This and that

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party - Christmas Edition

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and not too stuffed to come party with us tonight... We are still ready to party and see all your great uses for any leftovers you may have...

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas






May the peace and blessings
of Christmas be yours
And may the coming year
be filled with happiness.



Friday, December 19, 2014

Gingerbread Eggnog Mocha Latte

I have to tell you a secret... I don't like the taste of eggnog alone..... BUT...  I do like the taste of it in baking and in my coffee.  And what could be better for you Christmas morning coffee then a Gingerbread Eggnog Mocha Latte.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #126

One week to Christmas are you prepared?  Me, I am not really going to be doing anything special, so I guess I am ready.  Although I haven't really got lots done, I love checking out all the links that have been left on our parties.  I am sure there will be more today...

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Homemade Christmas Ornaments

I love to make ornaments.  For years I would make my nieces and nephews a new ornament each year.  This year I have made a couple of different ones that I want to share with you.  They are all easy to make.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Gingerbread House ~ Blogger's Christmas Series #4

Gingerbread House

Gingerbread houses originated in Germany in the 1600's.  They became even more popular after the story of Hansel and Gretel written by the Brothers Grimm.  No one knows for sure if gingerbread houses came first or if the story came first.


Building a gingerbread house is a tradition in many houses.  Although these houses are not always made of gingerbread anymore.  You can make them using graham crackers, shredded wheat and even make a house out of non-edible materials like cardboard and sticks.

There are many recipes for gingerbread that you can use, over the years that I have made my own gingerbread I have used a couple of recipes.  The recipe that I used to make the above gingerbread houses was this one - as I didn't use molasses in this recipe, the houses were lighter.

My plans for the gingerbread houses that I made this year was to make a small houses that can sit on a side of a cup but I made them too big, and I also didn't cut the door big enough so they wouldn't sit on the side of a cup.  So it is back to the drawing board for me... Hopefully next year they will work out the way I wanted them too.


I am not a decorator and I do not profess that I know what I am doing, but I do like to make these houses.  I like to use royal icing when I made my gingerbread house as I find it hardens fast.  I also do my houses in stages.  First "gluing" the pieces together and then doing the decorating.


I made this house above a couple of years ago.  I did a post and showed how I decorated it.  Do you make gingerbread houses?

This post is the last of Blogger's Christmas Series.  Along with myself there are many other awesome bloggers that have written blogs for this series.  I hope that they have given you some inspiration to help you with your Christmas preparations.






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Friday, December 12, 2014

Walnut Grape Salad

This recipe is awesome as it can be used as a salad or you can use it as a dessert.  It is sweet with just the right amount of crunch.  It is easy to make... What can be better? especially during the Christmas season when you are so busy.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #125

How is your Christmas preparation going?  Do you still need some recipes and crafts ideas?  Then you came to the right places because it is time for.....

Monday, December 8, 2014

Decorating for Christmas - Blogger Christmas Series #3

Have you started decorating for Christmas yet? ~ Or are you like me and not have a stitch of decorating done this year.  I usually have at least something done but not this year.  So instead of showing you my decorations, I am going to be showing some of the decoration and how I decorated in past years.
Blogger's Christmas Series #3- Decorating for Christmas  Santa, Nativity Scene, Candles

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #124

Are you busy getting ready for Christmas?  Need some inspiration for food and crafts?  Look no further, you can get lost of inspiration here at Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party.

Gingerbread Eggnog Latte Cookies ~ Fill the Cookie Jar

As I was trying to figure out what type of cookie I should make this month to Fill the Cookie Jar with I had found a cookie that was in a shape of a cup.  It was made with premade cookie dough and used chocolate as the latte and a pretzel as the handle.  And that is how this cookie began......

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Oh Christmas Tree ~Blogger Christmas Series Blog Hop #2

Do you put up a real or an artificial tree?  If you put a real tree do you go out and cut down your own or buy one off the lot?  For my second post of the Blogger Christmas Series I am going to show you some of the Trees I have decorated and some of the trees around my town.


