Merry Christmas!

It's been since January since I've been able to access my blog ... thought I would give it the old college try again, and BAM ... I think it might be working.  So this is a TEST ... please bear with me.

Where does the time go?

I haven't posted in quite a while ... funny how life takes different turns now and again, and what takes the front burner at different times in you life.  I've been so blessed to be able to spend time with my family. My son and his wife came in for the holidays and it was SO amazing to be able to spend time with all of my kids and grandkids under one roof ... there is NOTHING more special to a mom than to be able to see their kids happy, healthy and enjoying life to the max!    

I am still making cards and getting published and this year I want to try a few new things ... embossing on leather and metal, jewelry pieces, canvas creations, etc.  There are so many amazing products available now and the possibilities are endless ... just wish I had more hours in the day to spend in my creative place!

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's House - Retro 1950's

Just LOOK at the tinsel on this tree ... now I see where my mom got her fascination for single strand decorations ... This is my Grandma and Grandpa Klotz ... my dad's parents.  I think I got my "spunk" from Grandma Ollie, as she was a force to be reckoned with and there were no "gray" areas ... it was either black or white ... right or wrong ... nothing in between.  She had a quiet strength and a loving embrace.  I have just a few vague memories of my Grandpa George, who past away when I was about 4. 

It's that magical time of year!

Hard to beleive that we are well into December and the most magical time of the year is just a few weeks away ... here are a few of my favorite things about December.

While I absolutely hate driving in hazardous conditions, I do love to sit and watch it snowing ... from a comfy chair ... with the fireplace roaring ... and a cup of hot cocoa in hand ... there is nothing for beautiful than a blanket of pristine snow covering everything around.



And while we haven't had a REAL christmas tree in many years, one of my favorite holiday smells in fresh pine ... love walking past the trees for sell and just inhaling this amazing aroma ... it conjurs up images of Christmas past.  Although growing up I do remember the infamous aluminum tree with a rotating colored disk ... did any of you have these when you were growing up?

I'm not sure who invented this concept or why it became so popular back in the '60's, but my dad was famous for getting any new "gadget" on the market and this was our holiday tree for several years.  But one of my fondest memories is when we had a real tree and mom would hang tinsel ... one strand at a time, on the branches ... it was amazing when she was done. 



Nobody Doesn't Like Hot Cocoa !!

We are lucky to have the corporate headquarters of Mannheim Steamroller right here in Omaha, Nebraska.  And for MANY years now it has been an annual treat to stop by and pick up a cannister of THIS amazing cocoa.  It contains Vietnamese cinnamon and is the absolute BEST hot chocolate you will EVER taste!  And that endorsement comes from me ... one who KNOWS her hot cocoa!!!

They have an online store here: 

Miss Paisley Turns TWO !!!!

Just doesn't seem possible that it is been almost TWO YEARS since this adorable and amazing little gal came into our lives!   She gets cuter by the minute, if that's possible.  And her antics have us ALL just laughing out loud.  Her mom says that she has had more time outs in her short life than Jonas has had in his full 5-1/2 years ... she is definitely a force to be reckoned with! 

Happy birthday, Sweet P !!!!

Miss Paisley Discovers the Universal Comedic Noise

November Has Arrived

Yep ... it's here ... leaves are on every lawn in the neighborhood ... even on those lawns, like ours, where there are no trees ... funny how that works!!

And with November arriving, you know that Christmas won't be far behind.  I saw this fun craft project on Pinterest and had to share ... looks easy enough!

It Just Doesn't Get Any Better!

This photo of my two precious grandchildren just makes me smile out loud.  Jonas was playing with his toys and Miss Paisley brought over a book for him to read to her.  Too precious for words!

Yep ... Having one of THOSE days !

Autumn ... has arrived !

On Being a Grandmother

Grandma Ollie

I've been blessed in my life to have reached the age to where I have little ones calling me Grandma.  It got me thinking about the memories I have of my Grandma Ollie (my dad's mother).  She is what one would have called a "tough old bird".  There were no gray areas ... only black and white ... wrong and right.  She lived life simply, with each day a series of making meals, cleaning and sewing. She was a fabulous cook and her bread and rolls rivaled any bakery today.  Here's a list of my most favorite memories.

Sewing

Grandma Ollie was an amazing seamstress.  She had an old singer machine that was powered by a large foot pedal plate that was mesmorizing to watch.  She would save me fabric scraps and I would spend HOURS making little outfits for my dolls and she was right there to help me if the thread got tangled up in the machine. I can remember EVERY birthday seeing packages wrapped in white tissue paper and yarn bows and knew that they were clothes that she had made just for me.

