Purple Cookies...

Lavender Tea Party Cookies - ($14.00)

These 6 Purple Flower Tea Party Sugar Cookies are perfect for your next Tea Party! They are slightly stuffed to look freshly baked from the oven. They are hand-sewn and just the right size for little hands to touch and play with.

These little play pieces are created from recycled & wool blend felt - stuffed with Fiberfil. Spot wash with a damp sponge & hang to dry. Although these treats look yummy, Please Do Not Eat Them!!  They are not intended for children under 3 years of age (without adult supervision) or for children who still like to put things in their mouth.

* These designs are my original work & may not be copied or reproduced without my permission.

Chocolate Chips

Chocolate Chip Cookies ($14.50)

These 6 Gourmet Chocolate Heart Chip Cookies are an adorable addition to my felt cookie line and are perfect for your next pretend Tea Party! The little heart chocolate chips are so precious and remind your little one know just how much you love them!

* These designs are my original work & may not be copied or reproduced without my permission.

Snow.....?!

Today has been a snuggly day at my house!  My little boy has a cold & just needs to hang out with mom.  On top of that, we've been hit with a 'nor-easter-winter-storm' that has found us snow-bound for the day.  A surprise snow-storm will always brighten the spirits around here!  Of course, it's really wierd for PA to get a snow storm of this magnitude in October, but what-cha-gonna-do?!  Guess we'll crochet some new things, make hot chocolate & snuggle...!

Apples in my Cake

Diced Apple Cake w/ Streusel Topping

I love to bake throughout the fall season.  There are so many farmers markets and pick-your-own farms in my area.  Pumpkins & Apples are at the top of my list this time of year. 

This Diced Apple Cake is a family favorite - not sure where my grandmother got it .  It just warms my heart to make it.  This recipe freezes well, when you need to use up lots & lots of apples.  It is good warm or cold. I like it best, cold, the next day, after all of the flavors have been able to blend together!  There are lots of apples packed into this cake - Serve with fresh whipped cream!

To make this yummy treat for your family, you will need:

Diced Apple Cake

3/4 cup, Unsalted Butter (soft)
1 1/2 cups, Raw Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp, Vanilla
2 1/2 cups, All-purpose Flour
1 tsp, Salt
1 tsp, Baking Soda
4 cups, Diced Apples (crunchy)
1/2 cup, Chopped Walnuts
1/2 cup, Raisins (optional)


Cream the butter, sugar, eggs & vanilla together. Sift together the flour, salt & baking soda. Add the butter mixture to the flour mixture & stir together until just combined. Now, add the apples & nuts. (This batter is thick, but don't worry - it bakes up so moist & yummy!)

Crumb Topping:
1/3 cup, Brown Sugar
1/3 cup, Raw Sugar
1 tsp, Cinnamon
1/2 tsp, Ground Ginger
1/8 tsp, Salt
1/2 cup, Softened Butter
1 3/4 cup, All Purpose Flour
 
Combine all of these ingredients into a bowl & mix with a fork or with your hands.

Grease a bundt pan & evenly fill with the Batter, then pile the Crumbs on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour.  Insert a cake tester into the cake to make sure it comes out clean before taking out of the oven. 

I usually drizzle a little icing on the top when the cake has cooled (optional).  This recipe is all about the consistency you are comfortable with.  If it's too thick to drizzle, add more milk to thin it out.

Drizzle:
1 1/2 cups, Powdered Sugar
3 oz, Cream Cheese (soft)
2 Tbls, Milk (maybe more)
1 tsp, Vanilla
1 Tbsp, Melted Butter

Buttons from my Forest!

Wood Branch Buttons 1"

Well, purchasing buttons for my Coffee Cup Cozy's & Hats has become a bit costly.  As a desperation move, I asked my husband to forage for branches in our forest, cut them into small thin circles & drill holes in them - all so I could make my own buttons!!  A bit tricky in the beginning, but SO worth it in the end!  Ha Ha.  Instead of rubbing them with oil, I am coating them with a thin layer of shellac.  I worry about people hand washing their Coffee Cozy & damaging the wood.  The shellac will protect the 'button' from harm.

