Monarch Post

wrapping it up

 
The neighbor gifts were delivered tonight.This year I found a site loaded with creative food gifts--Organized Christmas. As soon as I read the name, "Cranberry Hootycreeks" I knew they had to be the neighbor gifts this year. How can you not love a cookie mix named Cranberry Hootycreeks?  And all my favorite ingredients too: pecans, white chocolate chips, and cranberries. Yum.  I went all out with a country kitschy look to match the name;) But I admit, I do love the giant clothespin recipe holder. Organized Christmas also has matching recipe cards to print. I'm glad they're organized, makes me feel kinda that way too.

I've wondered if neighbor gifts are a local thing. Do you do anything like this? It's fun to get such a variety of goodies just before Christmas. So far we've received fudge, popcorn balls, chocolates, peppermints, a bottle of rootbeer, and a roll of paper towels filled with candy in the tube. That was a creative one.

It's snowing again tonight. Perfect powder snow. The stuff Utah is famous for; covering up the old crunchy snow from last week. Just perfect for a little white flannel blanket look; wrapping the houses up all snuggly, right before Christmas...

We could have used that extra snow last week for the Brownie scout Christmas sledding party.

The Brownie party crasher would have appreciated it too. I'll bet I know what he'll be doing more of tomorrow with our new fresh powdery snow...   

It's almost the big 25! Hang in there guys!  xoxoKelly
  
 

 

 

 

winner, winner, pancake dinner

 
 My new sock monkey helped draw the winning name.... Congrats to Cindy @ Yapping Cat Studio. Yay! Email me your address and I'll get the giveaway goods in the mail for you!

 
Of course, she couldn't read the winning ticket herself, since she's still needing her eyeballs sewn on:)

I think I'll take her, and her eyeballs with me to the skate park this afternoon, I'll stitch while the kids are skate. Then we'll get to designing a wardrobe with that stack of wool and cotton tomorrow.

 It's early out all week at our school for parent/teacher conferences. Yesterday, Sophey and Jesse had their conferences, and they had amazing grades-- so we're heading out for some fun at the local skate park to reward those good grades today!

Last night to celebrate, I made the kids something sweet and new: Gingerbread pancakes and apple compote. Sounds fancy, but it was really simple. I found the recipe at messycook. It was sooo good! We all loved it. Jesse's friend ate over last night with us and said, "Everything your Mom makes is so good." Jesse replied, "Well, you haven't eaten everything she makes-- you shoulda been here when she made potato barf soup last month!" That's my kids-- always keeping it real, and me humble.  xoxoKelly

loving it

 
Like about Tuesday, I realized my kids were out of school this Thursday and Friday. My crafting plans shifted into low-priority gear, while having fun with kids shifted into high-priority gear. Fall is really here now, the temperatures are apple-crispy. So refreshing. Yesterday, all I wanted to do was play with kids, bake, and hand sew things-- exactly what I managed to do:) (Don't you love it when your day  becomes your to-do list?!) 

I was also the spectator for a tough "boys vs. dogs" soccer match. I don't know who had more fun, or who won :) But they were all in seventh heaven for the afternoon...

 

And so was Miss Sophey. Haunted house painting and fall baking with Mom-- this girls' seventh heaven. She learned to bake a pumpkin pie yesterday too.

 
The finished" Haunted Henderson House". Accessorized with homemade clay flower pots. Sophey said, "It just needed a litle something more." She kills me.

And being the apple that didn't fall far from the tree...

 
she decorated the inside with old dollhouse furniture.

We decorated these little numbers too. Oh my goodness, can you say rich? Hershey's Kisses are now in candy corn flavor! (I'll post the recipe at the end for you.)

And then we decorated our favorite, old kitchen sideboard with our new art.

 
  
 
In and around and between kids, I finished a couple of cats for Etsy, and started on projects for the charity boutique. I've made about thirty Red ribbon pins so far... more handmade show and tell to follow next week!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.  xoxo~Kelly

P.S. candy corn not included with cat-- who invented this stuff, and why do I like eating sugar-wax?

***HALLOWEEN KISSES COOKIES***

1/2 C butter, softened

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 C all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

Additional sugar

40 Hersheys candy corn kisses,unwrapped and then frozen. They melt too quickly if they're not frozen first.

In a bowl, cream butter and sugars. Beat in egg and extract. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.Cover and chill for 1 hour or until easy to handle.

Roll into 1-inch balls, then roll in additional sugar. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 325 for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately press a kiss into the center of each cookie.

Press a kiss on a kid-- oh wait, that's my recipe ;)

busy bees

 

Okay, back after it here. I'm feeling productive today. It's only 12:25 and the house is almost completely clean. Dog slobber off the windows, four baths done, upstairs/downstairs vacuumed, laundry almost caught up. I guess there is an upside to insomnia... Why do I keep waking up at 5:00 a.m.??? Gosh, I'd like to know the answer. I am so not a morning person. I prefer hoot owls to roosters. It's been weeks of insomnia nonsense going on here.

