Wow! Time got away from me and I fell 4 days short of my 24 Days of Christmas. Things got really crazy around here, and there was so much to do. Now that things have slowed down maybe I can make a few things and share them with you. That's it for now, I hope to be back later today with some cards made.

Happy Crafting Everyone,
Kat

Day 20 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone,

This recipe is for all those who love their dogs. It's a treat for your dog that you can give to friends and family for their doggies.

Peanut-Carob Isabooscotti

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
2 pinches ground cinnamon
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup milk
1 cup carob chips

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Place the peanut butter in a medium bowl and microwave at high power to soften, 5 to 10 seconds. Whisk in the milk, then stir the mixture into the dry ingredients. Shape the dough into a long, flattened log and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes; remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Slice the log crosswise on an angle into 1 inch thick pieces. Set the slices on their sides (they should look like biscotti) and bake until crisp, 10 to 12 minutes more. Transfer to a cool rack.

Melt the carob in a microwave or on the stove-top over low heat. Thin the melted carob with 1 Tbsp. water, if needed. Using a spoon, drizzle the melted carob over the biscuits. Let cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Makes wonderful treats for your dog.

Happy Crafting and Baking Everyone,
Kat

Day 19 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello again,

So I've been busy and don't have any projects to post just yet. I'm working on a few things and when their done I will post some pictures. I have another recipe for you today.

Chocolate Chow Mein Clusters
3 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 1/2 c. butterscotch chips
3 1/2 c. Chow Mein noodles
3 1/2 c. salted peanuts (or any nut of your choice)

In a microwave or heavy saucepan, melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips; stir until smooth. Stir in chow mein noodles and peanuts until well coated. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until set.

Happy Crafting, Baking and Cooking Everyone,
Kat

Day 18 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone,

Here's another recipe, this one is for dipping your fruit. This one could be used for New Year's Eve as well as Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. This always makes a great addition to our Christmas Eve get together.

Cool Raspberry Fruit Dip

1 container (6 oz.) raspberry nonfat yogurt
3/4 cup thawed Cool Whip Sugar Free Whipped Topping

Mix ingredients until well blended. Serve immediately as a dip for cut up fresh fruit. Or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes 1-1/4 cups or 10 servings, 2 Tbsp. each. Don't forget to make sure you have enough of this great dip. This dip is always a favorite.

Happy Crafting, Baking and Eating Everyone,
Kat

Day 17 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone,

Here's a recipe for all those coffee lovers out there.

Iced Cappuccino Creme

2 cups cold milk
1 pkg. (4 serving size) Jell-o Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding and Pie Filling
1/2 cup General Foods International Suisse Mocha
1 tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip Whipped Topping, thawed

Pour milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mix and flavored instant coffee. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes. Add whipped topping; stir until well blended. Cover.
Freeze 6 hours or until firm. Store leftovers in freezer.

Makes 12 servings.

To Jazz it up you could also serve with pirouette cookies.

Happy Crafting, Baking and Eating Everyone,
Kat

Day 16 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone,

Here's a recipe for you today.

Strawberry Whipped Sensation

4 cups fresh or frozen strawberries, thawed and divided
1 can (14oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tub (8oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
8 OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. butter, melted

Line 8x4 inch loaf pan or whatever pan you choose to use with foil. Mash 2 cups strawberries in large bowl. Stir in condensed milk, juice and 2 cups of whipped topping; pour into pan.

Top with combined chopped cookies and butter; press into mixture. Cover.

Freeze at least 6 hours. To serve, invert dessert onto plate. Remove foil. Frost with remaining whipped topping. Top with remaining strawberries, sliced.

Makes 12 servings

Side note: Mash strawberries in bowl with fork or potato masher

Happy Crafting and Baking Everyone,
Kat

Day 15 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone, it's day 15 of 24 Days of Christmas.

These are covered chapstick. I took my paper measured it for the length, cut and rolled the paper around each chapstick and glued it using my ATG gun.

Products used:

Stampin' Up scallop and circle punches

Peachy Keen PK-484 Snowmany Face Assortment.

These would make great stocking stuffers or whatever you want to do with them. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Have a great day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project and recipe. I'm sharing all my favorite recipes with you.

Happy Crafting Everyone,

Kat

Day 14 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone, it's day 14 of 24 Days of Christmas. Today's project is a Treat Box using My Creative Time die Bubblegum Treat Box and Peachy Keen snow face.

Products used:

My Creative Time:

Bubblegum Treat Box

Martha Stewart:

Christmas Paper

Peachy Keen Stamps

PK-484 Snowmany Face Assortment

Twine from my stash

Stampin' Up punch

Happy Crafting,

Kat

Day 13 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone,

Today is a recipe that I want to share with you. It's getting down to the wire and I'm going to have to start baking.

Holiday Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1-1/4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup Hershey's Dutch Processed Cocoa or Hershey's Cocoa
1-3/4 cups all purpose flour
1-2/3 cups (10 ounce package) Hershey's Premier White Chips

Makes about 4-1/2 dozen

Heat oven to 300 degrees. Beat butter, powdered sugar and vanilla in large bowl until creamy. Add cocoa; beat until well blended. Gradually add flour, stirring until smooth.