Monday, December 1, 2014

PIkkupullat ~ Finnish Sweet Buns

Last week my furnace decided to that it needed to take a break.  While I was waiting for the repairman to come ~ and as the house got colder and colder I decided to do some baking.  Sweet bread making as that way I could keep the oven on for a long period of time.  Instead of making my pulla into loaves, I decided to make them into "Pikkupullat" ~ small buns.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #123

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American Friends.
I hope that you are not all to stuffed or out starting early Black Friday shopping...
to join our
Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party.
Link up your favorite recipes, crafts or DIY

Monday, November 24, 2014

Blogger Christmas Series Blog Hop #1

I am so excited to let you know that I have joined a wonderful group of bloggers to bring you Blogger Christmas Series Blog Hop.  I hope that this series will give you inspiration with your Christmas preparation.  My first post in this series is about Christmas Past.
Blogger Christmas Series -- Christmas Past/ This and That #familytradtions

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #122

Hope everyone is having a great week and not living in a deep freeze or under snow banks.  Right now I feel that we are in both here.
So grab your coffee, tea, hot chocolate or whatever you need to keep you warm and let's party...

Citrus Breaded Tilapia with Citrus Salad ~ CIC



It is time again for our Crazy Ingredient Challenge.
This month our ingredients are Orange (or Citrus) and Breadcrumbs.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

It's All Greek To Me - Bulgar Wheat Salad and giveaway

I am so excited to be part of the Fall Tour for a wonderful cookbook It's All Greek To Me by Debbie Matenopoulos.
Disclosure: I was given the book to review and all opinions of this cookbook are my own.
#FallForGreek

Monday, November 17, 2014

Fall Foliage Wreath

Fall is one of my favorite seasons.  I love the changing of the colours and living up here in the UP it is magnificent.  We all know that even though this season is beautiful,  colours only last for a short while and very soon the trees are bare and all those colours are fluttering to the ground.  One way to preserve all this beauty is to make a wreath with the flowers and foliage.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Something to be Thankful For (free printable)

Thanksgiving is approaching.  A time to be thankful for all that we have and have been given to us.  I have created a picture that you can download and print.  All pictures are slightly different and are 8 X 10 printables.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #121

Digging myself out of the snowbank so that we can have a great party!  I can't wait to see what you will bring to our.... Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #120

I have made it home.. after going through and visiting 7 states and 1 province.  I took lots and lots of pictures and hope to share some with you.  First, it is Thursday and Thursday means ....

Fill the Cookie Jar with Biscoff Chai Cookies

Can you believe that it is already November?  The only great thing about the beginning of the month that it is time to Fill the Cookie Jar again.  This month's theme is Thanksgiving.  Do you have a favorite cookie that you serve on Thanksgiving?

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Goat Burger

Goat meat is widely consumed in most countries except America.  I wonder why is that?  Is there a reason that you don't eat goat meat?  I do know that for myself I probably would never eat goat if it wasn't for my husband.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #119

I hope that you are having a great week... I am as I am on vacay... Finally I am able to get away and relax.  It has been a great week and I hope to post of the places I have been and the things that I saw soon... But first we need to partay... with

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Vampire's Blood for Halloween

I am not a Halloween person but this year I have done a few crafts for this holiday and decided that I wanted to make a drink.  I first want to make something with candy corn as that is my favorite Halloween candy but I couldn't figure out how to make the colours to stay layered.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Pumpkin Bacon Ratatouille - #CIC


I was excited when I saw that pumpkin what one of the ingredients for this month's Crazy Ingredient Challenge.  I wasn't sure if I would have time this month to make my dish but luckily I did and it was AMAZING or at least I thought so.


Friday, October 17, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky party #117

Have you ever had weeks where you feel that you are so far behind?  I am having that kind of week one this week.  I feel that every step I take forward, I am taking two or three steps backward.   That being said my party is finally getting done and posted.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Salted Caramel Pumpkin Chocolate Latte


What does Salted Caramel, Maxwell House International Latte and Green Mountain Coffee - Pumpkin Spice have in common?   You guessed it... An AWESOME SUPBERB LATTE perfect for Autumn.




