Some finished projects

In honor of my mommys birthday we went to the new casino that opened up nearby.  Only an hour away!  It is a fun place and I could really enjoy working there with all the excitement of Vegas but not being too far away from my loving home and family!! LOL I really dont think I could handle the noise more than a couple of hours though so scratch the job thing!! LOL
Anyway we played alot of different slot machines, some poker and also had lunch there which was very good.  I loved spending it with her my dad even gave her some spending $$ but we really didnt win much back!! just had alot of laughs. It was so busy when we left in the afternoon I was glad we got there early.  All kinds of machines and they even had a Survivor one!! with the early on seasons cast member pics on it.. Like Rupert for one!! and it was a penny slot so had to play on that one for awhile!   We really didnt understand the slots but that didnt matter to us. Just had fun!! 
Tue I did whip up a batch of some new shortbread cookies!  Chocolate chip cardamom!!  Actually I like the flavor I didnt put alot of cardamom in since it is a strong spice but pairs nicely with the bitter sweet chocolate. 

Mini chocolate chips were used in them.  They look cute too!!

And with full market season opening around the corner I started making some of my dip mixes up.  This is a onion dip mix that is great to season meatloaf, tried it the other night.  I like it for a chip dip or for pretzels!! yummo!!

Pkgs waiting for labels.  Ran out of ink in our printer so will have to make a trip to the store today or tomorrow.   AND a dear friend ordered some painted wine glasses from me so finished them up.  They are for the Ohio State University Buckeyes!! 

They were fun to do, let me tell u workin with glass paint is entirely different from acryllics which I am mostly used to workin with.  But I am happy with the way they turned out. 

And did up a few altered pendant necklaces up.  this one states "sisters rock" and on the back it says best friends forever. 

I have a couple to finish up like one that has a little girl and dog image and says "the more I know about men the more I like my dog" LOL too cute!! 

And here is a cute image of a little girl holding onto her favo teddy bear.  I added some mini punched flowers and her hat and the words True Friends to the front. 

The back has the same punched flowers and the word "Cherish" stamped on using my JUST RITE mini word stamp.  And the definition cherish.  Love love love polka dotted papers!! I have to dig out more of my papers in my stash to work with them. 

So that is it for the past couple of days today is baking cookie day for market sat and maybe makin a batch or 2 of pierogies.

Hope yall have a glorious thursday!!! the sun is shinin here and it actually isnt too cold, 30s today maybe in the 40s I can handle that!! 

TALK SOON!

HUGS

Darlene

 ~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

Cookies, Cookies and More COOKIES!!

Today was all about cookies!!  I did 6 batches of shortbread cookies, one was my newest! lemon poppyseed, a batch of very vanilla 1/2 dipped in melted chocolate with toasted hazelnut pieces on top, a batch of raspberry flavored with toasted almond pieces in them,2 of  just  plain and a batch of mini chocolate chip ones.   Chocolate chip cookies, my peanut butter whoopie pies, cranberry lemon pecan cookies,  some sugar cookies, some bears and flowers made into pops (sorry forgot to take pics of them they were the last to get baked) I will decorate them tomorrow and take pics.   Also I did some bacon dip mix and a herbed veggie dip mix.  My friend and I are having booths at the St. Joseph Lions club craft show this sat in St. Joe MI!!  I also made up some of my pumpkin spice dip and taffty apple dip so have for samples too!! 

And I made up some cookie boxes with some of the asst shortbreads.  Each box still needs to be dressed up with a lable and tag and probably some cute ribbons!

Here is an example of the boxes of astt shortbreads, youl get 3 of the big dipped cookies, 8 lemon poppyseed and 6 rasp almond.  A nice sampler box for a guick gift.

Here's a prebaked chocolate chip cookie!!

The first batch of cookies in the convection oven!

cranberry lemon pecan cookies using locally grown cranberries!

my hubbys absolute favo!! my  plain ol shortbread.  I just have to remember when makin them to OVERBAKE yepper I said overbake on these!! LOL he loves them on the dark side! 

These are quite tasty!! but I do love toasted hazelnuts with chocolate! 

Here was the first batches mixed up.

Some of the cookies like my peanut butter get a smooshin!!  LOL they just dont spread out too much and these are my whoopie pie ones so with just a tiny bit of presssure from my awesome expensive smoosher gadget!!  (a small bowl bottom)

  they are perfect!!

What a glorious day it was first my mom, brother and I went out to our favo place early this am IDA REDS in Saugatuck!! absolutely the best food ever!! and a very cute quaint spot to eat!! WE love goin there and usually I get an omlet since they are filled with such yummyness but today I tried something new!! their french toast!! Oh my goodness it was heavenly! Just the best ever!! great bread toasted just with the edges a bit crispy and the insides melt in your mouth yummo!!  Hold on taste buds!!

then after that I went to the kitchen and played with cookies!!  now I just have to get everything loaded in the trailer and ready to leave tomorrow afternoon to set everything up!! I will try my best to take the cam with and share pics!! 

Hope yall have a wonderfully blessed evening!!

HUGS

Darlene

~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

A recipe to share day!!

I have had a couple of requests for my shortbread recipe.  Here it is scaled down to make 3 dozen cookies.   Now the shortbread as most of you know I use for alot of different cookies, above these flowers are cut with a cookie cutter, these are my lavender shortbreads.   I let fresh organic lavender stems steep in powdered sugar (in a gallon glass jar) for a few weeks then strip the stems of the blossoms and pulse it on food processor.    I also used this recipe and added different spices and extracts to make my pumpkin spice cookies and my almond butter cookies.  You can pretty much add just about any flavor and they are awesome!!  plain shortbread is my hubbys favo so I always leave a bit of dough out just for him. 

This is also my shortbread only put into a cookie press and topped with some halloween sprinkles. 

And then dipped in melted almond flavored melted chocolate.  I also make them with a chocolate ganache' filling and sandwich 2 of them together.  YUMMY stuff here!!

Chicken Scratch Basic Shortbread Cookies

7.5 oz all purpose flour

7 oz cornstarch

1 pinch salt

sift these together

Cream in mixer till smooth (about 5 min)

1/2 pound good sweet cream butter

5 oz sifted confectionary sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract (or another flavor is fine too)

on low speed add the sifted dry ingredients to the mixer just until blended DO NOT OVERMIX! chill until rollable and easy to handle (use flour sparinly when rolling them out)

The baking time is hard for me I am so used to the big convection ovens I believe just bake at 350 until golden on edges you dont want them to get too brown at all.  I am thining maybe 12-15 min or so? you will have to be the judge of that one I havent baked in a regular oven in so long!! LOL way too long!

~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

These are my pumpkin spice shortbreads dipped and drizzeled with chocolate!! 

 Ok so HAPPY BAKING YALL!!! Share what you did with the recipe and I will post it on here!!