A Little Birdie Told Me

...but I already knew! These are my Mom's favorite cookies. I posted the recipe for "Nonie Cookies" a few years ago
but thought I'd share it again. I'm baking these sweet little birds and sending a package to my Mom for Mother's Day. Hopefully they'll arrive with only a few broken tails.

This was my great-grandmother Eleanor's recipe for sugar cookies. They've since come to be called "Nonie Cookies" since she was "Grandma Nonie." It is a classic cookie recipe, enjoyed all year long. I like them a little thick, while my Mom likes them thin and crispy. See what you think.

NONIE COOKIES

Mix together 3 1/2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar and a dash of freshly ground nutmeg. Make a well in the center and add 1 cup shortening, 1 egg, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Mix well.

Roll half the dough on a floured cloth or board. Sprinkle with sugar and roll it in gently. Cut with your favorite cookie cutters. Bake at 350° until lightly brown. Roll and cut remaining dough. You can use colored sugars if desired.

Crusty Bread

My mom gave me a baguette pan a few years ago, but I was afraid to try it. Now that I found this recipe, I've been making a lot of baguettes! Here is the original recipe, written for a bread machine. I'd rather mix the dough by hand than bother with a bread machine.
French Baquettes Recipe on Allrecipes.com

Here's my adapted version that's easy to mix by hand or with a dough hook on your mixer.
In your mixer bowl or a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 cup bread flour, and 1 cup warm water. Mix well and let sit 5 minutes, until bubbly. Add 1 1/2 cups bread flour, mix well and knead (either by hand or with the dough hook on the mixer) until smooth. Place in a greased bowl, roll it around so that the top of the dough is greased also, cover and let rise in a warm place until double.
Roll the dough out on a floured board until it measures approximately 12" X 16". Cut with a sharp knife into two pieces 8" X 12". Starting on a 12" side, roll each piece, trying not to allow bubbles or too much flour. Pinch the ends closed and place on a greased baguette pan or on a parchment-lined baking sheet. With a sharp knife, cut 3 diagonal slits in each. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 375°. Mix together 1 egg yolk and 1 tablespoon water and gently brush over the tops of the bread. Bake 20 - 25 minutes in preheated oven until golden brown. Cool on a rack.

Cookie Time!

Food Network has started its 12 Days of Cookies emails, so I guess that means it's time to start baking cookies! I was looking through my blog to see what kinds of recipes I've shared over the years. Several of our family favorites are posted and many of them freeze well. Why not start now and get a head start on the holidays? Here are a few favorite cookie recipes. There are a lot more recipes on the blog (search "recipes").


Cocoa Drops with Browned Butter Icing

Christmas Cookies (or Nonie Cookies)


Sugar and Spice


Rugelach Little Nut Rolls

More from the Greatest Sweater Ever

Do you remember these two purses that I made awhile ago? I finally made a Button Cowl or Collar from the collar of the original sweater. I've been wanting to do this for a long time and I finally found some classic vintage sweater buttons to use. I used matching wool to crochet a button hole edging along the one side. I LOVE how this turned out. It is so cool and comfortable, affording lots of different ways to wear it.

AND, I still have the sleeves! I'm thinking of making some mittens, then all I'll have left are scraps for flowers and a fabulous wool belt. I'm just sorry that I didn't take a picture of the entire sweater before I started all these projects.

Everything Autumn

While it's still pretty hot here in Northeast Ohio, I can't help looking forward to Fall and all it's colors! I certainly don't want to rush it, or we'll be shoveling snow before you know it. I just thought I'd show you what I've been up to, by incorporating some rich, crisp, warm tones.
I cut up more fabric strips and used some to accent this dark orange T-shirt scarf or necklace. I cut the remaining fabric and wound it into two small balls and it's waiting for me to make a cute little bag with it.

My brother gave me a set of vintage leaves. They were an antique lace color, but looked like they were for needlepoint, or other needlework project. They're bigger than my hand and I thought they would look pretty hanging in a window. I bought some needlefelting supplies last year intended just for this project and I wasn't about to let another Fall go by without giving it a try.

These took me all day. I tweaked colors here and there, agonizing over them at times. I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out, but I've determined that I don't enjoy the artistic aspect of needlefelting. I think I'll keep it simple and not take on too big of a project next time. I'm thinking of making these into a garland or perhaps a mobile with a wooden stick of some sort. They'll be hanging in my tent for the next show at Wooltex!

Clan Buchanan Complete

I can't believe that it's been 2 1/2 years since I started this project. I blogged about this afghan that I had started for my aunt and uncle. (January 2008!) It's crocheted and then woven for the plaid effect. I zipped through the crochet part and then hit my busy season and weaving the chains seemed to take forever. Well, Mom finally took the project home with her and finished it in no time. She gave it to my aunt and uncle months ago, but I never got to see it...until now. It turned out great! Thanks Mom.

One Sweater Two Bags

It's coming up on Earth Day and I always try to find a new project or creative way to reuse or recycle something. I rescued this wool cardigan from a thrift store and couldn't decide whether to keep it or not. I got tired of Spring cleaning around it, and of not being able to make up my mind!

So, today, I made the decision and took my scissors to it! Using only the main body of the sweater, I was able to make these two fun recycled bags. The first one is a messenger/flap style, using a recycled adjustable strap and leather tabs. The other makes good use of these simple, but large wooden hoop handles.
Nothing fancy, yet perfectly reusable!
Here's Bag 1 - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=44772485
and Bag 2 - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=44773587