Monday, October 13, 2014

The Princess & Her Cowboys Birthday Giveway



I have joined up with some awesome bloggers to help  Britney from The Princess & Her Cowboys to celebrate her birthday.  We are celebrating it with a great giveaway.







Saturday, October 11, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving Canada



This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving and I am sure all my Canadian family and friends are gathering together and enjoying a turkey meal or two.  As we enjoy food, family,friends and fun do we remember what Thanksgiving is all about?

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #116

It is Thursday and guess what that means?  It is time once again for Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party.  We had a wonderful party last week and I hope you enjoyed checking out all the links as much as I do.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #115

Two years ago we had a Crocktober Party and it was awesome, so we decided to do it again... I know that you have more crock pot/ slow cooker recipes.... I have seen them floating over the social media. I can't wait to see what you will bring to the party.

M&M Candy Corn Cookie Bars to #fillthecookiejar

I can't believe that it has been a month ago since I was writing up my post for Fill the Cookie Jar. These months are passing by so quickly.  October is one of my favorite months.. I love all the autumn colours and the crispness in the air. It is also the month of Halloween.  I am not so much  a Halloween person but I love all the Halloween candy that have been floating around.  My favorite being Candy Corn.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Apple Chai Latte

What are your favorite thing about fall?
Apples and Pumpkins are one of my favorite parts of fall...
Along with the changing of colours..

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Fall Tablescape

Fall is here.
One of my favorite seasons.
I love the fall colours..  
and I love decorating for fall.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Jamie at Home Cookbook Review

A couple of months ago I joined a group that does a cookbook review each week.   It has been fun checking out new cookbooks and making some of the recipes.  I do have to tell you that I vary seldom make a recipes as it is written but with these reviews I am trying hard to do just that.  This month we are reviewing Jamie at Home.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Apple Basil Chicken Panini ~ CIC

Fall is in the air here in the UP.  We are seeing the leaves turning colours and falling quickly to the ground.  I love this time of year, the crispness in the morning, wearing hoodies, pumpkins and apples. Apple is one of the ingredients that we get to work with this month for our Crazy Ingredient Challenge.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #113

Thursday again, where does the time go?  I have had a busy, busy week, it just doesn't seem like I have enough time to get everything I want done.  I wish that I could clone myself or at least a few more hours in my day... Do you feel like that at all?   But I do have time for .....

Monday, September 15, 2014

DIY Tablet Cover - No Sew

After making my Burlap Place Mats, all I can think about is painting on fabrics.  I enjoyed making them and when I saw a homemade cover for an I-pad in a magazine, I just knew what my next project was going to be.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Burlap Place Mats

Something I have always done is place lines on my dining room table, either by using place mats or tablecloths or sometimes both.  I have always wanted to make my own and I have had the chance with the help of DecoArt.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #112

I can't believe that it is already Thursday... I am not sure where the days and the time go as I don't seem to get very much accomplished these days.  Although it is always fun to see Thursday come around as it is time to.... Party...

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

National Waffle Week

Do you know that I really never liked waffles?  I would eat them when they were prepared for me but they weren't my favorite.  Maybe it was because we only ate them with syrup.  We received a Belgium Waffle Maker for a wedding present and my tastes changed....

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #111


September started out being wonderful, warm and sunny but now that we are on the fourth day we have rain and thunder.. is summer over?  I hope not! there still is a possibility that we can have some great weather. Whether there is good or bad weather it is always time for....

Fill the Cookie Jar with Healthy Pumpkin Unbakes

Fall makes me think of leaves turning colours, cooler weather (although we haven't had too much warm weather here), pumpkins, apples and bunny hugs.   September brings fall and it is also Health awareness month.  So why am I talking about fall and health because it is Fill the Cookie Jar time and I am bringing health and fall together.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Spicy Mexican Coffee

As we start looking towards fall and cooler temperatures, I for one start thinking of warm drinks that can warm me up from the inside out.  Drinks like coffee, hot chocolate, apple ciders and maybe even one with a little kick that can spice up your life.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #110

Did you have a good week? 
Bake any scrumptious meals or desserts?
I hope that you will join us again this week and bring all your wonderful recipes.
  I love checking all that yummy goodness.