Myspace Graphics, Thanksgiving Graphics at WishAFriend.com

Projects and More Projects....

I am taking a break from making the Christmas presents for our Aunt and Uncle. I'm trying to make a DVD, and it isn't working out. SO, I'm stepping back for a bit, and decided to blog. :-)

I do have another project that I will need to start soon. I need to get all of my recipes typed up and printed into a cookbook. It is no longer a neat idea that I WANT to do, it is now out of necessity.

Why? Because of THIS:

And this:
That's my cook book that I write recipes in. The pockets are stuffed, and the pages are falling off of the spiral binder. Not good.

I spared you the picture of the "Gingerbread recipe" with the molasses stain. :-)

So, I'm thinking that after the first of the year I will be working on a personal cook book. I wonder how much it would cost to have it bound in hard cover? ;-)

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone!! :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Cookie Recipe

Well, I did it. I read the "Pioneer Woman Cooks" cook book cover to cover, and I have determined that it would take A LOT less time and effort to just buy the book rather than copy each of the recipes I want to try. :-) So, when I get the money I shall plop it down on a new copy. Seriously, this is one you should take a good look at. Be sure to ask for it at your public library. :-)

OK, today is Friday, and that means it is time for the Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap. After you finish here be sure to hop on over to Gayle's to check out all of the great recipes linked there. :-)

A couple of weeks ago I was sitting in a doctor's office waiting for my Mom, and I was flipping through magazines. I found this wonderful cookie recipe, and I was REALLY tempted to tear out the recipe and take it with me. But, since that is one of my HUGE PET PEEVES, I just searched for pen and paper and wrote as fast as possibly could to copy it down. It is beyond delicious! :-) I made them and for Bible Study this week, and there were NONE left. Since Christmas is coming, and many people will be attending cookie swaps, I thought it would be good to share this recipe with you. ENJOY!!

ROLO COOKIES

1 C butter
1 C sugar
1 C brown sugar (packed)
2 eggs
2t vanilla extract
2 1/4 C flour
1t baking soda
3/4 C unsweetened cocoa
48 Rolo candies (unwrapped)
Powdered sugar

Beat butter, gradually add sugars, beat well. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well. Combine dry ingredients. Gradually add to mixture and beat. Cover and chill 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 F. Divide dough into 4 parts. Refrigerate the 3 parts you are not working with. Divide 1 part into 12 pieces. Flatten each piece and roll a Rolo into each one. Bake 8 minutes. Cool for 1 minute and then move to a cooling rack. Let them cool completely, then sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Love,
Wendy Darling

Jealousy is such a bad characteristic...

but I am jealous. I guess you would say "coveting" more than jealous. But I'm getting ahead of myself on this post, so let me start over...

I have A LOT of cook books. I love them. I read them like a novel, and mark all of the recipes I want to make. Then, I actually do make some of them. ;-) A few months ago, I downsized my collection, and gave about half of them away. I held on to the ones I really love and use. One thing I have noticed is that most of the ones I kept are Christmas themed, or all about cookies/baking.

Hey, I know what I like. :-)

My family will tell you that I love collecting recipes, not just in cook books. I can't tell you how many recipes I have printed from the Internet, or copied from a magazine. I keep those in a three-ring binder, so that I cannot find the recipe when needed, and I print another copy. :-)

However, I believe I have THE COOK BOOK, and I want to recommend it to you. It is AMAZING, and very much something I would love to do some time. Here it is:




That's right, Ree at Pioneer Woman Cooks finished her cook book. I have not finished the whole thing, yet.

OK, I have flipped through it, but I can assure you I have found several recipes I will be copying and using this year, and by "this year" I mean before the end of '09. I am seriously thinking I may have to put money down and BUY this one at RETAIL. Yep, it's that good. I can also pretty much guarantee that before the end of this coming weekend I will have found myself a "semi" quiet corner in the house and curl up with a hot cup of cider to read the cook book cover to cover.

This is where my "coveting/jealousy" comes in. Not only do I want to make my own cook book someday (not for retail, just a personal thing for me and maybe some family members), I want Ree's kitchen. I want her talent for cooking/baking and I WANT HER KNOWLEDGE AND TALENT FOR TAKING AMAZING PHOTOS!" Or, maybe just her camera and photo software. That would work too. ;-)

Anyway, hop over to Ree's or Amazon and purchase your own copy of "Pioneer Woman Cooks" today; or just run down to your local public library and borrow it like I did. Just don't drool on the cinnamon rolls because someone else WILL want to check it out. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Let the Holidays Begin!!! :-)

We are planning to make our annual trek to Santa Land early this year. ;-) I don't think I can contain my excitement. :-) Here is just a SMALL sample of what we will see. ;-)



Love,
Wendy Darling