Date Bars

Tea today is on my wooden slab that is used for a tray.  I have my snowball candle lit and my snowflake dishes.  I'm using my Goebel sledding kids for some wintry décor.    How about  sharing a date bar and some Constant Comment tea with me?

This is one of those desserts that takes me back to my childhood. I love these bars and remember my Mom buying a date bar mix for me to make,  because I always made desserts for our dinners.  This mix can't be found any more,  and I think it was made by Betty Crocker.  Here's a wonderful recipe for them,  if you're a date lover like me.  This recipe makes an 8" square pan and can easily be doubled for a 9" x 13" pan.

Date Filling

Mix 8 ounces of cut up dates, 2 T. sugar and 3/4 cup of water in a saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally for 8-10 minutes, until thick. Using a potato masher really helps break the mixture down. Let cool.

Crumb Base and Topping

1/4 cup + 2 T. butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
3/4 cup flour
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. baking soda
3/4 cup rolled oats

Cream together the butter and brown sugar. Mix in remaining ingredients until crumbly. If needed, add about 1-2 t. water. Press half the mixture into a greased 8" square pan. Spread with the filling. Top with the remaining crumb mixture and press lightly. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Cinnamon Icing (optional)

Mix together 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1/8 t. cinnamon. Add enough milk to drizzle.  Drizzle over top of bars.


I am sharing this with these lovely parties:

Make It Pretty Monday
Tea Time Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea 
Share Your Cup
Full Plate
Foodie Friday
Weekend Potluck
Seasonal Sundays

            Thank you for your visit!  xo

Pasta Fagioli Soup

Brrrrr... Soup is on the menu for tonight, since we all seem to be in a deep freeze! 

 My centerpiece is a basket that belonged to my grandmother and is probably 100 years old.  It's filled with pine cones that my beloved hubby and I always collected on hikes.  Oh, how I love the beauty of pine cones. The darling Goebel sledders were a gift from my Dad, years ago.  The birch-look candle was on clearance from World Market.  The table runner is from a garage sale that I bought close to 40 years ago.  It's supposed to be the "snow" on my table. 

 The pine cone quilted placemats from Kohls, were found on clearance last year, for about $1.00.  The napkin rings are a snowflake design from World Market, found on clearance.  The soup bowls were another garage sale find for 25 cents. 

 

 I'm using my favorite vintage 25 cent plates again!

 

This Pasta Fagioli soup is one of my all-time favorites.   Sometimes I use pork or chicken sausage in place of the ground beef.  Also, adjust the seasonings to suit your tastes.  I hope you can try this soup to warm your heart and soul.  

1 can Great Northern beans, drained
1 lb. ground beef, browned & drained
1 onion, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans beef broth (I use chicken broth)
2 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon, pepper
1/4 teaspoon, marjoram
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, optional
1 teaspoon, dried basil
1 teaspoon, dried oregano
3 cups of cooked small pasta, like ditalini

Combine all ingredients EXCEPT pasta, and put in slow cooker.  Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.  Add the cooked pasta before serving & stir to combine, or add some pasta to each bowl and then add the soup. To garnish, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

I am sharing this with these lovely parties:

Make It Pretty Monday
The Scoop
Inspire Me
HOME
Centerpiece Wednesday
Share Your Cup
Foodie Friday
Full Plate
Seasonal Sundays
Weekend Potluck

Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

 My fireside tea is with my favorite winter teapot that my sister found for $1.49 at a thrift store.  I'm sipping some eggnogg'n tea, by Bigelow in my Walgreen's pine cone mug.  Even though nothing matches, I love  how everything blends. 

 The plate is aptly named Pine Cone, by French Saxon China, and dates back to the 1950's.  I found four of these for 25 cents each at our Trade Days.  I have to say that they are one of my all-time favorite plates, and love that they are so vintage.   I looked the pattern up on the internet and they go for a lot more.  I think I got a great deal!

These soft frosted sugar cookies are a favorite of my grandchildren and  I have to admit that I love them, too.  If you love the grocery store ones, I hope you give these a try.  They can be decorated for any season and the recipe can be found on my blog, here.

I am sharing this with these lovely parties:

Make It Pretty Monday
Tea Time Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea
Full Plate
Foodie Friday
Weekend Potluck
Seasonal Sundays

The Scoop 

            Thank you for your visit!  xo