The kids got involved in this project by finding branches & sticks the correct size & making sure Daddy cuts them 'just right' for Mommie!  I'm working on sizes & thickness at this point, but I am thrilled with the outcome, so far.  My husband asked me:  "Does this make me a 'crafter' now?"  I said, "Most certainly not.  You are just my Supplier!"  He is such a great support to my quirky crafy ideas - I don't know what I would do without him...

1 1/4" Branch Buttons

1" Branch Buttons

Pumpkin Wow-Wee!

Iced Pumpkin Cookie Treats!

I found this recipe for Iced Pumpkin Cookies on the 'Mommas Like Me' blog (http://lacee-mommaslikeme.blogspot.com/) &  I knew I had to try them as soon as possible!  The photographs & descriptions on her blog took me in.  I am a sucker for anything pumpkin this time of year.  As soon as the temps start to cool, I get all snuggly & my taste buds seem to require spicy pumpkin things (whoopie pies, cookies, pies, coffees, creamers, pancakes, waffles, lasagna, pasta, etc.) - you get the idea!??

I love to bake a lot & often make a big mess - today was no execption.  After making these yummy cookies, my kitchen was a total disaster, but they were SO worth it!  This recipe creates a 'cookie' that is so different than anything else you've had - soft, moist, sweet, cupcake-like, spicy, melt-in-your-mouth-Yum-O, have-to-have-more, feeling you've got to experience!  I added some cream cheese to the icing & some chopped nuts to the batter as well as a garnish.  Oh my!!

Iced Pumpkin Cookies

This recipe has found it's way into my holiday collection.  I hope you experience these - let your family enjoy the amazing smells coming from the kitchen & feel the warmth of your love through these cookies.  Experience this snuggly season with your loved ones.  Thank you so much Lacee (Good job)!

Homemade...

Baking more bread with the kiddos today - Yum!

BBQ Chicken...

Today we are making 'Pulled Chicken' in the crock pot  (http://punkinheadsanddoodaloos.blogspot.com/2011/08/easy-melt-in-your-mouth-pulled-chicken.html)  We enjoy making our own breads & cereals around here - we chose to make an Oatmeal Honey Bread to go with this meal.  It was a yummy science class today...!  Enjoy your dinner tonight.

BBQ Pulled Chicken



Warm Honey Oatmeal Bread

Granola Time...

Today was granola making day again!  You know how it goes - we are all in the kitchen mixing things & most of it ends up on the floor...?  Oh well, at least I know that's the day the floor gets cleaned!  It makes me feel good to fill our cereal container once a week with fresh cereal.  Oats, nuts, coconut, honey & dried fruit are a great way to start the day.  This time of the year I put pumpkin seeds, pumpkin & cinnamon spices into the mixture - yum!

Celebrate Fall

I'm not sure that I'm ready, even though I've been thinking about it for weeks - Fall is coming quickly.  Next week to be exact - September 23 - Yikes!

I enjoy picking pumpkins with the kids; snuggling;  roasting marshmallows;  sitting around the fire on the patio;  hayrides;  sipping yummy hot drinks to keep me cozy warm;  colorful leaves falling in my back woods;  finding acorns all over the ground;  warm spicy apple cider;  pumpkin pie with chocolate drizzle & extra whipped cream; one last mow of the lawn;  crocheting in my bay window - and all of the many things that my mind evokes when thinking about the cooler temperatures.  But, now I'm a bit saddened because the summer is leaving us again for another year.  Let's get on with the snuggling!

Cozy at the Library!

We went to the library to do school for the day - one of our favorite hangouts!  Had to take coffee and hot chocolate to keep warm, while the air conditioner blasted us!  Hope your day is full of learning & cozy moments.  These are a couple of pictures that capture the Cup Cozy hanging out at the Library.

Cup Cozy visiting the library!

Hard at school work??

A Hot Chocolate Day?

OK - I am in the mood for Hot Chocolate!  I have no idea why.  I am a Coffee Girl, through & through.  Sometimes the thought of warm frothy chocolate & whipped cream makes my mouth water.  Today is one of those days!  The kids are glad for this & that is how we are starting our day.  I hope this doesn't put me on the 'bad mommy' list...but, I am willing to risk it!!!  ha ha.

