Sorry I have not been here for a few days.
I was overwhelmed with responsibility and illness.
The kids have finally gone back to dads. And the mom has a new home.
YEAH!She moves in on the 1st. So I am glad that we were able to help her get back on her feet. It has been hectic here with her 4 kids staying for 9 days. And the twins were ill. Also mom (of the kids) was working every day too. So we were babysitting. DH and I also gave our master bedroom to the family during this time so they could all sleep together. Meanwhile we slept outside in the travel trailer.
I will start child care again today with two lil boys. These are not new to me just coming back after a years absence. And I have seen them regular during that time so they know the house. I need the money so that is a good thing. But the house is not really baby proofed anymore. And the youngest will have to learn the rules. Dang where did I put the baby gate at?Christmas was nice but quiet. We did our gift exchange on the Eve and had our neighbors (Nessa's group) over to celebrate with us. They said it was fun to do. We went there in the Morn and watched the kids tear through the gifts. I really enjoyed seeing the kids get excited. As a matter of fact the lil ones we had staying here did their gifts on the afternoon of Eve here too. We went Day to our in laws and exchanged gifts at two homes. Seeing our own granddaughter get her gifts from us made us happy. Actually we sorta gifted for several days. Not passing up that Nessa's b-day was the week before and my mom's (happy 75th) was yesterday. So it has been quite merry.Friday evening and Saturday I was really ill with the tummy stuff. Could not leave the bedroom or bathroom Saturday. So my CG and mom had to watch the kids. Thankfully I woke Sunday and was much better.Since hubby worked on the Eve and the Day we did not make a Christmas dinner then. Instead we did it Sunday the 28th (again my mom's b-day). My lovely college girl helped and did tons of the meal. Learning how to cook so much of it from scratch. She did the turkey by herself. Whoo-hoo. Do your remember your first holiday turkey? It was wonderful, tender and falling off the bones. CG also made cornbread dressing from scratch, Home made biscuits too! All the side dishes were from fresh veggies and we did not use any packages, mixes or premade anything. My dear hubby was a massive help too. He buzzed around and help stir, mix, cook and clean any and all that was asked of him. I think that the 60 deviled eggs alone was an amazing feat. Our sweet potato bake was so cute since it had white and pink marshmallows on top. We had an even dozen here for the meal and all ate more than we could imagine. Leaving tons left for this next week of dab dinner nights. So what was the finally menu?
Appetizers: chilled shrimp, relish tray, veggie tray, crackers & chips, dips, devil eggs
Side dishes: mashed tators, sweet potato bake, macaroni salad, green beans, broccoli and cauliflower, fruit salad, green salad, cranberry sauce
Main course: Turkey!!!
Desserts: banana bread, tons of cookies
Drinks: Tea, coffee and hot apple cider
Showing posts with label christmas cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas cooking. Show all posts
Miss Me?
From the Ravings of a Mad Woman
So what do you do in the middle of the night 3 days before Christmas?
Well first do not go to bed at 8 pm like a fool.
Stay up and brave the people living in your home (not family).
You know the ones sleeping in your bed while your outside in a travel trailer.
Okay, your being supportive.
Helping out friends who need the help.
That is alright.
And your being "with" your husband who has been getting up at 4 am for work.
But then in the still dark night.
When all are asleep something happens.
5 1/2 hours since you closed your lil eyes (tired from reading).
They pop back open.
Wide awake.
And your body says I have to go to the potty.
Outside of this trailer, through the cold weather to get inside the house.
So you put on your shoes (sleeping with socks on).
And wrap the robe around you.
Reposition the lil doggie back under the covers next to sleeping hubby.
And brave the winter winds to go do your business.
Once inside you know you can not go to the bathroom alone.
No another few pets follow you in there.
Flush, wash hands and now it has happened.
YOUR fully awake.
The lovely people who are sleeping in your room have not cleaned up.
So you pick up the toys, clean the tables, wash the dishes.......think about sweeping.
