Auntie Laura's Yam Rolls

The holidays are right around the corner, and I feel the need for things to s.l.o.w. way down as opposed to accepting the rush and all the bustle that undoubtedly comes along with this time of year.

One of my favorite things to do is to bake bread.  There is just something about the smell that greets those who stop by for a cup of tea or for those who join us for dinner.  When I take bread out of the oven, it is almost like our home beckons for guests to come in, sit, get cozy and stay for awhile!!

Thank you, twinsie for making these for me...they are my favorite!!

Auntie Laura’s Yam Rolls

HEAT:

½ cup milk                 

¼ cup butter

ADD:

¼ cup sugar               

1 tsp. salt

¼ tsp. nutmeg...freshly grated

¼ tsp. cinnamon

¼ cup cool water

1 tbsp. yeast

ADD:

¾ cup mashed yams         

1 egg

3 ½ cups flour

Heat butter in milk until butter is “melty”

Add the rest of the ingredients into the milk in a stand mixer bowl.  Mix.

Form into rolls with oiled hands.  Let rise until rolls are fluffy.

Bake at 375* for about 23 minutes or until rolls are golden.

This makes one pan of about 9 rolls.

Variation:  Use this dough for cinnamon rolls.  Simply roll out into a rectangle.  Spread dough with softened butter and add lots of cinnamon sugar.  Roll up like a snake and cut into pinwheels.  Bake in greased pan and bake for about 25 minutes.  Frost with cream cheese buttercream and ENJOY!!

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Landen's Peach Cobbler

Several years ago, I dropped in on my twinsie. As we sipped on tea and chatted, my nephew offered to make a peach cobbler for our family. I was so very excited. I don't know of many pre-teen boys that would offer to do something so sweet for their Auntie! Anyway, needless to say, it was THE BEST peach cobbler I had EVER had. No kidding. It was devoured by my family that night. So, I asked him if he would send me the recipe so that I could share it with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as our family enjoyed it!

PEACH COBBLER {IN A BAG}
Adapted from Betty Crocker


PEACH MIXTURE:

1/2 cup sugar
1 tbs. cornstarch {I used Clear Jel and skipped the cooking part}
one 29 oz. can of peaches {I used four cups of fresh peaches…about 6 large}
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract or pure almond extract

BREAD MIXTURE:

3 tbs. shortening
1 cup self-rising flour
1 tbs. sugar
1/2 cup 2% milk


Heat oven to 400'. mix 1/2 cup sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and the cornstarch in a 2-quart saucepan. stir in peaches and vanilla. cook stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. boil and stir 1 minute. pour into ungreased 8x8 square pan; keep peach mixture hot in the oven.

Cut shortening into flour and 1 tablespoon sugar until mixture resembles fine crumbs. stir in milk. drop dough by six spoonfuls onto hot peach mixture.
bake 25-30 minutes or until topping is golden brown.
I hope you all enjoy this!


MY VARIATIONS:

When I pick peaches, I like to pick enough to enjoy a few cobblers throughout the year, so I put all of the peach mixture ingredients into a Ziploc bag and label it with what I need to add for the topping and baking instructions. All you have to do is to REMEMBER to get it out of the freezer and whip up the topping. Sprinkle with cinnamon and coarse sugar.

FAVORITE VARIATION: I HAD TO ADD THE 1/4 cup PEACH SCHNAPPS TO THE MIXTURE. NO WAY AROUND IT. It just puts it over the top!

SECOND FAVORITE VARIATION: Add 1/4 cup pure Orange Juice to Peach mixture. Seriously, just try it. You would not believe how it brings out the flavor of the peaches.

Now, every time I make a peach cobbler I remember the hospitality extended to our family through my nephew. It inspires me to want to share a freshly baked peach cobbler with someone I love!!  Another reason to teach your boys how to bake!!

Thank you, LANDEN! I LOVE YOU!

Who has nurtured you? Who can you think of who might need to be nurtured?

Ezekiel 34:26 "I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing."

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Scott's Firehouse Peppermint Ice Cream

From the ARCHIVES...

I am the luckiest ducky in the world because my hubby is one fantastic cook and he teaches me things all of the time. I am his "official taste tester" and he is mine! {Amongst other friends and neighbors}.

