Date Nut Bread

One of my favorite recipes is this 

Date Nut Bread.    

It is a heavy dense tea bread packed full of flavor.

I have been making this recipe for 40+ years now.  Read over the recipe prior to making it.

You will need:

1 cup chopped dates

1 Tablespoon butter

1 cup boiling water.

Place dates and butter in a small bowl, add boiling water.     Cover and cool.

2 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix these 3 ingredients together and set aside

1 egg

3/4 cup sugar

Mix together in a large bowl.

Alternate adding flour mixture and date mixture into the egg mixture.   Stir well, but do not beat.

Add 1 cup chopped nuts as a final ingredient.

Pour into a greased and floured loag pan.   Let set for 20 minutes, then bake.  50 - 60 minutes at 350.

Easy Christmas Wreath Cookie

This cookie recipe is easy to make and will surely add a festive look to your cookie tray.

Easy Christmas Wreath

20 ounces white chocolate - broken into pieces

1 teaspoon green liquid food coloring

5 cups cornflake cereal, crushed

3 tablespoons cinnamon red-hot candies

Chopstick

Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper and coat with nonstick spray.

Melt chocolate in microwave or top of double boiler over simmering water; stir until smooth.

Stir in food coloring, making sure it is well incorporated.  Then stir in crushed cornflakes until evenly mixed.  

Drop onto cookie sheets by generously rounded tablespoon one inch apart.   Dip a chopstick in warm water, stick down in center of each cookie, making a whole for the center of the wreath.   While still moist, arrange red-hot candies on wreaths to mimic holly berries, using 3 -5 per wreath.

Place sheets on refrigerator until wreaths are cooled and firm.

Makes about 30 wreaths.

CHRISTMAS COOKIES

I would like to share with our followers some of our favorite

CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPES  

each week.

HAZELNUT BALLS 

1 cup flour

1/2 cup margarine

1 cup chopped pecans

2 Tablespoons sugar

1/8 Teaspoon salt

1 Teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients - mix well with hands.   Place dough in refrigerator for 30 minutes.   Form in balls about 1" round OR crescent shapes.

Bake on ungreased cookie sheet  350  15-20 minutes.

Let cool and prior to serving sprinkle with Confectioners Sugar.

BLOG HOP WINNER

BLOG HOP WINNER

Before I announce the winner of our Angel Ornament

I want to THANK each and everyone that joined in

this wonderful Blog Hop set up by

Brenda Griffith of The Rusty Thimble.

This was a lot of work for her to set this up and get it all in motion for us.   

Thank you Brenda for all you do and have done.

Now, the winner of our sweet ornament is Vicki Jo !!   Congratulations.....I will be contacting you for your mailing address.

The Greatest Gift is Love - Blog Hop Giveaway

We are participating in a Blog Hop and would love to have our followers participate.

Welcome All !!

Below you will find the links of all blogs participating

I hope that you will pay each of them a visit to sign up for their ornament

while you are on their blogs be sure to follow them as well.

Here is our donation, a snow girl holding a star.

You will find the details on how to have the chance to win her below.

Visit the other Thirteen blogs at the links on the list to

sign up for each of their ornaments

Cindi of http://cozyexpressions.blogspot.com/ 

Brenda of  http://therustythimble.blogspot.com/

Lisa of http://themoonlitstitch.blogspot.com/ 

Terra of http://terragarden.blogspot.com/

Jessica of http://blessingsinthecountry.blogspot.com/

Danice of http://homespunhannahblog.blogspot.com/ 

Cynthia of http://cynzplace.blogspot.com/ 

Suzan of http://sjcountrycrafts.blogspot.com/ 

Karen of http://buttonsintheattic1.blogspot.com/

Tracy of http://hattiesattic.blogspot.com/

Judy of http://hollyridgefolkart.blogspot.com/ 

Anne of http://annesphamily.blogspot.com/

Laura of http://dogsmomvisits.blogspot.com/

That is correct this blog hop is a bit different.

