Gooseberry Patch

Rounding Up Sizzling Skillet Recipes!

With the seasoning just perfect after years of use, Vickie's loves her cast-iron skillet, handed down from her mom. It's her go-to for making Sunday breakfast, sizzling pork chops and even pizza! Whether you use an heirloom like Vickie's, have seasoned your own cast-iron skillet or just love a good skillet meal, this week's Recipe Round-Up is for you!

So tell us...

What are your favorite CAST-IRON SKILLET recipes?
Share 'em all in today's Recipe Round-Up!

 (Don't have a cast-iron skillet recipe?
That's okay...any skillet meal is welcome!)

 

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Filled with sausage, mushrooms, pepperoni and plenty of cheese, this deep-dish pizza has an amazing crust...the secret is baking it in a cast-iron skillet! Vickie shares her secret to using cast iron, and handy tips on how to keep it clean and well seasoned.

 

Deep-Dish Skillet Pizza
Shared by Linda Kilgore from Kittanning, Pennsylvania,
this recipe appears in our cookbook, Rush-Hour Recipes.

1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed
1 to 2 15-oz. jars pizza sauce
1/2 lb. ground pork sausage, browned and drained
5-oz. pkg. sliced pepperoni
1/2 c. sliced mushrooms
1/2 c. green pepper, sliced
Italian seasoning to taste
1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

Generously grease a large cast-iron skillet. Press thawed dough into the bottom and up the sides of skillet. Spread desired amount of pizza sauce over dough. Add favorite toppings, ending with cheeses on top. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. Carefully remove skillet from oven. Let stand several minutes; pizza will finish baking in the skillet. Cut into wedges to serve. Serves 4.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe.

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Link up your favorite CAST-IRON SKILLET recipes belo w and, if you're joining this hop, link back here by using the handy button below.

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Share this collection on Pinterest!

 Even if you don't have a blog, tell us about YOUR recipe in the comments or, if you have a moment, share it with us on our website!

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What Recipes Remind YOU of Home?

There are certain recipes that, no matter where you enjoy them, they'll always remind you of Mom's or Grandma's kitchen. Baked with love and passed from generation to generation, these are some of our most treasured recipes...the ones that taste like home.

Yesterday, we shared two recipes -- Classic Quiche Lorraine from Jo Ann's mom and Blue-Ribbon Chicken & Noodles from Vickie's grandma, shown below -- from our family recipe box. Today, we're looking for yours!

So, tell us...

What are YOUR favorite recipes that REMIND YOU
OF HOME? Share 'em all in today's Recipe Round-Up!

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While it was published as part of our cookbook, Coming Home with Gooseberry Patch, this recipe has been in Vickie's family for generations.

Blue-Ribbon Chicken & Noodles
A real labor of love, this dish is perfect for big Sunday dinners. 

3 c. all-purpose flour
1 t. salt
5 eggs
1/2 t. yellow food coloring
2 T. white vinegar
3 to 4-lb. chicken
Optional: canned chicken broth, as needed

Thoroughly combine flour and salt in a large mixing bowl; make a well in the center and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and food coloring. Add vinegar and whisk again; pour into well in flour mixture. Work dough with hands until all ingredients are completely mixed. On a lightly floured surface, work dough until smooth, adding more flour if dough is sticky. Let dough rest for 20 minutes; divide in half. Roll out one portion of dough into a circle; continue to roll until thin (noodles will plump up when cooked). Cut dough into long strips, then cut crosswise to desired width. Toss with flour to separate noodles. Set noodles aside and repeat with second portion of dough. Cover noodles loosely with paper towels and let dry for one to 2 hours, or overnight.

Place chicken in a 4-quart saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until tender, about one hour. Reserving broth, remove chicken and let cool; remove meat from bone and set aside.

