Recipe Blog Hop *Baked Brie* *Hot Apple Cider*

I L.O.V.E. to cook.  Nothing too extravagant.  Simple, classic & tasty.  So for the blog hop we are supposed to post a recipe and then link it back to the Diecut Diva Blog http://die-cut-diva.blogspot.com/2009/11/creative-cuts-more-mega-recipe-blog-hop.html#comments

Hot Apple Cider
In your crock pot pour one gallon of apple juice or cider.
Add two cinnamon sticks.
Add one bag of cinnamon red hots.
Add a couple 'shakes' of nutmeg.
Set to low heat and let simmer until red hots are melted.  Delicious!!!

Baked Brie     (I first had this at a restaurant in Iceland ... the only difference was they deep fried it -- yummy)

Brie with plastic wrap removed, but hard cover still on. 
Strawberry jam/preserves or fresh cranberries with orange zest.
Brown Sugar. 
Homemade or store bought pie crust rolled out into a circle. 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

Place the round of brie in the middle of the pie crust. 
Place about three tablespoons of brown sugar over the brie.
Top with strawbery preserves.  Or, if you'd like a tangier taste, top with about 1-1/2 cups of fresh cranberries, fresh orange zest and a sprinkle of nutmet. 
Wrap the edges of the pie crust by first bringing up one side and then the opposite side.  Continue until the brie is covered.  Brush with egg white.  For a decorative touch, using seasonal cookie cutters, cut an additional pie crust into shapes and place on top of the already wrapped brie.  Just a few will be fine ... you don't want to over do it. 

Bake in over @ 400 degrees for 10 minutes and then lower heat to 350 until the pie crust is a golden brown. 

Set a table with candles, holiday music or maybe some Michael Buble.  Atmosphere is what it is about!  Serve with crackers, baquette slices and a wonderful glass of hot spiced wine.  Looks like I'll need to post another recipe! 

Bon Appetite!

My Favorite Gooseberry Patch Cookbook ... so far

I wanted to share with you my favorite Gooseberry Patch Cookbook --- Farmhouse Christmas Book.  Their are so many wonderful recipes, crafts, ideas, 'words' (I'm a collector of words) and individual memories.  The recipes are simple, tried & very true.  Two of the recipes in the book have become family favorites -- German Chocolate Cake and the Corn Casserole. 

Here is their site if you'd like to gander over www.gooseberrypatch.com

The Scrappy 'Diva' Lounge

If you know me well, you know I love to scrap & create 'paper' stuff.  I have a room dedicated to my love of paper & material.  My lounge is currently painted a deep sky blue.  It is not a large room and the window is long in width and shot in height.  So I was visiting with my JK @ a class the other night and we were talking paint colors.  I mentioned I had been thinking 'pink' -- for the girly girl in me.  She mentioned she'd like yellow and then I had one of my 'visions'.  When I get these 'visions' I see the end result and then I need to backtrack to figure how I'm going to get there.  I mentioned to JK that I'd like my 'lounge' to be (if you're prim & proper you might want to stop reading ...) Trashy Cowgirl Chic!  Would that not be a hoot and so much fun!!!!  I already have a vintage hutch I store my treasures in, so I'm part way there.  It would be a matter of ripping out the shag (gulp) carpet and quite a bit of work but so worth it.  I've seen fabric of cowgirls in short shorts & quite busty and I could use that for a chair cover, curtains and a few more things.  What do you think?  Any color suggestions?  Pictures?  Links?  I wouldn't be able to start this until after the first of the year.  Let me know what you think! 

Cowgirls love a whole lotta bling!

I can't keep this a secret!!!  Danni Jo's creations are incredible.  I first met her at the Farm Chicks show in Spokane last spring.  I bought one of her necklaces and wore it to my daughter's wedding.  Other than my wedding ring (for obvious reasons), her necklace is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry I own.  Danni Jo is very friendly, will personalize your gems and so much more.  I hope you take a moment and check out her wares.
http://www.vixencowgirl.com/

Insanity at its Finest

This is the bumper sticker on the back of the cattle truck ... and I've come to discover it's truth.  One of these days I'll expand upon my thoughts about "Insanity at its Finest".

Conversation at our home this morning:

Cowboy:  "I'm getting ready to load".

Wife: "Have a good one ... see you tonight"

*Homefront gets quiet and I continue to get ready for the day. *

Cowboy in loud voice:  "Are you in here?"

Wife: Yes

Silence from Cowboy

Wife:  Do you need me?

Silence and door shuts.

I pull on my pink (yes oh so girly) clogs, a coat, grab the camera (you never know) and head out towards the barn.

Cowboy:  Pointing to front of truck and barks the orders "Stand between the truck and the fence".

Wife sees two cows running up the road and our great cowdogs chasing them ... in the wrong direction!!!

Cowboy chases cows in pick-up with two smart cowdogs in the back barking (they are fierce!)

Cowboy gets cows back down into the barn lot.

Just another moment at the Big Red Barn.   

Nesting & A Hodge Podge of thoughts, musing & holiday music (already!)

First I wanted to share my Halloween pictures.  Had fun carving the pumpkin.  I don't remember carving a pumpkin since the kids have been at home ... so at least 10 years ago!  I went nontraditional & used patterns I found on line at http://www.southernliving.com/  So much fun.  Even cut my 'lid' from the bottom -- so much easier to put my candle on the bottom.  Then I decided to put a not so scary fella on the front porch.  I sure had fun decorating and preparing the front porch.  It brought a 'smile to my heart'.  I need to remember that it is the little things, the fun things that make me happy & bring joy into my life. 

Nesting:  Do you find yourself 'nesting' at this time of the year?  Yesterday I decided to create a much cozier feel in our home.  I changed some decor out and replaced it with more fall-like colors.  Found a few dishes in the attic, filled them with chestnuts from the from yard (and we have LOTS!), put a darker quilt over a chair, made a pan of hot spiced wine and the smell drifted through the home and I knew I was home!  What do you do in your home to create comfort, love & coziness? 

Thoughtfullness on Words: 

Yesterday while listening to Soul Series (Oprah's XM station) I was listening to a conversation between a Christian pastor and a professor of Philosophy @ Columbia University who was also studying Buddhism.  He said something that has stuck with me "... Impermanence is part of our life".  The Pastor spoke of his Mom often saying words that he now looks back and would say "Mom was Buddhist".  She would say those words we all have heard so often ... "This, too, shall pass".  The philosophy professor went on to expand with the thought that not only the 'bad' shall pass but also the 'good' as nothing in our life is permanent. 

November 1, 2009

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  While I was in the Fabric store yesterday they were playing Holiday Tunes!  Outloud I said "already!" ... and my inside voice was yelling "Yay!!!"  I L.O.V.E. holiday tunes.  Each year I promise myself one new holiday CD.  Any recommendations?  I was looking at the new Sting Winter CD ... have heard good reviews.  Would love to hear what your recommendations would be for holiday music.  I'm open to all suggestions -- I've quite an eclectic taste in music. 

Happy Holidays!

Doors, Doors, and more Doors

Geesh, I didn't know finding a door would be that difficult.  It is kind of like looking for that perfect little black dress.  It is something that will give a first impression.  It is classic and will be around forever.  I do have the LBD and I've gone through many to find 'the one'. 

Here's the deal.  We live in a farmhouse (more victorian style) built by Grandpa Arthur McNeilly in 1912.  Grandpa was not married yet nor did he have a gal in mind.  I'm one of those that truly believe in first impression.  And, I'm one of those that doesn't want whatever everyone else has. 

I found a program that I used to decide the color and the look.  That style though was a little on the pricey side, in my mind.  Found another door at a really cool salvalge (sp?)/new stuff in Spokane.  A hole in the wall that is full!!!!  of treasures. 

So, I'm still looking.  I'm open to ideas, suggestions, web sites, etc.  I've the contractor (Thanks Paul!), now just need the door!!!! 

Going through older posts will show you what our home looks like to give you an image.  Looking forward to hearing from you!