Dear Lovely Pioneer Woman

In my excitement over this, I made two more of the recipes from The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl.  Here they are:

These two bits of deliciousness led me to write this:

Dear Lovely Pioneer Woman,

I just want to to tell you that, although my family and neighbors are very thankful for your yummy recipes, my rear end is not.  You see, your recipes are the things that this southern-raised gal dreams about. The butter and gooeyness make me swoon, but make my rear shake.   Please help!  Share your secrets for keeping  your beautiful ballerina figure.

Sincerely,

Tara (One of your "Growing" Fans)

Christmas Recipes From Around the World

I have a vintage cookbook, titled Holiday Cooking,  that contains recipes for each and every holiday.  For Christmas, it has a section containing Christmas recipes from around the world.  I have scanned in the recipes and put them together to create a little booklet for you.  I hope you and your children find some recipes to enjoy.

Holiday Cookbook

Holiday Treat Recipes

I had quite a few readers inquire about my recipes for the treats that I posted about here, so I decided I would post them rather than email them to everyone individually.

I hope you and your families enjoy them!

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
From The Recipe for Christmas Joy by Marybeth Whalen

1 ¼ cup sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. Baking soda
1 (12 oz.) pkg. Swirled chocolate mint chips
Cream sugar and butter; beat in egg and vanilla. Beat in flour, cocoa, and baking soda on low
speed. Stir in mint chips. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart onto
ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 8-11 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute; remove
from cookie sheets. Makes 3 dozen.

Chocolate Chip Toffee Grahams
From The Recipe for Christmas Joy by Marybeth Whalen

11 whole graham crackers, broken into squares
1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. Ground cinnamon
½ cup finely chopped pecans
1 (6 oz.) pkg. Semisweet chocolate mini morsels
Arrange graham crackers in a single layer in a 15X10X1 inch jelly roll pan. Set aside.
Combine butter and sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until
butter melts. Bring to a boil, boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in cinnamon and
pecans. Pour mixture over graham crackers, spreading evenly to the edge of the pan. Bake
at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate morsels. Cool five minutes, separate
cookies and transfer to waxed paper lined cookie sheets, using a spatula. Refrigerate until
chocolate hardens. Store cookies between layers of waxed paper in an airtight refrigerator.
We make these for a friend every year and they are so good!

Buckeye Balls
From The Recipe for Christmas Joy by Marybeth Whalen

1(16 oz.) jar creamy peanut butter
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 ½ (16 oz.) packages powdered sugar
2 cups (12 oz.) semisweet chocolate morsels
2 Tbsp. Shortening
Beat peanut butter and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended.
Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until blended. Shape into 1 inch balls, chill 10
minutes or until firm. Microwave chocolate and shortening in a 2 qt. Glass bowl at high 1 ½
minutes or until melted, stirring twice. Dip each ball in chocolate mixture until partially
coated; place on wax paper to harden. Store in an airtight container. Makes 7 dozen.

Peanut Butter Fudge
From allrecipes.com

Candy Cane Topped Sugar Cookies
Go here for the sugar cookie recipe. Make the sugar cookies and bake for 7 minutes. Take them out of the oven and sprinkle with chopped candy canes. Put them back into the oven for 2 minutes. These are the times for my oven, but you may have to adjust for yours.

A Holiday-Themed Play Date

This past week my girls invited a couple of friends over for a play date, so we decided that we would plan some fun holiday activities. The first thing the girls did was make Christmas cards. I set out the following supplies for them to use:

• previously used Christmas cards (Each year I save my Christmas cards, so that the kids can use them for crafts. For this particular activity they like to cut out the pictures and glue them on cardstock to make new cards.)
• holiday-shaped foamies
• holiday stickers
• holiday stamps and stamp pads
• ribbon
  
• cardstock
• construction paper
• envelopes (several different sizes)
• pens, markers, and crayons
• scissors and glue

They had so much fun with this that they ended up making a ton of cards. In fact, my girls asked me to keep all of the supplies handy because they wanted to make some more. This would be a great service activity for Girl Scout or Church groups. The cards the children make could be delivered to nursing homes, shelters, or sent to troops abroad.

