Hermits

These "cookies" are sooooooooooooo good with your coffee in the morning and if you eat them before 9am there are no calories!!!

Hermits
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup margarine (butter)
1/2 cup of molasses
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup lukewarm coffee
3 cups sifted flour
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup raisins or dates
1 egg
Cream sugar and shortening. Add molasses, then soda which has been dissolved in the coffee. Add the sifted dry ingredients. Add raisins and then add the beaten egg...Form into long strips on greased cookie sheet. Flatten with floured hands and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cut when cool......ENJOY!

oh, yea....here is a digi blog site you just need to check out!!
http://scrapsnack.blogspot.com/

My Town

ok...i am avoiding what i need to do today .... i am installing a second EHD and setting it all up with a "hub"...i am from the generation that remembers when the first TV came out...this computer stuff amazes me and i love it but i am also intimidated by it....i have to get mad and say "i am smarted than this machine" and just dive in....so i will set it up and than copy all my files (you don't want to know how many digi files i have...)to this cute little box which will "save my life" heaven forbid the first little box dies and/or it dies with my c drive....pretty soon i will have 25 EHD all backing up each other (just kidding)...but until than i am going to just play alitte.....here is a layout i did for a challenge (actually i combined two challenges)over at Jessica's

credits: Template by LivEDesigns; Paper-RAKJuly Kit_VPeralta; corner ribbons-chiens; journal tag-jenwilson; font-TinesNewYorker; images from town's official web site except for flag waving picture-mine

ELISA

I have been tagged by ELISA…and I am honored….this woman is so talented that each time I see a new design my mouth drops!! I have all her work in a folder and look at it frequently….that is how much I love it….and … she gives it to you free…do you believe it…!! You need to check her out…you will love me forever if you do!!

So…the tag is for me to list 6 unimportant things about myself…well…I listed 7 on a previous tag (Jan.11) sooooo I think I will modify this (you don’t mind, Elisa..do you?)and list 3 things about my “digi life” and hook you all up with three sites I think you will love exploring…….so….

1. I began this digi journey in june of ‘07 when I hesitantly took a beginners class on line with Jessica Sprague…I was NOT going over to the dark side…right…I am so addicted now that even my 2.5 year old granddaughter knows to look for me in the computer room…
2. I have more digi supplies than I have photos (shhhhhhhhhhh) ….reason why I don’t have as many layouts as I should….once it stops snowing here I will go out and take some…I will….you will see…
3. I am a Blog Hopper….each morning with my cup of coffee I start clicking away..it started as a freebie search but it has opened my world to such amazing people and places out there … and to think I had to be “double dared” by my JS playmates to even start a blog….i had just figured out email…hee,hee

ok - here are three interesting blogs you should check out!!

http://www.moriginals.blogspot.com/
http://suelicolbert.blogspot.com/
http://happy-digiscrapper.blogspot.com/

Another Great Chef

You need to check this one out...love this series.....of course it doesn't hurt that my daughter produced it.....http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=4349825&page=1

More to come....

The Digi Community

I have been in this digital scrapbooking world since June and am AMAZED how generous these people are!! Not only with their support and teachings, but also with their work....they give it to you! High Quality work! and they put their love and soul into it!! I have been a big recipient of their generosity and wish to say THANK YOU!!!!!!! I want to give a few links to these wonderful people (hope they don't mind)..check them out...and if it is in a different language not to fear...your eyes will be amazed and what digi person does not understand "download" in whatever language......
http://zeitfuermich.blogspot.com/
http://imaginebyfran.blogspot.com/
http://diescrapsisters.kulando.de/post/2008/02/21/freebie_collabkit_february
http://lilybellscraps.blogspot.com/
http://kathy51.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/thursdays-spolight-and-freebie/
http://scrap-sn.blogspot.com/

My Valentine

Cottage Cheese Dill Bread

This bread is amazing....just the aroma as it is baking is worth it.....it is to snow AGAIN tomorrow so i will be baking this bread!! It is very easy...don't let the word "yeast" scare you......

