Cookies are Good for You

 

It’s funny that while writing this up, I finally decided to find out what this crazy weed was that is growing in my yard under the bird feeder. It looks like a corn stalk, and I have been letting it grow because I wanted to see what it would do, (that sounds like the opening line to a very, very bad B-movie.) It turns out that the top started to develop small seeds.

It took me only a couple quick image searches to discover that I had sorghum growing in the yard. Being from the Midwest, I recognized the term sorghum as a regular crop grown in Illinois.

It is a cereal crop, which is why I had it in my birdseed, but it can also be used to create sweet sorghum. Sweet sorghum is not the same as molasses, but it can be used the same as any of the varieties of molasses, which is derived from cane sugar.

Molasses is what brings us here today. Sweet, sticky molasses.

Besides being sweet, molasses has a lot of health benefits, too.

It is good for your energy levels. It adds a lot of B to your diet. It is said to have antioxidant properties, and is a great source of iron. Click here to read some more of these wonderful molasses properties.

All of these natural benefits  probably are not the reasons that Connie of The Singing Beader says that her husband, Mike, calls the following cookies his favorite. I bet it is because they are chewy and tasty!

We should all give these a try this year. I know everyone has some blackstrap molasses in their pantry! I use Grandma’s molasses.

SOFT CHEWY MOLASSES COOKIES
Prep time 20 minutes
Servings 3 Dozen
- 1 cup organic sugar
- 3/4 cup butter (softened)
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 egg
- 2 1/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/2 tsp cloves
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- Sugar for coating (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar, butter and molasses together.
3. Beat in egg until light and fluffy.
4. Mix in flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, ginger cloves and nutmeg together until well combined.
5. Cover dough and refrigerate for about an hour.  This makes handling the dough much easier.
6. Roll dough into 1 - 1 1/2 inch balls.
7. Roll each ball in sugar to coat.
8. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart.
9. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes.
10. Remove from oven and let sit for 1 minute before removing cookies and placing on wire rack to cool.
11. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Here are some more sweet delights that are sure to be a hit with your gift giving.

Pink Copper Bronze Heart Earrings, Handmade Valentine Jewelry

Victorian Style Treasures 

 

Florida Beach Path Scene, Shadow Dancers 11 x 15 watercolor print

WatercolorsNMore 

Speckled Yellow Blue Tan Spring Lampwork Bracelet and .925 Earrings

Kats All That 

Candy Cane Christmas Ornament Handmade From Walnut Wood

Kevs Krafts 

Melting Heart Scarf, Holiday Neckwarmer

Crafting Memories 

Wooden Barrel In Garden Solvang CA Canvas Print

Colleen Cornelius 

FIBER ART HANDMADE KNIT SCARF WITH ENGLISH BOUCLE RED WOOL

Andrea Designs 

Multicolored Charm Bracelet, Glass Silver Dipped Bead Tips

The Singing Beader

 

Christmas Chocolate Candy Earrings, Lampwork Petit Fours Jewelry Gift

Shadow Dog Designs 

Satin Black Ivory Green Lampwork Teardrop Pendant Necklace

Covergirl Beads 

Brown Lampwork Beaded Necklace with Red Stripe Agates, Necklace for Women

Blue Morning Expressions 

In addition to these fantastic gift selections, each of these artists have their own shops filled with more gift ideas, so be sure and stop and shop with each one.

If you see  something you like, buy it now or forever lose it as handmade gifts sell out quickly!

Shop from these additional countdowns and pages:

Countdown to Christmas 2020 Week 1

Countdown to Christmas 2020 Week 2

Countdown to Christmas 2020 Week 3

Too Fruity to be Candy

It Moose be Christmas

Don’t see the perfect gift? Ask an artist to help you design something.

Shop now!

Julie

Roses and Spring Cleaning

Volume 13 Issue 4, April 2016

What's New in April?

This last month was a whirlwind of activity with trying to get spring cleaning done and doing a lot of freelance writing. That left little time for clay play, but I am finishing projects up and getting ready to play! At this very moment, there is a smallish pile of clay slices that will go onto some base beads later on this afternoon. I am trying out some new techniques that I just learned and have written out a list of things to work on, so it should be a very productive day!

