Fall Table

Recently, we celebrated my Moms 78th birthday.  I prepared a nice homemade dinner and wanted the dinner table to be festive and colorful for the season.
Since her birthday is in the fall, I used the simple fall decorations I already had, a round, gold Tiara platter that I've had for many years, a 45" square of a fall print and table cloth. I divided out the sections between each corner of the square and tucked the ends up under the edge of the plate to make the pattern of the petals.  The platter has stems of fruit you can purchase at a craft store, nuts, acorns, and even some napkin rings made like pumpkins and scarecrows.
I think the table turned out very nice.  I enjoy decorating and I'm trying to decide how I want to do the table for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

*You can click on images to enlarge them.*

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Betty Crocker's Peanut Butter Cookies

This is my favorite Peanut Butter Cookie recipe.  I've tried many but this is the one I always come back to.

1/2 cup shortening (can use half butter or margarine, softened or can use all softened margarine)
1/2 cup peanut butter (I prefer smooth and creamy)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 egg
*1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
*3/4 teaspoon soda
*1/2 teaspoon baking powder
*1/4 teaspoon salt

* If using self-rising flour, omit soda, baking powder and salt.

Mix thoroughly shortening, peanut butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and egg.  Blend in flour, soda, baking powder and salt.  Cover and chill.

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Shape dough into 1-inch balls.  Place 3 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet.  With fork dipped in flour, flatten in crisscross pattern to 2 inches.  Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not hard.  (I sometimes dip my fork into granulated sugar instead of the flour.  It makes the cookies shine even after they are baked).

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.  I always double this recipe because they don't last long.

Instead of having a plain peanut butter cookie, I sometimes place a Hershey's Kiss on the top of the cookies or stir in chocolate chips or plain M & M's into the cookie dough.  It makes them taste more like a Reese's Peanut Butter cup.