Last night, he finally perfected his Homemade Peppermint Ice Cream. TO.DIE.FOR. and the best part about it is that he is sharing it with all of you. Now, we are all lucky little duckies {even though I don't believe in LUCK!}

Thank you, Honey, for workin' on it until you got it "right"! Such the sweetie you are!!!

Here is a fun idea for Christmas gifts or for entertaining during the Holidays. This is great because it can all be made up ahead of time. When dessert time rolls around, all you need to do is to pull out your tray of Homemade Peppermint Ice Cream containers. You may want to make two different sizes. The good news is there is no mess {YAY!} and no clean-up...EVEN BETTER!  If they are too full, they can take it home!

Your guests will feel completely pampered and pleasantly full!

Scott's Firehouse Peppermint Ice Cream

Scott Pearson



INGREDIENTS:

2-1/2 cups milk

2-1/2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

2-1/2 cups half & half

1-1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract

1 tsp. TORANI PEPPERMINT SYRUP or MONIN

5 cups whipping cream

2 cups crushed peppermint candies


DIRECTIONS:

• Heat milk until bubbles form around pan.

• Remove milk from heat

• Add sugar and salt, stir until dissolved.

• Stir in remaining ingredients.

• Place into ice cream maker and follow manufacturer’s directions.{BUNNY FOO FOO!}

****This recipe makes 5 quarts of ice cream******

This is such a versatile recipe! Eventually you will come up with your own variations.

Another yummy option: Skip the peppermint candies and fold in two rows of Trader Joe's Candy Candy Joe Joe's, chopped...or if you really want to have a sugar coma, go ahead and roughly chop the whole entire box of chocolate cookies. Just FOLD in the cookies after the ice cream has already been made! This is hubby's secret!




Packaging Ideas:

As soon as the ice cream is made. Pour into whatever containers you plan on gifting and place in freezer until needed.

Simply place four embellished containers in a Take-Out drink carrier {My friends and family collect these for me year-round! THANK YOU!}

Placed cedar clippings around the containers and attached a sweet little label with the family's initial to a branch. That is it!


What are some ideas you have for Christmas this year?





JUST BECAUSE I HAVE TO SHOW OFF MY VERY SWEET DOGGIE...





Shared with:  Stone Gable

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Vintage Heirloom Ornament

I am so very giddy giddy this morning!

The last batch of baked goods are in the oven, most of the Christmas presents are wrapped, the house is semi-clean, the kiddies have been dotted on, the doggie is cuddled up on the couch with her "baby" and I have a few minutes to BLOG something new! I kinda feel like a child who has just finished homework and who gets to play for awhile before dinner! :}

Anyhoo, since the metal Holly Hobbie lunch boxes we carried to school in the sixth grade are now considered VINTAGE, it is more than safe to call these ornaments vintage.

My dad saves everything with any value in the memory department whatsoever. I love the fact that he kept our old caroling sheet music from when we were little.



A few years ago, he brought them over to my twinsie's house! We had dinner and then gathered around the baby grand to sing Christmas carols before opening gifts. It was such a fun evening. I will never ever tire of twinsie's amazing talent on the piano! She has her very own style that is filled with all of the extra notes. I guess it was worth listening to the hours and hours of the same ol' scales!

...so, after seeing an idea on pinterest and seeing Kim's creation for a baby shower, I decided to take the old sheet music and make vintage ornaments for family Christmas gifts this year. I already had the ornaments, a mini punch, a glue stick, glitter and the vintage music sheets! TAA DAA!

There is nothing better than using something that you already have and making something memorable to give at Chrismas!

***I took the tops off of the ornaments and placed the white lights sitting on the mantle through the tops for ornament lighting. It looks so festive and is quite the conversation piece! That is what happens when Target sells out of globe lighting in October! Necessity is the mother to invention, right?



Thank you all for reading our little bloggy and for following our family journal this last year!

May this time of year be joyous as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!



Shared with: at the picket fence

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Homemade Peppermint Ice Cream {Christmas Gift Idea}

I am the luckiest ducky in the world because my hubby is one fantastic cook and he teaches me things all of the time. I am his "official taste tester" and he is mine! {Amongst other friends and neighbors}.