 I have been working on dangles since that is the theme of the last Jewelry Bench article I wrote, so there are a lot of loose dangles wandering around my work space and sitting on the edge of my desk. I managed to get a couple things together for the magazine and for my website. Mother’s Day is coming up fast, so these pretty earrings are a good gift for mom. They feature my pink rose beads and lots and lots of sparkling Swarovski crystals.

More Beads: Working on a large selection of beads from veneers and other styles. I am focusing on focal beads or offering individual beads from sets. 

Prints and Posters: I have been working on compiling art and photos to  have printed as posters, cards and other prints. They will soon be available on my website.

Potholder Magnets: New designs and an expansion on some of my tried and true best sellers are in the works.

You will find all of my beads, canes and finished jewelry on my website. www.bluemorningexpressions.com

Until next month,

Julie & Blu

Things to Look Forward To:

New Products:

Watches: There are new watches in my shop. I went a little Southwestern with beads and charms. There is only one left, so more are coming!

Thimbles: I am working on getting some new thimbles created. I am completely sold out.

Hotrod magnets: I am adding hotrod magnets to my shops, and since I only have one finished, I will have to show them off next month.

Countdown to Mother's Day Week 7

 

It is that time of the year again! These wonderful gifts are not just for Mother's Day, but they are perfect for any woman in your life, be it friend, sister, auntie, grandmother or your mother-in-law. Enjoy these handmade and vintage gift ideas that tell her that she is special to you. For this countdown, we are only doing one shop or studio. Thank you :) 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code

Here are our links - please follow the boards and be sure and add yours to the comment section, so everyone gets a follow. Now, you don't have to keep adding your links every week. I will just update this if you use a different link or did not add one this week.




I am certain that I missed someone, so just post them if I did. I will catch up.

Diane's Dangles: 
http://www.pinterest.com/dianesdangles/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/dianesdangles/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014
http://dianesdangles.blogspot.com/

Crafting Memories:


http://www.pinterest.com/dusamae/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://craftingmemories1.blogspot.com/2014/02/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014.html 

Kathi Sewnsew

http://www.pinterest.com/kathisewnsew/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/Kathisewnsew/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014 

KatsAllThat

http://wanelo.com/KatsAllThat/collections/mother-s-day-countdown-2014
http://www.pinterest.com/katsallthat/mothers-day-countdown-2014/
http://katsallthat.blogspot.com/

Shadow Dog Designs

http://www.pinterest.com/shadowdog/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/shadowdog/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014 

Bitspeaces 
 

http://www.pinterest.com/bitspeaces/
https://twitter.com/Bitspeaces
https://www.facebook.com/bitspeaces

Blue Morning Expressions 

http://wanelo.com/julielcleveland/collections/mother-s-day-countdown
http://www.pinterest.com/julielcleveland/for-mom-s-day/

Adore by Nat

http://www.pinterest.com/adorebynat/mothers-day-gifts/ 

Specialtivity 

http://www.pinterest.com/specialtivity/mothers-day-countdown/

Butterfly in the Attic

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/PacificPostcardsTeam/
http://butterflyintheattic.blogspot.com/2014/03/networking-saturday-link-your-shop-or.html 

Sewamazin

http://wanelo.com/sewamazin/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day
http://www.pinterest.com/sewamazin/countdown-to-mothers-day/ 

Umeboshi

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Hollow-Stained-Glass
http://www.pinterest.com/wvmomma2

The Singing Beader

http://www.pinterest.com/singingbeader/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/


Covergirlbeads

http://wanelo.com/covergirlbeads/collections/mothers-day-gift-ideas-bme-countdown
http://www.pinterest.com/covergirlbeads/mothers-day-gift-ideas-bme-countdown/

JNLDesigns 

http://www.pinterest.com/jnldesigns/mothers-day-gift-ideas-2014/

Jazz it up with Designs by Nancy 

https://www.facebook.com/JazzItUpwithDesignsbyNancy
http://jazzitupwithdesignsbynancy.blogspot.com/


