Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom
I won't say how old just,
Way to Go!

Merry Christmas to All

All I Need To Know I Learned From Santa

1. Encourage people to believe in you.

2. Always remember who's naughty and who's nice.

3. Don't pout.

4. It's as much fun to give as it is to receive.

5. Some days it's ok to feel a little chubby.

6. Make your presents known.

7. Always ask for a little bit more than what you really want.

8. Bright red can make anyone look good.

9. Wear a wide belt and no-one will notice how many pounds you've gained.

10. If you only show up once a year, everyone will think you're very important.

11. Whenever you're at a loss for words, say "HO, HO, HO!"

Tarts, Macaroons and Mincemeat

Another day of baking for Christmas . Love to bake!
Isn't it a great time of the year, gives me an excuse to bake, bake, and bake!
Years ago, the Christ Church Anglican Women's Auxiliary in Glanworth used to make mincemeat as a Christmas fund raiser. My Mom and I made up a batch , divided it and freezing the mincemeat in canning jars. I used pint jars as not too many of my family like mincemeat. In my opinion this is the best mincemeat ever,far better than the store bought kind. Of course you have to like mincemeat which I do.
I am just using up my last pint.I add rum or whiskey to taste when I open a jar to use it.
Next fall I will be making some more mincemeat but probably just a half batch.

Mincemeat recipe:
6 lb.ground apples(Spys)
1 1/2 lb. ground suet
2 1/4 lb. brown sugar
Spices:
3/4 tsp. mace
3/4.cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cloves
3/4 tsp. nutmeg
3/8 tsp. allspice
1/2 TBSP. salt
Mix all of the spices with brown sugar before adding to rest of ingredients.
1 1/2 lb. sultana raisins
1 1/2 lb. seeded raisins
1 1/2 lb. currants
Wash raisins well
1/4 lb. mixed peel
2 lemons, juice and grated rind
1 pt. cider
1 lb. montmorency cherries if frozen cook and cool before using
1 small bottle of maraschino cherries
Combine above ingredients.
Store in sterilized jars in freezer. Makes about 12 quarts.
With my last pint I made up a dozen yummy tarts!


Along with the mincemeat tarts I made, at the request of my daugher Rosanne, 2 dozen Maid of Honor tarts. This is a tart my Grannie made years ago , at treat from England.
Very simple line muffins pans with pie pastry of your choice , Add into cup 1/2 tsp raspberry jam.
Top with this Almond mixture.
3 0z. fruit sugar
3 oz. butter
3 oz. ground rice flour
1 egg
1/2 tsp. almond extract
Mix above ingredients well. Dollop on top raspberry jam , bake at 425 for 15 to 20 minutes.

I had some egg whites to use up so the finale of today's baking is a German Macaroon.

Recipe:
3 egg whites
1/4 tsp cream of tarter
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. almond extract
2 cups flaked coconut
Beat egg whites and cream of tarter to soft peaks.
Slowly add sugar , beating to stiff peaks.
Combine coconut, cinnamon and almond extract and fold into stiff egg whites.Drop by tablespoons onto parchment paper or well greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 250 for 20 to 25 minutes.
Turn oven off leave macaroons in oven for another 30 to 45 minutes to dry macaroons.
This is a crispy macaroon similar to a meringue rather than a chewy soft macaroon. Great combo flavours of coconut, cinnamon and almond.
Note! the festive tablecloth my macaroon dish is resting on, my Mother who sews beautifully ,made up me. So pretty.

Snowmaggedon baking!

Sunday's snowmaggedon storm blew and added to the already 20 cm of snow from Friday. Some say we received 25 cm more.
This Monday morning, blue sky and sunshine! We are digging out.

There was so much snow we had a neighbour come with his tractor to dig out the driveway, just could not possibly shovel this amount.
The snowbanks are 5 feet tall.
Urn well covered with snow
From the street
I have no idea where the snow from a storm that is coming on Tuesday will go!
So Sunday was a hunkering down day and what else I baked, thank goodness we did not lose power.
My friend Jan makes a wonderful square I love, and she has kindly shared her recipe for Raspberry Meringue Squares.
Prep , apron at the ready.
Homemade freezer Raspberry jam on shortbread base
Folding in ground almonds to meringue
Baked and ready to indulge.
This makes either a 8x8 pan or in italics a 13x9 pan.
Crust:
1/2 c.(1 c.) butter
1/2 c.(1 c.) icing sugar
2 (4) egg yolks
1 1/4 c. (2 1/2 c.)flour
Topping:
3/4 c.(1 1/2) raspberry jam
2 (4) egg whites
1/4 tsp. cream of tarter
1 c. ( 2 c. ) ground nuts
For the crust, cream all ingredients together til smooth. Pat firmly into a 8x8 pan ( 13x9 ) Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.
Spread baked crust with jam. Beat egg whites with cream of tarter to soft peaks. Gradually add sugar beat until stiff peaks. Fold in nuts. Spread over jam layer.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes more.

