“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.”
Robert Frost

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

The Egg Tree

Since Easter is right around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to pull out a book from my recent haul and share it with you. This is an original 1950 edition of the book illustrated and written by Katherine Milhous. This book was published by The Junior Literary Guild and Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. This sweet book has a few condition problems, but it is still beautiful to me.





 

The story is based on the true story of Carrie May Umberger Palsgrove who many years ago, created an Easter Egg Tree for her children, and it eventually (circa 1950) was displayed in the Historical Society of Berks county, Pennsylvania.

The designs in this book by Katherine Milhous were taken from original eggs painted by the artist grandfather of Hattie and Anna La Ross Gross. The decorative motifs of the border designs of this book are from designs by Frances Lichten. The story and art in this book are a result of the influence on Katherine by the people of the Red Hills, also known as the Pennsylvania Dutch. Their love of bold color and designs and steadfast hold on their traditions are evident in every part of this book.






Rooster with his zigzag chest design




Love these borders.







Colors are still vibrant in this old book!

















Tears, Tape and Chew Marks







So what do you think? As you see, the book has been ripped, bug chewed and taped back together. Should I try and sell it as is, it's worth about $5.00. Should I cut it apart and sell the art work?  Ideas please. I don't plan on doing anything right away, so I have plenty of time to think it over.


Linking with Common Ground Vintage Easter Inspiration.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Delicious Cookies

Delicious Cookies, yes that's the name and the description. The original recipe came from my husband's Grandmother who ran a cafe in rural South Dakota. I of course can not leave well enough alone, so I made a few simple changes. I replaced the margarine and rice crisp cereal and put my own spin on these delicious "Delicious Cookies".





This picture does not do these cookies justice, they are even prettier than this! The cookie has a delightful crispy texture that everyone loves. There are a lot of ingredients that go into this cookie! The recipe makes a huge batch of cookies (about four dozen). I use my handy Kitchen Aid mixer with the paddle attachment. It makes combining these ingredients so easy! I always use scoops to make evenly sized cookies and it is much faster. This is a small size scoop, sorry I don't think it has a number.






Smoosh the cookies with a fork to slightly flatten them out.

Ready for the Oven


Ready to go on the cooling rack




They come off easily from my half sheet pans. No grease required. 

Hint: Never wash your sheet pans in the dishwasher. It will dull the finish 
and your cookies will stick.



Cookies cooling on the rack!







Delicious Cookies
Yields around 4 dozen cookies

1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup vegetable oil
1 whole egg
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup oats, rolled (raw)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup walnuts, chopped fine
1 cup  Craisins®(dried cranberries)
3 1/2 cups flour, white
1 cup rice krispies® (or your favorite crisp cereal, I use Natures Path Granola)

1.    Cream together butter and sugar, gradually add oil. Blend in other ingredients as listed above until you get to the flour. Blend in the flour and cereal at the very end. Do not over mix.

2.    Use small scoop or teaspoon size amount and drop onto cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with a fork. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 12 minutes. Cookie will brown slightly around edge. Cool on wire rack.


Notes: You may switch out some of the ingredients for your own preferences, such as using raisins or chopped dates instead of Craisins® or pecans instead of walnuts.

I hope you try them sometime, you will not be disappointed!
For more sweetness visit Crazy for Crust or Mom's Crazy Cooking!
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