Last night, he finally perfected his Homemade Peppermint Ice Cream. TO.DIE.FOR. and the best part about it is that he is sharing it with all of you. Now, we are all lucky little duckies {even though I don't believe in LUCK!}

Thank you, Honey, for workin' on it until you got it "right"! Such the sweetie you are!!!

Here is a fun idea for Christmas gifts or for entertaining during the Holidays. This is great because it can all be made up ahead of time. When dessert time rolls around, all you need to do is to pull out your tray of Homemade Peppermint Ice Cream containers. You may want to make two different sizes. The good news is there is no mess {YAY!} and no clean-up...EVEN BETTER!

Your guests will feel completely pampered and pleasantly full!




Scott's Famous Peppermint Ice Cream

Scott Pearson



INGREDIENTS:

2-1/2 cups milk

2-1/2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

2-1/2 cups half & half

1-1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract

1 tsp. TORANI PEPPERMINT SYRUP

5 cups whipping cream

2 cups crushed peppermint candies


DIRECTIONS:

• Heat milk until bubbles form around pan.

• Remove milk from heat

• Add sugar and salt, stir until dissolved.

• Stir in remaining ingredients.

• Place into ice cream maker and follow manufacturer’s directions.{BUNNY FOO FOO!}

****This recipe makes 5 quarts of ice cream******

This is such a versatile recipe! Eventually you will come up with your own variations.

Another yummy option: Skip the peppermint candies and fold in two rows of Trader Joe's Candy Candy Joe Joe's...or if you really want to have a sugar coma, go ahead and roughly chop the whole entire box of chocolate cookies. Just FOLD in the cookies after the ice cream has already been made! This is hubby's secret!




Packaging Ideas:

As soon as the ice cream is made. Pour into whatever containers you plan on gifting and place in freezer until needed.

I used Garnish products {soup containers and baker's twine}

Simply place four embellished containers in a Take-Out drink carrier {My friends and family collect these for me year-round! THANK YOU!}

Placed cedar clippings around the containers and attached a sweet little label with the family's initial to a branch. That is it!


What are some ideas you have for Christmas this year?





JUST BECAUSE I HAVE TO SHOW OFF MY VERY SWEET DOGGIE...








Shared with: at the picket fence

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Christmas Cream Puffs {with peppermint ice cream!}

Christmas Cream Puffs


Heat to a rolling boil in a saucepan:

1 cup water

½ cup butter

Stir in all at once:

1 cup sifted flour {it takes 48 seconds…Caleb timed it!}

Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture leaves the pan {yep…!} and forms into a
ball {ABOUT 1 MINUTE}

Remove from heat.

Beat in thoroughly: ONLY 1 AT A TIME

4 eggs

*Beat mixture until smooth and velvety. Don’t give up! KEEP stirring. It takes a bit of muscle…but they are worth it.

*Drop by spoonful…about ¼ cup size…onto ungreased baking sheet. {I put mine onto a SILPAT}

*If you have a pastry bag you will waaaaant to USE it. I made 16 mini puffs.
Simply eyeball the sizes and if you have a bit of extra mixture, go back and add a “second layer” of pastry dough.

Bake at 400* for about 25 minutes or until tops are golden brown.

*Remove from oven and let sit a few minutes until they have stopped steaming.

*Using a sharp knife, cut off the tops and scoop out the doughy dough.

*Fill with scoops of SCOTT'S PEPPERMINT ICE CREAM.

EMBELLISH EMBELLISH EMBELLISH! Freeze until ready to serve!

Cream puff dough recipe straight out of GOOD OL' BETTY CROCKER!




Shared with:  Stone Gable

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Iced Molasses Cookies

Yesterday was an over the river and through the woods to Oma's house we go kinda day. Literally! Caleb and I spent the day at out with my parents and the three little nieces. It was such a beautiful drive. The sun was out for a bit and the leaves were still beautiful and you could see the snow on the mountains in the distance. My heart was FULL. We had the bestest Thanksgiving with my hubby's side of the family and with friends...and then getting to go visit my family the next day was so great! We were invited to make doughnuts, but as soon as we got there, we sat at the table and enjoyed leftover pie! They introduced us to their new little bird Jimmy Downy. He is a most welcome spunky guest at the bird feeder that sits right outside of their dining room window. He was adorable and entertaining!! The little girls were into the bowl of nuts {in their shells} asking for help in cracking them...it is soooo the little things in life that are so sweet! They had spent the night with Oma and Opa and had helped decorate the Christmas tree on Thanksgiving night. They slept right beside the tree in a bed that had been made up with our old quilts, blankets and pillow cases. I loved seeing them all cuddled up watching movies for the afternoon. Did you ever have lazy days during the holidays? These girls will definitely have some fun memories for their memory bank! My hubby and I are now taking note on the special things my parents do and the the memories my in laws have made for our children...because we will be copying them A LOT when our children have children!!!

