12 Days My Way

Late Christmas night as the hubs and I were pulling into the driveway after the drive home from Iowa he asked me if there was anything I'd like to do this weekend. 

My only reply was to not bake. 

I love, love, love to bake and cook but after making over 400 cookies (and a couple of burns on my hand) I was ready to hang up the apron. For a day, anyway. Actually two. After showering and spackling (I did put on a little makeup) today I put on my new pj's, robe and slippers. (Thank you Harley Man) It's been a Netflix and laundry day, enjoying the quiet and overcast sky from the couch. 

Each year I plan out which cookies I would like to make for the cookie trays, trying to add a new cookie to the usual bunch. This year my "new cookie" was Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies. Anyway getting back to the planning stage I've seen those cute "12 Days of Cookies" calendars pop up on my facebook page. And before facebook it was always in Good Housekeeping or some food magazine. I used to buy a few holiday issues of whatever magazine was at the checkout aisle looking for my new holiday recipe. And each year I plan on doing just that - trying out that philosophy. Making one cookie per day for 12 days. 

I never do. I end up cramming and making up to 5 different kinds in one day, thus spending one looong day in the kitchen and not getting anything else done but having a sore back for a couple of days after. 

Next year I really, really plan on trying the 12 days deal. I have a whole year to plan. 

I thought I'd share the cookies I made as well as the recipes. A few people have asked me for them so here ya go!

My 12 days of cookies. 

 1. Grandma Becker's Angel Crisps
    1/2 c. brown sugar
    1/2 c. sugar
    1 c. margerine
    1 egg
    1 tsp. vanilla
    2 c. flour
    1 tsp. cream of tartar
    1 tsp. baking soda
    1 tsp. salt
Mix the first 5 ingredients, then sift in the last four. Form into small balls, dip in water and then dip in sugar. Press down in the center lightly with your thumb, bake at 425 for 8-10 minutes. (ungreased cookie sheet)

2. Chocolate Crinkles
    1 c. unsweetened coca powder
    2 cups sugar
    1/2 c. vegetable oil
    4 eggs
    2 teaspoons vanilla 
    2 cups flour
    2 teaspoons baking powder
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1/2 powdered sugar
Mix the cocoa, sugar and vegetable oil. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into the cocoa mixture. Cover dough and chill for at least 4 hours. Roll dough into balls, and coat each one in powdered sugar, then place on cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 and let cool for a minute before transferring them to your wire rack. 

3. Molasses Cookies

Melt and cool 3/4 cup shortening. Add 1 cup sugar, 1 egg and 1/4 cup molasses. Mix well. Then sift 2 cups flour, 2 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 tsp cloves, 1/2 tsp. ginger, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp salt together. Mix all ingredients together and chill. Make into balls and roll in sugar. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes at 375.

4. Chocolate Star Cookies  ( I used kisses since I couldn't find stars)
    1/2 cup brown sugar
    1/2 cup white sugar
    1/2 cup shortening
    1 egg
    1/2 cup peanut butter
    2 Tablespoons milk
    1 teaspoon vanilla
    1 3/4 cups flour
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    Chocolate Stars or kisses
Cream sugars and shortening, add egg and remaining ingredients. Form into balls, roll in sugar and bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. Press star in middle of cookie when out of the oven and cool. 

5. Sugar Cookies
   1 cup butter
   3/4 cup sugar
   1 egg
   1 tsp. vanilla
   2 1/2 cups flour
   1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
 Mix butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, beat, then add dry ingredients. Roll dough to desired thickness and bake at 350 until edges just turn brown about 10-12 minutes. 

6. Spritz Cookies
    1 cup butter
    1/2 cup sugar
    2 1/4 cups flour
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    1 egg
    1/4 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract.
Heat oven to 400. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, salt, egg, almond extract and a few drops of food color if desired. Place dough in cookie press. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 5-8 minutes. 

7. Caramel M&M Bars
    1 1/2 cup butter
    1 1/2 cup brown sugar
    2 cups oatmeal
    2 cups flour
    2 teaspoons baking soda
Mix together and bake 2/3 of batter at 350 for about 10 minutes. (greased pan) 
Melt one package of caramels, 4 Tablespoons of margerine and 4 Tablespoons of milk. 
Pour the melted mixture over the baked batter then spinkle with 1 1/2 cups M&Ms. Put remaining batter on top of the melted mixture. (patching together) Bake 10 more minutes at 350. 

