MMMM>>>>mmmm

Can you smell them? Lemon blueberry muffins...yummmmy.....

Surprise !!

Look at that! Never see me for weeks...then...twice in the same day. Hah!

and...I have a sweet surprise.

Chocolate Date Loaf

1 cup chopped dates

1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup boiling water

1 tsp. Vanilla

3/4 cup butter or margarine

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup cocoa

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt ( optional… lol ….I never use it; I think there is plenty in the butter)

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

In small bowl combine dates, soda, boiling water and vanilla. Stir; set aside to cool.

In mixing bowl, cream butter & sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating ‘til smooth. Add cooled date mixture and stir.

Measure flour, cocoa, soda, choc. chips and salt into separate bowl. Stir to mix well, then pour flour mixture into mixing bowl. Blend until just moistened. Spoon into large greased and floured loaf pan ( 9 X 5 X 3 inch ). Dust with a bit of cocoa powder instead of flour if you don’t want any white on outside of your loaf. Bake for 1 hour at 350 F or 180 C or until it tests done. Wait about 10 mins. for loaf to cool a bit before removing from pan to a rack to finish cooling.

Yummy, moist … decadent ….

ooops .... sorry... just crumbs left....

I am a bit ashamed...

...... not keeping up very well with this blog at all. It takes second place to my bear making blog and that's a big FuR SURE. Oh, well...at least it is still here. I almost deleted it a few times and then decided...just continue with it when I can... send a few flowers...or other cute or pretty things...and my blog buddies will know I still come here on occasion...as do they! Plus.... the recipes and pics are here....for others to use and enjoy. That is a good thing.

I want to get the Chocolate Date Loaf recipe done soon....not sure if Gaby is waiting for that one but it maybe the one she was mentioning. I will try to get at that later today or tomorrow. I am working ever so diligently on my entry for the 10th anniversary or Lotus Doll challenge. After doing a lot of changing...and making my sitting room into a studio/craft room ( I still can't decide what to call it....) I just wanted to enjoy looking at it. It was so beautiful and shiny and tidy... but..had to get to work, and now...it is a mess of course. One cannot create without making some kind of mess. Actually for me it is some unbelievable kind of mess. Ah, well...it can be tidied once again when each project is completed.






I leave you with some softness ....

my sister's beautiful Tiffany.....

... who is also very talented. She plays "tunes" on some little chimes that are attached low enough on the 'fridge so that she can reach them!




Good girl!