The Twisted Redhead 

http://www.pinterest.com/TwistedRedhead2/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/thetwistedredhead/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014


Wyvern Designs 

http://www.pinterest.com/wyverndesigns/countdown-to-mothers-day-week-2/


EvezBeadz

http://www.pinterest.com/evezbeadz/moms-day-2014-checked-in-today-guild/


JRP Designs 

http://wanelo.com/jrpdesigns/collections/mother-s-day-countdown
http://www.pinterest.com/jpatel12002/mothers-day-countdown/


Pretty Gonzo 


http://wanelo.com/prettygonzo/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014


Solana Kai Designs 

http://www.pinterest.com/solanakaidesign/mother-s-day-countdown-gift-ideas/
http://wanelo.com/solanakaidesigns/collections/mother-s-day-countdown

   
Maggie Mays 

http://www.pinterest.com/maggiesdesigns/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/    

Countdown to Mother's Day Week 6

 

 It is that time of the year again! These wonderful gifts are not just for Mother's Day, but they are perfect for any woman in your life, be it friend, sister, auntie, grandmother or your mother-in-law. Enjoy these handmade and vintage gift ideas that tell her that she is special to you. For this countdown, we are only doing one shop or studio. Thank you :) 

An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code < --- use this code to add the blog hop to your blog. 


Here are our links - please follow the boards and be sure and add yours to the comment section, so everyone gets a follow. Now, you don't have to keep adding your links every week. I will just update this if you use a different link or did not add one this week.




I am certain that I missed someone, so just post them if I did. I will catch up.

Diane's Dangles: 
http://www.pinterest.com/dianesdangles/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/dianesdangles/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014
http://dianesdangles.blogspot.com/

Crafting Memories:


http://www.pinterest.com/dusamae/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://craftingmemories1.blogspot.com/2014/02/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014.html 

Kathi Sewnsew

http://www.pinterest.com/kathisewnsew/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/Kathisewnsew/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014 

KatsAllThat

http://wanelo.com/KatsAllThat/collections/mother-s-day-countdown-2014
http://www.pinterest.com/katsallthat/mothers-day-countdown-2014/
http://katsallthat.blogspot.com/

Shadow Dog Designs

http://www.pinterest.com/shadowdog/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/shadowdog/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014 

Bitspeaces 
 

http://www.pinterest.com/bitspeaces/
https://twitter.com/Bitspeaces
https://www.facebook.com/bitspeaces

Blue Morning Expressions 

http://wanelo.com/julielcleveland/collections/mother-s-day-countdown
http://www.pinterest.com/julielcleveland/for-mom-s-day/

Adore by Nat

http://www.pinterest.com/adorebynat/mothers-day-gifts/ 

Specialtivity 

http://www.pinterest.com/specialtivity/mothers-day-countdown/

Butterfly in the Attic

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/PacificPostcardsTeam/
http://butterflyintheattic.blogspot.com/2014/03/networking-saturday-link-your-shop-or.html 

Sewamazin

http://wanelo.com/sewamazin/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day
http://www.pinterest.com/sewamazin/countdown-to-mothers-day/ 

Umeboshi

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Hollow-Stained-Glass
http://www.pinterest.com/wvmomma2

The Singing Beader

http://www.pinterest.com/singingbeader/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/


Covergirlbeads

http://wanelo.com/covergirlbeads/collections/mothers-day-gift-ideas-bme-countdown
http://www.pinterest.com/covergirlbeads/mothers-day-gift-ideas-bme-countdown/

JNLDesigns 

http://www.pinterest.com/jnldesigns/mothers-day-gift-ideas-2014/

Jazz it up with Designs by Nancy 

https://www.facebook.com/JazzItUpwithDesignsbyNancy
http://jazzitupwithdesignsbynancy.blogspot.com/


The Twisted Redhead 

http://www.pinterest.com/TwistedRedhead2/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/thetwistedredhead/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014


