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November 6, 2018 By Melinda McCoy 4 Comments

Countdown to Christmas Cookies!

Yes, I have to admit that I am one of those people who starts to listen to Christmas music early in the season. For this reason, and many others, I was more than excited to take part in my friend Kristen’s, from Ella Claire Inspired, Christmas Cookie Recipe Exchange!

I decided to not just share a cookie recipe, but a tradition as well. This tradition has not just played a role with my own family, but one that I fondly grew up taking part in myself.

What is it you ask? 

The Countdown to Christmas Cookies of course!

My two sisters, brother, and I always received little treats on the days leading up to the Christmas holiday. Beginning on December 1st we would wake up to a cookie and a small treat. As a child it was something that I always looked forward to and knew that I would one day incorporate into my own holiday traditions with my children as well.

In Christmas’ past, I have placed the cookies and small Christmas treats in a small white paper bag. I hung them on a piece of twine in the playroom for the children to be greeted with in the morning.

Very soon, this tradition will be making its appearance again and I for one am looking forward to it!

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Countdown To Christmas Cookies Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp of Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 4 cups  of All-Purpose Flour

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
  • Place butter in a bowl and beat until smooth.
  • Add the sugar and mix until combined.
  • Add eggs one at a time mixing well 
  • Add the vanilla, salt and baking powder and mix
  • Mix in the flour one cup at a time and mix just until the ingredients are combined.
  • Divide the dough into 3 discs and roll each one out.
  • Freeze for 10-15 minutes and cut out your cookie shapes.
  • Bake 6-9 minutes.

Please be sure to visit my amazing friends, who are also joining me on this cookie exchange, for more holiday inspiration and delicious cookie recipes.

{MORE COOKIES FROM THE EXCHANGE}

The Perfect Soft Gingerbread Cookies by Ella Claire | Classic Sugar Cookies by Nina Hendrick Design Co. | Plaid Sugar Cookies by Craftberry Bush | Buttery Shortbread Cookies with Icing Sugar by A Burst of Beautiful | German Chocolate Cake Cookies by City Farmhouse

Cranberry Orange Walnut Tassies by Inspired by Charm | Eggnog Gooey Butter Cookies by Julie Blanner | All Natural Orange Almond Cookies by Tidbits | Choco-mallow Peppermint Cookies by Summer Adams Designs | Nutella Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies by Love Grows Wild

Paleo Chocolate Cranberry Cookies by Nesting with Grace | Raspberry Gingersnap Sandwiches by anderson + grant | Christmas Tree Gingerbread Cookies by Rooms for Rent | Large Thumbprint Cookies by So Much Better with Age | Rum Balls by Tidy Mom

Countdown to Christmas Cookies by House 214 Design | GF + DF Gingerbread Sugar Cookies by Zevy Joy |  Christmas Shortbread Cookies by Boxwood Avenue | Double Chocolate Christmas Cookies by Nest of Posies | Almond Sugar Cookies by My Sweet Savannah

M&M Peanut Butter Cookies by Sweet C’s | Rustic Granola Cookies by Farmhouse on Boone

Filed Under: Christmas, Cooking Tagged With: authentic, bake, blogger, classic, decorate, design, home, home design, home tour, house, interior, teach

November 13, 2017 By Melinda McCoy 6 Comments

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies

The “Tastes of The Seasons” series is continuing into the holidays. I am honored to take part in this series, created by Ella Claire, with 15 other talented bloggers. We are sharing some of our favorite cookie recipes that are sure to have you in the kitchen baking for friends and family in no time.

Let’s get started!

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Old-fashioned gingerbread cookies are a staple at this time of year. I generally make one batch of the dough (this recipe makes a lot)and  bake small amounts throughout the season. I use them for gifts for friends and treats for the children.

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The activity that we enjoy the most with these cookies is preparing a special plate of treats for Santa on Christmas Eve. Different colors of icing and fun embellishments make for some fun creations!

