night I made Buttermilk Coffee Cake! So yummy I thought I'd share :) Buttermilk Coffee Cake
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups packed brown
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup butter
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 beaten eggs
1 1/3 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Grease 9X13 baking pan; set aside. In a medium bowl combine flour, brown sugar, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; set aside 1/2 cup (for topping). Stir baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg into remaining crumb mixture.
In another bowl combine eggs and buttermilk. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Combine reserved crumb mixture and nuts; sprinkle over batter.
Bake in 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes.
Serve warm and enjoy! :)

Recipe taken from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.

CeFiore

I was craving me some frozen yogurt last night and Braden and I found a little place on Bardstown Road (for those of you who live here in Louisville, KY) called CeFiore.

Totally, you should check it out...great frozen yogurt flavors and lots of fresh fruit toppings.

Oh, it feels like summer already! :)

Who is ready for the pools to open and Memorial Weekend specials!?

apples everywhere!

Apples, apples, apples! All day on Sunday I stayed busy making apple butter and canning it. It actually wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. First you take the apples:

Peel, slice, core:
In a large pot add apples with cider, sugar, cinnamon, and some other spices: Simmer for several hours, until it looks like this: The canning process was the hardest part, but well worth it:I've also made apple bread, which I highly reccommend! It's soooo good! I've already made 7 loaves. Don't worry, we're not eating all of them....I'm sharing with people at my work.

Right now the last batch of apple bread is in the oven...my apt. smells so yummy! Oh, and I still have MORE apples...I guess next it'll be apple crisp, or apple pie....apples, apples, apples!

Blueberry Muffins

Yum yummy! : ) Blueberry Muffins

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons bakng powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 beaten egg

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup cooking oil

3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Grease or line muffin pan with paper baking cups. In a medium bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside. In another bowl combine egg, milk, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened. Fold in blueberries. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes, remove from pan; serve warm.

amazing...

Just made this tonight...very yummy and very easy, just how I like it! Couldn't help but pass it along:

Apple Crisp
4 medium tart cooking apples( I use Granny Smith), sliced (4 cups)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
ICE CREAM!

Heat oven to 375. Grease bottom and sides of an 8 inch square pan with shortening. Spread apples in pan.
In medium bowl, stir remaining ingredients (except ice cream, duh!) until well mixed. Sprinkle over apples.
Bake about 30 minutes.
Serve warm, with ice cream!

YUM! : )

...thanks Betty Crocker!

Yum!

I have really been craving some In-N-Out Burger, Jamba Juice, Stonefire Grill, Corner Bakery, BJ's...just to name a few! Haha! All of which are restaurants Braden and I frequented while we lived in California. I have gone so far as to search online for the "secret recipes" to make my favorite flavor of Jamba Juice smoothie (Strawberries Wild) and pazookie at BJ's ( a warm, gooey cookie made in a deep dish pizza pan topped with vanilla ice cream)...these two at least don't seem too hard to make at home. We shall see! After I hit up the grocery store I'm going to put my cooking/baking skills to use. But as for an authentic In-N-Out burger with their great fries and milkshake and some of the great dishes at Stonefire Grill...well, I guess it's time fora visit back to CA! haha!


In other news,....my younger sister Kendra attended homecoming last weekend at her high school Fort Zumwalt South...she's a freshman and went with her best friend Kaitlin Bean and some other girls they are friends with. My mom e-mailed me pictures and she looked so pretty I had to post some: