Birthday Boy Card

i went to a friend's place yesterday evening who had some friends visiting from sweden, whom the boy and i met 4 years ago while studying hungarian in a language school here. we certainly didn't think we'd see them again, after they went back. funny how life goes.

i made this card for one of the kids who had a birthday last week, using the sketch from get sketchy. this is the first time i've used one of their sketches, but i'm sure i will be more often!! i also made these yummies to take along, here's the recipe:Chocolate Haystacks

• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup coconut
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 1 heaping tablespoon crunchy peanut butter*

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, cocoa. Heat to boiling, stirring frequently. When it has reached a rolling boil, cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove pan from heat and mix in vanilla, oats, coconut and peanut butter. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool (will harden overnight).

* optional (i wouldn't use peanut butter in canada because of peanut allergies, but interestingly enough, that doesn't seem to be an issue here.)

Mézeskalács Card

when i saw the 'christmas in the old country' challenge at moxie fab world, i knew i just had to do something from here. there are lots of lovely folksy things to choose from, but i choose the tradition of making mézeskalács (honey cookies). these are somewhat similar to gingerbread cookies, but not quite.i made the cookie from cardboard, used a glaze pen to make the design and darkened the edges to look like a baked cookie. i also used my (just got) upper crest border punch.

here's a traditional recipe for mézeskalács:

500 grams flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 whole eggs
1 tablespoon lard
150 grams sugar
Zest of 1 lemon, grated
cinnamon
honey

Mix the flour, baking powder, eggs, lard and sugar. Add the lemon zest, a bit of cinnamon and hot honey. Knead it into a dough that is about as hard as strudel dough. Roll it out to half an inch thickness and cut into whichever forms you want. Place in a floured pan and decorate the top with whole or sliced almonds, or decorate with icing after baking.

Veggie Chili Recipe

i wanted to share one of my fave recipes with you - my vegetarian chili recipe! it's super easy and a hearty meal on cold evenings. the recipe is enough for 3 big bowls (enough for the 2 of us) but can easily be doubled. ingredient amounts are approx (you really can't go wrong with it). i hope you try it and enjoy it! 2 tablespoons olive oil
2 or 3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/3 onion, chopped
2 celery sticks, chopped
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 can kidney beans, rinsed
2 carrots, chopped
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 package chili seasoning
1/2 cup golden raisins
shredded cheese, dollop of sour cream (optional)

in large pot, cook garlic, onion and celery in oil until tender. add tomatoes, fill the can with water and add to pot. add beans, carrots, vinegar, seasoning and raisins. simmer at low heat, covered for at least 2 hours. add some cheese and/or sour cream if desired.