Thursday, December 23, 2010

Just a quick post

I am making tamales tonight. I know it's a big task, but I'm always up for the challenge, but wish I had some help. Anyway, everything is prepared it's just the actual assembling of the tamales.

Another Christmas is here and I never had the chance to make my Christmas cards! Well, I made a few, but I had to mainly buy cards, grrrr! I love vintage collectibles and love, love graphics of years gone by. I found this really fun website that you can download (they have freebies, too) many different pics and graphics to make into cards or print on fabric, etc. It's called The Vintage Workshop. So I've been having fun designing and making Thanksgiving and Christmas cards. Although this one is pretty simple, because I was in rush to get it sent off to my cousin and I had to make do with I had on hand or what I could find! Did I mention that alot of my stuff is packed away and who knows where it is! It's been really frustrating.


Today has been beautiful compared to the last 6 or 7 days we've had. It's been raining like crazy, we need the rain, but this was rediculous. It seemed like it would never stop. I think yesterday morning was the worst. I managed to take a pic from our garage, yikes!


Okay, enough for now. I have to get back to my tamales . . . . I plan on another post for tomorrow -- I want to get something in for Ann Kroeker's Food on Friday. I still have some last minute shopping to do and I have a request for trifle for dessert on Christmas Day! Do I hear another challenge? Yikes, another busy day tomorrow!

Here you go, one last photo . . . . this is red chile sauce I made today to have with my tamales. Not a pretty picture, but the sauce is pretty tasty.


Thanks for stopping by and I'll be back tomorrow. And if I don't, wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Chunky Pecan Pie Bars

Okay, it's been a month since I last posted, I apologize. I still haven't unpacked everything to move into our new kitchen and here I am again packing up two other rooms for the next phase of our home remodel project. That would be the guest/sewing room and master bedroom and bath. I can't wait until it will all be done, it seems like it will never end.

Anyway, last weekend we went to a Christmas party where guest were asked to bring a dessert. This is my contribution, they are very sweet, but delicious, especially if you love Pecan Pie. I got this recipe from my Mom (and then found it all over the internet), she made them for Thanksgiving and everyone loved them. As well, as the pies, cookies and pumpkin bread she made! It was not a good place for me to be, but that's okay. Enjoy the recipe!


Chunky Pecan Bars

Crust:
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup packed brown sugar

Filling:
3 large eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup Nestle's Toll House Semi-Sweet Chooclate Chunks, 11.5-oz. pkg.
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease 13x9-inch baking pan.(I found to not skimp on this part, because it can be tricky getting out of the pan)

For Crust: Mix flour, butter and brown sugar in small mixer bowl until crumbly. Press into prepared baking pan.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

For Filling: Beat eggs, granulated sugar, corn syrup, butter and vanilla in medium bowl with wire whisk. Stir in chunks and nuts. Pour evenly over baked crust.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.


I'm back cross-stitching

  Well, not yet, but real soon because my daughter found a Halloween cross-stitch booklet that I thought I lost forever. So my plans are to ...