Lots of Apples a Day!

baskets and bowls of apples from our yard

I'm taking three at a time to school each day.
and

serving up apple crisp on a routine basis.

How about this idea that I found on Pinterest?
an apple pie in an apple!

Source: testadoprovadoeaprovado.blogspot.com via Maria on Pinterest

These apple cupcakes are adorable.

but no real apples needed...

just smiles that say

thank you!

Source: lefrufrublog.blogspot.com via Maria on Pinterest

Actually,
I could make them with an apple cake recipe!
Gotta use up our apples!

I'm visiting my dad this weekend.

A sister's weekend with our Dad.

I'll be bringing him

a bag of apples

for sure!

Happy Weekend Everyone!
Wishing you sunshine
especially in your
heart.
♥

Happy Day of Baking

What can put a smile on my face fast?

Why baking, of course!

My countertop was put on Friday afternoon.

...On Saturday...

I made

apple walnut muffins

oatmeal and raisin cookies

and smaller versions of my special

Swedish tea rings.

{We ate one for Sunday breakfast and five more tea rings are in the freezer}

Flour was everywhere

I loved it!

Oh Yea!

Maria's baking again!

Have a JOY-Filled week dear ♥'s

Wishing you sunshine and smiles no matter the weather.

God's sweetest graces always,

Hello Summer

"Teddy bears at the beach"
cupcake made by the daughter of one of our faculty for today's luncheon.

Wishing you

a beary nice summer!
  ♥ Maria

 

Quench your thirst

Afternoon tea ~ icy and minty

...with juicy watermelon slices...

to quench your thirst.

Did you know that watermelon is a berry?
{called a pepo}
and - it's a powerhouse!

{over 90% water, only 45 calories per cup

vitamins A, C and disease-fighting lycopene}

It was so much F U N to eat this treat

on Father's Day afternoon
with my Dad.
It's one of his favorite summer treats.
He is visiting us
and his feet were up all weekend...
...enjoying strawberry shortcake, watermelon,
sunshine
and most importantly
family.

Did all the dads in your family have a refreshing weekend too?

Wishing all of you a wonderfully refreshing week!

*)( Maria )(*

Strawberry Shortcake Fun

Do we ever outgrow the fun

 of using cookie and biscuit cutters?

These are the Martha Stewart Collection biscuit cutters.

I couldn't resist these either.

They POPPED right in my hands and onto the counter!

Just like those strawberries!

They just POPPED into my shopping cart and then

into the sugary sweet bowl

and onto my plate.

The biscuits were made the day before ~ easy peasy Bisquick shortcakes.

{I always add a couple of tablespoons of butter to the recipe}

Amanda and I had so much fun with the cutters.

...then...

~ Real whipped heavy cream ~ 

a spray can of cream would not do this time!

I am so grateful for these sweet and simple gifts

strawberries

biscuits

cream

...setting the table with vintage things...

but most of all the time spent with family baking and celebrating

and the time spent sharing with

you!

♥

Have a wonderful Wednesday dear friends!

God bless you always,

 ~Maria

For the Love of Strawberries

{I couldn't resist}

...because I love...

strawberries,

vintage

and

linens

Strawberry Quiche plate

{Good Will}

Wilendur strawberry tablecloth

{eBay vintage}

We enjoyed

a strawberry shortcake

birthday celebration this weekend.

  ♥   ♥   ♥  

Here's a peek at our yummy dessert

More strawberry days with recipes to follow.

 

Have a happy week dear friends!

Wishing you much JOY,
  ~ Maria
 

Fruits of Love

“Love is a fruit in season at all times,

and in reach of every hand.”

 Mother Teresa

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs,

and returns home to find it.
- George Moore

........................ 

Love was in reach of every hand

at our family gathering

this weekend.

This fruit tart was one of the amazing desserts my cousin served.

We certainly felt loved!

♥

~ Wishing you Joy this week and always ~

Maria

His favorite

We're gathering today to wish our son, Jason,

Happy Trails

He is moving to Texas for a new job.
We are so proud of him,
but we will miss him dearly.

He's getting some favorites for dinner.

Chili

Macaroni and Cheese

{Martha Stewart's amazing recipe}
and his most favorite dessert ever

Apple Pie

My apple slicer made the job super easy.
I filled this up in no time flat

with a little extra for my

cute little "personal" pie dish.

Just right for the leftover apples and pie crust scraps.

Just out of the oven

with some sugar sprinkles on top.

Sprinkling on some love today

and each day of this week.

Sending him off next Saturday.

 {Love goes with him, always}

♥

Have a beautiful Sunday dear friends,

Let's make every minute count

~ filling the day with abounding grace ~

Go Green Bay!

