Orange Iced Cranberry Cookies

I stole came across this recipe at Chronicles of a Country Girl last week.

I thought about these cookies all week long. 

I made these cookies today and Oh My, they are out of this world good! 

Thank you Kate for sharing the recipe!

You can find the recipe here.

If you've never stopped in to visit Kate, please do. Her blog is beautiful and her photography is breathtaking!

Family members who live near and far will be receiving these cookies (along with other yummy treats) in goody boxes this coming week!

On the Rise

Sometimes I get on a roll and bake things like this!

These are baked donuts and they were very good!

I found the recipe on Pinterest...here

I used my bread machine and it worked out great!

We liked the cinnamon topping better than the glazed.

I also like to make homemade french bread.

I had not made it for awhile due to the fact that I had removed gluten from my diet.

After a long conversation with my doctor this past summer, I slowly added gluten back into my diet and removed most of the dairy. 

I must say that I really missed bread! Good homemade bread!

I have used a bread machine recipe for years and it turns out perfect every time.

The machine does all of the kneading and then I shape by hand, let it rise and bake. 

Fresh bread hot from the oven....Yum! 

Apple Goodness

I'm convinced I could become an apple pie junkie!

After much debate (in my mind), I have come to the conclusion that apple pie is my favorite pie.

 

Several weeks ago we had to run out to my parents place to do a bit of winterizing.

Mom and I went out to pick some apples off their tree.

They didnt' have a bumper crop this year, but there were a few nice size apples on the tree.

Since I'm tall, I was able to reach the apples that mom couldn't get to.

 

The following day, I made a pie with apples that I already had on hand and I added a few of the freshly picked apples as well.

 

I love making pie!

There is something very comforting about the entire process!

And the eating part...yeah well, I've got that part down pretty well too!

Yep, I LOVE apple pie!

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

I tweaked an old recipe and made these fall favorites a couple of weekends back.

Snickerdoodles have long been one of my favorite cookies.

These pumpkin snickerdoodles went perfect with a cup of hot cider.

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

3 3/4 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cream of tarter

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1/3 cup canned pumpkin

1 tsp vanilla

6 Tblsp sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

freshly grated nutmeg

Blend together flour, soda, cream of tarter and salt in a medium bowl. In a mixing bowl, beat butter for 30 seconds; add 2 cups sugar and beat until fluffy. Add eggs, pumpkin and vanilla; beat well. Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture, beating until well combined. Form dough into 1 inch balls; roll in a mixture of 6 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Place on cookie sheet; flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass  dipped in sugar mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes or until cookies are set and light golden in color. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

Enjoy with hot cider or hot chocolate! 

Every Changing Sky

Last week brought a blast of winter weather our way.

Coming home last Wednesday from work I was admiring the pretty scene ahead of me while driving north on the highway home.

I turned onto our road, pulled over and got out to take some photos.

 

This is looking northeast from my vantage point on our road.

 This shot is looking directly north from my vantage point.

The mountains were lined with snow and the sky was a pretty light blue and gray.

 On the way home, I happened to notice a man off on the side of the road taking photos but I couldn't figure out what he was taking photos of. Well, when I turned around from taking my own shots this is what I saw....and most likely what the man on the side of the road was capturing with his camera.

These wicked looking clouds were forming directly behind me toward the southeast.

There was an angry squall moving over town at that moment and the clouds were ominous looking!

So I had two views to capture in the photos and they were literally taking place side by side as I snapped away!

 

There is a saying we like to use here in Nevada, "if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change." This is certainly proof of that! 

Chilly October Morning

Woke up to more snow this morning!

It was down right cold too!

Had to break out the winter down vest!

On my way to work, I stopped and snapped a photo of the snow on the mountains around us.

I like the contrast of colors in the photo.

Fall and Winter....dueling!

 

Just a Dusting

Woke up to the sound of rain this morning.

The sound of rain is one we haven't heard for some time.

As I drove to work and climbed up out of our valley, it started to snow.

Just a dusting covered the mountains around us.

Am I ready for winter...not really, yet we need the rain, so I won't complain. (too much!)

Thursday's Things in a Row - Vette Style

 

I missed "rows" last Thursday due to my work schedule.

That schedule had me attending a dinner at a local establishment and when I came out that evening, these three corvettes were all in line in the parking lot. These cars just screamed "take our photo!"

It was hard getting a good shot with my little point and shoot in the low, evening light.

The black vette is hard to see in the shot below, but three vettes in a row there were indeed!

For more Thursday's Things in a Row, be sure to travel on over and visit Pat at A View from the Edge.