Artistic and Smart!

"The greater danger for most of us is not
that our aim is too high and we miss it,
but that it is too low and we reach it."- Michelangelo

My day is complete . . . more or less . . .!

I finally sat down with pen and paper and listed the cookies I want to make for Christmas. This year, I've sorted them according to type so I can do like-minded recipes on one day and not run back and forth trying to organize my thoughts on different planes! Don't be too impressed as I always decide on more than I actually get accomplished. So far, however, my pretty sure, most likely, sort of definite list of baking chores goes as follows:

Bar Cookies
Peppermint Brownies
Walnut Brownies
Walnut Bars
Cherry Coconut Bars
Date Nut Bars
German Lebkuchen

Drop or Formed Cookies
Amish Sugar Cookies
Gingersnaps
Snickerdoodles
Russian Tea Cakes
Oatmeal Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pecan Balls
Old-Fashioned Fudge Drops
Orange Gum Drop Cookies

Refrigerator Cookies
Pistaschio Neapolitan Bars (This is a new one that I've had in mind so the recipe isn't perfected yet!)
Lemon Cookies
Chocolate Nut Cookies
Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies
Chocolate Orange Sandwich Cookies

Rolled Cookies
Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies
English Spice Cookies
Spicy Roll Out Cookies

Special Efforts
German Sour Cream Twists
Slovak Butterhorn Cookies

This is my proposed list but I have a lot of recipe books and cooking magazines so things could change once I delve into the baking phase of the year. I will probably post a few of these cookie recipes but if you see one that interests you, I will make sure to post it right away. And to make the baking more productive, this year, and easier with the clean up, Costco started selling a large roll of parchment paper which is three times as much as the store brands for a third of the cost. Some of these recipes go back to my childhood and bring back some memories of helping my mother with the baking. I've discovered I'm more adventurous in baking than she was but each for their own moment in time.

The thrill of my day is I found an ancient cookbook I've been wanting for my own. The last searches listed this particular book from $40 to $350 as it dates to 1961 and it, of course, out of print. Today, I half-heartedly surfed around a bit and came up with one in reasonably good condition for $17! Merry Christmas to me! It has so many of the old-fashioned recipes I enjoy and know I will appreciate having at my fingertips.

Now, my next list is who gets cookies for Christmas. I alway make up five extra plates because there is always someone who needs a cheerful thought or that just, plain slipped my mind. Again, don't be impressed. I'm not that organized a person, I just work hard at trying to be that person.

Puts a new face on an old problem . . .worrying!

If you believe that feeling bad or worrying long enough will change a past or future event, then you are residing on another planet with a different reality system.

- William James

Explains a few failed 'friendships' in my life . . .!

Friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.

George Washington

From the Roman Breviary . . .

Hark, a herald voice is calling;
"Christ is nigh," it seems to say;
"Cast away the dream of darkness,
O ye children of the day."

Lo, the Lamb, so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from heaven;
Let us haste with tears of sorrow,
One and all to be forgiven.

Roman Breviary, Hynm enclara vox redarguit at Lauds.
(Ambrosian, 5th century)

Just figured it out . . .

I think mothers find Advent most hectic because while we try and observe the waiting period for Christmas and avoid starting in the celebrations too soon, we are still responsible for the prepartions required in order to have both the spiritual and secular goals achieved. The small ways I've tried to keep the 'party' from beginning is to encourage the anticipation through the baking, gift wrapping, and extra prayers for all we have been blessed with throughout the year.

One of the traditions that not longer happens (sniff!) is my husband and I taking turns doing Christmas shopping for siblings and the other parent. During December, no one is allowed to purchase anything for themselves which puts the emphasis and joy on thinking of ways to make everyone else happy. When they were very little, we let the children make their own decisions on what they wanted to give everyone which is probably why my younger son gave me a box of paper clips every year! One year, I got gold ones, another silver, and on an especially creative year, I was gifted with multicolored ones. He is 18 now and I miss my annual paper clips.

I took one of the children shopping for dad. He was my frugal one. He found a screwdriver for 49 cents and suggested we go in this purchase together and make it a joint gift.

When my college-graduate daughter was five, she said, "I love Christmas. I don't care what I get for Christmas because it is Jesus' birthday . . . but if I could have a puppy, that would be good!"