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Gingerbread boys and girls make up all of the ornaments on what I call the “kitchen tree” that sits in a corner of our kitchen. It is a living tree and a small version of the one that stands in the living room. The gingerbread boys and girls hang on the tree branches with holiday red ribbons as simple decorations.

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Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients and Method Below

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Please be sure to visit my amazing friends, who are also joining me on this tour, for more holiday inspiration and delicious cookie recipes.

{MORE COOKIES FROM THE TASTE OF THE SEASONS SERIES}

Cranberry Orange White Chocolate Chip Cookies by Ella Claire | Pecan Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies by A Burst of Beautiful | Cinnamon Cookies by Zevy Joy | Gingerbread Houses by Miss Mustard Seed

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti by anderson + grant | Paleo Double Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies by Nesting with Grace | Chocolate Crinkles Cookies by So Much Better with Age | Cranberry Rosemary Butter Cookies by Nina Hendrick Design Co.

Gluten Free Coconut Fudge Bites by City Farmhouse | Maple Sugar House Cookies by Finding Home Farms | Honey Nut Rugelach by Love Grows Wild | Red Velvet Oreo Cheesecake Cookies by Nest of Posies

Mexican Spicy Chocolate Cookies by Maison de Pax | Coconut Shortbread Cookies by My Sweet Savannah | Old Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies by House 214 | Cinnamon and Sugar Lattice Pie Crust Cookies by Craftberry Bush

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Filed Under: classic, design board, Fall, free resource, giveaway, home, home tour, interior, Kitchen, laundry room, Outdoor, Real Goods, summer, Thanksgiving, timeless, Uncategorized Tagged With: blogger, decorate, design, home, interior, interior. interior design, kitchen, recipe

October 9, 2017 By Melinda McCoy 5 Comments

My Mother’s Thanksgiving Bread

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The “Tastes of the Seasons” recipe series, hosted by my friend Ella Claire, has inspired me to start filling our home with tastes and aromas from the past. It is always a simple pleasure to cook these recipes and one that fills my heart to the fullest.

There are recipes that you make only during certain times of the year, aren’t there? One that holds true for me is my mother’s Sally Lunn Bread recipe from her Pepperidge Farm Cookbook.

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As a child, and even still today, more often than not The Pepperidge Farm Cookbook could be found sprawled on a counter in my parent’s kitchen. My mom cooked many of our family week night dinners from the recipes that filled that book.

There were other recipes in the cookbook that only found their way onto the family table for special occasions. Sally Lunn Bread was one such recipe.

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“Sally”, as my siblings and I called this bread, would take center stage on a crystal cake stand on the beautifully dressed Thanksgiving table.  We would all fill our holiday plates with a healthy slice of “Sally” and more often than not sneak a second piece.

On the rare occasion that we did have “Sally” leftovers we would toast slices for breakfast the next morning. Spreading pats of butter on top and enjoying every bite as it melted.

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My mom surprised my sisters and I one Christmas with a gift she found on eBay. She had found three original versions of the cookbook that played such a large part of our family meals growing up.

And do you know what? It wasn’t Thanksgiving time, but “Sally” was still the first recipe I made from that book.

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Sally Lunn Bread Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 t salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 2 packages of yeast
  • 3 eggs well beaten
  • 4 – 4/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

Method

  1. Heat your oven to 350 degrees. I use the dough hook for my mixer when making this recipe.
  2. In a mixer, combine 1 1/2 cup of sifted flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Blend until mixed.
  3. Scald the milk then add the butter. Remove from the stovetop and cool down until lukewarm.
  4. Add the milk & butter mixture along with the water to the dry ingredients. Blend together.
  5. Next add the eggs and 2 1/2 cups of sifted flour to the mixer and beat on high for 2 minutes.
  6. Add remaining 1/2 cup of sifted flour if needed.
  7. Cover; let rise in a warm place, until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
  8. Stir down the dough, pour into a well-greased 10-inch-angel food cake pan.
  9. Cover, let rise in a warm place, for another 30 minutes.
  10. Bake in a hot oven (350 degrees) for 30-40 minutes until brown on top (depending on your oven).

