Merry Christmas!!!

I hope all of you and your families have a GREAT CHRISTMAS!!

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Oh Christmas Tree-skirt, live action

Happy Christmas Eve!!! ♥

Here is a link to the original posts about this tree skirt. 

I just wanted to show everyone the skirt in action! 

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New Crochet Ornamets

Christmas Wreath Pattern HERE on Ravelry

can easily be made in less than 20 minutes 

using whatever scrap yarn and matching hook

Mom, Corrine and Mrs Vrushi all received one =)

Twinkle Stars Pattern HERE

can easily be made in less than 20 minutes 

using whatever scrap yarn and matching hook.

Purple and yellow: Mrs Vrushi 
White: Corrine 
Blue: Mom

This was not as quick as the others...

that's why I only made one lol. Took over an hour. 

Little Christmas Socks pattern HERE

Can easily be made in one night 

using whatever scrap yarn and matching hook.

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Random Christmas pics

I love this church lol it's on the way to work. 

Original Chippy Post

 Chippy in action LOL

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Apple and Onion Pot Roast, Crock pot recipe

I found this in my Fix it and Forget it Christmas cookbook, but 

the exact recipe is at Taste of Home.com HERE also. 

1 beef sirloin tip roast (3 pounds), cut in half
1 cup water
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 large tart apple
1 large onion, sliced
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water

In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, brown roast on all sides. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add water to the skillet, stirring to loosen any browned bits; pour over roast. Sprinkle with seasoned salt, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder. Top with apple and onion.
Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until the meat is tender.
Remove roast and onion; let stand for 15 minutes before slicing. Strain cooking liquid into a saucepan, discarding apple. Bring liquid to a boil; cook until reduced to 2 cups, about 15 minutes. Combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth. Stir into cooking liquid. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with beef and onion. 

2014 Christmas Cookies, with recipes

HOLY COW- am I really going to post a blog about Christmas Cookies 

BEFORE CHRISTMAS?????

 I think I just might! =)

Though it will be a quick post with just recipes, but it will be before Christmas!

Last Christmas I made most of the same recipes.

412 cookies were made 12/13/14

Hershey's Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

I make the "Perfectly Chocolate" version- Hubby's Fave 

49 cookies

Ingredients

• 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup Cocoa powder
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375°F.

2. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

PAN RECIPE: Spread batter in greased 15-1/2x10-1/2x1-inch jelly-roll pan. Bake at 375°F. 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely; cut into bars. About 4 dozen bars.

HERSHEY'S "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES: Simply add 1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa to your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Reese's Peanut Butter Temptations

Q's and Mom's fave =)

48 cookies

**I did not line the small muffin tin, we just sprayed it**

INGREDIENTS:

• About 40 REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures or 12 (0.75 oz. each) REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups, quartered
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup REESE'S Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

1. 1
   Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from candies. Line small muffin cups (1-3/4 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. 
2. 2
   Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, peanut butter, egg and vanilla until light and fluffy in large bowl. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place one in each prepared muffin cup. Do not flatten. 
3. 3
   Bake 10 to 12 minutes until puffed and lightly browned; remove from oven. Immediately press peanut butter cup or piece onto each cookie. Cool completely in muffin pan. About 3-1/2 dozen cookies.

Reese Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies

By far one of my faves

37 cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup REESE'S Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1 egg

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup REESE'S PIECES Candies

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F.

2. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, egg and vanilla in large bowl until fluffy. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in candies. Drop by heaping teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned; remove from oven. Cool slightly; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes about 30 cookies.

Russian Teacakes- 36

Italian Christmas Cookies -97

Grandma Cookies- 88

Peanut Butter Blossoms 

click Recipe title for recipe

I found this on Sally's Baking addiction web site and it is almost exact to my Mom's recipe The difference is Sally uses Butter and 1/4 cup less flour than my mom.

Crock pot Mac and Cheese, with recipe

I had gotten a few of the Fix it and Forget it Crock Pot cookbooks from the library and tried this one.

I lined the crock pot for easy cleanup. I forgot how much I like those liners until Jenn gave me a few. =)

8 oz elbow macaroni, uncooked
3 cups of cheddar cheese
12 oz can of evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups of milk
2 eggs
salt and Pepper
1/2 tsp Dry Mustard
2 Tbsp minded onion

Combine all ingredients, except 1 cup of cheese into greased slow cooker. Sprinkle reserved cheese on top.
Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours. DO NOT REMOVE THE LID until the mixture has finished cooking.
Enjoy.

Chippy aka Elf on the Shelf

Tammy at work bought her son Elf on a Shelf for this year.

I saw this pattern on Ravelry and HAD TO MAKE it for his little Chippy doll LOL

Here he is in action! ♥

"Mommy! Chippy has on an outfit!"

