Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas, from me to you!





Thursday, December 22, 2011

Cookie for One Perfect for Santa

Hi everyone! Hope you all are ready for the big day coming on the 25th! We had our Christmas last Sunday, only seven of us, as my husband had knee replacement surgery on December 20th. I know, but that was the only time before the end of the year and had to get it done so insurance would pay for most of it.

Ok, now on to this cute idea that I found surfing the web. It is a recipe for one big cookie for Santa. Heck, you could make it for yourself if you are all by yourself and looking for something sweet to eat but don't want to make 2 dozen cookies. I have not tried this recipe but it is just too cute of an idea not to pass along to all of you.

You can find the recipe HERE. If you try this recipe, let me know how it taste, please. I bet the kids would love to help make this cookie with you too.









Friday, December 9, 2011

Cincinnati Chili

Hi everyone! I hope that you all are doing well and looking forward to the week-end too. If you are like me, you still have some Christmas shopping and baking to do too.
Today I wanted to share an unusual chili recipe with you. I found this recipe in one of those little cookbooks that you find by the check-out in the grocery stores, probably about 10 years ago now. It has quickly become one of my family's favorite way to eat chili. Oh, we still enjoy the traditional chili too, but this is nice for a change and now is the perfect chili weather too. As you can see it has some of the same ingredients that traditional chili has in it. Oh, by the way, I accidentally put cloves in the picture, that is wrong, so ignore that spice, it should have been the chili powder in there instead.
Start off by browning your hamburger and chopped onions together. When brown, drain off any excess fat. When I was cooking this my daughter was in the kitchen with me and when I took this picture, she looked at me really funny and asked, "Mom, why are you taking a picture of raw meat?" I told her it was for my cooking blog. Well she didn't know I had this blog! Oh the things we will take pictures of for our blogs, LOL!
Now add your crushed tomatoes, chili powder, salt, cinnamon, sugar and ground red pepper (cayenne). I also add my red kidney beans at this time, but you can leave those out and serve them on top of you chili, if you like to do it that way. Mix together well and simmer for 10 to 20 minutes, or until ready to serve. Now while your chili is simmering, cook your spaghetti until desired doneness. Drain.
When ready to serve, place your cooked spaghetti in a bowl or on a plate. Top with chili, chopped onions, beans (if not added to chili) and shredded Cheddar cheese.

Cincinnati Chili
8 ounces uncooked spaghetti
1/2 medium onion, chopped, other half will be used for the topping
1 pound hamburger or lean ground turkey
1 tablespoon sugar
3 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne), less or more depending on how hot you want it
1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes, undrained
1 15.5 ounce can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
additional chopped onions
shredded mild Cheddar cheese
Add hamburger and chopped onion into a large frying pan. Cook meat/onions until done; drain off excess fat. Add all remaining ingredients except kidney beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Add kidney beans and simmer until thoroughly heated. To serve, spoon spaghetti into individual soup bowls. Ladle chili over spaghetti. Top with chopped onions and shredded mild Cheddar cheese.

Serves 4.

Hope you enjoy my recipes and give this one a try, you'll not be disappointed! Mary

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Cherry Pound Cake

Cherry Pound Cake

Hi everyone! Well today I don't have a full picture tutorial for you but I did want to share this recipe with you. I found this recipe about three years ago on a thread about Christmas projects and recipes on Splitcoaststampers, which is a website that deals mainly with stamping and making paper crafts. You can find some really good ideas over there. Well anyway, I recently downloaded my digital program by Stampin' Up! called My Digital Studio. I was playing around in it one day and created my very first project! I think if you click on the picture, it will enlarge it and than you can print it off.

Now on to this recipe. The first time I made this, I made it in the small loaf pans and put them on my Christmas platters that I give to my neighbors each year. I had an extra one left and my daughter asked if she could have some (everyone in the house ALWAYS ask first, "can we have some or is it to give away", yep, I've trained them very well...lol!!) Well, after one bite, she was in LOVE with this cake and is always begging me to make some for her. It is so good and I thought I would share it with you now, so if you want to, you can try it before Christmas and add it to your Christmas goody list! Here is what it looks like after mixing for five minutes. Here are my cherries all quartered and drained. Here are my loaves before baking. Here they are after baking.Thanks for stopping by to see me today! Mary {Printer Friendly Version}