Wyvern Designs 

http://www.pinterest.com/wyverndesigns/countdown-to-mothers-day-week-2/


EvezBeadz

http://www.pinterest.com/evezbeadz/moms-day-2014-checked-in-today-guild/


JRP Designs 

http://wanelo.com/jrpdesigns/collections/mother-s-day-countdown
http://www.pinterest.com/jpatel12002/mothers-day-countdown/


Pretty Gonzo 


http://wanelo.com/prettygonzo/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014


Solana Kai Designs 

http://www.pinterest.com/solanakaidesign/mother-s-day-countdown-gift-ideas/
http://wanelo.com/solanakaidesigns/collections/mother-s-day-countdown

   
Maggie Mays 

http://www.pinterest.com/maggiesdesigns/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/  

Countdown to Mother's Day Week 5

It is that time of the year again! These wonderful gifts are not just for Mother's Day, but they are perfect for any woman in your life, be it friend, sister, auntie, grandmother or your mother-in-law. Enjoy these handmade and vintage gift ideas that tell her that she is special to you. For this countdown, we are only doing one shop or studio. Thank you :) 
 

An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code

Here are our links - please follow the boards and be sure and add yours to the comment section, so everyone gets a follow. Now, you don't have to keep adding your links every week. I will just update this if you use a different link or did not add one this week.




I am certain that I missed someone, so just post them if I did. I will catch up.

Diane's Dangles: 
http://www.pinterest.com/dianesdangles/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/dianesdangles/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014
http://dianesdangles.blogspot.com/

Crafting Memories:


http://www.pinterest.com/dusamae/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://craftingmemories1.blogspot.com/2014/02/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014.html 

Kathi Sewnsew

http://www.pinterest.com/kathisewnsew/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/Kathisewnsew/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014 

KatsAllThat

http://wanelo.com/KatsAllThat/collections/mother-s-day-countdown-2014
http://www.pinterest.com/katsallthat/mothers-day-countdown-2014/
http://katsallthat.blogspot.com/

Shadow Dog Designs

http://www.pinterest.com/shadowdog/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/shadowdog/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014 

Bitspeaces 
 

http://www.pinterest.com/bitspeaces/
https://twitter.com/Bitspeaces
https://www.facebook.com/bitspeaces

Blue Morning Expressions 

http://wanelo.com/julielcleveland/collections/mother-s-day-countdown
http://www.pinterest.com/julielcleveland/for-mom-s-day/

Adore by Nat

http://www.pinterest.com/adorebynat/mothers-day-gifts/ 

Specialtivity 

http://www.pinterest.com/specialtivity/mothers-day-countdown/

Butterfly in the Attic

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/PacificPostcardsTeam/
http://butterflyintheattic.blogspot.com/2014/03/networking-saturday-link-your-shop-or.html 

Sewamazin

http://wanelo.com/sewamazin/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day
http://www.pinterest.com/sewamazin/countdown-to-mothers-day/ 

Umeboshi

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Hollow-Stained-Glass
http://www.pinterest.com/wvmomma2

The Singing Beader

http://www.pinterest.com/singingbeader/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/


Covergirlbeads

http://wanelo.com/covergirlbeads/collections/mothers-day-gift-ideas-bme-countdown
http://www.pinterest.com/covergirlbeads/mothers-day-gift-ideas-bme-countdown/

JNLDesigns 

http://www.pinterest.com/jnldesigns/mothers-day-gift-ideas-2014/

Jazz it up with Designs by Nancy 

https://www.facebook.com/JazzItUpwithDesignsbyNancy
http://jazzitupwithdesignsbynancy.blogspot.com/


The Twisted Redhead 

http://www.pinterest.com/TwistedRedhead2/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/thetwistedredhead/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014


Wyvern Designs 

http://www.pinterest.com/wyverndesigns/countdown-to-mothers-day-week-2/


EvezBeadz

http://www.pinterest.com/evezbeadz/moms-day-2014-checked-in-today-guild/


JRP Designs 

http://wanelo.com/jrpdesigns/collections/mother-s-day-countdown
http://www.pinterest.com/jpatel12002/mothers-day-countdown/


