Festive Fall Recipe

I just got on Pinterest yesterday and think it is pretty cool.  I am still trying to get the hang of it, but think it will be a great resouce for all things, crafty, yummy and pretty.  Found these cute  Martha Stewart cookies on Pinterest and pinned them to my Halloween Board.  Couldn't wait to try them out, so since it was cold and foggy morning, I decided to whip out a few quick batches.    

Candy Corn Sugar Cookies

Right after removing the cookies from the oven, be sure to press in the candies.

• Prep Time 15 minutes
• Total Time 30 minutes
• Yield Makes about 36

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, very soft
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
• About 36 candy corns

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place butter and sugar in a medium bowl; beat with a wooden spoon until combined. Beat in egg yolk, vanilla, baking powder, and salt. Add flour, and mix until a dough forms.
2. Scoop out level teaspoons of dough, and roll into balls (chill dough briefly if it becomes too soft to handle). Place balls on baking sheets, 2 inches apart.
3. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges are firm and cookies are dry to the touch (do not let cookies color), 10 to 12 minutes.
4. Remove from oven; gently press a candy corn into center of each cookie (surface of cookies may crack slightly). Cool on sheets 1 minute; transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Cook's Note

Chocolate Variation: Reduce the amount of flour given in the recipe to 1/2 cup. Add 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder along with the flour in step 1, and proceed.

These cookies were so easy and quick to make--tasty too.  There was no frosting, decorating or piping involved.  Great for the kids to help press the candy corn into the cookies, although be careful with little little children, so they don't burn themselved on the hot cookie tray.  I plan to make these right before Halloween to bring as gifts to family and friends.  So cute and festive.  Love these!

~Amy

P.S. Although the recipe says makes 36 cookies I only got between 16 to 20 cookies per batch, but with both chocolate and plain cookies there are plenty.  I may double recipe in the future.    

Mischieviously Different

I love the versatility of CTMH "Mischief" papers.  Below are two layouts we will be creating today at my "Scrappy Creations" monthly class.  Same paper pack 2 different looks. 

Thanks to Scrapbooks Ect. for the inspiration.  Stay tuned for super cute Owl treat holders.  Picture tutorial coming soon!

To Tell a Story

I have told you enough how much I love Studio J, well I do!  This week's  Heart 2 Heart challenge gave me yet another chance to tell you.  The challenge was to create a layout and share a layout that tells a story.  Studio J is so convienet and easy it allows me to document and tell all sorts or stories that I probably wouldn't have in the past.  Here are a just few examples of how you can use Studio J to tell a story. 

1.  Capture the ordinary in a layout.  Daily activities are great memories to preserve.  Yes it is fun to scrap pages for birthdays, holidays and special occasions, but sometimes the ordinary can turn into a special momento to help you reminince. 

This layout is one of my favorites.  I have shared it previously but I love how my daughter's pink shirt just pops with these beautiful but subtle Sonoma Papers.  I was inspired one day while my kids were wrestling in the yard to create a layout of just that, the kids playing.  This is something they do a lot and really is not that out of the ordinary.  I took a few pictures and then later that evening I was able to create this layout and journal about what good friends they are.  I love the embellisment clusters and the simple photo layout.  It is perfect to capture a brief moment in our family history that I might otherwise would have forgotten.        

 2.  Document a Daily Routine in a Layout.  Daily routines my children once had are also fun to document and write about.  It helps to remind of of who they were when they were so tiny. 

3.  Use quotations as a title.  I love to use actual quotes for titles as a reminder of sweeter times that our little one has now out grown.  Quotes help to create the theme of the page and give directions for pictures to use in your layout. 

This layout shows how my daughter use to run in the morning get the newspaper with Daddy, yelling "wait for me!"  Now that she is few years olders, she no longer rushes to help her Dad in the morning.  It is something I think both her Dad and I miss.  I am glad we have this layout.   

 4.  Document moments in History.  Not that this is a huge history making moment, but the snowfall we had in 2008 where is snowed over 100 inches in the month of December is definately a fun memory and fact to add to any scrapbook. 

Other than special occasions, what are your favorite pages to scrap about?  Leave a comment letting me know.  Excited to hear your ideas!
~Amy

Apple Sweetness

This weekend we headed to Greenbluff to visit Seimer's, our favorite farm.  We made it through the corn maze, rode the "choo choo" trains and picked some perfect Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins.  It was a beautiful October morning. 

 While there, we also picked up a big bag of sweet Honey Crisp Apples.  I decided I would attempt to bake an apple pie.  Don't you just love the smell of apples and cinnamon baking in the oven, especially on a chilly autumn day?  I am by no means a "pie maker," and aside from the annual pumpkin pie and a few huckleberry pies here and there, this was my first attempt at an apple pie.  It is not the most perfect looking pie, but pretty good, if I do say so. 

