Homemade Dog Biscuits with Recipe

Homemade Dog Biscuits Recipe

For the first time in eight years... we celebrated our dog, Portland's, birthday.  For shame.  I know.  Better late than never though and now, we have kids who totally enjoy it as well.  We'd baked Portland homemade biscuits about six years ago.  The dough was very hard to work with and I hadn't made them since.  But this dough is w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l.  I've written the recipe after the jump. It's rubbery, stretchy, goes far (makes about 36 average biscuits) and doesn't even need a floured surface for rolling. I used a piece of freezer paper for rolling and cutting; made clean-up a breeze.  The original biscuits Shawn and I baked those years ago had wheat flour and peanut butter among other things.  These had wheat flour too with the addition of canned pumpkin puree and a hit … [Read more...]

Sugar Cookie Cake

Sugar Cookie Tube Cake

So, I brought this recipe back from the ashes. I haven't made it for years and I've only made it three times. I experimented with it for the first time on December 9, 2006. The last time I baked it was in 2007 with my cousin, Alisa, while still living in Florida and I noted this on the actual recipe in my book.  What fun we had that night.  The Sugar Cookie Cake recipe is very unique in that it replaces most of the flour normally added with crushed sugar cookie crumbs. I bought simple store-brand sugar cookies and whirled them through my food processor to finely crush them. Back when Alisa and I baked this cake, I put the cookies in a zip lock bag and beat them with a rolling pin... it was loud, but it worked! This cake is dense and moist and holds its shape well.  The outside has a … [Read more...]

Little Yellow Butterfly Shirt {Pattern}

It's taken my some time to post this one.  And, truthfully, I'd been waiting for a photo of Madelyn IN the thing.  (smile)  I happened upon opportunity for that photo this autumn so here's to sharing.  Now, I've used the pattern many, many times and if you've read me you've seen it here and among other posts. However, this - by far - is my favorite version to date.  Madelyn adores this top.  She loves the butterflies, the key details, the velvet bow and the special tree button.  It's been worn quite often and will still fit her in the spring because I made it tunic length. I also added some extra ribbon around the sleeves.  This was actually a first attempt for me.  In all my years of sewing...I'd yet to stitch on some ribbon trim just so.  It was soft enough to keep the sleeve … [Read more...]

"The" Best Sugar Scrub Recipe

I know, it's been done dozens of times over.  Sugar scrub recipes can be found internet-wide.  This one's different though.  Really.  So, let me tell you why. I go through stages.  I love to learn new things, master them, then move on.  Fickle?  No.  Creative.  I also love to feel self-sustained from time-to-time.  Anti-cosmetic industry?  No.  Creative.  All-natural freak?  No, just creative.  I like to be able to do things myself.  And I did.Anyway, this scrub is what I was hunting.  Without pointing any fingers, I'll list the pro's.  This scrub: has no harmful or wild-and-strange chemicals, is almost completely natural, does not need to be stored in the fridge, will save you money in spite of making it yourself, is not overly scratchy, may be customized, may be … [Read more...]

Coconut Joy Cookies {Holiday Sweet Treats Party}

I'm SO excited to participate in this Holiday Sweet Treats blogging event! So many amazing bloggers have teamed up to bring you the MOTHER of all Holiday Sweet Treats LISTS! We've all been hard at work creating holiday treats to share so we hope you sit back, grab a hot cocoa and feast your eyes on the delicious treats in the link list at the end of this post. BUT........before you do, check out this delicious recipe for Coconut Joy Cookies that my good friend, Dawn, from The Heartland is sharing! If you're going to bake, use recipes with ingredients that set your heart on fire. I believe in this to the very last character in the sentence...but don't relish coconut. Unless of course, it's presented to me within an Almond Joy wrapper. Otherwise, you won't find coconut crossing my … [Read more...]

Easy Sofa Blanket Tutorial

So, I'm totally excited to share this news with you! You know my friend Dawn from The Heartland? Well, she has agreed to come on board as a contributor my little cohort at The Girl Creative. Guess what? She doesn't "only bake". She sews and crafts and refinishes furniture too. I KNOW!!! What an addition to the blog huh??? Here is her first contribution but don't worry, you'll be seeing much more of her. :) Oh, if you are looking for more of Dawn's sewing adventures, visit her for that fun stuff as well. :)**** I hit a great sale on home decor remnant fabrics a few months back at Hancock Fabrics. I picked up 2 1/2 yards each of these two fabrics. They are both upholstery weight fabrics but were soft enough to be cozy. I finally pre-washed them, no issues there and sewed them … [Read more...]

Shirley Temple Cookies

Child stars, they all appear to live such charmed lives and so can you.  Well, your taste buds should at least, now that you can bake up some Shirley Temple Cookies.  As a little girl and to this day I love ordering a Shirley Temple in restaurants.  Partly, to see the look on my server's face  when I request the drink (they often don't know what I'm talking about anymore) and also because Shirley Temples are so delicious. The alcohol-free Shirley Temple drink was created just for Shirley Temple, the child star, by a Chasen's resturant bartender in Beverly Hills during the 1930's. You see, her parents frequented the restaurant and she wanted to have a 'drink' too. The Shirley Temple we drink today varies from the original which sported a simple mix of seltzer water, … [Read more...]

Rigatoni Alfredo

Alfredo Sauce is a favorite among my family members.  I'll attest I know no one who despises it.  My very first experience with Alfredo Sauce was at Red Lobster almost twenty years ago.  I had it along-side a fresh batch of their Cheddar Bay Biscuits for dipping.  Needless to say, it ruined my appetite by the time my meal arrived and I could hardly fit another bite.  It was delicious!  At any rate,  my husband and I both enjoy Alfredo Sauce and my two year-old daughter cleaned her plate this evening. We had a good laugh when she picked up the plate to lick it. (smile) This sauce recipe is fairly easy to put together and was ready by the time the pasta was finished.  It's creamy, delicious and eight ounces of cream cheese in the dish lends a serious hand. If you're out to cut back … [Read more...]

Old-World Linzer Cookies

When someone speaks of Austria the classic tunes from The Sound of Music soon-after flood my mind. They deftly solicit my imagination to dance along in lush green landscapes and mansions while singing grandly. If I linger, they'll woo me to tear down the curtains and sew play-clothes for my daughter.  On a quiet day tales of Austria call me to my oven.  Born in a land well-known for its delicious desserts and pastries the Linzertorte among them, Austrian recipes will never disappoint.   Linzer Cookies are a re-mix of the original Austrian Linzertorte, a re-invention of the wheel if you will but bite-sized.  Historians attest the Linzer recipes hail from the city of Linz, Austria and date them in the 1700's.  The cookie, much like the torte involves a dough filled with ground … [Read more...]

Lavender Cookies

The aroma of Lavender takes me to a happy place. I've always grown it outside on my porch in a container and now, can grow it in our side-yard. With the little niche between winter and spring upon us, I thought to share my old Lavender Cookie recipe with you. My lavender seeds have sprouted! Anyway, I was thrilled to find it for sale (the buds) at a local Penzey's shop a couple years ago. At the time, I bought a small jar and couldn't wait to go home and bake something with it. (I think it's just a bigger bag they have available online now. Health food stores will carry it as well.) … [Read more...]