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Author Archives: Jennifer

Operation Baking Gals Round 2: Team Steph Chows

Posted on September 1, 2008 by Jennifer
Operation Baking GalsI don’t completely remember how I came across Operation Baking Gals, maybe through Phe/Mom/enon, but as soon as I found out about it, I thought how cool is that. I have a great appreciation for our troops. They protect our country’s liberties and for that I am extremely grateful. So I signed up for Team Steph Chows, probably because I read that Lt. Eric Olson, our armed forces member, is a mechanical engineer, and well, I’m partial to engineers being that I’m an engineer.

In trying to organize my loose recipes, I came across a clipping from Good Housekeeping entitled Cookie Jar Classics. Looking through the article, there were some really delicious sounding cookies. I decided that I would make Chipperdoodles for Eric and his fellow troops. In addition to the cookies, I included lifesavers, chewing gum and some recent editions of Texas Highways (some co-workers don’t keep their copies).

The chipperdoodles were pretty easy to make. I actually doubled the recipe and instead of the expected 7 dozen, I got 10 dozen. I don’t know if I made the cookies smaller or what. It worked out though. Eric got 5 dozen and I had 5 dozen for my hubby who really enjoys Snickerdoodles and the friends we went and had dinner with Saturday night.

Chipperdoodles

Chipperdoodles

Chipperdoodles

Source: Good Housekeeping, October 2003

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (I actually omitted this since I used salted butter)
  • 1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
  • 1 1/4 cups plus 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F.

On waxed paper, combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.

In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat butter and 1 1/4 cups sugar until creamy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Beat in vanilla, then eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. At low speed, gradually add flour mixture; beat just until blended, occasionally scraping bowl. With spoon, stir in chocolate chips.

In a small bowl, combine cinnamon and remaining 3 tablespoons sugar. Shape dough by rounded measuring tablespoons into 1 1/2-inch balls. Roll each ball in cinnamon sugar.

Place balls, 2 inches apart, on ungreased large cookie sheet. With bottom of flat-bottom glass, flatten balls slightly to make 2-inch rounds. Bake cookies 13 to 15 minutes or until plate golden and firm. Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool.

Yield: 3.5 dozen cookies


Cookies Ready to Go in the Oven

Cookies Ready to Go in the Oven

Posted in Baking & Cooking | Tags: Cookies, Operation Baking Gals | Leave a comment |

Sketch Challenges

Posted on August 17, 2008 by Jennifer
Today, I went over to my friend Lori‘s place to stamp. She has a really great stamp room. I am jealous.I worked on three sketch challenges. I really enjoy sketch challenges. It makes me think of ways to use all the stamps I have. The first sketch challenge I worked on was Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #29. I don’t have any cupcake stamps that work with the sketch, so I decided to do presents, because who doesn’t love presents on their birthday. I made it 5.5″ inches square. I really liked the crispness of the colors I chose. This will be great card for a guy.
Happy Birthday Card

Happy Birthday Card

Stamps: Stampin’ Up So Many Scallops, Holiday Tag Team (present)
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Brilliant Blue, Summer Sun, Whisper White
Ink: Stampin’ Up Real Red, Brilliant Blue
Accessories: Stampin’ Up Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4″ Circle Punch; dimensionals
The second sketch challenge was Our Creative Corner’s Saturday Sketch Challenge. Again, I did a birthday card, four of them to be exact. Birthday cards are in hot demand at my house. I love sending birthday cards to my friends and family. And why make just one card, when you already have the supplies out. Plus, this card can be personallized when I send it off. The colors don’t come out quite right in the picture though.
Happy Birthday Card

Happy Birthday Card

Stamps: Stampin’ Up All About Occasions, All About Birthdays (jumbo wheel)
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Creamy Caramel, Handsome Hunter, Whisper White
Ink: Stampin’ Up Handsome Hunter
Accessories: Stampin’ Up Hunter 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon, tag punches, slit punch

The third sketch challenge was Jen del Muro’s Sketch for You to Try. I immediately thought of the hibiscus flower in the stamp set I used. I made two of these.

Aloha Card

Aloha Card

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Do the Hula
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Lovely Lilac
Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Versamark
Markers: Stampin; Up Lovely Lilac, Garden Green, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Stampin’ Up clear embossing powder, dimensionals

I had also wanted to try out Lauren Meader’s Saturday Sketch, but I ran out of time.