One year, when my oldest was about ten, his grandparents sent him $50 just before Christmas. He immediately had me take him out shopping with his money . . . I used the entire amount to get gifts for his siblings.

Most years, I do try and get Christmas shopping done before December. That way, any trips out into the Christmas crowds can be fun as we aren't in a panic for anything in particular. We are just picking up stocking stuffers and such. We can enjoy the hustle and bustle.

Christmas baking opens up the door to Christmas but I limit everyone to a taste of each kind of cookie and the rest of put away for gift giving and our own cookie plate to enjoy on Christmas. Frankly, that taste is good for anticipation as we all want more now!

Every year, we have new and different Christmas memories but the ones that a mother's heart truly cherishes are the candy cane sticky hugs and the beaming faces when you found them some, small item that made their Christmas perfect.

Two Too True . . .

"That's the funny thing about havin' a kid. They come with their own set of problems; make everything else you were worried about seem kinda silly."
-- Greg Garcia

(The worst part is the lack of an instructional manual that should come with our specialized model!)

"If there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist, it's another nonconformist who doesn't conform to the prevailing standard of nonconformity."
-- Bill Vaughan

(This is so evident in our teens, today. They all want to shock the grown ups yet look to each other for the way to shock value and end up conforming drastically! Not an original one in the bunch!)

Much sense here . . .

In prosperity prepare for a change; in adversity hope for one.

- Hubert de Burge

Gingerbread Cupcakes

This is a great way to start welcoming in the holiday season. Nothing says Christmas like gingerbread unless it is peppermint candy canes. This recipe makes 12 cupcakes so it is perfect for a fast dessert treat on a busy day.

Gingerbread Cupcakes
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 large egg
1/3 cup molasses
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup shortening, melted

Line your muffin pan with cupcake papers. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together the dry ingredients. Add the rest of the ingredients and beat until smooth. Divide the batter between the twelve cupcakes. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. Let stand to cool for a few minutes before removing cupcakes to a rack to finish cooling.

Ideas . . .
Dust the cupcakes with sifted powdered sugar once they are cooled.
I like orange or lemon frosting on mine. Anyone want a recipe, let me know!
Finely diced candied pineapple is good. Use about 1/4 cup.
Freshly grated orange zest perks up the flavor nicely.

Leftover Whipped Potato Donut Drops

I like using up the leftovers from any meal. My family likes donuts so everyone is happy when some whipped potatoes escape the hungry hoards at Thanksgiving! They go together quickly so you could make a decadent, surprise breakfast some morning for what will be a very grateful family.

Leftover Whipped Potato Donut Drops
½ cup leftover whipped potatoes
1/4 cup sugar
1 eggs, lightly beaten
½ cup sour cream
1 vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Oil for deep-fat frying

Cinnamon and sugar for finished donuts.

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, sugar, egg, sour cream and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; stir in potato mixture.

Drop by teaspoons into hot oil. A deep fryer is perfect but I have done will with a heavy-bottomed pot on the stove. Just heat and test a teaspoon of batter to check.

Ideas . . .

-Don’t care for s sugary donut, try dusting them with powdered sugar.

-A thin lemon glaze is good for increasing the flavor value.

-Go truffle-like and dust with a mixture of baking cocoa and powdered sugar.

-Mocha sound good, add some espresso powder to the cocoa and powdered sugar.

-If you are careful to seal it well, stick a chocolate chip into each teaspoon full before frying for a tasty surprise.

-You can substitute up to 1/4 cup whole wheat flour in the batter.

I have a few liberal relatives that might like this book . . . you think?

Sympathize with liberals who feel uncomfortable about celebrating "Christmas."

Helpfully suggest that they might want to celebrate the pagan festival of Julfest instead—where you still get to have a decorated tree in the house, but without those awkward Christian connotations. "After all," add, "it's what all the most dedicated Nazis used to do in Hitler's Germany, and they were pagan socialists just like you are..." From the best selling book by James Delingpole, 365 Ways to Drive a Liberal Crazy

Thoughts as we enter Advent . . .

“He who desires anything but God deceives himself, and he who loves anything but God errs miserably.” ~St. Phillip Neri

Another Saturday . . .

