ormolu

Christmas Giving

Now that I work in an office full of people, I'm pressed to find holdiay gifts that won't break the bank and will still impress. This year I had almost sold myself on doing a layered cookie jar, then decided after seeing an article in All You, to go with Coconut-Cranberry Granola instead. Fortunately, I had just bought a GIANT bag of Craisins at Costco and had mason jars left over from a baby shower earlier in the year that were begging to be gifted.

I simply printed out a sheet of the Merry Maker Advent Package Tags, which are downloadable, meaning you can print as many tags as you need for all of your gift-giving this season. I then spritzed them with a little mist, punched holes in the top, then added a few paper scraps and some Merry Maker Dots n' Spots. Super simple, quick and easy.

 

Here's the recipe if you'd like to make your own granola gifts:

Ingredients

• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 cup sliced almonds, roughly chopped
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup dried cranberries

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a bowl, mix oats, coconut and almonds. In a microwave-safe bowl, mix honey, brown sugar, oil, cinnamon and salt; microwave on high until sugar begins to dissolve, about 30 seconds. Stir into oat mixture.
• 2. Spread mixture on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, stirring twice, until granola is golden brown and toasted, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Let cool, stirring occasionally. Toss in cranberries.

All You - DECEMBER 2011

 

I hope you enjoy this recipe and an idea on simple gift giving this Christmas.

-Stephanie

 

InLinkz.com

Iced Coffee= Mason Jar Frappuccino

I cold brewed my coffee using a french press. I used Pioneer Womans or Smitten Kitchens directions except I placed my in the refrigerator after a few hours. 

 

Then I used this recipe to make myself a mason jar frappuccino. Since there are measurements on the side of the jar it was super easy. 

3/4 cup of strong brewed coffee

3/4 cup of milk

chocolate syrup and creamer/sweetener/ flavoring to taste

Add some ice cubes, close the lid and shake it up. 

So very good...and I already have my next batch of cold pressed coffee brewing (although the first batch I made should be enough for about three of these. 

 

 

 

 

December Daily 2010: Cover

I finally got some time this last weekend to work on my December Daily album. Did not get as far as I had hoped- but at least I got the cover done. I had an idea that I wanted to have a grey/red/white theme going on through it. For the cover I sewed some grey felt onto a piece of canvas covered chipboard- before I sewed the edges I cut a small opening in it to place the tree. 

Here is a closer look at the opening. The back is covered with sticky back canvas and I put a little bit of gold distress stickles covering it. The red felt tree is from Hobby Lobby- it came in a package including some green and white trees too- I think I will use the rest of those for some presents. The gold star is something I had in my stash. The little tag is an office tag that I stamped the initial S and typed 2010 with my typewriter- and used a little distress ink around the edges. 

Here is a look at the interior. The inside of the cover is more sticky back canvas that I stamped with acrylic paint. I wanted it to look somewhat messy so I really piled the paint on. The back inside is a piece of patterned paper from I think a K&Company package I bought maybe last year. 

Here is a look at the back. I used a little extra piece of sticky back canvas and ran it through my printer and added a rub-on from American Crafts.

The little canvas piece is folded over to look like a little tag you might find on clothing. You know, cause I always told my daughter "tag in the back". 

It's a good start and even though I don't have actual pages done yet I feel like this is quite the accomplishment. I figure in the next few weeks I will work gradually on pages with any time I might be able to steal from naps and bedtimes...something that is difficult right now with this little guy being sick :( 

 

nutella shortbread *button* cookies

What do you do when you are waiting to have a baby? You bake cute cookies! I made these cookies for Christmas this year and they turned out so good. Only I made them in little circles because I just wanted a smallish cookie (especially since it is a sandwich). Then when perusing this blog one day I came upon this post. I knew I had to make them. But I also wanted to use my Nutella...because shortbread and Nutella just go so well together. So, I made these on Friday after my doctors appointment because I have to keep busy at this point or I will just drive myself crazy! AND there is only so much cleaning someone can do. I have been scrapbooking though and working on designs for when I come back and I am enjoying my time just taking it easy right now. 

Anyway- I wanted a more pastel/ lighter colored cookie but I got carried away with the food coloring. I even told myself several times to take it easy- one drop at a time...but the second drop was overkill. It's hard to tell sometimes. They did come out so cute though! 

 

I am not a cook who comes up with my own concoctions by any means. In fact, when my mother learned I would be moving out onto my own she joked for several months (more like an entire year) that Reiley was going to be eating out all the time with my cooking record (or lack there of). It isn't because I did not like to cook. It was because I simply had not cooked since I had lived at home while finishing college. My mom likes to cook and bake (and is good at both) so why should I fight her? To my mother's surprise- I can follow recipes, I cook nearly every night and... I even have stopped measuring everything *gasp*! 

My aunt gave us recipe books she put together for Christmas two years ago. One great thing about these recipes is I know people in my family have tried them- and like them enough to share them. So, I use these all the time. It is a combination of all of our families favorite recipes and stories about them. One of our favorites is my aunt Teresa's broccoli potato soup. Last night I went a little heavy handed on the cheese and cream and renamed it. Reiley loved it so much she actually finished it after eating two mini cupcakes (that she sneaked). 

I thought I would share. 

Download Broccoli_cheese_potato_soup- use the smaller amounts of cream and cheese to make it not so heavy, use the higher quantities to make it creamier and cheesier (yum!). 

A while back I came across two cupcake recipes. I liked how easy one was- I liked the ingredients in the other. If you remember about a month ago the strawberry mascarpone cupcakes (that was the easy recipe). So, with some coaching from my mother, I decided to combine aspects of both to come up with these little guys. They are so yummy... 

Download Choc_chip_cupcakes

Reiley wanted to name the cupcakes. So, I let her. Basically she added the double in front of the already presumed title. 

I made mini cupcakes (in hopes they might last longer) but you can make adjustments with oven temperature and time to make regular sized ones (325 degrees F for 20-25 minutes). The paper liners really help when coating them (as I found out after I ran out). 

Enjoy!