Tuesday, September 25, 2007

In "Ghoulish" Style

The decorating has begun!!!

I'm sure we will add a few things here and there, but we have a great start. Now I don't want to mislead any one, our decorations aren't very sophisticated. Most of them have been picked up at places like the dollar store, and were chosen by children!!

The "Ghoulish Style" Stylists...



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Just A Sample of their work...
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This is hard work mom can we take a break!!!
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Why of course (I say), I'm not that much of a witch,
Why don't we watch some movies...

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Now Little Goblins It's Off To Bed!!!
We'll have caramel apple French toast in the morning!!!
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This was a fun change from our ordinary french toast. I didn't have a recipe I just cooked the apples in a skillet with about 2-3T butter, when they were softened I added brown sugar, and a little more butter. I used my usual French Toast method (3-4 eggs, 1/4- 1/2 C milk, 1t vanilla, and brown sugar to taste, dip the bread in mixture and place in skillet to cook). Remove the toast from the skillet and top with apple mixture, drizzle with caramel syrup and top off with whipped cream.

I got this little shirt done on the embroidery machine too...
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It didn't turn out just perfect. But, I guess thats what I get for letting a 2 year old choose the designs. He loves looking at the designs on the computer and then waching them stich out on the machine!!!

Fancy That, We're all decked out in "Ghoulish Style"!!!
Dee Light

Friday, September 14, 2007

Tea Party Recipes!!!!

I had such a fun time visiting all of the Virtual Tea Parties this week!!! There were so many lovely Tea Sets, and Yummy Snacks!!!

As promised today's post will incule the recipes used for my own little tea party. The first recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies can be found on Martha Stewarts Web Sight. They are so soft and chewy just the way my family likes them. The second recipe is from The All New Joy Of Cooking Cookbook. The recipe is as follows:


Ginger Snaps

Whisk Together-
3 3/4 C flour
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t soda
4 t ground ginger
1t ground cinnamon
1/4 t ground clove
1/4 t salt

Beat on medium until fluffy and well blended-
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 2/3 C sugar

Add and beat until well combined-
2 L eggs
1/2 C dark molasses
2 t fresh lemon juice
1/4 finely grated lemon or orange zest

Stir in flour until well blended.
Roll dough into balls and then in sugar.

Bake at 350, for 10-13 minutes.



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The girls also sipped warm Apple Spiced Tea . We added sugar to ours and a little cream too!!!

I hope every one enjoys the recipes. They're nothing fancy just tasty treats that make kids (and grown ups) smile.

I've Been Tagged By Adriann.

7 Random Things About Me:

1. I'm a mother of 2 with another on the way
2. I'm a Girl Scout Leader
3. PTA drives me crazy!!!
4. I love chocolate chip cookie dough ( but who doesn't)
5. I read romance novels
6. I don't have cable TV
7. I can't wait for the next season of Survivor and American Idol

I tag 7. (If you've been tagged be sure to tag 7)

Jill Monroe
Mizz Smoochie Lips
Chicken Bells
Heidijayhawk
Belinda
Kloth and Bolt
4 Reluctant Entertainers

A Big Thank You Goes Out to Sandy at 4 Reluctant Entertainers . I just received the book I won!!! I can't wait to get started reading it!!!

NO MORE JELLYFISH, CHICKENS, OR WIMPS
(Raising Secure, Assertive KIDS IN A TOUGH WORLD)

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Fancy that, a tea party, being tagged and recieiving a prize all in one week. It's been a busy week in blog land!!!!
DeeLight

Monday, September 10, 2007

Time For Tea

Back To School Tea Party

It's almost time for the girls to arrive!!!! I can't wait to see them all dressed up in their back to school outfits!!! This is going to be so much fun. The table has been set with "Old Country Rose" china, the napkins are old fashioned hankies. Each girl has a place card marking her spot, on the back of each place card is a different back to school question (the girls will take turns answering each question).

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The menu consists of Ginger Snap Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Caramel Apple Slices, and Spiced Apple Tea with cinnamon sticks for stirring ( I will post the recipes later this week).


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Oh, Good They're here, and they look soooooo cute!!! Don't you agree?


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They are such little ladies, sitting together having tea!!

