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

Watching Flowers Bloom and Butterflies Flit

Volume 13 Issue 5, May 2016

 What's New in May?

May is the time for blooming flowers, birds and butterflies, and I’ve have managed to capture all of these colorful creations for you to enjoy. It’s already heating up here in Florida, and we might go straight into summer without our usual spring storms and torrential rains. I am not looking forward to hot days.

I managed to get a handful of thimbles and watches completed. All of these colorful butterflies and flowers have made my work table very cheerful. I even went so far as to put in a flower garden that I can look at every day. It is filled with sun loving flowers like marigolds and other beautiful colors. The butterflies were flitting about as I was putting them in the ground, so that was a very good sign that they approved. I put in a bird feeder that has seen no action, so I might have to move it if they don’t show up in a couple of weeks. The cardinals, jays, doves and other birds have been flitting around in the trees, but they are ignoring the feeder. However, the squirrels haven’t found it either, so there is still hope for the birds!

Enjoy my garden with me.  Ignore the bag of mulch; it made it to the garden!

More Beads: Individual focal beads are my focus along with chandelier components. 

Watches: Lots of new watches are  now available. While most of them feature my handmade polymer clay beads, some are made strictly from Swarovski elements and agates because I thought they were pretty!

Thimbles:  A dozen new collectible thimbles are now available. I went on a made creative binge of thimbles. Lots of flowers and butterflies. Get them while you can!

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:

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.

Focal Beads and Chandelier Components: I am focusing on making individual beads rather than sets for a bit while I play with new  techniques. In addition to the chandelier components, I am focusing on bracelet connectors.

Hotrod Calendar: I have one 2017 calendar completed, but I have so many photos that one is just not enough!

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.

Think Pink!

Pink is so sweet and so girly girl.  It adds a lot of femininity to a piece of jewelry or an article of clothing. Pink is less passionate than red, but offers an innocence instead.

Rose Quartz

This mineral can be cut into cabs, and when the light hits it just right, you can see a star within the stone. It can fade over time. It is the Taurus birthstone.

Rhodochrosite

This mineral is from the calcite series and raspberry pink is the most common color. Although, it can be found in faded pink or even orange at times. This stone is found in copper veins. This is the state gem of Colorado.

Tugtupite

This mineral is a lot like sodalite, and it can be translucent to completely transparent. The stones have the ability to turn deeper red as they warm up, so when worn, they can become a  warmer color if they are in contact with the skin. A mood mineral, if you will.



Pink Morganite

When these stones are green, they are called emeralds, but when they are pink, well, they are  pink. They vary from light pink to dark pink.



All of these lovely pink shades will have you longing for spring. Until it gets here, here are more pinks that you can own today!

Tiny Pink Flower Earrings

ResetarGlassArt

Pink Irish Rose
RSSDesignsinFiber 

Stiletto High Heel Shoe Christmas Ornament
KevsKrafts 

Chunky Necklace

Polymerclaybeads 

Breast Cancer Swarovski Crystal Bracelet

Linorstore

Zebra Print Crown Tiara Cupcake Toppers for Princess or Diva Party

AdorebyNat 

Rose Quartz Bracelet Bead Bracelet

TreasuresofJewels 

Embroidered Black Easter Dish Towel

SimpleEmbroiderySew


Handmade Bracelet Stack Wrap Pink Cats eye Swarovski Crystal Pearl
JazzitupwithDesignsbyNancy 

Morning Glory Argentium Silver Wire Wrapped Dichroic Glass Earrings
Umboshi

Pink Rhodonite, Rose Freshwater Pearl MultiWrap BOHO Gemstone Bracelet

KatsAllThat 

Bohemian Beaded Batik Bracelet
Wyverndesigns 

Hibiscus Flower Earrings

SolanakaiDesigns 

Peach Freshwater Pearl Dangles, Swarovski Crystals

Pretty Gonzo

Pink Bracelet, Gemstone Bracelet

Blonde Peach Jewelry

Opaque Light Pastel Bubble Gum Pink Handmade Lampwork Glass Beads
Covergirlbeads 

Pink Plaid Westies Pocket Tissue Holder
SewAmazin

Pink Heart Cat's Eye White Glass Pearl Beaded Earrings Sterling

BeadSouk 

Swarovski Indian Pink and Sterling Silver Fully Beaded Necklace

TheSingingBeader 

Pink Flower Handmade Earrings
ShadowDogDesigns 

Happy Easter Hanging Kitchen Towel With Hand Knit Button Topper

Hollyknittercreation


As you can see, there are  many ways to think pink.

Don't see what you are looking for?

You will find more gift ideas from these designers and artists here:


Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Red is for Passion
Green with Envy

Feel free to reach out and ask the artists and designers if they could make something just for you.
Enjoy
Julie and Blu