Friday, December 23, 2016
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Grinchy
Yes, I admit, I had some less than festive feelings today. I am pretty sure it all started when I let my chocolate intake dip below typical daily standards. I tried to recover with a freshly baked gingerbread man. He did his best, but surprisingly did not offer to help with any of my list items, so I just scribbled "gingerbread" off the list and moved on.
As I was cleaning the bathroom, I heard the unmistakable sound of the Whos. My heart did not necessarily grow three sizes, I mean I was cleaning bathrooms after all (while someone else was watching tv), but there was some comfort in the Grinch's plight.
Recharge those batteries, and don't forget to find time to relax!
As I was cleaning the bathroom, I heard the unmistakable sound of the Whos. My heart did not necessarily grow three sizes, I mean I was cleaning bathrooms after all (while someone else was watching tv), but there was some comfort in the Grinch's plight.
Recharge those batteries, and don't forget to find time to relax!
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Let it shine!
I know there were a lot of dark spots for people this year. My wish for each of you is that you find your light...
...whether it hangs on a tree or burns the wick of a candle. Maybe the flicker comes from those around you...
...filling your heart with joy.
I bet you are someone else's light. Shine bright my friend!
Oh Raffi, I will always be a fan...
...whether it hangs on a tree or burns the wick of a candle. Maybe the flicker comes from those around you...
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Repeat the meowing joy!
Cat on outerwear?
Questionably stylish.
Cat in outerwear?
Fantastic! "Time for Joy", indeed...can't you just see it in those murderous eyes?!?!
Just a few random tid-bits to help fulfill your internet cat quota today in this, the season of giving!
Cat in outerwear?
Monday, December 19, 2016
The way it crumbles
What? Another cookie post? But you just fed us cookies the other day.
This is true; however, do you really only have/bake/dream about cookies for one day during the holiday season? I think not.
On a recent visit to my grandmother's house, I got out her recipe box to use as a sort of conversation piece. I also wondered if there was some long forgotten recipe we should start making again, maybe something with mincemeat - no thank you. Some people have treats that only show up in December, but my grandmother was an every celebration needs cookies kind of a lady. Sure, there were raisin drop, chocolate chip or sugar cookies for everyday baking, but a whole other cast of characters showed up for cookie platters. Nuts and chocolate ruled the trays. The frosting color and sprinkle selection on the Italian cookies were the dynamic features.
When I started baking for the holidays, I never really made any of my grandmother's cookies because she was still making them. Instead, I would make something completely different to add to the overabundance of bite sized offerings. Spritz, cut-outs, gingerbread. Eventually I had small hands helping in my kitchen, belonging to people with their own likes and dislikes.
As I perused the recipe cards, I realized that while I longed for the days when those cookies seemingly appeared out of a spotless kitchen, I was not necessarily a big fan of many of them.
This is true; however, do you really only have/bake/dream about cookies for one day during the holiday season? I think not.
On a recent visit to my grandmother's house, I got out her recipe box to use as a sort of conversation piece. I also wondered if there was some long forgotten recipe we should start making again, maybe something with mincemeat - no thank you. Some people have treats that only show up in December, but my grandmother was an every celebration needs cookies kind of a lady. Sure, there were raisin drop, chocolate chip or sugar cookies for everyday baking, but a whole other cast of characters showed up for cookie platters. Nuts and chocolate ruled the trays. The frosting color and sprinkle selection on the Italian cookies were the dynamic features.
When I started baking for the holidays, I never really made any of my grandmother's cookies because she was still making them. Instead, I would make something completely different to add to the overabundance of bite sized offerings. Spritz, cut-outs, gingerbread. Eventually I had small hands helping in my kitchen, belonging to people with their own likes and dislikes.
As I perused the recipe cards, I realized that while I longed for the days when those cookies seemingly appeared out of a spotless kitchen, I was not necessarily a big fan of many of them.
But there was such comfort in the familiarity.
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Home
We went to celebrate an early Christmas with my in-laws this weekend. In addition to the new Lego sets, there was something else awesome in the car on the way home. Our college kid! The couch became assembly central today for both builders. There were empty plastic bags, extra pieces, boxes and instructions strewn all about - taking up my spot, Foz's spot, and spilling over onto neighboring tables. Yes, this is home!
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Good enough for me
This is the cookie press that introduced me to the wonderful world of the spritz cookie.
I still remember how the top would mysteriously come unscrewed just as optimum flow of dough was achieved, thereby ruining the process. I liked how you could see the extruder's progress, before I was seasoned enough to go by feel. This was the very press I used as a teen, on a blustery snow day after I awakened to a note from my mother to make some Christmas cookies. Surely I had something planned for my day off, like spending hours on the telephone or in front of MTV. To express my displeasure for being asked to make cookies, I colored half the dough pink and the other half purple - very festive wreath shapes. If memory serves me correct, I might have added insult to injury by filling the container too high, thereby breaking several cookies when I pressed that Tupperware lid down to "burp" it. (Mom, I would like to think I have baked enough cookies by now to make up for this lapse in judgement.)
I also own this Mirro cookie press that was a garage sale find. I was simply overcome by nostalgia and had to own the item. I have yet to use it for camel or any other shaped cookies, but it still makes me happy to see both presses together as my smallest collections of anything.
This is the press I use now. Neither end falls off, which takes away a bit of the challenge, but you can't see the amount of dough that has come out keeping things interesting.
Simply yummy! My favorite are the ones with a cinnamon red hot on them.
No, there are not any of those in this batch because the only dots I have explode in the oven, which does not make me happy. As with any other cookie, most families have their favorite spritz recipe, and mine is still the one from that little yellow Mirro booklet - Quick Spritz.
I also own this Mirro cookie press that was a garage sale find. I was simply overcome by nostalgia and had to own the item. I have yet to use it for camel or any other shaped cookies, but it still makes me happy to see both presses together as my smallest collections of anything.
This is the press I use now. Neither end falls off, which takes away a bit of the challenge, but you can't see the amount of dough that has come out keeping things interesting.
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