I've heard you don't need as much sleep when you get older. Or is it one more symptom of perimenopause? Please tell me it isn't so. I am dragging my wagon by 8:00 pm. I need more than six hours of sleep. (Insert big YAWN here.) 

Okay, enough of my complaining. It's a gorgeous, crisp late summer day here. I watered my front porch hanging basket this morning, and I noticed the bees were buzzing all around the giant sunflowers I planted from seed last May. So nice. I'm buzzing too. Coffee and apple bread again... They just go together :) 

Here's the recipe for you. It really is wonderful stuff. Try it, you'll like it :) I swear. It's my new favorite thing to make, perfect for that just-around-the-corner crispy fall feeling:

AWESOME APPLE BREAD (that's it real name at Foodgeeks.com )

1 cup oil

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

3 cups apples, diced (I used Granny Smiths)

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Combine and set aside the oil, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Sift flour, cinnamon, soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to oil mixture gradually. Add apples and nuts. Bake in 2 regular loaf pans or 3 mini loaf pans for about70 minutes at 325. (I baked it in the three mini loaf pans, and it was perfect.) Sprinkle with sugar, if desired.

Happy Monday to you!

xoxoKelly

P.S.  I just notice my friend Rachel Reeves has started her prayer requests for Mondays. If you need prayer for yourself or someone else, here's a place for you. www.number17cherrytreelane.wordpress.com

~strawberry shortcake and a break~

Well, Monday flew right by me (without a post) and now it's Wednesday... It's rained and rained all week long in our desert state. I mean seriously rained-- downpours every afternoon and/or evening.  Lots of rescheduling of baseball games going on here, which means my schedule is all over the place. It's a soggy world outside, and I'd rather be inside today, so baking for the fam seemed like a nice n' cozy idea this morning.

I just bought a new recipe book, one of those homey tried and true kinds: Gooseberry Patch 101 Homestyle FAVORITES. The recipe for strawberry shortcake is the best I've ever had! Honest. Serious. Really, truly. Cross my fingers hope to die, stick a  Okay, you get the picture... Here's the recipe for you, my friends :)

  ~summer time strawberry shortcake~

* 3 to 4 c. strawberrries, hulled and sliced

* 1/2 c. plus 2T. sugar, divided

* 2 c. all-purpose flour

* 1 T. baking powder

* 1/2 t. salt

* 3/4 c. butter, divided

* 1 egg, beaten

* 2/3 c. light cream

* 1 c. whipping cream, whipped

Toss strawberries with 1/2 cup sugar and set aside. Combine flour, remaining sugar, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup butter until mixture forms coarse crumbs; set aside. Whisk together egg and light cream; add to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened. Divide dough into 6 parts; pat into biscuits and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, until golden. Cool biscuits briefly on a wire rack. Split in half with a serrated knife; spread bottoms with remaining butter. Top with berries and whipped cream; add tops. Garnish with remaining berries and cream. Makes 6 servings.

**************************************************

I think I'll be taking a blog break for a few days... I really need to get some new things made for my Etsy shop. So I'll be back early next week with something handmade to share with you!

Hope all's well and not too soggy in your world :)

Love,

Kelly

in the good old summer time

 

Well, I said I'd try and stop being so flowery on my posts for awhile... boys and baseball, I'd say it doesn't get less flower-y than that. Jess made our towns' All-Star team this year. Guess where I'll be spending lots more time this summer? But I love it. I marvel at these baseball-playing, hot dog eating guys of mine. I was the gym teachers' worst nightmare. And they are so very athletic, go figure.

Anyways, other than baseball, here's some of the things on our kid summer fun list. In no particular order, because who needs order in summertime:)

*June 27- is the Great American Backyard Camp out- need to participate.

* teach kids to make fruit leather.

* teach kids to make cake doughnuts.

* make a summer treasure jar.

* make some potato print fabric.

* dig out the fondue pot.

* go to the U of U art museum.

* buy a microscope-- look at stuff with kids.

* yard saleing with girls.

* make seashell candles.

* read  THE BORROWERS.

* build better boats to race in the ravine.

* finish wallpapering Sophey's dollhouse.

* make papier-mache piggy banks

* make a fairy garden behind front porch.

* make homemade fresh peach ice cream.

* eat lots of fresh peaches.

* eat more peaches...

 So that's what's on our home plate for the summer :)

How About YOU? What are YOUR plans for the SUMMER?

Let me know, I'd love to hear!

Love,

Kelly

P.S. off to work on crafting-- still have fairy-making items on the brain, even though May is over. Back soon with something cute to show.

sugar and spice and everything nice

   

 Happy Pink Saturday everyone! Our week at home has been a busy one. My kids are on spring break, so we spent some of our week doing fun things, and running to our boys' baseball games like we always do in springtime. And with Easter preparations going on for this weekend, well, not too much crafting happened around here. Although I have a few things started, nothing quite finished yet!

Next Saturday I should have crafty things to show and tell, but for now I'll just share the one pink creative thing we made this week. My Sophia, who wants to be a culinary artist when she grows up, (yes, really!) wanted to make spiral cookies for Easter. Spiral cookies it was.

