Tuesday 29 October 2013

Happy Hallowe'en from the doggies

I'm one of those statistics of people who spend a fortune dressing their pets up for Hallowe'en. We don't even actually go out and trick or treat but sometimes Lindor comes to work with me to show off her outfit.
This year she couldn't decide if she wanted to BE the horse or RIDE the horse. She looks adorable either way.
COWGIRL
 SECRETARIAT
 
Maya tried on the costumes as well but they always look too small on her long body and she was saying NO WAY to the cowgirl hat!
 
 



Saturday 26 October 2013

Doodlebug Pixie Sticks

When I saw these at my local Scrapbook store, I had to have them even though I probably could have made my own or better yet picked them up at the Dollar store at a much reduced price. But Doodlebug had such a sweet, Fall line of papers and embellishments, I had to pick up the works!
The boys assembled them and decorated cupcakes for Thanksgiving dinner. I think they looked really sweet on the cupcake tree.....





Thursday 24 October 2013

Jumbo Bakery Style Peanut Butter Cookies

I tried another new recipe and this one was FANTASTIC! I think the secret was, of course, the jumbo nature of the cookie, in addition to the Reese's Peanut Butter chips. I made very large cookies. I think about 16 or so.... I have already had a couple requests for the recipe as I gave out a few samples so here it is...


Jumbo Bakery Style Peanut Butter Cookies
1/2 cup butter (softened)
3/4 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp milk
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups flour
1 package Reese's Peanut Butter chips

Cream butters and both sugars. Add egg, milk, vanilla, baking soda and salt and mix until combined. Slowly add flour and mix until dough just comes together. Add Peanut Butter chips.
Chill your dough at least 4 hours or overnight.
Scoop 1/4 cups of chilled dough onto cookie sheet. Bake 11-14 minutes until bottoms start to brown at 350F. Cool and remove from cookie sheets. Enjoy!

Tuesday 15 October 2013

13 in 13 Sept Update

I thought it would be interesting to show how my urn arrangement has progressed over the season and also need something to flesh out my rather thin accomplishment of goals this month.
Here's the basket in May....

And here it is now, mid-October....

 
We could feed a third World country if all our crops grew like the potato vine.
So my list is a little short this month. September was very busy with back to work and some entertaining and life in general. I'm not reading at all but I managed to put a password on my Ipad and downloaded Solitaire. Baby steps!
 
I tried a couple new recipes. The Pumpkin Snickerdoodles were great and so were the Cranberry/orange shortbreads.
I participated in the Bazzill cardswap so I did make a few cards but haven't sent too many lately.
I'm working on my THIRD afghan so that one that I have managed to go above and beyond.
Still a couple months to go. I'd better go pull out that Cricut and start using it!

Wednesday 9 October 2013

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles


Just in time for Canadian Thanksgiving. Just discovered this recipe in Blogville and I've already made it twice. These are a soft, pillow-like cookie with just the right amount of pumpkin and spice.
I slightly underbaked them the first time, I made them and they turned out great.

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened pumpkin puree
1 large egg
3 1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix together first 6 ingredients. Mix dry ingredients and add to wet and mix well. Chill dough about 30 minutes. Roll into balls the size of small walnuts. In a separate bowl, mix 1/2 cup white sugar with 1 Tbsp. cinnamon and 1/2 tsp ground ginger. Roll ball in sugar mixture and bake at 375 F for 7-8 minutes until lightly browned but still soft.

Sunday 6 October 2013

Hogs and Kisses

It's been brought to my attention,that I haven't been blogging as much lately. I have the usual excuses; work, dogs, family,entertaining, commitments, top-secret assignments plus has anybody noticed that it's practically dark when you get home from work? My little point and shoot camera doesn't work so well after dusk and then one has to actually sit down and do the post.

Anyhoo, I managed to get a card done. I've been neglecting my challenges and I was so happy to use a Sassy Cheryl rubber stamp. I think its from the set; Down on the Farm. It's so adorable and it tied in nicely with a fall theme.

I am entering it in this week's ANYTHING GOES challenge at Sassy Cheryl's.