Season of Sweetness

Happy Monday!

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I just finished creating my card for this week's Delightful Inspiration Challenge! The freebie this time around was this wonderful 'Christmas Cocoa' mug! I just love it!

I also printed out one of the new circles from the 'Holiday Circle Labels' set, and layered my steamy mug over it. I love the way it looks!

Inside, I added the sentiment 'Wishing you a season of sweetness'! Perfect!

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Remember, next week marks the start of a new month of Designed2Delight Freebie Challenges! There will be a free digital stamp available for EVERYONE to grab on Friday, December 3rd. Then all you have to do to stay in the progressive challenge is create a card, tag, or scrapbook layout using the image, and link it back to Faith's blog, Delightful Inspiration, by Thurday, December 9th. Then, when you check your email Friday morning, you will have the next free digital stamp to play with! Every week you play earns you a new digi! It is so fun, you will not want to miss out!

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Thanks for stopping by today! :)

Sherrie

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Season of Sweetness

4x4 inches square

stamps: D2D -'Christmas Cocoa' and Holday Circle Labels'; SU! -'Merry Crittermas' and 'Christmas Punch'

paper: SU! - Ski Slope dsp; Baja Breeze, Real Red, and Whisper White cardstocks; watercolor paper

inks: SU! classic markes and aqua brush; printer

etc: PTI -Pure Poppy ribbon; sewing machine, nesties, pop up dots

One of my favorites, and another recipe!

Good Morning everyone!

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I woke up to 6 inches of fresh snow, on top of the 8 inches we already had! My husband is out plowing as we speak, so I thought I would share one of my all-time favorite Designed2Delight digi stamps with you, 'Primitive Snow Angel'!

I made this card last year, and it is one of the first cards I made using Faith's images. I fell in love with them immediately!! And, if you are in need of any snowman images, be sure to stop by Designed2Delight and browse through the Snowfolk category! Faith has an entire collection of wonderful snow characters to choose from! They make perfect Winter and Holiday cards and tags!

If you are a D2D fan, you should already know about the new D2D Designers' Card Making Ideas Blog. The team is having a blog hop today showcasing easy gift ideas made with D2D images! Faith is giving away generous prizes too! You will want to get started right now! Just click here:

Gift Giving From The Heart Blog Hop

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Okay, I've got another sweet recipe for you today as well! I made these cookies for Christmas last year, and they were a big hit! It is my Aunt Dianna's recipe! Enjoy!

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Coconut Butter Cookies

1 cup sugar

1 cup butter

2 cups flour

1-1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup coconut

Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add coconut. Sift in flour and soda. Form 3/4 inch balls, press down slightly on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes at 325F - Do Not Brown!

You could add 1/2 tsp dried grated orange peel for a different flavor, or try dipping half of cookie in melted chocolate for a more festive cookie.

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Easy and good! That's my favorite kind of recipe! :)

Have a fantastic day!

Sherrie

Apple-Raspberry Crumb Pie Recipe

Happy Black Friday! I hope those of you who braved the crowds made it through safely!! LOL! Not me. I stayed home with my family, and have been munching out on turkey leftovers and pie! :)

Speaking of pie, here is the recipe for the one I made this holiday. It was new to me, and absolutely wonderful! You'd better give it a try, you won't regret it!

Apple-Raspberry Crumb Pie Recipe

(from Betty Crocker's Fall Baking 2007 mini book)

prep time: 15 mins.

start to finish: 1h 35 mins.

ingredients:

1 refrigerated pie crust, softened as directed on box

3 cups thinly sliced peeled cooking apples (3 medium)

1/2 cup sugar

2 tbls all purpose flour

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 cups fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) raspberries

1/2 cup cubed or crumbled pure almond paste (from 7 or 8 oz package)

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup sliced almonds

directions:

!. Heat oven to 350F. Place pie crust in 9-inch glass pie plate as directed on box for One Crust Filled Pie.

2. In large bowl, stir together apples, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tbls flour and the cinnamon. Spoon into crust-lined pie plate. Sprinkle with raspberries. Sprinkle almond paste over raspberries.

3. In medium bowl, mix 1/2 cup flour and 1/4 cup sugar. Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are the size of small peas. Stir in almonds. Sprinkle evenly over almond paste.

4. Place on baking sheet. Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 15 mins, covering edge of crust with foil after about 30 mins, until apples are tender in center and topping is golden brown. Serve warm or cool.

Tip: Look for almond paste near the baking chocolate and nuts.

MY TIPS:

Although the recipe says to slice the apple thinly, my recommendation is not too thinly. And I felt that the amount of apples was too little. I think using 4 medium apples would fill the pie nicer than the three. I baked my pie for 1 hour, and the apples were almost mush. (but still good)

 It was so yummy!! I served it with vanilla ice cream, and they were perfect together. My father, father-in-law, and my husband all loved it so much, there is none left to take a picture of! And as everyone said their goodbyes, I got more even compliments on the pie!

What can I say? I have a knack for pie!

I hope you try this one! I give it 5 stars and two thumbs up! :) It was so easy to prepare, and so beautiful to look at!