You know we love the Packers

When we make green and yellow cornbread.

We ♥ Green Bay!

Some other goodies we had for Super Bowl Sunday

Swedish meatballs and perogies
Juan made crock-pot chili 
{food network's recipe - slow cooker chicken chili ~ it was so delish!}
Amanda's Packers Cupcakes
My brother & sister-in-law brought over a crockpot of Italian sausages too.


{Green Bay won ;o)

Soft hearts ♥ Pretty and Pink

I'm working on a cake with a heart center.

It's a Bluebird Notes challenge!

The first photo in the collage is the cake pictured on the box.

Wishes may come true!?!

I'm not sure how the middle is going to look ~ but I'll find out tonight.

It's my husband's birthday!

Here's the frosted cake.

{the heart inside is raspberry mousse}

I saved some of the raspberry mousse for the top too.

The inside photos are going to be a surprise for Koralee at Bluebird Notes.
Regardless of the outcome... I'm going to send them her way!
oh... I hope the middle looks even remotely like a 
♥
Ok now... here it is!
My cake kind of fell.
It broke here and there.
But it didn't stop us from enjoying all the fabulous raspberry mousse 
and chocolate fudge buttercream frosting!  Yum!  love that stuff ♥

We'll be enjoying it for Chris' birthday!

Happy Birthday Honey ♥

~ Happy Hearts to All ~ 
Love, 
     Maria

photo:

{Taken by daughter, Amanda in CA in '09 ~ I had a little fun using bokeh in Picasa}

{sharing something pretty for Friday Pretties at Joyce's blog

and something pink for Beverly's How Sweet the Sound ~ Pink Saturday post}

 ps.

Go Packers :o)

Chocolate cupcakes ~ Pretty in Pink

for a Friday birthday at work

Everyone at work LOVES chocolate and it was my turn to bring in the goodies for a birthday celebration today.

I knew my friend would love

her chocolate dressed in pink with "polkadots" 

and diamond sprinkles on top.

A little something sweet for all my sweethearts out there

{sharing something pretty for Friday Pretties at Joyce's blog
and something pink for Beverly's How Sweet the Sound ~ Pink Saturday post}

The recipe I use for chocolate cake or cupcakes at King Arthur Flour blog.
I've used this one for years! 

Have a wonderful weekend my friends

♥

When Baking Imitates Nature

I just love my Nordicware Holiday Trees Pan.

Saskia posted about it before Christmas

and I ordered one right away!

Maybe this cake would turn out beautiful for me too!

{I've made five ever since including this one for Jason's birthday}

 . . . you see . . .

I'm really a cookie and pie baker.

 {I made my "J's" for Jason's birthday pie with a candy cane cutter; it made them backwards ;o)

Sometimes, people ask me why I love blogging.

 I tell them about all the sharing that we do.

friendship, baking, crafts, books, inspirations, prayers

{to say the least!}

The other day, I saw Julie's macaroon cookies.

I just baked a batch with Amanda today!

Thank you, Julie, what an easy recipe!

 Click here for a printable recipe

This afternoon, my daughters, Amanda and Rachael went shopping.

They sent me two cellphone photos.

two Willow Tree angels. 
They wrote, "Mom, these reminded us of your blog and your blog friends

~ tea and birds and joy ~

So true in many ways.

Thank you for all the cups of joy!

Dear family and friends,

I hope your Sunday has calm moments

some sweet tea and beautiful birds.

and all the blessings God pours out of heaven for us to receive.

Oh

...and...

Go Packers :o)

Slowly getting back

to healthier eating

Are there still bowls of Christmas candy around your house too?

I confess to stealing a kiss or two.

The almond torrone are such a tease!

Homemade peppermint bark becomes an easy addiction.

Orange slices are catching my eye, won't they look cute on cupcakes?

I'm trying really hard to reach instead for a real kiss, real fruit slices and peppermint tea!

Are you living with temptation like me?

Easy Peanut Butter Kisses

 I just LOVE chocolate and peanut butter!

Put them together in a cookie and I'm on cloud 9.

These are the

e a s i e s t

peanut butter cookies ever.

~ A favorite of all for Christmas ~

The recipe is from Hershy and Eagle Brand.

Ingredients

• 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 to 1 1/4 cups Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter {I use all Natural Jif - with 0 hydros in it}
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups biscuit baking mix  {Heart Healthy kind}
• Sugar -for topping  and the KISSES go on right after they come out of the oven.

 What is the first cookie do you take from the cookie tray?

Which ones disappear first!?

 *

Dear family and friends,

I hope you are enjoying everything that leads up to Christmas Day.

Wonderful Christmas moments can happen every day.

Sharing the love of our Savior, even in the smallest of ways, 

makes Christmas real all year long.