Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Oatmeal Apple Craisin Cookies= I'm thankful for the abundance of apples!

For me, November is Thanksgiving Month!  All month long I journal the things I notice that I'm grateful for each day.  There's no order of importance; I just write out what comes to mind for me that day.  Yah, I know I don't look so good being thankful for cookies, and such which many others are being very serious writing about how they are thankful for family, etc.  Hold tight, I always get to the important things too!

Today I'm thankful for the abundance of apples where we live.  This is what will be in my journal today!


This is my third year using the Gratitude Journal here.  I just print it out (on card stock) then use a loose leaf metal ring to hold it together.  I write out my daily notes, sometimes printing them out. I print out photos I use, recipes and more.  It becomes a sort of scrapbook journal by the end of the month.  I cherish my past years' journals and wish I had done this for a long time prior.



Our apple tree today:


Today when I ran on my lunch hour I notice our McIntosh apple tree was ready to begin picking.  It's a very late apple, but if you pick too soon all the apple is too tart.  I picked a bucket of apples after the run then came in and made a quick batch of Oatmeal Apple Cranberry Cookies.  I'll be bringing them to our Ladies Bible Study tonight, after leaving a plate out for My Mark!
 
 

Here's the recipe:
HEIDI'S OATMEAL APPLE CRAISIN COOKIES
 3/4 cup butter (use real butter!)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
3 cups oatmeal (uncooked)
1 cup diced apples (with no skin)
1/2 cup dried craisins


Mix sugars and butter; add eggs and vanilla; add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and oatmeal; then stir in apples and craisins.

Drop by spoonfuls (I use the Medium sized Pampered Chief scoop, which is about 2 Tblspn) onto a Silplat matt (or greased cookie sheet, or parchment paper) and bake for 10 minutes (in preheated 350 degree oven). Watch the cookies, though, so not too cooked and not too doughy--every oven is different!

Cool and eat 3 to be happy today.



Blessing, Heidi

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Have yourself a MERRY little Christmas

Yes, I'm going to mention Christmas now!  It is November, so it's safe, right?

I continue to paint signs for my Etsy shop.  Every once in a while I create a new and different sign, which is what this Christmas sign is (for me, at least!).

https://www.etsy.com/listing/167183696/have-yourself-a-merry-little-christmas?ref=shop_home_active


It's available for purchase from my Etsy shop here. 

My custom family name signs continue to be one of my top sellers for a gift (Christmas, wedding, anniversary and birthday).




I also offer a custom name sign for a Christmas sign here.



Please note, if you are planning to order one of my signs for a Christmas gift it would be so very helpful for me if you order early!  At some point I will need to look at the calendar and choose a deadline date for sign orders to be placed to arrive by Christmas.  (Most likely the first week in December.)

           Blessings,
                       ~Heidi