Saturday, September 05, 2009

Celebrating Seasons

Bloggers who inspire us to make the best of what we have in creating a welcoming home and celebrating the best of the seasons are Melissa’s Inspired Room and Susan’s Naps On The Porch. Update: Seems like everyone enjoys a good fall themed party including Roeshel with the DIY Show Off and we were featured on Its So Very Cheri

Living in the southern hemisphere seasons are reversed but come September it does almost feel like Indian Summer in these parts, warm days and cool nights. A perfect time for whipping up a batch of cookies and doing a little crafting.

Maple Leaf Cookies
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 large egg yolk
½ cup maple syrup
3 cups flour
(shift threw a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg if you like a little extra flavor)

Cream butter and sugar together before adding the maple syrup and then the egg yolk. Gradually shift the flour into the syrup & butter mix.Divide the dough in half, wrap in plastic and chill until firm.Pre heat your oven to 350F or 180C

Prepare your baking sheets, don’t we have too many options these days? silicone still leaves me confused, clay makes them crispy, parchment paper and good old butter on metal, take your pick.

Roll the chilled dough to about 1/8” thin. Maple leaf cookie cutter your leaves, get creative by drawing a knife lightly across them to mark veins. 8-10 minutes in the oven for smaller 3 inch cookies or 10-12 for larger 5 inch cookies. Bundle the scraps and chill again to get the most out of your dough.

Frosting (if you can’t get enough maple) ½ cup maple syrup and 2 cups of confectionary sugar should result in spreading or piping frosting. Exact proportion depends on humidity at your place.

And in honor of enjoying the season with quick and easy crafts what about this? Grab a leaf, if it is not colorful enough, a dab of paint or one of the fun new products like glimmer mist, let dry and mount into a pretty frame.

Life should be about having fun with family and friends and celebrating the best of the seasons which in my kitchen can include frangipani and maples all the same time zone. That is an inside joke for transeasonal multiple time zone operators.

40 comments:

theoldboathouse said...

Hi Mandy, Thanks for sharing your recipe and inspirational art. I will definetly be trying the recipe out. I am an old fashioned butter on metal cook, I must say I am yet to get my head around all the new methods, must have something to do with hanging out with old stuff, cheers Katherine

Arija said...

Thanks Mandy, having lived in the maple syrup stare of Vermont this recipe will be one of our favourites. We buy maple syrup by the box!

Signing Out said...

Mindy, your cookie recipe sounds delicious, and I love the leaf craft.

I was reading your profile. We used to live in South Plymouth and vacation on Cape Cod for a week every summer.

Jane

Decor To Adore said...

I cheated and bought a box of maple cream cookies last night. It isn't fall without them. I will try your recipe soon though.

Lisa @celebrate CREATIVITY said...

I'll have to look into that Glitter Mist.

Thanks for the recipe too.

BeckyB said...

Hi Mandy,
Good to meet you via the internet! I'll definitely try your cookies and look forward to getting to know you through your blog!
Becky

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Ummmm. I can smell those cookies baking from here!

AmberDusick said...

Thanks for the recipe, sounds yummy, I'm a huge maple syrup fan. Love the leaf idea, I'm always looking for ways to decorate with natural elements.

Thanks for commenting on my blog!

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

That just smells like fall to me! Thanks for posting your recipe.

Queen B. said...

Oh my gosh, what a cute post !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Frau Mayer said...

Hello there, Mandy! Decided to pay a visit back and found out u're living down under! That must be a total coincidence as I'm currently almost crying over an email from an Aussie ebayer refusing to send some lovely Real Living mags to Germany. Would you by any chance me interested in a teeny tiny mag swap? (I do believe that people visiting Beach Cottage must be mag junkies like myself). Warmest greetings from Germany, Miss Mayer.

Passementerie said...

They sound completely delicious - I can't wait to make them (just as soon as I track down some maple syrup)... thanks for stopping by Passementerie!

Rachael said...

Mmmm, those sound delicious! I have some PA maple syrup so I might give this a go! My DS needs to take a birthday treat into school on Tues so this may be perfect! Thanks!

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

Hi Mandy, thanks for your visit. Oh, the cookies sounds delish! Linda

beachvintage.com said...

