I'm just curious...

In your neck of the woods, do you have a particular food that you prepare for New Years' day?

Here in Southwestern Pennsylvania, it's tradition to serve pork and sauerkraut! We've always done that for as long as I can remember. Eating sauerkraut on the New Year is supposed to bring you good luck in the coming year. Since I don't believe in luck, be it good or bad, I make it because I like it!

 I would like you to leave a short comment and tell me what will be on your New years Day menu!

P.S. Don't forget to tell me what state or country you're from!


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Pineapple Cookies

Our first house was a duplex. We rented the other apartment to a sweet English lady, Mrs. Smith, who spent her days baking and sharing the goodies with us.

I always taught my kids that it wasn't proper to call older adults by their first name, yet the came to love her like family, so they called her "Aunt Smith ".
Here is her recipe for the best pineapple cookies you've ever tasted :

Pineapple Cookies

Blend together:
2/3 cup shortening
1 cup of sugar
add 2 eggs

add 1/2 cup of well-drained crushed pineapple

add:
2 cups flour
1/2 tea. baking soda
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Drop mixture by teaspoon onto greased cookie sheets.
Bake at 375 for 12 to 15 minutes.

I've doubled and even tripled this recipe for the holidays.
Enjoy!

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Fancy Walnut Brownies

With Valentine's Day coming soon, I'd like to share one of my favorite recipes for brownies...rich, decadent brownies! ( And no one will ever guess they are made with a brownie mix.) A little extra work but the payoff is worth it...fancy enough to be boxed and given as a gift for that special someone.

 Fancy Walnut Brownies

 Makes 24 

Ingredients:
1 pkg. Duncan Hines brownie mix
1 egg
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup oil

Preheat oven to 350°. Place 24 (2 inch) foil liners on a baking sheet.

For brownies, combine brownie mix, egg, water, and oil in a large bowl.
Stir with a spoon until well blended, about 50 strokes.
Stir in contents of the walnut packet from mix.
Fill foil liners with 2 generous tablespoons of batter.
Bake @ 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until set. Cool completely. Remove liners. Turn upside down on cooling rack.

Glaze:
4½ cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup milk or water
24 walnut halves, for garnish

For glaze, combine sugar and milk in a medium bowl. Blend until smooth.
Spoon glaze over the first brownie to completely cover. Top immediately with a walnut half. Repeat with remaining brownies.Allow glaze to set.

Chocolate drizzle:
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Tablespoon shortening

For drizzle, Place chocolate chips and shortening in a resealable plastic bag; seal. Place bag in a bowl of hot water for several minutes. Dry bag with a paper towel.
Knead in your hand until blended and chocolate is smooth. Snip a pinpoint in the corner of the bag and drizzle the chocolate over the brownies. Store in a single layer in airtight containers.
Note:
If you are a candy maker, you could just melt some chocolate wafers in the micro, add them to a plastic bag, clip corner, and drizzle.

 Tip: Place wax paper under the cooling rack to catch excess glaze.

This recipe was very easy to make. Try it, your taste buds will thank you.

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 Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell *  Warm Heart * Totally Terrific Tuesday *W.A.Y.D.2018 Blog Hop * Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes * Inspire my Creativity * Talk of the town* Waste Not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds  *What's Cookin' Wednesday  *Share Your Style * Create it Thursday * No rules Weekend * Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday *  * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Friday Frenzy * Anything blue Friday * Foodie Friday  * Friday Features * Best Friday Features * What To Do Weekends * Home Matters * Ultimate Pin Party * Dare to share Sat. * Saturday Shuffle * Saturday Sparks *  Best of the Weekend *

"Give Thanks" Card

 I love the Fall colors against the rich blue shade of this card. I painted several sheets of watercolor paper and cut out the leaves, using leaf dies and my Big shot machine.

 I used two sizes of the "Lattice Rectangle" Spellbinder die. On the smaller one, I stamped and embossed the "Give Thanks" sentiment.

 Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Here's where I'll be sharing:
Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * Sunday's Best * Smell good Sunday * What's for Dinner  *  Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Family Joy * That DIY Party * Busy Creative You *
 Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell *  Warm Heart * Totally Terrific Tuesday * Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes * Inspire my Creativity * Talk of the Town  * Waste Not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds  *What's Cookin' Wednesday  *Share Your Style * Create it Thursday *  Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday *  * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Friday Frenzy * Anything blue Friday * Foodie Friday * Foodie Friday and everything Else * Friday Features * Best Friday Features *  What To Do Weekends * Home Matters * Ultimate Pin Party * Dare to share Sat. * Saturday Shuffle * Saturday Sparks *  Best of the Weekend *

Weekend Snapshots * Wordless Wednesday * Image-in-ing *    Floral Friday Fotos * Saturday Silhouettes *

Valentine Tree

I love the way the Christmas lights brighten the house during the dark days of  winter. The first thing I do when I come in from work is plug in all the holiday lights and enjoy the sparkle! 

