it’s been a busy and fun saturday!  i was inspired by my clean kitchen (well, actually house for that matter) this morning, and started a few baking projects.  first up i knew we needed buns.  the kids and hubs use them for sandwiches all week, and we were right out.  so, i mixed two batches.  this should last us all week.

while the bun dough was rising, i realized the church cookie exchange was coming up next tuesday.  i love attending the cookie exchange!  so, i thought i may as well work ahead, and get the cookies done today!  my first experience with the rolo cookies was getting them in my exchange one year at the church cookie exchange and hamper.  since then, i have tried making them every year at christmas.  i had purchased some mini rolo’s last year on clearance, and stuck them in the freezer.  the rest of the ingredients i had on hand.  i made two batches of the rolo cookies, and found another recipe on the opposite page of my cookbook called snicker doodles.  they sounded fun too.  so, i mixed up two batches of those as well.

by 2 pm, i was done baking the buns, and both varieties of cookies.  clean up anyone?  haha.  i know.  i’m actually amazed that i managed to keep the kitchen as clean as i did.  i’m off to get some dishes in the dishwasher, and rinse out the cookie sheets.  today i was thankful for my large inventory of cookie sheets.  have you ever seen my inventory?  i will mention, i used to be a pampered chef consultant.  i have 3 large metal cookie sheets (all gifts), 4 bar pans (pampered chef), and two flat stones (pampered chef).  they are all dirty today!

White Buns – By Chris Klassen

 4 1/2 cups hot water
1 cup oil
3 tsp salt (i use less)
1/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 tsp instant yeast (rounded)
10 + cups flour

Mix water, oil, salt, sugar and eggs. Add 2 cups flour and the yeast. Mix. Add remaining flour to make a nice dough. Let rise till double. Roll into balls, and place on pans. Let rise 1 hour. Bake at 450° for 13-15 minutes.

I have used many recipe’s for making buns over the years. This one seems to be the simplest, and turn out the best for me.  I got it from the website called Taste of Homemade by Chris Klassen.  Thanks Chris!

Snickerdoodles – Kerry Elias, Welcome to our Kitchen Cookbook

1 cup butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Cream butter and first amount of sugar well. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Shape into 1 inch balls. Stir remaining sugar and cinnamon together in small dish. Roll balls into mixture to coat. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 oven for 7-8 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen.

Rolo Cookies     – Rose Harder – Welcome to our Kitchen cookbook

1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup margarine
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup cocoa
2 1/2 cups flour
4-5 Rolo or Caramilk Bars

Mix all ingredients, except bars. Chill dough for 30 minutes. Take 1 tsp. dough and wrap it around 1 rolo/bar. Roll into a ball and roll it in sugar to coat. Bake at 350° for 7-10 minutes.

these are one of my favorite seasonal cookies.  i usually only bake them around Christmas.

photo credit of Long Flat

we celebrated with a little juice last night.  it was delicious!  i give this a 6 out of 6!

it’s a nice sweetness, not crazy sweet.  it’s ‘chillable’.  it’s not too dry.  perfection!

Red Moscato, by Long Flat

do you enjoy wine every now and then?  we usually try and get some once a year.  :)  this year i happened to have some twice in one week!  they served some at the hubs work event on monday.  it was nice to get a taste for it before going out and making a purchase of my own.  i never know what to look for!

photo credit www.marketlist.com

i have been on an online shopping frenzy laity it seems.  oh no, don’t worry, i’m sticking within the budget for the most part.  i’m shopping for christmas items, and items for other people.  :)

most years i shy away from it a bit, thinking that it’s easier to shop for people and get ideas when in a store looking directly at stuff.  well, this year i know what i’m getting most everyone, and so i’m on a mission to get it for the best price possible.  so far so good.  :)

some of the places i frequent when online shopping are:  zulilly.com, and amazon.com.  i did also purchase from llbean.com tonight.  :)

do you do any, or a lot of online shopping?

November 24, 2000 (sorry for the poor quality)

well, today marks the 11th year of marriage bliss for us.  i try to imagine that we have a typical marriage.  a journey of high’s and low’s.  i remember thinking not that long ago, that relationships will always have low points.  some relationships are worth fighting for.  i’ve got one!

i love this man more today than i ever thought possible.  i can’t fathom the possibility of loving someone more, but dream of growing our love for each other in the years to come!

i thought it kind of cute this morning that he chose to wear his wedding shirt to work.  he commented on how amazing it was that after all these years of wearing and washing it was still looking so good!  just goes to show you how strong our marriage is, we’ve got a shirt to prove it!.  ha.  :)

happy 11th anniversary darrell!

(sorry for the poor quality...scanned picture, the only one i found on the old drive, and too lazy to scan a new one.

interesting times.ca

chuckle, giggle, smirk, or laugh.  i dare you.

photo credit to Nathan @ interesting times

since the kids love crafting and we hadn’t taken the time to do much of it laity, i decided tonight was as good a night as any to haul out some card crafting supplies.  we kept it pretty basic.  a little stamping, some stickers, and blank cardstock.

i rotated the picture, but it doesn't seem to care once it gets to the blog....oh well. do a head stand, k?

they got busy right away, and each created 3 beautiful cards.  look for one in a mail box near you this christmas season!  ;-)