Stop back by and let me know if you loved it!

Warm Winter Wishes!

Sherrie

P.S.

Designed2Delight is having a blog hop Saturday! Keep an eye on Faith's blog for details!!

Cranberry Freeze Recipe

Warm Winter Greetings!

We live near Spokane, Washington, and we are in the midst of a 'Blizzard Warning' with arctic temperatures this morning. We have accumulated about 4 inches of very dry snow, with wind speeds around 20 mph, and the drifts are piling high! We are in for negative 10 degree temps tonight, with a possible 4 to 8 addition inches of snow. Fun, huh??

Winter is here!!

So, I thought I would pass along a recipe that I just received from my mom! I have not tryed it yet, but it sounds wonderful, yet cold! LOL! Perfect for the Thanksgiving Feast!

Cranberry Freeze

1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, in juice

1 (16 oz) can whole cranberry sauce

½ cup chopped pecans (optional)

1 (8 oz) carton fat free sour cream

Instructions:

 

Drain pineapple.

Mash cranberry sauce well.

Combine all ingredients.

Pour into 9×9 inch baking pan and put in freezer.

Once frozen, cut into squares to serve.

Makes 12 portions, 2×3 inches each

YUM!!

If you give it a try, come back and let me know how you enjoyed it! :) And, if I get a chance to squeeze it into my menu, I'll give my full review as well!

Stay warm!

Sherrie



D2D Skating Penguin Challenge Card

Can you believe it's ME??

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Hello everyone! I am super happy to be able to create and share a card with you today! I have not been around much, and have not created a single paper craft since World Card Making Day!! YIKES!

So here is what I came up with for the Delightful Inspiration Artist Challenge this week, using the free digi 'Skating Penguin'. So cute!

I was inspired by many of the cards already linked to the challenge, like Kathy Winter's girl penguin, Kristine Breach's white penwork, Kendra Sand's sparkly paints, and someone had used felt snowflakes too, but I cannot remember where I saw them! So if it was you, thanks for the inspiration! :)

I was kinda stumped for a sentiment for this image. The usual 'Warm Winter Greetings' or 'Skating by...' sentiments came to mind, but my inner voice was screaming 'NO! Do something different!' So I stamped the little notebook page, and hand wrote a To Do List of fun snow activities.  Then, inside I wrote the sentiment 'We hope your winter is packed with fun!'.

I really wanted to add some sewing, but did not want to run out of time to finish the project, so I added some handstitching around the list. It satisfied my craving for now! :)

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This card also qualifies for the Double Delight Challenge this week: to use Snowflakes with the D2D image! Easy!! :)

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Thank you all for your wonderful comments, prayers, and hang in there encouragement! I am so glad to have all of you as my online friends! You are all so great!

Have a fantastic weekend!!

Sherrie

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Packed With Fun Card

4-1/4 x 5-1/2 inches

stamps: D2D digi 'Skating Penguin', Stampabilities Notebook page stamp

paper: BG Eskimo Kisses pp, SU! cardstock: Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride; watercolor

ink: SU! markers: Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride, Pretty in Pink; printer ink

etc: snowflake embossing folder, nesties, cuttlebug, glitter and glue, SU! Felt Flurries, Rich Razzleberry button, thread, black pigment pen

Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat

Hey!!

Yes, it's me! I know it has been a while, but hey, I've been busy!

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My job as an in-home care giver has been keeping me on a wonky schedule, and my husband can't seem to stop injuring himself and going to the hospital!

He threw his back out a couple of weeks ago, then when he was on the mend, sprang his ankle. Now that that is healing, he somehow injured his 'private parts'. The crazy thing about that is when he went into the ER yesterday, the female doctor prescribed an antibiotic for a STD!! My husband and I have been together for 10 years now, and I KNOW he has not cheated on me, nor I on him. So we think we need a second opinion! Besides, he was moving our giant dog house when the pain started in his groin. Hhmm....could it be some sort of strain, Doc?? Jeezz!

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I am putting in my 2 week notice today. And am looking for a new job, again. I need something with a set schedule, like 7 am to 3 pm everyday. I like the in-home care position, but the days and hours are all over the place. I cannot take care of MY family's needs. Plus, I have to drive an hour to get 3 hours work, then an hour's drive home. Sorry...not for me!! I'd rather be with my kids!

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So, otherwise we have all been healthy, and adjusting to Mom being at work. My house is a disaster, and everyone is hungry all the time! As soon as I walk in the house after work, I am bombarded with whining for food, so I throw out crackers and cheese sticks! I can't seem to just sit down, ever. My 'to-do' list just keeps getting longer, with my hubby adding to it daily. I think he is starting to miss my housekeeping talent!

I know we will survive this, our crazy life, and things will smooth out soon. My fingers are crossed!

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Today I am going to pig out, take a hot bath, and then tackle some of those to-do's! Or not! We'll see!

I may end up sitting at my stamping station for the better part of the day! Hhmmm....that's the best idea I have had all week! :)

Take care,

Sherrie