Congo Bars - A New Favorite.

 

I admit it.

 

I'm a sucker for a really good chocolate chip cookie.

 

So, when I saw this photo from

www.sixsistersstuff.com

I couldn't resist the urge to

make some for myself.

 

Here's the recipe which is very easy to make.

I added all the ingredients into a bowl and mixed.

Then, I added the chocolate chips and nuts.

 

Congo Bars Recipe:

(Recipe adapted from Bakerella)

2 3/4 c. all purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. butter, softened
2 c. brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 package milk chocolate chips
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Set aside. Combine butter and sugar using a mixer until blended. Add eggs, one at a time to sugar mixture, mixing on low in between each addition. Add vanilla and mix. Add flour and mix until combined. Stir in chips and then nuts (optional).

Coat a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray and spread batter evenly into dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown.

 

 

They are DELICIOUS!  A great bar to take on

a picnic or to a family gathering.

 



Motivational Art #13 Blossom

Uninspired?

Somedays, I'm just too tired to be inspired. 

You know what I mean? 

That's why, I was so happy when some friends of ours invited us on their boat for a ride on Lake Minnetonka. 

What an inspiring night it was. 

Beauty everywhere the eye could see.  I have pictures.

This one is my favorite.  What a great looking sun?

A great looking view.

Sweet cottage.

Couldn't you just write a best seller here in this cottage, only way to it is from a boat?

Bill

Toni

These two are some of the most talented people I know.

They have awesome taste and they turn every home they live in, into a masterpiece.

Each time I go to their home, I feel like I am walking into the pages of House Beautiful Magazine.

I photographed a few area's in their yard.

The Pond

The view of Lake Minnetonka from their backyard.

Patio

Bill painted his deck floor with two colors.
Love it.

Nice.

Thanks Bill and Toni for a great night.

Let's do it again soon.

Doodle Inspired Yay!

Oh my, I just hate that feeling when I sit down wanting to draw something and everything looks like ick.  What's happened to me?  It feels horrible.  Just like that nasty writers block I tend to try to avoid by not writing.  Well, the other day I was paging through a magazine and it hit me.  OMG, how beautiful is that design?  It sparked a design of my own.  Oooh, I'm just in love with black and white, curves and dots, lines that move freely and continuously.  It's pure pleasure to create, and to admire.

I love it when inspiration like that comes to me.  Just love it.

TaDa!

P.S. I'm working on the opening of my Etsy store.  Art will be available for purchase there soon.  I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, other news is:  I'm working on the novel and think I'll have it available on Amazon very soon.  I can feel it.  I just have some last minute formatting and extra back pages to finish up.  You'll be the first to hear when it is available to purchase.

Thanks for checking in.

Virginia
www.virginiajbailey.blogspot.com

Pictures of My Backyard

Thank you all for your comments about my photography.  I love to walk around my yard or anywhere and capture that perfect view.  It's been a very warm summer here in Minnesota and I am fortunate to have a swimming pool in my backyard.  Summer has been so busy.  July always feels like the busiest month of the year.  August is a close second with our local Carver County Fair and then the biggie, the Minnesota State Fair.  That's where I first fell in love with my L'Paige Lipsticks.  (visit my online store for more information on that.)  So, here are some pictures I took the other day.

Each summer a mama bird picks this bird house to birth her babies.

I can hear them chattering away.  I see them wiggle around in the nest but I'm sure

to keep my distance.  I don't want the mother to abandon them.  I can see her

watching me from a tall pine tree close by.

Keep cool everyone.

Motivational Art #12 Try Thankfulness

My Process

I love watching artists create their paintings.  Each step of the way I find myself admiring their work and saying okay,  Stop.  It's perfect.  But, no.  They keep adding and adding.  I didn't understand.

They would add a new color that I'd think is way too dark, then they would add another color, or this shape or that texture.  Soon, I would be loving this too.

Finally they would have that feeling.  The feeling of this is done.  It is what I want.  But, it was that whole process, the creating, the changes that was the feeling that makes them feel the creation process.

Not unlike a recipe.  With each new ingredient or step it takes on this new look, new feel or taste.

Now, I get it.

Here's my process:

Is it done?

I add darkness.

Maybe some color?

More color...

Now,  I feel like it might need light again.

What do you think?