Measure reserved broth; add canned broth if necessary to equal 2 quarts. Bring broth to a boil. Drop noodles into broth a handful at a time, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to a simmer; cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Uncover and add reserved chicken. Cook, uncovered, an additional 20 minutes, or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

 

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Link up your recipes that REMIND YOU OF HOME below
and, if you're joining this hop, link back
here by using the handy button below.

Want to add this hop to your OWN blog?

Be our guest...just click here to get the code.

Come back this SUNDAY to see which linked recipes were the favorites of our blog readers...we'll tally up the "likes" on Friday. Add yours and YOU could be featured!

 

Even if you don't have a blog to link below, tell us about YOUR recipe in the comments or, if you have a moment, share it with us on our website!

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Listen to Vickie & Jo Ann on the Radio!

We had so much fun chatting with Heather of Basilmomma last
Thursday on her radio show, Around the Kitchen Sink.

Each week, she invites a guest and talks about food, family
and fun. We even talked about some kitchen FLOPS
while we were there!

We were delighted to be a part of the show.
Thanks for having us, Heather!

Just in case you missed it, we're sharing a link to the show
right here on our blog. Our appearance is the first one
listed below...just click play!

 

 

If you're having any trouble with the player, you can also
listen to the show on the Around the Kitchen Sink page,
hosted by Toginet.

Click here to visit that page and stream the show instead.

Tune in next Thursday at 11pm EST to hear who'll be on
Around the Kitchen Sink next...bet you'll recognize
the name of a special friend of ours!

 

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Easter Memories!

Remember when Easter was all about a new dress, matching purse and those little white gloves? We do! With the holiday just a few weeks away, we wanted to share a few pictures from those days that were all about the baskets...and the candy!

(Who are we kidding? It's still about the candy sometimes!)

Can you spot Jo Ann in this photo? She's the one in the sweet bonnet holding her little purse. She remembers spending holidays with the whole family, including cousins pictured here.

(Click the photos to see them up close!)

 

"It took forever for Mom to get us all ready for church on Easter Sunday. When we got home, we always celebrated with a big family brunch. It was a lot of excitement and lots of fun too...including an egg hunt in the backyard!"

 

Vickie's in the photo on the right...surrounded by all her baskets!

"I was almost 5 when this photo was snapped. I don't even remember where all the baskets came from but I do remember feeling
really special with all my goodies and my
new dress!"

 

 

Have a photo you'd like to share?
Post it on our Page on Facebook...we'd love to hear about your Easter memories or what you're most looking forward to celebrating!

 

We're linking up with Hershey's Bunny Trail today...it's a super-fun collection of Easter memories, traditions and more! Click over
today to see who else is on the Bunny Trail.

 

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We're in Where Women Cook!

We're thrilled to be a part of one of our
favorite magazines, Where Women Cook!

Here's a sneak peek at the feature...

You can get this current issue online or wherever you buy your favorite magazines, and really, it's so much MORE than a magazine.

Each is packed with dozens of interviews and features, hundreds of beautiful photos and of course, the recipes - we counted 30 in this issue alone! These quarterly issues are more like softcover books that you'll want to save on your shelf. With 160 pages each and featuring such pretty spine colors, they're definitely keepers!

We shared some Behind the Scenes photos in our holiday edition of Feather Your Nest...click the images below to take a peek at a few more!

We had so much fun chatting between takes
with everyone who came for the shoot!

 

There's Jo Packham, the creator and editor-in-chief of Where Women Cook, sampling the delicious Crustless Pumpkin Pie shared in the magazine.

 

Getting all the ingredients ready for Vickie's Tomato Pie...mmmm!

 

Setting up the plate for our photographer, Lauren Byrdy to snap!

 

Want a slice? YUM!

 

This collection of blackbird pie birds is one of Jo Ann's favorites.

 

Posing with Jo...thanks so much for coming!

 

Vickie & Jo Ann caught sampling Robert's Corn Dip,
one of our all-time favorites!

 

There it is...we'd love a scoop right now. Wouldn't you?

 

Thanks for letting us toot our Gooseberry Patch horn today
and remember, if you can't find Where Women Cook where
YOUR favorite magazines are sold, you can always
order the issue (or a subscription!) online.

