Recipe: Apple Pan Pie

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This unique idea of baking an Apple Pie in a sheet pan worked great to feed a crowd at Thanksgiving.  I prepared the apples a day ahead of time using an Apple Peeler Corer.  Preparing the apples ahead allowed for a delicious Apple Pie that did not have a soggy crust.  And leftovers tasted great!

Needlework: Holiday Hats

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These festive hats are a perfect gift for the holidays!

They are based on two Lion Brand patterns which I adjusted 

for size, varying the number of stitches. 

The solid color hats pattern can be found here.  I did not use two strands of yarn and I used size 10 needles, casting on 70 sts. then changing to size 10 1/2 needles after ribbing.

The stripe hat direction can be found here.  

Holidays: Turkey Pops

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These adorable Turkey Pops are easy to make and could be used at each place setting on a Thanksgiving dinner table.

Any appropriately colored fabric or burlap cut in a circle is placed over a tootsie pop or the like and tied with a twisted pipe cleaner.

A Hershey's kiss beak and googly eyes are glued in place and colorful

leaves from the yard are fed through the back of the pipe cleaner.

Most items are available at The Dollar Tree.

Needlework: Little Ghost Finger Puppets

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These cute little ghosts work up quickly and, with the addition of a row of single crochet at the back of the neck, can be hung as a decoration.  

This free crochet pattern can be found at Lion Brand Yarn.  

BOO!!

Holidays: Halloween "Hands"

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This clever idea works perfectly with $1 Tree gloves.  Just fill each finger with Halloween candy or toys and tie with a ribbon.  

Finger lickin' good !

 

Needlework: Festive Snowman Card Holder

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This adorable crocheted Snowman can be used as a card holder or be stuffed and hung from the tree.  
This pattern is free from Bernat.  
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Helpful Hints: Candy Cane Place Card Holder

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This festive place card holder is so easy to make. 

Simply slip two tiny hair elastics onto three candy canes of any size to attach them to each other.  

This can also be used to label selections on a holiday buffet.  

Merry Christmas!

Crafts: Easter Bunny Face Cloths

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This is a cute way to do the seating arrangement at home or at an Easter brunch in a restaurant.  I found directions here: Washcloth Bunny Rabbit.

My version is a little different.  I picked up face cloths at the $1 store and instead of a plastic egg in the center, I used a Milky Way "egg".  And I simply used cotton balls for the tail and nose.  These I attached with double stick tape for easy removal.  The actual name card is the tag on each bag of candy. 

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Needlebork: Shamrock Pins

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 I found this cute shamrock pin pattern here and instead of using glue to apply the pin, I sewed the pin to the shamrock.  The pins can be found at Michaels and A C Moore stores.  These could also be sewn to a snap barrette which you can locate at Dollar Tree Stores.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY !

Materials and supplies:
Crochet hook size J
Small amount green worsted weight yarn
Pin back
Hot glue and hot glue gun


Pin:

Chain 3, join with a slip stitch in first chain to form a ring.
Petal (make 3): Chain 3, trc, dc, trc, ch 3, slip stitch in ring.
Stem: Chain 4, sc in 2nd chain from hook, and slipstitch in remaining two chains. Fasten off.
Weave in ends.
Lay right side down on heat proof surface. Hot glue pin back to petal opposite the stem.

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Needlework: February Valentine's Flag

February brings Valentines to mind and the sentiment I sewed onto this flag is a nod to the Necco candy hearts we have all enjoyed over the years. Click here to read about the history of Valentine's Day.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY !

Recipe: Red & Green Christmas Sugar Cookies

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I found this sugar cookies recipe on a greeting card my mother in law sent our youngest daughter when she was very young.  For approximately the past 30 years it has been my go to 

recipe and it never disappoints!  

I tint half the dough red and the other half green before rolling out.  

They can be made in advance and frozen.  

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Needlework: Crocheted Santa Ornament/Toy

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Another cute ornament for your Christmas tree is this adorable Santa.  He could double as a toy as well.  

MERRY, MERRY!

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Recipe: Gingerbread Men

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It has become a family tradition  
each year that I bake gingerbread men and women to use as place cards on the table Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day. These can be baked ahead and frozen without decoration and are quite tasty.
 I use Betty Crocker tubes of red and green frosting to pipe names and minimal decorations on each gingerbread person: collars and ties for the men and holly for the women.

Ingredients:
(printable recipe)
2/3 cup vegetable shortening (Crisco which now comes in bars)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup boiling water
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. salt
3 1/2 cups flour
Directions:
Cream the vegetable shortening and sugar until smooth.

Stir in the rest of the ingredients while continuing to mix. Batter gets very thick so a stand mixer works best.

Knead mixture on a board until it forms a ball.

Roll dough out, dusting the surface with flour to prevent sticking. You can  roll between two pieces of extra wide plastic wrap, flipping it over during the process and dusting lightly with flour.  I invested in a silicone pastry mat from the Williams Sonoma Outlet Store and it works beautifully.

Cut with cookie cutters and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 7-10 minutes at 375'.

To hang on tree, make a hole in head of gingerbread man before baking. Re-roll leftover dough to cut more cookies.

Recipe can be doubled and cookies freeze well.

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Needlework: Crocheted Bottle Hats & Scarfs

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These adorable crocheted hats and scarfs for your holiday gifts of wine 

work up quickly and are a festive addition to any bottle. 

Plus they would be a fine addition to the wardrobe of  a small doll 

after the bottle is opened.

The directions are free at Lionsbrand.com

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Recipe: Vanilla and Chocolate Spritz Cookies

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Here are this year's Vanilla and Chocolate Spritz Cookies. These are among various cookies I make  every year for holiday events.  These cookies are always tasty and they freeze well so can be made in advance.   
Click here for more recipes and here for a few pages of  past holiday entries. Enjoy!

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Needlework: Knitted Holiday Hats

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These hats are cute for the holidays with or without the pompon.

Just alternate any two colors of yarn to knit these in one night.  

The free pattern can

be found on the Lion Brand website.

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Holidays: HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE !

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Needlecraft: Crocheted Easter Baskets

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These adorable little Easter Baskets crochet up quickly and are a decorative addition to each place setting on Easter.  The free pattern is from Lion Brand.  I adjusted the directions to make a basket with straight sides.  

 Lion brand also offers a few other options

for Easter Baskets.

Add some multicolored grass...

And some Easter candy and you are all set.  I also bagged my baskets. labeled them and will use them for "place cards" at each table setting.

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Tablesetting: Christmas Breakfast Table

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The kitchen table is set ahead and part of our Christmas decorations until it is put to use for Christmas morning breakfast.  The tablecloth and napkins are "Homespun" and I have had them for years.  The utensil mittens were purchased at "Crate and Barrel" a few years ago.  The cookie jar is from PersonalizationMall.com and can be made up in red and green but I prefer a year round look.  The heart is formed with all the names of our children and grandchildren.  And the deal of the day are the Santa hats purchased recently at the Dollar Tree.

Snow courtesy of Mother Nature!

Merry Christmas!

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Holidays: Happy Mother's Day!

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".......If flowers grow in heaven Lord, then pick a bunch for me, place them in my Mom's arms and tell her they're from me. Tell her that I love and miss her, and when she turns to smile, place a kiss on her cheek and hold her for a while"

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !!