Good Friends

This past weekend we had a holiday baking marathon just for girls. Our very good friends Sarah and Naomi came over and we baked and baked and baked. We tried several new things and made some of the old stand bys. Everything turned out great and we had a great time in the process. It's great having good friends to share special holiday traditions with.

We made a special recipe (and in great number I might add) that was from my grandmother. Her special ingredient...lemon extract. Gives a unique twist to the timeless sugar cookie.  The girls waited all day to have their chance at decorating the cookies before they baked. They're very festive, not to mention tasty!

Grandma H.'s Sugar Cookies

2 1/2 c. flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 c. butter

1 c. sugar

1 egg well beaten

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. lemon extract

Mix dry ingredients. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and flavoring. Add flour mixture 1/3 at a time. Chill about 2-3 hours. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes. Makes about 6 dozen cookies.

Yours for the making,

redhairwithfreckles

It's what's on the inside that counts...

We have lived in our house 3.5 years and when we first moved in I bought a new comforter for our bedroom. I loved it then and still do. I spent lots of time making throw pillows for the bed, shopped for just the right fabric, etc. Some of the pillows have stayed, some have been replaced with store-bought pillows but the overall look of our 'made' bed is something I still very much enjoy. But something has been missing. I have always wanted some dark brown sheets and I've asked for them for several Christmases in a row. This year on Black Friday I got lucky with a great deal on a sheet set at JcPenney's.

Doesn't look like much I realize...

But it's the entire package that I enjoy the most...

 

 

Now if I could only find time to work on these windows...It's taken me three years just to get the sheets!

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

My first try at pumpkin bread this year was a complete disaster. I don't know if it was me or the recipe I tried but the little loaves were like bricks, not only in texture, but in taste as well.  So, I set out to try again when I came across another recipe in a Quick Cooking magazine. The original recipe was submitted by Lora Stanley from Bennington, Kansas. While I don't know Lora, I thank her kindly for ending my search for a great pumpkin bread recipe. Try it for yourself!

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

4 eggs

2 c. sugar

2 c. cooked or canned pumpkin

1 1/4 c. vegetable oil

1 1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. In another bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, pumpkin and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips.

Pour into two greased 8x4x2 in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 min. before removing from pans to wire racks.

Yours for the making,

redhairwithfreckles