Chinese Butter Spritz Cookies -2019 Year of the Pig, Happy Chinese New Year!

We here at Pig In Mud are very excited to welcome the 2019 Chinese New Year on Tuesday, February 5th, it's the Year of the Pig! In honor of that I thought I'd make some Chinese Butter Cookies and while the little piggy sprinkles may not be traditional... Well, I just had to add some:@) What makes these spritz cookies different? Extra butter and the addition of self rising flour.

To make self rising flour: Mix 1 C bleached A/P flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt.

These cookies are crispy, buttery, light and very tasty! Perfect cookies for a nice cup of tea.

But... I'm always honest folks...
I had a feeling the extra butter and lower oven temperature would tend to make the cookies spread and flatten out...
And I was a little disappointed to find that to be the case.
Adjustments for my second tray: Chilling the formed cookies for at least 15 minutes and increasing the oven temp to 400 degrees.
I even like the way the higher temperature made the edges brown, kinda like fortune cookies:@)

Chinese Butter Spritz Cookies-from Epicurious
1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
3/4 C powdered sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 C self rising flour

1. Cream butter and sugar.
2. Mix in egg and vanilla.
3. Sift in self rising flour and mix until soft dough forms.
4. Fill cookie press using a flower shaped disc.
5. Press cookies on to cool, ungreased cookie sheets leaving about 1" between cookies. I suggest thoroughly chilling the formed cookies on the baking sheet, this is a ~soft~ dough.
6. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 15 minutes, or until lightly golden on top. I preferred 400 degrees for about 10 minutes.
7. Transfer cookies to rack to cool completely.
8. Can be stored in air tight container at room temperature for 3-4 days.

Happy Chinese New Year:@)

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Saturday Snippets-Deviled Eggs for the Big Game, Piggy Pops and Barbie's Super Bowl Plans

Hosting or heading to a Super Bowl party this weekend and need to bring a side dish? Deviled Eggs are an inexpensive, protein rich, popular snack. I also love the fact that they can be changed up and taste great with different add-ins and flavors (Buffalo Wing Sauce anyone???). They can also be decorated or embellished a bit to add to the festivities. So why not mix up a batch of your favorite recipe and use half to create something a little different:@)

Football Deviled Eggs, Veggie Medley Deviled Eggs, Curry and Jalapeno Deviled Eggs, Smiley Face Deviled Eggs, Pinterest Board.

Looks like the As Seen On TV folks have a new item...

Piggy Pops!

Ha, ha, kinda cute and Pig In Mud approved:@)

And finally, it's Super Bowl Weekend and even Barbie is excited for the big game! A sign of things to come? I found this Los Angeles Rams miniature coffee mug at the thrift store last fall. I thought the Rams were playing well at the time (and they didn't have an Eagles one) so I picked it up for 50¢. Well, here we are a few months later, about to watch Super Bowl VIII and the Rams are in it! The scale of the mug is too large for a doll's coffee cup, it's about the size of a thimble, but it works well as a vase or diorama decoration. Barbie says, even though your home team might not be playing... It's always fun to have a football party!

Barbie's centerpiece is a cute button and bead bouquet in the NFC team colors of gold and blue.

Button and Bead Bouquet:

1. I used daisy flower buttons and green tinsel pipe cleaners for stems. 
2. Simply push pipe cleaner through the button hole, twist to hold button in place, shape the stem, and position the flower as desired.
3. A couple fuzzy pipe cleaner swirls add a little Rams blue accent.
4. And of course the football bead is a nice nod to the big game.
5. Twist all of the pipe cleaners together at the bottom and secure them inside the cup with some hot glue.

And every party has to have some munchies... I'm lovin' these fantastic Cookies from the Etsy Shop One Sixth Restaurant! Adorable and the perfect scale... I wish I could take a bite.

What team are you rooting for???

Whether it's the food, folks around you or funny commercials...

I hope you all enjoy the best of Super Bowl Sunday:@)

Happy Labor Day Weekend-Barbie Size Piggie Corn on the Cob Holders, Blingy Earring Top & DIY Tray

If you nose around Ebay long enough... You can find almost anything. Even things you'd never guess were out there. Like this Corn on the Cob for Barbie with ~PIG~ holders! Yep, too silly to pass up, had to get it:@) If you're one of my sons insert eye roll here... Ack, I love it.

Buttons also make great 1:6 scale food props: 

Grapes and fish on grill are buttons.

Barbie says it's entertaining season folks, with football parties, big family dinners and the holidays coming up, this Serving Tray from the Bottom of a Shampoo Bottle is a super simple ~free~ way to add a platter to your doll's kitchen accessories.

