Staycation in Oklahoma and Christmas baking

We are still on our stay around home vacation and it has been fun.

We were in Texas and Arkansas last weekend visiting our parents. 

Monday, we took a leisurely drive home and stopped at this Amish store in Atoka.

We had lunch in Coalgate at this small, old fashioned diner. 

Tuesday, we took a day trip to Chouteau to a much bigger Amish store.

It is a cheese store, lunch diner, country store and bakery all in one building.  We did some souvenir shopping there including some canned goods, bread and cinnamon rolls from the bakery, a few spices and an assortment of kitchen tools that are all made in the USA, except for the plastic knife.
that pretty doily was made by my mom

Some of the canned goods from the Amish store. These will be on the relish plates next week.

We had a delicious supper in Sand Springs at this small Italian place called Napolis.

Another trip on Wednesday- we had lunch at The Cattlemans.  We also wandered around the shopping part of the stockyards, then drove to a new outlet mall in Oklahoma City and finished up Christmas shopping.

One more trip on Thursday, it was my birthday and I was treated to a manicure, pedicure and also had my hair done at my daughter in law's salon.  Then we had lunch with our son and grand daughter. 

I really did have my hair done and it looked great at the shop but it was just windy that day so you can't really tell I this photo. 

That night, more of our children came to our home for supper.  I made a salad and cooked frozen pizzas.  It was a happy birthday for me all day long. 

When we woke up Friday morning, we talked about going somewhere, but we decided to just stay in our town. We did a few errands and my husband did a couple little fix it jobs around our house. 

Traveling is fun and I am glad we went, but I am truly a homebody- happy to be home now. My husband doesn't have to go back to work until after Christmas. 

Besides home repairs, he is staying busy picking out pecans. 

All week long we had pleasant warm weather, except for the wind. 

But it turned very cold yesterday with freezing rain last night and today. 

So today was a perfect day to stay in the kitchen and work on Christmas food. 

Salad dressing- just Good Seasons made with balsamic vinegar but it is family favorite

Salad crackers- oyster crackers seasoned with dry ranch dressing mix, dill, onion and garlic.

A double batch of Mexican wedding cookies

Oatmeal coconut cookies

In the top left are Shaker Spice cookies 

Peanut chocolate clusters- I used a jar of salted peanuts, about 16 ounces,  1 bag milk chocolate chips, 1.2 bag semi sweet chips and 1/2 bag white chocolate chips.  I melted the chocolate over low in double boiler made of a small stock pot with water in it and a Pyrex bowl with little handles for the top.

I also mixed up a double batch of sugar cookie dough to chill to make rolled cookies- but I goofed up and did not realized it until they were already mixed up.  The recipe called for 3 cups of powdered sugar but I used 2 cups of regular table sugar mistake.  Sweetness wise,  I think it will be about the same but I am not sure of the texture.  So,  next week,  I will bake a few samples and see if they taste and bake right.  If not,  I will start over.  Frosted sugar cookies with coconut are a family tradition.  

Below is part of the big batch of cracker toffee candy- so easy and delicious, just be sure to spread out the cooked butter- brown sugar mixture as thin as possible so you have thin crispy toffee, and not thick hard toffee that could break a tooth.  I use the recipe in the link but I use enough cracker to cover a 10 by 15 pan that is lined with foil and spray with cooking spray.

Except for a few left out for snacks, all the treats are now packed in pretty tins and in the fridge or freezer to stay fresh for next week. 

so what's cooking in your kitchen?  

In my mom's sewing room

one more post about Texas........

This is my mom's sewing room and their computer is in this room too,  and lots of interesting photos are on those walls too. 

Years ago,  it was my wreath making professor brother's bedroom.  That is his college track team photo in a black frame just about in the middle of the room photo. 

Mom got this Accuquilt machine recently.  I was not really familiar with it but it is special gadget for cutting quilt pieces and other fabric craft pieces especially accurate.

The Accuquilt opens up like a waffle iron.

These dies are used  to cut the shapes. 