What the heck might as well as melt some chocolate.
(NO NOT KINKY)
Dip the biscotti that you made so it will be ready for breakfast coffee.
Hummm, make some coffee. (what the heck your awake now)
Check your blog roll.
Play a game or two online.
And look up and see it is only 3:30 am.
Oh it is going to be a long, long, long night.
Well first do not go to bed at 8 pm like a fool.
Stay up and brave the people living in your home (not family).
You know the ones sleeping in your bed while your outside in a travel trailer.
Okay, your being supportive.
Helping out friends who need the help.
That is alright.
And your being "with" your husband who has been getting up at 4 am for work.
But then in the still dark night.
When all are asleep something happens.
5 1/2 hours since you closed your lil eyes (tired from reading).
They pop back open.
Wide awake.
And your body says I have to go to the potty.
Outside of this trailer, through the cold weather to get inside the house.
So you put on your shoes (sleeping with socks on).
And wrap the robe around you.
Reposition the lil doggie back under the covers next to sleeping hubby.
And brave the winter winds to go do your business.
Once inside you know you can not go to the bathroom alone.
No another few pets follow you in there.
Flush, wash hands and now it has happened.
YOUR fully awake.
The lovely people who are sleeping in your room have not cleaned up.
So you pick up the toys, clean the tables, wash the dishes.......think about sweeping.
What the heck might as well as melt some chocolate.
(NO NOT KINKY)
Dip the biscotti that you made so it will be ready for breakfast coffee.
Hummm, make some coffee. (what the heck your awake now)
Check your blog roll.
Play a game or two online.
And look up and see it is only 3:30 am.
Oh it is going to be a long, long, long night.
Kaleidoscope Cookies
Ok we are now at 66 dozen on total cookie count. Hopefully tomorrow we will be able to start filling tins. Thankfully we have all but a handful of presents wrapped, sorted and bagged. Yipee! So I thought I would share the following cookie recipe. My helpers were my college girl and Nessa's dear daughter.
Kaleidoscope Cookies
Ingredients :
Method :
Kaleidoscope Cookies
Ingredients :
| 1 | cup | Butter or margarine |
| 1 1/2 | cup | Sugar |
| 1 1/2 | tsp | Baking powder |
| 1 | x | Egg |
| 1 | tsp | Vanilla |
| 2 1/2 | cup | All-purpose flour |
| 1/4 | tsp | any flavor of extract you would like to use |
| | | Several drops different colors of Food coloring |
| 1 | c | sugar |
Method :
- Beat butter or margarine in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and baking powder and beat till combined. Beat in egg and vanilla till combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour with a wooden spoon.
- Divide dough into three equal portions. Add extract and one of the food coloring to one portion; mix till combined and set aside. Add another food coloring to the next portion. Repeat last step with last food coloring; mix till combined and set aside. Cover dough and chill at least 1 hour or till easy to handle.
- Roll each color into logs. The lay each one beside each other.
- Next gently twist the logs into a long swirl,
- Wrap rolls of dough in freezer paper.
- Store in freezer up to 6 months. For easier slicing, let rolls of dough thaw in the refrigerator several hours or overnight.
- Divide sugar up into 3rds. Mix each with one color of food coloring. Stir til color is complete through out.
- To bake: Slice rolls into 1/4-inch thick slices. Placing the colored sugars in rows next to each other on a plate. Take each cookie and roll it through the colored sugar so it has all three colors on the edges.
- Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 F oven about 8 minutes or till dough just begin to brown.
- Remove cookies; cool on wire racks.
- Makes about 60.
63 dozen and counting
WELCOME TO OUR BAKING FACTORY
FIRST WE TAKE OUT ALL OF OUR INGREDIENTS.
AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE PLENTY OF COFFEE TO DRINK.
CHEERS!
FIRST WE TAKE OUT ALL OF OUR INGREDIENTS.AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE PLENTY OF COFFEE TO DRINK.
