Wednesday, December 24, 2008

My favorite cookies!

My favorite cookies are molasses. It seems everyone has a different opinion on what that is, but to me they are chewy cookies with a strong flavor of blackstrap molasses and a bit spicy. I have made many different molasses cookie recipes (a friend and I made a new recipe the night before the first day of term in grad school), but this is one of my favorites and will be well enjoyed by my friends and family!

Molasses Cookies:

3/4 c. butter, melted
1 c. sugar (white or brown)
1 egg
1/4 c. molasses
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground cloves
1/2 t. ground ginger
1/2 c. powdered sugar

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, sugar, and egg until smooth. Stir in the molasses. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger; blend into the molasses mixture. Cover, and chill dough for 1 hour.

2. Preheat oven to 375 deg. F. Roll dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the powdered sugar. Place cookies 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Chill unused dough while baking other cookies.

3. Bake for 8-10 minutes in the preheated oven, until tops are cracked. Cool on wire racks.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Beer!

A common amusement with my brothers on visits home is to go beer tasting... one of the local breweries asked us to do a private tasting of bottle conditioned beer. My brothers and I preferred it, so keep your eyes peeled!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Put to work

Upon my return home, I was put to work crocheting this little stocking ornament. It is traditional in our family to have ornaments at our Christmas place settings. This year it is the old-fashioned stockings which will have mini canes in them. Back to work - I have a big family!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

What's left in the fridge.

I am preparing to leave the wet northwest for sunny Colorado over the holidays and am emptying my fridge... this usually results in some creative meals. Luckily, a baked squash with a bit of milk, pecans, and brown sugar was delicious. Yum! It is also good mixed in a bit of plain yogurt - I will eat that for breakfast before I leave.

Monday, December 15, 2008

I believe!

This santa pin was given to me by an elderly relative nearly a decade ago. I pull it out every holiday season and wear it in remembrance of Anne (with an -e!). 

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Let it snow!

After a rescinded threat of a winter storm, I woke up to snow this morning. The forecast shows highs below freezing all week. Brrrr... it's getting me prepared for a visit home.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Clementines

Overflowing piles of clementine boxes greet shoppers when they enter any market this time of year. I buy them every-year, thinking I LOVE these. Then I get them home and transfer them to a bowl (with holes for air circulation) and put them in the fridge. I forget to eat them for a week thinking I don't want sticky fingers and when I finally peel back that first skin and smell the juices I remember it's all worth it.

Friday, December 12, 2008

The Pmuppet Show


I love these videos by Capucha of her family... this is one* of my favorites. Capucha, can I move in?
* Perhaps influenced by my love of the muppets!

UPDATE: Sadly it seems my favorite (The Pmuppet Show) is no longer available, but you can still find some videos here.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Roasted Eggplant Soup


I love soup and usually have a tureen of it in my icebox. This week I'm eating Roasted Eggplant Soup. I modified the recipe from Colorado Collage (a great cookbook on its own) and added more eggplant, changed the spices, and added pecorino cheese. Delish!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Miss. Gidget

One year ago Monday, I picked Gidget up from her breeder! She was already 7 mo. and had been cycled through another home with another name, but on that day she became Gidget. She brings me joy everyday - with her antics, cuteness, and cuddliness. She is currently sleeping in a ball near my feet.

This photo is from Thanksgiving weekend - we took a short hike above the Oregon clouds. It was blustery so she liked her fleece jammies I sewed for her (she's naked beneath). 

Monday, December 8, 2008

Vetting the presidential dog

Vetting by Barry Blitt

white elephant party

Last night, I had a white elephant party to attend, but inconveniently had already made a trip to goodwill. I considered a selection of books, but then I remembered I had bought the 'Holy Toast' at an art museum and thought it would make a great white elephant gift with a package of white bread (makes the best images). It took awhile for someone to select it, but was probably one of the funniest gifts. Especially because the bread was opened first!  I love getting together with friends and laughing over silly gifts, candle sets, good food, and stories.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Setting Sun

May I never miss a sunset or rainbow because I am looking down.
-- Sara June Parker

Friday, December 5, 2008

Pomander Balls

Ah, I love Christmas! I don't live in a winter wonderland so I bring it inside. These pomander balls hold a long holiday tradition (centuries!) - they were also used as early air fresheners and make great anti-moth 'sachets'. 

Choose a piece of citrus and load up on cloves at the bulk spice market (fresher, cheaper, and a great way to get small amounts of spices you don't use often) and insert in either a pattern or cover the entire ball (I like to do concentric circles rather than 'random'). If you're doing several use a thimble to help press the cloves otherwise the clove oils might start to sting. Place balls somewhere with good air circulation to dry. Place en masse in a bowl or on a plate or tie up with ribbons or use a long sharp needle to insert a ribbon through so they can hang in the closet, on a door, or on your tree! They also make great holiday gifts. 

I always wrap mine up in tissue at the end of the season. The scent will fade but you can still display them after the scent is gone. In the photo, the front two pomanders are freshly made (leave space between cloves for shrinkage) and the others are from earlier seasons. I am using tangerines this year, but have heard you can use non-citrus fruit such as apples and pears. I have some apples in my icebox so maybe I'll try that next.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

tomato jam

I've had a large paper bag filled with pear tomatoes sitting on my counter for over a month waiting to be made into something tasty. I grew pear tomatoes in a pot on my porch this summer, it was a cool summer and most of the tomatoes didn't ripen (you can ripen them inside en masse). I was looking for some way to cook these and remembered tomato jam. It is sweet and spicy (sugar, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, jalapeno, lime juice). Eat it on meat, crackers, or brie. Yummy.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Sometimes we need to remember what it is that we love in our lives... there is beauty everywhere. A collection of what I find beautiful, lovely, and endearing.