Hello all. I hope you are all well this fine Tuesday. It is warming up already this morning - today will be our warmest day for a while. It is overcast - hoping to see a little sun. Saw sun yesterday and that is always a joy and just so needed. A real mood lifter. Hoping to go out in a while and try to finish up my shopping. Taking advantage of the weather. Just some small things needed and a few more gift cards. Then it will be on to packing goody bags and making all the homemade goodies.
This sure takes me back to the images seen in the 50's and 60's!
Most people probably have their gifts bought. - but for those who need a few ideas - here are a couple of homemade goodies you can make. These are always a hit and taste so good. BANANA BREAD
STIR STCKS OR SPOONS
SUGARED PECANS
I came across this recipe and I am going to make it this year. Now I will kind of do it MY way. I will use whatever nuts I find available and inexpensive. I have dried cranberries and all the other stuff. Nothing etched in stone that says you have to do it as stated. Use what you like.
Banana bread is always a hit. I make smaller mini loaves. This recipe is easy as it uses baking mix - but you can do completely from scratch. Wrap up in foil or cellophane tie a pretty ribbon and have a nice office or neighbor gift.
Coffee stir sticks (or hot chocolate) are always super easy and fun.
(click on the recipes to see larger)
These sugared nuts are the ones I have made many, many times. They are just sooooo yummy and tasty. Really easy to make. Place in some little baggies and tie a ribbon - sweet treat.
I am not sure what they call a bag - assuming 12-16 oz.
I know nuts are not the cheapest ingredient - but it is Christmas time! For some reason nuts seem to go with the holidays! I even remember nuts in shell in my stockings as a child!
If it is super cold and I have to be outside, I have one pair of 'sort of' leggins that go on under the jeans. They help a lot!! Or wear sweats over jeans or flannel pants.
Keep bundled up outside. Keep your head covered and your hands and ears as well!
So, some easy and quick ideas for treats to gift or just to have at home and ways to stay warm and cozy.
Have a super great day and gift a smile or kind word to someone - it costs nothing!!!!
Cute little vintage picture! As I write this at 10:15 am, the sun has come out to play! Maybe it will stay all day. We have some errands to run so it looks to be a pretty good day to do that.
ReplyDeleteLots of ways to layer to keep warm. Your fuzzy socks look cozy! Vertigo has come back to kick my butt once more and I have been layering up to keep the chill off.
Enjoy your day!
The sun has made a playdate here as well. It is wonderful. I went out a bit, the temps are up and the sun out, but the wind still feels cold. Oh well. It could be a lot worse.
DeleteSorry about the vertigo.
It has warmed up here to a few degrees below freezing, so we are getting snow. It could be as much as 8 inches today! Not looking forward to shovelling that mess.
ReplyDeleteMy mom used to make mix at Christmas of pretzels, nuts, and shreddies. They were savory, not sweet and were always a hit.
Oh yuck - that is just too much snow. Stay safe and warm.
DeleteThat sounds good - I like the savory mixes too. Heck, you can mix about anything up and it is good
Thank you for the mixed nut recipe. It looks yummy.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome. I am making some for sure.
DeleteI have not made my mom’s banana bread recipe in a long time, so this may be the year. (At Aldi this morning, eggs were only $1.24 for a dozen.) I’ve been snacking on my friend’s pecans which are both sweet and spicy. Yum!
ReplyDeleteThis should be the year! I heard that the other day about Aldi eggs! What a difference a year makes.
DeleteYum, those sound good.
I'm just at back Fr m buying all the treat making ingredients. I need to deep clean and organize space in my kitchen first. We're supposed to get socked in with snow and rain which means ice. Not a fan.
ReplyDeleteWell, it sounds like the weather to make treats! I hope it doesn't get too bad. Stay safe.
DeleteSissie is always cold and wears layers.
ReplyDeleteI can take things off if I get too warm, but once I get cold - Katy bar the door!
DeleteI will definitely give that pecan recipe a try as I have a few bags already in my pantry.
ReplyDeleteLayers are also Linda's preference; a double pair of pantyhose is her favorite insulation method. She also doubles up on hats but won't wear gloves inside at all. Gloves always come off at the door. Take care, Louise.
Oh they are just so good and easy to make. I used to make them for ages and G just loved them (me too).
DeleteI wear layers, but have never wore a hat or gloves inside. I don't let it get that chilly inside. Outside yes!
Thanks for the pecans recipe. I just finished baking a Pecan Quickbread that my SIL used to make. Lotta work, but yummy. :)
ReplyDeleteI just don't like jeans any longer. They're too hot in summer and too cold in winter - the fabric feels cold against my skin! So I wear sweatpants, and now they have those with open legs, not cuffed, so they look a little more like trousers.
Snuggy socks are great! I have a couple pairs I wear at night when it's really cold, and this year I bought some heavy socks for my son and DIL - and the company sent an extra couple pairs so I'll keep two for myself, and they are warm warm warm heavy knit. :)
MaryB
I bet the bread is good.
DeleteI am a jeans person. Pretty much all I wear. I have a couple pairs of sweat pants and a couple pair of flannels.
Warm socks all day long for me - at night I can't sleep with something on my feet. I know - I am weird!! LOL
Glad you got extras!
Staying warm and after the freezing rain we had most of the day, I am getting things together in case of a power outage. Ice coated power lines are known to break and with the wind, snow (now we are getting snow) and road conditions the power company just might not go out until things die down.
ReplyDeleteI even have supper cooking a bit earlier than usual.
God bless.
I sure hope you keep the power and have heat. Stay in and safe. Good to always be prepared.
DeleteI love being able to snuggle up and dress in layers at this time of year. Of course, sometimes it gets too warm in the afternoon, so one layer can come off. I’ve been wanting to make those kind of nuts for a while now. Maybe this will be the year I do that.
ReplyDeleteThat was Belinda, btw.
DeleteI agree - there is something to be said about snuggling up and keeping all warm and cozy.
DeleteI hope you make them - you will love them. Sweet and seasoned nuts have always been a favorite of mine.
Thank you for the recipes! Sorry about your cold weather, but this Floridian could use a change. Kill all the germs going around...and the mosquitos, lol.
ReplyDeleteI love your idesas and as always, thanks for sharing. I get so many good ideas from your blog.