Chocolate Cinnamon Snowball Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
2 cups flour
powdered sugar to roll cookies in

Beat butter, sugar, cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon with mixer until light, gradually add flour, mixing until blended. Form into balls about 1 inch or so..place on cookie sheet (they say greased but with all that butter in the cookies I did not grease my cookie sheets and it was fine)

BAKE at 350 or a little hotter (they called for 400 degree oven and I NEVER use that hot an oven for baking cookies..I used 350 and bake just till brown on bottom or starting to get light brown...

Remove and let cook only slightly, roll in powdered sugar....cool completely and roll in powdered sugar again!

mini peach pie/cobbler...before and after...

my second rotisserie chicken...rosemary and thyme....wow!

it was delicious! I then decided to make homemade mashed potatoes and fresh green beans..I even made gravy from the juices from the rotisseried chicken! It was one of my best meals and the great thing was I had a lot of leftovers!

to grandmother's house we go......

looks a little spooky no??

homemade tortilla chips...

Before baking....


AFTER baking...


I think I would prefer CORN tortilla chips...so next time I will use CORN instead of FLOUR tortillas...but that was all I had in stock so I used what I had.

I am sure frying these as most would makes these taste richer but...to save fat and calories I baked mine.

I sprayed a cookie sheet with cooking spray...you can use olive oil or butter...whatever you wish.

I stacked my store bought round tortilla shells on top of each other and cut into pie wedges...

I placed the wedges on the cookie sheet...gave them another spray...added any seasonings...and baked at about 375 till nice and golden brown. They are pretty good..but CORN would likely be a lot better. They taste great with salsa...whether they are corn or flour.

Quick, easy snack and you get a lot more than in the bags at the store and it is healthier for you.

A Time To Share a Memory.....52 Photos Project

Our prompt was MEMORY....and one memory I want to share is the beautiful sunrise I saw on New Year's Eve morning....it was breathtaking. This is what I saw looking out the top of my tiny window above my front door.



to see more entries side my sidebar for the link to 52 Photos Project!

homemade hamburger buns and my memorial day meal 2011....

I made homemade hamburger buns (I posted the recipe here a while back..check my sidebar)....and decided to add some chives...chopped onion and dill seed.....then I grilled turkey burgers...and whipped up potato salad and baked pinto beans. Pinto beans cause it was the only kind of bean I had in the house handy...and the potato salad I added ranch dressing and a dab of real mayo with hotdog mustard relish..wow..it was superb! BEST I think I have ever made! Here is my meal...which I am thankful for...and which was delicious!

sharing photos from OTHERs of our recent turbulent weather and hail!

GIANT tree down the road from us that just got sucked up out of the ground and tossed over....


Hailstones in Brookville, Ohio from my sister's backyard....


More hailstones from Brookville, Ohio


Hailstones from Miamisburg, OHio


More from Miamisburg, Ohio


Centerville, Ohio hailstone...


Parking lot filling up with hailstones in Centerville, Ohio...


Damage done to car in Bellbrook, Ohio...they said the hail had to be falling about 100 MPH straight down for this type of CLEAN HOLE damage to have happened...it was like a bullet being shot!


Bellbrook, Ohio hailstones part 1....


Bellbrook, Ohio hailstones...part 2...


Bellbrook, Ohio hailstones part 3...

I did not take all these photos no....I gathered some from family and the rest from Channel 7 iwitness news buddies online.....

What can I say? We could have had it so much worse..but the rain, wind and hail along with almost continuous tornado warnings recently have been a little stressful! The hail storms we had the other night brought us some of the most damaging winds and hail ever seen in this part of the country ever! Hail that was 2.5 inches here...but 3 to 4 almost 5 inches in other parts of the state. It was just surreal. Here are a few photos of the recent hail....which damaged my sisters' cars....and shredded their screens...broke skylights....just incredible the damage it caused...and the winds...I am very fortunate and thankful it was no worse up here than it was...or anywhere..and we are all okay...and feel blessed we still are intact...in one piece...with our house and roof over our heads!

Homemade Soft Pretzels.....best ever!

3/4 cup hot water (110 degrees)

1-1/2 teaspoons yeast (I used 1 packet)

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix the above together..till all dissolved.

