Apple Butter & Pecan Thumbprint Cookies

You say you want to make a perfect fall cookie? You say you like fall spices? Pecans? How about Russian Tea cookies? You can have it all in this delicately easy autumn treat!

I have combined and mixed from a few recipes (as I always do.. ) so I can't give credit to any one in particular, so here goes:

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup ground nuts (as you may have guessed, I used pecans)
1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter at room temperature  (I used Kerrygold)
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt (skip this step if your butter is salted)
1 tsp vanilla extract, or seeds from one vanilla bean

powdered sugar, and apple butter (or pumpkin butter etc)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grab a couple of cookie sheets, and either lightly grease, or cover in parchment paper. I have some really good non-stick ones from Ikea that never need either grease or paper, you know your kitchen and tools!

Mix sugar, salt, flour and nuts in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl mix the butter and vanilla. Once butter is creamed, add to nut/flour mixture. Mix well until you have a thick dough easy to shape.

Make 1" balls and place on the cookie sheet about 2" apart. Press your thumb, or back of a spoon into the middle of the cookie. Bake for about 15 minutes, keep an eye on them! You want to pull them out just as they start browning lightly along the bottom edges.
Let them mostly cool on the cookie sheet, then gently move them to a wire rack.
Once on the wire rack dust with powdered sugar (I use a tea sieve), and place a small amount of apple butter in the thumbprint.
Let them cool completely. And enjoy!

As a footnote, you can also use pumpkin butter, jam, pear butter or something similar (maybe Nutella!) For a simple pumpkin butter recipe, check here. 

Let it snow let it snow let it snow

Yes, it has snowed, in October :) I'm pretty happy about it, and so are the kids! It was a heavy, heavy snow and a lot of tree branches fell- the leaves still hanging on makes the snow stick better.
Beautiful none the less!





Our neighborhood is heavily treed (Denver standards) making for beautiful changes of seasons (and lots of downed tree limbs).
After lots of play in the snow we decided to come in for some hot cocoa! Some runny noses followed, but it was so worth it. Now we are hoping for lots more of the cold white stuff. Did I mention fall is my favorite season?! I think winter might be too!

Dogs, kids and snow equals the best combination ever!

FYI, I just got a tip from a colleague at Shaklee, she puts Nutriferon in her children's hot cocoa to help boost their immunity during cold/flu season!

Fall Decor..

This was a new concept to me when I moved to the U.S., decorating in fall, celebrating Halloween and Thanksgiving. Fall has always been my favorite season, but even more so now, with these awesome holidays to celebrate. And, I get to decorate with cool, natural materials that we collect ourselves!
From the last few farm visits I have a variety of natural decorations, and it was all starting to come together nicely, until the squirrels found the pumpkins...
Well, luckily we went to another farm, and were able to get some new ones, as well as some adorable little gourds. And, I found a way to outsmart the little boogers- Vicks vapor rub! I've tried pepper spray, cayenne pepper, soap and lots of other things before, but this actually seems to work! Hooray! One added bonus of the Vicks, it gives the plump orange goodies a little shine, too!

These are our latest pumpkins, on top of a large hay-bale I picked up at the last farm, sitting to the side of our front door.  Also, my little scarecrows of course ;)

These are a collection of gourds and Indian corn, also collected at various farms in the area. It sits on the hallway table as you enter our home. In the bottom of the basket, to weigh it down, is an acorn squash from our back yard.

Also, I can not forget that in all these projects, are included various leaves and twigs, and sometimes pine cones and rocks from the kids "collection".

Next is the wreath hanging on the front door, it is a pre-made wreath with added personal touches, such as; Indian corn, pine cones, leaves and the kids sparkle glue of course.

Today we are making ghosts to add to the outdoor decorations in preparation for Halloween. Updates to come!

Happy Fall!

Beautiful doesn't cut it....

We live in a spectacularly gorgeous place. 

Today's field-trip took us to the wonderful countryside surrounding Boulder. To see these vistas on a daily basis puts a smile on my face. I just have to share!

More on the farm visit of the day to come...