A picture is worth a thousand words...

This picture speaks for itself...

My daughter (left) and her sister-in law in Spain

having a "Live Fish Pedicure"!

I realize this is not recommended - but when in Spain...

Have you done this?

Stay Cozy

Vintage Finds...

Here are some goodies I picked up at a recent estate sale in my area...

This original "Dream Pet"...a pink weiner dog!

Three "little kiddles" with all their clothing intact.

These fabulous "Junior Instruction Books" circa 1916 reprinted 1962.

 The illustrations are awesome...

 Love these '60's - '70's boxes....

The print reminds me of some of the dresses my mom made for my sister and me.

 This photo book is in perfect shape...

I couldn't resist this "add-a-matic" counter - after all it is "red"!

Stay Cozy!

More red kitchen eye candy...a mini tour...

Here is more of mine...

Thanks for visiting...coffee anyone ?

Stay Cozy!

Granny Cake Francais...oui oui

So...I needed a little something  to brighten the day of one of our clients and dug outthis yummy French recipe I had tucked away. This is such an easy cake to bake for yourself or to give to someone else, and there is some fun history about this cake too.

The story is told that this simple recipe is one that grandmothers all over France are renowned for. The French name for the cake is actually Gâteaux de Mamie, which translated is: Granny Cake. What is so fun is the way these French grandmothers measured the ingredients – with yogurt jars!

In the past yogurt was mostly sold in little glass jars, (they are still available that way as well as in other containers) so the recipe starts out with one jar of yogurt...and the rest of the ingredients were measured in that same jar: two jars of sugar, 3 jars of flour, one jar of oil…etc. It turns out each jar holds one half cup, so it’s easy to translate the recipe to more classic cooking measurements.

• 
  
• ½ cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt, (1 jar)
• 1 cup jars granulated sugar , (2 jars)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, (3 jars)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• grated lemon zest, from 1 medium-size lemon
• ½ cup sunflower, grape seed or canola oil, (1 jar)
• 
  
• ¾ cup (1½ jars) of powdered sugar to sprinkle on top

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F (175˚C). Spray a 8-inch round cake pan with baking spray, rub inside surface of pan with a paper towel to cover evenly with the spray. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper and spray parchment paper lightly. Set aside
2. In a large bowl, combine the yogurt, sugar, and eggs, stirring until well blended.
3. Add the flour, baking powder, salt and zest, mixing to just combine.
4. Add the oil and stir well. Don't worry, at first it will seem to separate, but keep stirring till smooth.
5. Pour the batter into prepared pan.
6. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the cake feels springy to the touch and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Be careful not to over bake.
7. Cool cake on a wire rack for 10 minutes; then turn it out of the pan onto the rack.

Stay Cozy, Carrie

I love me some red in my kitchen...

My collection of red handle rolling pins...displayed in my mini shopping basket

 with a little red trimmed chalkboard.

and more...

...never too much red for me...it makes my cottage cozy!

Way to start my day...

Cracking open an egg and finding not one but two yolks is like hitting the breakfast jackpot. Without any outside interference, the odds of getting a  double-yolker are 

about one in every thousand eggs.

 The most yolks ever found in one egg is 9!  

That’s a mighty big omelet. 

Double Yolk superstitions:

• Pregnancy, especially with twins (for you or a loved one) I have twins does that count?
• Someone is going to get married soon (double yolks in one shell = union of two people in marriage)  Hmmmmm
• Plenty, good fortune – I like this one!
• You’ll get double your expectations (good things) This is good too!
• A death will happen in the family soon – (Norse mythology) Luckily I am not Norse!

Wishing you a Lucky "2-Yolk-Day,

Carrie

A Halloween Tablescape...

It's a start....I am sure I will embellish more as it gets closer to Halloween.

I love the new chalkboard place cards I just bought at Target...

they come 4 in a pack for $4.00.

Stay Cozy,

Carrie

gettin' my halloween on...

It seems a bit too early to me to start decorating my porch and entry for Halloween....although  I have seen some pumpkins popping up in the neighborhood.

  In the meantime I am getting my Halloween crafting on...

until I feel I am ready for the full on decorating...

I created this little "cottage cutie" peg doll who is ready

 for her Halloween party!

And my sister at Saturday Finds sent me one of her darling "posey" creations...
She has so many cute originals over there.

Keeping it Cozy,

Carrie

Worthy of a "pin"...or two

a drawer full of brooches + an un-used fabric photo holder

= a new home for my fancy pins...

Stay Cozy,

Carrie

Dear Friends...

I haven't been blogging for quite some time...so many things have happened in my life; moves, job changes, illness and surgeries, ...weddings...deaths...new babies, heartache and joy...life goes on. The atmosphere of social media has changed too; there's Facebook and Instagram,,,Twitter, Vimeo and LinkedIn...YouTube, Tumbler...the list goes on and on. There really is no end to the "World Wide Web". We each have 24 hours in any given day and we have to make decisions how to use them. I have missed my blog and the friends I made here. I missed the positivity and creativity found here. No ads...no pop-ups...no competition for "friends"! Just a forum to share my life and the things I like to do with like minded people. So here I am...back to my little spot at "Cottage Cozy". And it feels good to be home...I'm looking forward to catching up.

Stay Cozy,

Carrie