Ginger Cookies on the Stone

My house was chilly.

I was drinking a lot of coffee.

I decided a cookie (or two) would compliment both!

I pulled out my favorite Ginger Cookie recipe....

because the required ingredients are always in my pantry.

I decided it was a good day to triple the batch!

I am not sure why I thought it was a good idea to bake the cookies on my baking stone.

Maybe because they turn out so much better.

Maybe because then there wouldn't be as many dishes to wash afterwards.

Maybe because I really wanted to spend 3 HOURS in my kitchen.

I can only bake a dozen at a time,

but it was worth it -- 

except for the pan I forgot about left in a little too long.

2 batches are tucked away in the freezer....

the other batch just disappeared.  :)

Ginger Cookies

2/3 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 egg

4 TBSP molasses

2 cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ginger

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cloves

1 tsp cinnamon

Make into small balls and roll in sugar.

Place on ungreased cookie sheets

(or preheated baking stone)

Bake 8-10 minutes in 350 degree oven.

Quilter's Cookbook Give-A-Way

Spend more time quilting and less time cooking!

This book has lots of great recipes that won't take long to prepare -

which leaves more time for quilting....

or knitting....

or reading...

I think you get the idea.  :)

If you want your name dropped in the basket, just leave a friendly comment.

 A name will be drawn on Sunday evening....right before I go to bed.

And I will post it right here.  :)

Pantry Pickles

I had hoped to can many quarts of pickles this past fall.

I planted plenty of seeds.....

but unfortunately, very few grew.

So instead of quarts of tiny little pickles (my favorites),

I ended up with quarts of sliced pickles - thanks to those who passed on their cucumber excess to me!

I canned two different varieties.

Regular garlic dill for my husband's burger obsession....

and a sweeter dill variety for my pickle nibbling obsession.  

Because who would want to eat a sandwich without a pickle???

Thoughtful Gifts and Great Bread

Some thoughtful gifts that I received this Christmas.

From some very thoughtful people.  :)

The Deli Style Rye bread from the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day book is delicious!!!

(And just as yummy the second day)

Knitting

I planned on joining Ginny today for her weekly Yarn Along because it is a motivator to get a knitting project underway!

I started this extra wide basket weave scarf a while back.  I tucked it away in a basket because our winter was so mild that I didn't think I would use it.

Well....

winter has arrived!

I purchased some economy wool to knit this scarf for myself....I will knit until I run out of yarn....not sure about adding fringe yet.  I am making it extra wide because I do not care for wearing hats (they do crazy things to my curly hair), and I plan on wrapping the scarf around my head and neck on those extra cold days.

As far as what I am reading....well...it was TRASH!

And that is exactly where I put it this morning!!!!

I think I need to read a little farther than just the dust jacket to see the content of the book before I purchase it!

Enjoy your day!  I have a scarf to finish!!!

Please Don't Judge Me

They were so bright....

and fun....

and I still had some room to cram keep them in my hutch...

and they were only $4.99 for the whole box....

and this girl just likes vintage dishes!

I Did IT -- And Liked IT

Yesterday I decided I needed to challenge myself.

I needed to quit freaking out at the thought of knitting the heel of a sock.

Christine had sent me this little sock kit to encourage me.

I packed it in my bag for Arizona....

and you know I didn't accomplish anything in Arizona!

I dug it out of my unpacked bag and cast on 28 stitches on size 1 needles.

I was stumped when I needed to turn the heel because there were still a couple stitches left on my needle, so watched this video to guide me along.

Really????

It was that simple????

And I was this freaked out???

Thank you Christine!!!

I have already started another one....

baby size this time.