*You can also use 2 well greased 8-inch-square cake pans

Please visit with some of my friends in the “Tastes of the Seasons” recipe series. I promise you will be inspired to welcome autumn into your own home. Enjoy!

Apple Walnut Cranberry Sauce by Ella Claire | Paleo Sweet Potato Casserole by Nesting with Grace | Herb and Garlic Roasted Carrots by Craftberry Bush | Bacon Green Beans by anderson + grant | Pumpkin & Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes by My Sweet Savannah

Sweet Potato Pie by City Farmhouse | Sweet Cornbread by Nina Hendrick Design Co. | Sally Lunn Bread by House 214 | Cranberry & Brie Bites by Finding Home Farms | Avocado Bacon Butternut Salad with Pumpkin Vinaigrette by Nest of Posies

Cranberry Pretzel Salad by Zevy Joy | Sweet & Savory Cornbread by Julie Blanner | Roasted Carrots with Candied Pecans & Goat Cheese by Inspired by Charm

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Filed Under: Thanksgiving Tagged With: autumn, bake, blogger, cook, decorate, fall, food, home, recipe, Thanksgiving

September 11, 2017 By Melinda McCoy 10 Comments

Pumpkin Season And Fall Entertaining

Pumpkin Patch Muffins

I am starting to ready our home to host gatherings with friends and family to welcome in the autumn season.  Sharing recipes with my friends in the “Tastes of the Season” series hosted by Ella Claire has put me in just the right mood to bake and entertain.

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My kitchen smells delicious after these perfect sized pumpkin muffins go into the oven. Scents of cinnamon and clove begin to fill the air and suddenly autumn is here. It is as if there is a passing of the baton from summer to autumn and a new season has happened upon us.


Ingredients

Keeping it simple is the key to how I entertain no matter the season. Simple food and simple decorating make for gatherings that everyone enjoys.

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I like to set up different food and drink stations throughout the house when I entertain. This helps prevent people from crowding into one spot.  Sometimes that means having to think a little creative, but that is when that magic happens.

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Substantial pieces and those that have a history to them are just some of the ways I create an autumnal feel when entertaining at this time of year. The vintage wooden crate that I found at a barn sale and old books that I covered in fabric convey those messages perfectly.

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To find out about the items I use to entertain in the fall season please sign up for my free checklist. Hint, you most likely have most of them in your home!

My 10 Autumn Decorating Tips

My 10 simple autumn decorating tips using items you most likely already have in your home!

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Pumpkin Patch Muffin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1  1/4 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1  2/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, sugar, water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Beat until well mixed.
  3. Measure the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, nutmeg, and ground cloves into a separate bowl, then still until well combined.
  4. Slowly add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined.
  5. Spoon the batter into a 12-cup muffin tin lined with paper baking cups.
  6. Bake the muffins for approximately 25 minutes.
  7. Cool for at least 10 minutes.

Please visit with some of my friends in the “Tastes of the Seasons” recipe series. I promise you will be inspired to welcome autumn into your own home. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Custard Pie with Gingersnap Crust by Ella Claire | Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Bread by Nest of Posies | Pumpkin Creme Brûlée by Maison de Pax | Pumpkin Cake with Creme Cheese Frosting by Dear Lillie | Pumpkin Tomato and Bacon Soup by Craftberry Bush

Spiced Pumpkin Pancakes by Boxwood Avenue | Paleo Pumpkin Chili by Nesting with Grace | Pumpkin Ginger Molasses Cookies by anderson + grant | Pumpkin Baked Brie en Croute by French Country Cotage | Nina Hendrick Design Co.