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What a wonderful time we've had. We would all like to thank you for stopping by to share a spot of tea!!!

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Fancy that, three little ladies having an after school tea!!!
DeeLight

To visit other virtual Tea Parties follow this link.

tea-invite-small[1]

Back To School Tea

The Ladies at Make Mine Pink are hosting a virtual tea party today!!! How fun is that.

I don't have photos of my actual Tea Party yet, as I will be giving a Back To School Tea this afternoon. However I have pulled out the china, napkins, place card holders, and of course a favorite recipe book!!!


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Please stop by later this afternoon or evening to check out the photos from our Tea Party!! The girls will be wearing there favorite back to school clothes, and the menu will be focused on tastes that remind me of back to school and fall. I will be serving Apple Spiced Tea, Ginger Snap Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies (because they remind me of my own childhood), and caramel apple slices.

Fancy That, a day of virtual tea.
See you this afternoon, Dee Light



Friday, September 7, 2007

Comfort Food

Back to school, September, the slight change in temperature all make me think of fall. Which makes me think of "Comfort Food". You know the kind of food, that warms your soul, makes you think of childhood, and big family dinners. Well today I wanted to share a couple of recipes that are my kind of comfort food. The first recipe is a new recipe with familiar flavors, and the second is an old family favorite.

Upside Down Apple Ginger Bread Cake
I must admit I was a little sceptical about this recipe, I tend to use Southern Living, Martha Stewart, or Paula Deen type recipes. You know the kind loaded with fat!!! This recipe was found in The Complete Cooking Light Cookbook (I have had this book for years but never really used it). The results were fantastic!!! This cake is especially tasty served warm from the oven.

Any where there is an option given to use margarine or butter, I used butter. I don't even have margarine in my house. I know , I know butter is so, so fattening, but it's also so, so tasty!!!

1T stick margarine or butter melted
1/4 C packed brown sugar
2 C thinly slice peeled Granny Smith Apples
1 1/4 C all purpose flour
1t ginger
1t cinnamon
3/4 t baking soda
1/4 t nutmeg
1/8 t cloves
1/3 C granulated sugar
1/4 C stick margarine or butter, softened
1/3 C molasses
1 L egg
1/2 C plain fat free yogurt
1/3 C chopped pitted date ( optional)
3 T chopped walnuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 350
1. Coat bottom of 9 inch cake pan with melted butter.
Sprinkle brown sugar over butter.
Arrange apples spokelike over brown sugar.
2. Spoon flour into measuring cup; level with knife.
Combine flour and next 6 ingredients; set aside.
3. Beat granulated sugar and 1/4 C butter for 5 minutes on medium speed.
Add molasses and egg, beat well. Add flour mixture alternately with yogurt, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix well after each addition.
Stir in dates and walnuts if desired.
4. Pour batter over apple slices. Sharply tap pan on counter to remove any air bubbles.
5. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until tooth pick comes out clean.
Cool in pan on wire rack for 5 minutes. Run narrow metal spatula around sides to loosen. Place plate upside down on pan; invert cake onto plate. Serve warm. Yield 8 servings.
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This next recipe is an all time family favorite!!! I can remember my grandmother making it for family dinner, my mother has made it and still makes it for family dinner, and I make it quite often as well. It probably one of my husbands favorite foods, a real crowd pleaser!!!
Chicken and Noodles
Stew Chicken:
Whole cut up chicken with skin
celery
salt to taste
pepper to taste
cover with water
After chicken is cooked discard skin, bones, celery.
Chill broth, and skim fat.
Noodles:
3 eggs
6 T cream
3t salt
beat with whip
Add 1 1/2 C flour and blend
Work in more flour if needed to create a workable dough
Place dough on a floured surface and roll thin.
Leave the dough to dry 6-8 hours.
When dough is almost dry, slice into noodles.
Chicken and Noodles:
Bring broth to boil (add canned if you don't have enough)
Add noodles to broth, along with chopped chicken
Simmer about 8 minutes or until noodles are done.
Lower the temperature and add 2 T Butter, salt and pepper to taste, and milk or half and half to desired consistency.
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This particular dish isn't very photogenic, but I promise the taste will not disappoint!!!
Fancy that, something new and something old, recipes just like new and old friends can bring comfort!!
DeeLight