What's The Fascination Of It All....

I have always had a fascination with Mardi Gras.

Perhaps that's because of all the excitement and

celebration that happens during that time....

to know me, I am one to enjoy great music, food and

the company of fun and good people......

And Mardi Gras to me has all of the above....!!

I have been to Louisiana many times,

however, I have not ever had the privilege

of visiting New Orleans.

The city strikes a curiosity in me that

no other place ever has...

That may be due to all it has to offer.

The history of an old southern town,

the people, the food, the loudness,

the quaintness along with

the stillness of the weeping willows....

I hope to visit this intriguing city someday...

As for now, I will make my own little

Mardi Gras here in PA...

Mid week I am having dinner guests for

one of my own and favorite fresh fish recipe

for dinner....

In honor of the "Saints" winning the

Super Bowl and Mardi Gras....

I plan to make the Mardi Gras Cake

to serve with my dinner....

I found this easy and very simple recipe

to serve along with the main meal.....

Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe :

Click on Title for recipe

I'm hoping to find a baby "king" to insert

into the dough, having some fun along with

the celebration.....

Again, Congratulations to the Saints

for an outstanding game played in the

Super Bowl...!!

Stepping Back....

Finally........The Prim Stockings I 

purchased this past December at

The Brickhouse

Porch Sitting Time Blog

were strung and hung over the fireplace.

I used a hook attachment which screwed into

the mantel.

This attachment allows for easy removal of

rope with the stockings attached

for when we use the fireplace...

 When I saw these stockings hanging in Patti's

old open fireplace at her shop,

The Brickhouse

I immediately had to have some for myself...

Every time I look at the stockings clothes-pinned 
to the rope, I have to chuckle...

My Mother would go nuts if she saw how they

were clipped, with the open end draped over

the rope for drying allowing a crease....

Mother was very particular on how you clipped 

laundry on the line for drying...

NEVER overlap the clothing,

as it will leave a crease...!!

Sorry Mother...

19 Soups to Warm You Up | Eat at Home

If you like warmth and easy when it comes to
winter time meals...then you're like me and
LOVE a bowl of soup to warm the soul.....

I have made many of my favorites this
winter, so easy to pull the pot from the
Refrigerator and reheat. I have found with
soup, you really need to heat the entire pot
when reheating, nuking in the microwave
just doesn't cut it.....

Here are some wonderful sounding soup
recipes  to try from a blog I follow,
"Eat at Home"

I"m sure you'll find one or two recipes to
make the mouth water a bit....

19 Soups to Warm You Up | Eat at Home

Enjoy and stay warm.....!

 

Baked Dip for Crackers

I could devour the entire dish....!

I love dips and the breads...my vice and weakness:((

I was not one to get an appetizer before meals when dinning out,

until Red Lobster created their Lobster Fondue. 

Which by the way is no longer available....

However, if you haven't noticed, EVERY

restaurant now offers some sort of bread n dip appetizer...

There is just NO way of getting around it....

So I stopped running...

Now Mennonite Girls post a dip I am already salivating over....

Follow link below for recipe and enjoy

Baked Dip for Crackers

The Warmth Calms The Soul....

Betty Crocker comes to the rescue

once again...!

This link will take you to a bunch of awesome

recipes that were most requested

 and quick and easy...

The recipes can be printed and added to your recipe 

collection...

Since winter has been very brutal here in PA

with very cold temperatures since before Christmas,

Nothing warms the soul better than homemade soup..

I have prepared one pot of homemade soup after another

to feast on while we ride this winter to 

the very end...

Last week was Ham and Bean Soup

This week is Chicken Vegetable Soup...

Spring can not come soon enough for me,

however I do love all the

homemade soups I grew up on...

Thanks, mom for giving me such great memories

and good eats I can share with my family..!!

I dare to imagine what the future will bring...?!

I have been working on a life changing project for the past

9 months...I am so close for the door to finally open,

I dare to imagine...

My professional career took a different direction

several years past due to a chronic injury...

I dared to imagine what my life would no longer be as a Nurse...

Having faith and seeing my life's failures before me...

I dared to imagine a new path and took comfort in the words

"Fail Forward".......

