Speaking of Aprons

"My ribbon hatbox"


In the photo below...I prepared this little package for a dear friend who popped in for a quick visit. I always like to prepare a basket of some sort for my guest and I was so happy to have found the bath soak with the perfect pattern and colors with my "idea" for the apron package ensemble.
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I planned the apron colors to be black and white and originally thought about adding a red button or ribbon..but after finding the bath soak with the lovely green...I decided to match the color theme of Black, White and Green. As I sought a gift bag...I found one from my local Quilt shop with a Palm Tree design..significant of our local.. and just so happen to also have perfectly matched green tissue! VOILA... I was so happy it all came together so easily



This is such a FUN apron pattern. I made this one in a pretty "dressy" fabric for my sister, who's kitchen has the Tuscany look.


The pattern pictured below is by Vanilla House. The designs on the cover just make your creativity soar! You can make these..
Retro...country...dressy...cutie... there is no limit to the wonders of this great apron pattern.


I am currently planning for our annual Ladies Luncheon. The theme this year is the "Happy Homemaker" and....all the ladies are going to wear APRONS!

My Apron poem will be printed on cards or framed and our guest speaker will do a devotion about the Happy Homemaker. I think some rolling pins...and cookie jars...and pretty pie plates will be cute on the food tables. I saw some mini's in a packet...tiny rolling pins...whisk etc. Maybe I'll use mason jars for the punch and tie a ribbon with a mini glued to it!

What do you think? Any ideas? (I love comments!so here's your chance!)

I am also in the midst of typing up recipes for our church cookbook that will hopefully be ready in time for our luncheon.

I can't wait to plan the decor...thinking of cherries and polka dots.

Yep...something about Polka Dots that just are....well, you know!! CUTE!

Blogging Break

Thank you all for your encouraging comments that have meant so much to me, and the friendships gained. I look forward to the rejoicings of the year ahead that we can share together.
God bless...
HOPE

Yummy Recipes

CREAMY WAFER COOKIES
or at our house "Hamburger Cookies"

1 C. real Butter...softened (I only use unsalted Land O' Lakes)
1/3 C. liquid whipping cream
2 C. all-purpose flour

PREHEAT OVEN 350

MIX thoroughly butter, cream and flour. (yes you read it right!)
COVER AND CHILL...30 minutes. Dough should not be soft.

Roll out dough a little at a time...1/4" thick, keeping the rest chilled.

Cut into small circles...as shown in photo (I use a plastic medicine cup..works PERFECT!) Transfer dough to wax paper sprinkled lightly with granulated sugar: turn each cookie over so that it has sugar on both sides...place cookies on baking sheet and then prick with fork making two-three rows (as seen in photo)

Did I mention to STUDY the photo...(visuals are always so helpful!)

BAKE 7-9 minutes until set and lightly golden..not brown!

Cool completely as these will then have a filling between two cookies...

CREAM FILLING
1/4 C. real butter
3/4 C. Confectioners sugar (Powdered)
1 tsp. Vanilla
Food Coloring ..your choice!

CREAM butter, sugar and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. Tint with choice of food coloring. Taking two cookies that hopefully match in size! place a small amount of "icing" in the middle and presto..you have a little cookie that resembles a "hamburger". These are especially nice for Bridal or Baby Showers.
I chose a light orange for Thanksgiving!

These are light and delicious..melt in your mouth cookies!
Very delicate so you have to put the entire cookie in your mouth!
Make sure they are small enough! or you will be embarrassed with a mouthful! but smiling!




CRANBERRY CHEESECAKE BARS

2 C. all-purpose flour
1 1/4 C. QUICK Oats
3/4 C. packed Brown sugar
1 C. real butter

PREHEAT OVEN 350

CRUST
In large bowl, stir together flour, Oats and brown sugar.
Cut in butter (slice in pieces for easier cutting in)
to resemble coarse crumbs. RESERVE 1 1/2 CUP..set aside in another bowl or measuring cup.

Press remaining crumbs into greased 13 X 9 X 2" baking dish.
BAKE 15 minutes...should be light colored...
you will continue baking this again after the filling is put in.