Pretty Gonzo 


http://wanelo.com/prettygonzo/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014


Solana Kai Designs 

http://www.pinterest.com/solanakaidesign/mother-s-day-countdown-gift-ideas/
http://wanelo.com/solanakaidesigns/collections/mother-s-day-countdown

   
Maggie Mays 

http://www.pinterest.com/maggiesdesigns/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/  

Countdown to Mother's Day Week 3

It is that time of the year again! These wonderful gifts are not just for Mother's Day, but they are perfect for any woman in your life, be it friend, sister, auntie, grandmother or your mother-in-law. Enjoy these handmade and vintage gift ideas that tell her that she is special to you. For this countdown, we are only doing one shop or studio. Thank you :) 

An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code

Here are our links - please follow the boards and be sure and add yours to the comment section, so everyone gets a follow. Now, you don't have to keep adding your links every week. I will just update this if you use a different link or did not add one this week.




I am certain that I missed someone, so just post them if I did. I will catch up.

Diane's Dangles: 
http://www.pinterest.com/dianesdangles/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/dianesdangles/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014
http://dianesdangles.blogspot.com/

Crafting Memories:


http://www.pinterest.com/dusamae/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://craftingmemories1.blogspot.com/2014/02/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014.html 

Kathi Sewnsew

http://www.pinterest.com/kathisewnsew/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/Kathisewnsew/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014 

KatsAllThat

http://wanelo.com/KatsAllThat/collections/mother-s-day-countdown-2014
http://www.pinterest.com/katsallthat/mothers-day-countdown-2014/
http://katsallthat.blogspot.com/

Shadow Dog Designs

http://www.pinterest.com/shadowdog/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/shadowdog/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014 

Bitspeaces 


Blue Morning Expressions 

http://wanelo.com/julielcleveland/collections/mother-s-day-countdown
http://www.pinterest.com/julielcleveland/for-mom-s-day/

Adore by Nat

http://www.pinterest.com/adorebynat/mothers-day-gifts/ 

Specialtivity 

http://www.pinterest.com/specialtivity/mothers-day-countdown/

Butterfly in the Attic

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/PacificPostcardsTeam/
http://butterflyintheattic.blogspot.com/2014/03/networking-saturday-link-your-shop-or.html 

Sewamazin

http://wanelo.com/sewamazin/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day
http://www.pinterest.com/sewamazin/countdown-to-mothers-day/ 

Umeboshi

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Hollow-Stained-Glass
http://www.pinterest.com/wvmomma2

The Singing Beader

http://www.pinterest.com/singingbeader/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/


Covergirlbeads

http://wanelo.com/covergirlbeads/collections/mothers-day-gift-ideas-bme-countdown
http://www.pinterest.com/covergirlbeads/mothers-day-gift-ideas-bme-countdown/

JNLDesigns 

http://www.pinterest.com/jnldesigns/mothers-day-gift-ideas-2014/

Jazz it up with Designs by Nancy 

https://www.facebook.com/JazzItUpwithDesignsbyNancy
http://jazzitupwithdesignsbynancy.blogspot.com/


The Twisted Redhead 

http://www.pinterest.com/TwistedRedhead2/countdown-to-mothers-day-2014/
http://wanelo.com/thetwistedredhead/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014


Wyvern Designs 

http://www.pinterest.com/wyverndesigns/countdown-to-mothers-day-week-2/


EvezBeadz

http://www.pinterest.com/evezbeadz/moms-day-2014-checked-in-today-guild/


JRP Designs 

http://wanelo.com/jrpdesigns/collections/mother-s-day-countdown
http://www.pinterest.com/jpatel12002/mothers-day-countdown/


Pretty Gonzo 


http://wanelo.com/prettygonzo/collections/countdown-to-mother-s-day-2014


Solana Kai Designs 

http://www.pinterest.com/solanakaidesign/mother-s-day-countdown-gift-ideas/
http://wanelo.com/solanakaidesigns/collections/mother-s-day-countdown