Even though my forced career change was not a

"failure"   per-say...

it sure felt that way many times...

I dared to imagine a different path

I searched my soul...

really searched what my desire is,

what would give me a strong focus

and desire to be what I dared to imagine..

I attended and graduated with honors a school for my

desire....

Obtained my State License 

all the while...

I dare to imagine

Not once did I question myself or the desire,

as I dared to imagine...

The message~Dare to imagine what life will bring you..!!

I did...and all is well

Have a happy and blessed new year!!

I am very excited for what this new year will bring me and also to
ALL of you, who I am honored to call my "Friend" old and new...

Holiday Pretty's

Yesterday was the first BIG major snow fall of the Season....

I had to take advantage of homes decorated for
the Holiday with the falling snow

Fortunately, I did not have to venture very far for
some beautiful pictures

The development directly behind me (as in our yards meet) is 5 years into new development
We purchased a large lot to the frontage of the development 20 years ago,
the land behind us was undeveloped for a good 15 years

It is nice living in such a beautiful area on top of a "large" hill

The homes in this area have at least an acre of land

Our home is sitting on just under 2 acres

So as you can see from the pictures
it was a picturesque kinda night
on the Hill...

Both pictures were taken at the same time,
the first one without the flash..
second one with the flash

You can see how hard it was snowing...

Absolutely Beautiful

I wish my home would be among those decorated
unfortunately I no longer go "all" out with
decorations

We did when our son was growing up
since our lives have become busier in different
ways, each of us going in different directions
and traveling most christmas holidays
to a warmer area
its become too much to deal with after

We always purchased a live christmas tree with the ball intact

after christmas my husband and son would plant the tree

we have several throughout our property from past christmas's
in fact, we just had our very first christmas tree from our first christmas
in our home after we built, removed this past fall...
we had planted the tree in the front corner of the house
near our son's bedroom
the tree became way too large and had to be removed...

I have now down graded to a small 4 foot table top tree
the one with the lights already strung...
Very easy and simple

It actually took me longer to make a new bow this year for the top
than it did to decorate the entire tree

We have many christmas memories of the lights and decorations
added to the outside of our home, a time when not many homes existed
around us...

Friends and Family would pass by and comment
how beautiful our home was decorated....



Yes....we always have the memories



Happy Holidays and Blessed New Year

MiniPies In A Jar

I have been wanting to make these pies using
a mason jar for quite sometime...
Just did not have the time:/

I gradually collected my supplies
and ingredients needed...

I am the "Freezer Queen"
I am always thinking a head what can be made with
leftover ingredients I use when preparing a
meal or new dish...

I had dough frozen, each ball was large
enough for one 8-9" pie.

I had fresh blueberries frozen in small individual plastic
bags, ready to be added to whatever my fancy would be
at the time needing blueberries..

I always have apples on hand and cherry pie filling...
You just never know..!!?

I picked up three packages of four Mini Mason Jar sets
over the past several months...

So, when the time and mood allowed,
I was ready..!!


I was able to get four jars filled with each ball of rolled dough,
not bad considering...then I generously placed the dough
inside the jars.

Added the fruit, topped off with a butter crumb top
and then placed the decorated lids on...

It was that simple..

The lids are decorated with labels I downloaded
a while back from
http://www.ourbestbites.com/

I cut out some round circles from holiday material
I had on hand, glued the material to the flat lid
and then glued the label with instructions on top
of the material. The label can be removed with
the material still intact, which will allow
the jar to be used as a decorative piece to display
or store something else in...

The jars were then placed in a box with low sides
and placed in my deep freezer for deep freezing...
I will add one or two to gift packages
I always give out for the holidays..
Having them frozen will allow travel time to and from..
They can be taken directly from the freezer
to the oven and baked at 375 for 45 minutes/until golden
brown and inside center is bubbling...

Happy Holidays...

Beautiful words are spoken...

Everything Cheesecake..

Another feature for my
Jumbo Cheesecake Cupcakes..

Thanks, Cheesecake Shop
for your shout out and kind words...!


The "Cheesecake Shop" is the place
to answer all your "Cheesecake" questions...