 

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Share this good news (and recipe links) with a friend!

Happy Parents' Day!

Did you know that the fourth Sunday of July is Parents' Day? We didn't either...but what a great day to celebrate! In the spirit of the day, Vickie is sharing a story of gratitude...

When I think about what I’m most grateful for, my parents immediately come to mind.

From the time my kids were babies, they were right there to lend a hand. Whether it was taking Matt for a stroller ride on a sunny spring day or inviting Emily to come and play dress up...since they were only 3 blocks away from our little house, they were an everyday presence in our lives.

Not only did they love spending time with my kids, they both remembered how rare “alone time” is for Mom & Dad. I know this is why, every Friday without fail, they took both kids so Shelby & I could have “date night.” We would have dinner together and enjoy uninterrupted conversation...talking and planning what was next for our family.

I can’t imagine raising my children without such active and loving grandparents...I’m thankful for every day, every golden moment they so generously gave us.

(Click the photo above to see the silliness at full size!)

 

Do YOU have a favorite memory of Mom or Dad?
Share it with us in the comments!

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An Oldie Filled with Goodies!

This week, our spotlight is shining on one of
our first books, Old-Fashioned Country Cookies!

First published way back in 1994, Old-Fashioned Country Cookies was only the third book we ever created. We thought we'd share how this book came about and what we remembered from those days. 

Jo Ann:  We had so many recipes to choose from in those days! We still have lots but now we have a system and remember, this was before email or our website. I just remember the boxes and boxes of handwritten letters, recipe cards, stationery all stacked together willy-nilly...

 

Vickie: Actually that's a pretty good way to describe our style back then: willy-nilly! We were just having so much fun creating cookbooks that we didn't think of things like...the table of contents. [laughing]

 

Jo Ann: Well, we figured it out pretty quickly after that though and developed our style a little more. In the days of Old-Fashioned Country Cookies, we were spontaneous, you might say. There was no template and each page is a little different from the next.

 

 
Vickie: Yep, just flipping through the pages, I recognize the illustrations from many different artists...it's almost like a collage of our early favorites. Lots of our oldest and dearest contributors are in there too. Kathy Grashoff has been sharing recipes almost as long as we've been publishing cookbooks. We're sharing a recipe of hers today.

 

 
Jo Ann: Well, it may be a looser structure than our books from today - you'll find memories and crafts shuffled right in with the recipes - but it's also dear to our hearts. It really feels hand-touched...almost like a scrapbook! We treasure the memories created in those early days and this book reminds me of where we came from.

 

 
Vickie: Definitely. We still strive to capture the heart of the stories you tell and the recipes you share with us. Pick up a copy of Old-Fashioned Country Cookies and you'll have a little Gooseberry Patch history - as well as a great cookbook! - on your hands.

 

Butterscotch Cookies
Thanks again to Kathy Grashoff for sharing this recipe!

1 c. shortening
3/4 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 t. hot water
1 t. vanilla extract
1-1/2 all-purpose flour
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
2 c. oatmeal
24-oz. pkg. butterscotch chips
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Combine first 6 ingredients. Add flour, salt and baking soda; stir well. Add oatmeal, butterscotch chips and nuts, if using. Drop by teaspoonful on baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen.

If you're shopping for Old-Fashioned Country Cookies, your best bet is Amazon...check eBay too. You might even find a copy with the original cover, which included a reindeer cookie in place of the bunny. Now THAT would be a real collector's item!

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Share the goodies with a friend!

Celebrate Slow Cooking This Week!

Almost any busy family will tell you that their favorite secret weapon in the kitchen is their trusty slow cooker. This week's Cookbook of the Week is filled with over 200 recipes, ALL made in the slow cooker! If it's not already in your collection, you'll want to add...

Slow-Cooker Recipes!

 

With 10 chapters in all, Slow-Cooker Recipes has you covered for
every meal of the day! Let's take a look at the Table of Contents...

