Happy List thanks to Coffee-mate

Well the main part of my Happy List this week is Thanks to my trip from Coffee-mate!


View from the airplane over the Rocky Mountains.


It was such an awesome trip and the weather was perfect.  Check out the view from our room!

We wined and dined and enjoyed being a couple again.   It is amazing how you sometimes can forget what it is like to be a couple again with out children in tow (but we couldn't wait to get home to their smiling faces).



Free Breakfast Buffet at the hotel.


I learned so much about Nestle Coffee-mate and how much they actually care about their consumers - what a great change of pace for a large cooperation.

Arrived home late Saturday to find an awesome box from Granola Snacks on my door step - need I say more about that.

Helped Dylan complete his 100th day of School shirt with 100 gummy candies (his idea).  It turned out great so can't wait to send him to school wearing it on Wends.

And last but not least - My Gooseberry Cookbook arrived which features one my my recipes!!!

***Only complaint my "lovely" 2 month old HP computer is acting up again - so I am wondering if they company is going to want it shipped back once again for repairs :(

German Anise Cookie Recipe - Anise Hats Thanks Gooseberry Patch

I received a wonderful and unexpected Surprise in the mail this past week from Gooseberry Patch. Let me explain - I believe around a year ago I submitted a recipe on the Gooseberry Patch website Gooseberry Patch. If I remember right they were having a contest of some sort for traditional recipes that have been handed down. I submitted a great recipe for German Anise Cookies that my Grandmother shared with me years ago. The reason I asked for it was that my mother was talking about these great cookies that she use to eat as a girl and hadn't had them for a very long time. She didn't have the recipe but believe her mom - my Grandmother would.



Well I emailed my Grandma in 2006 and asked about it. This is what she said (I have included photos from the double batch I just made) : "You can buy these cookies anytime in Germany - small little fancy bag for $2 or $3 Quite expensive.

German Anise Cookies (They are touchy but once you figure them out it works).

2 med.size eggs 1 cup white sugar 3/4 tsp.Anise extract 1 cup flour

In small bowl beat eggs on high speed for 4 minutes

 ..Gradually add sugar ...beating on high for 10 min. until thick

 ... Add extract and beat in flour on low speed ..

Drop cookie from a rounded teaspoon on greased cookie sheet .

Let stand to dry overnight 10 to 12 hr.. Do not refrigerate ....Bake at 350 (on top rack) for 10 to 12 min.

I spray my cookie sheet lightly and wipe off excess ....I also leave mine set out in the sunroom for about 8hrs. during the day and bake in evening...I bake mine on a air tray and remove them from the tray as soon as I take them from the oven ..

They always taste the same but sometimes they do not get like a pillow top [shiny].

Good luck ..I have had good ones and not so good ..Herta says room temp for the eggs .. You will have to experiment . Love Grandma"


I am sooooo excited the recipe was selected for the German Anise Cookies to be included in the upcoming cookbook "Sunday Dinner at Grandma's" published by the Gooseberry Patch.

I love Gooseberry Patch and can't wait for this great family recipe to be enjoyed by others! The best part is they will give me a discount if I order five or more of the books - so if any family members are interested - just let me know and I will get the order placed. It sounds like the cookbook is due out the end of December.

Did I mention that I am so honored and excited. This is just great to have the family recipe to be saved for our generations and others to enjoy.

Autumn Bread

***** Welcome all who are finding me through Gooseberry Patches Blog and or Facebook.  I am a proud winner of The Gooseberry Patch's Halloween book.  Make sure to leave me a comment or follow my blog.  I am planning on posting many more recipes.******

I just entered my recipe in the Safeway Stores Thanksgiving Recipe Challenge
http://apps.facebook.com/thanksgivingcontest/16241/contest_view_entry?&page_id=78143372410&app_id=163287927036679&id=238561 - please follow the link and vote for my recipe.  Thanks a bunch.
I have been baking this recipe for over 15 years now. It is one of the first recipes I make ever year when the weather cools and Autumn arrives. Yesterday was the pefect day to make it again and it turned our perfect.

As of this morning - I went from 3 loaves to 1 1/4 loaves.  My family and I just love this recipe and love Fall.

Everyone always asks for this one bowl recipe after their first taste. If you want to make this more old fashioned - bake the bread in greased/floured tin cans (coffee cans)- is a nice added touch. The white sugar covering is so tasty and added a wonderful sweetness and texture. It is beautiful fall colored and sparkled.

Go ahead and try it for yourself.

Autumn Bread

2/3 cup shortening


3 cups white sugar

4 eggs - well beaten

1 3/4 cups - canned pumpkin

2/3 cup - water

3 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 coarsely chopped walnuts

(1 cup white sugar - to roll baked loaves in)



Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients - excluding nuts - beat until mixed well. Stir in the nuts. Add batter to greased and floured bread pans (3 medium or 2 large sized pans). Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean in the center of the loaf. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Remove from pan and roll the loaf in white sugar to coat. Cool completely and cut to serve.

I entered this recipe on the Gooseberry Patch website - I hope to win one of their great seasonal prizes.  Why don't you try to win to go to http://t.co/3WyrBFB .

My Happy List for the Week :)

I decided this week to post a Happy List like this great Blog I follow - *DandelionWishes* . Check out her link at the bottom of my Blog.

I received a wonderful and unexpected Surprise in the mail this past week from Gooseberry Patch.  Let me explain - I believe around a year ago I submitted a recipe on the Gooseberry Patch website http://www.gooseberrypatch.com/.  If I remember right they were having a contest of some sort for traditional recipes that have been handed down.  I submitted a great recipe for German Anise Cookies that my Grandmother shared with me years ago.  The reason I asked for it was that my mother was talking about these great cookies that she use to eat as a girl and hadn't had them for a very long time.  She didn't have the recipe but believe her mom - my Grandmother would. 

Well I emailed my Grandma in 2006 and asked about it.  This is what she said: "You can buy these cookies anytime in Germany - small little fancy bag for $2 or $3 Quite expensive.

German Anise Cookies (They are touchy but once you figure them out it works).

2 med.size eggs      1 cup white sugar     3/4 tsp.Anise extract       1 cup flour

In small bowl beat eggs on high speed for 4 minutes ..Gradually add sugar ...beating on high for 10 min. until thick ... Add extract and beat in flour on low speed ..

Drop cookie from a rounded teaspoon on greased cookie sheet . Let stand to dry overnight 10 to 12 hr.. Do not refrigerate ....Bake at 350 (on top rack) for 10 to 12 min. .

I spray my cookie sheet lightly and wipe off excess ....I also leave mine set out in the sunroom for about 8hrs. during the day and bake in evening...I bake mine on a air tray and remove them from the tray as soon as I take them from the oven ..

They always taste the same but sometimes they do not get like a pillow top [shiny].

Good luck ..I have had good ones and not so good ..Herta says room temp for the eggs .. You will have to experiment . Love Grandma"
 
 
I am sooooo excited the recipe was selected for the German Anise Cookies to be included in the upcoming cookbook "Sunday Dinner at Grandma's" published by the Gooseberry Patch.

I can't wait to share the great news with everyone!!! I love Gooseberry Patch and can't wait for this great family recipe to be enjoyed by others!  The best part is they will give me a discount if I order five or more of the books - so if any family members are interested - just let me know and I will get the order placed.  It sounds like the cookbook is due out the end of December. 

Did I mention that I am so honor and excited.  This is just great to have the family recipe to be saved for our generations and others to enjoy.