I found this great recipe  from Grandma Ople.

Ingredients

• 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced

Directions

1. Melt butter in a sauce pan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add white sugar, brown sugar and water; bring to a boil. Reduce temperature, and simmer 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.
3. Bake 15 minutes at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes.

Aside from tossing some cinnamon onto the apples and pouring the caramel mixture on the apples prior to adding the lattice crust, I followed the recipe above.  It was easier than I thought and tasted delicious.  Think I will have to start attempting to make pies more often.  

Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did!  Happy Baking!

~Amy 

Blog-tober Fest

I am a little late starting Blogtober Fest, but hey it's never too late to have a party on your blog....right!?!  This is something Tresa Black has started and promoted for the past several years.  So, for the entire (errrr rest of the) month, stay tuned as I attempted ot blog more and share more.  Should be fun to share all the goodness the month of October has to bring.    

Happy Blogging!

~Amy

Spooky Creations for October

Scrappy Creations Monthly Club

Thursday, October 13th 7PM

Please join me for a fun filled night of scrapping.  Create a fall/Halloween layout using the Mischief paper pack from Close to my Heart, plus 2-3 decorated treat boxes. Stay tuned for pictures of the projects early next week. 

Basic Kit $15.00

-1/2 Mischief Paper Pack

-Mini Medley Accent Pewter

Better Than Basic Kit $20.00

 -Basic Kit
-1/2 pack of Licorice Opaques Adhesive Gems
-1/2 pack of Clear Sparkles

Deluxe Kit $30.00 (Full packages of all products)
-Mischief Level 2 Paper Pack
-Mini Medley Accent Pewter
-Licorice Opaques Adhesive Gems
-Clear Sparkles

Please comment or send me a message as soon a possible if you would like to join me.  Everyone is welcome!  Please RSVP no later than Tuesday, October 4, so that I may order and receive all supplies in time for the class. 

Hope to hear from you!

~Amy

Winning!

Don't worry, there is no tiger blood involved or drug induced rants.  I have just been on somewhat of a lucky streak lately and wanted to share my latest news.  Every time a new Close to My Heart catolog is released there is a "Make if From Your Heart" contest for consultants to enter and showcase some of their artwork with the new products.  You guessed it, I was chosen as a winner for the Mischief Level 1 with this fun Studio J layout.      

The Mischief paper pack was created to be the "Halloween" paper pack with lots of fun patterns in black and orange.  With the versitility of Studio J, I was able to change the primary black patterned paper to Honey and Chocolate which fit well with the fall corn maze theme.  I was happy and proud to be chosen, plus I won some product credit, so that is always great! 

Check out my layout and other winners here.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Amy 

Happy Fall!

Fall is here and the days are sunny and cool, and the nights are even cooler.  This time of year is one of my favorites and brings about lots of happpy memories.  Its the beginning of changing leaves, pretty mums, pumpkins, apples, baking,  halloween and the start of the holiday season. 

I love baking and giving fall treats to family and friends.  This "You are Sweet" card is simple and sweet and perfect to add to a freshly baked loaf of pumpkin bread or plate Halloween cookies.  I used reverse paper piecing to add a punch of colors beneath the stars.   

 The cute stamped images are from the "Pair-a-Phrase"  Double Stamp Set from Close to My Heart, only available until the end of September.  Purchase $75 dollars of CTMH product on my CTMH website and recieve this adorable stamp set for free.  Check out all the possibilities below.  Great for every season!  
More great Cardstock only creations on the Heart to Heart Challenge, here.

~Amy

My Brush with Fame

In the CTMH scrapbooking world, Jeanette Lynton is the founder and creator of all things beautiful and Close to My Heart.  Her Blog, http://www.jeanettelynton.com is something I check and follow on a regular basis.  I love her tips and ideas.  She is wonderful.

At the end of August, she had a simple question and answer contest, in which she was going to pick 10 of her favorite questions to answer.  Because she got so many, she decided to make September Q & A month.  For each question she chose, the questioner would receive a free stamp set of their choice. 

Guess what!?!?!   My question was featured on today's blog post.  I was giddy and honored that Jeannette would choose to answer my question.  Now, lucky me,  I get the chance to pick any CTMH stamp set.  I am leaning toward the Rustic Alphabet, but am not quite sure.   Any suggestions?  Which stamp set would you choose? 

~Amy 

Layout in 30 Minutes or Less

Great tips and ideas from this month's Love Your Layout with Studio J.  Use the tips and techniques to create a layout in less than 30 minutes.  Make sure you check it out!  I love the way the creator used the blank space on the large photo.  What inspired you? 

~Amy