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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

On The 6th Day of Christmas...

Good morning Everyone!  Before we start... the winner for yesterday's Christmas Joyous Home Journal is ~ Christine!  
Email us at ripe4harvest@msn.com so we can get the Christmas Journal to you!

Today, we have a little treat for you to make while you make your ornaments!

Glazed Gingerbread Nuts


You need 5 cups of mixed nuts, salted or unsalted.  You don't have to use mixed nuts- you can use just pecans, walnuts or almonds.  

Bring 2 large eggs to room temperature.  In a large bowl whisk the egg whites together until very frothy.  Add:
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. ginger powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. sea salt (only if you are using unsalted nuts)  


Mix together until all of the sugar and spices are well blended.  Add the nuts and stir to coat.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Spread the coated nuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil.  If you use foil, spray it lightly with cooking spray. 
Bake for 30-45 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent the nuts from burning.  The nuts are done when they are toasty brown and crunchy!  Cool completely and serve in a candy dish.

Enjoy!

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Giveaway Details!

 For the remaining posts of this event, everyday we are going to be giving away the Christmas Joyous Home Journal!


and the Daily Deal on Joyous Home is...

On sale for $3.50  - Regular price $7.00
We do love this issue... Wonderful Christmas projects!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

On the 5th Day of Christmas...

Good morning everyone!  Before today's post, the winner of the Embroidery Pattern is Shannon! Send us an email at ripe4harvest@msn.com with your address!  Congratulations!

And for the 5th Day of Christmas, we are sewing...






Rag Mitten Ornament

Homespun or Flannel - Scraps will work, you'll need a front and back fabric
Template Shape - Trace a small mitten or draw one
Perle Cotton #5 plus Chenille #20 needle
Buttons, Bells, Rick Rack or other notions
12" Silk Embroidery Ribbon (4mm) or ribbon small enough for the needle




1.  Cut our your shape on both fabrics, make sure it's 2-4 layers thick for each one.


2.  Cut out the bottom part of the mitten (if that is what you chose for a shape).


3.  Arrange the shapes so you have a one the front and back fabric showing.  Pin together.  Pin the bottom part fabric, pinning opposite colors to each side.  

4.  Using a 1/4" - 1/2" seam, sew around the shape, take your time!


5.  Sew a line across the mitten bottom, about 1" down from the top of the shape.


6.  Snip the top of the bottom mitten shape on both sides. Also snip the ends of the shape, don't snip through the sewing line!  Snip in 1/4" increments.


7.  Thread your needle with the Perle cotton, knot the end. Start at the middle line you sewed for the bottom of the mitten.  Come up through the middle of the snipped fabric to plant your knot. Trim the end close to the knot.


8.  Insert the needle at the line, bringing it through the back and wrap the thread around the needle.



9.  Pull through the slit of the snip, but not too tight.  Using your needle, separate the snips so there are a few on each side of the loop.  This makes a pretty looped effect all the way around the ornament.  When you get to the top the mitten bottom, tie off (take a small stitch, pull until you have a small loop and insert the needle through the loop, pull - make sure it knots!)  Switch thread colors and finish around the bottom.



10.   Fluff the ornament by shaking all the excess thread out and frilling the ends with your fingers. Run a quick gathering stitch across the bottom of the mitten sewing line, pull a little snug and tie off.  This gathers it just slightly.


11.  Thread the needle with the ribbon.  Pull the ribbon through the middle of the snips at the top, bringing it out about 5".  Remove the needle and thread the other end bringing it through the same way, but leave a loop at the top.  Tie a bow. 



12.  Add a piece of the Rick-Rack below the ragged mitten bottom.  Sew a zig-zag stitch to close the ends near the mitten.
Back...

13.   Add bells to one rick-rack end.  Thread and knot a needle, pull through one end of the rick-rack.  Add the bell to the needle, continue with a few bells.  Tie off.  Then put a few stitches to stitch both pieces together.  Sew on a button in the middle.  The one stitch will show on the back but it doesn't matter really, the ornament is very pretty!

 Done!