Add:

2 Cups flour

KNEAD on floured surface for 8 minutes...

Form into ball....place in bowl...put some oil on top of dough...olive or vegetable...your preference...and roll ball of dough around to cover with oil....then cover bowl and allow to rise and rest for 1 hour.

Remove dough from bowl and cut into 6 sections. Roll each section into a very long strip of dough.....rolling it out with your fingers like you are using it as a rolling pin....about 20 inches long....then tie into pretzel shape...place on greased cookie sheet....allow to rest for 15 minutes.

Heat oven to 400 degrees during this 15 minute rest time.

Get a bowl of hot water (110 degrees) and 2 Tablespoons baking soda....mix together.

Place each pretzel from the cookie sheet after its 15 minutes of rest into the baking soda water solution and soak each pretzel for 30 seconds....place back onto cookie sheet.

Melt about 2 to 4 Tablespoons of butter....brush tops of pretzels with butter and sprinkle with coarse salt.

Bake till golden brown...does not take long.

WOW they are yummy!

40-minute homemade hamburger buns....

I saw this recipe on YUMMLY.com ...(Go here for the delicious recipe...I can't seem to get my link to work....but copy and paste it!)

http://www.yummly.com/recipe/40-Minute-Hamburger-Buns-Recipezaar

for homemade hamburger buns...and they looked so delicious...and it was such an easy sounding recipe...I thought I would give them a try. I only had enough ingredients to make half a batch...but WOW..they were the best, easiest, quickest recipe for any type of homemade bread I have ever made. They MELT in your mouth and would be good to use even for a hot roll!


INGREDIENTS
2 Tablespoons active dry yeast
1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons of warm water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp salt
3 to 3-1/2 cups flour

1.In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.
2. Add oil and sugar and let stand for 5 minutes.
3. Add the egg, salt and enough flour to form a soft dough.
4. Turn onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 3 to 5 minutes, adding flour to get rid of excess stickiness.
5. Do not let rise.
6. Divide into 12 pieces and shape each into a ball.
7. Place 3" apart on greased baking sheets.
8. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
9. Bake at 400° for 8 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
10. Remove from pans to wire rack to cool.

weird looking electrical wires on poles....never seen any like this before

almost looks like a rigged up job...

old tombstones.....

I went to see some family gravesites the other day and found these in addition to others I knew were in my family. I am not sure about these 4 graves so will post them here and see if my dad or anyone else in my family knows if these are part of our family tree?

stepping back in time.....

Friday Noah and I along with my uncle Sonny ran to Richmond, Indiana for an outing. I had run out of work so was able to flex my time and took some hours off in the daytime to enjoy a nice outing on a gorgeous day weather wise! After making a pit stop for coffees and snacks prior to our departure...haha...our first stop was Webb's Antique Mall in Centerville, Indiana. WOW we had a blast. I got some wonderful things there....I saw a gorgeous cedar chest that would absolutely match my bedroom set....would love to get it...my bedroom currently is so small...but the price is excellent on this waterfall cedar chest...I may have to go back and get it before someone else grabs it up!



My son had been admiring these old retro cars for a long time...so he finally bought the vintage Lincoln...




I found my marbles....normally the price on these old jars with marbles or buttons in them is SUPER expensive...I got these GIANT marbles all very old and wonderful condition in this old jar for under $5.00! This photo does not really show how wonderful they are...or I am just nuts...




I have a thing for SUN faces and moon faces too...but SUNS really draw me. I found this wonderful iron sun face....had to snatch him up...



and this cool retro suitcase....I love this style. I may redo it and gift it or keep it and make it into a cool makeup bag/kit for home...



I am redoing my bedroom to make it look vintage...a retro look....all vintage items when possible...I have been finding some wonderful things for it. I got my entire bedroom dresser sets at Webb's Antique Mall in the past there...a wonderful waterfall set....round mirror...vanity seat. I posted pics of that before. My uncle bought me this cool vintage lamp and picture from our local Goodwill to put in my room...