Cottage Cheese Dill Bread
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
2 Tablesppons sugar
1 cup warmed cottage cheese (room temp is what i do)
1 egg
1 Tablsp.finely chopped onion
2 tsp. dill weed
1 tsps salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2.5 cups flour
Dissolve yeast in water with sugar. Combine with remaining ingredietnts and mix to form dough. Knead till firm and place in buttered bowl. Cover and let rise 2 hours in warm place. Punch down dough and shape into 2 loaves. Place in buttered layer pans Cover and let rise 1 hour. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes......YUM!

The Orton Effect

This was a challenge over at jessica's ....the orton effect is what you do to your photo to get a certain effect .... this was a tut by our very own Kimi....this was quite a challenge for me for i am not too sure about the way the photo's came out...i think i needed to add a step but this is just my first try...will try again on a photo with just scenery (no people)....the completed layouts over in the gallery are just amazing...Love this stuff ( and my playground!!)

credits: GreenPaper,butterfly,lace-doindigi_ForestGarden; BrownPaper-CafeDigi; frames-DigiScrapJunkie; tag-jenwilson; stitching-CaroleNeale; staple-CBender

Dog and Girl

hi...nice long weekend...spent with my husband's family (i count them as mine too)..Uncle Jerry turned 75 years old so we celebrated....and that means food....oh...i don't think i will eat for a week...(right!)...took some great pictures and i will put into a layout...yes i will...but for now i have done one with josie and lola (the dog)...using a QP that i can not find the creater for there was no tou(credits) in the download...tried to backtrack my blog hopping but not able to find...so if i do find it in my travels i will credit....love this QP and thank you out there for creating it...!!

Great Chefs

I am a foodie....i admit it....i love to cook; i collect cookbooks; i watch food network tv....i know all the chefs...actually i "know" their names....but my youngest daughter has met a few of them...she is a producer for abc news/nightline and has produced a series of "platelists" about some of the greatest...so, each time she does a shoot i have to know all about it and experience it thru her eyes (and tastebuds)...She has met (just to name-drop a few) Eric Ripert, Jacques Torres, Mario Batali, David Chang...(should i go on....)well...you can go and see the videos... yes, you can online.... http://abcnews.go.com/nightline ... go ahead and check it out...Eric Ripert was last night and you can do a "search" for the others...video and written story....What can i say...She is great (my daughter) and so are these amazing chefs!!

Sweet and Sour Chicken

I love this one...and so does everyone who eats this (at least in my experience)...Very simple:

Sweet and Sour Chicken
1 (8 oz.) bottle Russian dressing
1 (10oz.) jar apricot preserves
1 env. dry onion soup mix
4 whole chicken breasts, halved or one chicken cut up into pieces

Combine first 3 ingredients and simmer until preserves have melted...cool...Pour over chicken and marinate for at least 30 minutes...i tend to set up in the morning and refrigerate and than cook. Bake 1.5 hours at 350 degrees and could use basting a few times (or not)...

I serve with an Armenian Pilaf (my friend Ginny's recipe)
1 cup of long grain (Uncle Ben's) rice
1/3 cup vermicelli (break into pieces)
2.5 cups chicken broth
1/2 stick butter
salt and pepper
(i will sometimes add choppted garlic and chopped onions)

Brown vermicelli (garlic/onions) in butter until golden (watch carefully for you do not want to burn)...Add all other ingredients. when it comes to a boil, turn down heat, cover and simmer approximately 20 minutes....(You will never use a rice mix again)

I Have Been Tagged......

I’ve been tagged…but this one is different from the earlier one…My friend Deb did it and she said such nice things about me…well, she is the best..here is a woman who has 8 children, works full time, active in her community and she still has time to make me feel good….(deb, luv you too!!) So, here are the rules.