Some of our favorites include Dinner in a Jiffy, with recipes using 5 (of less!) ingredients and Melting Pot, featuring family-friendly dishes with an international flair. Perfect for trying something new.

There's a whole chapter of Mouthwatering Roasts, plus soups, sides and sandwiches for those nights where you'd like a more casual sit-down dinner with your family.

In Yummy Dips, Spreads & Snacks, you'll find recipes you'll love whipping up for your next get-together...whether you're hosting or taking a treat along to share.

Don't forget Ooey-Gooey Desserts...from fruity flavors to decadent chocolate, this chapter has something for everyone. Today, we're sharing a recipe of Vickie's that you can find in the Melting Pot chapter. The pork roast turns out so tender when it's done, they're all sure to ask for seconds!

Vickie's Southwestern Pork Chalupas
For a speedier start, simply use 2 or 3  15-ounce cans of pinto beans.

16-oz. pkg. dried pinto beans
4 c. water
4-oz. can chopped green chiles
2 T. chili powder
2 t. ground cumin
1 t. dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
4-lb. pork shoulder roast
16-oz. pkg. corn chips
Garnish:  shredded Mexican-blend cheese, sour cream, salsa

Cover beans with water in a large soup pot; soak overnight. Drain. Combine beans, water, chiles and spices in a slow cooker; mix well. Add roast; cover and cook on low setting for 4 hours. Remove roast and shred, discarding any bones; return pork to slow cooker. Cover and cook on low setting for an additional 2 to 4 hours, adding more water if necessary. At serving time, arrange corn chips on serving plates. Spoon pork mixture over chips; garnish as desired. Serves 8.

 

Tune in all this week for even more goodies from this book!
What's YOUR favorite thing to make in the slow cooker?

 

Want to share this recipe on Facebook or somewhere else?
Click a button below!

Have you ever wondered how Gooseberry Patch cookbooks got their start?

Those are just a few of the many questions
we've received over the past 25 years.
This video tells the REAL story of Gooseberry Patch!

Are you a trivia fanatic?
Do you like being "In the Know"?

If your answer is "Yes!", then visit Our Page on Facebook every Tuesday, starting August 17th, for "Trivia Tuesdays."  We'll have a short video clip each week answering some of the most interesting questions we've been asked.

Is there something you've always wanted to ask Vickie & Jo Ann? Leave us a comment with your question. Maybe we'll answer it on our next video!

Introducing Links We Love!

We're taking a summer vacation from our Featured Fridays but don't worry, we'll keep Fridays special with our new series...

We're excited to kick off Links We Love today and, in the coming weeks, we'll be sharing crafty goodies here every Friday so be sure and check back!

This week's Link We Love comes from the website of one of our favorite magazines, Country Living!

Their site is packed with ideas and we
always find inspiration when we visit.

Today's idea comes from a collection of
Recycled Crafts...everyone's going green
these days but we just like the sparkle
of these jewelry magnets!

On the Country Living site, click the arrows at the top until you get to #5...the magnets!

Join us as we make our own below...click any photo to view it larger.

You'll need a few pieces of costume jewelry,
some magnets, wire-cutters or pliers and
glue that'll work with your materials.

We used Aleen's Jewelry & Metal Glue...
it has a quick grab that we like.

The next step is to snip off the pin or other
hardware from the back of the jewelry.

This should be pretty simple using your
wire-cutters or, if it's really stubborn,
get out the pliers.

Apply a little glue to one of your magnets. Use a toothpick to spread, if needed.

Careful if you're using this glue...it can stick to your skin like superglue so you'll want to keep it off your fingers.

Stick your magnet to the back of your jewelry...we're using two stacked magnets (glued together) since we couldn't get all the hardware off without damaging the piece of jewelry.

Hey, there's Vickie...holding
our finished magnet!

And here's how they look holding up
some treasures on the fridge...
super handy for grocery lists,
notes and photos too!