Quilting

Grandma had a quilting loom that always had a project on it that she was working on.  Her nimble fingers would literally fly through the material as she worked.  She later had a small business from home making her hand quilts.  I wish I had one of those quilts still, as her workmanship was simply amazing.

Cooking

There was always a jar of bacon grease or any other grease that she collected as she cooked.  From that jar of grease she created the most amazing cookies ... to this day I've never tasted ANYTHING like grandma's cookies.  Of course, I don't believe anyone makes cookies from bacon grease today.  Heck, not many people actually bake from scratch anymore with baked goods so readily available at the grocery stores.  I remember her hot cross buns sitting on the table EVERY Easter.  And when I had a sleepover at grandma's house, you can bet that for breakfast she would make me cinnamon buns ... which were actually just leftover hamburger or hot dog buns, liberally spread with butter, then topped with brown sugar and cinnamon, and then put under the broiler just until everything melted together.  I remember going over to grandma's house for Sunday dinners and there was always a nice pot roast or fried chicken on the table, along with homemade bread and jams.  Grandma Ollie also taught me how to make fudge from scratch.  The kind you have to cook to a "soft ball stage" and then beat the living daylights out of it until it lost it's gloss and then you HAD to learn to know when it was almost done, as it would harden in almost an instant and you would be left with digging it out of the pan. 

Hair Receiver

You don't see these on anyone's dresser anymore, but my grandma had what I called a hair pot ... a little glass jar with a hole where she would clean her brushes/combs and store the loose hair into this little pot and save it until there was enough to fill a small sachet or pin cushion with.

Cane

My grandma had hip problems for many years and walked with a cane ... eventually she would be wheelchair bound, although this didn't slow her down at all.  I'm now using a cane until I get some knee surgery done ... seems so odd to me to think back on how much pain she must have been in, but somehow she never let it dull her spirit.

Bathtub

Oh, I have such a great memory of this claw foot tub that seemed SO huge to me when I was a child.  And of course, grandma made sure I had plenty of bubbles in the tub when bathtime rolled around.

Four Poster Feather Bed

I'm sure it was because I was a young child, but grandma's bed seemed SO tall ... I had to use a step stool just to be able to hurl myself onto the top mattress.  I lost my grandfather very early as I don't have many memories of him. Most of my early memories seem to be of just grandma and me. 

I am hoping that I leave my grandchildren with loving memories of their time spent with Grandma Cat, and that they will both know how very much they are loved and what JOY they have brought into my life.

Lost Recipes

I'm still sorting through old cookbooks and recipes and came across these, which I made so many years ago and am not sure how they fell off the radar, as both are very scrumptious.

The following recipe is for a very moist, dense coffee cake.  Made with graham crackers, it has a very unique and delicate flavor.  Great for morning coffee break!

GRAHAM CRACKER COFFEE CAKE

1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. backing powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1-1/2 cups craham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cupt light brown sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanille
1 cup butter milk
1 cup chopped walnuts

Sift together flour, baking powder, soda and salt; mix with graham cracker crumbs; set aside.  Cream together putter and sugars. Beat in eggs one at a time and then add vanilla, beating until fluffy.  Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating just to blend. Stir in walnuts and spread into greasted 9-inch square baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until top springs back.  Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm with butter.


And here's a recipe shared by a coworker many years back for a treat called Ice Cream Candy Bars.

BOTTOM CRUST:  about 25 crushed oreo cookies and 1 stick melted butter ... press into bottom of 13x9 pan.

Layer #2:  1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream.  Let soften then slice and spread into pan

Layer #3:  1 can spanish peanuts

Layer #4:  Melt 1 stick butter, 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1/2 can evaporated milk (more or less), and 3 cups powdered sugar.  Bring to boil until it thickens (similar to a white sauce consistency).  Let cool completely and spread over other layers.  FREEZE until firm.  To serve, let stand for about 1/2 hour for ease in slicing.

Snap This!

My son took this STUNNING photo from their Colorado back yard ... LOVE the weathered wood in the background and the bloom is absolutely lovely!