Pumpkin Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies by A Burst of Beautiful | Maple Glazed Pumpkin Hand Pies by Love Grows Wild | Pumpkin Patch Muffins by House 214 | Pumpkin Maple Pancakes by Finding Home Farms | Miniature Pumpkin Tarts by Zevy Joy

Oatmeal Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies by Miss Mustard Seed | Pumpkin Toffee Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting by My Sweet Savannah | Pumpkin Pan Pie by Inspired by Charm

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Filed Under: Fall Tagged With: autumn, bake, blogger, classic, cook, decorate, design, fall, home design

August 30, 2017 By Melinda McCoy 9 Comments

Apple Crisp And A Hello To Autumn

I am truly honored to be taking part in the “Tastes of the Season” series with some of my talented and inspirational blogging friends. We will be sharing some of our favorite seasonal recipes over the coming months. Each feature in the series will focus on a different recipe theme. Today, we are all sharing a favorite apple recipe. Let’s get started!

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Doesn’t apple picking seem to always make its way onto your autumn “to-do list”? It usually falls somewhere in between hay rides, pumpkin picking, and bonfires. I know it does on mine!

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Once autumn makes its entrance, apple picking is one of my favorite activities to do with our family. We have been embarking on this little “field trip” since our first child was born almost 14 years ago. I still look forward to this time of year and making our way out to the same orchard year after year filling our bags to the rim with fresh apples.

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Now, what to do with all of those apples once we get them home always seems to be another story. There are only so many apples you can eat in a day!

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When my husband and I were married in 2000 and I became a “Real McCoy”, one of my bridal shower gifts was the McCoy family cookbook. It may not look like much, but what it holds inside those now worn pages are family recipes passed down from generation to generation.

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One of those recipes is Grandma Louise’s apple crisp. I love it because it is a family recipe that has been made throughout past autumn days. Another reason I enjoy it is that it only requires ingredients that I always seem to have on hand. Always a winner in my book!

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I always feel a sense of joy when I see our children eating this special dish.  Knowing that generations before gathered around the table at this same time of year and enjoyed the same dish is a special connection to the past.  I hope you and your family enjoy it as well.

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Grandma Louise’s Apple Crisp

Ingredients (8×8″ pan)

  • 4 cups of sliced apples
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/3 cup butter

Method

Slice apples into 8×8″ pan.

In a small bowl mix the water, cinnamon, and salt together and pour over the apples.

In a separate bowl work together the sugar, flour, and butter until crumbly. Spread the crumb mixture over top the apples evenly.

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Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Tip: Serve warm with vanilla ice cream!

Please be sure to visit my amazing friends, who are also joining me on this tour, for more autumn inspiration and delicious apple recipes.

{MORE APPLE TREATS FROM THE TASTE OF THE SEASONS SERIES}

Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls by Ella Claire | Rustic Apple Cranberry Pie by Anderson and Grant |

Apple-Cranberry Slab Pie by Inspired by Charm | Apple Donuts by A Burst of Beautiful |

Caramel Apple Tart by Julie Blanner

Easy Apple Dumplings by Craftberry Bush | Apple Crisp by House 214 Design |

Apple Cider Scones by Everyday Occasions | Apple Fritter Skillet Bake by Nest of Posies |

Rustic Apple Tarte Tatin by Maison de Pax

Paleo Apple Crisp by Nesting with Grace | Crock Pot Applesauce by My Sweet Savannah |

Gluten Free Apple Crisp by City Farmhouse |

Baked Breakfast Apples with Oatmeal by French Country Cottage |

Apple Blossom with Salted Caramel Sauce by Nina Hendrick Design

No Churn Apple Pie Ice Cream by Boxwood Avenue | Bird’s Nest Apple Pie by Zevy Joy |

Apple Upside Down Spice Cake by Love Grows Wild

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Filed Under: Kitchen Tagged With: authentic, autumn, bake, blogger, classic, cook, decorate, fall, home, interior design, kitchen, recipe, teach, vintage

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