Tug – A Charlie Guest Post

/ Jodi / 31 Comments

Charlie & Jager Playing Tug – April 2017

Tug.

There is nothing better really…
than a good game of tug in the Spring sunshine.

Especially after a long walk with my best buddy, Jager,
smelling and snacking along the way on all the goodies nature leaves for us.

We allow Mom and Tracy to come along too…
They think we need them so we let them follow behind us with leashes so we don’t lose them or they don’t go running off.

Sometimes we have to tug them along.
They don’t seem to enjoy tug as much as we do….

What’s up with that??!

Woofs & Wags,
Charlie

Charlie is an adopted dog with brown eyes and a white-tipped tail who brings joy and laughter to his family and friends.  Charlie is a gifted writer, raving food critic, cat, chipmunk, and donut lover, and exceptionally photogenic model.  Some of his best friends are Mike the UPS Man, Cliff the Mailman, Jager the neighbor dog, and ANYONE who delivers pizza to the house.   If you would like to read more guest posts by Charlie, simply type “Charlie” into the Search box at the top right hand corner of this link: thecreativelifeinbetween.com.   If you would enjoy a companion like Charlie, please consider pet adoption.

The Scent of Lilacs

/ Jodi / 30 Comments
Purple Lilacs in Vase

Purple Lilacs in Vase

The Scent of Lilacs

Your petals are so delicate.
Your lavender color exquisite.

But it is your sweet fragrance…
Your uniquely undeniable scent –

Much like an aura –
That always draws me in.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

The Orange Azalea in Watercolor

/ Jodi / 53 Comments
Orange Azalea Watercolor 8x10 140lb Saunders

Orange Azalea Watercolor 8×10 140lb Saunders

The Orange Azalea in Watercolor.

Inspired to create and paint once again
from our recent visit to Phipps Conservatory,

I made a first go at
the orange azalea in watercolor.

For this painting, I used Daniel Smith watercolors in Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Orange, Deep Red, Green Gold, and Perylene Green.

Hoping the April Showers are bringing you May Flowers.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS – This painting, like most all others I do, is available in our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy shop as an original, in prints, or as greeting/note cards, along with some great upcycled, re-purposed rustic pallet wood signs my daughter-in-law makes.  Enjoy browsing!

The Wedding Cookie Table: A Pittsburgh Tradition

/ Jodi / 88 Comments

The Wedding Cookie Table - It's a Burgh Thing

The Wedding Cookie Table – It’s a Burgh Thing

The Wedding Cookie Table:  A Pittsburgh Tradition.

As some of my faithful friends here at The Creative Life in Between know, I’ve been baking a few cookies for the past month for my son and new daughter-in-law’s wedding.

The wedding was this weekend, so I thought I would share a couple of quick shots we captured of the finished Wedding Cookie Table since many of you asked to see as you saw the various recipes being shared.

I have to thank my other sweet daughter-in-law for helping bake several kinds of cookies (snickerdoodles, peanut butter blossoms, s’mores cookies, and chocolate dipped oreos!) as well as my friend, Tracy, for her generosity in baking the lady locks.  A special thank you to Liz’s mom and her cousin Kathy for baking an amazing variety of sweet breads with flavored butters that added just that special touch to our brunch wedding menu.  My favorite was the earl grey tea lavender bread!  Absolutely amazing!

If you would like to see the recipes for the variety of cookies I made, here is a list with links to the recipes:

  1. Jodi’s Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies
  2. Hershey Kiss Brownie Bites
  3. Pecan Tassies
  4. Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
  5. Pecan Sandies
  6. Carrot Cake Thumbprints
  7. Raspberry Dark Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
  8. Apricot Kolaches
  9. Buckeye Balls
  10. Lemon Crinkle Cookies
  11. Red Velvet White Chocolate Cookies
  12. Oreo Cookies & Cream Cookies

A Pittsburgh Wedding Cookie Table

A Pittsburgh Wedding Cookie Table

It seems that the Wedding Cookie Table is a bit of a regional tradition to our area.  In Pittsburgh, it’s a “burgh thing” to do.  No wedding is complete without a massive buffet of favorite cookies for the guests to enjoy before, during, and after the reception.  Our wedding “favor” for the guests was an empty box to fill with their favorites from our cookie table.

We could not be happier to welcome our sweet new daughter-in-law to our family.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

My Favorite Roasted Brussels Sprouts

/ Jodi / 37 Comments

My Favorite Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

After all the cookie recipe posts of late, I thought I would share an amazing vegetable recipe I recently tried and LOVED!