Next, we baked Reindeer Cookies. I got the idea from National Geographic Little Kids. Here are the original pictures from the magazine:


Cute, huh? They are super easy to make, too. Here are the directions:

1. Roll the cookie dough into egg-shaped balls. Place on baking sheet and flatten.
2. Press two pretzels into the dough as antlers.
3. Bake according to the cookie package directions. Let cool.
4. Cover the top of some cookies with chocolate-hazelnut spread (Nutella) or peanut butter.
5. Press on two whit baking chips for eyes. In the center of each baking chip, put a dab of peanut butter and place a mini chocolate chip on top.
6. Add a candy nose - red for Rudolph - and enjoy.

The girls (and Wes) had a ton of fun with these and, of course, they enjoyed eating them.


The finished product:

Yum!

Screaming with delight!

Gracen sports a milk mustache!

Lastly, the girls set up a little toy shop and pretended to Christmas shop. They took turns being the shopkeeper and the customers. They used the following props:

• Recycled shopping and gift bags
• toy cash register with play money
• toy phone
• items to "buy" (They used small toys - stuffed animals, small horse figurines, Littlest Pet Shop animals, etc.)
• notepad
• pens

They all liked being the shopkeeper the best because they liked using this fun cash register.


If you think your child would like one of these cash registers, come back for Friday's Gracioius Giveaways because I will be hosting a giveaway(sponsored by CSN Stores) for one.

Update: The Best Sugar Cookies

We made the vintage sugar cookie recipe that I posted about here. The cookies turned out perfectly. They are soft (but not too soft) and sweet (but not too sweet). This recipe will be great for making Christmas Cut Out Sugar Cookies.

Simply Made Sunday: The Perfect Sugar Cookie

The girls and I are on a mission to find the perfect sugar cookie recipe. We want to find it, so that we can make the best decorated sugar cookies for Christmas. We have decided to try this recipe first.


Sugar Cookie Recipe

It is from one of my vintage cookbooks for children. It is titled Sugar and Spice and was published by Westinghouse.

We have not had a chance to make them yet because we have had a super busy weekend. However, the day is not over. I am hoping to make them when Wes is napping. Check back for pics and to find out how they turn out.

Update:
We made the vintage sugar cookie recipe that I posted about here. The cookies turned out perfectly. They are soft (but not too soft) and sweet (but not too sweet). This recipe will be great for making Christmas Cut Out Sugar Cookies.


If you like this vintage recipe, see this post for another one like it.

OK, now it's your turn to share some fun from your kitchen. I can't wait to see what you've done and get some fun and yummy ideas too!

Simply Made Sunday: Heath Bar Crunch Cake

New to SMS go here!

November 5 was my husband's birthday, so the girls and I wanted to make him a special cake. He loves Heath bars, so we decided to make him a Heath Bar Crunch Cake. It turned out great! Everyone enjoyed it. However, the name is a bit deceiving. It does not really have a cake consistency. It is more like a bar type of treat.

Here is the recipe:

Heath Bar Crunch Cake

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 to 5 Heath bars, chopped (or 8 oz bag of Heath Bits)
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Generously grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
Mix together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, margarine, vanilla, and salt.
Set aside 3/4 cup of this mixture to use for the topping.
To the remaining flour mixture, add the buttermilk, egg, and baking soda.
It will be lumpy, but do not use an electric mixer.
Pour into the prepared baking dish.
To the reserved flour mixture, add the Heath bars and pecans.
Spread evenly over the top of the batter.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the center is done.

OK, now it's your turn to share some fun from your kitchen. I can't wait to see what you've done and get some fun and yummy ideas too!

Simply Made Sunday: Halloween Treats

New to SMS go here!

This week Gracen and I made some Halloween treats for her to take to her class party. I got the idea from another blog. In fact, I believe it is one that was linked here, at Simply Made Sunday. To whomever it was ~ thank you! The class loved them! I loved them, too, because they are super easy.