Posted in Crafty Goodness | Tags: Birthday, Cards, Stampin' Up | Leave a comment |

A Muse Addicts Shoebox Swap 8/14/08

Posted on August 17, 2008 by Jennifer
Last week, I attended the First Annual A Muse Addicts Shoebox Swap. Don’t tell Geeta, but I don’t know if I am a true A Muse addict. Don’t get me wrong, most A Muse stamps are whimsical and cute, but I would prefer if they were bigger, so you wouldn’t have to use so many to fill up a card. However, I had a blast at the swap. It was the first swap I had ever attended and I thought it was a lot of fun. It made me want to do more swaps. I got to meet Lexi Daly, whom I admire for her work as a designer for Saltbox Studios. We got to make 16 cards and a template for a neat card keeper that Lexi demonstrated.
Myself and Lexi

Myself and Lexi

Best Fishes Card

Best Fishes Card

Stamps: A Muse Fishing Boy and Gone Fishing; Stampin’ Up Very Puny (sentiment)
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Summer Sun, Wild Wasabi, Ballet Blue, and Bashful Blue
Ink: Stazon Jet Black
Markers: Stampin’ Up Brilliant Blue, Summer Sun, Blush Blossom,
Accessories: yellow stickles; Stampin’ Up Brilliant Blue chalk and cloud template

Posted in Crafty Goodness | Tags: A Muse, Cards, Swaps | Leave a comment |

Red, White & Blue Cupcakes

Posted on August 3, 2008 by Jennifer
Sugar High Friday BerriesAbout a week and a half ago, I made these delicious Blueberry Cheesecake Cupcakes with Cherry Buttercream Frosting. They were inspired by this delicious recipe and were made for two blogging events. The theme for the Cupcake Hero July blog event was red, white, and blue cupcakes. It was hosted by Nikki and CB; however, I am too late posting for it. Although, I am not too late for Sugar High Friday hosted by Food Blogga and created by The Domestic Goddess. The Sugar High Friday #45 theme was a berry dessert. I am sneaking in just under the wire on this one.

Key Ingredients Cooks Kitchen

And it trying to find all the appropriate links to put in this post, I came across Key Ingredient’s Cooks Kitchen blog event which also happened to be a berry-inspired recipe.

Taste tasters included my husband, James, and my friends, Ranger, Lori, and Evalyn. James said “they weren’t bad.” This is a pretty good compliment coming from him. Although, I think, he prefers the cupcakes that inspired these cupcakes.

Blueberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

Blueberry Cheesecake Cupcakes


Blueberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

Source: me

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups blueberries, divided
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup sugar, divided
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs, divided
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 5-6 drops blue food coloring, optional
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2 3-oz. packages cream cheese, softened

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease or paper-line 16 muffin cups.

Using a blender or food processor, puree 1/2 cup blueberries. Set aside. Combine flour, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in small bowl. Beat 1/2 cup sugar, oil, 1 egg, vanilla extract and blue food coloring in large mixing bowl until blended. Beat in pureed blueberries; gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with water (batter will be thin).

Beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg and 1/8 teaspoon salt in small mixer bowl until creamy. Stir in 1 cup blueberries.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 1/2 full. Spoon filling by rounded tablespoon over batter. Spoon remaining batter over filling. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Yield: 16 cupcakes

Before Going in the Oven

Before Going in the Oven


Cherry Buttercream Frosting

Source: me

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups confectioner’s sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter, softened
  • 1 to 3 tablespoons marischino cherry juice

Directions:

Mix confectioner’s sugar and butter in medium bowl with spoon or electric mixer on low speed. Stir in 1 tablespoon marischino cherry juice. Gradually beat in enough of remaining marischino cherry juice to make frostinig smooth and spreadable. If frosting is too thick, add more marischono cherry juice, a few drops at a time. If frosting becomes too thin, beat in a small amount of confectioner’s sugar.

Yield: enough for 16 cupcakes

Posted in Baking & Cooking | Tags: Cupcakes | Leave a comment |

Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #26 and a frog card

Posted on July 28, 2008 by Jennifer

On Saturday, I got together with my friends Lori and Evalyn at Lori’s place to stamp. I brought along two sketches to try. I only ended up doing Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #26. I think it turned out really well, even though the engineer in me hates that my brads aren’t in a straight row. I might need to retake the picture as I think it might be slightly out of focus.

Giraffe Birthday Card

Giraffe Birthday Card

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Wild About You, Canvas and All Holidays
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Really Rust and Whisper White
Ink: Stampin’ Up Really Rust and So Saffron; Stazon Jet Black
Markers: Stampin’ Up Really Rust and So Saffron
Accessories: yellow brads from my stash

I’m trying to replenish my birthday card stash, so I also made two of the following card since I never make just one of a card.

Hoppy Birthday Card

Hoppy Birthday Card

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Unfrogettable
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery and Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Jet Black
Markers: Stampin’ Up Garden Green, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Cameo Coral; gold; Spica blue
Accessories: dimensionals for the dragonfly and frog

Posted in Crafty Goodness | Tags: Birthday, Cards, Sketch, Stampin' Up | Leave a comment |
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