gluten free sugar cookies FAIL

unfortunately the consistency for the gluten free sugar cookie recipe that i posted for rudy day testing did not work out. they tasted good, so at least we got that right. but to call them cookies would not be an accurate statement.

trying again soon - and i will post the recipe!

baking lists for rudolph day

as i said before, i will be making sugar cookies using pamela's recipe. however, i am adding a few more items to the shopping/baking list this weekend from the "harvest baking" magazine i recently picked up.

fall harvest muffins
BLT salad
cranberry apple chicken sandwiches

these items should be delicious!

my husband and i are doing a 4k walk this weekend for our favorite no-kill animal shelter, and maybe we will be able to head out to the apple orchards!

today is the first full day of autumn - last night was the autumn equinox!

100 days until christmas!

100 days until christmas! you know everything at the north pole really starts moving now...

planning, baking, and counting down

for rudy day in september, i am making sugar cookies (gluten free!) using pamela's vanilla cake mix. here's hoping that they come out well!

Pamela's Simple Sugar Cookies or Snickerdoodles

1 bag Pamela's Classic Vanilla Cake Mix
8 Tablespoons (1 cube) unsalted Butter
4 Tablespoons water

Use heavy duty stand mixer.

Preheat oven to 350°. Use stand mixer to soften butter. Add mix and water, then combine for one full minute or until dough comes together. Roll out 1/8th-inch thick and cut out simple shapes, or make balls (for Snickerdoodles) and flatten (balls can be rolled in ground cinnamon before baking for Snickerdoodles.) Place cookies 1-inch apart on parchment paper. Bake 16 to 20 minutes or until edges are light brown. Decorate!

For fresh cookies anytime, refrigerate the dough in a log (or freeze), then slice and bake.

almost there!

well september 1 is just right around the corner, and then we are just three weeks away from the autumn season (officially).

i have some craft supplies ready for one set of craft gifts, and i really need to get baking again. right now, my baked goods baskets will only contain gluten free cranberry orange scones and gluten free chocolate cupcakes. i would like to add an iced sugar cookie if it is possible, and definitely some sort of chocolate truffle. of course we shall see what it comes down to at the end of the season.

pumpkins! (yes, in a christmas blog)

i cannot help but get super excited when i start seeing pumpkins around. the "ber" months are on the horizon.

i took a weekend getaway with my husband this past weekend only to see a few signs advertising the impending harvest. while in the grocery store, i cannot help but stare at the pumpkin and apple items. i cannot wait to dig in.

september 1st cannot get here quick enough, but once we get there... i'd like everything to slow down.

this part of the countdown is the time to savor.

it's never too early for christmas crafts

this year, with the economy in a serious recession, and a genuine desire to return to the simple things in life, i have really focused my efforts on experiences and homemade things for christmas.

in my baking challenges, i am happy to report that i have a few successful gluten free items that i can share with friends and family this year:
gluten free cranberry orange scones
gluten free chocolate cupcakes
& gluten free pies (apple, pumpkin, strawberry, cherry)

i am hoping to finalize my recipe for gluten free sugar cookies this month.

last year was an embarrassment and a disaster. this year will be better, and i will be able to fill up my gift boxes with delicious things.

as for gifts, i am reviewing my martha stewart crafts encyclopedia, the internet, and magazines to decide which crafts i would like to do as gifts this year.

i'd like to make totes for people, and since i learned to make pillows at my sewing class... perhaps a pillow as well. maybe a set of notecards, personalized for each person.

it's never to early to start planning & working on holiday crafts.