Yule Love'em logs aka Cathedral Windows Bake Exchange recipe

As kids we loved these logs! A refrigerated slice that is ready for company! I do not have a lot of pics as I found this messy to make and was not planning to do it again..however my kids love them and they were well accepted at the bake exchange so here goes!

More of a candy than a cookie, slices of colored marshmallows create the "stained glass" in a chocolaty window surrounded by flaked coconut.

Makes about 60

1/4 pound butter or margarine
1 (12-ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (I left these out as we did a nut-free exchange)
1 (12-ounce) package colored mini marshmallows (about 9 cups)
7 ounces sweetened grated coconut (about 2 cups)

Heat butter and chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth.( I used my microwave,just under 2 minutes,find that much friendlier then dealing with a double boiler!) Cool slightly. Toss marshmallows and nuts in a large bowl; stir in chocolate. Tear five 9-inch sheets of waxed paper and sprinkle each generously with coconut.(I used a mix of dessicated and shredded) Divide dough into fifths and place each fifth on a sheet of waxed paper. Roll tightly into 2-inch diameter logs(I had a bit of a struggle with this and used scotch tape to keep everything rolled up tight!) and refrigerate overnight(I cooled in the fridge and then transferred to freezer) or until firm. Before serving, unwrap from waxed paper and cut into 1/2" slices.

Lovely wax-paper wrapped logs! Any one who has made these before and has any tips let me know! They are messy but worth it when you have neat slices of 'Cathedral Windows' lined up on your baking tray! They make me smile!
Also pictured are my 'famous'chocolate dipped marshmallows. The big boys named these Snowman Hats and the are a kids favorite! How too's coming soon!

VINTAGE TREASURES Santa Hot Chocolate set made in Japan

Treasure hunting is one of my favorite pastimes..Love vintage and kitsch..was very excited to find this set to dress up my Christmas themed china cabinet!
Vintage Santa Hot Chocolate pitcher and six matching mugs.
Original box..Original price?
$1.25!!!!!!!!!!!!! This one really set me back! LOL!
Santa is a little sneaky looking...has to be to keep all those secrets I guess!
Matching mugs are tooo sweet!

Thanks for peeking! Comments are loved shared stories are loved even more! What is your favorite vintage score?

CANDY'S CANDY CHRISTMAS BAKE EXCHANGE! YUM!

Sweet Candy's,so easy to make,a favorite on my baking platter! Peanuts are involved!

• Recipe
• 1.5 cups each
• peanuts
• chocolate chips
• butterscotch chips
  

1 bag of chips easily crushed.
I melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips in a large bowl in microwave,about 2 minutes
Stir in the peanuts and crushed potato chips
Keep mixing until all you see is the color Chocolate!
Scoop a heaping teaspoon full
Drop into cups layed out on baking sheet
Makes about 60, 90 or more if you use a smaller cup
I sprinkle half in candy balls in Christmas colors,you can do them all or none,personal preference!
Cool in the fridge until hard,and serve or freeze and serve later!

Pizagna! Big Cook With Friends Pizza-Lasagna Monthly Cook

Invention can be interesting! I decided to try mixing the fun casualness of pizza with the yum and heartyness of lasagna into the practicality of a bake from frozen cassarole! Some of the 'Big Cook kids' tried a crockpot pizza recipe and were disapointed there was no pepperoni, my kids love Tim Horton's lazy lasagna...sooo Pizagna was born!
A friend had just given me an electric turkey roaster,had used it for our Thanksgiving 2 turkey extravaganza and it had not yet found a permanent home in my house . While watching Extreme Couponing (you all sneak a peek,admit it! LOL! ) I noticed a gal cooking a huge batch of chili in her eelctric roaster so I plugged mine in and went to town!

• 8 cups pepperoni (reserve 1 cup for topping)
  
• 8 cups onions diced
  
• 8 cups of cheese(put 2 cups aside for topping)
  
• 8 cups Italian sausage pizza topping
  
• 4 cups chopped green pepper
  
• 8 cups or 6 jars spag.sauce
  
• 4 cups pizza sauce
  

Simmer all ingredients together season to taste I used salt,pepper,garlic,onion and pasta seasonings. Toss with 8 cups curly noodles(cooked)
I portioned in to 8 containers, then garnished with pepperoni and cheese
Reviews so far have been great! If you are monthly cooking for yourself or doing a Big Cook with friends, give it a try! :)

Halloween Happy Pumpkin

How sweet is this Happy Pumpkin? He goes together easily and quickly!
Supplies may vary,I spent $6 at the dollar store.
Leftover stuffing fills the cauldron and stuffs the pumpkins pointed hat. I used my hot glue gun to loosely affix the stuffing to the bottom of the cauldren.
Nestle the Pumpkin in the cauldron adjusting stuffing for a comfy fit,using your hot glue gun secure the Pumpkin on the stuffing. Loop black tinsel twice around his neck so no stuffing peaks thru. Place the pointed hat on his head and hot glue in place
I attached a cheeky spider to the rim of Pumpkins hat. Affix a large bowtie to the cauldren under Pumpkin's chin if desired.
I could not resist making a whole crew! One will find it's way to the receptionist at our office, one the front desk at DD's school and BOO knows where the others will find a home!!

Thankful for...the end of the week and more! Friends.