Hometown Christmas....

Here are some pictures
of a few shops on Main in my hometown of
Lititz
decorated for the season.......

The snow was quietly falling when these were taken...
so peaceful and beautiful...

Over The River and Through The Woods....

This past weekend I ventured out in the first measurable
snow fall we have seen thus far
this winter here in PA...

Where did my travels take me..??!!

To Patti and Tim's
Brickhouse for some Porch Sitting Time...

Although the temperatures were way too cold to
sit a while on their porch,
we certainly had no problem talking the time
away in their most quaint and charming shop
filled with handcrafted items for sell...

I was most impressed with Patti and Tim's
rule to display and sell ONLY handcrafted items made
exclusively in the USA...
Seems many retail craft stores have gotten away
from this rule.

The time Patti and Tim give to researching the
quality of crafts from each
vendor who they sell for is seen through out
the wall and floor displays
AND
is much appreciated...

Patti N Tim...

My treasures I purchased....

Snowman, stockings for a fireplace display( I had to have
me some of those..!!), a plaque and
the Grubby Rice Lights with a touch of Ginger scent...

The Plaque was a gift to me from Patti..
"thank you, patti"..!

The beautiful drive north through the mountains
as the snow was falling
Along with
The warmth and coziness found in this little
brickhouse

Made for a very nice and relaxing day....

Come....And Take A Look Inside

One of my favorite places to visit is the

Brickhouse at
http://porchsittingtime.blogspot.com/

Patti and her husband have this
adorable Brick Shop filled
with the most awesome prim crafts...

The pics below are just a few of
the items they have on display for sale.


The shop is only an hour from my home
so I am planning a trip next weekend
with my good friend, Laurie...

I can not wait to meet Patti and browse around her shop...

I will have to set a limit with spending,
AS I am sure I will want one..or two
of each...

I just love this idea inside the fireplace...

I have been searching for unique prim lights
to add to my mantel and on top of my
kitchen cabinets...
I think I have found the ONES...!

Angie at
http://lovetheprimlook.blogspot.com/

creates these awesome lights..


I am wanting the Rice lights.

The shop will be open daily until Christmas,
So you have plenty of time to stop by and take
a browse around...

I'm sure you won't be disappointed..


Have A Great Weekend..

Joys N Blessings

This time of year brings much joy and happiness,
it also brings thoughts and reflections
of those who have touched our lives and will forever
be in our hearts....

As I review my recipes deciding which ones I will bake this year
and those I want to visit and send cards to..
My thoughts drift with a teary smile, thinking of my
Aunt June Rose...

We lost my Aunt at this time last year,
For those who follow my blog you may recall the several posts
mentioning her and how very much she was a great influence on
me and the direction of my life....

*And She left me with so many Memories*

her long well manicured hands~her laughter with squinting eyes~the tilt of her head when she was perplexed~looking at me during conversation~washing dishes in her kitchen~baking christmas cookies~saturday mornings~her asking me "what can I get you?"~excitement in her eyes as she spoke~playing piano~walks~her honesty~the way she said "well, ta te ta"~chicken pot pie~her thin wedding band~her "Hello" when she answered the phone~the way she said, "kathhyy" with her soft voice~her reciting the "night before christmas"~sunday dinners~her hot office in the summer time~the smell of shoe leather~laughing together~her birthday~our lunches~waffles n ice cream~picnics~her tiny feet~sitting on her porch~her love for god n family~her story telling~
playing cards~crossword puzzle~black coffee~dove soap~
her understanding



I am a better person for having her bless my life
and I sure do miss her..!

Christmas Give Away..

Harvest Moon Primitives is having an Angle Give Away...

Hurry on over and enter your
chance to win this beautiful
addition to your Christmas
decor....

Thank YOU....

"THANK YOU" to...

Cupcakes Take The Cake!!

For featuring my

Jumbo Cherry Cheesecake Cuppies on their Blog...

I am soooo Honored..!!!

Jumbo Cuppies Take The Prize...

When it comes to the Holidays,
I like trying out new recipes.
This year I decided to jump on board with the
Cupcake rage that has currently ensued the nation...