Hope you enjoyed our very first Link We Love...if you decide to try out this idea,
be sure to show off your results on your blog or on our Page on Facebook.

Click over to Country Living to check out the rest of their clever
Recycled Crafts and tune in next Friday when we'll share another
great crafty blog with a project to try!

Easter Memories

Remember when Easter was all about a new dress, matching purse and those little white gloves? We do! As the holiday approaches, we wanted to share a few pictures from those days that were all about the baskets...and the candy!

(Who are we kidding? It's still about the candy sometimes!)

Can you spot Jo Ann in this photo? She's the one in the sweet bonnet holding her little purse. She remembers spending holidays with the whole family, including cousins pictured here.

(Click the photos to see them up close!)

"It took forever for Mom to get us all ready for church on Easter Sunday. When we got home, we always celebrated with a big family brunch. It was a lot of excitement and lots of fun too...including an egg hunt in the backyard!"

Vickie's in the photo on the right...surrounded by all her baskets!

"I was almost 5 when this photo was snapped. I don't even remember where all the baskets came from but I do remember feeling
really special with all my goodies and my
new dress!"

Have a photo you'd like to share?
Post it on our Page on Facebook...we'd love to hear about
your Easter memories!

February Snow

Remember back in January when I wanted to snap some photos before all the snow melted? Well, I had no idea what Ohio was in store for this month!

Look at all the snow piled up there...that's one chilly crow!

Look how the big old pine tree holds onto all that snow...my little cabin looks even smaller next to it!

I love how quiet the woods look under their blanket of snow...this one almost looks like a painting doesn't it?

Capturing the seasons (and everything else!) with my camera is one of my favorite things to do...what do you do to stay inspired?

Thanks for reading!

Cupcakes with Sawyer!

For Valentine's day this year, Sawyer and a little buddy made cupcakes...I wanted to share some of the sweet photos from that day.

Testing out the icing...yep, it's yummy!

Starting to actually put the icing ON the cupcakes...

All done...now for the sprinkles!

 

A baker's dozen, ready to enjoy!

 

Want to make your Valentine some treats from scratch?
Give this recipe from Gifts for Giving a try!

Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes

1/2 c. butter, divided
7 T. brown sugar, packed
1 t. cinnamon
3/4 c. pineapple tidbits, drained
    with juice reserved
6 maraschino cherries, drained
    and halved
1 c. cake flour
1-1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 egg, separated
1/4 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla extract

Melt 1/4 cup butter in a small saucepan; stir in sugar and cinnamon until blended. Remove pan from heat; add pineapple. Lightly grease each cup in a 12-cup muffin tin; spoon one tablespoon mixture into each cup. Place a cherry half, round side-down, in the center of each cup; set aside. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, beat egg white until stiff peaks form. In a large mixing bowl, cream remaining butter and sugar; beat in egg yolk and vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and 1/2 cup reserved pineapple juice, beating well after each addition; fold in egg white. Pour mixture evenly into muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until cupcakes test done. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes; invert onto a baking sheet to cool. Makes 12.

Have a sweet Valentine's day!

Snowy Days

Before the latest snow melts, I wanted to share a few photos I snapped...click on any of them to view at full size!

While it was definitely stay-in-and-get-cozy weather, my little Oscar wanted to get out
to explore!

My stone bunny looks mighty chilly with a dusting of snow,
doesn't he?

Same goes for the friendly stone dog guarding the barn door!

Icicles hang from the roof of my little cabin but it still looks like a welcoming place,
I think.

There were even tiny icicles on the nesting house for my Purple Martin friends...good thing they won't be back 'til spring!

It's only January and I'm looking forward to spring already...how do YOU make the most of these chilly months?

Leave me a comment...I'd love to hear from you!

 

What's New in 2010?

Happy New Year! We have always loved the start of a brand new year. Hopes are high, dreams are cast...and everyone gets a fresh start.

It’s a new year for Gooseberry Patch, too. We're welcoming it with a little video...click below to see it!

