Cards Cards Cards

I have been making lots and lots of cards.  I have completed most of my Christmas cards and then using a new technique I have made other cards that I just love!  The new technique is using fabric on your cards.  I went to a class in Paradise, Lancaster County and learned this technique and then had a field day in the fabric store.  Bought lots and lots of fat quarters to make lots and lots of cards!! Here are some of the cards that I have made over the last month.

Card made in class - Bird picture is fabric

Second Card made in class, all flowers, pumpkins, leaves and gourds are fabric!

No fabric - one of my Christmas Cards, made using kit from Close to my Heart

Card #2 from CTMH kit

Card #3 from CTMH kit 

Card #$ from CTMH kit

Card with flowers and apples is fabric!

Card made using my new flip it framelit die from Stephanie Bernard Stamps of Life

Another card using the same framelit die!

Bake Like a Beekman - Sour Cream Cookies

I have been behind posting to my blog.  Taking plenty of pictures and getting things done, just need to organize my time better so I can post my creations here!!

I made another item from the Beekman 1802 Heirloom Dessert Book.  Sour Cream Cut out cookies.  Yummy!! They had a very nice taste but the dough was a little difficult to work with.  Stayed very soft and stick even when chilled overnight.  But like I said the end product was a nice soft and flavorful cooking, not over sweet with a touch of nutmeg.  I used my Mickey Head cutter and a little star cutter that seemed to coordinate with Mickey.  I dipped the ears in melted chocolate when the cookies had cooled.

Caramel Roasted Pears - Bake Like Beekman continues!

   

This weeks Beekman 1802 baking challenge was Roasted Caramel Pears.  Not something I would have picked from the Heirloom Dessert book so I am glad I joined the Bake like  Beekman challenge which pushed me into making this awesome recipe.  This week Kenn who runs the Bake Like a Beekman blog had a contest for his blog followers!   Sandy Gluck who helps Josh and Brent with their Heirloom Cookbooks was the guest judge.  Unfortunately I did not wine but it was still bun making this tasty dessert.

 This recipe and 99 others can be found in the Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook and be purchased at Beekman 1802 or Amazon 

As usual I gathered all of the items need to make this recipe.  I used Bosc pears, but I think you can use any kind you can find at your local store. 

Adding sugars, clove and vanilla to melted butter

Add pears - peeled, cut in half and cored into sugar mixture.  Bake turning pears over a little more than half way through baking time.   Be prepared for awesome smells to come from your kitchen!

After cooking plate pears and top with caramel sauce.  Enjoy while warm!! It would probably be good with a scoop of ice cream on top.

close up of finished pears. 

WALNUT CAKE ~~ Beekman 1802 Heirloom Dessert Cookbook

I am taking part in a challenge to bake our way through this cookbook over the next year.  All of this is being done on another blog that I follow - here is the link Beekman Bakes   The Walnut Cake was the first recipe in the challenge.  It was relatively simple recipe.  Although I liked the cake but it was VERY sweet so I might adjust the syrup amount that you pour over the cake at the end.  Again I am going to say that I will post pictures of the steps in baking the cake but not the recipe. If you would like the recipe you can purchase the cookbook!!  beekman1802.com

Gathered all of my ingredients.  Although I grab the flour and then realized I didn't actually need it for this recipe.

mixed all of my wet ingredients

added nuts and all dry ingredients to the wet

whipped egg whites to stiff peaks then folded them into the mixture

pour ingredients into buttered spring-form pan, called for a 9"pan all I had was an 8" or 10" so I went with a 10 inch pan

after you cook the cake your pour a syrup mixture made up of honey, sugar, water and lemon juice over the cake and then let it cool completely before removing the spring-form pan. I topped the finished cake with some candied citrus peels that I made using a recipe from the cookbook. 

slice and enjoy! 

OATMEAL SANDWICH COOKIES - Beekman 1802

Here is my second selection from this awesome cookbook.  This is the Oatmeal Sandwich Cookie.  These were absolutely fantastic.  I ended up bringing these to work since I also had the pumpkin jelly roll.  They were gone in no time!  Again please purchase the book if you would like the recipes.  You can purchase it at Beekman 1802 or online and bricks & mortar retailers.

I have found it easiest to gather all of my ingredients together before I start to make sure I have everything needed

All of my dry ingredients

Adding the eggs

All mixed and ready to go

I use a small ice cream scoop to portion out the dough onto the cookie sheet.  I line my cookie sheets with parchment for easier clean up.

I wet my fingers and pressed down gently on the cookies before putting them into the oven.  This was recommended in the recipe, I have never done this before when baking cookies, not really sure it was necessary.

Cookies are done!  Let them cool on a wire rack

Mixed up the yummy cream cheese and ginger filling for the cookies

Spread a generous amount of ginger cream cheese filling on half of the cookies, then take another cookie and top it.

Finished cookies!  The cookie was nice and crisp and the filling had a nice spicy ginger flavor.  I put them in the refrigerator because I wasn't sure about the cream cheese filling. This made the cookies soft but the flavor was the same.  I prefered the cookies crispier, so if I make them again I might take my chances and leave them out of the frig, I don't think they will last long anyway!

PUMPKIN JELLY ROLL Beekman 1802 Heirloom Dessert Cookbook

 I think this is my favorite cookbook I have ever purchased!  I immediately whipped up some of the recipes that  caught my eye first.  I am going to post the steps I took to bake these fabulous creations but out of respect to Josh and Brent and copyright laws I will not post the exact recipes.  You can buy the book at most online and bricks/mortar bookstores including Beekman 1802


The Pumpkin Jelly Roll was first because this is my husband's favorite.  It turned out awesome!

Gathered all of my ingredients

Mixed my dry ingredients

Sugar eggs and vanilla

adding dry to the egg mixture

Pour batter onto buttered and parchment paper lined jelly roll pan

Tour cooked jelly roll out onto a kitchen towel covered in powdered sugar

remove parchment paper

roll cake up in sugared towel, put on rack to cool, when cool unroll cake, remove towel and spread cream cheese filling over cake.  Re-roll cake and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

ENJOY!!  

Cats and Blogging

I was going to try to get one more post about using my new Beekman 1802 Heirloom Dessert Cookbook posted so I will be all up to date and I can blog regularly.  But evidently Sonny Cat has a different idea.  The laptop is in his spot on my lap this evening and he is slowly pushing himself into place, LOL and I am running out of room!  My lap is not so big anymore - not enough room for a laptop and a 16 pound cat -- So good night and come back soon for the my first cooking posts!