And the whole serving tray project took all of about 10 minutes-I like that in a project:@)

Blingy Top from Headband and Dangle Earrings Directions:

1. Wrap headband around the doll, covering her chest.
2. Pinch together at the back. Cut the headband leaving an extra 1/4" on each side for a seam allowance. You'll have a piece of headband that's about 5" long and you can make two tops from one headband.
3. Place right sides together, sew headband closed along cut edges, back-stitching top and bottom. This creates a tube top.
4. Turn so right side is out.
5. Slip top on doll to determine where to sew on earrings.
6. Either gently bend earring to slip dangle off, or cut the earring to remove dangle. Be careful and watch that sequin on top, it's not attached and will fall off.
7. Hand sew earrings to top.
8. Slip top on doll, decide what bottoms she should wear and admire your blingly new outfit!

What I did for tray:

I started with an empty shampoo bottle:

Cut the bottom off and washed it well:

 Then trimmed it as neatly and evenly as possible. I used these cutters:

If you don't have a pair they really come in handy!

I wish all of you a Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Don't know about you, but I might just toss a couple ears of corn on the grill:@)

The end...

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Thursday Favorite Things

Creamy Gummy Fish (or Bears) Candy -Low Carb using Sugar Free Jello

Calling for only three ingredients, this Creamy Gummy Candy is a very tasty, fun, low carb treat! While gummy bears might not be the first candy ~I personally~ reach for... I knew they are a favorite of my sons, and they loved this candy! And I have to say, I do think it's really good too. You can find actual gummy bear silicone molds on Amazon, I just picked up a fun silicone fish ice cube tray at Walmart for 98¢.

•  The original post just says to "heat the cream"... I suggest keeping the stove to medium and do not let the cream boil, once it feels hot to the touch add your gelatins.
• I bought the Walmart brand of unflavored gelatin, those envelopes are 7 grams each, I used two and it worked out fine.
• Some candy molds are sold with droppers to make filling each cavity easier. I picked up a turkey baster for 25¢ after Christmas... While still a little sloppy, it worked!
• Oh, and in case you're curious... My old buddy Earl says (remember Earl?) they do sell pig candy molds too:@)

Creamy Gummy Candy-from Keto thread on Reddit
4 serving size sugar free Jello
1 C heavy whipping cream
15g unflavored gelatin-my envelopes were 7g each, 14g worked fine

1. Heat cream over medium heat, do not boil.
2. Add gelatins, mix well and stir constantly while filling molds.
3. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (longer is better) before popping out of molds. 
4. Store colors/flavors separately in air tight container(s) in fridge.

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

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Saturday Snippets -Pig Alert and Pumpkins

While I know most folks are just starting to think about Halloween, in true retail fashion Walmart is putting out Christmas items... This little inflatable pig is just too cute, love the tail! Maybe Santa needs a new porky (portly?) sidekick:@)

Have you noticed how expensive pumpkin has gotten? And I hear they're calling for another shortage too... I found out Dollar Tree has canned pumpkin! I'm sure it's selling out fast as $1 a can is a great price, and with the expiration date in  2018... I'm stocking up:@)

It's a gorgeous fall weekend here in Philly, perfect for apple picking, hay rides and bonfires...

I hope it's beautiful where you are too! 

Have a happy day:@)

Witch Riding Pig Ornament

Pig Alert! Bet you never thought you'd see this:@) Because I'm, well you know... me... I Googled around and found this fun vintage witch riding a pig graphic (saw it a few places but only have a link back to Ebay). Earl felt this Hag-N-Hog Ornament aka Witch Riding Pig Ornament would be a great addition to the tree and I have to agree with him. Since she looks a little scary I purposely made the ornament as blingy and tacky as I could, just for fun!

Here is the picture I started with:

Go hog wild this Halloween and have a happy day:@)

Pig Eating Pumpkins!!!

Did you see the news??? Apparently there's a new variety of pumpkin that was crossed with a Venus Fly Trap plant and it likes pork!!!

 I can't help but think if Earl lost a few pounds he might run a little faster... I'm just sayin'...

 Don't worry, I saved his, um... bacon, and then got out my pie plate:@)

My son grew pumpkins this year and this one is from his garden.
He asked me to roast it and make pie, thought I'd have a little fun first... 

Stay tuned for a new pie.

Have a happy day!

Saturday Snippets and a New Grilling Toy!

Pig Alert! Check out the new grilling toy tool I found at World Market, it's a Terracotta Ceramic Pig Hibachi! Isn't she cute, I've named her Terra Bella:@) While this type of ceramic grill may be new to us in the US, I hear they're pretty popular in Mexico? Don't know for sure, just what I read. For some reason I really want to paint her, trying to decide if I want to embrace my inner hippie and go with a flower-power theme or lean more towards red, white and blue...