We’ve been growing our community of cookbook lovers and contributors since 1992, and the heart of our cookbook community is you! You’ve told us year after year how much you’ve loved collecting our cookbooks, sharing them with family & friends, and contributing recipes for them.

Gooseberry Patch has many exciting plans for the New Year. We are planning on publishing more & more cookbooks throughout the year! This means there will be more ways for YOU to get your recipes published. Our cookbooks will now be offered in even more great retail stores in your local neighborhood like Cracker Barrel, Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores, Kroger, Safeway and many more to come. And of course, you can always find our cookbooks conveniently on our web store at www.gooseberrypatch.com.

Focusing all of our energy on cookbook publishing does mean one big change for Gooseberry Patch...we will no longer be offering a mail-order catalog. We know you’ll miss our “Country Store in Your Mailbox” as much as we will. But the future of Gooseberry Patch cookbooks is very bright. We are very excited about expanding our publishing so you’ll have lots of new cookbooks to enjoy for many years to come!

We’ll also be having more contests and giveaways than ever! We’ll continue to grow our online community by writing this Blog, keeping up with friends on our Page on Facebook and on Twitter. We’ll be traveling across the country and attending more events, like the Country Living Fair. We’re planning lots of new ways to meet our Gooseberry Patch friends, like you!

Most of all, we want to thank you for your continued friendship and support. Gooseberry Patch exists because of YOU! We look forward to sharing our love of cooking with you more than ever in the coming years.

So we wish you a Happy New Year...may yours be filled with family, friends and lots of yummy
Gooseberry Patch recipes!

Warmest wishes,

32 Years...and Counting!

The very first holiday season after Shelby and I were married, someone at his office gave him an amaryllis plant for Christmas. He brought it home and I read the instructions, finding a sunny window for it to live. We watered it and we waited.

It bloomed that year...and the year after...and has every year ever since! Here's a photo from one of the first years. Can you believe that one bulb shot up several stems after just a year or two?

Our amaryllis was a regular part of our holiday decorations and celebrations...
when the kids were little, they loved watching the big red flowers make their debut. So exciting to see in the middle of winter!

One year, after the pot had been tucked away in the basement for its dormant season for a few months, I brought it back up in April. I just wanted to see what would happen...could I have a springtime bloom too?

Sure enough, with enough time in a sunny window, those bright green leaves shot up and we were rewarded with brilliant red flowers. After the blooms were spent, I planted it (pot and all!) out behind the barn. I thought soaking up some sunshine would be good for it and by that time we were past the danger of frost.

When October rolled around, I went out to bring in the bulb and keep it from frost over the winter. Ever since, we've enjoyed it in the spring instead of at the holidays, but it still reminds me of our early  Christmases so long ago.

In the MANY years since we first received it, it's grown and split into SIX bulbs. My record number of blooms was 64 at one time...can you imagine? 

Do any of you have a special plant or flower that has been around forever like this one? I'd love to hear about it...

Do You Make Resolutions?

We go back and forth every year...should we make resolutions or let the year unfold as it may? This year, we decided to go ahead and make them, even if they're just hopes for the new year!

This year, I'm taking my usual "exercise more" resolution to the next level...I'm training for my first 5K run! I'm also really looking forward to making more time to be crafty and heading back to my knitting classes! Vickie, let me guess...you'll be cleaning out your barn?

Jo Ann's right...much like the last 10 years or so, at the top of my list is cleaning out the barn! We use it for storage but you wouldn't believe the treasure that's stored out there...my old majorette boots and fire baton, a few years of Rolling Stone magazine, stacks of flowerpots, croquet balls, old computer equipment, ice skates...you name it, it's out there! This year is the year that's it's getting organized though, or at least I hope so!

How about you...what are your resolutions (or hopes) for the new year? We'd love to hear about them!

Christmas in the Cabin

We finally got our first real snow of the season earlier this week...the kind that really sticks around for more than a day. It was the inspiration I needed to finally decorate the cabin for the holidays.

