Country Treasures

Today when I checked for eggs I discovered some of the young hens have begun to lay.Yippee, I'm so excited! What a nice early Christmas present.

Making Muffins

I love to eat muffins but seldom find a recipe for one that is sweet like the store muffins. A few years ago I decided to make some blueberry muffins by adding the berries to a plain cake recipe; the end result was a perfect moist sweet muffin.

Recently, while at the grocery store, I saw giant chocolate chip muffins topped with large sugar crystals. They looked so good I was tempted to pay well over a dollar for just one muffin; but I didn't. Instead I decided to try making my own chocolate chip muffins.

I used the same plain cake recipe, used for the blueberry muffins, and added chocolate chips. I then topped the muffin with plain white sugar, because the large sugar crystals at the store were just too high. The muffins came out so moist and sweet and perfect in every way!

Here is the recipe I used for the muffins; it comes from a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook I have had for years.

Busy Day Cake

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup milk

1/3 cup shortening; I used margarine

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix dry ingredients; add wet ingredients and mix well. Bake 375-degrees until brown.

When I add blueberries I use frozen berries; about 1 cup.
When I add chocolate chips I used 1 cup.

The next time I try making muffins I would like to see how strawberry muffins, using frozen berries, would be. The possibilities are endless.

Enjoy!

My New Microwave

I seldom buy anything new for myself but this weekend I was desperate and purchased a new microwave. My old microwave was not getting hot enough and when I cook Christmas treats a microwave is a must. Thankfully I found a nice one at Sam's Club.
I started with fudge and the microwave really got the fudge mixture boiling;
And the fudge turned out perfect.
Next I made some peanut brittle; now the house smells so good!
I am very impressed with my new microwave. It has a lot of space inside and a turn table too.

Christmas Recital

This year Elizabeth played The Pink Panther as her song for the Christmas Recital.



She is always so terrified and only focuses on her mistakes; but she did so very well.

Playing With Money

What do you give a person who has everything? How about money!When I recently spotted these at the bank I knew instantly they would be a perfect gift for my dad.

I seldom see the Eisenhower dollar anymore.

Elizabeth suggested we buy this money fabric to wrap the coins in.

I made a small drawstring bag that came out so cute; it's a true money bag!I think my dad will be happy with his bag of money and I'm happy to have another item checked off my to do list.

Little Ballerina

Meet ballerina no. 1...
She has the cutest little hair bun...

And lives a life of luxury.

Ballerina no. 2 has yet to be made. I'm not so sure my "to do" list is getting smaller.

Winter

Winter has arrived...

And I love it!