Then he called me from Goodwill Saturday and told me about a cool old cabinet that would look perfect in my living room....and it does....the price was excellent...had to get it...



but back to Webb's Antique Mall....I got a BUNCH of RETRO/VINTAGE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS! Like 2.00 an entire bag!!!! I grabbed them all. I am afraid a couple may have gotten chipped on the way home. They stuck them into a big grocery bag and I think well...they are fragile. The 2.00 a bag was well worth it...I mean some of these are super old...and the little Santa faced ones adorable. Cannot wait to make a vintage tree for my bedroom this year.....and/or a wreath too....I have seen some amazing handmade wreaths using vintage Christmas ornaments...








I found this vintage picture for my bedroom at Webb's....and I will probably GOLD LEAF the frame.....it is the same type of antique/vintage look that my uncle got me with the other pic above....




I was having a great day finding amazing deals..something usually only my Uncle does....I mean most of my items were only a few dollars each!

I got this candle holder at Good Will for 1.49...it actually would look super nice with that pic above if I left the frame black...hum.....have to think about it. OR gold leaf them both....



I love Lassie...always have...always will. I saw this retro pic of a scene from Lassie and I had to get it too....I know I know.....but it is so cool.....takes me back. My mom got me a Lassie book years ago...which I still have....and I loved reading that book....it brings back wonderful memories for me...




When I saw this cake carrier...I instantly thought of my grandma C....as she used to have one very similar to it. I had to get it....It makes me want to make a big double layer chocolate/fudge cake and take to someone's house for a treat!



I found a retro 1936 Mickey Mouse book....



I got these at Goodwill...the hobnail light will go in my kitchen..I like leaving a dim light on at nighttime in the kitchen....and the vase was just gorgeous. I love the glaze...these BOTH were under 2.00.....together!





this is the type of thing I have started to get and stick in little corners or unexpected placed in my house or outside....this will hang...it is so cute...very tiny....



I could not leave without getting some of their wonderful jelly and jam...I actually love blackberry jelly or jam WITH seeds...but seedless is easier on anyone's intestinal tract!



Then I figured after filling my shopping cart I better check out and stop. I did not even spend 75.00 for all my stuff...can you believe it? I got amazing buys....and will use everything I got....everything makes me smile.

We then went back to Richmond to go to Fazoli's for a late lunch/early supper....we had a wonderful meal and visit there....






by this time my uncle and I could barely walk...but we managed to get into the car and drive BEHIND Fazoli's to the flea market!!

AN AMAZING flea market!! I thought it was called Trader's World...but I think it may be Liberty Bell? I have no idea for sure now...but wow....I had never been there before and IT IS FANTASTIC! SO MANY things and SO CHEAP!!!!! We had a ball...and I got another cart...

They had an entire dollar section....found some more vintage stuff there.....vintage table cloth...wish it was material and not plastic....vintage organizers....so cool....





it will go perfectly with this 1.00 wicker lunch basket I got at Goodwill!




I love homemade soaps....I used to order these types of soaps from a woman on Ebay....I found the same types of soaps at the flea market..and they smell amazing....



Noah LOVED this flea market...he found Hot Wheels everywhere...and he had been looking for some Treasure Hunt hot wheels for forever...and guess what? He found a TON of them at the flea market...so he spent some of his birthday and Christmas money and got 5 of them! I know we will be going back a lot...so many amazing things there....prices great!




One of my favs he got was this cute beetle one...



I never thought I would like a yellow car but I even own one...and love it...mine is also yellow and black...well..an SUV/truck more than a car....

well I guess I had cake on my brain...cause I found another vintage cake carrier...had to get it. I just love them....and like them better than Tupperware ones.....and you can use it for more than cake....now I need to bake something..this was super cheap!



this one had latches which I like!

I found this wonderful summery tea light candle holder..will be very nice outside on my patio table this summer...




On our way home we stopped and got an ice cream cone....at the best little hometown ice cream shop....

I forgot to take pics of everything but snapped a lot regardless as you can tell.


And then we hit up Goodwill again before ending the day. It took me a couple days to recover ...my legs/feet that is. I mean I am actually supposed to get a knee replaced...but am trying to hold off as long as I can...so..I was feeling it to say the least...

We had a wonderful day together..so much fun....I could have used a scooter to get around by the end of the day....

Now I have to get back to laundry....take all the stuff off my bed I drug in to snap pics of and find places to put them for now.....and get with it. The day is almost over!!