Here are the ingredients:

Halloween Sprinkles
Oreos (or store brand) ~ I used the mint kind.
Green Candy Melts ~ I got them at Michael's.

To make them you just melt the candy melts in the microwave,
dip the Oreos into it,
and put on the sprinkles.
Told you it was super easy!

And they turn out super cute!

OK, now it's your turn to share some fun from your kitchen. I can't wait to see what you've done and get some fun and yummy ideas too!

Simply Made Sunday: Puppy Chow

New to SMS go here!

For Gracen's LPS birthday party, we made Puppy Chow to put in her party favor bags. It is super simple, and so yummy!

Our Ingredients


Nine cups of corn chex in a large mixing bowl


In a separate bowl ~
1 cup of chocolate chips


1/2 cup of peanut butter


1/2 stick of butter
Microwave for 45 sec.- 1min.
Stir in 1tsp vanilla.


Mix and pour over corn chex.
Stir to coat the chex.


Pour 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar into a large zip-loc bag.
Add the chocolatey chex.
Shake until coated.


Yum!

Here is a printable recipe and the tags that I made to attach to the bags of puppy chow.
Puppy Chow

OK, now it's your turn to share some fun from your kitchen. I can't wait to see what you've done and get some fun and yummy ideas too!

Simply Made Sunday: A New Vintage Cookbook

New to SMS go here!

My husband and I woke up yesterday morning with head colds...stuffy noses, scratchy throats, and headaches. YUCK! I just was not up for cooking with my kiddos. However, I thought I would share the recipe that we had planned to make. It is from Betty Crocker's Cook Book for Boys and Girls , published in 1957. I originally found the link to this cookbook on United Teaching Discoveries.


Go here to view and download the cookbook for FREE. It is a large file, almost 200 pages, but well worth it. So cute! The recipe we had planned to make is on page 41. It is a Pumpkin Face Cake.



I also wanted to share a new page that Taste of Home has added to their Coloring Cookbook for Kids. I originally shared the cookbook here. Here is the new page. It is a fun Halloween recipe.
TOHKids1009_spidersnacks

OK, now it's your turn to share some fun from your kitchen. I can't wait to see what you've done and get some fun and yummy ideas too!

Simply Made Sunday: Perfect Pumpkin Muffins and Bake Sale Tips

New to SMS go here!

This morning I combined several muffin recipes to make the Perfect Pumpkin Muffins. This recipe is so easy and makes the yummiest muffins. Everyone in my family loves it.


Here is the printable recipe:
Perfect Pumpkin Muffins


Because this is the time of year for bake sales, I also want to share some from Bake Sale Tips and printables from Taste of Home.

Tips for a Successful Bake Sale
By Taste of Home (website)

• Work with local businesses to receive donated baked goods, talk to schools and community centers to borrow tables and chairs and rally your neighbors to help you bake and sell.
• Make your bake sale healthy by incorporating low-fat baked goods, whole wheat flour, butter substitutes and desserts with fresh fruit.
• Decorate your table and consider creating a theme—play off of a holiday or community event.
• Promote your bake sale by putting up flyers around your community, adding the event to your organization's Web site, sending an email to friends, adding it to your Facebook page, Tweeting about it and adding it to your newsletter.
• Use decorative paper, plastic wrap, foil, ribbons and stickers to creatively package your baked goods.
• After your bake sale, send thank you letters to those who donated resources or time.
• Have some gluten-free and nut-free treats available for sale for people with allergies.
• Let your customers know where you are going to donate the money raised by your sale. They might be inclined to buy more goodies

Popular Bake Sale Recipes

Brownies in a Cone

Cookie Pops

Deluxe Caramel Corn

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

Oatmeal Kiss Cookies

Chocolate Chip Blondies

All pictures are from http://www.tasteofhome.com/

Here are some printable Bake Sale Tags and Recipe Cards.
Bake Sale Printables


OK, now it's your turn to share some fun from your kitchen. I can't wait to see what you've done and get some fun and yummy ideas too!

