Apple Cider Cookies

The cookies were a big hit!! Children and Adults loved them! The aroma filled our home with the scent of fresh picked apples right from the farm. Sheffield “Apple Pie Spice” is a lovely blend of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspice, Ginger, and Cloves. This was our free gift when we purchased our teas a couple of weeks ago. The shop owner also gave us a little recipe card for their “Caramel Apple Cookies” which would have made three dozen cookies if made correctly. The recipe is linked above which is free on their website, and I also linked their pie spice which you can order if you would like to purchase it. I used one rounded teaspoon instead of maybe two per cookie and they were a bit more bite sized than the picture showed. My brown sugar was all clumped (afterwards I added an apple slice to help fix this situation) and I think I ended up using one cup of Brown Sugar instead of the Cup and a Quarter Cup the recipe called for. Everyone seemed to like the smaller portions that added a nice pop of flavor to all of our palettes. I think I will use one rounded teaspoon when I make these cookies in the future as well. 

My family was in town to go to the Pumpkin Patch at Gilcrease Orchard with us and I wanted to make something special for the kids. Pumpkin Soup was a give in and some sourdough with pumpkin added to it accompanied the soup nicely. The cookies were an afterthought because the Orchard also makes delicious apple and pear cider which we had on hand in our fridge. I thought the cider would go nicely in the cookie recipe and substituted it for the apple juice. Each cookie had the delicious flavor of the cider and the kids ended up enjoying the apple cider at the orchard the next day as well. I did not make the Caramel frosting for the cookies but will definitely be trying this next time. If you end up frosting the cookies with the Sheffield recipe, please let me know in the comments, or by contacting me, how they turn out. I would love some feedback. Baking sure does bring everyone together and warms the home in such a wonderful way. I hope you all have a Soulful Sunday and thank you for reading my blogs!

-Karen Hilliard

The Art of Whimsy

Whimsical is defined as playful or amusing, also as appealing. This pumpkin series is meant to bring a jovial jive so they dance through the minds of each viewer and take each person to a land of wonderment. The land of awe where anything is possible and the world is full of all the colors on the spectrum. There is a play of light and dark throughout this series including various undertones with different techniques. Water play and detailed brushwork went hand in hand with each piece and the ink came at the beginning, middle, and end. Every time I look upon these pumpkins, I am transported back in time to happy memories of holidays with my family and the warmth this time of year brings. These colorful wonders also ground me into the present moments I am having with my little family at the Pumpkin Patch and watching our daughter explore the natural world. The paintings also give me hope for our future and dreams we have coming into fruition. Consistently putting in the time, hard work, and dedication needed for these goals to become a reality. This series is definitely a fun project for me.

Every year the pumpkins we choose change yet we always try to find the majority for eating. We cook soup, scones, breads, etc. If you have a recipe or a link to one, please share it in the comments below. The previous blog Pumpkin Soup was supposed to be about soup, yet, as writing is a form of art, it took two directions. That blog became one of hope for others and an outstretched hand. This blog comes back to the original sentiment of the series and the loveliness I am trying to spread in the world, one painting at a time. Whimsy means fanciful, which is in one’s imagination, and behavior for which we act. These paintings are a glimpse inside my mind which is a spider web of wondrous thoughts, hopes, and dreams. Each brush stroke, dot of the paintbrush, or pen is a thought from me to you. I see many different images in the lines of my creations and usually am smiling the whole time while working on these fun little pumpkins. I occasionally have a determined or concentrated look on my face and then a chuckle comes from my mouth while the water flows its own way again. These little pieces are meant to bring magic and humor into your life and to be viewed with whimsy. I love how each painting is unique and not one is painted the same!

Wishing you all a Wonderful Weekend! Thank you for reading.

-Karen Hilliard

Karen Hilliard Art | Pumpkins 2024 Number 8
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