*Holly Bake*

Or should I say "Holly Canned." For the past week I have been canning different jams. Our peach tree didn't let us down this year so I made 3 pints of peach jam. Then...

My aunt gave me this Farm Journal -Freezing & Canning Cookbook and I found the recipe for "Peach-Pineapple-Orange" jam and I decided that I NEEDED to try it! First of all, I am a huge fan of Farm Journal Cookbooks it is my "go-to" cookbook and I have several of the series. And once again it didn't disappoint!

The jam was actually a slow-cook jam that took a lot of sugar so I decided to make it with pectin to speed up the process and use less sugar. (I'm not worry about the sugar intake I just didn't want the jam to be super-sweet.) Well, it turned out great! So now I have 6 jars of that jam.

Here's the recipe:
Peach-Pineapple-Orange Jam
4 cups of chopped peaches
1 cup crushed pineapple-drained
1 small orange or 1/2 of a large orange-juice and zest.
1 box Sure-Jell No Sugar/Less Sugar pectin
3 cups of sugar

Prepare jars and lids by boiling in large pot of water.

Mix all of the fruit together in large pot, add pectin and bring to full rolling boil stirring constantly. Add sugar and continue stirring until it reaches a full boil. Boil for 3 minutes.
Pour into prepared jars and process according to pectin package directions.





The same Aunt who gave me the cookbook also has blackberries growing along her driveway, so my husband and I spent a couple hours picking them. I was able to can about 12 pints of blackberry jam...yum...yum. Next up strawberries!

*Holly Paint*

Here are a couple of pieces I finished this past week. Of course I forgot to take "before" pictures of both, sorry!!

This cabinet is headed to San Francisco with my cousin, who is attending San Francisco State this fall. She needed an "Small" Entertainment Center. I actually found this cabinet on the side of the road with a "FREE" sign on it when I was heading out to her house. It was actually 2 cabinets put together with a long top holding the 2 together. My husband pulled off the top and cut it down and then put molding around the edge. I sanded, painted, distressed and then clear coated.



I sprayed the inside of the doors silver then decoupaged the paper and flowers on it to give the cabinet some fun details.





These chairs I found on the side of the road during neighborhood junk pick-up. Imagine them an ugly shade of gold/yellow and even uglier gold fabric seat.
With a little paint the turned out quite cute!
They will be for sale at the Maker's Market in September.

*Holly Bake*

If you are ever looking for a great baking blog check out Brown Eyed Baker. She is always posting amazing desserts!
I recently made these two desserts from her blog and I highly recommend both of them.

Snickerdoodle Blondies and Southern Banana Pudding. Both are equally yummy!



Today I made a family classic "Peach Pie."
This is the first year that our peach tree is producing fruit and I'm excited to make some peach favorites. My mom & dad are coming over to watch the kids tonight and I know my dad loves peach pie so this is for him!


Here is the pie: Unbaked.

And here it is all warm and golden brown...just add a little vanilla ice cream and my dad will be a happy man!

*Holly Paint*

Found this desk abandoned, lonely and in need of much repair. With the help of my handy husband it is looking lovey and ready for a home.
I painted it white and distressed it to show a little of the line details



This little dresser was a listing from a listing on Craiglist. A nice "grandpa-like" man was downsizing his house and was getting rid of a lot of furniture. I made out with a truck load of great finds. I did love the blue color of the dresser but it had too much damage to keep it "as is." So once again my handy husband fix all of her problems and I painted it white and added some new handles and she is just as cute as can be!

*Holly Paint*

Just finished this Memo Board today.

I found the poor lil' thing in a junk pile alone and wanting to be loved!!
It was a lovely shade of brown...imagine 1980's! After a little sanding, painting and some embellishments I think it is perfect for anyone's kitchen or office!

*Holly Paint*

Here is a few pieces that have been completed for the
"Stuff we Make Bazaar." I'm excited to finally have completed some furniture, I was beginning to think that would never happen!!

I painted this nightstand white and then distressed it to bring out the lines and details.

Cute turquoise stool, perfect for a plant stand or a a bedside table.

This nightstand is white with a pop of turquoise inside the cabinet and drawers. Great option for those who are a little scared of color!

All of my painted furniture is sanded, primed, painted and then clear coated for added durability.

*Holly Paint*

Found this cabinet on during neighborhood junk days. I sanded, primed, painted & distressed it and now it fits perfectly in our house. I painted the inside cabinet turquoise but forgot to take a picture of it, I just need to add handles to the drawers but I am trying to find some old garden faucet handles to use for that!

*Holly Bake*

I wanted to make something festive for the 4th of July and since I am a "sprinkle hoarder" I decided I better make something that I could use my Red-White & Blue sprinkles. Of course I had to have Chocolate and Vanilla cupcakes but now I have a few too many in our house even after giving some to our neighbors!

The recipe for the white cake I found at allrecipes.com for Simple White Cake. Then I made cream cheese frosting sorry no recipe for that.

For the chocolate cupcakes I use this recipe:
My favorite Chocolate Cake

(One Bowl Cake)

1 cup buttermilk
1 cup water
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2, 9" round pans or about 18 cupcakes. In large bowl combine buttermilk, water, oil, sugar, eggs, baking soda, and salt. Using a large whisk, whisk until well combined. Add flour and cocoa powder; whisk vigorously until smooth. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes for round pans or around 15-18 minutes for cupcakes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely.

Chocolate Fudge Frosting
1/2 c. butter, melted
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. cocoa
4 c. powdered sugar
6 Tbsp. milk
2 tsp. vanilla
Mix salt and butter together and beat in cocoa, Add powdered sugar and vanilla, beat in milk1 Tbsp. at a time until creamy.

*Holly Paint*

Fixed up an old thrift store jewelry box for my nieces' birthday present.

I took off the handles and sanded the box down and then spray painted in a flat black. Sprayed the handles silver. I sprayed wooden letters for her name.
I can't wait to make more!

*Holly Paint* Works in Progress

We've been fixing up our furniture for the "Stuff we Make Bazaar" even the kids are giving me free labor!! I'll post pictures of the finish product when there done.