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Monday, December 29, 2008

Yarn Ball Wreath



I decided I needed a new wreath for my door. I love knitting, I love yarn, so what better decoration than a yarn ball wreath ?

I made this using styrofoam balls and some scrap yarn I had. I found an extra set of bamboo knitting needles and ta-da! My yarn ball wreath was born!

Wrap scrap yarn around styrofoam balls - glue the end when done with the ball (I used a hot glue gun)
Arrange balls in a wreath shape (just lay on the table or floor)
Insert a toothpick between the balls to help hold them together
Glue the sides of the balls together
Insert knitting needles, hang and enjoy.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Geese Ornament Prayer Vigil

I just love where I work - I have some wonderful co-workers. . . who also have a fun sense of humor.

One of them was unwrapping the ornaments to put on the tree a couple of weeks ago and found one little goose that was broken. He felt so sad for this little ornament so...

he decided the rest of the geese needed to gather around it and had the little angel ornament to lead them in a prayer vigil.
Every time I walk by this display I smile.


Saturday, December 20, 2008

AARP Games - who knew?

No cracks about my age - I'm nowhere ready for AARP (not that there's anything wrong with that) but who knew that AARP's website had games?

Here is a cute one - who doesn't love kitty cats and balls of yarn?

Try it, it is kind of fun - YARNZ

Friday, December 19, 2008

Bake Cookies Day !

December 18th is Bake Cookies Day so I decided to make December 19th Eat Cookies Day at my office. I sent out a flyer asking people to bring cookies if they so desired. I ended up make 3 kinds.

First, the easy ones, which I packaged in cute little Christmas patterned Chinese Take Out boxes. I gave these to my staff, along with a card and a restaurant gift card.

White Chocolate Dipped Fortune Cookies



Next were the:

Peanut Butter Double Delight



This is a really good and simple recipe - it was good enough to win the last Pillbury Bake Off - to me it tastes like a cross between a Snickerdoodle and a Peanut Butter cookie.

1/4 cup Dry Roasted Peanuts, finely chopped
1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 cup JIF® Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 cup Confectioners Powdered Sugar
1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated peanut butter cookies, well chilled

Heat oven to 375°F. In small bowl, mix chopped peanuts, granulated sugar and cinnamon; set aside.

In another small bowl, stir peanut butter and powdered sugar until completely blended. Shape mixture into 24 (1-inch) balls.

Cut roll of cookie dough into 12 slices. Cut each slice in half crosswise to make 24 pieces; flatten slightly. Shape 1 cookie dough piece around 1 peanut butter ball, covering completely. Repeat with remaining dough and balls.

Roll each covered ball in peanut mixture; gently pat mixture completely onto balls. On ungreased large cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart. Spray bottom of drinking glass with CRISCO® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray; press into remaining peanut mixture. Flatten each ball to 1/2-inch thickness with bottom of glass. Sprinkle any remaining peanut mixture evenly on tops of cookies; gently press into dough.

Bake 7 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Store tightly covered.

Now... onto my favorite one:

Mrs. Field's Chocolate Dream Cookies



These are very good but are a bit time consuming - but oooh so worth the time. I don't believe I can post the recipe here because it is published in the Mrs. Field's Cookie Book and I assume, therefore, it is copywrited material. I love this cook book - I've made many of the cookies out of it but these are my favorite.

It is kind of like a butter cookie with a chocolate ganache filling. I do think there is some kind of misprint in the book though. It says to use a 2" round cookie cutter, which I do. It says it yields 2 1/2 dozen. I double this recipe EVERY time I make it and still only manage to get about 16 or so cookies and that is with the recipe doubled ! That means I would only get about 8 cookies with a single batch - not even a full dozen.

So I'm not sure if the size of the cookie cutter is wrong or if the yield is supposed to be 1/2 dozen instead of 2 1/2. Either way... if you ever make this - double the recipe - you'll be glad you did.