Below is my creation of

Jumbo Cherry Cheesecake Cuppies...

I started with my Jumbo cupcake pan and liners...
You can find both at Michael's Craft store.

I first filled the liners with the basic chocolate cake mix 3/4 full..

I then topped off the chocolate with a cream cheese topping

I then added some Cherry Pie Filling
on top of the cream cheese topping..

Baked at 350 degrees for 40 minutes..give or take a few minutes..

Below is what they looked like after carefully
removing them from the pan...
When I first saw how they had baked out
and
over the top, I was fearful on how I was going
to remove them from the pan.
It was much easier than I anticipated..
I used a butter knife and carefully lifted
them straight up..

After they had cooled to a warm temperature,
I added a Bing Cherry on top
AND
Shaved some Semi-Sweet Chocolate on top...

YES...
They do taste as good as they look..!!!

Recipe Below

Ingredients:

Filling:
1 - 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
pinch salt
1/2 tsp vanilla

Cupcakes:
2 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup baking cocoa, sifted
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp soda

1 large egg
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 Tbsp vinegar
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla

topping:
1 can cherry pie filling (won't need the whole can)
Method:

1. In small bowl, blend filling ingredients until smooth, with mixer. Set aside.
2. In medium bowl, combine dry ingredients.
3. In large mixing bowl, beat egg, water, vinegar, oil and vanilla.
4. Stir in dry ingredients, until smooth.
5. Fill well greased cupcake tins, 3/4 full - if using small size (1/2 full if using large size). This recipe will make about 48 tiny cupcakes.
6. Drop a 1/2 tsp of cheese filling in center of each cupcake. (1 tsp for larger size)
7. Bake at 350ºF for 15 min ( 20-25 min for larger size)

I tripled the recipe for a total of 16 Jumbo Cuppies...

You will have to adjust your baking time accordingly
to the size of desire...

Happy Thanksgiving and Eat Lots , It's ALL Good..!!

Christmas Give Away..

Jen is making it way to easy to blog...!

Number Three Give Away


Go visit Jen over at Tatortots and Jello
and enter to win this calendar to count down the days til
Christmas...

And Another New Moon Give Away....

And another one...

Hurry and get your chance to win..!

Posted over at friend, JenJen's Site.

She currently is giving away two
NEW MOON Necklaces...

http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2009/11/whats-better-than-new-moon-giveaway-how.html


Go and check out Jen's blog and post for your chance to win...

Thanks, Jen..!!

New Moon Give Away....

New Moon Give Away....





Hurry....time is running out to enter

Go to my friend, Jen's Blog for details.....

http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-lanew-moon-giveaway.html


Good Luck..!

Have A Fantastic Week

1999 it was NOT....

I am currently on the hunt for a new coffee table...
In my travels and search I forced myself into a
Antique Barn...And I do mean..
Forced!

I have not been one to walk around for hours looking at
someone's "old junk" that
others will claim as their new found
"treasure"!!

It's just something that does not appeal to me..
I do understand you can find some great finds?
However, I am usually not that
"Lucky" person;)

I did find a stand with NEW Prim Stuff...
Now your talking my language...!!
I found some awesome handmade items for Christmas Gifts
and a Birthday Gift for a good friend.

So the walk around this huge Antique Barn was not a total
loss for me....

As I did MY quick meandering around I suddenly
was taken back a bit as I realized I could relate to
almost everything in this building..!!
OMG...am I getting THAT OLD..??!!

I was very impressed with the very Retro Tables on display..
WOW...Now your talking my childhood!!

I think..YES! I know each of the tables shown was a part of
my childhood, either at a relatives or a friend's home...

As I recall, my parents had the White table with those little black
speckles all over the table top and chairs....
Explains why I love the White/Black coordination.

This table set is one that was very popular in the 50 and 60's...
I remember this pattern as being a favorite by many.

This table set was one you could find in many
restaurants back in the day and are still used in some older
Diners today...
The expandable sides make it very convenient and versatile
for adding room when additional seating is needed..

This awesome table set would look fabulous
in a cottage...
Don't you just love that color..!!?




I can now say I visited the Antique Barn
and actually purchased a few things...

Have a great week!

K