Merry Christmas, Dear Readers, and a very happy and healthy New Year.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Andy and I always have a long, drawn out Christmas season- which is OK with us.
I start decorating right after Thanksgiving and it usually takes me two good days to fluff and decorate the tree, hang wreaths and trim the banisters with garland and ribbon. Adding the finishing touches such as candles, nutcrackers, floral arrangements is always so much fun for me.
Maybe because I am a year older, but it took me an entire week to decorate my house this year. Maybe it was because I helped decorate my church at the same time or that I changed the candy cane table scape in the dining room this year. I will go with the older thing.
After the house was ready for company, I baked gingerbread, pumpkin/ cranberry/ nut bread and made four batches of Reindeer Chow to give away. There was a party with old friends in North Carolina, gift shopping and wrapping, a cookie exchange in Rocky Mount, Va, a fabulous trip to New York City to meet my son from Portland, Oregon and his family to celebrate Christmas. There was a visit from my son and his family from North Carolina and candlelight services at church. Angel trees, good will, Christmas carols and a party with Andy's family at the lake. Miracle on 42nd Street, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and The Shop Around The Corner. Such a magical, spiritual, hectic and fun-filled time of the year.
I start decorating right after Thanksgiving and it usually takes me two good days to fluff and decorate the tree, hang wreaths and trim the banisters with garland and ribbon. Adding the finishing touches such as candles, nutcrackers, floral arrangements is always so much fun for me.
Maybe because I am a year older, but it took me an entire week to decorate my house this year. Maybe it was because I helped decorate my church at the same time or that I changed the candy cane table scape in the dining room this year. I will go with the older thing.
After the house was ready for company, I baked gingerbread, pumpkin/ cranberry/ nut bread and made four batches of Reindeer Chow to give away. There was a party with old friends in North Carolina, gift shopping and wrapping, a cookie exchange in Rocky Mount, Va, a fabulous trip to New York City to meet my son from Portland, Oregon and his family to celebrate Christmas. There was a visit from my son and his family from North Carolina and candlelight services at church. Angel trees, good will, Christmas carols and a party with Andy's family at the lake. Miracle on 42nd Street, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and The Shop Around The Corner. Such a magical, spiritual, hectic and fun-filled time of the year.
Home Alone On Christmas Day
After pre-Christmas get togethers with both of my sons and their families and before the post-Christmas brunch with Andy's family, we found ourselves alone on Christmas Day. A couple from church were nice enough to invite us to Christmas dinner but they came down with the flu so, again, we were on our own.
We had plenty of food from the visit with my son from North Carolina so that was not a problem. Facing the day with nothing much to do, we decided to take a ride in the country to visit Andy's childhood home place and old stomping grounds. It is now a historic place called "The Twin Chimneys." We took pictures and he told me of his ancestors who had been in the Revolutionary War. It was a mild December day and we thoroughly enjoyed our day trip.
On Christmas Day, as we all know, most business' are closed but we did find one convenience store when "nature called."
Not wanting to just use the restroom without purchasing something, I devised a game.
We had plenty of food from the visit with my son from North Carolina so that was not a problem. Facing the day with nothing much to do, we decided to take a ride in the country to visit Andy's childhood home place and old stomping grounds. It is now a historic place called "The Twin Chimneys." We took pictures and he told me of his ancestors who had been in the Revolutionary War. It was a mild December day and we thoroughly enjoyed our day trip.
On Christmas Day, as we all know, most business' are closed but we did find one convenience store when "nature called."
Not wanting to just use the restroom without purchasing something, I devised a game.
The Christmas Day $5.00 Convenience Store Gift Challenge
Rules:
1) You must spend $5.00 and no more on the other person.
2) You must buy thoughtful but inexpensive (CHEAP) gifts.
Back in the car, Andy showed me his gifts for me:
Five, one dollar lottery scratch off tickets. Hum.......
I think my gifts to Andy were a little more thoughtful. I gave him one Tootsie Pop (because he is sweet), a package of peanut butter cheese crackers, better known as "Nabs" in the South (because he likes them,) and a package of cornbread mix for 99 cents, (because he is a little "corny.") But, I still had $3.00 left over so I went the lottery scratch ticket route too. He got three of them.
We scratched our tickets and didn't win a thing but the $5.00 gift challenge was fun and we might make it a tradition.
The Big Cookie Exchange
My friend, Ibby, had a great idea! A cookie exchange for Facebook friends!
There were twelve of us in all so we each baked a dozen per guest. Twelve dozen cookies! Do the math.... that is 144 cookies! Plus we each baked another dozen to share at the party.
It was such great fun; old and new friends, yummy cookies to sample and dozens more to take home and share with family and friends over Christmas. (And I only gained 1 pound!)
There were twelve of us in all so we each baked a dozen per guest. Twelve dozen cookies! Do the math.... that is 144 cookies! Plus we each baked another dozen to share at the party.
It was such great fun; old and new friends, yummy cookies to sample and dozens more to take home and share with family and friends over Christmas. (And I only gained 1 pound!)
My Mom's Snickerdoodle Recipe
My Mom's Snickerdoodles
2 + 3/4 Cups All-Purpose flour
2 teaspoons of Cream of Tartar
1 teaspon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 Tablespoons real butter
1/2 Cup vegetable shortening
1 + 3/4 Cups sugar
2 Eggs
2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Sift flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine butter, shortening and 1 + 1/2 cups of sugar. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy - about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add eggs and beat to combine. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add dry ingredients and beat to combine. Chill in refrigerator.
In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon.
Form chilled cookie dough into one inch balls and roll in sugar/ cinnamon mixture. Place the balls on an ungreased cookie sheet Bake about 10 minutes. They will spread out and the tops will begin to crack. The bottoms of cookies will be golden. Cool and enjoy these melt-in-your-mouth little gems. They freeze well too.
Makes 7 dozen cookies
2 + 3/4 Cups All-Purpose flour
2 teaspoons of Cream of Tartar
1 teaspon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 Tablespoons real butter
1/2 Cup vegetable shortening
1 + 3/4 Cups sugar
2 Eggs
2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Sift flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine butter, shortening and 1 + 1/2 cups of sugar. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy - about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add eggs and beat to combine. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add dry ingredients and beat to combine. Chill in refrigerator.
In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon.
Form chilled cookie dough into one inch balls and roll in sugar/ cinnamon mixture. Place the balls on an ungreased cookie sheet Bake about 10 minutes. They will spread out and the tops will begin to crack. The bottoms of cookies will be golden. Cool and enjoy these melt-in-your-mouth little gems. They freeze well too.
Makes 7 dozen cookies
Bye Bye Christmas 2012
Christmas 2012 came to an end with a brunch hosted by Andy's daughter and her husband with also his son and wife, four grandchildren and one great-grandson. There was good food, sharing gifts, laughter and happiness watching the three youngest grands (ages two to four) run through the house with Thomas the Train, Spiderman and Star Wars characters. One little boy even sported a pink cupcake icing moustache.
Shown is the beautiful handmade log cabin quilt that Andy's daughter made for us. It was such a surprise. So special!
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