Baking, Books, and Bedtime

I love December because it means lots and lots of baking. Every year I bake a tray of Christmas cookies for my husband to take to work. It's also my opportunity to try new recipes. This year I modified a recipe for a cake/cookie and a chocolate cookie. Both turned out quite well, as did my staple Christmas cookies the date nut pinwheels and the cream wafers.

The cake/cookie recipe was originally for lemon cookies, but I wasn't very fond of them. I thought I would make a different flavor. I found a pink velvet cake at the store and thought that it would make a lovely and colorful start. Next I added two eggs and a 1/3 cup of extra light olive oil. I blended the mix well and added an eight ounce container of raspberries. Once the raspberries were thoroughly incorporated, the mixture was thick and gooey. I dropped large soup spoon fulls of dough into a bowl with powdered sugar. The dough was a little to sticky to roll so I gently tossed it around in the bowl until it was coated and I could pick it up. Carefully I tossed it in the palm of one hand to create a ball shape and then I placed them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. I baked them on 375 degrees for nine minutes.

While I was waiting for the each batch of cookies to bake I browsed Facebook where I happened to see an article on a new social media site, that is just getting started, called TSU. There was a very helpful article by Scott Buehler which told all about TSU and how to join. It looked quite interesting, so I decided to join and set up a profile. Since the site is so new you can only join through an existing member. I joined through Scott. If you are interested, you can join through my short link.

While searching for people to friend, I found a link to an adorable e-book by John Lancer called Bedtime Little Bear. The illustrations are so cute I almost went into sugar shock, and the story is quite adorable as well. It is bedtime for a little bear, but like most children, he does everything to avoid going to bed. Follow him on his journey as he discovers bedtime isn't so bad.

The best part about this wonderful e-book is that right now it is free on Amazon. So go check it out and see if you and your children love it as much as I did!

Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal website, Fun With Aileen, any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, my very own early grade chapter book, Fern Valley, and my sequel, Return To Fern Valley! I'm also on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.

A Busy Season and Some Change

This Year has been a busy year for me. I have been participating in our town's Farm Market every Saturday. My book sales were pretty good at the beginning of summer, but I wanted to offer something other then my book. It took me a few tries and several recipes and crafts to find my perfect niche, but I finally managed to pick some winners. I started making home made granola,  mini loaves of quick breads (zucchini, banana, and pumpkin) as well as mini tarts (apple, pumpkin, raspberry. peach, lemon, and strawberry).

I have enjoyed these Saturdays mingling with the community and other vendors who have come to seem like an extended sort of family, but I must admit all the baking is quite tiring. I have also been attending practice at my local library for the Mystery Dinner Theater I am going to be participating in. I always wanted to attend one of those events and never imagined I would one day be one of the players. I also continue to be in charge of the children's display case which is a very fun and creative outlet.

And then of course, school started. Not only am I  now getting my daughter ready every morning and making sure she does her homework every evening, but I am also the room mother and the person in charge of the Christmas Snack Bar that is held every year for the wonderful staff. Add to the mix the fact that third grade seems to have some kind of event or two every month. So far we have had a walk-a-thon, and we are getting ready to go to the Bird Sanctuary.

Now the Farm Market has ended (Yesterday was the final day), and I am getting ready for the craft fair season. I have Barbie quilts and pillows ready, homemade granola, and of course copies of Fern Valley. With Christmas just around the corner, I have thrown some shopping into the mix, scouring all the clearance sales that occurred this summer. I managed to hit a super fantastic clearance at Target where I snagged enough good deals to take care of my daughter for Christmas, her January Birthday, and all the birthdays for the girls in her class.

Unexpectedly we had some change at our home as well. The kind of good change that makes you just want to smile and thank the good Lord above. My husband received a job transfer from second shift to first shift. Now he can eat dinner with us and see our daughter for more then just three weekends a month. Although a most wonderful blessing, our new schedule and eating habits are taking a bit of time to which to adjust.

And lest I forget, I have been participating in the Intuit Big Game Contest. The prize is a Superbowl commercial. I realize it's a lofty goal to win something as spectacular as a Superbowl commercial, but I figure with a little hard work on my part, I have the same chance as everyone else. So if you have a moment to spare out of your schedule (which I am sure is as busy as mine), please stop by and look at my video and vote for me and help me make it to round three.

Signing off for now with wishes for a bright and beautiful day!