You will go to each blog to sign up for their ornament.

You can sign up for my donation of The Snow Girl with Star

by leaving a comment on this post and if you are not a follower 

please follow me.

For extra chances you can share on

Pinterest

Google Plus

Facebook

Twitter

Be sure to let me know in your ONE comment 

where you are sharing this and if you are following.

Also remember to leave me contact info

if you do not have it enabled for me to easily contact you.

NEW GIVEWAY

Good Morning out there in blog land  :)

I thought I would share with you our Giveaway on our 

Facebook page

  You can win 2 pillow tucks and that adorable pumpkin!

All you have to do is go to the pinned post on our Facebook page and comment on the number of candies you think is in the glass vase.  

While you are there,  LIKE our page and you will get updates on our new items.

Contest runs until October 14.

GOOD LUCK !

AND THE WINNER IS.....

First of all, I would like to thank

those that took the time to 

enter my contest.  

 It truly means a lot

to me, that you took

time out of your life to

comment.

HUGS to you all.   :)

Now..........on to the name of the winner

THE PRIM PLACE  !!!!

Congratulations!!!!!!

Please contact me with your mailing address, 

so I can get these guys out to you.

Final Day to Sign UP

A quick reminder

today is the last day to sign up to win

these adorable 

Scarecrow Bowl Fillers!

All you have to do is comment below!!

Thank you everyone :)

Folkart and Primitives Fall Celebration

There is a new celebration starting in a few days on Etsy!

The Folkart and Primitives team will be holding 

their FANTASTIC FALL Celebration beginning

September 5 - 12

There are well over 45 shops that will be joining in this week long promotion.

To find all the wonderful shops and their creations all you have

to do is type FAAPFALL in the Etsy search.

We hope to see you there!!  

Fall Giveaway

We are heading into homestretch for summer, and I  for one am glad.

I love Fall !   I love the colors, the crisp fresh air, falling leaves and wearing a wearing a coat or sweater.

I see the leaves from our Walnut trees are falling already, they are usually the first.

The Dogwood tree is also showing signs of sleeping, the leaves are beginning to turn red.

And our lawn.......oh my goodness, crabgrass everywhere!!!  I guess we are going to have to treat it in spring for next season.

Last month I did a Giveaway on my Facebook page,  this month it will be here on my blog.

to win these adorable 
Scarecrow bowl fillers !!

They are made from muslin, with painted facial details.  Burlap hats, raffia, ribbon and fall buttons.

This giveaway will only be good in the US and Canada.  

All you have to do is comment and for an extra chance start to follow this blog.

Contest ends September 22nd, winner will be announced September 23rd.  

Giveaway Time !

Just a quick little post about our GIVEAWAY that is going on right now.!!

I am so antsy for fall, I can smell it in the air at times.

SO I thought it would be a good time to have a giveaway on 

our Facebook page !!

You could win this adorable Stumpkin Scarecrow for your fall decorating.

All you have to do is comment on the post on our Facebook page.   

Tell your friends all about it, spread the word!!

While you are at it, you can check out the new additions to our 

Etsy shop

New items will be added weekly!!!

Where does the time go?

All I can say is WOW.....its been months since I posted on our blog.  Yes I am alive and well.  

I suppose this is good reason to do a post.   You all know I am an active member of an Etsy team called Folkart and Primitives.

We are hosting a celebration this month called

Christmas in July  

  

If you click on Christmas in July up there ^  it will take you to over 1100 items that participating shops have tagged to gain your interest.

But wait.........there is MORE !!

We are also having a TREASURE HUNT for our followers and buyers.  Information about this hunt can be found on our 

Facebook Selling & Auction Page

If you are not already a member, request to join so you can participate.   Over 20 shops have donated a handmade ornament, one person will be the lucky winner !!

Interested in seeing more of our items?    You can copy and paste these links too.

  

We would love to see you there !!

GIVEAWAY TIME

WOW....where does the time go?   Its hard to believe that I have not posted for over a month.