8. M&M Cookies
    You know the drill. Toll House recipe, substituting candy for the chocolate chips. 

9. Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies
    1/2 cup butter
    1 cup sugar
    1/2 tsp vanilla
    1 egg
    1 Tbsp lemon zest
    1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
    1 1/2 cups flour
    1/4 tsp baking powder
    1/8 tsp baking soda
    1/4 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in vanilla, egg, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Slowly add flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Stir well to combine. Use a cookie scoop or roll into balls, then rollin powdered sugar. Place on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes or till set and crackly. After a couple of minutes move to racks to cool completely. For the glaze, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of water in microwave for 30 seconds. Slowly add 3/4 cup powdered sugar until desired consistency forms. Drizzle over cookies. 

10. Cashew Crunch (I mean Cashew Crack)
Combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup of butter and 1 tablespoon corn syrup in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until butter is melted and mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, cook, stirring occasionally until candy thermometer reaches 310. Remove from heat and stir in 1 1/2 cup cashews. Pour on prepared pan and cool completely. 

11. Thumbprint Cookies
   1 cup butter
   1/2 cup brown sugar
   2 egg yolks
   1 teaspoon vanilla
Cream these ingredients, then add a pinch of salt and 2 cups of flour. Roll into balls and dip in egg whites and pecans pieces or pulsed pecans. Press down the middle with your thumb. Bake at 350 until done and when cooled, put a dollop of frosting or jam in the middle. Let set. 

12. Peanut Butter Balls
   2 cups Rice Krispies
   2 cups peanut butter      

   4 cups powdered sugar
   1/2 cup soft margarine
   12 oz. package chocolate chips
Mix first four ingredients, form into small balls and refrigerate for at least an hour. Melt chips in double boiler and using a toothpick or a spoon dip the balls into the chocolate. I usually put them on waxed paper on a baking sheet in the fridge to cool and set the chocolate. 

13. BONUS: Raspberry Sweet Rolls
     This is really easy - using your cinnamon roll recipe substitute the filling with:
    1/2 cup softened butter
    1/2 cup light brown sugar
    3 1/2 cups sugar
    Zest of 1 large lemon 
    1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch.
Spread dough evenly with softened butter and brown sugar. In a medium bowl, carefully stir together the frozen raspberries, granulated sugar, lemon zest, and cornstarch. Sprinkle the raspberry mixture over the dough. Finish like normal. 

I hope you had a beautiful Christmas. With that being said, I know it's really hard as well.  We miss those loved ones that have passed on. Keep their light shining within you and those memories close. 

Remember: from today (December 27th) there are only 363 days until Christmas 2016. Start planning your baking now. HAHAHA! 
http://www.xmasclock.com/

Thanks for reading-
Melody 
xoxo

Grandma Becker's entry for December 27, 1990
Hair at 9:30 - then Gerald went to Aplington. Home at 6. Robert called and wanted us to go for lunch at noon but couldn't. Very tired today-legs are bad. More leftovers for supper but still taste good. 

Great Grandma Perrin's entry for December 27, 1964
Fair and pleasant - A.M.  A little below zero. Didn't get to services. Dorothy went to hospital. P.M. with Alan and Ramona's. I went to Alberta's at 5P.M. - was there until 9-had supper. Then came to Dorothy's. Bud about the same. Austin Farrington (Lottie's husband) passed away. 22 degrees mid-P.M.  

pssst....hey kid, you gonna eat that candy?

It's ok to go CRAZY.   Let me explain. 

But first things first. Now that the official candy holiday is over, do you have a ton of it left over? Maybe you live in a neighborhood that has a ton of kiddos and planned just right. We had 4 trick or treaters which I was pretty excited about since we are new to the 'hood, and live on a dead end street. Thank goodness we picked up candy "just in case". 

Anyway I thought I'd share this great recipe called "Crazy Bark" from Pioneer Woman. It's fantastic because you can add pretty much any candy and kids will love to help make it! And everyone will love to help eat it. 

 It's so simple to make. Start by melting a package of white almond bark in a double boiler. Or if you have the magic touch use a microwave-I don't so hence the double boiler. Anyway line a baking sheet with a single layer of chocolate graham crackers and when the bark is done melting spread over the crackers. This is the fun part-sprinkle the top with different candies, firmly pushing down the larger pieces as you go along. Then put it in the fridge to cool down and set. 
I used crushed oreos and M&M's the first time I made it and called it good. Plus I forgot to pick up the peanuts and pretzels. 

First batch of "Crazy Bark"

The second time making it I made sure and had an actual list when I went to the grocery store. Which included the peanuts and pretzels. I also added gummy bears and sour gummy worms and this is the batch I mailed to Bryce, Brooklyn and Briley in their Halloween package.  

Crazy Bark is crazy fun to make and crazy good. If you like candy. 
Speaking of that, gotta go. It freezes well and sounds really good. 