Oh Mandy, great ideas here, crafting and cooking and eating. Great fun indeed.

Naturegirl said...

Mandy! Maple leaf cookies perfect for a Canadaian long weekend! Love your vignette image!

Roeshel said...

Hi Mandy! :)
Thanks for stopping by to see me! I hope you'll link your post to the Fall Festival - it's perfect. That recipe is so perfectly fall, I can just imagine the wonderful smell and taste! Can't wait to try it!

I LOVE you cute little fall leaf craft too. And thanks for letting me know about Glimmer Mist! Awesome!

It's so nice to "meet" you!

:)

Roeshel

Betty said...

Mandy,
The cookie recipe sounds delicious...have to give it a try...

Thanks for dropping by to visit and would love for you to come again...Betty

Its So Very Cheri said...

Thank you for coming to visit my blog and leaving a comment.

I hope you will come post this (and link) to the Celebrating the Holidays party. It is on Wed but I typically have it up by Tues night.
I look forward to getting to know you better.

Cheri

Live In Full Color said...

HI Mandy,Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hate to see summer end here in the U.S. but I do love the ever changing seasons we get to experience in NY. Love your blog- great ideas and inspirations-will be back to visit again.

Anonymous said...

Those cookies sound fantastic.I will have to try them. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

bee'nme said...

Hi Mandy,

Seems like a divine recipe - thanks for sharing! Love your framed leaf project as well...so simple but so striking! I'm loving what I've seen so far of your altered art...wow, really beautiful!

Thanks for stopping by...take care down under!

Blessings,
Becky S.

Debbie at the Shabby Bungalow said...

Wow you leaf in a frame looks amazing - what a great idea. Thanks for popping by my blog

Kimberly said...

Those sound wonderful!! I can't wait to try them...

From the Old InkWell said...

Hi Mandy, love the fall leaf in the frame with all that romantic writing in the background. Just precious!

Gwen said...

These sound so yummy and I have just the right music to make them with!

Thanks so much for stopping by to read about my canning:)

Moore Minutes said...

Oh so yummy! I want to make them right now!

meandering pearl said...

Hello! yumscious! i might try these although i am absolutely miserable in the kitchen :) when we lived in America girls used to bring my brother batches of cookies they'd baked, im not going to be a very good housewife :)
hope you're having a lovely week

myonlyphoto said...

Thanks for the maple cookies, something I needed to take break from the chocolate. Anna :)

Heather - Dollarstorecrafts.com said...

The cookies sound awesome! :)

Monica said...

Hi Mandy,
loove your soft turkey in the background! And mmmmm! Want a cookie RIGHT NOW!
Thanks for your lovely comment, it was a pleasure hearing from you!
Monica.

Its So Very Cheri said...

Thanks Many-but can I get you to either link my party in or add my button to your post.

thanks
Cheri

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hello Mandy...

Ooooh...your recipe for Maple leaf cookies sounds divine!!! I'm definitely going to try these...thank you so much for sharing your recipe! By the way...I love your photos! The vignette of the first photo is really beautiful and I love your crafting idea with the pretty Autumn leaf! Sounds like such an easy project but so pretty!!!

Warmest wishes,
Chari

Its So Very Cheri said...

You were featured as one of my favorites for the week so you can grab my "I've been featured" button and post it on your side bar. I hope you post again and I also have a Monday party called the Knock Off Knock Out--something you make or buy that is a knock off of something expensive.

Cheri

abeachcottage said...

oooh I'd like to try this recipe for sure

love the leaf in the frame, I am after frames...

elizabeth said...

What a perfect fall recipe! I can't wait to try this for my granddaughter.

And I've been wanting some fall projects around the house and your framed leaf just might be the thing.

Thanks for sharing!

Tootsie said...

I love the idea that the last photo gave me!!! thanks for the inspiration!

Olive Tree said...

Hi, it's a great blog.
I could tell how much efforts you've taken on it.
Keep doing!

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

This is a beautiful post, Mandy. Will try the maple cookies and I love what you did with the leaf. I've been thinking about how to present a red leaf to a friend, as it happens...!
Janice.

Roeshel said...

Hey! Just wanted to let you know I gave you a shout out! Pop over and grab a button! :)

Thanks so much for sharing your creativity!

Roeshel