On the front door, I hung a simple swag of boxwood. I collected the branches from bushes we have around the house and barn and then just tied them with a little twine and ribbon. As you'll see, I like to keep things simple in the cabin...

This is a bucket bench that holds my salt-glazed crocks and other odds & ends. Believe it or not, that's an old pig trough on top...I found it years ago in an antique shop. I filled it with more boxwood, pine, apples and dried oranges and added a wooden bowl of cranberries for a pop of color.

The dried oranges are easy to make...just slice an orange, place the slices on a cookie sheet and put them in a 180-degree oven. I left mine in overnight and in the morning they were perfect! I've hung them in the windows of the cabin...you'll see them below.

Hung by the chimney with care, these stockings are all ready to be filled. Next to the fireplace, I have an old-fashioned settle bench. The sides are angled in to keep the heat in...they sort of hug you when you're sitting there. I stitched up a little chair pad out of linen & straw and it's the coziest spot in the cabin!

This old sawbuck table is one of my favorite vintage finds. It includes the initials PD carved into the top, probably for the original owner, and a pair of holes at one end where a meat grinder was once attached. The centerpiece is very simple...a wool penny rug topped with fresh pine branches and my favorite pewter candlesticks. Here's where you can see the little bundles of dried oranges hanging in the window to catch the light.

There's my little tree! Simply decorated with cinnamon-applesauce ornaments that are so easy to make...and so fragrant! The shelves and dry sink are filled with more favorites...pantry boxes, baskets, pitchers, painted bowls and even a sap bucket. I love their rich colors!

Make your own cinnamon-applesauce ornaments...there's still time before Christmas!

Just mix 1-1/2 c. cinnamon with 1 cup of applesauce to make the dough. Place it between two pieces of waxed paper and roll with your rolling pin to about 1/8" thickness. Peel off the top piece of wax paper and cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Add a small hole at the top of each shape with a straw or skewer and let them dry overnight, or until completely hard. You can also put them in a 150-degree oven for about an hour. Remove, cool and thread a ribbon through the small hole to hang. 

They really couldn't be easier...and they'll keep their scent for years to come!

Thanks for visiting my cabin!

Our Favorite Gifts!

We got such a kick out of reading about YOUR first gifts last week on our Page on Facebook, we decided to share a few photos from way back when...first up is Vickie.

At the ripe old age of 8, all I wanted for Christmas was a Fort Apache play set. Does anyone else remember these? They included cowboys, Indians, horses and a big log fort where you could have adventures. That year, I was really into being a cowgirl, as you can see by the western pop-gun I'm brandishing in this photo. Check out that Hayley Mills haircut too, inspired by her movie, The Parent Trap!

Coming from a big family, Christmas was always extra exciting. Not only did we get gifts of our own to play with but we could also see what everyone else got...and plan to steal a turn with their toys too! This had been the case the year before this photo was taken. My sister got a tricycle just like this one and I'm told I was more excited about her trike than my own dolls and blocks. (I was just two!) The very next year, Santa delivered my very own shiny red tricycle on Christmas morning...I was so thrilled and took it for a spin in the living room, as you can see!

Thanks for reading...

Vickie's Own Christmas Tree

I must have been about 5 years old the year I decorated my very first tree...well, okay. It was just a branch, but it was just my size and I loved choosing ornaments and candy canes to hang!

My mother wrote this note to my older sister to go along with the photos...

This is the branch Vickie found over on the side of our lot. It took her an hour and a half to decorate it! First she put it in the corner of the living room but ended up on her table in the dining room, as you can see. She was much more thrilled about her branch than she was about our big tree...you can probably tell this from the expression on her face. She put her jack-in-the-box and some of her coloring books under it. Can't wait to share this picture with her when she's all grown up!

Isn't it amazing how a simple photo can bring back a memory so clearly? I remember the excitement of that day like it was yesterday. What are some of your fondest Christmas memories?

Warmly,