Thanks for reading, have a super week! Can't believe it's already November. It's officially baking season! Yay! 

It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

Melody
xoxo

Grandma Becker's post from November 1, 1990
"Still warm, quite windy. Cleaned stove top and oven-made apple pie - put in freezer. Baked apples for supper - made macaroni & cheese - Eva called. Helen called. Gerald to Apl. was stopping in P'burg for a haircut. Home at 5:20.

Tatas, Tutus & Ribbons

Pink       Pink       Pink       Pink       Pink

everywhere

Pink is one of my favorite colors. Then we flip the calendar to October and pink takes on a whole new meaning. Pink = Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I don't need to explain any further. 
We've all seen the slogans: 

A feel a day keeps the doctor away.
Big or Small, Save them all.
Big Or Small, Let’s Save Them All.
Boobs, Sweat and Tears
Boobs: They could use your support.
Boobs: They Need Your Support!
Breast Cancer Is Crusin’ For A Bruisin.
Breast In Show.
Breast Power.
Check Your Bumps for Lumps.
Don't Be a Boob. Save One Instead.
Don’t Let Breast Cancer Steal Second Base.
Fasten Your Pink Ribbon.
Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death.
Feel For Lumps. Save Your Bumps.
Fight Like A Girl.
Fight Strong.
Fight the Fight, Find the Cure.
Finding the cure starts with hope.
For Guys, Every Month Is Breast Awareness Month.
Get Your Pink On.
Ghosts and Goblins don’t scare me, I survived breast cancer.
Give cancer the Boot.
Got Pink?
Hope, Strength, Love.
I Pink I Can!
I’m Here For the Boobies.
Keep the Lumps Out of Your Cups.
Pink Power.
Pinky Swear to Beat Breast Cancer.
Positively Pink.
Put Your Breast Foot Forward.
Ready, Set, Go Pink.
Real Men Wear Pink for the Cure.
Save A Life, Grope Your Wife.
Save a Rack. 
Save Second Base.
Save the Boobies.
Save the Hooters.
Save the Tatas.
Show you care, be aware.
Thanks For the Mammories.
The Breast Is Yet To Come.
These Boobs Were Made For Walkin’.
Think Pink!
Together We Can Make A Difference.
Turn Up the Pink.
Walkin my buns off for boobs.

Right? I'm sure there are others that I've missed. While I am grateful there is focus on breast cancer, did you know that October is also:

Celiac Disease Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

National Spina Bifida Awareness Month

National Substance Abuse Prevention Month

National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month

I started this post the first week in October and it's taken me this long to finish. There is so much focus on breast cancer in this month other serious issues and diseases seem to get lost. They deserve attention as well. 

I have so much more to say but it really comes down to this: Get a mammogram. Get it as soon as possible. Early detection is critical. 

Get it done. 

Before going into surgery...the last one for reconstruction. 

TRUE STORY. 

Oh, by the way October is also National Toilet Tank Repair Month. 

For more information on all of the monthly happenings check out http://www.brownielocks.com/

It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!

Melody

xoxo

A Little Trashy

Dinner. 

We've been grilling alot lately. Combination of beautiful evenings and moving. Grilling means less mess in the kitchen. 

Our kitchen is already a mess amidst the unpacking.  

Wheeell let me clarify. There is no "we" in grilling. Harley Man is the head of that department.  He actually enjoys grilling year-round, and when you live in the midwest that may be challenging. Especially in the middle of winter and you have a hankering for a steak. Grilled. 

Hold on, I may have a picture of Harley Man grilling in the middle of winter...

Oh, I do! 

This went down in February. 

Today I was in the mood to try out the oven in our "new" house and started to look for recipes and came across "Doritos Chicken Casserole" from "Buns In My Oven" -http://www.bunsinmyoven.com/.  Off to the store I went! 

It was easy and quite tasty. A little trashy as well but since I had a glass of wine with dinner I thought it might class it up just a bit. HAHA!! 

You should try it, especially if you have hungry high school kids! Or know anyone hungry. They'll like it. 

Doritos Chicken Casserole

1 Bag Nacho Cheese Doritos (11 oz)
2 Cups Shredded Cooked Chicken
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Cup Sour Cream
8 oz. Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 Can Ro*Tel w/Chiles
1 teaspoon Cumin
1 teaspoon Chili Powder
Pico de Gallo 

Preheat oven to 500. NO I'M JUST KIDDING. Heat it to 350. 
Stir together the chicken, soup, sour cream and half of the cheese, Ro*Tel, cumin and chili powder. Crush the Doritos (this is the best part if you have kids, have them do the crushing) and put 1/2 of the bag in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Top this with the chick mixture and then layer that with the other 1/2 of bag of crushed Doritos. Top this with the rest of the cheese. 

