Busy Busy Baking More

I was in bed at 7:30 pm last night.  Far cry from my usual 10:00 pm.  I slept a broken sleep, but still it was sleep.  Up and at it first thing.  There is a weather pressure system moving in with rain, freezing rain and lots of snow, according to the Weather Forecast, so I am certain this has caused havoc on worsening my headaches more then usual.

The weather had been pretty mild since the end of November.  It appears we might be having a White Christmas after all.

Who doesn't LOVE a White Christmas and/or Bing Cosby ???

When we had coming through Hanover yesterday on our way back home, we had also stopped at the Shopper's Drug Mart.  On the recommendation of my Cousin Paula, I thought I would try out the Burt's Bees products for my poor dry skin.

"I made a purchase of both the day time cream and night time moisturizers.  I selected the "sensitive" skin, since I have allergies I break out very easily to seemingly more and more scents all the time.  These are quite pricey at $29.99 each, however it was an early Christmas gift to myself.  I need to treat myself once in awhile and this was one way of doing that.  Hopefully the product will agree with me... I am certain I will know in a day or two.  So far today I haven't broke out by using the day time cream this morning (fingers crossed it stays this way)."

Last evening Rob's Cousin, Joyce, called me to see if I would go along with her to pick up the Christmas Turkey she had ordered from Dejong Acres Farm, as she had never been there before.  Joyce picked me up at 9:00 am this morning, and we arrived at the Dejong Farm at 9:20.

"I love pulling into a farm yard to see livestock wandering around.  The Indian Runner ducks (the white ones) are very amusing to watch.  Quiet alarmed at first until they realize you are no threat."

"There is still a nice selection of Gift items for purchase in the "Sweet Things" store.  Anita was her usual helpful self in assisting Joyce pick out a chicken as well.  All "homegrown" chickens, as well as lamb is available, with Turkeys "by order"  Check out the size of that 18 pounder Joyce purchased ! maybe Rob and I should be heading up to Red Bay Christmas Day.  I am certain she had mentioned Dinner was around 6 pm? *smile*"

Should you need any Farm Raised chicken or lamb or eggs or Epicure Products or gift giving ideas, please contact your Hosesst, Anita Dejong, by *clicking* HERE.  You can also find them on Facebook by dropping on over to give their FB Page a great big old "LIKE" by *clicking* HERE.  Too bad there was a "LOVE" button over there as I would be choosing that one, as I LOVE Dejong Acres Farm !

Joyce dropped me back off around home just shortly after 10:00 am.  We hadn't been too long in our travels out to Lake Charles and back.  My headache was still not giving up, but I had things to do and was not going to let it get the best of me.  After I had looked after all the needs of the "Checkerboard Aussies" ....

"... I sat myself down with a coffee to figure out what I was going to accomplish this day.  The "Rocky Roads" I had made needed taken out of the pan they were made in and put in an air tight container.  Of course I had to sample one before they were stored away (and yes it had just been one this time)."

"I got it all together to make a 9x13" pan of Lemon Bars.  Crust all ready to be popped into the 350* Oven for 20 minutes."

"While the bottom was baking I got to making the filling.  Check out the size of that egg !  Farm Fresh right from Dejong Acres Farm, where else would I buy my eggs?  Mixed and poured into the baked crust."

"Twenty-five minutes later with it out of the Oven, sprinkled with icing sugar and left to cool."

Recipe please?  PRINTABLE RECIPE *CLICK* HERE.

My afternoon did not stop at the Lemon Bars, as I had some Green Maraschino Cherries to be used up.  I had came across a recipe that would do the trick in helping me with this over at Kevin's Closet Cooking, Chocolate and Maraschino Cherry Shortbreads.

"How simple is this when this is all that is needed for this colourful Shortbread.  Flour meets creamed butter and sugar.  Next chopped cherries and chocolate chips."

"Once mixed I shaped by using waxed paper into a square log.  This was placed into the fridge to chill for 1 hour..  Once the hour was up the slicing began."

"Yes, these Shortbread Cookies are definitely "Nom Nom Nom" !"

For a variation, after cookies have cooled they can be dipped in melted chocolate or drizzled with same.  I was happy just the way they were, and the green cherries will give nice colour to the usual red.  

Tomorrow I am hoping to make a pan of Magic Fudge and my Sister Donna's Shortbread Recipe, as the boys do love the different cut out shapes decorated with sprinkles.

"I have a list all made on who is getting a "tin" of goodies.  Hopefully I can get them filled tomorrow as well."

"Busy busy baking more" with still more to be done tomorrow.

"Just a "thought" to leave behind from the Peanut's Gang ...."

... before I head off to relax with my feet up the remainder of the evening, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Proceed With Caution !

I didn't feel like I had a single wink of sleep last night, even though I am certain I might have had at least one or two winks.  

My "Crabby Cabby" came home I believe around 4:30 am., read my blog post and hit the sack himself about 5:00 am.  He came to bed and I got up ... we are a revolving door us two are.