CHEERS!
USE OUR COOKIE PRESS TO HELP MAKE FESTIVE CHRISTMAS TREES.
THESE ARE SPRINGERLE'S A GERMAN ANISE COOKIE.
![]()
Image via Wikipedia
NORMALLY YOU WOULD USE A SPECIAL ROLLING PIN.
THIS WOULD MAKE THE COOKIES EMBOSSED.
Image via Wikipedia
BUT WE WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
Image via WikipediaTHIS WOULD MAKE THE COOKIES EMBOSSED.
Image via Wikipedia
Image by Joelk75 via Flickr
WE ALSO MADE NO BAKE COOKIES.THESE HAVE HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK CHOCOLATE COCOA IN THEM.
Image by Slightlynorth via Flickr
Image via Wikipedia
WE ALSO MADE BISCOTTI FOR THE FIRST TIME.
WE WERE QUITE EXCITED AT HOW EASY THIS WAS.
WE STILL NEED TO DIP THEM IN CHOCOLATE.
Image by Susan Sharpless Smith via Flickr
WE WERE QUITE EXCITED AT HOW EASY THIS WAS.
WE STILL NEED TO DIP THEM IN CHOCOLATE.
Image by Susan Sharpless Smith via Flickr
SINCE WE WERE DIPPING WE ALSO DID CANDIED PRETZELS.
WE DIPPED THEM INTO WHITE ALMOND BARK.
THEN THEY WERE DIPPED INTO COLORED SUGAR.
WE THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT SOME OF THE RECIPES.
WE DIPPED THEM INTO WHITE ALMOND BARK.
THEN THEY WERE DIPPED INTO COLORED SUGAR.
WE THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT SOME OF THE RECIPES.
-----------------------------------------------
Note: Springerle cookies can be left totally white, or the designs on them can be painted with edible coloring materials.
-------------------------------------------
Craving chocolate? Try these delicious no-bake cookies.
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup shortening
3 cups quick oatmeal
6 heaping T. Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate cocoa
1 t. almond extract
1/2 tsp. salt
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Roll into balls. Coat balls with a combination of powder sugar and cinnamon. No baking required!
---------------------------
Springerle Cookies
The cookie dough must be made rolled and stamped 12 to 24 hours before baking. Springerle should be made on a dry day, because high humidity prevents the cookies from drying properly. These cookies are very very very hard. If you do not want them in the traditional way then do not dry them. Roll and cook then store into cookie tins. Will be hard but not extremely hard. Also if you do not have an embossed rolling pin you can use cookie presses.
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1/4 tsp anise oil
4 cups confectioners' sugar*
grated zest of 1 lemon
4 cups all purpose flour*
1 tsp. baking powder
Optional: 2 Tbsp. whole anise seed
_____
* First sift, then measure by spooning gently into a measuring cup and
leveling off the top with a knife.
Beat eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed for 10 minutes, until they are very pale and thick. Reduce mixer speed to medium; add anise oil. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating continuously. After all the sugar has been added, beat on high speed for 10 minutes longer. Stir in grated lemon zest.
Sift flour and baking powder together into another bowl. Grad-ually stir into egg mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing with a large wooden spoon until dough is smooth. Transfer dough to a floured pastry board and knead by hand for 5 minutes, until dough is soft and smooth and doesn't stick to your hands. Wrap dough securely in Plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.
Lightly butter (or spray with PAM) two large cookie sheets (not the air insulated variety). Optional:Put anise seed into a small plastic bag and crush them lightly with a rolling pin. Sprinkle crushed anise seed evenly over the cookie sheets.
Lightly dust a pastry board with flour or confectioners' sugar. Break off one-fourth of the chilled dough, leaving the remainder tightly wrapped in plastic (at room temperature if you are working quickly, or return to refrigerator if you not). Working quickly, because it dries rapidly, roll out dough with a standard rolling pin to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Dust top of dough lightly with confectioners' sugar, flour, or cornstarch.