Since I have been MIA, I am hosting a GIVEAWAY!

Just comment below to be entered to win this set of

Americana Heart bowl fillers.  

Each is made from homespun, cheesecloth, rusty stars, cinnamon sticks and pip berries.   They measure approximately 6.5" long.

Pass the word, the more the merrier.

Visit us in our Etsy shop

GOOD LUCK !

Easy Creamy Baked Asparagus

Perfect accompaniment for your Easter dinner

Easy Creamy Baked Asparagus

1 lb. fresh asparagus spears, trimmed

1/4 cup Ranch dressing

2 Tablespoons shredded Parmesan Cheese

1/2 cup coarsely crushed Ritz crackers (about 12 crackers)

Preheat oven to 350

Cook asparagus in simmering water in large skillet 2-3 minutes or until bright green, but still crisp; drain.

Toss asparagus with dressing in 1 1/2  to 2 quart baking dish.  Sprinkle with cheese and cracker crumbs.

Bake 10-15 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned and mixture is heated through.

Serves 4

CONTEST TIME

ITS TIME FOR A CONTEST !

I thought I would so something different for a change.

This one is easy....go to my 

Facebook page

and guess the number of buttons in this antique wine glass.  Leave your comment under the pinned post.  The one closest to the correct number, without going over will win

OLIVER.

Contest runs from March 2 to March 16.   Winner will be announced on the 17th.  

Share the post on your Facebook walls so your friends can join in the fun.  

Good luck !

Cheese and Pasta in a Pot

As I sit here typing, I look outside my window and see snow.  I know I will have to shovel.

We here in NW NJ have been fortunate that we have not received the "big" one as yet.   I wonder if we will squeak by this winter without it?

My biggest concern is a power outage.   I am rural and with "radial" feed, which means our power only comes from one direction.   Most of the time your power is fed from 2 ends, not ours.  :)   We do have a generator that will power our entire house, but is so huge that I can not move it around.  Sigh........But on the bright side, we do have a wood burning insert that we use for heat.  


I am planning a Giveaway on my Facebook Page soon and will announce the details here too.



Here is a recipe that is from one of my "go to" recipe books.  It is so old that the pages are falling out, the cover is missing but the recipes are all tried and true.  Please let me know if you try it  !!

Cheese and Pasta in a Pot - Serves 8

2 lb ground beef

2 medium onions, chopped 

1-14 oz. jar spaghetti sauce

1- 3oz can sliced mushrooms, undrained

8 oz shell macaroni - or what you have on hand

1/2 lb. sliced Provolone cheese

1/2 lb. Mozzarella cheese, sliced thin or shredded

vegetable oil

1 garlic clove

1 - 1 lb can stewed tomatoes

1 1/2 pt. sour cream = 3 cups

I usually cut this recipe in half.

Brown ground beef in a little vegetable oil in large deep frying pan, stirring often.   Drain off excess fat. 

  Add onions, garlic, spaghetti sauce, stewed tomatoes and mushrooms.  Mix well.  Simmer 20 minutes or until onions are soft.  

Meanwhile cook macaroni shells according to package directions.   Drain and rinse with cold water. 

 Pour half the shells into a lighted greased deep casserole.  cover with half the tomato meat sauce.  Spread half the sour cream over the sauce.  Top with slices of Provolone cheese.   

Repeat, ending with slices of Mozzarella cheese.  

Cover casserole and bake at 350 for 35 -40 minutes.  

Remove cover, continue baking until Mozzarella cheese melts and browns slightly.

We are CELEBRATING !!!

YUP we are in CELEBRATION MODE here with 

FOLKART AND PRIMITIVES ETSY TEAM

We are officially today, February 1, 2015  2 years young!!

I have been so fortunate to be involved with this fabulous group of professional women.

Yes, there are other teams on Etsy that may be larger and well known, but NOT a one can hold a candle to this wonderful group.  Friendships have been formed and businesses have been created due to the knowledge this team shares.

