Andes Creme de Menthe Chunk Cookies

It's time for another addition of New Food Friday! I decided to try out a new cookie recipe for holiday baking this year. This recipe was sooo good! I took some as a gift to my friend and she went out the next day and made them for her family get together.

Andes Creme de Menthe Chunk Cookies-
1/2 cup salted butter- softened
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 package (10 oz) Andes Creme de Menthe Baking Chips
2 2/3 cups sifted all purpose flour

Blend butter, sugars, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla and eggs until mixed.

Stir in Andes Baking Chips and then flour.

Chill approximately one hour in refridgerator.

Measure out approximately 1 oz of dough, form ball and slightly flatten.

Bake on non-stick baking pan at 350 degrees F for about 8-10 minutes.

Cool on pans for two minutes before removing.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

If you have a New Year's Party to go to this would be an excellent recipe to take and share!

Linking with some of these parties!

Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas to All!!!

I am posting today to wish all of my readers a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I hope that all of you are able to spend time with the ones you love this holiday season.

I have been slacking on my blog posts for this month- too many presents being made, cookies being baked and spending quality time with friends. I will be back at the beginning of the New Year with some great project and recipe posts!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great holiday!!

(Christmas Card designed in Picnik and pictures taken by my friend Christalina at Christalina Photography)

Waterproof Bag with Zipper

I love making homemade presents for my nieces and nephews for their birthdays. Unfortunately I don't have all of the time in the world so often I don't get to make them homemade gifts. I was a little upset when I realized the only homemade gift I had made him was his birth announcement and his fifth birthday was in November! 

So I made him this cute little bag with a dinasour embroidery on it.  I made the pattern for the dinasour myself and embroidered it onto charcoal gray Jobelan.  I then made the zippered back with a vinyl lining so it is waterproof.

After seeing the pictures I realize they are not very good- sorry about that, but you get the idea!

I plan on posting the tutorial for the bag later this week, it is a quick project that would be a great Christmas or birthday gift.

I hope he enjoys it!!

Linking up with some of these parties!

Have a great day!

From Zoe's Kitchen- White Chicken Chili

I hope the holiday season is going well for you all with not too much stress!

I have got most of my Christmas shopping done- just a few more presents to get and a few more to make!

Here is a quick, yummy recipe to serve up on these cold December nights. I love this recipe- very hearty and nutritious at the same time. I don't remember exactly where I first got this recipe but I have altered it several times to add some more vegetables.

White Chicken Chili-
Olive oil
1 lb chopped boneless skinless chicken breast
14 baby carrots, chopped into coins
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 can chopped green chilies
4 cans Navy beans, drained and rinsed
2 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Cook chicken in the oil over medium heat

Add carrot slices, celery, onion and saute until soft.

Add green chilies, beans and seasonings- heat through.

Serve with grated cheese and enjoy!!!

Linking up with some of these parties!

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

We have a WINNER!! And I have a new haircut

So I got my hair cut tonight- I absolutely love it!! I was looking through my computer files to find a before picture and the only picture I have of me with my hair down was clear back in JULY- if that wasn't a sign I need to get my hair cut I don't know what is!

AFTER- With my Penny Dog!

AFTER- side view

BEFORE with LONG HAIR (self portrait from the photography challenge!!)

It is so much shorter and feels very light and fun- I am hoping I will be able to style it good though- always makes me a bit nervous!


So what do you think? Good change- or I chopped off all my pretty hair? :)

It is also time to announce the winner of the Thanksgiving Giveaway- 

And the Winner is:

Comment Number 12-

AussieStar- You are so generous to give away some things just in time for Chrissy. :) Being from the southern hemisphere, we don't have the snowy Xmas. Instead we usually have a very hot one. Have a wonderful time with yours over Xmas. :)
Aussie Star


I will be in contact with you to have you pick your prize!

Thanksgiving Giveaway- Cross Stitch and Embroidery Fabric- Plus Pattern!!!

Sorry things have been slow around the blog lately- all of the projects I have been working on have been SECRETS!!!

To break the boredom I though I would have a giveaway for my stitchy friends!! I know not all of my readers cross stitch and embroider- but this giveaway is for those that do!

I am giving away 2 items from my Etsy Store (or another piece of linen or aida- you can request colors and counts- I will do my best to find what you want from my inventory- Largest Size available is 18"X27")

AND

Your choice of ONE of the following NEW cross stitch patterns/kits.

Mirabilia- Giggles In The Snow (pattern only)

Mirabilia- The Forest Goddess (pattern only)

Mirabilia- Ring Around The Rose Tree (pattern only)

Newton's Law- Thinking of You (kit)

To Enter-

All you have to do is leave a comment

For Additional Entries-

Follow my Blog and leave me a comment saying you do so

Share this giveaway on your blog, facebook or Twitter and leave a comment telling me where you shared it.

Giveaway Closes November 30th at 8:00 p.m.