Thankful for a little quiet time Saturday morning so I can write my Friday Thankful for piece!
I shared a dinner last night for a friends Birthday just us Mom's and our kids. My favorite place to share is in the kitchen making and tasting good things. We had a simple cake,she blew the candles, the kids laughed and played the evening away. Good times.
Friends are the family we choose, and like family,
the ties that bind ebb and flow. People move, children grow and friendships fade and new ones begin. Several close friends moved far away in the past two years (Alberta,England and California), and countless new ones enter, as I begin a new season of life with my little man.
My Daughter's school shares a verse I've come to value:


'Make New Friends and Keep the Old, One is Silver and the Other Gold.'


A new cooking group has formed and we enjoy fellowship as we assemble meals for our families , finding a comfort in an activity that past generations experienced, trying to put a little of the village back into our busy lives. I am thankful for these ladies.
A new practitioner of Yoga shared with our Thursday Mom's group and opened the door for Mom's who had never experienced the tranquility of movement and those of us who long to make it part of our lives again. I am thankful for her.
Three generations of females in my family experienced an amazing fashion show of talented young designers and a night out we all craved, I am thankful for that.
As I dwell more on events of the past week or so I could go on and on, some have meaning only to me, and I will hold them in my heart. I am thankful others started this practice so I could join in on being thoughtful and thankful.
Thank-you for taking the time to read my words of Thankful!

Hamburger Muffins Meal or Man-appetizers! Tailgaters too!

Hamburger Muffins were a neighborhood favorite growing up! My Mom liked to bring them to parties, knowing men didn't want fussy little appy's, this was something to eat!

• Makes 8 doz




• 8 loaves of brown bread-day old works best




• 4lbs hamburger(I used 3 pounds subbing 4 cups finely chopped mushrooms)




• 4 cup bread crumbs




• 4eggs




• 4 cans mushroom soup(I use cambell's,we like the taste)




• 2 cups diced onion




• 4 cups diced green pepper




• 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce




• 4 cups your favorite shredded cheese mixture-optional
  

• Trim the bread crusts off(I save for breadcrumbs and stuffing)
  

• Butter bread on one side.
  




• Place butter side down in muffin tins,making a little 'nest'
  

• Mix all ingredients together




• Spoon into bread already place in muffin tins .




• sprinkle top with shredded cheese mixture(optional)
  

Bake in 400 degree oven for 15 minutes. Enjoy! Hamburger muffins freeze well and can be warmed in oven or microwave. If someone tries making these with ground round I would love to know how they turn out!

Extreme Couponing in Canada Tuesday's Deals are Everywhere Coffee deals!

This weeks post is a good reminder that great deals are everywhere! We just need to keep our eyes open! While running into a local store to pick-up a great deal on TP,on sale and I had a coupon,I spotted a bunch of coffee in a clearence bin. $1.99 for cans and k-cups. I'll take those! I loaded them in my cart,I was thinking I know I have coupons for this brand,when I spotted a pad instore for $1.50 off any. Each of these coffees cost .50 CENTS! This is savings of over $100! :)

When I am in a hurry I do not take the time to scout around for deals so I was lucky this one caught my eye! The k-cups will be put to good use and the cans will be tucked into the Christmas Hamper Stash!

Extreme Couponing in Canada Tuesdays Christmas Shopping and Dollar Store deals

I got a great start on Christmas Shopping at Walmart yesterday-using overages! I cannot post the pictures as there are two foot spies everywhere. However I can tell you that 2011 Magical Barbie, 2 dozen Dinky toys,two very large noisy trucks and various stocking stuffers are hidden away for that magical day. Out of pocket $8 saved,$135! I also picked up a few Autumn decorating items for myself. I like to get my personal holiday shopping taken care of early and then I can focus on Christmas Hamper shopping and deal hunting, It also helps me not to buy more of those great deals for my kids when I know there surprises are plentiful and ready to go!
How many shopping days left? :)


Couponing at the dollar store? OH! Yeah!! The $ store already has great deals on things we use and love! I would have paid the $2 for these Nivea pumps and re-fills. Being that there is a $2 Nivea coupon out(actually there are two different ones) Free is fine by me! I chose to buy more re-fill pouches then dispensers because thet hold more soap,better deal! 21 refills are off to the foodbank the rest to the Christmas Hamper stash!
When our $ stores started accepting coupons we did a walk thru to see what they had and started to look for and trade applicable coupons. Bring your binder with you when you shop as a lot of name brand beauty,food,and cosmetics shows up on their shelves!

Parmesan Hamburger Cassarole Cook with Friends!

Ever wondered what 24 cups of cooked curly noodles looked like? :) I recently attended a cook with friends night, What a great time! 8 ladies got together bringing ingredients prepped(diced,sliced,browned)for 2 recipes. ingredients for 8 meals of each recipe. We all shared in assembly, had a lots of laughs and a little wine and left with 16 DIFFERENT MEALS EACH! Full freezers! Meals are crockpot, oven or stirfry ready! One of the meals I shared was Parmesan Hamburger Cassarole.

• 16 lbs cooked ground beef
• 8 cups onions sauted
• 24cups cooked curly pasta
• 4 cups parm cheese
• 8 cups of corn
• 8 cups shredded cheese mix
• 8 cans of mushrooms soup
  

That is a lot of meat,I got out 3 electric fry pans and got'er done! LOL! Combine all ingredient I did this in 8 bowls to ensure a good mixture.Package and freeze. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes.
Meals could be in freezer bags or containers,I used these containers with lids I could write instructions on,love them! I also contributed 8 family size calzones. Coming soon.