Thursday, October 30, 2014

Witches Fingers

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Creepy Witches' Thingers
 
 
 
      1 cup butter, softened
     1 cup icing sugar
     1egg
     1 tsp  almond extract
     1 tsp  vanilla
     2-3/4 cups  all-purpose flour
     1 tsp  baking powder
     1 tsp  salt
     3/4 cup whole blanched almonds
     1 tube red decorator gel, (blood for fingers)*

      


Preparation

In bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg, almond extract and vanilla; beat in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Working with one quarter of the dough at a time and keeping remaining dough refrigerated, roll heaping teaspoonful (5 mL) of dough into finger shape for each cookie.
Press almond firmly into end for nail. Squeeze in centre to create knuckle shape; using paring knife, make slashes in several places to form knuckle.
Place on lightly greased baking sheets; bake in 325°F (160°C) oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until pale golden. Let cool for 3 minutes. Lift up almond; squeeze red decorator gel onto nail bed and press almond back into place, so gel oozes out from underneath. Remove from baking sheets; let cool on racks. Repeat with remaining dough.

* I have also used seedless raspberry jam


 

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

a confession

Okay so I have a confession to make ....
Only my family and a few friends are privy to this.
I am ready to let the world ----- well maybe my blogger world ----- in on this

I LOVE FLIP FLOPS

Yes I know they are bad for your feet --- bad on your back--- bad for your knees  BUT

I still love them.
I have lots and lots of them.
And yes I wear them all winter --- inside --- not in the snow well not a lot :-)
I am even working on a pair of socks to wear with them.
 

So HB and I were talking about my addiction and I said " wouldn't it be great if I could find flip flop slippers"
 
 
 
Look what I found...
 
 
YIPPPEEEE

Thursday, October 16, 2014

thanksgiving and a wee fall tour

 
 
A little table just for two
 
 
Our van N's decided they wanted to have the day to themselves .....
I love all the to dos involved in having a big holiday meal but I guess I will have to wait now until Christmas.
Since our oldest girl and her family including our precious kiddos are in Alberta the holidays take on a different hue.
Lets just say Nona and Bapa are REALLY looking forward to spending Christmas with our lil Miss D .....
 
 
It has been a very strange few weeks weather wise here in Ontario
Mostly rain with a couple days hiccup of summerlike weather.
 
 
HB is still working in Toronto all week only home on the weekends.
So garden cleanup has been left to me for the most part.
We have way too many gardens and with so much rain it is taking me quite a long time to get organized.
I am getting er done tho.
 
 
 
Garden #1  Before
 
 
Garden #1 After
 
 
 
 
 
And a few Fall decorations
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And getting a few Halloween decs out there
 
 
 

Saturday, October 11, 2014

happy thanksgiving

happy thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends and family
 
 

what am I thankful for this year
 
my awesome hb
 
sensational daughters
 
terrific sons in law
 
most beautiful grand children
 
fabulous friends
 
cuddly kittys
 
dry shampoo
 
big smiles from miss D
 
text messages
 
low salt wavy Lays
 
skyping with the kiddos
 
etc
 
etc
 
etc
 
 
 
 
have a fantastic weekend
to all my blogger buddys
 
 

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

a few projects

 
Here are a few things that have been keeping me out of trouble
 
 
  a Halloween hat for Miss D



one of many pumpkin inspired goodies



another lil hat for the fall for Miss D


a fall sweater 



 
and a blanket to keep her warm
 

 
a few more burp cloths
and
nursing pads

 
  There are other lil projects on the needles for the kiddos in Alberta but I am keeping those a secret for now

Sunday, October 5, 2014

An Indian Inspired Dinner

 
What a terrific evening with fabulous people.
I don't think I have ever done a completely Indian inspired menu for a dinner party.
Well this past Saturday was the test.....
I spent ALL day Friday chopping and sautéing and measuring all those wonderful Indian spices.
My house smelled like an Indian spice market..
Saturday we spent cleaning and organizing chairs and tables.
Then it was time to test the apple martinis and wait for our guests.
 
 




 
 
 







 

 
 
 
 
Here was the menu
Apple martinis
Vegetable Samosas
 
Chicken Tikka
Lamb Saag
Mixed vegetable curry
Dahl
Raita
Basmati rice flavoured with cumin, cardamom, and cinnamon
 
Mango panna cotta with mango puree and raspberry
 

 
 
Lots of delicious wines and finishing with decaff coffees and scotch (for some)
 
Lovely Hostess gifts.......
 


 
It was a a lot of fun for us but I know a couple lil ones that are happy these festivities are done.....
 

"Don't let the door hit you in the bum "

 
"Thank goodness I have my arm back"