Dust the mold to be used with confectioners' sugar and shake off excess. If using flat Springerle boards, press them firmly into the dough, to stamp the designs on the dough. If using a Springerle rolling pin, roll it only once firmly across the sheet of dough. With a fluted pastry cutter, pizza cutter, or sharp knife, cut the imprinted dough into individual cookies, each with a separate design in the middle. (If you plan to use the cookies as ornaments, punch a hole in the top of each with a skewer or matchstick. After baking, put a ribbon or piece of yarn through the hole to hang cookies on the tree.)
Use a spatula to transfer Springerle cookies to the baking sheets, placing cookies 1/2 inch apart Roll, stamp, and cut the remaining dough, re-rolling any scraps, until all the dough has been used. Let unbaked cookies sit in the open air, uncovered, in a warm room (away from children and pets) for 12 to 24 hours to dry thoroughly.
Preheat oven to 300oF. Bake cookies on the middle rack of the oven, one baking sheet at a time, for 12 to 15 minutes. Watch carefully; don't let them over bake. They should be white on the top and pale golden on the bottom. Immediately remove the cookies from the baking sheets and transfer them to wire racks to cool for at least 1 hour. Brush remaining anise seed (if used) into an airtight container to use for storing Springerle.
When they have cooled completely, put them into the container with half an apple or a slice of bread set on top of the cookies, to make the Springerle soften while their flavor is developing. Cover container tightly. Leave cookies in container for at least 1 week (and up to 4 weeks), changing the apple or bread every few days to prevent mold from growing.
After their flavor has been allowed to ripen, Springerle can be eaten or stored for longer periods in the freezer. Stack them in a plastic freezer container, with a piece of wax paper between each
layer of cookies. Serve Springerle with coffee, tea, or a glass of chilled, not-too-dry, Alsatian, Rhine, or Mosel white wine. Makes approximately 60 two-inch-square Springerle cookies. (yield will vary, depending on size of cookie molds used.)
-------------------------------------------
Craving chocolate? Try these delicious no-bake cookies.
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup shortening
3 cups quick oatmeal
6 heaping T. Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate cocoa
1 t. almond extract
1/2 tsp. salt
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Roll into balls. Coat balls with a combination of powder sugar and cinnamon. No baking required!
---------------------------
Biscotti
"This is a simple, no frills biscotti.INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup white sugar
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon almond extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans or almonds
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, beat together the oil, eggs, sugar and anise flavoring until well blended. Combine the flour and baking powder, stir into the egg mixture to form a heavy dough. Divide dough into two pieces. Form each piece into a roll as long as your cookie sheet. Place roll onto the prepared cookie sheet, and press down to 1/2 inch thickness.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Remove from the baking sheet to cool on a wire rack. When The cookies are cool enough to handle, slice each one crosswise into 1/2 inch slices. Place the slices cut side up back onto the baking sheet. Bake for an additional 6 to 10 minutes on each side. Slices should be lightly toasted.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, beat together the oil, eggs, sugar and anise flavoring until well blended. Combine the flour and baking powder, stir into the egg mixture to form a heavy dough. Divide dough into two pieces. Form each piece into a roll as long as your cookie sheet. Place roll onto the prepared cookie sheet, and press down to 1/2 inch thickness.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Remove from the baking sheet to cool on a wire rack. When The cookies are cool enough to handle, slice each one crosswise into 1/2 inch slices. Place the slices cut side up back onto the baking sheet. Bake for an additional 6 to 10 minutes on each side. Slices should be lightly toasted.
-------------------------
Chocolate Dipped Pretzels
Bag of pretzels
White Almond Bark
Colored sugar
Melt White Almond Bark in microwave. Dip one half of pretzel in White Almond Bark. Then dip in colored sugar (can make with white sugar mixed with food coloring. Then lay on wax paper to set. . Let it harden and store in air tight container.
