Christmas Project

I couldn't find a Christmas dress I liked very much, so I made one. It was really fun, so today I ordered fabric to make their Easter dresses with as well. I'm thinking something a little Victorian, to go with the cameos I ordered as well...

Square neck with draped sleeves. Only her left sleeve is done in the picture.

And a pretty pearlescent "brooch" at the waist.

Christmas Cookies

This is my Grandmas. She is making Christmas Tree cookies. Grandmas are great like that. Especially mine.

Christmas Tree Cookies
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix all together.

Sift together:
1 1/2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Beat into the butter mix.

Remove 1/3 of the dough and set aside. Tint the remaining dough green. On wax paper shape into a triangle. Roll the while dough out and wrap around the green trees dough.

Chill 2 hours.

Slice and place on a un-greased baking sheet. Place a yellow star sprinkle on the top and colored sprinkle "lights" on the tree.

Bake at 375 until just before the edges turn golden, about 8 - 10 minutes.


You can also me shaped and tinted into anything you want. This makes them great for other Holidays too. A few years ago I added a little peppermint extract and then dyed half of it red. I shaped them into starlight mints. Just make sure you don't store them in the same container as the unflavored ones.

Plethora of Pictures

Camping in the van

Hu Hots!!

Hogle Zoo

I have my little sister to thank for dragging me up to Hogle Zoo yesterday to let the girls see all the lights. It was awesome.

And how the girls measure up to Gorillas.

The girls thought the reindeer where cool too

We also stopped at a cafe on the way up called the Corner Bakery Cafe that was pretty good.

Elaines French Bakery

An amazing little bakery tucked away on Sate Street in Orem, Elaines is always great to walk into. They sell bread by the loaf, lunch items including quiche and savory pastries, and best of all, desserts.

We got mixed berry mousse cake. Which was very good but I can make it at home. Then on the far right side was a choux pastry with a light chocolate whipped cream and toasted almonds.

But the best one was in the middle, called a chocolate cigar. It was a crispy rolled cookie filled with a dense chocolate mousse and dipped in chocolate.

Wyoming

I didn't get too many pictures of driving cross country but when I was in Wyoming it was so gorgeous I wanted to paint what I saw. The dead grass was a pretty yellow color that contrasted beautifully with the bluest sky I have ever seen. The dusting of white snow that went with the puffy white and gray clouds just added an extra dramatic effect.

Also, I am finally in UTAH!!

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

3 c. flour
1 1/2 c. white sugar
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. Baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 c. quick cooking oats
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
2/3 c. oil
3 eggs
2 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 sweet apples, cored, peeled and grated on the large side of a cheese grater

Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Combine the oil, eggs, milk, and vanilla, and mix into the dry ingredients. Fold in the grated apples. Pour into muffin tins and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.

Makes about 3 dozen.

Campfire

I think it was our second or third Christmas together that hubby got me a dutch oven. We havent made it camping yet but it makes an awesome grill for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs in the backyard. And that we get to do often

Lily loves s'mores

Miriam roasting her own marshmallow

We told what Miriam calls "Camp Stories" Everyone around the campfire tell a few sentences of a story and then the next person continues on with the story.

We also got to sing song from my girl scout days. My favorites being

On my honor
Barges
Rise up O Flames

and the song that was the most fitting the night before Hubby left

Linger