Bokeh

I 've been playing around with my camera. This time of year I see so many lovely Bokeh pictures online. Taking a bokeh picture is harder than you'd think--at least it was for me. Here is my attempt!

Melted Snowman Sugar Cookies!

I got the idea for these melted snowman sugar cookies from Smashed Peas and Carrots. Please visit and you'll find not only a lovely blog but an awesome tutorial and recipe for these snowmen.

My daughter did all of the decorating. It was a fun project for us! :)

I love this time of year!

I love all the holiday decor around our house! With everything so festive, it makes me want to bake and spend time with my family.

Craigslist Find

I purchased two old 50's style desks on Craigslist. The desks were dirt cheap and in a bit of bad shape. I almost questioned whether I wanted to take the task on but now I'm glad I did. I'm pleasantly surprised by the outcome and the kids LOVE their new desks. First I sanded and primed the desks on a drop cloth in the basement.



I then painted about three coats on the desks. And here they are!

Chocolate....

N eed I say more?

Granola...YUM!

I love granola topped on my morning yogurt so I was super excited to find a homemade granola recipe. It is super easy to make and will last you for a while. I think it would even make a great gift!



Here's the recipe for you:

HOMEMADE GRANOLA

4 cups rolled oats
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup vegtable oil
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup water
1 pkg. dried cranberries (I also added some dried strawberries and blueberries to mine)

Heat the oven to 300. Stir together oats, wheat germ, nuts, sesame seeds, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the oil, honey, and water. Stir until well combined and then spread evenly on a cookie sheet. Make sure your sheet has sides on it.

Bake the granola until lightly browned, approximately 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes so it browns evenly. Let it dry and then stir in the dried fruit.
Yield: 7 cups

Happy National Bundt Day!

In honor of National Bundt Day, I made a Snickerdoodle Bundt Cake. I'm a huge fan of The Food Librarian's blog. I have faithfully followed her Bundt a Day for 30 days leading up to National Bundt Day.

So.....because I like a yummy bundt, I decided to give the Snickerdoodle Cake a try. I like Snickerdoodles but THIS cake surpasses the famous cookie its named after. I tend to feel like the cookie version hardens as soon as it cools. This cake is so moist and delicious!




I used the NordicWare Star Bundt pan and greased the heck out of every crack and crevice. Just when I thought I had greased it enough, I greased it some more! This bundt made my kitchen smell incredible! And unlike past experience, the bundt slid right out of the pan.







I was so touched that B said he was looking forward to having the bundt all day. He didn't seem disappointed!



All in all, I am glad I paid homage to the bundt. It made me want to invest in some other bundt pans. Yay National Bundt Day!!!