Honeybees on Christmas Day

Happiness is seeing winter honeybees darting outside this hive  for a cleansing flight on this Christmas day.  Since the day was warm, a little light housekeeping was also in order for the beekeeper and the bees.

Spencer the Siamese Cat, 2000-2016

Celebrating this wonderful creature named Spencer who has brought me so much joy for over the past sixteen years. It was hard to let him go. His meow and strong loving purr and playful antics will be dearly missed. Be at peace my precious dear little one.

Lewisville Christmas Parade 2016

Members of the Snappy Tappers participated in the annual Lewisville Christmas Parade on Sunday, December 11th, 2016 at 3:00 pm. It was cold outside but still had fun entertaining and participating in one of the largest Christmas parades in the Triad.

Gingerbread Loaf

Ingredients

• 1 1/ 2 cups flour

• 1/ 2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 tablespoon ginger

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/ 2 teaspoon ground all spice

• 1/ 4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/ 2 cup buttermilk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1/ 2 cup butter, melted and slightly cooled

• 1 cup packed brown sugar

• 1/ 2 cup dark molasses

• 2 large eggs

Directions

Preheat to 350° F. Prep pan with shortening and flour or with baking

spray. Combine flour, soda, salt and spices. Set aside. In a small bowl

combine buttermilk and vanilla. In mixer bowl, cream butter and brown

sugar. Beat in molasses and add eggs one at a time. Beat until well

mixed. Add 1/3 of dry flour mixture, then 1/2 of the buttermilk mixture.

Repeat this step, adding 1/3 of flour mixture and the second 1/2 of the

buttermilk. Finally add the last of the flour and mix until smooth. Pour into

prepared pan. Bake until done, about 45 minutes. Cool cake on rack for 10 minutes and then turn out onto rack to cool completely.

Spiced Pumpkin Loaf

Spiced Pumpkin Loaf made with my sugar pie pumpkins



Nordic Ware Botanical Pumpkin Loaf Pan

• Ingredients:
• 1 1/ 2 cups flour
  1 teaspoon baking soda
  1/ 2 teaspoon baking powder
  2 teaspoons cinnamon
  1 teaspoon ground ginger
  1/ 2 teaspoon ground cloves
  1/ 2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  1/ 2 teaspoon salt
  3/ 4 cup sugar
  3/ 4 cup packed brown sugar
  1 teaspoon vanilla
  1 cup canned pumpkin
  1/ 2 cup butter, melted and slightly cooled
  2 eggs
  1/ 4 cup milk
  powder sugar for dusting
• 
  

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Prep pan with shortening and flour or with baking spray. In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, soda, spices and salt, set aside. In a large bowl combine sugars, vanilla, pumpkin, eggs and butter until smooth. en add flour mixture and milk and combine all ingredients. Pour the batter into prepared pan. Tap pan on counter gently to remove bubbles. Bake until done 40-50 minutes. Loaf is done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake on rack for 10 minutes, then turn out onto rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar.