SWEET TOOTH DIVA

My Christmas Cookies have been baked and frozen for weeks.

I have to bake LOTS for family and friends.
It's the gift I give for Christmas!

The holidays are here and I am relaxed.

Here are two recipes I recently added to the 

Sweet Celebrations tab here on my blog.  

Try them out. Let me know what you think.

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This pumpkin bread has a BISQUICK base.

Add any chip you think would be good with pumpkin.

Maybe chocolate chips, what about butterscotch?

 I like the cinnamon chips.  Add nuts if you like!

The original recipe was made in bundt cake pan.

You can do that...just add about 10 minutes to baking time.

I like loaf pan...you can use any size just adjust baking time.

Use the wooden toothpick inserted in the middle...

if it comes out clean...the bread is DONE!

You can also drizzle with a glaze...

I like to serve with a soft/whipped cream cheese.

These cookies will melt in your mouth.

They have a peanut butter base...

I love JIFF peanut butter for baking.

I might be a Cookie Queen...just sayin!

APRONS, COOKIES, FRIENDS

There are many "Cookie Divas" this time of year

baking tons of cookies for the holidays. 
BUT due past history of the number of cookies that I have baked
and have passed thru my house via cookie swaps...
I have become know to family and friends as the...

On the subject of Aprons...
I joined an IG "HOLIDAY APRON" swap 
 My partner was @mrspickles and she luvs half-aprons 
with a vintage feel.  We were asked to o include a recipe.
I found  a Holiday recipe book from 1950!

Ya can't beat that with a rolling pin!

Threw in a few little extras, cause its fun!

The apron I received was made by @theruffledchick

Her IG feed shows lots of half aprons all ruffled up.

I am happy she read my request for a full apron

At 65 and a cookie dough waist..ruffles would NOT be cool.

She did a great job using my fav Scarlet and Gray colors.

This apron can be worn all year long!

She also sent a couple great cookie recipes

and some fun extras including hand made cards..

which I love!

One of my favorite holiday aprons is quite Ghastlie!

You know I had to make this one!

On the subject of cookies and friends...

For 10 years I hosted a Cookie Exchange with my girlfriends.

This was my "gift" to them...sharing time, cooked them a meal

and each Cooke Diva brought 6 dozen of one kind of cookie

for the cookie swap!

In 2009, the last year, I gifted each baker her own

"Cookie Diva" apron!

(embroidered design by Joan Keltner)

Some besties not pictured who have moved away

also received an apron!

Connie, Patty, Cindy
Mary Jo, Dora, Kim
Daisy, Val, Betty

Kathy, Debby, Ginny
Joey, Dianne, Char, Chris
Susie, Joan, Pam

To wrap up 10 years of cookie fun with my besties, 

I asked them to bring me a vintage cotton apron
 as a hostess gift, then sign their name and the year
they met me on a square muslin.
Using a "Friendship Star" block I made a memory quilt.

"Apron Strings and Cookies"

 Melissa (Ingmire) Durrett is my niece "Misty"
and we met when she was born.

Shirley (Bolton) Haller my neighbor and best friend

since 3rd grade / 1960

56 years later we are still besties, no longer neighbors

but we visit often as we can!

I also luv that she quilted this for me.

If you want some great cookie recipes

Be sure to check out the tab above

"Sweet Celebrations"

All that being said...its time to

grab your favorite apron, rolling pin and

GET BAKING!

SWEET CELEBRATIONS !

I hope you had a chance to try some of my recipes last year.

I'm here to sweeten you up again in 2015.

I never met my Mother-in-law, Geraldine Gordon

 but I'm pretty sure, from the taste of this date-nut bread,

she knew her way around the kitchen.

Today's Sweet Celebration is 

All my holiday recipes from 2014 and for 2015 

are located on the tab above 

"Sweet Celebrations" or click here

RED WHITE AND BOOM WITH LEMON PLEASE

 Happy 4th of July!

Columbus Ohio is known for its celebration of
RED WHITE AND BOOM!!!
A huge fireworks show set to music
that brings hundreds of thousands of folks downtown..
it is amazing with plenty of goose bump moments!

Phil and I have been invited to a couple cookouts this weekend.
Last night with our good friends,  Bob and Vickie Leonhardt!

Some firecrackers enjoying pre-show cocktails!

before we gather in the front yards along their street...

To watch the Reynoldsburg, Ohio fireworks!

 Tonight, July 4, our neighbor, Mark Wilson,
celebrates  Red White and his BIRTHDAY!
Always fun...with lots of story telling! 

Now what about the "Lemon"? 
As part of my Sweet Celebrations recipe collection
I want to include my 

Lemon Pound Cake recipe
I'm taking it to both parties!!!

(Click here for all my Sweet Celebrations recipes)


And of course I have a 4th of July kwilt.... 

This was a swap effort with my kwilty peeps

when I worked at Nationwide Insurance

Have a safe and happy holiday and
enjoy every moment of summer!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY...WITH A SWEET TWIST

Lots of "Christmas in July" blog posts this month.  

R-W-B Christmas in July Tree

 I want to share something fun...including a signature kwilt!
This might give you and idea for a precious holiday gift 
-time with friends-

For 10 years I held a Holiday Cookie Exchange Party! 
Just girlfriends, no guys, no kids allowed.

1,103 dozen or 13,421 Cookies came to the parties over 10 years
173 friends attended - avg 17 per party.

Now this was NOT a typical Cookie Exchange Party.

I had rules (fun rules) and everyone complied as

they knew how fun the party would be.

Each party had a "theme"

I "Decked my Halls" to the limit 
(check my 2012 Decking my Halls posts for more decorating ideas)

1. Bronze and Green Great Room Tree   2. Holiday Chorus Kwilt   Antique tree toppers   4. Master bath
5. Vintage houses on cake plates  6. Red bird tree  7. Snowman tree  8. Antique ornament wreath
9. Bathroom tree 10. Sewing tree 11. Front porch   12. Gingerbread Tree

I provided a dinner (and drinks, of course)
 "around a theme" for all the girls!

I made cookie books with all the cookie recipes 
and my dinner dishes and beverages.
Everyone took home a handmade party favor.

Lots of handmade door prizes were given!

The year the theme was "Vintage Holiday" I asked
all the girls to wear aprons. 

I'm in the center wearing my Mom's apron and House dress with the slip showing.

and put them into a Signature Kwilt

Labeled it...and I have a priceless treasure.

My last gift to my girls, were Cookie Diva aprons, each with 
a personality just like the Cookies Divas who got them.

Mine, the Cookie Queen  (she should be a red head) 

And all the Cookie Divas!

So if you have never hosted a "Cookie Exchange"
why not this year....plenty of time to plan it and its a great way
to share some fun time with your girls...

How sweet it is!

Karen at Quilty Creations 
has a great Linky Party showcasing
 Something Old - Something New.
This post is part of that fun!