 

 

   They were pretty labor intensive to make, and Winston was exhausted form it all... Okay, okay, not really. But I just had to stick that photo in here somewhere ; ) Silly dog.

   

Here's the cookbook we used for spiral cookies.

 

 

   Lots of magical recipes  to make.

   Can you guess what chez Sophia's favorite color is?!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

xoxoKelly

 

 

 

Virginia's rolls

   My neigbor friend Virginia had one of her boys drop off some hot and fluffy extra dinner rolls awhile back... I have some really nice neighbors...

Virginia is the mother of five boys- I always tell her God has a special place in heaven for her for being the mother of five boys. But she loves it all, and is a really great Mom. She is bubbly and so much fun to be around. Her enthusiasm and love of life is contagious. And so are her rolls. She got me started makin' them too... They're really easy, and I feel so kinda smug that yes, I can now do something with  yeast besides need a prescription... Oiye, sorry. Anyways, here's a great recipe for you...

ROLLS ALA VIRGINIA

1/4 C warm water

1 packet of yeast

1 tsp. sugar.

Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let yeast water rise and foam for about twenty minutes.

******

1/2 stick butter, melted

1 C milk scalded in microwave for 1 minute.

1/2 C. sugar

1 tsp. salt

4 eggs- beaten

4 C. flour- add 1 C at a time

Mix together all of the above ingredients. Grease a large bowl. Knead dough on a floured countertop and form into a ball. The dough is quite sticky, but just keep adding flour until it's not sticky.

Place ball of dough in greased bowl, and cover with a dish towel. Place bowl in a warm spot, preferably on top of the stove as it preheats for the rolls. Let rise about 30-40 minutes, until doubled in size.

Form dough into balls- like about the size of extra-large eggs. With a paper towel, rub melted butter on tops of rolls. Raise for 1 hour.  Bake in preheated oven at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy! They are yummy, yummy.

It's spring break here this week, and I'm so glad, but I'm wishing Mike didn't have to travel all week... my kids are complaining a little because we have no big plans. I told them we'll have a stay-cation one day this week to SLC.. Maybe the zoo, if the weather will cooperate for a day. We have some fun-planning to do.

xoxoKelly

red, white and blueberries

     Tried a new muffin recipe the other day. I'm searching for foods my teenage son will grab as he heads out the door on school mornings. He's not a big breakfast eater, so I'm trying out breakfast muffins. I made these Friday, and they were gone Saturday ... they were really good. My other kids and I ate them for breakfast ;) Now I need to make some more for my breakfast sluffing boy..

Blueberry Pecan Bran Muffins

1/4 C butter

1 large egg, beaten

1/2 C milk

1/4 C light brown sugar

3/4 C whole-wheat flour

1/2 C bran cereal

1 1/2 tsps baking powder

3/4 C blueberries

1/3 C pecans, finely chopped

Preaheat oven to 400 and spray muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray. Melt the butter and leave it to cool slightly. Beat the egg with the milk, add the sugar and leave to stand.

Mix all the dry ingredients (except the bran cereal) together in a bowl and add the blueberries and the chopped nuts. Mix the butter with the milk and egg, add the bran cereal and let it soak a couple minutes, then pour into the dry ingredients bowl and mix quickly and lightly-this should take no more than a few seconds. Do not beat the mixture, which will seem rather wet.

Divide the mixture among the muffin cups and bake immediately in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes (checking to see when done). I added a few more chopped nuts and brown sugar on top of the muffins. Cool briefly on a wire rack and serve warm.

Super easy and quick. Enjoy!

Lots of love,

xoxoxKelly

sweet and pink

    Well gosh, it's been awhile since I did a fancied-up cake mix recipe. Don't call me Martha. Just call me Betty Crocker. When I'm asked what's my favorite thing to make for dinner, I always say reservations... badaboom! Can you tell I'm veeerrry tired tonight? I'm almost punchy. Okay, I am punchy.

Anyways, the cupackes were a hit for our birthday girl on Saturday. (The butterflies are cut from extra birthday wrapping paper). And here's my recipe for French vanilla strawberry cupcakes.

1 package Pillsbury French vanilla cake mix.

1 C. milk

4 eggs

1 C. finely diced fresh strawberries

******

Beat together cake mix, milk, and eggs until well blended. Stir in diced strawberries. Fill cupcake cups half full. Bake at 350 for 20-23 minutes. Cool and frost.

  The girls were so excited about the goody bags. It was so cute.They each asked me to tie the bags back up before they left, so their moms could see how they looked.

Guess what I'm doing next Saturday. Yep. One more birthday party. It's Jesse's birthday next week. One more trip to bouncy castle land. Whew. Obviously, Planned Parenthood will never be giving me any awards, but that's okay with me ;-)

Monday I ran errands and went hunting for crafting materials. Today I took care of my Mom. Tomorrow I get to stay home and spend the day in my studio... finally.

Take care,

xoxoxo Kelly