I just love the delicate flowers on the Christmas cactus. This is the second bloom and if I'm lucky there will be 3 more.
I put the pot up high so I could get under the bloom to take a photo.
I didn't do any sewing yesterday. Instead I put in some time on the computer and created a new 'page' on my right side bar, Quilted Journal Covers. One of my readers mentioned she would like the photos all in one spot, and I agreed that I wanted that too. There are only words at the top and then lots of photos. You can click on them to enlarge and then if the little magnifying glass appears, click again for an even closer view. Enjoy............
Last night when I got home from Dad's place, I baked a batch of spritz cookies, using the recipe from my Betty Crocker cookbook that I bought in the 1950's when I was in high school home ec. I recently learned some new things about making spritz from a cooking site, like beating the butter and sugar for 3-4 minutes before adding anything else. Also they said to add the flour a little at a time while running the mixer at a low speed. The chocolate ones are always more tender than the plain ones so I'll have to make another batch to see if the plain ones come out tender too following these new tips.
A couple nights ago I baked shortbread cookies following a recipe from Sharon over at Grass Roots Quilting Studio. I had never made them before. I love shortbread and was really surprised by the recipe. Follow the link if you are interested.
Looks like we did the same thing yesterday, bake cookies. Sometimes I find it so terribly hard to resist tasting them along the way. Yours look delicious! Thanks for the links to the recipes. Off to look at your new page now.
I love that Betty Crocker cookbook from the 50's. I have a newer version but it just isn't as good. I also wish I had the old "Fannie Farmer Cookbook" that we had in my highschool library.
Wanda your blooms are so pretty, my cactus at the office gets small blooms, but the one at home just sits there looking limp. Thanks for the new page, that's a great idea.
Your cookies look yummy-licious! I'm going to make a batch of almond crunch candy later today or tomorrow.
I knew I had seen a shortbread recipe I wanted to try and forgot to mark it - thanks for mentioning it - I wanted to try the one with the cranberries and white chocolate! Karen http://karensquilting.com/blog/
Is your cookbook the one with the home-ec class pictured on the front? If so I have the same one! I have loved that cookbook through the years. Thanks for sharing both the cookbook thoughts and the journal cover photos. Love your blog! :)
I only recently found that out about beating the butter when making cookies. What a difference it makes when baking cookies!!! Guess there is a real art in making cookies.
One of my Christmas cactus is thinking about blooming. Yours is sure pretty! How neat to have all your journal covers in one place. I had missed some of them. I would hate to have to choose a favorite, they are all beautiful.
My cactus started out as a Thanksgiving cactus, then two years ago bloomed on Christmas. Last year it turned into a New Year's cactus. I has buds on it now, so we'll see what it wants to be this year. ;p
Thanks for the new link on your side bar.
ReplyDeleteOH all your cookies look YUM. I also just LOVE shortbread so will check out the link.
Looks like we did the same thing yesterday, bake cookies. Sometimes I find it so terribly hard to resist tasting them along the way. Yours look delicious! Thanks for the links to the recipes. Off to look at your new page now.
ReplyDeleteI love that Betty Crocker cookbook from the 50's. I have a newer version but it just isn't as good. I also wish I had the old "Fannie Farmer Cookbook" that we had in my highschool library.
ReplyDeleteI love the different perspectives on your photos of the cactus blooms. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWanda your blooms are so pretty, my cactus at the office gets small blooms, but the one at home just sits there looking limp. Thanks for the new page, that's a great idea.
ReplyDeleteYour cookies look yummy-licious! I'm going to make a batch of almond crunch candy later today or tomorrow.
Today's secret word is "pitst"
Linda
I knew I had seen a shortbread recipe I wanted to try and forgot to mark it - thanks for mentioning it - I wanted to try the one with the cranberries and white chocolate!
ReplyDeleteKaren
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
The cookies look delicious! Do you really live in Sandwich, IL? Wow-I think I would stay hungry all the time!
ReplyDeleteYour Cactus Flower is beautiful! Thanks for the page on your journal covers, I found some I had missed. Love looking at them.
ReplyDeleteIs your cookbook the one with the home-ec class pictured on the front? If so I have the same one! I have loved that cookbook through the years. Thanks for sharing both the cookbook thoughts and the journal cover photos. Love your blog! :)
ReplyDeleteThose spritz cookies bring back memories. My Mom used to make then every Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI only recently found that out about beating the butter when making cookies. What a difference it makes when baking cookies!!! Guess there is a real art in making cookies.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like it was a good day for you.
One of my Christmas cactus is thinking about blooming. Yours is sure pretty! How neat to have all your journal covers in one place. I had missed some of them. I would hate to have to choose a favorite, they are all beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThose flowers on your Christmas cactus are so beautiful and delicate!
ReplyDeleteI'm about to get the ingredients together to make some baked goodies.
Thank you for the Journals sidebar. There are quite a few photos there that I haven't seen before. It's all eye-candy to me, Wanda - thanks!!
ReplyDeleteAfter two years of Spritz debacles, I have to ask -- what kind/brand of cookie press are you using?
ReplyDeleteYummmm, I know you have my address and I love spritz cookies!
ReplyDeleteReceived the journal and journal cover today..... lovely.... it is already wrapped and under the tree for a quilter friend of mine. Thanks.
My cactus started out as a Thanksgiving cactus, then two years ago bloomed on Christmas. Last year it turned into a New Year's cactus. I has buds on it now, so we'll see what it wants to be this year. ;p
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up for how to find the cookie recipes. It's appreciated. They all look delicious. And your cactus is beautiful.
ReplyDelete