Simply Made Sunday: Gingersnap Truffles

New to SMS go here!

Last week we were invited to a potluck dinner and were asked to bring a dessert. I wanted to make something inspired by Fall. As I was flipping through Better Homes and Gardens, I saw lots of yummy pumpkin desserts that I contemplated. But then I spied a treat which combines two of my favorites: Ginger and Chocolate. Decision made! Thanks BH&G!

Here is the recipe for Pumpkin Spiced Gingersnap Truffles.

Ingredients:

Chop 3/4 cup gingersnaps.

Combine chocolate chips, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla.

Heat whipping cream until just boiling.
Pour cream over chocolate mixture.
Let stand 5 minutes and whisk until smooth.

Cover and refrigerate for 1.5-2 hours or until firm,
but soft enough to form into balls.

Crush 1/3 cup gingersnaps.
Put in a bowl and add 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder.

Shape truffle mixture into 1 inch balls.
Roll in crushed gingersnaps and/or cocoa powder to coat.

Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.
Store covered in refrigerator up to 3 days.

Here's a printable recipe:

Pumpkin-Spiced Gingersnap Truffles

OK, now it's your turn to share some fun from your kitchen. I can't wait to see what you've done and get some fun and yummy ideas too!

Simply Made Sunday: A Vintage PB Cookie Recipe

Susana from Our Homeschool Fun has graciously gifted me with the Simply Made Sunday Carnival. Thanks so much, Susana! You can now visit her at My Family My Forever.

If you are new to the carnival here is some info:

What Is Simply Made Sunday-In the Kitchen With Mom?
Simply Made Sunday is a new linky carnival I will host each Sunday here at Raising Itty-Bitty Bookworms. Each Sunday I will share anything I've created in our kitchen either with or for my kids. This may or may not be something edible. This is a super way to bring together lots of fun kitchen crafts and recipes to share with others. This brings me to the rules for participating....

Simply Made Sunday Rules For Participation:

1. You may share recipes you have made currently, or have made in the past--in other words, older kitchen creation posts are welcome any time!
2. Your kitchen creation link does not have to be edible--for example, all homemade play dough recipes aren't edible, but would be a great kitchen craft to share.
3. Your kids do not have to help make what you link up, this can be something you've made with them or for them.
4. Please make sure and include a link back here to my blog, the home of Simply Made Sunday, in your post.
5. You do not have to, but it would be greatly appreciated:-) if you used a Simply Made Sunday button in your post--you can grab one from my sidebar.
   

If you have any questions leave a comment or email me and I will gladly answer you! Now, here is my Simply Made Sunday recipe from our week of fun in the kitchen!



I collect vintage cookbooks. I love their musky smell, their old-fashioned pictures, and their yummy (and sometimes zany) recipes. My most recent purchase is a children's Home Economics recipe book, titled "Sugar An' spice And All Things Nice". It was published in 1951 by Westinghouse.

Here is the cover.

Isn't it cute?

My girls and I decided to try the Peanut Butter Cookies recipe.

Here it is...

Download it here!

They turned out so yummy!

OK, now it's your turn to share some fun from your kitchen. I can't wait to see what you've done and get some fun and yummy ideas too!

Simply Made Sunday: Printable Cookbook for Kids

One of my favorite websites is Taste of Home. I use it all the time for menu planning. I recently came across printable recipe coloring sheets for kids. They are so cute, and I knew my girls would love them. Therefore, I combined them into one file to make a little book. I have printed the pages out, punched holes in them, and placed them in a folder. My girls and I decided that each time we cook one of the recipes, they will color the coordinating page. When we are finished they will have a recipe book to keep.

Click on image to download.

*It looks as though Taste of Home releases a new recipe coloring sheet each month. I am not sure if these are all that will be released or not. I will keep my eyes open, and if I find any new ones, I will be sure to post them.

For more Simply Made Sunday ideas, visit Our Homeschool Fun!

Recipes