by Amy | Dec 4, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Gathering, The Art of the Kitchen
What would Christmas be with no cookies? I guess it’d still be Christmas. A holiday celebrating the birth of Saviour of man kind…but there would be fewer stomach aches, and nothing to dip in your hot cocoa.
I digress…
Point? I. Love. Christmas cookies. Love.
So I was thrilled with a friend hosted a get together to make several yummy batches. The best part was that we all got to split the goodies at the end.
Upon arrival I found that our hostess {Wyrene} had been busy before our arrival. She had already prepared a crockpot full of hot cocoa and these AWESOME hot-chocolate-on-a-stick. I’m not sure what recipe she used, but they were amazing. How genius? Fudge+Marshmallow+Stick…stir it in a hot cup of milk for a delightful treat. Here is a similar recipe I found. Seriously…there were bomb.
Wyrene had also made sugar cookie and peanut butter cookie dough ahead of time, so we got to do the fun part together. We started with the PB. Let me tell you…these were my favorite cookie of the day! How adorable is that?
They’re reindeer!! Those are chocolate coated pretzels and M&M’s. Press them in place as soon as the cookies come out of the oven. How sweet would these be for a classroom party? If only I were in 2nd grade again and my mom knew these existed…
I like the brown eyed ones best. The others look a little zombie-ish. Especially that one in the photo with the glowing yellow eyes…But who cares? It’s Christmas and we are totally allowed to eat things that look like laser-eyed-sleigh-pullers.
Here is a photo of how we shaped the dough to get our heads just right.
So the cookies were delightful. But what really took the cake {or cookie, as the case may be…} was Wyrene’s two-year-old daughter. She is a laugh a minute. I am in love with her busy personality. Let me tell you…this is one spunky kid. And even though she’s a mini, she’s still a girl…entitled to her fair share of cookie making.
One of my favorite moments came when we were done rolling out the dough for the sugar cookies. We left the flour on the counter and next thing we know, this little one had made a giant mound of flour. She’d taken it teaspoon by teaspoon out of the canister. We had our backs turned until we heard a little voice yell:
“Look! It’s a mountain!”
Yes…a mountain of flour. In the photos above she had torn down the mountain and begun burying cookie cutters. Needless to say she was a mess. But a little flour seems an awful low price for a good laugh. {Notice that she’s in different clothes in the following set of photos. Wonder why?}
To me, no matter what kind of cookie…the best part is always decorating them. Whether that means slapping some pretzels in place as antlers or glazing them with bright icing. As you can see our best helper was very into this step as well. She did a great job. Seriously, are kids precious? Who wouldn’t want to accept a cookie from a cutie like that?
We had a great day. If I can’t be with my mom and sister and aunt and cousin to bake holiday treats, I’m glad I can be among a lovely group like this. My cookies are gone now, but let me assure you…they were indeed made with love.
Amy
by Amy | Nov 28, 2012 | Blog, Crafts, The Art of Gathering, The Art of Projects
Is there anything better than a pretty cake stand?
Not in my book.
Derek actually had to put a limit on my cake stand habit. I’ve got more stands than pans to make cakes in. But c’mon. They. Are. Awesome. Even the most aggravating icing job looks down right delectable when displayed proudly on a cake stand. Beyond their ability to display desserts {of all kinds…not just cakes, mind you} they are maybe the best decor around.
On Thanksgiving I threw together a quick centerpiece. It wasn’t anything special. It took all of 5 minutes to make…I didn’t think it was extraordinary. But my mom did. I thought I was using a trick that everyone knew…but she didn’t…and you might not either. So, I’ll tell you.
Most basic cake stands {the kind you get with a globe to match…like in the picture} are multi-tasking. Yes, that is right. Multiple uses for one beautiful piece of hostess-ware. Here’s the secret…make it do a handstand.
Yep. Take the globe off. Turn the stand upside down, so the cake plate is resting on the table. Most stands have a fluted base with a hollow center. Grab the glob, turn it upside down, and put the handle into the base.
Viola.
Now you have a truffle dish. Or in my case, the basis for a last minute centerpiece. {Recognize that paper wreath?}
For Thanksgiving I filled the dish with nuts {the kind you scoop into a bag at the grocery store} and pine cones. Now {since it was such a hit} it’s filled with Christmas bulbs {the cheap kind from Family Dollar}.
