The Indian In The Cupboard?

SO...

 Cupboard? Magic cabinet? Jukebox?

When I received this Christmas gift my mind went imideately to

The Indian In The Cupboard.

For those of you who don't know the story,

a young boy receives a magical cabinet for his birthday.  

A magical cabinet that transforms plastic people into

real, living, mini-sized people!

It's a  great movie that Nathan and I have enjoyed many times,

a kind of coming of age story.

Great cabinet/cupboard, I absolutely love it!

Is the front design a beetle?

Each section of the beetle(?) is divided with bent twigs.

What is the design on the top of the door?

So many questions.

But....

What to use it for?

Tarot card collection?

Bathroom items?

Spices & herbs?

What is it's purpose?

?????



31" tall X 15" wide X 6 3/4" deep

Cubbies are approximately 7" X 7"

The inside is unadorned,

thinking....

 maybe adding postcard type photos/pictures to each cubby back

and maybe some sort of picture to the inside of the door?

Need to know what it's purpose is before adding anything though!

Also received,

one of The Hunger Games books, by Suzanne Collins,

I am so looking forward to reading this!

I've heard great things about this series.

Need your help on the cabinet!

Till next time,

Bonjour

Seeking, Searching - Finding

Sorted & labeled

Well...

I've been searching for a good muffin recipe and google was not being very helpful.

I kept getting sweet muffin recipes, what I wanted was savory.

I guess it helps if you put savory in your search criteria.

 Cheese, bacon, corn, all very good

but not what I wanted either.

It finally hit me, try herb.

Better, but not great.

Then I found a plain muffin recipe at all recipes.com with suggestions on fillings.

They were mostly sweet suggestions but at least I had a place to start.

They're called Best Ever Muffins, and I have to agree.

They baked up more like a biscuit than a cupcake or muffin,

but were still moist and light.

I did five variations, two with herbs and three with sweets. All mini muffins.

1. dill & red pepper flakes

2. rosemary, onion flakes & parmesan cheese

3. poppy seeds & raspberry jalapeño jam

4. nutmeg, cinnamon & carrot cake jam

5. nutmeg, cinnamon & quartered, large gumdrops

Numbers 3,4,5 - I put a small amount of batter into the cups first,

then the jam/gumdrop, then filled with more batter. I only used a scant

 teaspoon of the jams, or at least tried to.

Here's the recipe if you're interested.

Best Ever Muffins

2 cups flour                                                                                                 1 egg
3 tsp. baking powder                                                                                1 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt                                                                                                 1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup sugar (I cut the sugar to 1/4 cup on all variations)

1. Preheat oven to 400° 
2. Combine flour, baking powder, salt & sugar in a large mixing bowl (add herbs if using).

Make a well in the center. Set aside.

3. In a glass measuring cup add the milk, oil & egg. Blend together.

(I added the milk first to the 1 cup measurement, then the oil till  the liquid was at 1 1/4 cups then the egg.

Saves washing so many utensils)!

4. Pour the wet into the dry & mix lightly, should be lumpy.

5. Spoon batter into oiled or paper lined muffin cups.

6. Bake for 25 minutes for regular size, 20 minutes for minis.

7. Remove pan from the oven onto a sturdy wire rack, let sit for 5 minutes, 

 then remove muffins from pan to a cooling rack.



In progress

The jams were made by my friend Loretta, (traded soap).



If you happen to be on my Christmas list....

 I guess you know what you're gettingJTJTJ

Till next time,

Make some expresso and taste test!
Bonjour

P.S. Was meeting someone at What-A-Burger

to deliver soap & saw this in the backseat of a guys car.

Giant piñata?

He was from Michigan.

WHAT???

Can You Bake?

SO....

In between product orders I've been making Christmas gifts.

Everyone loves food, especially easy to make food.

Pour into a bowl, add butter and eggs, what could be easier?

Brownie & Cookie Mixes

Sorted into families

Each row has a label at the end denoting which family it goes to.
The short rows will get sweet and savory breads, muffins, suckers,
chocolate confections ETC.

Cocoa Powder canister refashioned

Covered this canister with wallpaper from the thrift shop
and leftover ribbon. Just used Elmer's to adhere.
Perfect for the pretzels!



Don't tell anyone I spelled Biscotti wrong!

 I made recipe cards using purchased postcard stock.
The software program for the cards/labels was free from Avery
and the clipart was in my Microsoft Works Program.

There's lots of chocolate covered pretzels, peanut butter cups,
marshmallow treats, and haystacks waiting to be packaged.

Are you cooking/baking for Christmas?

Till next time,
Eat More Chocolate!
Bonjour

Handmade Christmas gifts



Canned brisket, Mocha cafe, Orange marmalade, Pickled beets, Pickled okra, Mango preserves



Recipe mag, Melting milk chocolate, white chocolate, Butterscotch, Pink stuff, Finished peanut butter cups



Handmade product labels



I'm having fun!!!!

Till next time,

Bonjour