So when the week after New Years comes around, packing everything away has always been a let down for me. The house always seems so empty and dark in January.

This year, I decided to leave the green garlands with clear lights on the stair railings up a little longer, and I turned my Christmas tree......

into a Valentine tree!!

Someone in my family, that I refer to as the "QVC queen", bought these beautiful glass and metallic hearts for her tree. She decided that they were too large for her small tree and offered them to me. I gladly accepted!

This way, I can enjoy the sparkle a little longer!

Here's where I'll be sharing:
 Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday  * Tasty Tuesday * Delicious Dishes * Inspire me Tuesday * Talk of the Town  * Waste not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Moonlight and Mason Jars * Before and After Wednesday * the Alder Collective * You Link it, We Make it * What's Cookin' Wednesday  * Create it Thursday *  Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday * Throwback Thursday * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Anything blue Friday * Sweet Inspirations *  Friday Finds * Foodie Friday *  Photo Friday * Foodie Friday and Everything Else * Friday Features * Party Palooza *  What To Do Weekends * Home Matters *  Saturday Sparks *  Best of the Weekend *  Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * What's for Dinner * Sunday Crafters-noon  *  Nifty Thrifty Sunday *

Quick and Easy Window Lights

Are you tired of the time and work it takes to hang Christmas lights in your windows? Not to mention the mess with tape or hooks?
 I guess I sound like a tv commercial lol!!
But I found a fast and easy way to get the job done.

First, I bought two white adjustable spring tension rods for each window... for less than $2.00 each.

Then for each window, I looped the lights around the rods and placed one at the top and on at the bottom. I used a 100 light string for the window above and placed them in a zigzag pattern. Adjust the tension of the rods for a snug fit.

When the blinds are let down, the rods are hidden, inside and out!

Outside view

Here's where I'll be sharing:
 Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday  * Tasty Tuesday * Delicious Dishes * Inspire me Tuesday * Talk of the Town  * Waste not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Moonlight and Mason Jars * Before and After Wednesday * the Alder Collective * You Link it, We Make it * What's Cookin' Wednesday  * Create it Thursday *  Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday * Throwback Thursday * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Anything blue Friday * Sweet Inspirations *  Friday Finds * Foodie Friday *  Photo Friday * Foodie Friday and Everything Else * Friday Features * Party Palooza *  What To Do Weekends * Home Matters *  Saturday Sparks *  Best of the Weekend *  Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * What's for Dinner * Sunday Crafters-noon  *  Nifty Thrifty Sunday *

Kennywood Park, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania

I grew up just a few miles from an awesome amusement park. This park has been around since 1908. Over the years, several small parks in the state have closed, but this park has continued to  grow and draw people from all over the country.  We always had our annual school picnic here....oh, what fun and good memories. The last few years, they have re-opened between  Thanksgiving and Christmas for

 "Kennywood Holiday Lights"

... with food, limited rides, and Christmas music!

It's well worth the trip!!


Here's where I'll be sharing:
 Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday  * Tasty Tuesday * Delicious Dishes * Inspire me Tuesday * Talk of the Town  * Waste not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Moonlight and Mason Jars * Before and After Wednesday * the Alder Collective * You Link it, We Make it * What's Cookin' Wednesday  * Create it Thursday *  Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday * Throwback Thursday * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Anything blue Friday * Sweet Inspirations *  Friday Finds * Foodie Friday *  Photo Friday * Foodie Friday and Everything Else * Friday Features * Party Palooza *  What To Do Weekends * Home Matters *  Saturday Sparks *  Best of the Weekend *  Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * What's for Dinner * Sunday Crafters-noon  *  Nifty Thrifty Sunday *

Weekend Snapshots * Wordless Wednesday * Image-in-ing * Photo Friday *  Floral Friday Fotos *  * Floral Mosaics * Saturday Silhouettes *

Fall....

Indian corn and raffia
homemade soup
plump orange pumpkins
wood-burning fireplaces

bonfires and hayrides
piles of raked leaves
homemade crusty bread
tattered scarecrows

baskets of apples
bountiful harvest
geese heading south
crisp fall days

warm spiced cider
squirrels gathering acorns
canning jars of vegetables
warm bulky sweaters

And…vibrant autumn colors !!

Merry CHRISTmas...

Words of wisdom from the grinch.........

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904-1991); Writer, Cartoonist, Animator