Mom says it is easy to use and cuts the pieces so perfectly,  she was so happy that the pieces sew together so nicely when they are the exact same size. 

this a green scrappy quilt she has been working on. 

This is a felt penny rug- the circles are perfect and felt is hard to cut as it shifts around when just using scissors.   Mom says the Accuquilt does waste  fabric than the traditional way of cutting fabric but that is not really an issue for her as she has plenty of fabric. 

If you have some extra money and like to do really perfect quilts,  you might want to look into an Accuquilt.  I think Mom ordered hers online. 


Some of the pictures on her sewing room walls

Mom's Senior picture- she was valedictorian and FFA sweetheart. 

My grandfather on my dad's side on a cool motorcycle- probably around the 1920s

My dad with one of his colts when he had  a few horses on his hobby farm.  I like his polka dot cap. 

Dad again,  with my son Bobby when he was about 2.  Now Bobby is 32 and looks like a Duck Dynasty body double.

Mom has always, and I mean always, done handwork. This is an embroidered picture- look at all that perfect satin stitches on the 2 horses.  I think she stitched this when we kids were little.  If you look in craft room photo, there is a pair of deer picture just to the left of this horse picture that was in the same series and stitched about the same time. 


We are back in Oklahoma now and I didn't take any other photos while we were in Texas so this will be last Texas post for awhile.  My husband is on vacation from his job this week and we are doing some sightseeing day trips around Oklahoma so I'll have some posts on those soon.

Hope you are all getting those last minute things done to be ready for Christmas, it is just a few days away! 

Cooking in Texas

We just got back from a weekend trip to see our parents. I did some cooking while I was there.

First I made Struesel Puffs, a muffin recipe my mom saved from Family Circle magazine approximately 1970. She made them often and we all liked them. I baked and entered them in a 4-H food show and got a blue ribbon. 

I baked Struesel Puffs so many times when our children were all at home. This was a normal Sunday before church recipe and I always doubled the recipe back then. 

Fresh baked Struesel Puffs on my parents dining table

Streusel Puffs

2 1/2 C. All purpose flour
1/2 C. butter
1/2 C. granulated sugar
1 tsp. salt
3/4 C. milk
1/4 C. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 beaten egg

Grease a standard 12 muffin tin. Combine 1/2 C. flour and the brown sugar in a small bowl. Cut in 2 Tbsp. butter until mixture is crumbly. Set aside. 

Mix remaining 2 C. flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; cut in remaining 6 Tbsp. butter until crumbly. Combine egg and milk in a small bowl; add all at once to the flour mixture. Stir lightly, just until liquid is absorbed. Batter will be lumpy. 

Divide batter between 12 muffin cups. Sprinkle with topping. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

Serve warm after baking. They are still good the second day if reheated. 

Pecan Pie Bars

Mom found this recipe on Pinterest and asked me to bake them,  I made them just like recipe except baked them in a 10 by 15 airbake pan instead of the 13 by 9 pan the recipe called for. We liked them a lot and think that thinner is better.  It was an easy recipe and makes a big batch. 

Pepperoni Lasagne that my brother requested. I just used a recipe from AllRecipes.com but substituted 1/2 pound diced pepperoni for the ground beef

A meat loaf

Boomer, my brother's dog, wagging his tail as he was hoping to get a few bites of meatloaf. 

I also made pimento cheese to eat on celery and crackers and cooked roast beef, mashed potatoes and 2 pounds of baked carrots. 

They will be able to heat and eat all week.  I wish we lived closer so I could cook for them more often. 

On our last trip to Texas, I took photos of beautiful bluebonnets along the highway.  

This trip was not as pretty as we drove through about 100 miles of highway lined with  ice storm damaged trees. Some trees were broken down to the ground, others had hanging or fallen broken limbs and some trees were split down the middle. It is going to be a big long job to clean them up.

Vintage Christmas things

I know I downsized the amount of Christmas decorations last year and even with that smaller stash, I only used a fraction of them this year
But I do have some very favorite vintage Christmas things that I hope I always can use.

I baked a big batch of butter spritz cookies with my mom's Mirro cooky press.  She thinks she got it when I was very little,  with S&H green stamps.  That cooky press has been used a lot but it still works as good as ever.