This Shorty is made with an Organic Chunky Cotton Yarn embellished with a Chocolate Brown Cotton Flower & Coconut Button - Enjoy this Shorty Cup Cozy made to celebrate those 'Have to have Chocolate' moments!

Organic Creamy Cotton with Chocolate Flower

Find me:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/kroshaycafe

This cozy made it into this snuggly treasury:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTMwNTEwOTh8NzI2MjYyMjU1/the-reading-tree

Today...

Wool Yarn patiently waiting for me!

 Today was a maze of great things - Church with my family, socializing with friends, studying, watching my hubby use his God given talents, & helping my daughter through a rough time.  I don’t think I could have asked for a sweeter day full of blessings! 

Life has so many distractions with electronics, work, school, cleaning, cooking, etc. – don’t forget to take time to be with the ones you love & appreciate the privileges we are offered each day.

New School Year Begins...

September already?  Oh my.  It's the first day of school here at our house.  We've started our 9th year of homeschooling & things are off to a great beginning!  I'm sure there will be some hick-ups along our way, but I am anticipating a fun year filled with much learning, organization & fun times with my kiddos.

I looked at my yarn basket longingly today & wished that I could sit & crochet, but that was a no-no for today's schedule.  Here's a Blue Cup Cozy with a Heart in honor of Back To School Day at my house!!

Faded Denim Wool with Heart

Come see me:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/kroshaycafe

Update...

Shop will be slowing down for a little break - So many things to work on around here & so little time!  My husbands business moved into our house & we are having fun with all the paperwork that comes along with that.  Spending time with the kids doing tie-dye & hemp projects during their summer break. Getting our paperwork & books ready to begin the new school year.  And working on some fun new felt projects too.  See you soon! 

Cookies Sound Yummy!

 

Lavender Garden!

Our Lavender Garden is blooming again!  These amazing plants attract hummingbirds, butterflies, & bees.  What a fabulous smell to be surrounded by in the summer.

Scrappy Bookmark Project

The kids and I got to making stuff with our scrap box yesterday.  Thought you'd like to see what we came up with - 'Scrappy Bookmarks' - what a fun project!  What a fabulous idea for making little gifts or usable items out of the things that are so easily discarded.  We backed all of these bookmarks with wool felt for durability.  These will be great holding our place in our school books & bibles and great gift ideas for Easter baskets this year.  It was a fun time with the cutter matt, rotary tool, ruler, iron, sewing machine, ribbon box, & scrap fabric bin....!...Imagine the mess that was left in the path of this project!!!  We looked on the internet for some fabric scrap ideas and found quite a few sites that had tutorials for bookmarks.  I think we ended up putting our own spin on these with our technique and size.  Check out this site for a sweeet bookmark tutorial: http://scrapdaily.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-to-make-fabric-bookmark.html.  Make things that are reusable today!

Heart Ornaments!

Valentine’s Day has come and gone this year!  Although the argument is that Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be the only day you express your love for someone, I have to say – It’s nice to have a special day, out of the normal routine, when you have an excuse to bake over-the-top chocolate desserts, watch romantic movies, make cards out of glue & glitter, kiss & cuddle more than normal, and relax together!!!!  And wool felt ornaments don’t hurt either..ha ha!

Felt Mini Cupcakes - Yum!

Well, I'm getting serious about adding some cupcakes to the shop.  I do a lot of cookies, but it's time to think outside of the sweet box!  These have sweet little 'fondant' flowers adorning their tops.  I think they will look precious sitting on the plates at the next tea party!

Valentine's Day Approaching Quick!

There are still some Felt Goodies left in the shop to give your little one for Valentine's Day!  These items have FREE Shipping, right now.  For some reason, this little Icing Bag Set makes me smile.  Guess it's my imagination running away with me - I see hours of pretend kitchen time with these cheery pieces (One Icing Bag, 3 Heart Shortbread Cookies & 3 Removeable Heart Icing Shapes).  I hope your holiday is full of bright colors & hugs & kisses.  Enjoy each moment together.