Once I got my usual morning routine done, I thought I should be productive by getting a load of laundry done and hung on the clothes horse, then make some more Christmas Goodies.  I was to wake Rob up at 9:00 am, as he had an appointment to drop off his "Crabby Cabbie" vehicle to our mechanics this morning.

"A Year after Year favourite of mine is Rocky Roads.  Simple and as Easy Peasy as 1-2-3 to make. Peanut Butter, Margarine, Butterscotch Chipits, Marshmallows and Walnuts.  Melt all together, let cool a bit, add Marshmallows to mix, spread in 9 x 12" waxed paper lined dish, top with walnut pieces, then place in fridge until set.  Does something this "yummy" get much easier then that?"

Recipe please?  PRINTABLE RECIPE *CLICK* HERE.

Oops, before I forget, apparently the link for the Marshmallow Rolls posted in yesterday's post was not working.  Just to let everyone know who might have wanted the recipe that they can go back for it, as it is now working.  *Smile*

Once I had cleaned up from making the Rocky Roads I woke my poor tired Rob.  A quick coffee into us before we headed out to drop off the "Crabby Cabbie" vehicle then head on over to Owen Sound as I needed a few items at the Bulk Barn.  Since we were going to be in Owen Sound, I contacted the Winner of my most recent Give Away to see if she could meet up with us while we were there.

It all worked out well, with us even having time to have a coffee along with a bit of a visit together.

"I am pretty sure Toni with an "i" was pleased with her new Christmas Runner.  I was happy I had gotten it to her so she might be able to enjoy it a bit before Christmas actually arrives."

Toni with an "i" headed out, while Rob and I continued over to the Bulk Barn to pickup the items I wanted, then headed on home ourselves.  I was looking forward to an afternoon of spending some "quality" time with my Rob since we seldom see each other any more.  

Once home I made us a coffee and before I knew it ....

".... two of the Men in my Life were with me at least in body, not too sure where their minds were at ?  At least we were all together."

*Sigh* I decided now I had everything needed to put something together I had my mind set on for the past few days I might as well get to it.

"When I unpacked the Bulk Barn Bag I had found they had put in this little grater for me.  Cute, isn't it?  I suppose I could use it to "zest" citrus fruit.  It was a nice "little" free surprise."

"This is what I made this afternoon.  I had my mind on making some layered jars for gift giving, having just recently coming across a recipe that was to my liking.  I had found the Snowman and Santa jars last month, so they were perfect for this.  I had been a bit disappointed Bulk Barn was out of the Christmas M&M's so the regular ones had to do.  They are so terribly cute though, are they not?"

I came across this layered jar recipe from Irma over at Craftmates.  You may check out how lovely Irma's Gift Jars are by *clicking* HERE, as well finding the link there where she found them over at bakerella.com, where there also is a downloadable PDF file for the tags.  I had halved the recipe for the size of the jars I had used, as the original recipe is based on the use of 1 Quart Jars.

I had been really really tired this afternoon when I had made up these gift jars.  When going to do a third one I messed up the layers so badly.  They could not be fixed, so I left the third jar to be done another day while I continued to mix and bake the mess I had messed mixed up.

"I ended up making the "Cowboy (or girl) Cookie" recipe.  Just as well I got to "try, test and true" them myself before gifting them."

Recipe please?  PRINTABLE RECIPE *CLICK* HERE.

WARNING !!!  When so tired your eyeballs feel they are going to "pop" from your head, "Proceed With Caution" !  Ha ... after my mess up on the third jar attempt, I took my time putting the recipe together for baking.  My cookies were not as flat as the ones from where the recipe originated, however they are really "yummy".

By the time I was done in the Kitchen for the second time this day, it was 4:30 pm, time for us to go collect Rob's "Crabby Cabbie" vehicle.

"Rob is very good at keeping on top of the mechanics of his "Crabby Cabbie" vehicle, as not only his safety is foremost that of his customers is priority.  Also with putting so many miles on the vehicle he makes sure the Oil gets changed every 5,000 km, which works out to be approximately every two weeks.  That is a lot of miles my man puts on himself and his vehicle !"

Back home again, Rob got some wood brought in from the wood shed, and I tidied up the kitchen some more.  Christmas Baking feels like when Preserving Season is happening ... things get left out on the counter until I am completely done, so I don't have to bring them out and put them away every day until I am finally finished with them all.  I just have Shortbread Cookies and another pan of Lemon Bars to do then I am finished !

It is amazing how many Christmas Goodies recipes have been posted by Members over at Cindy's Recipe Exchange .... every day I am sure I put on another "pound" by drooling over a new post.  There are so many excellent groups and sources on Facebook and Google, one could never NOT find something good to make at any given time.

Speaking of recipes, I am very pleased to welcome Molly as the newest follower of my daily journal and ramblings here, Just North of Wiarton.  Molly too has her own blog over at When the Dinner Bell Rings.  Totally amazing things can be found over there, this I know, as I am a frequent visitor.  Thanks Molly for being here with me !

Did I mention how tired I am? oh so tired, I am, I am ... I am calling it a wrap and very shortly a night here, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".