Our elf on the shelf belonged to my husband's grandmother.  My grandson tells me that if we give that elf a name,  then he will come alive and move around at night when we are asleep.  His school classroom has an elf on a shelf named Ralph and Gavin says he is lots of fun. 
I think our vintage elf is also called a tree hugger.  But he is going to remain nameless,  there are enough messes at my house,  I don't want more mischief from an elf   :)

This green tree is decorated with Chrismon ornaments,  all hand stitched by my mom. 

the stockings are doubled up on some of the holders.  I think we have 13 stockings for ourselves and all our children but I only have 9 holders.  One thing new this year is a just sewn stocking for youngest grandson. 

our nativity set,  the brown ceramic pieces were made by a longtime family friend.
The blue ceramic piece was made by son Bobby at a Sunday School party, probably 20 years ago. 

That is all the decorating for this year.  Many of the gift are bought or made but not one a single one is wrapped. 

I am thinking I may have to look for some gift bags on sale or at the Dollar Tree, that would be simpler than wrapping, don't you think? 

Do you all wrap or bag?

My brother does stuff too

I have 2 bachelor brothers, they are both great guys but very different.
The professor brother took up wreath making several years ago and here are this years Christmas wreaths. 

this one is on our front door,  and when I took the picture, I did not have it hung up right.  The snow is supposed to be right on the top to look like snow fell on it 
If you look in the window reflection, you can see our real snow in the yard.
Ours has a little red bird on it.


He lives about an hour away and when he came to our house this week, he brought our wreath as well as 3 others.

this one,  with a pretty white cross, is for our daughters home.
oh, dear, this photograph is not turned right either, but if you read my blog much, you know photography is not my strong suit. 

Grandson Gavin admiring the wreath that is for his home
Yes, he has goggles on his head and No,  we have not been swimming.  He is fun little guy that likes to pretend.  I just noticed that behind Gavin's head,  you can see his brother Braeden's head.  Braeden is back there where the pecans are,  he likesd moving them from one bucket to another.

This one will go to my parents house- can you see the little gold and silver birds on it?

Gavin and Granddaughter Elizabeth looking at the wreaths and checking out the ones that go to their homes. 

The grands like the wreaths and they were especially happy to see their great uncle. 

down the memory lane of wreaths

2011 Christmas wreath this one had apple green trim

2010 Christmas wreath

2008 Christmas wreath

2008 Fall Wreath

2009 Easter Wreath

for me, a wreath is not just a pretty decoration.  To Christians, they are a powerful symbol of our faith.

The circle of the wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end.  The evergreen symbolizes the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life.

making the most of bananas that ripened so fast

I bought bananas Monday and they seemed a tad green in the store but by the next morning, they looked 5 days older instead of just 1.   It was a lot of bananas,  9 of them I think. 
I've been following a Pinterest tip that breaking apart the bananas makes them ripen slower,  and it was working, until this most recent bunch anyway. 
There is no way were could eat this many ripe bananas so I came up with a plan. 

Little JJ was here today, so I hung him up in the kitchen doorway while I mixed up a triple recipe of banana bread.  No, he is not really hanging- he can jump and bounce and turn around,  the jumper keeps him happy about 10 minutes or so, just long enough.....

 

 

3 loaves of baked banana bread. 
There were enough bananas to make a triple recipe of our favorite recipe.
Family Favorite Banana Bread

JJ's mom took some of the bread when she picked him up.  The rest went in the freezer to share with more family soon. 

 

I wonder how many times I have blogged about banana bread,  probably too many.  I hope you sweet readers are not too tired of seeing it.  I just think it looks so pretty in vintage bread pans.

JJ is kind of cute too. 

 

 

Mexican Rice -delicious, thrifty and easy!

I learned to make this Mexican rice more than 30 years ago. When we were first stationed at Camp Pendleton, we made friends with another Texas family, Fred and Irene. They were Mexican and grew up near San Antonio. They were both excellent cooks and fed us often. They taught us how to make tamales, chicken tacos and this Mexican rice.

