Monday, December 30, 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Antique Postcard.

I was recently told that the term "antique" refers to items that are at least 100 years old.  The term "vintage" refers to items that are less than 100 years old.  This postcard was produced by the Raphael Tuck & Sons company, printed in Berlin, and postmarked in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on January 1, 1908.  That makes it an "antique."  

!!HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR CELEBRATION!!






Wednesday, December 25, 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS - Vintage Santa

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE.  I HOPE YOUR HOLIDAY IS BRIGHT, BEAUTIFUL, AND WARM, FILLED WITH THE LOVE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS.


Saturday, December 21, 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS - Vintage Postcard - COCA COLA

Ahhhh... Holiday Shopping!  What to get everyone?!?  Check out this vintage postcard for a few ideas.


Okay, I can understand some of these ideas... Fruit Cake, for example.  Not everyone likes it, though I do!  But can you imagine buying a case of Coca Cola for that special person on your list?  I'm hoping Kevin has other ideas for my gifts.  LOL!  

Thursday, December 19, 2013

SUGAR COOKIES... Truly the BEST!!

On Sunday my niece, Colette, invited me, her sister, and her mother (my sister) over for a day of Christmas cookie baking.  How do these look?  Pretty good for a day's work, not to mention all of the fun we had!


The sugar cookies in the lower portion of the photo come from a recipe I got many years ago from one of my Camp Fire Girls.  As soon as I gave the recipe to my sister she renamed the recipe as "Adina's Sugar Cookies."   I'm pleased to get my name on such fantastic cookies!   These cookies are no-fail, buttery, tender and crisp; and because the recipe makes four to five dozen cookies, it is fortunate that they freeze well.  

Over the years, these cookies have been the only cookies I have typically made for Christmas.  Although they can be made anytime of the year (using a simple sugar on the top), they work well for Christmas, as you can see from the photo.   Here we used a cookie press to get the pretty design.  Otherwise, I simply use a glass.  

SUGAR COOKIES.  Makes 4 to 5 dozen.
*  1 cup powdered (confectioners) sugar
*  1 cup regular sugar 
*  1 cup butter
Cream above together and add:
*  1 cup vegetable oil
*  2 eggs
*  2 teaspoons vanilla
Beat in a mixture of:
*  5 cups flour
*  1 teaspoon baking soda
*  1 teaspoon cream of tarter
*  1 teaspoon salt
Form dough into walnut size ball.  Dip glass into sugar (white or colored) and press dough to about 1/4 inch.  Before dipping the glass into sugar for the first cookie, you will want to get the bottom of the glass ready to hold the sugar by first pushing the glass into the dough.   Bake 350º for 10-12 minutes.

ENJOY!!!  AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL!!!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

APPETIZER: Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers

Our Cooking Club recently had a holiday party and, like last year, we all brought appetizers.  I decided in advance that I would feature on my blog the tastiest, best appetizer.  Dolly brought Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers.  Not only were they really tasty, this appetizer would work for any number of parties, from formal to casual.  As you can see, the recipe is also easy to make.



CHEESE STUFFED MINI PEPPERS.*
*  12-18 Sweet Mini Peppers (halved and seeded)
*  8 oz package of Cream Cheese (softened)
*  8 oz shredded cheddar cheese or shredded Monterrey jack
*  1 tbsp lime juice (or up to 1/2 lime)
*  1 tbsp fresh cilantro
*  1/2 tsp garlic salt
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Wash and slice the peppers in half long ways. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds.
In another bowl mix together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, lime, cilantro, and garlic salt.
Spoon or pipe the filling into each of the pepper halves.
Place in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Serve warm.

Thank you for bringing these, Dolly! 
_________
*Note:  This recipe comes from www.afewshortcuts.com

Thursday, December 12, 2013

HOMEMADE HOLIDAY GIFTS - FLAVORED SALTS.

Today was the holiday party for the cooking club I belong to.  It is the most fun event for me of all our luncheons!  We meet at a member's home and we all bring appetizers; a few members bring other things.  Today member Barb had a gift for each of us:  Lime Ginger Salt.  What a great idea for a holiday gift!  I asked for the recipe and she indicated that it could be found at the Country Living site.   Click on the hypertext to find that recipe, along with recipes for a number of other salts.   This is a great idea for hostess gifts or for gifts to your foodie friends.  I'm looking forward to trying out the Lime Ginger Salt on fish.

Thank you, Barb!


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

SNICKERDOODLE BARS by Betty Crocker

I previously posted a recipe for snickerdoodle cookies but then found this recipe for snickerdoodle bars and thought I better give it a try.   Here's the recipe:

SNICKERDOODLE BARS by Betty Crocker
*  2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
*  1-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
*  1/2 teaspoon salt
*  3/4 cup butter, softened
*  1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
*  1/2 cup packed brown sugar
*  3 eggs
*  1 teaspoon vanilla
Cinnamon Filling:
*  1 tablespoon granulated sugar
*  1 tablespoon cinnamon
Glaze:
*  1 cup powdered sugar
*  1 to 2 tablespoons milk/cream
*  1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1.  Heat oven to 350ºF.  Spray or grease bottom only of a 13x9-inch baking pan with cooking spray.  In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
2.  In large bowl, beat butter with electric mixer on high speed until creamy.  Beat in sugars.  Gradually beat eggs and vanilla into sugar mixture until combined.  On low speed, beat in dry ingredients until combined.
3.  Spoon half the batter into pan; spread evenly.  Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over batter.
4.  Dollop teaspoon size amounts of remaining batter evenly over cinnamon-sugar mixture.
5.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool completely, about 1 hour.
6.  In small bowl, stir glaze ingredients until smooth and thin enough to drizzle.  Drizzle over bars.  

NOTE:  For a more "festive" look, sprinkle with colored sugar or other topping of your choice.

I can report that they turned out very well!  They have a nice soft and light texture with a deep cinnamon taste.  If you like snickerdoodle cookies, I think you'll like these bars.