Goodness Do I Feel Like Its Yule Time

I have been runny around like a chicken all weekend.. trying to get things done and have not spent much time tending my blog.  When I finally get on today.... a little late I might say.. I was wonderfully surprised to find I had won this wonderful gift basket from Prim & Whimsy.  Isn't it gorgeous.. and wait till you see my giveaway for the month... a few of my favorites... somewhat similar to this one... so of course I am going to love it... thanks Jeanne....

My Ongoing Project - Christmas Quilt

Many of you have asked about how my Christmas quilt is coming along... I thought I would show you... I am about a third of the way done.  I am hoping to have it done so that I can send it off to my grandkids next week, along with one of those recordable books from Hallmark.  "The Night Before Christmas". 

  Even though I can not be there, they can wrap up in the blanket and listen to Vince & I read the book to them.  As you can see my quiliting squares are not completely straight... I never have nor will I say I am an expert seamstress... part of the reason I purchased a machine that sews for me... :-)

Yet I can assure you it is made with all the love I can shove into it.  It is my first quilt to ever make and I figure that my grandkids will be the most forgiving so they will not mind if not all the squares line up just right.  I will be sure and post a picture of the finished project as I am a bit excited about it myself.  I have had loads of fund making it and have learned alot too...

Christmas Goodies - A Great and Easy Gift

As most of you know I truly love to cook.  It is something that has been with me for as long as I can remember.  I remember as a little girl mixing together ingredients and baking small spice cakes  before I could even read a cookbook.  I knew the basic ingredients and I would make up my own recipes.  They really didn't taste that bad, and still I have a fondness for spice cakes to this day.  I am participating in Home Crafted Holidays over at Domestic Witch and today is my day to share some of the things I do at Christmas time.  Although this year I am hand crafting many of my gifts, each year there is one thing that I do without fail and that is make goodies for my friends & family.  Each year I try and make a new recipe just to try something different yet I always have my familiars that everyone wants for sure.  One of these regulars are Toffee Almond Sandies.  A cookie recipe I found some time back that just sounded good and after I tried it I have made it every year since.  I would like to share it with you.

The recipe is as follows:
1 cup butter
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
4 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tarter
1 teaspoon salt
1 cups sliced almonds
1 package English Toffee bits OR Almond butter brickle chips

I prefer the toffee, yet of course it is one of my favorites.  In a mixing bowl, cream the butter, oil and sugars.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in the extract.  Combine flour, baking soda, cream of tarter, and salt;  gradually add to the creamed mixture.  Stir in almonds and toffee bits gently. 

Drop by teaspoons about 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove and let cool then enjoy.  This recipes makes aproximately 9 dozen.  I know thats alot of cookies yet seeing that I give these away I like the larger recipes so I don't have to skimp.  If you are a lover of sandies, I can tell you these are wonderful.  The recipe is easy enough to adjust to other nuts if you would like besides almonds, such as pecans, cashews etc.  If you do this though remember to exclude the almond extract.  Kept in an air tight container these cookies last a long time.  They have a wonderful texture that allows them to be moist and delicious even after packing and sending abroad.  Plus it always puts such a wonderful smell in the kitchen and house when you cook. 

Enjoy...

Stained glass Dragon Fly giveaway - check it out

I had promised myself that I would not post in excess about so many giveaways, yet when somethings are so good, I just can't help myself.  Plus I love helping out others to publicize their sites on the crafts that they create as a means of income.  In this time and age I know how every penny can count.  When I saw this stained glass dragon fly I simply fell in love.  I have always loved suncatchers and this is just too cute... I truly can imagine it hanging in my kitchen window.  31 Days of Yule is giving this away for its 4th day today.  Click the link above to sign up to win.  Also check out Stephanie Burciaga Art and Glass on Etsy.  There are some truly beautiful pieces here.