Winner Will be Announced December 1st

Good Luck!! And I am really thankful for my readers!!

Photography Challenge Week #16- Someone You Love

I have been slacking on my photo challenge posts- last week was something that I made .

So here is a picture of some homemade cupcakes I made- mmmm.

This week's challenge is someone that you love. I love all of my nieces and nephews but this is a fun picture that I got of my little niece Marley! She is such a joy in my life!

Linking Up with A Step in The Journey for the 20 Week Photography Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday Little Sis!!

Today I want to wish a very very Happy Birthday to my sweet, funny, fun and beautiful little sister Ellen!!

I miss you so much since you moved to Colorado but I am excited to see you over the holidays!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday 10- 10 Amazing Thanksgiving Recipes

Do you know what you are taking to Thanksgiving Dinner this year?? Luckily I don't have to host so I only have to pick out 2-3 recipes to take, but I will let you in on a secret- I haven't decided yet!!

This year all of my usual planning ahead traits seem to have taken a nap, so I am flying by the seat of my pants! I am sure I will decide soon!

In the meantime, here are 10 great recipes I have gathered from blogland to help speed my decision along! Hope you find them useful!!

Appetizers

1. Healthy Buffalo Chicken Rolls at Can You Stay for Dinner?

These look amazing- may want to try them just at home first :)

2. Turkey Cheese Ball at Gluesticks

How cute and clever is this, plus yummy!

Main Course

3. Roasted Green Beans With Shallots and Garlic at A Little Bit Crunchy a Little Bit Rock and Roll

A mix up from the usual green beans.

4.Tomato Basil Soup For a Crowd at Tales of A Trophy Wife 

I LOVE tomato basil soup- this sounds so good!

5.Butternut Squash Casserole at Let's Try These

This looks like a great way to incorporate harvest vegetables into dinner, yumm!

6.Asiago Garlic Rolls at Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker

MMMM Garlic Cheese Bread- enough said.

Desserts

7. Two Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Muffins at Scout's Stitches

These are great if you have to prepare something in a hurry, mix it together and you have some yummy muffins!

8. Owl Cupcakes at Simple Girl

Owls are so cute!! Love their little beaks

9. Peanut Butter and Chocolate Caramel Corn at A Pumpkin and A Princess

Wow, this looks simply amazing and a great treat to SHARE at a family get together!

10. Whole Wheat Pie Crust at Feeding Nine on a dime

I have been looking for a simple Whole Wheat Pie Crust forever!

I will be linking up with Under The Table and Dreaming.

Thanks for stopping by!!

From Zoe's Kitchen- Oatmeal Scotchies

No New Food Friday this week! I have been so tired I haven't even cooked this week, unless you count Brussel sprouts!

Here is a recipe my sister gave to me a long time ago. These are my husbands absolute favorite cookies. I bought the butterscotch chips a while ago to  make these for his birthday and I forgot, so he got them last week.  Hope you enjoy the recipe as much as we do!

Oatmeal Scotchies

1 cup softened margarine

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

3 cups oats

1 bag butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Beat together the margarine, sugars, eggs, and vanilla

In separate bowl mix flour, soda, cinnamon and salt.

Mix dry ingredients into creamed mixture. Stir in oats and fold in butterscotch chips.

Bake for about 9 minutes.

Enjoy!!!

I will be linking up with some of These Parties!!

Thanks for stopping by!

I was featured!!

Thanks to these awesome blogs for featuring my Rapunzel Costume this week! 

I really really appreciate it!!

Have a good night!

Interchangable Welcome Sign

As you know, I like to handmake most of the gifts that I give. I got the idea for my sister's birthday gift from Lolly Jane's Interchangeable Bunting Board. I wanted to make mine a little different- wrap the hangers around from the back instead of using the mini-clips like they did. I like the way mine turned out. 

Materials:

12" X 12" board- luckily I had some leftover from this project (Hmmm, maybe I should make one of those for our house!)

Paint

Printer

Pencil

Nails

Scrapbook Paper, Felt Cut-Outs

Ribbon

I sanded down the board, painted it cream and then watered down some brown paint to give it a light brown wash.

For the lettering I don't have a fancy Silhoute or Cricut or anything so I used old fashioned tracing.

I printed "Welcome" out in a size and font I liked and traced it onto the board.

I painted it with two coats of brown paint.

For the bunting I nailed 4 nails in the back of the board and measured out ribbon to fit onto the nails.

The Christmas bunting is made out of Ric-Rac and felt cut-outs I bought from Hobby Lobby.

The Halloween bunting is made from Ribbon and Scrapbook Paper embellished with Glittery Bat stickers.

I have made a few more buntings to send to my sister, but I will let her see them before I post them on here.

I love this project because it can be displayed all year round either on a frame stand or with a sawtooth hanger!

I hope you enjoy it Camille!!

Linking up with some of These Parties!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Zoe