* You can also use the thick pretzel sticks and dip one end in the White Almond Bark and roll in some candy sprinkles or in crushed candy canes or drizzle with the white almond bark. These look really pretty too.
Time for Canning
Well I have been all tied up for the last few days. I am sorry that I did not get to comment on so many of the blogs that I have done a quick read through every night. Please forgive. You was not forgotten just that I did not have time to tell you
THANK YOU
for all the blogs y'all write. I so love reading all of y'all.
So what have I been up to?
Whew!
Where to start.
Okay. I finally have enough boxes for Santa's Helpers that I can quick collecting them. We are now over 350 plus the 200 folded ones. So that means I can stop the early morning (6 a.m.) and the evening (6 p.m.) collect times. I have managed to get to take some of the kids across the street to school in the mornings while doing these box runs. I know I love seeing the kids and they have enjoyed the warmth of the car compared to walking in the morning chill.
My mother has a great green thumb. Not me. But luck has it she lives with me so she cares for all the plants outside our home. Due to that green thumb we have numerous plants in pots. With it getting colder we needed to bring them in. So I managed to clear off tops of counters, tables, dressers, coffee table, file cabinet, sewing cabinet and even the freezer. Then we did the great migration of plants. Thankfully they are all inside now and should make it through another winter.
Besides that we have started the "Great Christmas Cook off". Well what do you call it when you make 22 mini loaves and 4 large loaves of banana bread and 47 jars of jam, jelly, preserves, conserves, marmalade and butter? And that is just in the last two days. My mother again is a wonderful help there too. She loves to do the jams and jellies (ect....) and I get to do the continual clean up. LOL I don't really mind it. And I made the banana breads. Tomorrow we have more marmalade to do along with banana pecan syrup and start the cookie baking. I plan on some basics there. Sugar (both kaleidoscope and red hots), peanut butter, oatmeal (w/raisins or blueberries or cranberries), Indian (or cornmeal) and my dad's favorite Springerles (anise).
I have managed to catch up on 5 loads of laundry, sweep the front porch (leaves everywhere) along with the front rooms of my house, lay some more tile and get all the dishes done from the last few days of our enterprises. So maybe you will forgive me not being here to blog. To talk and share. But it is my way of trying to battle the holiday blues. To just throw myself into a frenzy of work, cooking and preparing for this time of year. Next week I need to get all the Christmas presents sorted and wrapped. Wanna help?
Reindeer Poop Gift
You can paint and decorate a tin to duplicate the picture above. Or you can print this poem onto a solid colored tin.
I woke up with such a scare when I heard Santa call...
"Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"
I ran to the lawn, and in the snowy white drifts,
those nasty reindeer had left "little gifts".
I got an old shovel and started to scoop
Neat little piles of "reindeer poop."
but to throw them away seemed such a waste,
So I saved them, thinking you might like a taste!
As I finished my task, which took quite a while,
Old Santa passed by and he sheepishly smiled.
And I heard him exclaim as he rose to the sky~~~
"Well, they're not potty trained, but at least they can fly!"
Ingredients:
- 1 box cake mix
- 1/4 c vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
Mix wet ingredients, then add boxed cake mix.
The mixture will be quite stiff and difficult to mix, so if possible use a cake mixer with a powerful motor - a cement mixer would work even better. If preferred, coat your hands with vegetable oil so the dough won't stick and mix the dough (literally) by hand.
Roll the dough into balls approximately 1" in diameter. Place twelve at a time on an ungreased cookie sheet and mash to 1/4" thickness using a fork.
Bake 7-9 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove and cool on a rack.
Variations:
Passable Peanut Butter
Use yellow cake mix and add 1/2 cup peanut butter to the mixture.
Chocolate Chocolate Chip
Use chocolate cake mix. Add 8 oz chocolate chips and 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Make one batch of peanut butter dough and one batch of chocolate chocolate chip. Mash the two doughs
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