Green Thumb part # 2, Snow and Grandson's Snow Day

I just had to post these pictures of the snow storm Southwestern Ontario is receiving today.So much for any sign of green.
From the front porch!
This is the second storm in 2 days and we are expecting another on Tuesday night into Wednesday.
View up the street!

View from living room to back yard
The first storm was on Friday that was labelled Snowmaggedon tho I think today's weather is much worse because it is much windier.
The grandchildren can certainly plan on winter sports, tobogganing, skiing and skating , for sure this holiday school break.
My grandsons had a snow day on Friday and got busy decorating gingerbread boys and Party Shortbread.

Looking very intense.
Brock
Brayden
This is the back of daughter Sherry's home on Saturday, note the sun!
So can there be any doubt about a white Christmas in this part of the world.

Green Thumb Sunday

My Amaryllis is flowering right on time from its planting time. Started opening the first bud at the first of this week.
It has 5 buds. The blossoms are 6 inches across, each bloom is matching that size.
It has slowly opened over the last 5 days.
It has grown so tall I can't place it on the dining table , hits the chandelier.

So the amaryllis is in the living room where I get to enjoy watching the spectacular buds open.
Well worth the small amount of money paid for the beauty I see.
Wonder if I can keep this over for another Christmas?
Will try.

Peanut Brittle and Maple Fudge

The weather forecasters were right!
Friday we had an old fashioned snow storm. Snowmaggedon I don't think so.
We had a good 6 to 8 inches that blew around into big drifts.
It was also the wet heavy kind.
Does look pretty on my urn.

So what did I do all day? While anticipating all the snow shovelling to come.

Made Peanut brittle and Maple Fudge .

Peanut brittle , microwave style:
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 cup salted nuts( used redskin peanuts but any would do)
1 tsp. butter
Butter a cookie sheet( warm in oven makes spreading mixture easier)
Combine sugar and corn syrup in a 2 qt. glass bowl. Microwave on high for 4 minutes stirring occasionally. Stir in peanuts, microwave on high for 3 1/2 minutes. Then stir in butter and vanilla, microwave for 1 1/2 minutes . Watch carefully very hot mixture. Stir in baking soda until light and foamy. Pour onto warmed cookie sheet , spread thin. Cool completely and break into pieces. Makes 1 1/2 Lbs.
The times will be slightly shorter depending on the watts of your microwave.
This is a yummy ,quick and easy candy .So much better than bought en.

In tin ready for Christmas Day


Maple Fudge( from Company's Coming For Christmas cookbook)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup milk
3 TBSP. butter
2 TBSP. maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
Combine first 6 ingredients into 3 qt. saucepan. Heat on medium low stirring often as it comes to a boil. Boil , stirring occasionally until soft ball stage( used a candy thermometer). Remove from heat. Let cool for 40 minutes. Add vanilla, beat until thick . Pour into 8 inch square pan.Decorate with some nuts or candies. Cut into 36 pieces. Makes 2 pounds.
Test pieces
Ready to eat
Find this is a no fail fudge, one the family always requests for Christmas.

By the way more snow is predicted for Saturday night into Sunday, same amount as we just had.Have no idea where it will get shovelled to, running out of room.
More shovelling .
More baking.

Sour Cream Potato Soup

With a major winter storm threatening decided to make some soup in case the power goes out.The forecasters are calling this coming storm snowmaggedon. I am skeptical but will be prepared.
This soup is rich, thick and filling.
Very fast and easy to make.
Sour Cream Potato Soup
3 cups potatoes , peeled
1/2 cup onion
3 cups water
2 cups scalded milk
1 cup sour cream
1 TBSP. flour
2 chicken bouillon cubes
3 TBSP. butter
Cook potatoes and onion in water. Do not drain!

Puree in blender.
Add milk , butter, bouillon cubes, Salt and pepper to taste.
Mix sour cream with flour until smooth.
Cook soup until thick, stir constantly.
Makes 6 servings.

Gingerbread House

On Sunday afternoon I participated in a small get together at the clubhouse to assemble and decorate Gingerbread houses.This is the first time I have ever done a gingerbread house. For many of us this was a first , too.
Did cheat , bought a pre baked kit.Mine came from Bulk Barn , others got theirs at Costco or Walmart . Some had gables and large Christmas trees .
Assembling house and using soup cans to help hold up walls.
The royal icing was a package too, just add water and beat.
Betty and Ben
Al and his first attempt.
Rosemarie, Riny and Diane



My house half way done.

Our leader Gale's house.
Here we all are showing off our houses. We had a lot of fun.Used licorice whips to outline doors and windows. Used a variety of candies decorate , loved the little chocolate rocks I found to make pathway and edge side of tray.
My Finished product!

Do you make gingerbread houses?

PS
Do you notice the lovely Bright apron I am wearing ?
That is a gift from my daughter Rosanne and while decorating my house
saved me from getting the icing all over myself.