This Mexican Rice is simple and made with basic ingredients. We still cook it often and always think of Fred and Irene when we do.

Ingredients

1T oil- any cooking kind is fine, I usually use canola or Olive

1 Cup rice - I use converted rice, sometimes it is Uncle Bens, I think at Sams it is called parboiled. This is long grain rice that holds its shape and does not stick together. It is not quick cooking rice

1/2 C tomato sauce -half of a small can

1 can chicken broth or 2 cups homemade broth.  (Water mixed with bouillon does not work in this recipe, the rice just doesn't cook up as good. )

1/2 of a small onion -chopped

1 t cumin

1/2 t garlic salt

A few sprinkles of red pepper and black pepper. More salt too if that is your family's taste.

First heat a skillet over high medium. Add the oil and when the oil is hot, add the rice. Stir and stir and let the rice toast and get mostly golden brown. 

Add the rest of the ingredients, the pan is hot so turn it down to about medium. The liquids will probably boil up at first, keep stirring but be careful.  Adjust your heat and stir until the rice is cooking at just a low simmer. 

Cover the pan, cook for 20 minutes, or until the rice is done and the liquid is absorbed. 

Irene told us to never stir the rice once it as at that simmer stage, I think it could make it sticky or something. But I confess that I have checked mine while cooking and stirred it, it still turned out fine. 

If you have a big covered skillet, this recipe can be doubled.

The finished rice- we had it with enchiladas this night but it is good with tacos and by itself. 

My sons and son in law, who all eat out a lot more than we do, say this rice recipe is better than any Mexican restaurant rice they have ever had. 

Hope you try it.  

Small Batch cookies in jars

Earlier this week,  I baked 2 new recipes to test and see if they would work for gift giving.  Both turned out first class!  Here are the links to the blogs that inspired me. 


See the Brownies Original recipe from Brenda at Coffee, Tea, Books and Me

See the Lemon White Chocolate Original recipe at The Frugal Girls


I halved both recipes to make Small Batch cookie mixes.  Our circle of friends are mostly empty nesters and I think they probably prefer smaller desserts over big family sized ones.  Plus,  I had a bunch of pint jars in the attic and they are the perfect size for small batches. 

For the Brownies I layered
1/2 +1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup baking cocoa
2/3 cup flour
1/4 t baking powder
1/8 t salt
mini chocolate chips to fill the jar to the top, about 1/3 cup.
I stocked up on mini chocolate chips a few weeks ago at Aldi,  they were about $1.29 for a 12 ounce bag

The lemon white chocolate cookies are so simple
The mix is just lemon cake mix and white chocolate chips.
One cake mix divided exactly in half fills up a pint jar about 3/4 full,
then the chips go in, only about 1/4 of a bag will fit but that is plenty to make the cookies loaded.

The small batch brownies work great in a 9 inch pie pan.

A small batch of cookies makes 12 and can be baked in one baking on one sheet. 

 

I still need to make up the mixing and baking instruction tags - both need an egg,  the brownies take some melted butter and a little water. The lemon cookies need some  oil. 

Look at the first bloggers posts for all the instructions if you decide to make them. 

Both are really good and easy!

 

 

Adding some length

Both my granddaughters are tall and long-legged for their ages. Their pants tend to be too short long before they outgrow the waist size of the garments.

These size 4 jeans belong the 3 year old granddaughter. They have those elastic cinches in the waist and they are drawn up as small as they go and they fit her in the waist OK.

But length wise, they were too short.

So, I gave it a go, seeing if I could lengthen them.

Jean hems are thick and hard to sew over so first I used a seam ripper to unpick that stitching. 

Then I pressed the bottom edge flat. 

I used a 2 inch strip of brown polka dot fabric folded in half and pinned it to the hem.

I sewed it on with a straight stitch and then pressed it again. 

I added 2 rows of decorative stitching but it does not show up much. That's OK though, because the stitching finishes off all the seams even if no one can really see it.

Hopefully the 1 1/4 inch in length added will be enough that she can wear these jeans a little longer, 

At least until she wears out the knees......