Custard Pie with Vintage Roses

An easy custard pie recipe. Make this for your co-workers or your next gals party. A delicious recipe from Marie Saba, courtesy of Monique at La Table de Nana. You're welcome!

  Today we celebrate twenty years of marriage, and I am often told how kind we are to each other. Joe is always nice to me. Always. He treats me (and everyone) kindly, and it's so easy to be kind in return. Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength.

Thank you to everyone that left a sweet comment on my blog post Where In The World Is My Mug......... I wish I could give everyone one of these cheery dish towels! We all need some sunshine.

The winner of the MacKenzie-Childs sunflower towel giveaway is:

Kitty @ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen
Kitty, I will be shipping the towel to you today. Congratulations!

xo
Deb

Love Is In The Air

 I am still swooning over these heart shaped sugar cookies with Magnolia Bakery buttercream frosting that I've made for Valentine's day for several years. It is the only buttercream recipe I ever use. Even though making these cookies is a big accomplishment for me, you must check out this Gal-entines Day Dessert Party. Major swoon!!! I'm having the gals over on Tuesday for dinner, and I've chosen to use Old Ivory from Syracuse China that I inherited from Joe's aunt that lived in NYC. I discussed the china with my friend that works in an antique shop, and she said Syracuse China is the only china that is selling right now. I am happy to use it and enjoy it with the gals. 

My Valentine  gave me an early gift, the 12th memory bottle he has made for me. I posted about these bottles back in 2012 and really need to take some recent pictures. Ever since we have been married, he secretly stashes business cards, tickets, receipts, brochures, artifacts, wine bottles and stuff from our travels. The bottles still bring many smiles, and I have them on a shelf in our sunroom that is eight feet off the ground. I have to stretch my neck to see them.

Using an empty wine bottle, he uses wood glue, glue-all or contact cement to secure the memory items to the bottle. After he glues, he puts rubber bands around the bottle to keep everything tight while the glue dries. When he gets to the top of the bottle, it gets a bit challenging. So he cuts those items at an angle so they will fit better. Once the glue is dry, he puts a thin coat of shellac on the bottle. Since ink can bleed on thin paper (such as store receipts), he  doesn't put shellac on those items. 

This is my attempt of decorating for Valentine's Day. If I was home more often, I would probably decorate more. It seems like only yesterday when I married this very special man. My thoughts return back to February 14, 1999 . Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength. Cupid's got nothing on us. 

World Famous Paradise Bakery Sugar Cookies with Magnolia Bakery Buttercream Frosting

Cookie Ingredients:

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup powdered sugar

2 cups vegetable shortening

3/4 teaspoon vanilla

1 large egg, beaten

3 1/3 cups cake flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

  

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 375°.

2) In a medium bowl, cream together the sugars and shortening using an electric mixer.

 3) Mix on slow speed 30 seconds, then scrape down the bowl with a spatula.

4) Increase speed to medium and mix for 3 minutes.

5) Slowly add vanilla and beaten egg while mixing.

6) In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl, mixing on slow speed until just blended. Do not overmix.

 7) Scoop with an ice-cream scoop if decorating with sugar only

8) Place directly on cookie sheet.

9) Bake at 375° for 9-10 minutes. Cookies are done when small cracks appear and are pale golden. Ideally, the edges do not brown.

If making cut out cookies form dough in to two balls, chill dough in refrigerator for at least two hours covered.

Roll out dough on floured surface and cut out cookies with desired shaped cookie cutters.

Place directly on cookie sheet. Bake at 375° for 9-10 minutes. Cookies are done when small cracks appear and are pale golden. Ideally, the edges do not brown.

Decorate with Buttercream Frosting or Sugar (See recipe below).

Magnolia Bakery Buttercream Frosting Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

6 to 8 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. You may not need to add all of the sugar. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly. (Use and store the icing at room temperature because icing will set if chilled.) Icing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

xo

Deb

2019 Year of the Pig, Happy Chinese New Year!

These mustard and butter pigs in a blanket are fantastic. Thank you Jenna at Painted Apron for sharing this recipe. They are my new favorite recipe to take to parties and are like crack! 

Mustard Butter Pigs in a Blanket
• 
  

1 can, 8 count crescent roll dough

24 little smokies or any smoked sausage pieces

1/2 cup melted butter

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 Tablespoon dijon mustard

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Unroll dough, separate triangles and cut each triangle into 3 dough pieces.  Roll up each sausage piece in a dough piece and place into a small shallow sprayed casserole dish, with a small space in between them.  Mix sugar and mustard into melted butter along with Worcestershire sauce and stir to combine.  Slowly drizzle butter sauce over sausage stuffed dough in the pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes until puffed and golden.  Serve warm.

xo
Deb

Parmesan Onion Board

A Parmesan Onion Board is the perfect addition to your best soup recipes, and I served it apres ski with some chicken wings and guacamole/chips on Super Bowl Sunday.  It's got the bold flavors of onion, poppy seeds, and Parmesan cheese, and let's face it, that goes with just about anything. The only part of the Super Bowl I watch is the National Anthem and the Half Time Show. 

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 large onion, sliced very thin (you will carmelize them)
• 1 pound frozen bread dough, thawed
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 10- x 15-inch rimmed baking sheet.

In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt butter; cook onion 8 to 10 minutes or until

tender and golden. On a lightly floured surface, with a rolling pin, roll out dough to a 

10- x 15-inch rectangle. With your fingertips, gently push dough up to the edges, forming

a rim. If dough is sticky, dust it and your hands lightly with flour.

Brush dough with egg then spread onion evenly over the top. Sprinkle with poppy seeds
and Parmesan cheese.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden. Remove to a cutting board, let cool slightly, then
cut into squares and serve.

This is a winner my friends. Hope you have a great week. 

xo
Deb

Where In The World Is ???? Contest and Giveaway

 Hello friends! I hope you're ready for some fun. You've heard of the Traveling Totes right? If not, here is how the Traveling Tote series began, read about it HERE, and HERE is the first post. Our next traveling tote post is on March 1st and we have a great giveaway to offer so mark your calendar. 

We're doing something different for this post. Where in the world is my MacKenzie-Childs mug? I travel with my hearty and handy handsome Courtly Check enamel mug which is perfect for a draught of hot chocolate or calming tea. Dressed up and styled out, it’s black and white. Very classy—with a kick. Joe is usually the photographer, but I have asked others to take my picture. Hope you enjoy the mug photos and maybe you can guess where I was. 

Do you have any trips planned for 2019? I enjoy living vicariously through others. 

Feel free to guess where I was in the photos. We are now buried in snow, and I love looking back to these warmer days sipping coffee with my dearly beloved. We are closer to spring now than we were in September right? I have a lovely sunflower towel to give away, and all you need to do is leave a comment. I will pick a winner on February 14th. 

Feel free to visit any of the traveling tote blogs listed below. They would love that.  

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

 Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box

Jenna with Miss Coquille @The Painted Apron

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home

Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Sketchy Reader

Cherry Kay and Carrie Ann Hall @ Entertaining Women  

Thank you for stopping by, and I'll be back on February 14th to announce the winner and share some "love"ly photos.

Deb