Sunday afternoon fun

Took a short break from my latest restoration quilt (which is really giving me fits) to make this little bitty Halloween banner.  It's about 6 inches by maybe 14 inches.  I'm on a clean out and clear out kick and I was going through one of my couple of, several, numerous Rubbermaid tubs of fabric and found this Halloween print of the costumed teddy bears.  Have absolutely NO remembrance of purchasing it, but apparently I even made something out of it, because it had big chunks cut out of it.  I must have made something for Grace when she was little.

Anyway, I was going to cut it into strips for the strip bins, but these little guys were too cute to slice in pieces (although, since we're talking about Halloween, it would be somewhat appropriate!).  Threw some other Halloween prints (that I do remember purchasing) in the mix and out came this little banner.  Or table runner for a teeny, tiny little table.

Can't decide where to display it.  Might take it to work and decorate my office with it.  But then I might stare at it all day while wishing I was home making more.

Savory Saturday: Greek Bread

Ok, this isn't exactly what I was going for when I decided to change the look of my blog, but I'm going to have to live with it, I guess.  All I wanted to do was change the background, not rearrange everything!

Lisa posted a most-delicious sounding recipe on her blog today - Tomato Relish.  Be sure to check it out.  I have decided to share a recipe from the book, Easy Weeknight Favorites which I bought at a Southern Living at Home party years ago.  It really is one of our favorites.  In fact, if Dave isn't going to be home for dinner, sometimes Grace and I make this for our entire dinner!  It's also great for parties.

Greek Bread

1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Greek seasoning (like Cavender's).
1 (16-oz) loaf unsliced French bread
1 (4-oz) package tomato-basil feta cheese
1 (2.5 oz) can sliced ripe olives, drained
1/2 cup drained, chopped pepperoncini peppers

Combine cream cheese, mayonnaise Greek seasoning and feta cheese, stirring until smooth.  Slice bread loaf in half lengthwise.  Spread cream cheese mixture on cut sides of bread Sprinkle olives and peppers over cream cheese mixture.  Place bread on an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

There are some other really good recipes in this cookbook.  There's one for warm potato and sausage salad which is delicious, especially for garlic lovers.

Enjoy!

Are these cookies sumptuous, savory or satisfying?

My friend Lisa is starting a new "thing" on her blog.  She is going to post recipes and is asking her readers to jump in with a recipe of their own and link to hers.  Recipe lover that I am, I just knew I had to join in as soon as I read her post.

I've been intending to post some recipes, myself.  I want to post some of my mom's recipes as well as my own.  Mom was a great cook and loved to cook.  Her repertoire was based in comfort food, simple family-style favorites. 

She baked as well as she cooked savory food.  My first recipe of Mom's is one her grandchildren loved and looked for every time they came over - Pastel Cookies.  Although we called them Jell-O cookies, because Jell-O is the main ingredient.  Sounds crazy, maybe, and lots of folks look down their nose at Jell-O, but I grew up in the 60's, when Jell-O was a big treat!

I seem to remember that she copied this recipe from a magazine ad.  They really are delicious sugar cookies with a tangy, fruity flavor.  I made some to take to work last year and my co-workers loved them, especially my boss.

Pastel Cookies

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cups butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 package (3 oz.) Jello-O gelatin, any flavor (raspberry is really good)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

 Mix flour with baking powder.  Cream butter, gradually add sugar and gelatin, beating well.   Beat in egg and vanilla.  Gradually add flour mixture, mixing well.  Force dough through cookie press onto ungreased cookie sheet (Mom didn't have a cookie press.  She dropped the cookie dough onto the cookie sheet and flattened them with the bottom of a juice glass dipped in more Jell-O.)  Sprinkle with additional gelatin (same flavor).  Bake at 400 degrees for about 8 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.

So there it is.  They aren't really sumptuous, and they're not savory so they must be satisfying!  Check out Lisa's blog post here for more recipes.