Snickerdoodles are for Fridays

So I haven't been able to get Snickerdoodles off the brain lately. What are these you ask? Surely you have had one. You may think they are similar to a sugar cookie, but let me tell you , they are oh so much more. I have not been graced with one of these since college, and well, that's been about 10 years, yikes.
Thats too long to go without a snickerdoodle folks.
So I went in search for the most well-loved snickerdoodle recipe. And this one did not disappoint. I usually never cook with vegetable shortening, I'm usually a butter purist. But for these, I felt that I must enter over. And I am glad I did.
I used this recipe.

When I came across this recipe by "Joy the Baker" I could not resist.
I a potato in many forms is good, but I had never made a Hasselback potato. Not to be confused with a Hasselhoff potato. They might get drunk and eat a cheeseburger. and we wouldn't want any of that here ;)
This potato has it all. Garlic, butter, salt, and olive oil. You can probably find all of these in your kitchen. Uhhmazing.

We had them with breaded pork chops, french style green beans, and apricot jam. I works at the perfect side, or on it's own!

I can't believe Halloween is on Monday. The kids wanted specific costumes this year so , I let them do just that. We have Mario from mario brothers game, Thomas the tank engine, and Batgirl.
I think on the list is pumpkin carving and apple turnovers for the weekend.
Have a great Friday!

The "Great Pumpkin"

We went in search of the "Great Pumpkin" on Saturday. We made our annual trip to the patch. We went towards the end of the season so the search took a bit longer, but that's all the fun, right? We love taking the tractor ride out to the patch. We could leave either without some apple cider, mini pumpkins (gourds), and my first white pumpkin (gourd, i've wanted one forever), and the most delicious jalapeno cheese bread on the planet ( I just ate some!).
Next on the fall baking list, before october ends are apple turnovers. My husband has been demanding, I mean asking ;) for these for weeks. He is not a dessert bar person, as I am, so these are his fall fave.
We have been watching our share of Halloween movies this season. The kids are watching "Monster House" right now. This is a great semi-creepy kid halloween movie. I love it. It was made my Steven Spielburg, so you really can't go wrong.
My husband and I watched Rosemary's Baby the other night, and have Children of the Corn coming. I hope to watch "Corpse Bride" too. I love getting creeped out. Oh and we watching, via Netflix, Paranormal Activity2, super creepy. I love the haunted movies. I've heard the third is quite spectacular.

What have you been watching? Any yummy treats on the list to make?

Pumpkin Bars and What's Been Up So Far's (okay nerdy I know)

So the blog has really been on the back burner lately. But all is good around these parts. Life takes unexpected twists and turns. Time is alot more scarce these days. I have been enjoying the fall so much this year. I have been discovering so many more pumpkin recipes. The newest in baking adventures is "Pumpkin Bars" adapted from my new fave cooking blog, "Joy the Baker." I added chocolate chips, omitted the nuts (allergies), and added coconut. They are oh so yummy. They stay moist, like a lemon bar, so don't worry if they come out soft, that's how they are to be.


I have been also slowing making progress on my submission to the "I'm A Giant" Challenge with Emily Henderson of Hgtv's Design Star. I so totally pumped for this. I been planning out what furniture needs to be made, and some touches that I will need to bring it all together. I knew I couldn't go big scale, I would never get it done by the deadline, December 15. The theme of my submission is a twenty something couple living in the city in their first apartment living a very eclectic lifestyle. I can't wait to get going on the furniture pieces. Assembling the rooms takes so long, with painting , sanding, and gluing. I finally got the pieces glued after several nights of painting. I now plan on sanding, touching up, working on window seals, flooring this week. I hope to get to work on the furniture this weekend. Knock on wood. I have been working on some new embroidery pieces that I sell locally, as well as planning for the holidays. Whew.
I love it all though. These things get me excited.
Here is the progress so far.


As you can see, there is very limited space. I am going to have a tiny kitchen area, small bedroom with a shower, and toilet, and well a small city apartment. I will take some work, but I think I can make it happen.
Well, off to the library we go. Have a great day!

Pumpkin Bars and What'

Fall into Fall

The weather has been heavenly lately. I've been trying to enjoy it in between teaching, sewing christmas items for my shop, embroidering, cooking, and being a mommy and wife. We plan on a pumpkin field trip this friday with our friends.

We had a really fun weekend, in which we started on Friday by traveling to Indi to visit the Carter's Toy Musuem. Really alot of fun for the kids, complete with a carousel, bumper cars, and tons and tons of coin rides.
The kids had a blast checking out all the cases and cases of toys.





We also did a bit of shopping. We needed to gear up for the season's changing.

Okay, half my post was deleted, bummer!
I will re-write it, some of it ;(
I was sharing how I came across the most amazing food blog the other day called "Joy the Baker." The recipes are endless, and her humor I love as well

I have cheddar broccoli soup on the menu this week. I have to say dinner is one of my fave meals of the day. I tend to splurge as far as calories and fat go. I am not a breakfast eater, just coffee. Lunch is my least fave meal of the day. I tend to eat tuna or deli chicken with hummus and veggies. Snacks usually consist of cheese, sunflower seeds, and a few pretzels here and there. Then my time to shine is dinner time.
Over the past year my husband and I have successfully weaned ourselves off of sugary drinks. I used to drink full sugar soda, juice, and eek I hate to say it, Kool-Aid (one of my childhood faves). And now I have worked my way off of diet sodas and drinks. I am now simply doing a lemon flavored stevia drink. It took us a little over a year to do it, but we are proud they we have slowly done it.
Next on the list is to grind my own grains for bread. I want to have the organic grains freshly ground for each loaf. I planning on hunting for a grinder near the holidays.
I have been trying to simplify the look of my blog today. I need to do some work on my header. I want just a simple font. Still trying to decide on it.

Okay now that I wrote this twice :0 I plan on crawling under a blanket and watching some Netflix. The added Wonder Years! One of my fave shows as a teen!!!

I'm still here

I am so excited that fall is here. We have been going full swing lately. We had marked off apple picking on our list of to-do's for the fall, next will be pumpkin picking. We have really been having some nice cool weather. Perfect for boots, jackets, and leggings. Love it.
I have been cooking up a storm. Last week I made garlic naan bread for the first time. I almost couldn't believe how simple it could be.

I used this recipe. You have to use a cast iron skillet!
The week before last I made my fave Chicken Pot Pie. You can't go wrong with making your own crust. Simple and fast. I use the Betty Crocker cookbook for both the pie and the crust. Total comfort food!

As a miniature enthusiast I was really thrilled when I heard about the wonderful contest by Emily Henderson from "Secrets from a Stylist." It is a contest to design the most amazing dollhouse. You are the giant in a miniature world. I have already started building what I call a flea market enthusiast, city living couple. They live the city live in a small two room apartment. I have been sketching out what I have invisioned. I hope to build most of it myself. Except for some few minor detail I will have to buy. I can't wait.
I am on the hunt for a bunch of low-carb dinners this week. One of the list is some homeade Tomato Soup. Now don't get me wrong, I love me some campbell's soup, but fresh sounds even better to me!
I hope to make some carmel apples this week as well. We have to skip on the nuts due to allergies, but I may try something out with sunflower seeds.
I have been getting the itch to get working again on cross-stitch and embroidery again. I needed to take a break for a bit to just adjust to the school year and such. It has been nice to think about things that don't have pressure associated, like orders that have to go out. I want to make some holiday items, so that is on the list, but I also have some ideas for embroidery that I would love to try.
Have a great day!