Roll or pat dough to 1/4 inch thickness on lightly floured surface or between 2 pieces of wax paper. Cut into holiday shapes using star, tree, wreath or other cookie cutters. Reroll dough scraps, cutting cookies until dough is used. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or just until firm. Immediately place white chips, flat side down, in decorative design on warm cookies. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Store in airtight container.

Just a little note, for more even baking, place similar shapes and sizes on your cookies on same cookie sheet.

Don't forget any cookies you make for Christmas would also make a great gift for your loved ones.

Happy Crafting and Baking Everyone,
Kat

Day 12 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone, this is a wreath I made using ribbon. I will have to post step by step pictures on how to do this. It's really easy and takes no time to do it. This would make a great tree decoration or even another small gift on top a present. The buttons my mom gave me and the ribbon is all from Walmart.

Happy Crafting Everyone,
Kat

Day 11 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone,

It's the 11th Day of my 24 Days of Christmas Projects and recipes. We can't forget the recipes because they are goodies that you can make and give away as gifts. I love making goodies, especially this time of year and giving them away to my friends and family. So today's recipe is Buck Eyes or what's also known as Peanut Butter Balls which is what I call them. These are my favorite and can never get enough of these around Christmas time. So here's the recipe so that you can enjoy them too. Don't forget after putting them in some kind of fancy dish or container that you remember to put a tag on it. Don't forget you don't have to go all fancy on them with the tag either because they are going to love these.

Peanut Butter Balls

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1-1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Tbsp vegetable shortening

Blend peanut butter, butter, salt and confectioners' sugar together in medium bowl with an electric mixer on low speed. Mixture will be stiff. Line sheet pan with wax paper. Roll peanut butter mixture into small, bite-size balls, about 3/4 inches round. Refrigerate until set; about 30 minutes. Place chocolate chips and shortening in top of double boiler with remaining water in the bottom. Melt ingredients over medium low heat; blend well. Remove from heat. Insert wooden pick into top of chilled peanut butter ball. Dip into melted chocolate, leaving only the top 1/4 of peanut butter ball uncovered for typical buck-eye (if you wish). Place coated side on prepared sheet pan. Repeat until all pieces are coated. Refrigerate until chocolate is set, about 30 minutes. Place in airtight container; keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Options for chocolate, instead of melting chocolate chips and using vegetable shortening you could also use a block of chocolate that you can just melt using the microwave and dip and place on your wax paper. It will only be a couple of minutes or so before the chocolate dries.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to leave me a comment and I will be happy to answer them.

Happy Crafting and Baking Everyone,
Kat

Day 10 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone,

It's Day 10 and I have a simple project for you today. I used My Creative Time Just Tags Die and stamp set and Just For You stamp set. Here's another set of tags you can use for your Christmas gifts.

Happy Crafting Everyone,
Kat

Day 9 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone,

Here are 4 bookmarks using My Creative Time stamp Christmas House and Tag Dies. This is a short one today.

Happy Crafting Everyone,
Kat

Day 8 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone,

Here's a simple card that could be massed produced. It's My Creative Time Beary Special Thoughts and Mixed Holiday Sentiments.The ribbon, burlap and buttons are from Liz's Paper Loft Boutique.

Happy Crafting Everyone,

Kat

Day 7 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone,

I made some wrapping paper with some paper that I had. You could use any paper, but the best would be to use regular, because it will fold easiest when it time to wrap your gift. You could also recycle your old wrapping paper that you have from last year and stamp on the back (white side). I used Peachy Keen faces and My Creative Time stamps.

This last one is for the Teacher of course.

Stamps Used:
My Creative Time
Coffee Backgrounds

Peachy Keen Stamps
PKK-14 Set of Six 4" Winter Faces
PKK-02-Faces Set of Six 4" Gingerbread Faces
PKSC-08 August 2012
Fun 'n' Flair Stamps FNF-01 Miss Shayla at Christmas Time

Happy Crafting Everyone,

Kat

Day 6 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone,

Hope everyone's day went well. No project for today, but I know that we all could use a little help in trying to decide what kind of goodies to make for friends and family when they come to your house or you go to there's. So here is a Sugar Cookie recipe for you. These are very yummy, I make them every year at around this time and the best part is, is that once you've baked them you can put them in the freezer without frosting of course and take them out when you want some. I'm definitely looking forward to doing cookies this year and possibly a little early because I have a cookie exchange coming up next week. These would also make a great Christmas Gift.

Sugar Cookies,

Ingredients:

5 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup softened shortening

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup sour cream

Mix well, refrigerate at least 2 hours, Bake at 425 for 8-10 minutes. This recipe makes 4-5 dozen. 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to leave me a comment or contact me. Hope you have a great evening and weekend.  I will be back tomorrow with more.

Happy Crafting and Baking Everyone,
Kat

Day 5 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone, 

 Here are two packages of 6 cards I made. This is a quick post, so sorry for no detail, I will be posting another picture with them finished.

