nanandbags

We are sick

Aine here. Mummy was sick this whole weekend even though she has taken a lot of pictures and videos of little me because NOW I AM 5! I am giving her a break and reserving her favorite place so she make herself tea & continue to push fluids. I kept her cozy while she slept all day in order to kick this sickies in the tuckus. Am now letting her watch the oscars. I be a good puggy nurse! Xoxo Aine and sicky mummy.


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Holy Betty Crocker Bat Man! Thank you!

Who knew there were so many Betty Crocker fans!?  I was so happy to see new visitors to my site and April's site this past week.  The love of the cookies goes far and wide and I got 5,000 new friends!  YEA!

Thank you all for commenting on the nummy cookies that April highlighted.  I hope you all come back to visit me and April's blog so that we can continue to share our love of nummy food.  xoxo Nan and Aine

PS - I have a little Pug Girl going to be five in 2 days. I wonder if Betty Crocker ever made dog recipes? 

Because CreativeApples is amazing...

I am stealing her cookie recipe!! and her post!!

 

I was feeling a little domestic this weekend! Since yesterday was so cold, rainy and gray, we busted out a 1979 Betty Crocker recipe book and decided to give these little beauties a try. They were super quick, easy, and quite tasty! Next time, I may have to chocolate them up a bit…

Bonbon cookies
recipe taken (and slightly modified) from Betty Crocker: Baking Classics (1979)

3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour*
1/8 teaspoon salt
dates, buts, semisweet chocolate chips, candied or maraschino cherries (i used reeses peanut butter cups, hersheys kisses, and rolos)
Glaze (see below)

 

Heat oven to 350degress. Mixed powered sugar, butter, vanilla. Work in flour and salt until the dough holds together. (If dough is dry, mix in 1 to 2 tablespoons milk.)

For each cookie, shape dough by tablespoon around date, nuts, or chosen candy to form a ball. Place each ball about 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until set, but not brown, 12 to 15 minutes.

Cool; dip tops of cookies into glaze. Decorate with coconut, nuts, colored sugar, chocolate chips, or sprinkles if desired.

yields about two dozen cookies (though the recipe said it was supposed to yield 24 cookies, I made two batches that consistently yielded 19… I suppose batch size may vary depending on the size of the candy you add inside…)

Glaze:

Beat 1 cup powered sugar, 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth and of desired consistency. Tint with a few drops of food coloring if desired.

*do not use self-rising four in the recipe 

These little cookies are so versatile and depending on how you decorate them, would make great gifts!

If you get a chance, try out this recipe and let me know what you think of it!

Btw she did the GORGEOUS picture too! 

Thanks for letting me steal this April!!!  (hugs) Nan

loving at this time

From the latest Martha Stewart.


How fun is that tree? Not the best way to organize but it is still uber cool.
Speaking of organizing - I need to do loads of that at the house! Tax time & spring is upon us so that means I get the clean and purge bug.

Oh- I have sad news and god news! The reason why I have been away so much is I got a new role at my job! YEA! I am very happy about this opportunity- now if I only could get the tools I use to just be faster- man would I be a happy camper! I swear there is this one tool that is so slow at times it is like watching paint try!

Also sadness- didn't get royalty mad but it is a-okay! My friend Amber, her mom, got it! So happy for Amber and Amber's mom!!! So will be bugging her for the details!

Got to get a move on to the land of zzzz's. Busy Busy Day tomorrow!
Hugs all! Nan

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Happy Valentines DAY!

I have been such a bad blogger, I thought Aine would like to show you her new toys... a la video.  Yes, it is my first iMovie.  HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!! xoxo AINE AND NAN

Bad blogger

So sorry guys! I have been beyond crazy busy with work.

I hope you all have a great Valentine Day tomorrow! I promise a pic spam tomorrow!
In the mean time- have you heard of Angry Birds Valentine edition?! look...


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New fun: Silk ribbon embroidery & Bauer's Brahaus

*does happy dance*

I finally got my silk ribbon for embroidery! It couldn't come fast enough via Oz. I highly recommend Silk Studio from Etsy! Beautiful colors and reasonably priced. Will you look at these colors?! Totally pug approved!





BTW if you want a local source- you can get 1/2 inch silk ribbon at Craft Fancy in Arlington Heights- they also have one inch too!
I cant wait to play with my ribbon... Especially with this book to guide me...




On the food front- Bauer's Brauhaus has opened!! Oh man, is this a cute place. So want to go back to visit Germany now.




These pictures don't due the place justice because the architects really captured the German ethic and style. I tried to not be to geeky with the iPhone so I couldn't take a picture of the gorgeously carved wooden figures without looking to inconspicuous.




But they did such a good job in reconstruction - you have to go visit them!





They are still working on the menu but they are off to a really nummy start! Next time I go, totally going for dindin!

Stay warm out there! Xoxoxo Nan and zzzzing Aine

Recent British Cravings...

From my all time favorite potter.....


Emma Bridgewater Commemorates The Royal Wedding
26th January 2011

To celebrate the most exciting event of 2011, the wedding of HRH Prince William to Kate Middleton, Emma Bridgewater has designed several commemorative products. The Royal Wedding collection comprises; a one pint mug with gift box, an 8 inch plate, a half pint spongeware mug, and a tea towel.

The one pint mug and 8 1/2 inch plate bear the names Kate & William, the date of the wedding, and an illustration of Westminster Abbey. The mug is priced at £39.95 and the plate at £29.95.

The half pint spongeware mug is hand decorated with a W&C, and has helicopters around its base as a representation of HRH Prince William’s duties as an RAF Search & Rescue Pilot. The mug is priced at £19.95.

The William & Kate tea towel is vibrantly illustrated with Westminster Abbey and the Royal Lion. It is priced at £10.

Watch this space for more information on how to get these products.

And also this too! Red stars from Emma Bridgewater ...



These gorgeous mugs-






And for the list when I won the lotto... An Aga store but with Puggies warming themselves in front of the oven....


- xoxoxo Nan
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Knit Your Own Nuptials

From the Independent  - I wish I knew how to Knit!