I made these!

Christmas Pudding Ornaments

Baking and Blogging

Chocolate Peanut Butter Shortbread



3/4 C butter, softened

1/3 C creamy peanut butter

2/3 C sugar

1 t vanilla

2 C flour

2/3 C mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375.  Combine butter, peanut butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl.  Beat at medium speed until creamy.  Reduce speed to low and add flour.  Beat just until mixture forms a dough.  Stir in 2/3 C mini chocolate chips.  Pat dough evenly into lightly greesed 15x10 jelly roll pan.  (I put a sheet of wax paper over the top and roll out with my pizza dough roller).  Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until set and lightly browned.  Immediately cut shortbread into columns and rows.  Cool completely, THEN remove from pan. 

Drizzle:  2/3 C semi -sweet chocolate chips & 2 t shortening

Combine drizzle ingredients and microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring each time until melted and smooth.  Drizzle over shortbread.  Let set.  Enjoy!!

Not too late for Christmas Goodies, RIGHT?

White Chocolate Cranberry Shortbread

1 C butter, softened

1/2 C sugar

1 t vanilla

2 1/3 C flour

1 C dried cranberries, chopped

3/4 white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl.  Beat at medium speed.  Reduce speed and add flour, beat until mixture resembles course crumbs.  Stir in cranberries and chips.  Press mixture firmly into 2 ungreased 9 inch round baking pans.  Bake for 22 to 26 minutes or until edges are light golden brown.  Cool 15 minutes.  Immediately cut each pan into 16 wedges.  Cool completely.  Carefully remove from pans. 

Drizzle:  1/2 C white baking chips & 2 t shortening

Melt remaining chips and shortening in 30 second increments in the microwave, stirring til smooth.  Drizzle over cooled wedges.  Let stand until set. Yum!



Sneak Peek at Girly Gifts

Christmas Presents for all of the nieces this year...

Katelyn

Rayna

Lauren

Josilyn

Hannah

Meet the reason why I haven't been blogging or quilting much......



Bodie

Sometime in October, I decided we needed a dog.  Not just any dog, and INSIDE dog.  We've always had outside dogs, all for hunting, and they belong... OUTSIDE.  I never understood how people had dogs in their house.  I didn't get it.  It was so much work, it was so messy, no way, not me. 

VERY long story short, I changed my mind.  After a wild goose chase at the shelter, the internet and Craigslist, we found this little guy in Burr, NE.  I had Jackson with me on this adventure and when those two met, it was a match made in heaven.  This pooch was so sweet and he crawled right up on Jackson's lap and starting kissing away.  How could a mom say no??? 

We are SOOOOOOoooooooo happy he is here. He has had a few accidents, yes. He's done a small number on the woodwork on our back entryway.  But, it's only about 5 inches off the ground, and who looks at the wood trim 5 inches off the ground in a back entry any way.  He has a special infatuation with my husbands shoes.  But we love him. 

I even bought some adorable fabric to make a custom cover for his crate!!!  (shocker!)

Baby Madeline's Quilt

Back in August, I sent a text to a dear friend of mine, inviting her and her husband and kids to my husband's birthday party.  A little later, they texted back, telling me they would love to come, but they would be having a baby.... ON MONDAY!  (this was a Friday).  WOW.  I guess it had been TOO LONG since we've seen each other! 

So, on Tuesday of the next week, I visited baby Madeline Rae Fairchild in the hospital and gave her some of my homemade flannel burp rags.  I decided I would make baby Maddie a quilt. 

I bought fabric a few days later.... and sewed it in a day!  I hope she enjoys it!

From the book "Simplify"

First attempt at a label for one of my quilts

I think she likes it!

Sweet and Sour Supper

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

2 lbs ground pork
1 sleeve soda crackers, crushed to crumbs
2 eggs
salt and pepper

Mix the above ingredients.  Form into 1 1/2 inch balls.  Brown in large skillet.  Drain.  Return meatballs to skillet.  Set aside.  Mix sauce below.

1 C ketchup
2 T vinegar
4 T brown sugar
2 t soy sauce
1 can pineapple chunks (NOT DRAINED)

Mix above sauce ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Pour over meatballs and simmer for 20-30 minutes. 

For even more sauce, add 1 can tomato soup.  Serve over rice.  Enjoy!