Bella will come out on those days I'm grilling a little something for just myself and feel like using charcoal. The grate area is 5.5" x 8", only big enough for maybe two hamburgers, 4-6 hot dogs, one steak, etc. Gonna take her for a test drive today. Stay tuned...

I found these Planters Chipotle Peanuts at Walmart-boy are they a tasty snack! I had to chuckle, while it wasn't on the ingredient list the first thing that hit my taste buds was lime... They have a smidge of heat to them but I consider them mild, especially if served with an ice cold adult beverage:@) If you like smoky chipotle folks, you'll love these nuts!

And lastly, I'll leave you with a quick pic of my 4th of July feather tree. 

Time for me to start focusing on making and finding decorations for the Eagles/football tree I'll put up next!

 I hope you're all having a great 4th of July weekend-

The rain has cleared out and it should be a spectacular two days here in Philly!

PS-I stopped by the craft stores today and they're already putting out fall and Halloween items... amazing.

Have a happy day:@)

Pig Alert! Hallmark Easter Ornaments

While nosing around Ebay one day I saw a couple Hallmark Piggy Easter Ornaments, how could I pass them up??? Ham-N-Eggs 1995 and Pork-N-Beans 1996. I love the little basket of jelly beans and overalls... Since they're only about 1 1/2" tall they'll work on either the big tree or my feather tree.

 I thought they were cute and different.

I don't know about you, but now I'm hungry!

Have a happy day:@)

Pig Alert! Snow Pigs

Let's try to make the best of things and have some fun with the snow folks! Snowmen come in all shapes and sizes... I had to chuckle at these Snow Pigs! Truthfully, if I thought of it I would have made an Earl in my own yard last Thursday... Maybe next time:@)

Lovin' this amazing detailed farm scene!

This sculpture (strategically placed pile?) is outside of a BBQ restaurant-too funny!

Cute little pig in the shopping district.

And my personal favorite... A Snowpig Angel.

Have a happy day:@)

PS-If anyone wants me to remove a pic-no problem, I'll do it right after work today (6PM EST-thanks).

Pig Alert! Barbie Style

Pigs show up in the darnedest places:@) While nosing around Ebay I decided to search "Barbie Pig" and was surprised at the variety of items listed! I used the best pics I could pilfer, er, borrow. So just for silly fun...

Country Fair Fun
(Got a chuckle from the red and white checked shirt, yellow shoes and pink hat.
I wouldn't mind a hot dog though...)

Bobble Headed Stable Friends Pets

1:6 scale pig cupcakes... 

She may not look like it but apparently Barbie eats cupcakes:@)

A different Stable Friends Set in original packaging.

Handmade Pajamas for Ken.
(Love the look on the faces!)

Piggy Bank to 1:6 scale.

And my personal favorite... A Pig Carrier.

For take your pig to work day??? 

Click here for my Barbie Pinterest Board.

Have a happy day:@)

Pig Alert! Christmas Fun

I hope your Christmas was very nice and Santa was good to you! 

He was rather clever here and did a great job wrapping one of my gifts...

I kept looking at it from all angles and shaking it but couldn't guess what it was:@)

A chalkboard pig!

Thank you Santa, I know I'll have a lot of fun with it:@)

Pig Alert! Christmas Decorations

Pigs at Christmas! They're not just for... well, um... dinner any more:@) I've shared this German Christmas saying before: wir haben Schwein, which means "we have good luck", and pigs are the symbol of good luck and abundance in many cultures. So, how are folks making pigs a part of their holiday festivities? Let's see:

A great vintage Candy Mold turned into an ornament HERE.

Pig Lights from Bronner's HERE. I think these would be great for the patio of a Grill Master:@)

A fun, silly Tree Topper:@) I missed the link back...

Pike Place Market in Seattle has Pigs Pulling Santa's Sleigh on the roof!

Had to add this Ugly Christmas Sweater-too funny!

My personal favorite, the Table Runner my sons gave me a few years ago.

And the silly song I made up for it... Sung to the tune of Jingle Bells:

Squealing Thru The Snow

Squealing thru the snow,

One silly elf on a pig,

O'er the fields we go,

Laughing at this gig!

Bells on curly tail ring,

Spirits make things bright,

What fun it is to laugh and sing,

A pig riding song tonight!

~~~~oh~~~~

Jingle [snort] bells, Jingle [snort] bells,

Jingle all the way,

Oh what fun it is to ride,

One holiday pig this day!

Everybody join in...

And of course there are many different ornaments to choose from.

Here's wishing you a joyous festive season...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone,
and enjoy your Christmas decorating and planning:@)