Stamps used for this is My Creative Time: Bloom Where You Are Planted.

Happy Crafting and Baking Everyone,

Kat

Day 4 of 24 Days of Christmas- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

Hello Everyone,

I don't have a project today, but I do have a recipe that I have used for the last couple of years. I have mainly used cake for my truffles, but today's Truffle recipe is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, so without further ado here it is.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

1/3 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 c miniature semi-sweet chocolate pieces
4 ounces dark or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
4 ounces chocolate-flavor candy coating, chopped
1 Tbsp shortening

Line a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with waxed paper; set aside. In a medium bowl beat butter, brown sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Beat in flour just until combined. Stir in chocolate pieces. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place on prepared baking pan. Cover; freeze about 30 minutes or until firm.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan heat chopped chocolate, candy coating, and shortening over low heat, stirring until until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Using a fork, dip balls into chocolate mixture, allowing excess chocolate mixture to drip back into saucepan. Place dipped balls on the baking sheet. Let stand or chill about 30 minutes or until set. Lightly drizzle with the remaining melted chocolate mixture.

Place truffles in a single layer in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.


Now, instead of doing the whole chocolate thing and having to put in shortening, you can also cut a corner by buying block chocolate that you would just cut up, melt and then dip your stuff in it and your done. You wouldn't have to add any shortening because the blocks of chocolate come with the hardening stuff already in it. So your basically melting your chocolate, dipping and then once that done the chocolate hardens again. So you completely skip a step. You can check at your local Walmart, Meijer or Gordon Food stores. Hope this helps and if you're still confused you could simply ask your store clerk.

Thanks for stopping by today, I'll be back tomorrow with a craft for you.

Happy Crafting and Baking Everyone,
Kat

Day 3 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone,

I have another project for you today, I can't believe it myself 3 days in row. For my project today I used Martha Stewart Craft's Ornament Template Kit and you can find that Here.

Okay, I decided that my snowflake needed a face, so here is one of the cutest faces from Peachy Keen Stamps. This is there PKK-14 Set of Six 4" Winter Faces.

This just makes me Smile! 

I cut out 6 6x6 pieces of paper using Georgia Pacific cardstock I got from Walmart

You can use any paper you like, and I also think if you were to use Tim Holtz

distress ink on these before putting them together would look awesome.

That's all for me today, come back tomorrow to find out what else I have made.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Have a Great Day everyone, see you back here tomorrow.

Happy Crafting Everyone,

Kat

Day 2 of 24 Days of Christmas

Hello Everyone, 

It's day 2 of my 24 Days of Christmas. Now I know this isn't Christmas, but my dad's birthday is this month so here is my project for you today. It's an XL Hershey's candy bar wrapper! 

For my project I used: 

Georgia-Pacific white card stock (Walmart)

Echo Park 6 x 6 Paper pad This & That

My Creative Time Stamps and Dies:

Vintage Label Stamps

Vintage Sentiments

Vintage Stitched Label Dies

Okay, here is one of my cookie recipes:

Caramel Apple Cookies

1 cup salted butter ( 2 sticks), softened

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

2-2/3 cups flour

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 small apple, peeled, cored, and chopped 3/4 cup

1 cup vanilla caramels

3 Tbsp whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350 degree. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In a large bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in sugars until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Stir in apple.

In a medium bowl stir together the flour, crumbs, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add to butter mixture and beat until combined. Stir in apple.

Shape dough into 1-1/4 inch balls. Arrange balls 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 2 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove and cool on wire racks.

For caramel drizzle, in a small microwave-safe bowl combine the caramels and the cream. Cook on 100% power for 30 to 60 seconds or until nearly melted, stirring once. Remove and stir until smooth. Drizzle lightly over cookies.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog.

Happy Crafting and Baking Everyone!

Kat

Day 1 of 24 days of Christmas projects

Hello Everyone, Today is December 1st! Can you believe we're in December already. Over the years of doing crafts and watching others on blogs do 12 Days of Christmas, I've decided to do 24 Days of Christmas and it won't be just about craft projects, but I'm going to work in here recipe ideas for Christmas. So for today I have made 24 Christmas Tags to put on Gifts this year. I've mixed this batch of Tags with My Creative Time and Peachy Keen Stamps. In my opinion Peachy Keen Stamps has the most cutie pootie faces ever. 

Here are the stamps I used.

Peachy Keen Stamps

PK-484 Snowmany Face Assortment

PK-110 Here Kitty Kitty Face Assortment

PK-149 Happy Snowman with Label

PK-148 Snow Gifts

PK-147 Skatin' by

FNF-01 Miss Shayla at Christmas Time

My Creative Time Stamps

All Around Christmas

Gift Card Sentiments

Just Tags

It's a Magical Season

From Our Family To Yours

Warm Holiday Wishes

My Creative Time Dies

XL Label Die

Stitched XL Label Die

Okay, that's it for today. Come back tomorrow for more.

Happy Crafting Everyone,

Kat