Some people wake up on Saturday with a sense of relief that they do not have to run into the office for work, today. Others dread the weekend chores that face them each weekend. The older I get, the more I'm just happy to open my eyes on a Saturday morning, feel rested and pretty good, and send out a heartfelt prayer as I jump out of bed and head for the shower!

My schedule seldom varies and I've gotten to view sameness as a blessing! Sameness gets me to morning Mass for a spiritual recharge. Sameness provides me with enough ingredients to feed my family. Sameness means my washer and dryer will take care of the laundry for me. Sameness is folding laundry and being able to stand there and be able to do so. Sameness is going to bed tired at night from working through the blessing of sameness in my day! Naturally, the sameness isn't always the same but the fact that I am alive and well to take care of whatever comes up, helps me to cope with whatever changes in the sameness of my life that might crop up . . . and still thank God.

My latest quilt is sitting on my sewing table, neglected! Fortunately, all the Christmas gifts of that genre were completed over the summer so it is merely a selfish wish to sit down and sew instead of get on with more pressing matters. I completed one Christmas shawl and am working on a second one that goes to my cousin in Germany. Thank goodness the postal system is a bit swifter than in years gone by as I have time to finish it this weekend, mail it out on Monday, and still have hopes of it's timely arrival.

Turkey leftovers today in the form of turkey vegetable soup with homemade breadsticks which were requested by my husband. Since he drew the short straw and had to work on a Saturday, the least I can do is make a meal he requested.

Besides catching up on the bills and bookwork, I have to seriously get my cookie baking list in order. I've gathered ingredients over the last month or so and intend to match what I bake to what I have on hand - no running out to purchase exotic baking ingredients. Okay . . . probably not!

Granny's Oatmeal Crisps

This is one of the few oatmeal cookies that are also a cut-out cookie. Although you can use any shape cookie cutter you like, I tend to go with the circle so I can sandwish them together with some thick jam or a buttercream icing. You could also dip half the circle in melted chocolate and then in ground nuts. Lots of room for creativity here!


Granny’s Oatmeal Crisps

1 1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup all-purpose flour, divided
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar together and beat in warm water. Mix together the remaining dry ingredients and add them along with the vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Add the cup of flour, blending in carefully.

Roll out portions of the dough and cut out circles with cookie cutter. Place on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake for approximately 10 minutes or until golden brown around the edges. Cook on wire rack. Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.

One of my versions of Macaroni and Cheese!

I don't always stick to the same recipe when I make Macaroni and Cheese. Sometimes, I want to go high tech and use extra ingredients. Other times, it is a budget meal as I hunt down every last bit of cheese to be found in the refrigerator. I like making a sauce for the meal. I like going the easy route and only have one really messy pan to clean. This recipe is my easy method.

Macaroni and Cheese
1 pound of pasta, your choice of shape although elbow is traditional
2 1/2 cups of grated, sharp cheddar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 stick butter
2 tablespoons dried onions
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
Dash of chili flakes
1 cup (or so) of milk
Bread or Panko crumbs

Cook your pasta in salted water until it is almost done. It will finish cooking in the oven. Set aside.

Grate the cheese and place in a large bowl. Mix in the flour, dried onions, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, papper, and chili flakes. If you have a food processor, you can cube the cheese and mix all these ingredients as you process the cheese.

Return the pot of cooked noodles to the heat and add the milk and butter. When the butter has melted and the milk is getting hot, add the cheese mixture and stir until the cheese melts and a sauce forms. You might need to add more milk. Taste for salt and pepper.

Spread the cheese noodles in a greased baking pan. Top with the bread crumbs or Panko crumbs. Grate some Parmesan or Romano over the crumbs, spray with vegetable oil spray to help the crumbs crisp in the oven.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-35 minutes or until it is hot and bubbly.

I like doing it this was and it goes together quickly on a rushed evening yet tastes like you fussed. And, the best part, you only have the one pot to clean.

Ideas . . .
If you like cheese and tomato combination, you can add some canned diced tomatoes, drained, to your cheese pasta mix before baking. Some Basil and Oregano will give it an Italian flair.

My husband likes me to mix in 1/4 cup or so of crumbled Feta cheese to sharpen the taste of the whole dish.

I use sharp cheddar but you can go milder, if you like. For the recipe above, I used both a sharp cheddar and a white extra-sharp cheddar.

Tuna or cooked, iced chicken adds some extra taste and protein to the dish.