SUPER SHOPPING DAY

Morning everyone! Just woke up from an awesome Christmas Cookie Party last night and you would think I am gonna spend the day recovering right? NOPE! I am going out with my mom today to help her get some of her shopping done. Yes she is one of those “Last-minute-OMG-how-many-people-have-I-forgot” shoppers LOL! The party, let me tell you, was wonderful! Everyone looked so nice and we sat around enjoying each others company. We laughed, we cried, ya know the way things should be. Remember the blanket I made my BFF? OMG You should have seen her face when she recognized Gram’s patches! We both started crying… darn her! And I found out that my BFF is getting married! YAY!!! I also made my youngest brother a pie as his “party” gift to exchange… his favorite. A buttermilk pie (I put the recipe in one of my previous posts). He was in heaven and he sat there with a fork and the pie LOL! It was as near a perfect night as you could get!

OK so we just have a few days left… have you made or bought everything you need? Well, just in case you haven’t… here is the

Craft Idea of the Day: Stamped Tile Coasters (Courtesy of Melissa @ Thrifty Fun)



Approximate Time: 15-30 minutes
Supplies:
4x4 inch tumbled tiles (found at hardware store)
Staz-on Ink
Rubber stamps
Sandpaper
Small felt pads or cork
Optional: Decorative chalks
Clear acrylic spray

Instructions:
Clean your tiles by wiping them with a damp paper towel to remove any manufacturing dust. Allow to dry. Ink your stamps with StazOn. Stamp image on your tile. Be very careful as you stamp as the surface may be slippery and your stamped image might smear. Stamp with a background stamp first (example- the black script stamp). Using sandpaper, gently sand the tile to soften the first stamped image. Ink your main image stamp with Staz-on. Stamp your image on your tile.Allow the ink to dry. You can also heat set the ink with a heating gun or in the oven. If your main image needs color, you can use Decorative chalks to color in your image. Use a tissue or q-tip to blend in your colors. If colored with chalk, lightly spray a coat of clear acrylic. When dry, attach the felt or cork bumpers to the bottom of your coasters to prevent scratching of your furniture.

Alrighty, so I heard what you just said… you’ve got the munchies LOL and are looking for something yummy to make. OK so how about for dinner I make you some



Garlic & Rosemary Cornish Hens

Ingredients
4 Cornish game hens
salt and pepper to taste
1 lemon, quartered
4 sprigs fresh rosemary
3 tablespoons olive oil
24 cloves garlic
1/3 cup white wine
1/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth
4 sprigs fresh rosemary, for garnish
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).

2. Rub hens with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Lightly season hens with salt and pepper. Place 1 lemon wedge and 1 sprig rosemary in cavity of each hen. Arrange in a large, heavy roasting pan, and arrange garlic cloves around hens. Roast in preheated oven for 25 minutes.

3. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a mixing bowl, whisk together wine, chicken broth, and remaining 2 tablespoons of oil; pour over hens. Continue roasting about 25 minutes longer, or until hens are golden brown and juices run clear. Baste with pan juices every 10 minutes.

4. Transfer hens to a platter, pouring any cavity juices into the roasting pan. Tent hens with aluminum foil to keep warm. Transfer pan juices and garlic cloves to a medium saucepan and boil until liquids reduce to a sauce consistency, about 6 minutes. Cut hens in half lengthwise and arrange on plates. Spoon sauce and garlic around hens. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, and serve.

Pair this with some of your favorite veggies and maybe some potatoes or noodles… we love asparagus and mushed spuds LOL! Now, to finish off that yummy dinner, lets have some dessert…



Old Fashion Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter
1 ½ cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
1. Cream together butter, peanut butter and sugars. Beat in eggs.

2. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir into batter. Put batter in refrigerator for 1 hour.

3. Roll into 1 inch balls and put on baking sheets. Flatten each ball with a fork, making a criss-cross pattern.

4. Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven for about 10 minutes or until cookies begin to brown. Do not over-bake.

Oh not into peanut butter? LOL then try these on for size… they were a huge hit last night!



Cappuccino Spice Cookies

Ingredients:

2-1/2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
1 tablespoon boiling water
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg or cloves
3 cups double chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Dissolve coffee in boiling water.

2. Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, coffee mixture and vanilla; beat until well blended.

3. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in medium bowl. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

4. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Let stand on cookie sheets 1 minute; transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

You’d think I wouldn’t want to see another cookie huh? Wrong… I love baking and love the faces of everyone when they try out the new creations… and some of the old faithful ones too LOL! Hubby was calling me “Betty Crocker” all day yesterday LOL! It was a lovely day and it made many great memories. Well I’m off to help my mom shop… I will see you in the morning- the start of cakes and pie week! LOL! Sweet dreams… until tomorrow- HUGS!