Bake for 20 minutes and sprinkle with the Pico de Gallo. 

Dinner is served! 

(I will mention that I did add more chili powder and also added red pepper flakes as well. I like it a little spicy). 

Don't forget the wine. 

We had dinner outside amidst the falling leaves (romantic) and the neighbor power washing his driveway (not romantic). After 10 minutes of listening to that we went inside. haha 

A picture of Oscar. Just because he's pretty lovable. 

Have a great weekend, and thanks for reading!

Melody

xoxo

It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day! 

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall!

It's football season which must mean fall, right? Right. No, wrong. According to the calendar the autumnal equinox falls on September 23 at 4:21 A.M. (ET).  Let's not get technical. Labor Day is over. That is the last official weekend of summer, right? School is back in session and I've started seeing all of the high school homecoming pictures showing up on my facebook timeline. By the way, love them! I love seeing all of those monumental pics...first day of school, homecoming, prom, graduation and everything in between. Ok I've gotten off track. Back on track now, as it just has to be fall, all of the county fairs in the mid-west are over. Almost-don't jump the gun. The National Cattle Congress fair opened Thursday (Sept. 17) and runs through Sunday (Sept. 20). 

So, the reason we moved to Wisconsin is Harley Man accepted the position of General Manager for the Walworth County Fair. And what a fair it is! Everyone that we talked to during the 6 days it ran were welcoming and so proud of "their" fair. Many spoke about the many generations in their family that have showed livestock at the fair. People shared their tradition of taking a week off of work to attend "their" fair. Quite a few family reunions happened as well, coming early when the gates opened and leaving as those gates closed for the evening. The barns were full, the quilts were hung with caring hands, the carnival was in full swing, the food stands were oh-so-good. One thing that I found unusual about this county fair is that it does not serve alcohol. You did read that right. No alcohol. No booze. 

And I loved it. 

It was the most wholesome, family friendly county fair ever. The concerts were packed, the stands for the truck pulls and bull riding were full, the monster truck show was bursting with people. I didn't hear of one complaint that beer was not available. Do I think there are people that would have loved to have a few drinks during the concerts and other events? Sure. But they still came and had a great time. 

Anyway. I didn't mean to go on and on about it being alcohol free, but darn it, it's a rarity at county fairs as that is a viable source of revenue. 

You know what else those county fairs count on? You. Us. Families. Get out to your own county fair and support the local talent in the home ec building, ag building, the animal shows, the 4-H kids, and all the events in between. They count on us to come to the fair and have fun, spend some money on the food and souvenirs. Do it so they don't go away, so they are not just a memory to tell and retell our grandchildren. Let them live that dream, to see the big carnival rides and lights through a child's eyes. To have them walk through the barns, smell the "smells" see and hear the goats, pigs, chickens, horses, cattle, the rabbits, and enjoy creating those smiles and memories. 

If you live in the Waterloo, IA area, get out there and enjoy the 105th National Cattle Congress. And bring the kids, don't forget to eat at the Noodle Nook and grab those mini donuts. 

Here are a few pictures I took as I ate my way through the 166th Walworth County Fair. Already planning for next year, and I think I'm going to be entering of few of the categories! Yay! 

They said to try the cinnamon rolls. Had too. There's a line of people to buy them on closing day. 

Thought I'd try something healthy like a malt. After all, it has milk and it was hot as blazes out. 

They said you have to try the eggrolls. I'll be trying them again next year. 

Little fried yellow blobs of golden Wisconsin cheese. I love cheese. 

This was the surprise of my food travels. The Steak Sundae. It was so good I had it twice in 6 days. 

I had to go back to the cheese stand try the fried jalapeno cheese. Didn't disappoint. 

Harley Man and I shared the ribs. Finger licken' good. 

Did I tell you about the Steak Sundae? It was so good I had it twice in 6 days!

Yes. Finished out the fair with good old sweet corn. 

There were other attractions than food~  

  

I caught a couple of pics from the opening ceremony:

The Big Kahuna being interviewed. 

Walking through the draft horse barn and Larry found old fashioned air conditioning. A fan. It felt like 90 degrees at 8:00 at night. 

 Ohhh I love goats. 

A flash mob happened in the middle of the midway!

Until next year, I'll be dreaming of the sights, sounds, smells, and great eats at the 167th Walworth County Fair August 31 -September 5, 2016. 

You know, it's the "last" weekend of summer! 

http://www.walworthcountyfair.com/

Thanks for reading!

It's a great day to be alive, make it a great day!

Melody

xoxo