Anyhoo, we got all caught up on news and plans for Christmas and finally around to making the doughnuts which was most likely just an excuse to get together!!!

As Caleb and I drove home, it was a great reminder to me to take the time to bake with others. It isn't always convenient and it will take more time...but it is in such simple tasks that we are blessed to spend a bit of extra time with those we love especially when the calendar is screaming "TOO BUSY"!

I hope that this Christmas season will be a time of JOY as you reflect on the birth of Jesus. It is this baby that changed the course of History in offering us hope for eternal life!





Iced MOLASSES COOKIES


Cream Together:

¾ cup butter, softened

1 cup organic sugar

Add:

¼ cup Brer Rabbit Molasses {unsulphured, mild flavor}

1 egg

Stir together and add to molasses mix:

3 cups flour{or 2 cups flour + 1 cup bread flour}

2 tsp. baking soda

¼ tsp. sea salt salt

1 tsp. each of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves

*Mix well

*Roll dough into balls...about the size of a golf ball

*Roll balls in organic sugar

*Place sugared dough balls on SILPAT or onto parchment lined cookie sheets

*Bake for 10 minutes @ 375* or until cookies start to "crack". Let sit for a few minutes.



Makes about 16 cookies.

Once cookies are cooled, melt white chocolate or candy discs and drizzle over cookies and sprinkle with coarse sanding sugar.



Enjoy!

Usually organic sugar is optional, but in this recipe it makes them oh.so.good!




"Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting Light, the hopes and fears of all the years, are met in Thee tonight."

Shared with: comfy in the kitchen, stone gable, newlyweds, larson lingo

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Chocolate Peppermint Biscotti {from a Trader Joe's Cake Mix}

This is a fun, quick recipe for a lot of bang-for-your-buck. {Who came up with that quote, anyway?! Hope it doesn't have to do with a deer getting shot!}

Even if being frugal is not something you are concerned about, this recipe is fun, pretty, and deicious!


Chocolate Peppermint Christmas Biscotti

Adapted from Anne Byrn

1 Trader Joe’s Chocolate Cake Mix or 1 plain devil’s food cake mix
{You will need to remove about 1 ¼ cup dry cake mix if you are using Trader Joe’s brand}

1 stick unsalted butter, melted

2 eggs

1 cup flour

½ cup crushed peppermint candies

Directions:
Place cake mix, melted butter , eggs, flour and peppermint candies in a large mixing bowl.

Blend until all ingredients are well blended.

The dough will be one big ball.

Divide ball into two balls.

With floured hands, shape the dough into two rectangles…about 7 inches long by 4 inches wide. It should be about ½ inch thick. NO NEED TO BE PERFECT HERE! Form it so it is a tad bit higher in the middle.

Place on SILPAT or parchment paper on baking sheet.

Bake @ 350* for about 30 to 35 minutes.

Remove from oven and let biscotti cool for about 10 minutes. DON’T TURN THE OVEN OFF, yet.

CUT biscotti in 1 inch slices {if you are using a SILPAT, don’t let it cool and use the back of a knife to cut!}

Use a sharp serrated knife and cut on the diagonal.

Carefully, turn biscotti on their sides and bake for about ten more minutes.

You may turn the oven off and let the biscotti continue to harden if that is what you like or remove them if you are not planning on dunking them.:)

Let them cool completely. About two hours.

Place biscotti gallon Ziplock bag and freeze until ready to decorate.

TO DECORATE:
Melt candy melts according to package directions and drizzle over biscotti.
ADD food coloring AFTER candy melts have been melted. For some reason, it seems to be less drizzly when I heat it after the food coloring has been added. {WHO KNOWS? It could just be me!}

Happy Happy Friday!







Shared with: comfy in the kitchen

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