Weekend with Melissa Frances

I am very happy to announce that the blog has been launched for the Vintage Style by Melissa Frances weekend in September. Maggie and Billie have been working very hard the past month to get this finalized. This will be a great weekend of food, fun, projects and meeting new creative and talented women!

This weekend will be have 2 options; here is the break down.

Option 1 (they are calling VIP) Check in at Whitworth Ranch Retreat on Thursday. Meet and Greet on Thursday evening with Melissa over wine and hour devours.

Friday breakfast, some small projects, lunch and nice dinner all with Melissa.

Saturday continental breakfast- depart for Arlington where you will do an all day project have lunch and then  go back to the retreat for a nice dinner with Melissa.

Sunday continental breakfast- depart for Arlington again for another all day project, have lunch and then head back for another dinner at the retreat for your final evening with Melissa.

Option 2 is just the off site classes at Arlington Holiday Inn. You can chose to do a one day class or the combo with both Saturday and Sunday included.

Visit Craft Coach blog for more details~ You will find the button to be connected on my Blog page.

I will be posting pictures as Maggie and Billie release them, with upcoming projects, things that are going on with Craft Coach and more!

http://www.melissafrances.com/

http://www.craftcoachshop.blogspot.com/

My Spring Break Adventure

Dog Sledding is a must! It should be on every one's bucket list! 

I recently went to Vail, Colorado and was fortunate enough to go dog sledding with my family. I must say this one of the most exciting things I have ever done. You see and hear the passion in each one of these lovely creatures, while they get ready to head out on this race. They were all jumping around getting very anxious and ready for the run. Richie our musher, said they are born to do this. Alaskan Huskies have to run and exercises daily or they go crazy. Mom and I were so lucky to have Richie as our leader. He has been racing since he was 5, originally from Alaska in a family of dog mushers. He has recently moved to Co to be closer to his son. Richie did his first race at the age of 5, it was a 300 mile race... WOW!!! He has also competed in the Iditarod, which is a 1000 miles race. Richie has a team of 10 dogs, but owns 16. We learned a lot about the races, the teams and his passion for the sport. For him it is a way of life. He hopes one day to get back to Alaska and continue with his racing and we hope him well. Richie was responsible for giving us one of the best days ever, not to mention my beautiful and gracious sister for allowing us this venture. Thank you sis!  I have to throw in this funny quote from my hubby Justin, "If you are not the lead dog, the view never changes". HAHA, so true... 

My Easter favorite, Millionaire Pie

2 cups sifted powdered sugar
 1/4 lb butter, softened
2 large eggs
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 (9 inch) pie crusts, baked
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 cup canned crushed pineapple, well drained
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Directions:


Cream 2 cups powdered sugar and butter with electric mixer until fluffy.

Add eggs, salt and vanilla.

Beat until light and fluffy.

Spread mixture evenly into baked pie crusts. Chill.
Whip cream until stiff.

Blend in powdered sugar; fold in pineapple and pecans.
Spread mixture on top of filling and chill thoroughly.

Spring time

Spring is upon us and I love it! Spring and Fall are my favorite times of year. I love seeing all the new babies being born, flowers in bloom, spring time showers, kids playing at the park, butterflies and bees and birds flying and chirping. It all makes sense in God's big plan. I am amazed during spring when everything comes to life, just like Jesus being raised from the grave. With Easter coming this weekend, remember to notice your surroundings. Smell in the air, the flowers beginning to open up, grass getting a beautiful shade of green, all the things that prove each day that the world around us is a true gift from God and what a miracle it is. 

We always have a big lunch and Easter egg hunt at my Mom's house. We always have a lot of fun doing the "Adult" Easter egg hunt too. My Mom goes to great lengths to make our family holidays special. Thank you Mom for always bringing out the inner kids in all of us.. Now let the hunt begin, who is going to find the most eggs this year?? 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter and a great beginning to Spring! 

May God bless you all.

Chocolate Cobbler

Chocolate Cobbler
2 ½ cups sugar
1 ½ cups self rising flour
¾ cups milk
2 sticks butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup + 1 TB cocoa powder
2 cups boiling water


1)Melt 2 sticks butter in a 9 X 13 pan.

2)Mix together in bowl- 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour, 1 teas. vanilla, 3/4 cup milk.Pour this over the melted butter. Just drizzle over the butter.

3) In another bowl-Mix 1 cup sugar, 1 cup + 1 Table spoon cocoa. Now sprinkle this over the mixture in pan. DON'T STIR! Just sprinkle.

4)Now add 2 cups boiling water over the top of all of the above. DO NOT STIR! Just pour over all.

5)Bake 350- uncovered 30-45 min. May be runny when removed from oven-it's okay- let sit & liquid will be absorbed & thicken. Serve with ice cream- alone warm or cold.

Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad

Ingredients


1 medium-size purple onion
1 (16-ounce) package fresh broccoli florets
1 (3.75-ounce) package sunflower kernels
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup mayonnaise
4 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Preparation
Cut onion into thin slices; cut onion slices in half.
Stir together onion and remaining ingredients. Chill at least 2 hours.
NOTE: For a lighter version, substitute turkey bacon and low-fat mayonnaise

Craft Coach

I am very excited to introduce to you all Maggie Hamlin and Billie Long. Both have been my life long friends. These two beautiful ladies are both very talented. They are in the process of opening their mobile craft store. They will come to your next retreat, crop, party, shower, birthday, well let's face it any event that you need a cute and inspirational craft project!

They are currently working on a very special weekend in September. They have coordinated with a talented designer that will be instructing some classes. Watch their blog for more details to be announced soon.

Below are some things that Billie and Maggie put together for an event we just had at the retreat called "Beauty in Blue". Not only did they make some special garlands for me, but they also captured every detail in these wonderful photos!

Cinnamon Rolls~ My Mom's recipe

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Dough1/3 cup warm water
2 packages yeast (active dry)
1 T sugar
¾ cup milk
½ butter
2 eggs
½ cup sugar
1 tsp salt
¾ cup sour cream
6 cups flour
Filling¾ cup sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
4 tsp cinnamon
1 ½ tsp nutmeg or cloves
½ cup finely chopped pecans (optional)
½ cup raisins (optional)
Frosting2 cups powdered sugar
4 TB butter
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp maple syrup
　

Directions for Cinnamon Rolls

In a large bowl, add yeast, water, and 1 TB sugar. Mix and let stand about 5 minutes. The mixture should start to bubble.
Melt ½ cup butter in a saucepan, add milk to warm and ½ cup sugar.
Beat eggs slightly with whisk and add to yeast mixture.
Add the butter, milk and sugar mixture, stir together.
Add sour cream.
Add 5 cups flour and mix in last cup as needed to form a soft dough. Knead about 10 minutes until dough is soft and elastic.
Place dough in a greased bowl and cover. (spray bowl with cooking spray). Let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Punch down dough to deflate. Let rest about 10 minutes.
Roll out dough to 18x20 inches on floured surface. Brush with ½ cup melted butter. Lightly brush far edge with water.
Boil 1 cup water and add raisins. Boil raisins for 2 minutes, drain and place on paper towel to absorb additional moisture.
Mix together sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves.
Sprinkle sugar mixture over the butter on dough. Then sprinkle raisins and nuts over the sugar.
Roll dough into a jellyroll longways and seal the seam.
Cut dough into equal pieces 12 to 16 depending on thickness try not to exceed 1 ½ inches in width.
Place pieces in 9x13 inch greased baking dish (use cooking spray)
*** over night baking method*** cover dish with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator overnight. Next morning, let rolls set at room temperature 30 minutes to 1 hour. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
***Regular baking method*** bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
Let stand 5 minutes before frosting.
FrostingMix cream cheese and butter until smooth, add powdered sugar, mix until smooth add vanilla and syrup, continue to mix until smooth.

Let's get this building addition going!

Hello everyone,

I just returned from a fabulous week in Colorado! My family had a wonderful time playing in the snow. Now it's time to get back to work. I hope everyone had a great spring break.

We have our plans complete and they have been given to our builder. We are very excited about everything that is going on. We will be adding on an additional 1600 square feet to our craft facility. We will be extending that building off the back, adding 2 additional bedrooms (each sleeping 4), 2 additional bathrooms with step into showers, an additional craft room for 8, kitchen/dining area and a dedicated massage room.

I have had lots of questions about our add on and how this will be arranged with our existing groups. If you are on the books, your group will remain in the house unless you want to move to the new area. We are hoping the add on will be completed no later than 4th of July.

We will be able to accommodate 2 small groups or 1 large group. If you are concerned about the new arrangement, please contact me. Each group will have their own dining/kitchen/craft area. If you have a party of 14 guests/ we will not mix the groups. This will also allow for each group to either have their meals included or not.

We will also be hosting open crops on weekends that aren't booked last minute. The cost will be 50.00 and will include lunch and dinner on Saturdays from 8:00 am to midnight. If you would like to host an open crop for your group, we can arrange that as well. This would be a great way to have birthday parties/ mother daughter craft days and more.

We will also be teaming up with Craft Coach for classes, mobile craft store, make and takes and more. Owners Billie Long and Maggie Hamlin are both very talented women and I am so happy that their dreams are coming true.

I will be posting pictures as the construction begins.

Have a great week and happy crafting!

Craft Coach

Hello everyone,

I am so excited to announce a great blog by Mrs. Maggie Hamlin. She has made some beautiful things for Beauty in Blue and is working on a very special event in September that will be held at our place. Be watching Maggie's blog for more details on this upcoming event. You will not want to miss it!!

Check out her blog at www.craftcoachshop.blogspot.com

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