I baked ! ~

Can you believe I put my needles down? I was forced...by being gifted a Pineapple Coconut Easter Cupcake Mix. They do taste as good as a beautiful hand dyed/spun merino wool(not that I've ever tried). I'm pretty sure they won't make it to tomorrows dessert?
I'm down to only 5 left, but the mix only made 12.

Happy Easter

Kelli

Deep Fried Bliss

Remember this post where I mentioned my paternal Grandma's homemade donuts and the fact that I did not know how to make them?

Today everything changed ~ my family got together and caught up on birthdays that have passed since last we were together and while my sister's scrumptious dinner was baking, she and I and our mother made our first batch of Grandma's donuts.  We didn't have a donut cutter (we had to improvise) and the dough was too sticky, but for a first batch.......heaven.  Plain or cinnamon sugar, they're all good!  Grandma P would be proud!     ~ Melissa

p.s. ~ I am on row 14 of Bridgewater's first lace chart and loving every stitch!!!

Sugar, Spice and Puppy Dogs

Day 3 of our huge snowstorm has turned into an ice storm.  Another day home from work and getting ready to hunker down and hope we don't lose power.  We got up long before dawn to watch the news so I decided to bake while the electricity is still on.  My grandma used to make the best homemade cake donuts and lacking her pastry skills, I made an old favorite from my childhood.  I don't know where my mom got this recipe but I'll share it since it's really easy and fast.

Buttons and Bowknots

2c baking mix (such as Bisquick)

2T sugar

1t nutmeg

1/8t cinnamon

2/3c milk

1 egg

Sift dry ingredients together.  Add milk and then egg.  Knead dough (add more baking mix if too sticky) and roll out 1/2" thick on lightly floured surface.  With donut cutter, cut circles and holes.  Twist each circle into a 'figure 8' and place with holes on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned.  Cool on baking rack.

Melt 1/4c butter and dip cooled pastries into butter and then a mixture of cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar.  Eat with a warm mug of hot cocoa. 



Now, it's off to make another pot of coffee and watch Dozer play outside.  He loves all this snow ~ his favorite thing is waiting down in the backyard for Jason to throw snowballs at him from the deck so he can try to catch them in midair.  It's hilarious.  Hope everyone stays safe and warm today!  ~ Melissa







Sometimes a Growl is Good ~

Happy Birthday, Sam and Jason!
Thanks, Tamra, for the link to relishmag.com where I found the recipe for Halekulani Hotel Coconut Cake.

After a rough start (a 30-minute bake took an hour for some reason???)...

I had a cake that closely resembled the picture on their site.  Now for the big test.....

My official taster took a poke, and a lick....

and a few more pokes, and with a growl that meant 'More please, Auntie!', the cake was declared fit to eat and the celebration commenced!
Happy Birthday, guys!
Kelli and family, you missed out on this one!
-Melissa

Chocolate Crinkles and Charity

Snohomish Shepherdess got my cookie baking in full swing this year ~ I'm remembering my favorite cookies growing up and I've been baking like a fiend.  Today was a double batch of Chocolate Crinkles from Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook.  I have an older version than the link above ~ all ingredients are the same but I only used 3 eggs and 1 1/2c sugar per batch and they are great!  And although I'm sure they are wonderful with turbindo sugar on top, we always had them with powdered sugar so I will never use anything else!

My husband and I have been hearing quite a bit on the news about Toys for Tots and how bare their shelves are this year due to the economy.  We've also, on many occasions this year, talked about how lucky we are that we've been virtually unscathed by the hard times that most people we know are facing.  We've made it a point to be more charitable in 2010 than we have in the past, with donations to Heifer International and Locks of Love.  And last night we decided to jump in the car and hit a local store and fill a shopping cart with donations for Toys for Tots.  My husband has donated a football every year for as long as I've known him, and I'm fairly certain even long before that.  But this year, the sky was the limit and boy, did we have a great time doing it!  If you need something to get you into the holiday spirit, I highly recommend donating to a charity that is close to your heart and means something to you.  It's money well spent and the feeling of knowing that you have contributed to making someone's struggles maybe just a little bit lighter for a moment is worth any amount of money you can spare, no matter how small.  I think we will make this a new family tradition and do it annually ~ it was one of the most fun things we've done together all year!

A Confession

Dear mom ~
I guess now is as good a time as any to tell you that when you used to bake ahead for the holidays and stash cookies away in the freezer, I discovered just how much MORE I love Grandma's Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies when they are frozen.  I prided myself on my ability to sneak just enough that it was never discovered.  Only problem is, I am still sneaking them ~ out of my freezer, and telling my husband that I do it.  Major faux pas ~ now he knows how much he likes them frozen. 

I am going to have to make more before the holidays.  But I think I'll wait til just before Christmas, otherwise, those too will somehow dwindle away and I'll be making a third batch.

From your sneaky daughter ~
Melissa

'S' is for ~

Snickerdoodles and snowflakes ~ see, Kelli, I'm baking and knitting ;) ~ recipe is from Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook and also available online here.

You know what they say about imitation.....

The recipe for the cookies on the left can be found here.  And, yes, Snohomish Shepherdess, they are perfect!

The cookies on the right are a treasured family recipe that I will gladly share ~ I think these are also perfect but then again, it's one of my grandma's cookie recipes and for me brings back all sorts of childhood memories .  Hope anyone who bakes these loves them as much as I do!

GRANDMA P'S CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL COOKIES

Cream together:

3/4c softened butter

1c brown sugar

2 eggs

3T milk

1t vanilla

Sift together and stir into above:

2c all-purpose flour

3/4t baking soda

1t salt

Stir into above:

2c oatmeal (not instant!)

12oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls on greased or parchment-lined cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Enjoy :)