The idea behind this tag game is different from other tag games. Rather than look inwardly, we look outside ourselves and bless, praise and pray for three blog friends. By participating in this endeavour we not only make the recipient of the blessing feel valued and appreciated, but we are having some fun too. We’re going to see how far the bloggin’ blessings can travel around the world and how many people can be blessed! Recipients of a bloggin’ blessing may upload the above image to their sidebar if they choose to do so. In addition, be sure to go to the blog of those you are blessing and leave a comment on their blog to be sure they check yours!

SusanD….even though I have never met her I feel that I know her…she is warm and caring and I look forward to reading her messages on the mb over at jessica’s…she jumps in to help and she makes sure I don’t miss any freebies…She makes me feel good with everyone of my blog postings for she comments…I know she is there and that is comforting!!

Angela…you might come from a cold place but you are definitely a warm soul! You are so talented…your photography grabs me…I love your blog and if you lived next door to me you could be my best friend…each time I see your blog header I smile and say …”now, there is an independent, strong woman”..am I right!?

Veevs…ok, my London friend….how could I not luv you when you are a savior of all who is lost…even kitties! You direct all of us on the mb in the right direction! When you see my name on other forum chats you personally message me and I feel soooooo good when you do that!..for there are times (don’t tell anyone) that I am not sure I know what I am doing on those chats but knowing you are there really makes me feel good!

I could say something about each and every one of my digi friends from JSprague’s…They are woman that I have grown to care about over these months and am thankful and honored to have met all of them!!

Valentine to My Family

credits: QP by KB and Friends_JGordon; Quote-MaryWise;font-ChopinScript;Frame-AnitaDesigns

Mom's Birthday

My mother's birthday is this month and i thought i would start an 8x8 album for her beginning with this page...and than she can add each layout as i send them to her....so.. this layout is one of my mother as a young woman...the front one is her when she was pregnant for me .. wow!

credits: template THD#27; papers/elements-jessicadixon; stamp-K.Pertiet;font-ChopinScript

Ennio Marchetto Theatre Trailer HD

This will put a smile on your face!!It did for me when friend Larry sent this to me this morning!

Dance Class

Here is my Josie at dance class...she loves to dance...but at this time only free style...but she does have the moves!!

credits: QP by Thaliris; Font-ChopinScript

This page was done very quickly....as it is a quickpage...the above needed modifying before i could "drop" the picture in....getting mucho help from my digi friends!! Thanks!

credits: QP by vlim_PrimaHybrid

Inside-Out Ravioli

Last night's weather was unbelieveable......thunder and lightning big time while it poured "ice"...crazy!! Kept the dogs up which meant it kept us up....so this will be a nice slow day...love this retirement!! Here is a dish i use to make for the kids...easy...would come home from work and whip this up....

Inside-Out Ravioli
1 lb.ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 clove minced garlic
1 (10oz) pkg. frozen, chopped spinach
1 (1 lb) jar spaghetti sauce with mushrooms
1 (8oz) can/jar of tomato sauce
1 (6oz) can tomato paste
1/2 tsp.salt
dash of pepper
1 (7z) pkg.shell or elbow macaroni, cooked, drained
1 cup shredded sharp cheese
1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
2 well beaten eggs
1/4 cup salad oil

Brown first 3 ingredients in a large skillet. Cook spinach using package directions (use microwave). Drain, reserving liquid; add water to make 1 cup. Add spinach liquid and next 5 ingredients to meat mixture. simmer 10 minutes. Combine spinach with macaroni and remaining ingrediets; spread in 13x9x2 inch baking dish. Top with meat sauce. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Freezes well. Serves 8-10...(in my house 4)

My Josie

well...i finally did another layout...i love doing these but i must admit i am addicted to "gathering" my supplies....Josie comes to me each Monday...how fortunate am i!!! She likes to have her picture taken now...she is my swweeeettteee!!

credits: Paper/wordart-LittleDereamerDesigns_L.Sandford; ribbon-RRDesigns; swirls-FranDesigns; font-leviCrayola

Frozen Grand Central

This was on one of my DigiFriend's Blog and i just needed to add to mine!! Amazing!!

Oh,Well

New York.....You done Good!! Congrats.....