FILLING
12 ounces cream cheese (softened)
1/2 C. granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 16 ounce can Jellied Cranberry Sauce
2 tsp. cornstarch

BEAT the cream cheese and sugar on med. speed til light and fluffy.
Beat in eggs, lemon juice and vanilla.

Spread over the warm crust carefully making sure it is spread evenly.

Stir together gently, in a bowl the Cranberry and cornstarch.

Using a spoon, drop "dollops" of the cranberry on top of the filling.
Take a butter knife and lightly run the knife over the top of each dollop to make it swirl a bit. DO NOT CUT THROUGH THE CRUST!

BAKE 40 minutes until set. COOL-cut into bars ...

This is very good warm and served with vanilla ice cream.

or chill in the fridge and serve cold like cheesecake.

ENJOY!!!

The Apron

Someone had a contest a while back on their blog for a poem on baking in an apron. I wrote this not realizing is had to be about baking..so decided I'd post

MY APRON POEM
the woman who wears it!

I saw her apron
hanging on the rack

Thoughts of her in the kitchen
brought happy memories back

I can almost smell the savory scents
warm stew to fill my tummy

Her decorated cakes,
everything.... so yummy!

She set the table to perfection
a vase of flowers, we must have!

"Stop and smell the roses!"
She would say and make us glad!

Her warm, inviting smile
would wipe the tears away

As we sat together talking
A Bible verse she would say.

She could comfort us so quickly
By her testimony of grace

How Jesus blessed her always
we could see it in her face

Her apron tells a story
warm kitchen hugs and tea

I miss the lady who wore this apron
She's so very special to me!

written by HOPE
Dec. 2008

apron made by:
Pam at Good News From a Far Country

I hope one day that my family,friends and granchildren
will think of me this way...don't you?!

Yearly Gingerbread Creation

My yearly Gingerbread House was not quite as fancy this year...However!



I found this adorable white chocolate bear...to peek around and sneak up on the goodies! He is just too cute!

This is the back side open for reaching in for those delicious Lindt Truffles!




The photo on the left is last years gingerbread house, made for my newly married son and his wife. I used a little Bride and Groom for the entry...and had to add hearts of course! This one was a lot of fun to make. Coming up with a street lamp and finding last year...a Lindt chocolate snowman! It's always fun to create a new one each year with new ideas.


Cranberry Cheesecake Bars...friends who do not like cheesecake..LOVE these scrumptious goodies. I found this recipe one year in a BHG magazine and figured if it won $400 must be pretty good. What a winner this definitely is! Rave reviews! This is made with quick oats..and whole cranberry sauce. Good warm or cold.



These are a family favorite...Creamy Wafer Cookies...these literally melt in your mouth. We have made these for weddings..baby showers etc. Just change the color of the icing and they work for any occasion. They are made with whipping cream. If you'd like the recipe leave me a comment and I'll send it to you.





This is my Thanksgiving Table settings...new dishes from my husband that were just perfect..held all the goodies and as my son said..."wow..now my gravy will stay on the plate!"....

A few days prior to Thanksgiving... I quickly took some of the fabric I found left over from the napkins I made last year and made a quilted center piece. This tied in with the napkins and the extra napkins angled under the plates...completed a pretty table. I found the pumpkins and squash on sale at Walmart for...fifty cents! Was I happy about that bargain! Just when I needed it. There are two different ones at the other end with a candle also.



Just before dinner, we all gave a testimony of Thanksgiving. My son, truly blessed my husband and I with his praise of thanks to God for being born into a Christian family. He said, many people do not have the privilege I have had..from day one!
Yea... he was attending church, nine months before that!

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18


We had a wonderful time with my son, daughter in law and a friend they brought down with them. They also brought their two dogs. We were not sure how this was going to go...but, the "cousins" as we called them, had the time of their lives!
It was so funny watching them play like little kids! Mya is a mini pinscher...Maggie a mix lab...and Gus the Schnauzer...I called him the "warm fuzzy"..he needs his hair groomed!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, blessed in many ways.

Gus being rewarded for being a "GOOD BOY" after all the company left