Ringing in the New Year with Red Pepper Jelly

How about some red pepper jelly on cream cheese with crackers for ringing in the New Year?

Chocolate Crackles

Today I'm sharing a very old family favorite recipe from my Farm Journal Christmas Cookbook.  It's so easy, if you need a quick one.

Buche de Noel

Happy Third Week of Advent!  I went to a luncheon the other day and made a Buche de Noel with Meringue Mushrooms. 

Cranberry Pretzel Salad

I'm having a teatime lunch in my Kozy Kitchen.

Mandelbrot

The first week of Advent has begun, and I'm having some Mandelbrot cookies.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Turkeys

Let's talk turkeys today!

Jalapeno Jelly

We are still having some great weather here in Texas, and It's too pretty to not snack outside.  

Snickerdoodles

I've made us one of my favorite cookies to have today.

Melt-In-Your Mouth Spritz Cookies

The weather here in Texas has been so pleasant!  I made some spritz cookies to enjoy with a nice cup of tea.

Spider Cheese Ball

 

I'm setting my tea time today on my bench that I've had for over fifty years with my Halloween quilt. 

Luscious Buttercream Frosting

I'm having some leftover cupcakes from my granddaughter, Hayden's, 4th Birthday party.

Applesauce Spice Cake

We had a very dear friend pass away very unexpectedly and my son, Mike, asked if I would make a bundt cake for the family. 

Easiest Pumpkin Muffins

Ahhhh our weather is starting to cool off a little here in Texas!  It's so nice to be able to eat outside. 

Apple Crunch

I'm having my very favorite Apple Crunch today, which to me is even better than an apple pie! 

Glazed Apple Cookies

I'm in the Fall baking mood, even though our temperatures are not cooperating here in Texas.  Let's have some glazed apple cookies to get in the spirit, shall we?

Egg Roll in a Bowl

This is my new favorite dish that I tried this summer.  I found the recipe is a local magazine and adapted it for ease in preparation and ingredients

Mini Omelet Muffins

We celebrated my son Tim's recent birthday with another brunch with his family.  He requested eggs and German pancakes.

Baked Egg Pepper Cups

I had prepared this post awhile ago, and didn't know if I would be able to share it.

Blueberry Buckle

I had two pieces of this fabulous blueberry buckle leftover from my family brunch!  

Easiest Scones Ever

I'm sharing the most fluffy, fabulous scone recipe today by my little waterfall.

Spicy Blackberry Jam

I made the easiest scone recipe ever that was shared by my Australian friend, Tina, and made Miz Helen's Spicy Blackberry Jam to put on them.  

Cream Cheese and Cherry Pastries

These cream cheese cherry pastries are so tasty,  and my two youngest granddaughters helped me with them.  Little ones love to help!  

Sundried Tomato, Spinach and Feta Frittata

I had some leftover frittata that I made for a brunch for my youngest son's birthday.  Frittata is such an easy dish and can be served hot or room temperature.  I'm using one of my net coverings again as protection from those pesky flies.

Lemon Pasta at Our Garden Tea Party

Ella and Cissy had decided that they wanted a lemon themed tea party for our next one.  However, Cissy couldn't come and Avery, Ella's big sister couldn't come either, but Ella wanted to.  Ella likes to coordinate her outfit to our theme, and she found a shirt of her sister's that she could wear and she wore her mom's shoes!  

Strawberry Pie

 

Please join me for one of my all time favorite pies!  My daisies and my limelight hydrangeas (thanks for the recommendation, Mary !) are from my garden.  

Cheesy Chicken

My good friends brought over a harvest from their garden and I made one of my favorite meals of Cheesy Chicken, with the cherry tomatoes and fresh green beans.

Black Raspberry Whipped Sensation Pie

Is it hot enough for you where you live?  It's toasty in Texas, and I've made us a Blackberry Whipped Sensation Pie.  It's cool enough on my patio to sit and enjoy some.

Sponge Cake

Is anyone in the mood for Strawberry Shortcake?  Although I would never turn down a piece, in all actuality, I prefer a sponge cake or even an angel food cake for my strawberries.

Blueberry Delight

 

 

It's Flag Day and I'm having some Blueberry Delight to celebrate.  This dessert would also be wonderful for the 4th of July!

Braided Lemon Bread

Oh my goodness, this braided lemon bread is so tasty, and if you're a lemon lover, you'll love it!

Red White and Blue Strawberries

Today on Memorial Day, we honor those that have died while serving in the military.   I'm snacking on some cream cheese stuffed patriotic strawberries, and remembering those who died for our freedom, and thinking of my grandson, Connor, who is serving in the Marines.

No-Bake Raspberry Cream Pie

 

We've had so much rain here, that I quickly had to enjoy a tea outside while the rain subsided.  I have plenty of this luscious pie left to share with you.  

Coconut Cream Pie with Coconut Crust

I was lucky to set up a tea before all the rain came down upon us for the next days.  Bigelow's Toasted Coconut tea is perfect with this pie.

 

Sourdough Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake

Let's have some tea on the patio and a piece of Sourdough Coffee Cake.  We can sit and chat and listen to the sound of my waterfall.  

Heavenly Macaroons for Mother's Day

I'm remembering my Mom with one of her favorite treats!  Oh, how she loved macaroons.  I'm also having some Bigelow Toasted Coconut Tea to sip with them.  My mom embroidered this beautiful cloth, and it's a favorite of mine.  I picked some dianthus from my yard, along with some bacopa.  Happy Mother's Day to all women who care for and love others, whether they be people of all ages or pets. 

