Vintage Recipe Box

{I've never claimed to be a good photographer!!}
Oh, it's cute! And I love it! It desperately needs cleaning. But what to clean it with? I'll have to test some products on the bottom of the box. And if it ends up that I can't clean it without removing the paint and decals, then I will display it in all its delightful dirtiness. I wonder who kept recipes in this box?

~Recent Crafts~

I haven't been crafting quite as much as I'd like to, but I have managed to make a few things.



Here's the latest ZSQ I made. It is infant sized. I donated it to a silent auction fundraiser for my Aunt Patsy. I love the little birds!



I also made these little country apples. I hoped they would be bigger and when I make them again I will start with a larger circle of fabric. However, I still think they are cute! I scented some rice with some apple cinnamon essential oil and then stuff them with batting per the instructions. Stephen collected the little sticks I use for the stems from the backyard. The leaves are from some vintage fabric my Mom gave me a long time ago. I have the little basket sitting on my entryway table and the smell is fabulous!

This isn't really a craft! But I thought the popcorn balls looked so Fallishy Festive that I had to post a picture. I'm including the recipe too!


Best Ever Popcorn Balls
courtesy http://www.allrecipes.com/

3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup margarine (I use butter)
2 teaspoons cold water
2 5/8 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup marshmallows
5 quarts plain popped popcorn (I used microwave and couldn't find plain so I used the %50 less sodium Natural Simply Salted from Orville Redenbacher - 3 bags popped worked for me)

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the corn syrup, margarine, cold water, confectioners' sugar and marshmallows. Heat and stir until the mixture comes to a boil. Carefully combine the hot mixture with the popcorn, coating each kernel.

Grease hands with vegetable oil (I used butter) and quickly shape the coated popcorn into balls before it cools. Wrap with cellophane or plastic wrap and store at room temperature.

**NOTE FROM ME** While you don't want the mixture to completely cool, it is ok to let it set for a couple of minutes before you start shaping the balls because 1) THAT STUFF IS HOT and 2) the balls form better when you let it set a bit!

~Pumpkin Kisses~

photo from www.seriouseats.com

How did these escape my notice last year?

Apparently, they are sold at Target.

They're on my list!

birthday breakfast

Stephen and I awoke EaRlY this morning to surprise Virgil with a birthday breakfast before we all headed off for school and work.

What was on the menu?

Pumpkin Waffles

Bacon

Orange Juice

Coffee

You need this recipe:

Spiced Pumpkin Waffles

courtesy http://www.recipezaar.com/

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground ginger (NOTE* I used a little less than a tsp.)

1 pinch salt

2 eggs

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 2/3 cups milk

4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

1. Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt in large bowl.

2. In a second bowl, add eggs, sugar, pumpkin, milk and butter; beat well.

3. Gently fold in the flour mixture.

4. Cook according to your waffle iron directions.

Note: I used my Belgian waffle iron using about 2/3 cup of batter and baking for 4 to 5 minutes.

We topped them with a little butter and syrup.

Delicious!

My hubby's b-day!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband, Virgil (a.k.a. Ben, V, Banchi, Hubbit, Hubbitron…)

I’m abundantly blessed to have you as my life mate, best friend, co-parent, co-conspirator... My cup runneth over!

I’m so proud of you for so many things but mostly for your love of our God and your parenting of our son!

Looking forward to many, many more birthday celebrations together.

I love you! Happy Birthday!

~ your CREATURE

Syllabus

I received the syllabus today for my Engaging Students in Learning class. I read it voraciously. And once I had come to and picked myself up off the floor, I decided I must drop the class. Immediately. I could get my money back and have a grand ol time shopping at JoAnn’s on my way home from work. What was I thinking? I haven’t taken a college class since 1996! And now this professor is saying things like reflective journaling, article critiques, lesson plans, observations and portfolios containing artifacts. And I’m feeling very overwhelmed! Why do I need to get my teaching certificate anyway? I have a perfectly good and stable job. So I’m bored from time to time. Big Deal! At least I know what to expect!

I expressed these concerns to my irritatingly straight-to-the-point hubby:

Here’s our email exchange:

From: Woods, Amy
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 3:04 PM
To: Virgil Woods
Subject: got my syllabus

And I am highly intimidated

From: Virgil Woods
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 3:16 PM
To: Woods, Amy
Subject: RE: got my syllabus

Why?

From: Woods, Amy
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 3:39 PM
To: Virgil Woods
Subject: RE: got my syllabus

LOTS of work, LOTS of stuff that sounds foreign to me, feeling inferior…help

From: Virgil Woods
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 4:00 PM
To: Woods, Amy
Subject: RE: got my syllabus

You have been given this task by your Creator, Father, GOD! …..that should do it…..

SEE!? Irritating!

~@my

Reason #267

Reason # 267 Fall is the most fabulous time of the year:

Twine!!

Inexpensive, adorable way to accent craft items and to hang tags!

September

I can't believe it is already September 10! Hello FaLL! I've set out one little piece of Autumn and hope to add more in the next few days. Still waiting for a truly chilling cool front to hit North Central Texas. Our weather has been much milder than normal so I can really get my hopes up about the Fall season.

Are you celebrating Fall/Autumn yet? If so, how?

Blessings, Amy