"Cookies in a Jar"

Here is a great gift idea from your kitchen.  I have made these on many occasions for teachers or bake sales.  Everyone loves them !!

You can do this with almost any cookie recipe.  The trick is to layer the ingredients in a jar,  and not have any air-space at the top.  If there is a little space left when all the ingredients have been packed in, just add a few more smarties or some coconut. so it's tightly packed.  This just makes it look better.  When the jars are filled, just attach a label advising what else needs to be incorporated (usually an egg and some butter), and the baking instructions.  

Here's a recipe that I've used many times........

Jar Ingredients 

              

          1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour  

          3/4 teaspoon baking soda  

          1/4 teaspoon baking powder 

          1/2 cup packed brown sugar 

          1/2 cup white sugar  

          1/2 cup white chocolate chips

          1/2 cup milk chocolate chips 

          1/2 cup rolled oats 

          1/2 cup smarties

Directions

In a 1 quart jar, layer the ingredients in the order listed. Pack down firmly after each addition.

Attach a tag with the following instructions: 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a large bowl, cream 1/2 cup margarine until light and fluffy. 

Mix in 1 egg and 2 tablespoons water. 

Add the entire contents of the jar, and stir until well blended. 

Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto an un-greased cookie sheet. 

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in preheated oven. 

Remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.

NOTE***

You can change up some of the ingredients to make your own specialty cookies.  I often use raisins and dried cranberries instead of chocolate chips and smarties.  This is definitely a recipe that you can have a lot of fun with!

 

Here's a few pictures of the last batch I made for a fundraiser at work........ 

 Enjoy ;o)

Santa's elves have started !!

Well, it's the middle of October and my little work room upstairs looks like Santa's elves have set up shop......and I love it!!!!!

I've started painting my glassware again, take a look(remember, these are not finished!).........

I'll keep you posted with updates as I finish more.

Cheers

;o)

Good News!!!

My mom finally got her reports yesterday---no liver cancer!!!!   Yay-----did I say YAY???!!!!!!!

I have been keeping a really low profile in "blog-land"---hopefully get right back on track now!!

Fall evening sky--view from Butts Pond trestle area

This picture is definitely worth a thousand words....it's like the sky is clearing and the sun is shining!!!!!!
We are all so relieved...just have to deal with the bowel issue now---hopefully she'll have surgery in the next couple of weeks.....We are all so happy with that!

Have a great week,my friends

;o)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

In all the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Thanksgiving,

take a moment to focus on what being 

 thankful

 is all about.

Christmas Ornament Exchange

To all my loyal followers......te-he (I've always wanted to say something like that)

Skip on over to my daughter's blog at Randomly Specific, and check out this great idea that she got from one of her favorite blogs.  It's for a Christmas ornament exchange....I know, I know, it's early, but hey....realistically---Christmas is just around the corner!!!!

Come on all you guys...we've been blogging back and forth...let's take it further and go to the next level...."snail mail". in the form of a nice little festive package..........it'll be fun!!!!

It's simple, here are her rules.......

1. Leave a comment on the bottom of her post with your blog address (if you have one) and your e-mail.  *so, if you don't have a blog, just leave your name + email.
2. You will have until OCT 31st to sign up, and then I will match everyone up with a buddy!  She will send out an e-mail that shows who is matched up with who. 
3. It is your job then to e-mail your buddy, say hello, and get their mailing address.
4. Once this is done.... comes the fun part!  Go out and buy a super cool Christmas ornament! (Pier 1 and Michaels have some really cool ones, for example!)  Price range $10-15.  Please don't over or underspend - it can be tempting, but stay within budget so it's fair across the board!
5. Your deadline is to have your ornament in the mail by NOV 15th!  This way we will be sure everyone will get their surprise in time!
6. When you get your ornament, take pictures and blog about it! Don't have a blog? Take a picture of it on your tree or somewhere in your house and e-mail it to the person who sent it to you and thank them :o)!

This will work best if lots of people participate..... so SPREAD THE WORD!

Rana is also adding a little bonus gift! It will be for a random participant ....more details to come on her blog later ;) 

  Now, sign up, spread the word, and shop for a super cute Christmas ornament!!

Maybe this will put you in the mood.....

Have a special pet??...tell your "ornament swap" partner and you may get something like this!!

            **************************

My niece.Tonya, has several trees throughout her house to display all the ornaments her students have given her over the years.  I especially love this whimsical white tree with all black ornaments.  She can tell you the story behind each and every ornament on each of her trees ;o)

 Let's see where this goes....no eye rolling you guys!!!!!!

Cheers