We are keeping the daily giveaway as simple as possible. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment to that day's blog post and say that you want to be entered in the giveaway - one comment equals one entry. You can earn one additional entry by posting about the daily 12 Days of Christmas blog post on your blog, Facebook (add us, Theresa Powers or Jessica Munday, as friends on Facebook for verification) or twitter. Each day we will draw a winner and announce the winner the following day before the next daily post!

Today's giveaway is again going to be the 
Joyous Home Journal Christmas edition!


and the Daily Deal on Joyous Home is...

Farm House Rag Quilting Lessons
On sale for $12.50  - Regular price $25.00 
Complete Quilting Lessons for a finished Farm Rag Quilt - Color Photo Tutorials - Step by Step Photo - Download Now!

 Looks wonderful on a wall or big table!



Have a wonderful day everyone!

~Theresa and Jessica

Monday, December 5, 2011

On the 4th Day of Christmas...

Good morning everyone!  Before today's post, the winner of the Christmas Joyous Home Journal is Laura!  Laura, send us an email at ripe4harvest@msn.com and we will send you your download.  Congratulations!

And for the 4th Day of Christmas, we are making candy...

Peanut Butter Cups

I made several dozen of these last Christmas for a fellowship at someone's house, but didn't try one myself before we brought them. By the time I saw the tin during the fellowship, the tin was empty! I use chocolate candy coating in this recipe, which much more inexpensive than actual chocolate, but I might make them again with a real dark chocolate! Either way, they are delicious and so easy to make, the children will enjoy taking over for you (without an argument I'm sure).

The peanut butter cups can be made in batches, and you do need a mini-muffin pan to hold the candy cups while you fill them. As soon as one batch is finished (chilling the layers in the freezer makes this very fast), you can start another. You can find the pretty colored foil candy cup papers wherever you can find cake decorating supplies.
~ This recipe make about 8 dozen peanut butter cups ~

First, you must make the peanut butter filling. Combine in a bowl with a mixer:
1 cup very finely ground graham crackers
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter (you can use smooth if you prefer, we like crunchy!)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. half & half
~ 1 2lb. package chocolate candy coating for the chocolate layer

Mix well until a stiff "batter" forms. This will get thicker as it sits for a few minutes.

Prepare your pans while the filling sits for a few minutes. Line each cup in the pan with one candy paper.

For the chocolate, you only need one 2lb. package of chocolate candy coating. Candy coating is available in the baking section in the grocery store. Break the candy coating up into chunks and melt in the microwave, or over low heat (be careful, it will burn very easily).  Melt the coating completely and stir to make sure it is smooth and there are no lumps.

In the bottom of each cup, gently spoon a heaping 1 tsp. of the candy coating. Spread it evenly around the bottom. After you have filled each cup, place the pan in the freezer for about 5 minutes, until the chocolate is completely firm.

After the chocolate is firm, they are ready for the peanut butter filling!  Pinch off a small piece of the filling (big enough to form about a 1/2" ball) and use your finger to gently spread the filling over the chocolate. Fill all of the cups!

This layer does not need to be chilled. Top each cup with an additional tsp. (or a little more!) of melted chocolate. Use the spoon to create a little curl or design on the top of each cup. Chill again until firm.

Your peanut butter cups are finished! Complete the rest of the peanut butter cups with the remaining chocolate and filling.

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Giveaway Details!

We are keeping the daily giveaway as simple as possible. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment to that day's blog post and say that you want to be entered in the giveaway - one comment equals one entry. You can earn one additional entry by posting about the daily 12 Days of Christmas blog post on your blog, Facebook (add us, Theresa Powers or Jessica Munday, as friends on Facebook for verification) or twitter. Each day we will draw a winner and announce the winner the following day before the next daily post!

Today's giveaway is our Crab-apple Hill Embroidery Pattern, Gardener's Angel~Hope!


and the Daily Deal on Joyous Home is...

Seasons At Home Magazine Spring 2009
On sale for $5.00 - Regular price $10.00



Have a wonderful day everyone!

~Theresa and Jessica
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