SO because of our Birthday.........WE are holding a Celebration in our shops.

Click here Folkart and Primitives Blog  to see all the shops that are participating.

Some of the shops are even holding sales !!! and who doesn't like a sale????

Psssst.....there is also a giveaway going on.  Head over to the blog and sign up for some beautiful prizes.  

Cozy Expressions is offering 15% off with the code SPRING2015    :)

Grow Your Blog

                   
 Hi everyone!!  My name is Cindi and I live in Northwest New Jersey.

                  I am fairly new at blogging and am thrilled to be able to participate for the first time in the

 2015 Grow Your Blog party!!

 I feel it is a way for me to connect with people all over the world that otherwise I would never meet.  The potential to learn something new through this opportunity is one in a million.

At a very young age, I realized the thrill I experienced when creating.   At 10 yrs I was introduced to a sewing machine and fell in love.  In Junior High School while the others were struggling with a simple apron, I was tackling a lined vest and skirt.

  I am the happiest sitting at my machine, which sets in my grandmothers treadle cabinet.

I am fortunate that I work out of my house and sell online what I create.   Here is a sample of what I have made.

I belong to an Etsy team called Folkart and Primitives, which covers a broad spectrum of art.

I am offering a GIVEAWAY for the Blog Party !

This little prim Peep is made from Warm n Natural, stuffed and nicely weighted.  He was then painted, stained and baked.   Is he not the cutest?

To be entered, please leave a comment below and make sure I have a way of contacting you.   I would also love to have you follow my blog, but it is not a requirement.   If you do follow me, I will return the follow.  :)

Good Luck to everyone, it was so nice of you to stop in  :)

And the winner of our first giveaway of 2015 is..

CATHY LEE

Congratulations Cathy, I will be in contact with you!!

As a few of you know, I am involved with a wonderful Etsy team called

Folkart and Primitives

This team will be celebrating its 2nd birthday on February 1, 2015 

I have been blessed to be involved with them,   I have learned so much and it is an ongoing process.   The friendships we have made will last a lifetime.  

If you know of anyone OR if you would like to become a member, please contact me.  Everyone has something to offer in life.  :)

We will be holding a celebration beginning February 1st running through the 8th.   

Here is our preview 

Stay tuned for MORE information!

Its GIVEAWAY time !

**Our FIRST giveaway of 2015**

The weather today in Northwestern New Jersey is ICE !

I stepped outside to get the morning newspaper and our driveway is a sheet of ice.

Forecast was for it to start with snow and then turn over to sleet and freezing rain.  

I guess Mother Nature had different ideas.   Days like today, I am so grateful that I am now able to work out of my house. 

To kick off 2015 I would like to do a giveaway here on my blog.

This is our popular Winged Heart.  The wing span is approximately 10.5"  wide.   There is a country air to this design.  It is suitable for hanging outdoors as long as it is in a protected area.

You have 3 chances to be entered to win:

1. Comment below, say anything you wish.

2.  Become a follower of my blog

3.  Like my Cozy Xpressions Facebook page.

If you would like a 4th.......share this on your Facebook page!

4.  SHARE on Facebook

Giveaway ends January 19th, winner will be announced on January 20th.

GOOD LUCK

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

Its hard to believe we are now writing 2015.  Wait....how many of us actually write now a days? 

Time moves on and we can not stop it nor can we stop the changes.  The best is not to fight it, just go with the flow.

I have been doing quite a bit of reading lately dealing with Social Media, there are predictions out there that shocked me.   I usually do not believe the first article I read on a specific topic and I investigate further.  It will be interesting for sure, to see if things will come to pass as predicted.

Moving right along, I will share with you some of my new creations, that are for sale in my Etsy shop

Cozy Expressions

This beautiful heart door or wall hanging

Or how about a Winged Heart?

possibly a heart with a little bird sitting on top?

and finally, a hand cut wood heart

I hope you take a few minutes and browse my offerings.

My wish for everyone is to have a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!!