Derek uses this as an argument against me getting more hostess-ware. “Why do you need a truffle dish, when the cake stand does both?”
Um…duh…for those occasions when I’m making cake an truffle. Or when I want to use it as a centerpiece and bake a cake. I’m not budging on this. A girl can never have too many cake stands. Period. End of story.
If you don’t have one. Go buy one. You won’t regret it. It can take your blah-domestic skills to…whoa! Domestic skillz. {Yes, that’s right, the kind with a “z” at the end. That’s how cool you’ll be.} And make sure it can do double duty.
Amy
by Amy | Nov 21, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Gathering
When the turkey has been eaten and the pie has been cut you’ll be left sitting around the house with friends and family. And in my house…that means games. We love games. Games of all kinds. And we have a sick game collection. So I’ve compiled a list of the best games {according to me…} to play this holiday season after the meal.
1. For the vocabulary savvy: Scattergories. This one is a classic. Stretch your brain by coming up with a word that fits into a listed category. The catch is…every word must begin with the same letter {chosen by a lettered dice.}
2. For the vocal: Mad Gab. Perfect for larger groups as it is a team game.
3. For the silly. The Game of Things. Have you played this one? It’s so fun. One person reads a category from a card {ie: Things not to do in a hospital.} Then everyone writes a response {ie: Eat junior mints while observing a surgery.} Players score points by guessing who wrote what. It. Is. Hilarious.
4. For the versatile: Cranium. Another classic. Teams move around the board by completing puzzles, charades and pictionary clues.
5. For the laid back: Skipbo. It’s a card game, good for 4-6 players. A slower pace, no teams, not a lot of ingenuity. Perfect for those feeling a bit sluggard after turkey.
6. For the poker faced: B.S. It stands for what you think it stands for. All you need for this one is a deck of cards and the ability to tell a white lie. Rules here.
7. For the creative: Balderdash. Players write made up definitions for obscure words, people and movies. Score points for tricking other players into believing yours is the real answer. This game never gets old to me.
I hope your Thanksgiving is full of full bellies and lots of quality family time…whether with family, or friends who might-as-well-be-family. I know I’m having a blast. But alas, before I can play games, I must bake the pies.
What is your favorite game to play with family on the holidays? Oh, and if all else fails…you can always pop in Christmas Vacation. After all, once T-giving is over it’s Christmas-time!!
Amy
by Amy | Nov 19, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Gathering, The Art of the Kitchen
It’s only a few days away!
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you must be reading from another country. Because in America, the only thing we love more than food…is a holiday that celebrates food.
Thanksgiving.
My parents got in last night, and boy am I glad to have them here. I just adore it when folks make the trip to come visit us…wherever we are. But I digress. You saw the title of the post and you want a recipe, darn it.
So here we go. This pumpkin bunt cake is a creation of my own and I’ve been celebrating fall and Thanksgiving with it for years now. {Ever since the recipe came into being.} It takes about 20 minutes to whip together…then about 55 minutes of filling your house with amazing cinnamon-pumpkiny smells.
Here’s what you do:
Get out a big bowl.
In that bowl beat together:
3 cups sugar
1/4 cup butter {softened}
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Then…
Add the following ingredients one at a time, mixing after each:
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp allspice
3/4 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
Finally…
Alternate adding the final two ingredients. First some flour, then some pumpkin…until it’s all mixed in.
3 1/2 cups flour
1 – 15 oz can of pureed pumpkin
Pour half of the batter into a greased and floured bundt pan. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup brown sugar and 3/4 tsp cinnamon. Then pour the rest of the batter on top. Sprinkle the top of the batter with more cinnamon and sugar.
Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes. It’s done when a knife stabbed into the center comes out nice and clean. After it’s cooled for a bit mix up 3/4 cups of powdered sugar with 1/4 cup of milk {more if you want a thinner glaze}. Then use a spoon to drizzle the glaze over the top of the cake.
You’re gonna love this one.
Amy
by Amy | Nov 1, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Gathering
It’s November! You know what that means…time to trade spooky for turkey. November 1st is the gateway to all things holiday and hospitality. It’s the time when we begin thinking about hosting gatherings, welcoming guests and overeating. {Just being honest.}
I’m excited to get my home guest ready and my table turkey-worthy. In the coming days we’ll be talking about all of that. But today I want to get us all ready to be guests…by showing you what is shaping up to be the best hostess gift of the year.
