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Oh these beautiful May days...they're some of our favorites of the year! With cool mornings that warm up to breezy sunshine-filled afternoons, there's no time more perfect to enjoy the outdoors. Add in a celebration of Mom and kicking off summer, and it just doesn't get much better.
We're sharing a brand new cookbook with you in this month's eLetter and there's even a chance you could WIN a copy too...keep reading for all the details! Scroll down for special sneak peeks inside the book too, including a mom-approved recipe that you'll love. With all the super quick & easy recipes, Simple Shortcut Recipes is sure to become a trusty kitchen companion.
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Thanks for joining us for the May edition of Feather Your Nest. We know how busy you all are, and we're glad you take the time to read and share with us. There are no better fans out there than ours...thanks so much for your friendship.
P.S. Do you have a question you've always wanted to ask us? We'll be answering some of your questions in next month's eLetter... click here to send 'em our way!
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Wouldn't you love to have the time to prepare every meal from scratch? So would we, but we know that in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it can certainly be a challenge.
That's where Simple Shortcut Recipes comes to the rescue!
In this brand new cookbook, you'll find our very best collection of "almost homemade" recipes gathered from busy home cooks just like you! You'll save time by using convenient shortcut ingredients from the supermarket, such as deli roast chicken, frozen dough, ready mixes and other pantry staples.
With a little advance preparation, plus a few of our mom-tested tricks and tips, you'll find that a homestyle meal (or treat!) is never out of reach. Enjoy these shortcut cookies below...they're some of our favorites, and we know you'll love 'em too!
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Fudge Puddles
Early Bird Reviewer, Tina Butler of Royse City, Texas shared this quick & delicious recipe with us. Adapted from another favorite, the time-saving addition of a cookie dough mix landed it in Simple Shortcut Recipes. Tina writes, "Two things that are top on my list: chocolate and peanut butter. Oh,
how they go together so well. This is a simplified version of a great cookie recipe...you save time by using a mix for the cookies, and the filling is the same."
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2 17-1/2 oz. pkgs. peanut butter
cookie mix
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. butterscotch chips
| 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 t. vanilla extract
Optional: chopped nuts or sprinkles
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Prepare cookie mix according to package directions. Chill dough in the refrigerator for at least one hour, or in the freezer for 15 minutes. Form dough into one-inch balls. Grease mini muffin tins; add one ball to each cup. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove from oven; make an indentation in the center of each ball. Cool in tins for at least 5 minutes; transfer to a wire rack. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine remaining ingredients except nuts or sprinkles. Microwave on high setting for one minute. Stir well. Continue to melt as needed, 15 seconds at a time, until smooth. Immediately fill cookie cups with chocolate mixture. Garnish with nuts or sprinkles, if desired. Cool for one hour. Makes 4 dozen.
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Visit our Early Bird bloggers to see
sample recipes with step-by-step photos!
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Click below to view the Simple Shortcut
Recipes cookbook trailer!
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One of the things we love about Pinterest is that it's brimming with handy tips, time-saving tricks and inspiring ideas...not to mention recipes!
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So how can you join in the Scavenger Hunt fun?
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2. Create a board called "Simple Shortcuts Scavenger Hunt"
on Pinterest.
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3. Add one (or more!) pins to represent each of the following
categories...
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•Cooking
•Baking
•Recipes
•Ingredients
•Easy Clean-up
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•Party/Entertaining
•Crafts
•Decorating
•Gardening
•Organization
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4. In the description of each pin, mention us by adding the text
@gooseberrypatch along with one of the categories from above.
For example, "This is my Baking shortcut for the
@gooseberrypatch Simple Shortcuts Scavenger Hunt!"
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5. Complete your board before May 13th at midnight, EST. We'll choose
5 winners to receive a copy of Simple Shortcut Recipes.
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You won't believe how easy it is to whip up this pretty apron from vintage-style linens you probably already have in your stash. We love the idea of repurposing linens for projects like this...depending on the pattern of tablecloth, the selvage can even lend a built-in finished edge. What a great simple shortcut for the craftroom!
You'll find this project in our craft book, Sew Simple.
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Tablecloth Apron
You'll need:
Vintage-look tablecloth
Embroidered hankie
3/4" diameter button
Use a 1/2" seam allowance for all sewing, unless otherwise noted.
For the apron skirt, find a pretty spot on your tablecloth and cut a rectangle the size you want. Ours measures 17" x 28". Press 1/4" of the short ends and the bottom long edge (if unfinished) of the skirt to the wrong side twice; hem.
For the piece that will become the waistband and tie, cut a 6" strip the length of the tablecloth. Ours is 72" long. (If you'd like yours to be longer than your tablecloth, just cut a waistband strip 1" longer than the apron skirt and two more strips for the ties and then sew them together.) Press a 1/2" edge of the ends and long edges to the wrong side. Matching wrong sides and long edges, fold the waistband/tie in half. Center and pin the top of the skirt between the pressed edges of the waistband/tie. Sew along the pressed ends and edges.
Cut a pocket from the tablecloth. We cut ours 7-1/2" x 8". Cut a corner from the hankie to fit on the pocket. Matching the raw edges, layer right sides up and pin the pocket and hankie piece together. Press the top edges 1/2" to the wrong side and topstitch. Press the side and bottom edges 1/2" to the wrong side and topstitch into place. Press the side and bottom edges 1/2" to the wrong side and pin to the apron. Topstitch along the remaining pressed edges. Sew the button to the point of hankie, as shown.
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If you try your hand at this apron, we'd love for you to
post a photo on our Page on Facebook. Even if you don't,
we'd love to see what's new in your craftroom...click here
to share your photos!
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