Check out this video of horsemen, Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling!!

Spring Gardening With GrowOrganic.com

Yes, I am already beginning to think about my spring garden.  In fact, there was a break in the weather yesterday and I was able to get out and turn my compost pile.  Though I was surprised to see how desperately it needed my tending, I was excited to see how much finished compost I was able to dig from under the pile!

     Now is an encouraging time to begin planning.  The excitement of Christmas is in the past and many of us still have a bit of time before we get back to school or work for the New Year.  Also, the time you spend pondering warm, sun filled days spent in your garden, is time that you are not looking out the window at the very dark, gray weather of winter. ( I am not addressing the privileged individuals in warmer climates who are graced with the presence of something called the sun during the winter months).  And, if you happen to be a pacific north westerner, you tend to find any trick possible to stiff arm the dampness and lack of sunlight that you know will hover over you well into July...

On that note!  Allow me to present you with a spectacular website known as groworganic.com, which is sure to brighten your spirits.  This website is associated with Peaceful Valley Seeds and sells many varieties of organic seeds and garden supplies.  It is also contains a vast amount of articles and helpful videos on how to grow and prepare your own food from the seeds that they sell.  I highly encourage you to reward yourself for getting through the first of the winter months, by purchasing some seeds or a pretty new garden tool from groworganic.com!  

(picture taken from grow organic.com)

Recipe Girl's Cinnamon Role Pancakes

Before I stumbled across this Cinnamon Role Pancake recipe, by Recipe Girl, I did not know that such creations existed.  The combination of the ingredients in this way, gives one the allusion that she, (or he) is actually eating a cinnamon role.  I'm sure I am not the first to recognize the lack of comparison between those recipes that claim to be something similar to a Moist Chocolate Cake Pancake, when in actuality, they are some unrecognizable version of the dessert in pancake form.  No, no, no,  these pancakes flaunt the flavors of warm, sweet cinnamon roles, mmmm...

After observing the fabulous demo pictures for this recipe, you will be able to tell that my swirl technique needs practice!

Try them yourself and drop me a comment to let me know how your swirls turned out!

Betty Crocker Yellow Cake Recipe

The other day, while searching through my kitchen cupboards,  I happened upon a uniquely shaped little pan.  I didn't know what it's primary use was, but I decided that it would be perfect for an adorable, dainty cake!  With the help of reliable, old Betty, I whipped up this wee, little surprise.  

If I recall, I cut the recipe in half.  Oh, and don't forget the dash of salt that the recipe fails to mention.

Have a go at making your own individually sized cake!  

And if anyone knows the endowed purpose of this pan please drop me a comment below.

Have fun!

-ACC

Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread House Decorations!

In preparation for Christmas, I decorated a mini gingerbread house.  But not one of the boxed ones that was made in China, I baked my own!

First, I cut out and baked cute little figures.

Then I assembled and decorated it. How festive!

Every year, the head chefs at the White House decorate a White House gingerbread house.  It is always very elaborate and usually is very similar in appearance to my own gingerbread masterpiece.

I hope I have given you some last minute ideas for Christmas Eve fun!

-ACC

Sew Your Own Christmas Eve Pajama Shorts!

Santa comes down the chimney tomorrow night!  Opening a single gift of new Christmas pajamas is a tradition for many on Christmas Eve.  If this blog post is A) reminding you of your lack of wrapped pajamas for your family members, or B) notifying you of a new tradition that you may want to partake in, then read on.  With a bit of fabric and a sewing device (either a sewing machine or a needle and thread) you can create functional, inexpensive, delightful little pajama pants or shorts. These can easily be paired with a cotton t-shirt to create a perfect Christmas Eve pajama set.
     With the help of instructables.com  I created these festive pajama shorts ( just a shorter version of the pants) in about 3ish hours.  If you already know how to sew a crotch then you are in luck, because this single piece of the shorts took me about two hours to figure out.  I sewed and pulled apart my sewing many times.  But I was determined to get that crotch right...And lucky me, look at my new pajama shorts!

Martha Stewart's Red Velvet Cupcakes!

As promised, I will now reveal one of my recent recipe favs!  This is the beginning of a series of tried and true recipes that I will highlight on my blog.  So, stay tuned!

Ok, the "The Quickest To Be Consumed" award goes to Martha Stewart's Red Velvet Cupcakes! I must say that this is quite an honor of which I will explain.  I "make food" very unconventionally.  I am known to experiment instead of following the recipe.  Often I cutting out fat, or try adding veggies to recipes that no one other than a nutritionist would ever think of adding veggies to.  I have also attempted to make a dairy free version of a recipe that was created to highlight flavors of creme and butter. But hey, did you know that Jello was an experimental accident?!  Some of my trials turn out and others flop....Anyway, the family unit isn't always too keen on my Chefistry (a mixture of chef and chemistry).  This results in many baked goods that sit on the counter for a couple of days before being placed in the fridge for a week and then getting pitched (in this sequence).  I can gleefully announce that this was not the case with Martha's red velvet cupcakes.
     I made these tasty gems in mini muffin tins so they were teeny tiny and oh so cute! Oh, and I followed the recipe exactly, so enjoy a plentiful dose of butter, cream cheese and sugar!  This may be why they turned out so well, hmmm...

Savor!
-ACC

Winter Wonderland!

                                                                                                                      Wishing you a very merry weekend! 

 I did some Christmasy baking today and the pictures will be posted tomorrow along with some recipes.  

MISSING

In yesterday's post, I assured you that I would share awe inspiring moments... but before I begin, did anyone misplace their large white unicorn mask?

Welcome!

Welcome!

     Thank you for happening upon my newest, little blog creation, Luxalu!  Allow me to add myself to the list of thousands of blogs that are already in existence, (what can I say, I too feel that I have awe inspiring moments which have been captured and need to be shared)!  I cordially invite you to explore my compilation of all things merry and bright (it is almost Christmas)!! I will leave you with a beauteous photo of Lux, the Dutch Warmblood horse, sporting a set of reindeer antlers.

Have an entertaining day and I shall be in touch again soon!

Sincerely,
ACC