Salt & Pepper Shakers!!
Good guest etiquette holds that it’s polite to bring a gift to your hostess when coming over for a holiday dinner or party. {Except if it’s your mom…then it’s okay just to bring yourself.}
Here’s what I’m proposing. This year…instead of showing up with a bottle of wine or flowers…show up with something better that your hostess will adore. Come bearing the gift of novelty shakers. They are trending now and covering shelves from Pottery Barn to Target. You’ll be able to nab a cute pair no matter what your gift budget.
1. Acorn shakers from Stonewall Kitchen. {These are on the pricy side…}
2. Orange Owl shakers from Target. Precious for only $8.99!
3. Turkeys, perfect for Thanksgiving, from Williams Sonoma. Mid price at $19.99.
4. I love this little squirrel-nutkin from Pottery Barn. These will cost a pretty penny…$39.95
Now friends, don’t be intimidated by the price tags. Nab these sweet hostess gifts on sale when you see them. Check Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart’s Better Homes & Gardens line, and K-Mart’s Martha Stewart/Paula Dean lines.
Happy November!
Amy
by Amy | Oct 19, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Gathering, The Art of Projects
It’s that time of year again. Time to hit the Goodwill at the last possible second to throw together a costume for a last minute Halloween party. If you are like me…which I think a lot of you are…you like the costume, but you don’t like the work and you don’t like spending the dough. So don’t worry. As usual, I’ve got your back. Here is a collection of costumes you can make in one afternoon with things from the local thrift shop. Some I’ve done, some I’ve laid out how they can be done…take a peek, I know you’ll be inspired.
Now, without further ado…enjoy 13 unique DIY costumes that will be the hit of the party!
My favorite costume of all time. In 2010 Derek and I dressed as the Spartan Cheerleaders. Make it yourself. Here’s what you need: Two black tank tops | a white skirt | White headband | Red athletic pants | Two old white t-shirts | Red felt.
Cut up the white shirts into sashes, then outline them with red felt. Outline the sashes with red felt. Cut out letters in felt and hot glue, glue, glue! (more…)
by Amy | Jul 30, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Adventure, The Art of Gathering
There are two distinct schools of thought on what I’m about to show you. #1: This is awesome. #2: This is the lamest thing I’ve ever seen.
I, obviously go with #1. If you are more of #2 person, that’s fine. Just know that I’m a little lame sometimes.
In 2008 my lovely friend Courtney came up with a great idea. We love the Olympics, to celebrate, let’s host our own Olympics. A make up of events that are awful, exciting, and as close to the real thing as we can get on a $0 budget in Elkhart, IN.
And so it began. This weekend we celebrated the third Special Friends Olympics. Yes. That’s what we really call it. And…in case you are wondering…you too can host your own. We try to make it fall at any time during the games.
We start at 10 a.m. {ish) with a breakfast of champions. Then we put up the score board {table paper taped to my parent’s porch door} and start the games. {After the lighting of the *Tiki* Torch.} God bless my parents for putting up with kids who are probably too old to continue to participate and invent such shenanigans. But when it’s all said and done, it’s been a day of good clean fun.
This year we participated in the following events:
- The Hunger Games {target shooting with an air soft gun}
- Slippery Slide {a distance even on a 100 foot slip ‘n’ slide}
- A “Family Double Dare” inspired obstacle course {which included shot-put, hurdles, biking and sprinting}
- Drunk Stick {a crowd favorite…pick up a pool noodle, hold it above your head, look up and spin around 15 times as fast as you can. Then drop the noodle and jump over it. This event is judged on entertainment value, speed and accuracy. Seriously, try it.}
- A Foot Race
- Hot Box {a relay of sprints in winter attire}
- Blind Volley Ball {volley ball over the clothes line draped with sheets, so you can’t see where the ball is going to come from}
So there you have it. Now you know something even more weird about me than you ever thought possible. But don’t knock it until you try it. There are many haters out there…but we’ve never had a bad time at the SFO. And past participants always want to come back to the games.
I took the most medals for the women’s division of the SFO. I like to think I made the Team USA proud. But somehow I doubt I did. Check out more photos from the day in the gallery below.
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Happy Monday,
Amy
PS…Tomorrow I’m so excited to be sharing my favorite craft finds from the Elkhart County 4-H Fair! Check back.
