Good Things by David

As we celebrate a New Year, I want to take a moment to highlight my favorite posts from 2014.  I was prompted to do this by google, which sent me a photographic compilation from the blog in the form of a video.  If you're on google+ then you I'm sure you got one as well.  I'll share that with you along with what I want to reflect on, because it's nice for me to go back and see what I managed to do here for the blog.  Don't worry, I won't share the bad or unfortunate moments of the year since that isn't what I do here. This past year marked some wonderful chapters in my life and I'm so glad I was able to share a few of them with you.  My trip to California which included some great finds at antique stores & fairs, the small excursion to Cape May, my cookie decorating demos at Williams-Sonoma and many delicious cookies, are just some of the things that I enjoyed in 2014. Here are my favorite posts from 2014! My 2014 Year in Photos click o

Christmas came a little early for me.  The KitchenAid Pro Line 7qt. mixer is one kitchen electric I've had my eye on for quite some time and just last week, right before Christmas, I treated myself to one.  The timing was right, the price was right and the rest is history. KitchenAid 7qt. Proline Mixer I have to say that if you're having any doubts or are wondering what the 7qt. mixer is like, I'm going to tell you my opinions regarding this mixer versus the 6qt. model with the glass bowl that is everywhere. 7qt. mixer (left) & 5qt. mixer (right) My trusted 5qt. Proline gray mixer (upper right) that I've had for ages is always in my kitchen ready to assist me in my culinary endeavors.  I love that mixer and will never get rid of it.  However, it was time I upgraded to something larger and more powerful.  What you must understand is that I've already owned a large 6qt. Professional mixer (white), but I was never enamored with it.  Although I loved

Grandma Moses It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year.  With all of the gift-giving and cheer to be had, I do hope that all of you are safe and warm this Christmas.  I will be spending the day here in Pennsylvania with my family & pets enjoying this unusually marvelous weather, eating something tasty, talking to relatives across the country and taking an afternoon walk after some tea & cookies.        May you have the happiest  of holidays!    M e r r y C h r i s t m a s !   

You would think that with all of the baking I've been doing this past month, I would not have an ounce of energy left to bake anything else.  Well, if we're talking about my niece and nephews, then this uncle will do his best to bake and mail out uncommonly good Christmas cookies without a moment to lose. To be honest, this is the the baking I like best.  Every moment that I spend in my kitchen making cookie doughs, rolling out the slabs, cutting out the shapes with those collectible cookie cutters of mine, and then icing the festive shapes, is always a pleasure, because I know that my little ones will be dazzled by each and every creation that arrives. Although I didn't style these cookies for photography like I normally do (remember, these had to fly out the door!), I still managed to take a few photographs before mailing them. Cookies bundled in sets of 2 were placed into clear cellophane bags and were tied with a pale mint-green grosgrain ribbon.  A mixed set