Blueberry Sourdough Muffins and Friendship

It's a beautiful day here in Texas and I'm serving blueberry muffins that I've made using my sourdough starter that I have kept going for the past 18 years.

Easy Apple Strudel

It turned rather chilly here in Texas, and my tea is inside today.  I've baked us an easy apple strudel, if you liked to try a slice.

I'm using another trio set that my late Great Aunt Kitty painted.  

I found this Susan Paley vase on ebay and her name is Serena.  She was only $3.99, but the shipping was over $10.00.  I went back recently to check on others, and she was $45.00!!  I'm thinking that I got a good deal!!  I did the cross stitch several years ago.

My strudel was placed upon this beautiful serving dish that my youngest son and daughter-in-law gave me for my birthday.  I have two other pieces similar to this that they gave me.  

This company will inscribe a message on the back, which makes it so personal.

The strudel is placed upon this most delicate tablecloth that I believe was my Aunt Kitty's. 

This is the border on the tablecloth.  All the white parts are hand embroidered.  I so wish I could ask where this came from.  My Aunt Kitty and Uncle John didn't have children and they traveled a lot.  Aunt Kitty was like a grandmother to me, since her sister, my grandmother died when I was probably 3-4 years of age.

Yield: 6

Author: Kitty

Easy Apple Strudel

This is a great recipe to have on hand when you need something easy but impressive.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pkg. Frozen Puff Pastry (1 sheet)
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 can apple pie filling
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (or to taste)
• a few gratings of fresh nutmeg (if desired)

Instructions

1. Thaw pastry at room temperature for 3o minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
3. Mix egg and water and set aside.
4. Unfold pastry on lightly floured surface.  Roll into a 16"x12" rectangle. 
5. Cut up the apples with kitchen shears to make smaller pieces.  Add the cinnamon and nutmeg.
6. With short side facing you,  spoon the pie filling on the bottom half of the pastry to within 1" of edges.
7. Starting at short side, roll up like a jelly roll.  Place seam side down on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Tuck the ends under to seal.  Brush with egg mixture.  Cut several 2" long slits 2" apart on top. 
8. Bake for 35 minutes or until golden.
9. Cool on baking sheet on wire rack for 30 minutes.
10. Slice and serve warm .

Notes:

I sprinkled the top of the strudel with some sparkling sugar before baking. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Created using The Recipes Generator

Thank you for visiting!  xo

I am sharing this with:

Love Your Creativity Link Party

Meal Plan Monday

Full Plate Thursday at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

Spicy Fruity Buns

It's such a pretty day to enjoy a Spicy Bun and a cup of tea.  I was able to share some of these wonderful buns with a friend that had foot surgery, and she loved them, too.

This pretty pansy set was painted by my late Great Aunt Kitty.

This pretty violet set was painted by her, also.  I thought that they were perfect for Spring.

The pretty topper was also my Aunt Kitty's.  Isn't the cut work so beautiful?

Here is how she signed the back of the china pieces.

My friend, Tina, who lives in Australia,  shared this fabulous recipe for her Hot Cross Buns with me. Tina is a wonderful baker and always has something yummy in her kitchen.   Since Easter is over, I left the cross off of them, and just put the shiny glaze on.  I'll be making these again and again.  They are perfect! 

Yield: 12 delicious buns

Author: Kitty, but recipe came from my friend, Tina, who lives in Australia

Spicy Fruity Buns

Tina willingly shared this recipe with me. It's a very soft dough, and makes the most incredible buns.  It does require three risings, but the last one is only 20 minutes. 

Ingredients

Buns

• 1 and 1/4 cups lukewarm milk
• 2 teaspoons yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3 and 1/2 cups bread flour (I used 3 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour + 1/4 cup Vital Wheat Gluten)
• 3 teaspoons of spices of choice (I used cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, a touch of cloves)
• 1 scant teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 and 1/2 cups mixed dried fruit (I used golden raisins, dried cranberries, and dried Montmorency cherries)
• 4 and 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• Glaze
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons water

Instructions

1. Combine lukewarm milk, white sugar and yeast and set aside for about 5 minutes until starting to get frothy.
2. Combine flour, spices, salt, brown sugar and dried fruit in a large bowl or mixer with a dough hook.  Make a well in the center and pour in the milk mixture, the butter and the beaten egg.
3. Mix with your dough hook and then knead for about 5 minutes on medium (or 8 minutes by hand on a floured surface.)
4. Place into a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and a tea towel.  Stand in a warm place for about 1 hour. 
5. After this time, knead a few times and then return to the bowl, cover and let rise again for 1 hour until doubled in size.
6. Preheat oven to 370 degrees.
7. Take the dough out of the bowl and knead a few times on a floured surface.  Divide the dough into 12 equal portions and roll into balls.
8. Place the buns into a lined or greased baking tray, a little apart. Cover with a tea towel and place in a warm spot for 20 minutes or until they puff up.
9. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
10. To make the glaze:  Mix sugar and water in a small saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer for 1 minute.  Brush glaze over the hot buns. 
11. Allow buns to cool for about 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.  Enjoy!

Notes:

I place a pan of boiling water on a low shelf in my oven, and place the bowl of dough on a shelf above this, to let the dough rise. It helps to place the unfilled pan in first,  and then pour the boiling water in.

Created using The Recipes Generator

Cissy came and spent the night with me!

Avery, Ella, Hayden and Harper were over recently.

 Thank you for your visit!  xo

I am sharing this with:

Love Your Creativity Link Party

Meal Plan Monday

Full Plate Thursday at Miz Helen's Country Cottage