I recalled seeing one of those hyperlapse videos someone shared on Facebook that looked so yummy, so I wrangled these up last Sunday for Hubby and me.  We loved them.

Throw all the ingredients in a Ziploc bag to toss together early in the day or right before serving.  Spread them on a baking stone or sheet and roast to yummy goodness!

If you are a brussels sprouts lover, I think you are really going to enjoy this simple, delicious recipe.

My Favorite Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. fresh brussels sprouts
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic salt
  • 1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup Panko crumbs
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut tough bottoms off brussels sprouts, and then slice in half.  Throw in a gallon Ziploc bag.  Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle in garlic salt and pepper.  Add Panko crumbs and Parmesan cheese.  Shake and massage bag to full incorporate and coat all brussels sprouts.

(If doing ahead of time, place in refrigerator until ready to roast.)

Pour contents of bag onto baking stone or shallow baking sheet.  Roast approximately 20 minutes until browned and tender, stirring once or twice during roasting.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Beauty along the Rough Path

/ Jodi / 12 Comments

Even the rockiest, roughest of roads
often have patches of beauty.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Oreo Cookies ‘n Cream Cookies

/ Jodi / 27 Comments

I may have saved the best for last….

For my last cookie recipe for the Wedding cookie table, who is in the mood for a Cookies ‘n Cream cookie created with coarsely crushed Oreo cookies and creamy white chocolate chips?

Oh…. My…. Yumminess!

These are SERIOUSLY divine!  The photos may not do justice to the ecstasy your taste buds are going to experience.

Here’s the recipe I found at The Recipe Critic.  Hope you will give them a try!

Oreo Cookies 'n Cream Cookies

  • Servings: approx. 5 doz.
  • Print

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 5 cups flour
  • 28 Oreo Cookies, coarsely crushed
  • 3 1/2 cups white chocolate chips

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugars about 2 minutes until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Slowly beat in baking soda, baking powder, salt, and finally flour just until incorporated.  Gently fold in coarsely-crushed Oreo cookies and white chocolate chips.

Refrigerate dough at least 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on baking stone or cookie sheet.  Bake for 7-9 minutes or until just lightly browned.  Let cool on baking stone/cookie sheet 5 minutes, then completely cool cooling racks.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Brief Visit

/ Jodi / 27 Comments
The Old Dogwood Trees' Blossoms

The Old Dogwood Trees’ Blossoms

A Brief Visit.

Your visit is so brief….
but your memory lingers,

and it is ceremoniously revived
each Spring when you surprise me yet again.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Red Velvet White Chocolate Cookies

/ Jodi / 44 Comments

For my penultimate wedding cookie table cookie recipe, I present….

Red Velvet White Chocolate Cookies.

I was so excited to find this simple recipe that uses Bisquick baking mix and creates such beautiful and delicious cookies.

Won’t they look pretty next to the Lemon Crinkles?!

Red velvet lovers rejoice!

Red Velvet White Chocolate Cookies

  • Servings: approx. 3 doz.
  • Print

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups brown sugar, packed
  • 4 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 tsp. red food coloring
  • 3 1/2 cups Bisquick mix
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 2 cups white chocolate chips

Directions:

In large mixing bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in vanilla, eggs, and food coloring.  Add Bisquick and cocoa just until combined.  Gently stir in white chocolate chips.

Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart on baking stone or cookie sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes.  Do not overbake.  Cool on stone/sheet for 5 minutes.  Remove to cooling rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Pink Apricot Watercolor Tulips

/ Jodi / 46 Comments
Pink Apricot Watercolor Expressionist Tulips - 8 x 10 Fabriano 140 lb Cold Press

Pink Apricot Watercolor Expressionist Tulips – 8 x 10 Fabriano 140 lb Cold Press

Pink Apricot Watercolor Tulips.

I found a few extra moments to steal away to my art studio this past weekend.

I felt like painting some tulips – inspired by our recent trip to Phipps Conservatory‘s Spring Flower Show.

I gave this one a couple tries before I finally decided I liked this version.  I started too tight and too “literal.”  I so admire folks who paint things that look exactly like real life, but it is not my passion.   In my first go, I tried much to hard to replicate the photo.  I then loosened up a bit and created this version that more represents the beauty I felt looking at the tulips.

To me, this painting speaks Joy and Happiness and Life.

And that is what I am feeling this week as we count down the days in wedding week!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Daniel Smith Watercolor Paints used:  Rhodonite Genuine, Cadmium Yellow Light, Green Gold, Perylene Green

Paper:  Fabriano Artistico 140lb Cold Press