Tuesday, December 31, 2013

My December Reading List


December Book List
These are the books I read in December:

A Question of Honor by Charles Todd - Bess Crawford Mystery
Dirty Harriet by Miriam Auerbach
The Last Kiss Goodbye by Karen Robards - Charlotte Stone Series
Twas the Chihuahua Before Christmas by Esri Allbritten (Short)
Chihuahua of the Baskervilles by Esri Allbritten
Undone by Karin Slaughter - Will Trent Series
A Seaside Christmas by Sherryl Woods - Chesapeake Shores
Borrower of the Night by Elizabeth Peters - Vicky Bliss Series
Plain Perfect - Beth Wiseman - Daughters of Promise
Broken by Karin Slaughter - Will Trent Series
Hook, Line, and Sinker by Susan May Warren - A Deep Haven Novella
A Carol for Christmas by Robin Lee Hatcher - Burke Family
The Great Christmas Bowl by Susan May Warren
So This Is Christmas:
  Sherryl Woods "The Perfect Holiday"
  Beverly Barton "Faith, Hope and Love"
  Leanne Banks "A Rancher in Her Stocking"

What are you reading?

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Friday, December 27, 2013

See You In 362 Days...


Merry Christmas to all,  and to all a goodnight.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Monday, December 23, 2013

Baked Some Cookies Today

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Ingredients:
1 Cup butter, softened (2 sticks when using the 4 sticks per pound)
1 Cup of "Splenda" Powdered Sugar - (I made it from 1 cup of Splenda and 2 Tablespoons of Cornstarch blended together in my herb grinder)
1 1/2 Teaspoon of Vanilla
2 Cups of Whole Wheat Flour
1 1/2 Cups of Finely Chopped Pecans (I used my food processor and pulsed a few times)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line your cookie sheet with Parchment Paper.
Beat butter, 1/2 cup of the powdered sugar you made with the Splenda and cornstarch, Vanilla until light and fluffy. It's so much easier to use an electric mixer. Gradually add the flour and pecans, beat until well blended.
Shape the dough into 1 inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Bake about 18 minutes until bottoms of cookies are light browned.
Cool about 5 minutes. You want them warm, not hot. Roll warm cookies in the remaining 1/2 cup of your powder sugar. Place on wire racks to allow to cool completely.
Sore in an airtight container.
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Pistachio Butter Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup of shelled Pistachios (if they are salted don't add any more salt)
1/2 cup of Old Fashioned Oatmeal
1 cup of Splenda
1 cup of Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 teaspoon of Baking Powder
1/8 teaspoon of salt (don't use is your nuts are salted) optional
1/2 cup of Unsalted Butter, softened to room temperature, sliced
1 large Egg
1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
1/2 teaspoon of Almond Extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Line your cookie sheet with Parchment Paper.
This recipe is soooo easy. I made it in my food processor.
Put 3/4 cup of your Pistachios in the food processor (save remaining whole), Splenda, flour, baking powder and salt if you are using it. Pulse till you see the nuts are fine, this goes fast, maybe a minute but no more.
Add butter, egg, process till combined, about 15 seconds, scraping down the sides.
Roll dough in to 24 balls and place on prepared cookie sheet. Press your whole pistachios in each ball.
Bake cookies until bottoms and edges are golden brown - about 18 minutes.
Cool cookies on the baking sheet about 5 minutes, transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.
Sore in an airtight container.
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Here are a couple more cookies I baked:
Lemon, Currents, Oatmeal Cookies
 

Pistachio and Apricot Cookies

Plus some others............







Sunday, December 22, 2013

Happy Birthday Pie


Now that's an apple pie!

Christmas Cookies


I'll bake lots of Christmas cookies!

Friday, December 20, 2013

I Hope I Get….



More trains for Christmas!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

It's Starting To...


Feel a lot like Christmas.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Friday, December 13, 2013

Toys, I Love Toys!


I'm Busy...


Making lots of toys.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Weee...


Let's build another one!

Monday, December 9, 2013

Let's Decorate!


First gift under the tree!



Saturday, December 7, 2013

Lights...


I need more lights!

Thursday, December 5, 2013

I'm Busy...


 Making toys!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

A Gift….


For under the tree.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

22 Days Till The Big Day!


I can hardly wait!