Details:

Started and Finished: Dec 9 2014

Yarn: Acrylic Scrap yarn

Hook: G

Pattern: Elf on a Shelf Hat and Scarf Pattern

Easy pattern- think I decreased too early on the pattern.

However it's awkward wielding a small hook.

Crescent Wrapped Brie, with recipe

Crescent Wrapped Brie by Pillsbury

This is a great treat for a Christmas gathering. Plus it is SUPER easy. 

I have made this a few times already and blogged about it HERE in 2012 and HERE in January 2014

But I managed to remember to take a few pictures this time!!!

I missed a step in between here.When you put the Brie round on the pastry, before putting the other sheet on top, you can smear the top of the cheese with jam or filling for extra yummy goodness. 

I usually use Apricot filling...but forgot this time. 

It came out BEAUTIFUL!!! 

This is the recipe I use, but Pillsbury has many others on their website.

Ingredients

1

can (8 oz) Pillsbury™ refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury™ Crescent Recipe Creations® refrigerated seamless dough sheet

1

round (8 oz) Brie cheese

1

egg, beaten

Steps

• 1Heat oven to 350°F.
• 2If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate crosswise into 2 sections. Pat dough and firmly press perforations to seal, forming 2 squares. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough; cut crosswise into 2 rectangles. Pat dough to form 2 squares.
• 3Place 1 square on ungreased cookie sheet. Place cheese on center of dough. With small cookie or canapé cutter, cut 1 shape from each corner of remaining square; set cutouts aside.
• 4Place remaining square on top of cheese round. Press dough evenly around cheese; fold bottom edges over top edges. Gently stretch dough evenly around cheese; press to seal completely. Brush with beaten egg. Top with cutouts; brush with additional beaten egg.
• 5Bake 20 to 24 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 15 minutes. Serve warm.

Olaf Pins

I made some Snowman Magnets for the craft fair. when someone asked me if I could make her pins instead. I said sure. She then mentioned that I should have sold Olafs since he is "in" now from Frozen...so that got me thinking.... and this is what happened lol

She bought 2 of these instead of the regular snowmen =) 

She probably would have bought all 3...had I not kept one for myself! hahaha

Picnic Chicken, Crock Pot Recipe

I saw this recipe in a Fix it and Forget it cookbook- not sure which one.

The exact recipe is also online HERE.

I enjoyed this a lot and would eat it again.

Ingredients: 

4 large chicken thighs, with skin  ***I used Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast***
¼ cup dill pickle relish  **I made pickles see here, so I used the pickle juice instead**
¼ cup Dijon mustard **I just used plain yellow mustard**
¼ cup mayonnaise
½ cup chicken broth

Directions:

1. Rinse chicken well; pat dry. Place in a greased 5-6 quart slow cooker skin side up.

2. In a mixing bowl, stir together the relish, mustard, and mayonnaise. When well blended, stir in the chicken broth. Mix well.

3. Pour sauce over the chicken.

4. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours, or until chicken is tender, but not dry or mushy.

Just typing this blog post makes me want to eat it now....

Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cake, Penzey's

If you Google this, it is all over Pinterest. 

It would make a nice Holiday Treat!

Cinnamon Chocolate Chip cake

1/2 cup (1 stick) of Butter, room temperature

1 1/4 cup Sugar, divided

2 Eggs

1 cup Sour Cream

1 tsp Vanilla extract

2 cups Flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp Cinnamon (but I am sure I used more)

1- 12 oz bag of Chocolate Chips

Preheat the oven to 350.

In a mixing bowl, combine the Butter, 1 cup of Sugar and the Eggs. Beat until light and fluffy. Add the Sour Cream and Vanilla, blend thoroughly on low. 

In another bowl sift together the Flour, Baking Powder and Baking Soda. Gradually add to the beaten mixture. 

Pour half of the batter into a greased 9x13 pan. 

In a small bowl mix the remaining 1/4 cup of Sugar with the Cinnamon. Sprinkle HALF of this and half of the Chocolate Chips on top of the batter in the 9x13 pan. Pour the remaining batter in the pan, sprinkle with the remaining Cinnamon Sugar and the Chocolate Chips. 

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

My Craft Fair Table

On the day of the Craft Fair my coworkers wore their scarves they bought from me pre-sale to help support the cause. =) 

I borrowed the fold-able wagon we got Pop's for Father's day and it was PERFECT!

My 5 little boxes fit without problem. 

Hubby refinished my Grandpa's coat tree. Everyone loved it...I thought one of my row mates might take off with it! See how well it worked out with the extra scarves??

Here's my table in al it's cluttered glory. =) 

The ruffles were a HUGE success! 

Thanks to everyone who stopped by!