Madeleine Cookies

I have been watching the French Open although my two favorite players are not playing this year (Roger and Maria). However, in honor of the French Open I made some Madeleine cookies. I used Martha Stewarts recipe and they were surprisingly easy to make and I had all of the recipe items in my pantry and fridge.

Ingredients:

4 eggs

1/4 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup flour

14 cup butter, melted and cooled

confectioner's sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray the pans with a baking spray.

Beat the eggs, salt and sugar in your stand mixer on low for approximately 8 minutes. Add the vanilla. Stir in the flour and lastly add the cooled butter.

Fill each cavity with the batter and bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes.

Pop the Madelines out of the molds.

Sift some confectioners sugar over the Madeleines. The perfect snack to eat while watching the French Open! Bon Appetit!

Pipe Cleaner Teddy Bears for Meals on Wheels

I have been fascinated by all the things you can make with pipe cleaners ever since I made Kate's engagement ring out of a blue and silver pipe cleaners. I love these teddy bears - they are so very simple to make.They would look cute made into pins or magnets. They would also look adorable glued onto a headband or barrette. And of course an awesome Christmas ornament.

Each teddy bear requires two pipe cleaners and three small black beads.

Cut the first pipe cleaner into three pieces - 2-inches, 3 1/2 inches and 4 1/2 inches.

Fold ears, arms and legs into the center.

Take the 2nd pipe cleaner and wind it around the ears four times. This creates the head.

Place the arms under the chin and the legs under the arms.

Wrap the long pipe cleaner from each shoulder though the legs on each side. Contine wrapping and tuck the final piece into the body area.

Place a toothpick into some Tacky glue and place the glue onto the eye and nose area. Add the small black beads onto the glue spots and let dry.

The black seed beads come in these little tubes.

Since I am making these for Meals and Wheels I must make 50! I made almost 30 in the blink of an eye!

Each Teddy Bear has a slightly different shape and personality.

Mother's Day Dinner Menu

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day! I am hosting a Mother's Day dinner at my home. I  will make everything fresh and from scratch. And I am hoping that I will remember to take some pictures!

Appetizers:

Olive Tapenade with Toasted Baguette Slices

Chicken Salad Tartlets with Fresh Herbs

Dinner:

Spinach Salad with Pears, Pomegranate Seeds and Crumbled Feta

Fireman's Pasta Casserole

Chicken with Fresh Herbs and Cream Cheese Wrapped with Bacon


Dessert:

Vanilla Cake

Root beer Float Pie


Party Favors:

Mom Sachets

Fresh Flower Bouquets in Tin Cans

Mom Sachets

I make these almost every year. They are the perfect Mother's Day party favor. I try to make them in different colors every year. They look really pretty in a basket or added to the top of a gift. Since they are all hand sewn they would be perfect for older kids to make.

Supply List:

Felt in a spring color

Coordinating embroidery thread

Coordinating button

Needle

Scissors

Two different sized heart cookie cutters

Black pen

Dried Lavender or other sachet filing


Directions:

Trace the hearts with a pen onto the felt. Each sachet needs two large hearts and one small heart.

I used this dried lavender to fill the sachets - I thought it was perfect with the purple felt.

On the small heart hand sew a MOM with a button for the "O." Then sew the small heart onto a big heart. Before the heart is completely sewn together add a tablespoon of the lavender.

Then sew the two large hearts together and before it is completely sewn shut add enough dried lavender to fill the heart and finish sewing closed.

These are so easy to make and a perfect party favor. Mom can put this in a drawer or linen cabinet. 

Tina's birthday is near Mother's Day  - so I added a Mother's Day sachet to her gift.