Nobody Doesn't Like Sara Lee

Years ago, my mother-in-law, Kay, made some really delicious and EASY treats during the holiday season.  She always called them "Lady Fingers".  You start with a Sara Lee Pound Cake ... and while it is still FROZEN, you cut the slices into one inch "fingers".  Then make a simple frosting from a box of powdered sugar and some milk.  To that add about 2 Tablespoons of creamy peanut butter (unless you're feeling like a daredevil, then go ahead and use chunky peanut butter).  Mix and then spread the frosting on each lady finger and then roll into shredded coconut.  Place on wire rack and allow the frosting to "harden" to the frozen cake.  You will be AMAZED at how delicious these little coconut bars are and I'm sure they will be come a family favorite!

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On the road again ... just can't wait to get on the road again ...

Tomorrow I'm heading to Des Moines to celebrate the birthday of a dear friend of mine ... she's gonna be doing the driving (have I ever mentioned that there are a few drawbacks with LEASING a vehicle ... one being that when you near your alloted miles, you are limited in where you can go and how far you can travel and still have enough miles to get you to the end of your lease).  We're heading out mid morning for the TWO HOUR drive to Des Moines, and then we'll be stopping at a few scrapbook stores.  Here's one of the places we'll be stopping at: 

http://www.heirloomsbydesign.com/

After a leisurely morning of shopping, we'll head to Iowa Machine Shed for lunch ... my favorites? Homemade Chicken Pot Pie, Creamed Chicken and Biscuits, Shepherd’s Pie, or their thick center-cut roasted bone-in chop, stuffed with a warm apple raisin dressing and glazed with an apple whiskey sauce. Indescribably delicious!!  Am I making you hungry yet?  Of course, they also tease you with homemade bread rolls, AMAZING awardwinning soups, and by all means save room for a piece of their many pie selections.  You can visit their website here: http://www.machineshed.com/des-moines/des-moines-menus



We'll probably also make a few more stops after lunch before we head out of town and back home ... there's a place that makes homemade granola that's pretty delicious, and a place that makes some amazing sour dough bread as well.  

Add to this great adventure a great friend and companion that makes me laugh ... ALL THE TIME ... and it'll be one full day of mental therapy that I can embrace and enjoy!

Recipe from Heloise

I had a clipping from a newspaper article asking about Herloise's recipe for angel biscuits.  Here it is ...





Heloise's Angel Biscuits


1 package (2 1/4 tsp) dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup buttermilk

Disolve the yeast in warm water, setting aside. Mix the dry ingredients in the order given, cutting in the shortening as you normally do for biscuits or pie dough.  Stir in the buttermilk and the yeast mixture. Blend thoroughly and the dough is ready to  refrigerate or roll out into biscuits.

Next, roll the dough out and cut with a biscuit cutter, placing the biscuits in a greased pan.

Let the dough rise slightly before baking in a 400-degree F oven for about 12 to 15 minutes until lightly browned and done.

If the dough is cold, you'll need to let it set a little longer to rise.

Source: Hints from Heloise, 1982

Jolly Roger's

My folks used to winter in San Diego many years ago, and one of their favorite restaurants was Jolly Roger's.  I found their "melt in your mouth" orange bread recipe.  It's good plain, or toasted, or even as a base for french toast (try coconut syrup on top). 

4 1/2 cups flour

2 1/4 tablespoons baking powder
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Zest of 2 small oranges
1/2 teaspoon soda
3/4 cup oil
1/4 cup white corn syrup
4 eggs
1 1/2 tablespoons orange extract
Few drops yellow food color
Few drops orange food color
Juice of 2 oranges
Evaporated milk

Combine flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in large mixing bowl. Mix well. Combine orange zest and soda in small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes. Add to flour mixture. Mix well.

Combine oil, corn syrup, eggs, orange extract, yellow and orange food color in another large bowl. Combine orange juice with evaporated milk to make 2 1/2 cups and add to orange mixture. Mix well until blended.

Slowly add liquid mixture to flour mixture. Mix well until blended. Pour into 2 (9x5-inch) loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees about 1 hour, or until wood pick inserted in center comes out clean. Makes 2 loaves.

Cranberry Crackers

Many years ago, I loved attending local cooking classes.  This was one of the recipes that my family actually enjoyed. My dad just couldn't stop eating it.

Cranberry Crackers

1 cup finely chopped fresh cranberries
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 tsp seeded and minced jalapeno pepper
2 Tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1-1/2 tsp. fresh grated ginger
2 Tablespoons sugar
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1-1/2 tsp. orange juice
2 Tablespoons finely chopped walnuts
Salt water crackers or whole wheat crackers



Stir together first 6 ingredients; chill 2 to 3 hours.

Stir together cream cheese and orange juice; stir in walnuts.

Spread on crackers and top with cranberry mixture.

Serve immediately.

Makes 16 appetizers.