Merry Christmas 2009

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas
and may God bless you in the new year

Sugared Nuts

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

Today Dreamer and I had fun in the kitchen and whipped up a few holiday Goodies
The main recipient will be the neighbour lady
who loves sweets yet doesn't bake often.
I know that she will be thrilled.
Christmas is a wonderful time to show love to your neighbours.
~ * ~

Anyway, I thought that I would share one of the recipes we made: Sugared Nuts. Sooo easy and sooo yummy. Sweet, but with a hint of savory. I took the recipe from Company's Coming: Gifts from the Kitchen.

SUGARED NUTS
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1 large egg white
3 cups unsalted walnuts, pecans and cashews
(I subbed almonds for cashews)

Combine all 7 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir to coat well. Spread out on a 11 x 17" baking sheet. Bake in 250 F oven for 1 hour. Cool completely. Store in airtight container. Makes 3 cups.

Reason for Christmas Calories

The holidays, the holidays ...
Ya gotta love them
~ * ~
So many parties, and get togethers, and reasons to eat.

The family and I went to a BIG event on Friday night,
had a BIG Christmas party at our house on Saturday night,
and then were asked over for BIG lunch on Sunday afternoon.
And to top all that,
we STILL needed (?) to frequent Quizno's for subs, drink and chips.

In my defense, I chose the 'baked' chips.
I figured that I wouldn't notice the lack of its 40 calories,
when I had just consumed upwards of thousands!
~ * ~
Hope you are having a happy holiday season.

Christmas Chocolate Truffles

I apologize for the sad picture of these goodies. Our two oldest kids were practically out the door when they announced that they needed something to bring to the Young Adults Bible Study Group get together. These truffles turned out lop-sided and in a variety of sizes ... but they tasted delicious and so I thought that I might share the recipe.

~ * ~

I found this recipe in the Company's Coming Millennium Edition cookbook, but I have tweaked it a bit to suit my pantry and taste buds.

~ * ~
Christmas Chocolate Truffles
11 oz sweetened condensed milk (see note below)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
9 x 1 oz semi-sweet chocolate baking squares, cut up
An assortment of extras to roll truffles in:
chocolate sprinkles
ground pecans
coconut
chocolate drink powder mix
~ * ~

Combine first 4 ingredients in medium heavy saucepan. Heat and stir over low until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Cool in refrigerator until almost hard.
With buttered fingers, shape into 1 inch balls. Roll each ball into one of the 'extras' listed. It looks best if an assortment of extras are used rather than just one. Pop each truffle into tiny muffin liners for an eye popping presentation.
NOTE: For 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk, use 12 X 1 oz chocolate baking squares.

~ * ~
These are elegant to serve at any gathering or lovely to give as a gift.

Fish Tank Dismantle

Amongst all the hustle and bustle, and tinsel and glitter of Christmas, the Genius decided to call it quits on the salt water fish tank that he put together many months ago. He had spent years in his mind planning and scheming and designing the ultimate tank. Then he constructed it over months to get all the right 'stuff' growing in it. It was magnificent!

Then it was over. He had done what he set out to do,
and now it is on to the next project.

The water has been drained, siphoned into buckets and the fishy water added back to the great out of doors. It may spend the next few months as ice ... if salt water does freeze??? ... but then it will contribute back to the great scheme of things in nature.

And the fishies? Like the one little guy swimming around in the plastic bag above? I am pleased to say that nothing was harmed in the ordeal. Anything alive was carefully bundled and taken to the pet store when it was originally purchased.

A new home is in their future.

~ * ~
You didn't think that I would post a sad story
during the Christmas season, did you?
Have a merry one

Save On Decorations

Dreamer sent me this picture entitled 'SAVE ON DECORATIONS'. Thought it was pretty funny. No lights up on our house this year. Not even the opportunity to put up DITTO either as no one on our rural street strings lights. Most forget to turn on their porch light!

It's Beginning to Look ...

... a lot like Christmas ...

The weather is turning clear and brisk. Boxes have come down from the attic
and their festive contents have been scattered about

My collection of nutcrackers have grouped for battle

Genius is mastering yards of Christmas toile and sparkling lights on a tree

It's the most wonderful time of the year!