Comfort Zone

If you follow us on Facebook, you may have seen my recent postabout pushing myself out of my comfort zone.
I don't do that too often.In fact, sometimes I wait until someonehas to push meto push myself.
Make sense?
Well, it happened last week.
I got pushedand
I accomplished what I had struggled with before.
They may seem like easy things to you,but for me they were hard.Hard to concentrate on.Hard to figure out.Hard to stay focused.Hard to even enjoy.
But I did it.
Want to know what I did?
Here goes:
1. I downloaded pictures of my appliqued shirtonto Picnikand edited them.(That was actually very fun.)
2.Took those pictures from Picnikand made a blog banner.(See above)Not only did it take me hours, butI have no idea how I did it and thereforeI can't change it. Like ever.

Took those edited pictures again and wrote a blog postabout my Apple Applique.(That was easy and doesn't count.)
3.And then... because I wanted to share my Apple Applique with my blog friends...I figured out how to.... link my blog post to some of my favorite link parties.
4.And then... I took the buttons for those link partiesand posted them at the bottom of my Apple Applique blog post.


Like I said, I know it might not seem too difficult to some.but it was to me. I felt really glad that I pushed through itand really proud too because it opened up a world of possibilities.I don't have to rely on my sisters to dothe technology stuff and I'msure they're grateful for that. ;)
Which leads me to the following:
after all my hard work,
Maggie from Midwestern {Sewing} Girlchose my Apple Applique shirt as her favorite Scrappy project from her link partyat Crafty, Scrappy, Happy!
I'm so glad I figured out how to link my postotherwise Maggie would never have chosen it!

So thanks Maggie and Jamie from Crafty, Scrappy, Happy for their great link party and for featuring my shirt!

Cookie Link-Up Party

While Courtenay has been slaving away on last minute orders in the studio, Flannery and I have been discussing our Christmas Cookie Menu all week long.  No joke.  We have literally exchanged twenty some odd emails about cookies.    Of course what started the email snowball was this conversation: "Hey, Flann, how many batches of Seven Layer Bars should we make this year?!" 

Seven Layer Bars

This year we've added a few new ones to the list: 

 Simply Recipe's Blondies

Simply Recipes's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

And we're dying to try all of Brown Eyed Baker's barks.

Brown Eyed Baker's Pistachio and Cranberry White Chocolate Bark

Now we want to see what YOU are baking this year - and we might need a couple more recipe ideas to add to our list!  So, get out your comfy yoga pants, leggings and jeggings (elasticized waist bands are the key here) and join our Cookie Link-Up!  We'll keep this puppy open until January 2 so you have plenty of time to add your recipes.


Only a few basic rules:


1. Link to an actual blog post about your holiday baking--we're looking for recipes here.
2. Spread the word!  If you see some fabulous cookie recipes out there, direct them our way.
3. Oh, and in the spirit of Christmas, feel free to add our button to your post, site, link party link, etc.

<a href="http://threesisterz.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Three Sisterz" src="http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy82/alantieri/3SisterzButton2-1.gif" /></a>

NOW......Link up!

New Link Party @ Vintage Pollyanna

Hello friends!  Check out the new Tuesday link party we're thrilled to be linky to today with our American Girl Headband tutorial.  Allison over at Vintage Pollyanna is very talented in all things crafty and homemaking so take a look and please, share your talents!!

Gobble, Gobble

Our friend Tracie over at Cleverly Inspired is doing a Thanksgiving Recipe link party.  Anyone want to join in the fun?!  I have two recipes to share.  The first comes from my grandmother: Gram's Turkey Casserole.  It's total down-home, stick-a-butta, stick to your ribs goodness.  It's what we always have day after Thanksgiving!


Here I am last Thanksgiving with Gram and a bun in the oven (and possibly too much turkey goodness).





Gram's Turkey Casserole
1 can cream of mushroom soup

8 ounce package, Pepperidge Farms stuffing

1 pint sour cream

1/4 lb. butter melted (1 stick)

1 cup chicken broth

4 cups chicken or turkey

Preheat oven to 350. Combine sour cream and soup and mix well. Stir in meat. On stove, melt butter and add broth. Stir into stuffing. Stuffing should be moist. Put chicken mixture into casserole dish. Top with stuffing. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until bubbly.


******
Now my next recipe to share comes from my husband's side of the family: Sally B's Cornbread Dressing.  Can you say delish?!  It's wonderful.  But take note: don't go buy the store-made cornbread on this one; that cornbread is entirely too sweet.  Take the time to make this cornbread from scratch!


Sally B's Cornbread Dressing
3 cups cornmeal
3 cups flour

1 tsp salt

3 tbsp baking powder

3 eggs

3 cups milk (with 1/4 to 1/2 water)

1/3 cup oil

9 x13 baking pan

Preheat over to 450. In a bowl mix together the dry ingredients. Mix eggs and milk together, then mix with dry ingredients. Heat oil in baking pan.  when piping hot, pour in batter and bake at 450 for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

1 pan cornbread

2 green peppers, diced (can do 1 red and 1 green)

3 stalks celery, diced

1 large onion, diced

4 tbsp butter

black pepper

sage

1 ltr Knorr’s Caldo de Pollo (chicken stock/bouillion)

Preheat oven to 350. Cut cornbread into small cubes and put in large mixing bowl.  Saute green pepper, celery, and onion in butter, then dump in mixing bowl. Pour sufficiently caldo de pollo over to moisten but not to soggy level. Season with black pepper and sage. Place mixture in baking dish and bake at 250 until brown top.


Bon Appetit friends!


This post is linking to the following link party.