Baking and Art Journaling

Today was spent primarily baking, Art Journaling

and feeding the fireplace lots and lots of logs.

baking results: Sweet Potato Muffins Honey-Oat Casserole Bread

Honey-Oat Casserole Bread

(Taste of Home Recipe)

6 ServingsPrep: 20 min. + rising Bake: 35 min. + cooling

Ingredients

• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
• 2 eggs
• 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

• In a large bowl, pour boiling water over cereal. Add the butter,
• honey and salt. Let stand until mixture cools to 110°-115°,
• stirring occasionally.
• 
  
• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the eggs, oat
• mixture and 2 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir
• in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be
• sticky). Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 55
• minutes.
• 
  
• Punch dough down. Transfer to a greased 1-1/2-qt. round baking dish.
• Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes.
• 
  
• Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 10
• minutes before removing from baking dish to a wire rack to cool. Cut
• into wedges. Yield: 1 loaf (12 wedges).

~*~

And something I have never done before... Art Journaling.

52Q is a year long journal challenge ~ 52 Questions posed once a week, to give inspiration for that weeks journal entry. I am not a scrapbooker nor an artist, but I am comfortable on photoshop. So... I am creating a Vintage-type Postcard Journal.

Many thanks to The Graphics Fairy for her beautiful graphics!

Show and Tell Friday

This is a sweet little ring I received from an aunt when I was a child. I'm guessing I was about 10 years old when she gave it to me. Perhaps she received it for a birthday as she was born in February. I loved the ring and wore it many years. I recently took it to a jeweler to inquire about having it repaired. I have no recollection as to how or when the band broke rendering it in this rather sad condition. The ring has little more than sentimental value as the stones are not genuine, but it has great value to me and I hope one day to return it to it's original condition and begin wearing it again.

Follow this link to Kelli's House @There Is No Place Like Home to participate in
Show and Tell Friday

Puzzle Valentine

I have a four year old grandson who is avid about doing puzzles. I don't imagine this little guy would ever get very excited about a pink, lacy heart as his girly-girl sister might. So, I found a less than femine picture, made a puzzle for him and tucked it into a little red envelope. I began with a picture I liked ~ you or your child/grandchild could even draw one or you could use a photograph. I inserted it to a Word document and added a border, his name and my signature. It measures 6.5 x 5.5 inches. Then I printed it onto card stock.

After trimming the extra paper away, I drew the piece shapes onto the back. Using a ruler, I divided it into quarters both vertically and horitontally to get the piece squares. Then Iused geometrical shapes (both for ease of cutting and for ease of recognition) for for interlocking edges. Using an X-acto knife, I carefully cut out each piece.

The envelope was made from a sheet of red paper using a template found here, and his name was added to the front.

Ready for delivery!

35 years Tonight

My sweetheart reminded me this morning before he left for work, that it was 35 years ago that we first met... This song is for him:

Note: Before viewing video, scroll down to the Playlist music box on the left side of this page and push the stop button so you can hear the video without music playing in the background.

one of our first dates...

oh, did I mention, our first meeting was a blind date :)

... and yes, it was the 70's... just in case you couldn't tell

Weekend Together

spending time together...
making cookies (his favorite peanut butter)...
Chillin' on the sofa... Comfy together... showing us the level he has achieved on Guitar Hero World Tour... expert!

~~~o0o~~~

Jared's cookies...

the recipe...

Peanut Butter Cookies

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup shortening

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 1/4 cups flour

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 375. Cream together butter, shortening, peanut butter, sugars, and egg. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir dry ingredients into the butter mixture.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar and place about 3-inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press with a fork in a criss-cross pattern. (I don't think this is necessary, but Jared does) Bake in a 375 oven, 10-12 minutes