Third Times A Charm....

  As the baking has been put aside, I'm working on my advent scarves.

Yes, so the saying goes "Third Times a Charm!".

I'm hoping for a cure to this problem!  The Advent Calendar was available on November 27 

from Tricia Weatherston.  It is a Mosaic pattern--when was the last time I EVER did 

Mosaic ?  Or have I EVER knit Mosaic?  

Anyway, I'm trying my hand at this and you can see what I got right out of the gate!

 A Mess!

I cast on--did dark color first--well, that's not going to work if the chart uses

black and white squares to distinguish yarns as the first square is white--

I will be so confused.

Rip it out and begin again--thought I counted right!  How can someone not

count enough stitches--after all, it was only 47 stitches to begin with--

oh and the edge stitches--begin again.

And now, third time..............right number of stitches, light thread first and then

black.

I'm humming along ---I think!

Each day there are a few rows to knit--it only takes me about 30 minutes--getting into the rhythm 

of knitting and being reverent as I prepare for the Christmas season.

Shhhh---Here's The Famous Eggnog Recipe

Finally!  I'm getting to the eggnog!

Please keep it a secret--don't tell him you got it from me!

 Here's hubby's famous eggnog recipe.  He makes it by the gallon and in our house, it doesn't last long!  I guarantee if you like eggnog, this is the recipe for you!  He got the recipe from an old edition of Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, dated hell's bells, I don't know as the front cover is completed shot!  Anyway, he took this recipe and tweaked it some.  Of course, he doesn't tell me what that extra tweak is--but, I think it's LOVE!

So, here goes--hubby's famous eggnog recipe:

1/2 cup sugar

2 egg yolks

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 Cups milk (whole milk please--none of that non fat stuff--after all you're making eggnog!)

2 egg whites

3 Tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla, but he adds more

Beat 1/3 cup sugar into egg yolks.  Add salt, stir in milk.  Cook over medium heat, stir constantly till mixture coats the spoon!  Oh, yes, give that spoon a good coat!

Cool this mixture.

Beat egg whites till foamy; gradually add 3 Tablespoons sugar, beating to soft peaks.

Add vanilla.  Fold the egg whites into the custard mixture.

Chill.

When ready to serve, sprinkle with ground nutmeg--we like to use a grater and fresh

nutmeg--enjoy with your plate of cookies.

For him, it takes several hours to make--to me, it's a messy kitchen to clean up!

But, who cares--everyone loves his eggnog! and that's what it's all about!

Spritz Cookies--Oh Yeah!

With this recipe you need one of those cookie press thingies--I've handed mine off to 

blonded daughter and she makes these cookies now.

Assembly the following:

1 Cup butter--yummy butter!

2/3 cup sugar

1 egg

2 teaspoons of vanilla or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 1/4 cups flour

1. Heat oven to 400°F.
2. Combine all ingredients except flour in bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Add flour; beat at low speed until well mixed. Prepare dough as directed by variations below, if desired. (If dough is too soft, cover and refrigerate, 30-45 minutes.)
3. Place dough into cookie press fitted with template. Form desired shapes, 1 inch apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets.
4. Bake 6-8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

No Bake Cookies?!

When I asked hubby which was his favorite cookie, he thought for a while and then said,

"those drop chocolate cookies you made".  I said 'those sugary cookies?' and he nodded!

I asked the son the same question and his answer--"those chocolate no bake cookies!"

I can't believe!  All these years, I've been working away on fancy cookies and they

like these no bake ones--gee whiz!  Well, he does have a point though--

no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies are delicious and easy to make.

Sometimes, I'll add some peanut butter.  The kids could hardly wait for the cookies to firm up and sometimes were wiping the cookies off the paper with a spoon!  And everyone wants to lick the pan!

Here goes--the recipe

No Bake Oatmeal Chocolate Cookies

Cook time:  5 mins

Total time:  5 mins

Makes: 2 Dozen

Ingredients

• 2 cups granulate sugar
• 8 tbsp. (or 1 stick) butter or soft trans-fat free margarine
• ½ cup milk
• ⅓ cup baking cocoa
• 3 cups oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)

Supplies Needed:

• Measuring Cups
• Large Saucepan
• Rubber Spatula
• Tablespoon
• Stainless Steel Bowl (to mix hot chocolate mixture with oats)

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, combine sugar, margarine, milk, and cocoa.
2. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently.
3. (Total of about 5 minutes stove time)
4. Remove bowl / pan from heat. Stir in the oats.
5. Use a tablespoon to drop batter onto waxed paper or foil.
6. Let stand until firm. Allow about 30 minutes to form and cool.
7. Store tightly covered.

Bite Size Pecan Pies--

Can't eat a whole pecan pie--well, I could, but that's a different story!

These little pecan pies are perfect for parties or special occasions.  I would 

make them to freeze--when needed--there they were.

Of course, you need those little tiny muffin tins--you know, those little 

tins are so worth the price to create bite size tidbits of anything!

2--3 Oz cream cheese

2 sticks butter

2 cups flour

Let butter/cheese stand at room temperature.  Mix good--then add

flour--best to let sit in refrigerator for 1.5 hours covered.  Okay,

we ready to place in tins:  make small balls and place into muffin tin,

press around to cover the sides and bottoms.  Now, you're ready

for the filling!

1.5 Cups brown sugar

2 eggs

2 Tablespoons softened butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

1.5 cups pecans (slightly chopped)

1/8 teaspoon salt _funny how this little bit of salt gives pecans taste

Stir together thoroughly to fill your

shells about 3/4 full.

bake 25 minutes in 375* oven

Enjoy, my friends and think of me as you savour!

Fig Cakes--From a Friend!

Many years ago when we lived in Louisiana, we enjoyed the fellowship of  great folks, who shared so many of their life styles, especially food!  And with the sharing of food came the recipes for the dishes that we ate.  Louisiana is known for good Cajun food--but, here is one recipe that I thoroughly enjoyed making and eating--and it doesn't have anything to do with seafood or spices or the holy trinity (celery, onion, bell pepper).

If you have ever eaten a Fig Newton cookie--this is ten times better!  Of course, it takes some preparation but oh so worth it!  Thanks to my dear Lousiana friend Helen, as she shared with me, I share with you!

Here we go with the dough recipe:
                      1 Cup shortening (it's that shortening thing again)
                      1 Cup sugar
                      3 eggs
                      1 teaspoon vanilla
                      7 Cups flour (could be more, could be less)
                      7 teaspoons of baking powder
                      1 Cup milk
                      1 teaspoon salt
 Cream shortening, sugar, add eggs, vanilla till fluffy.  Sift flour with baking powder and salt into shortening/sugar mixture; gradually add milk till stiff dough is moist--not too dry--not too wet!
Form into ball--at this point, you can let dough rest in refrigerator while you mix up the filling.

Filling:           2 packages of dried figs
                       1/2 cup raisins
                       1/2 cup pecans
                       1/2 pint fig preserves
                       dash of black pepper
                       juice of orange and grated rind.
Soak the dried figs about an hour or until soft.  Grind figs, pecans and orange rind.  Add this to the fig preserves and raisins.  Mix.

Now, take the dough and roll out till about 1/4" thick; cut into 2" strips across the dough.  In each section add a Tablespoon full of the fig mixture.  Fold over the dough, place on baking sheet and bake at 400* for 20 minutes or till brown.
While the fig cakes are cooling, sift one box of powdered sugar with little milk to pour over the cakes.  Traditionally, you can add sprinkles--but, in our house, these little delights were gobbled up quicker than I could add the sprinkles--

Just yummy goodness coming to your mouth!  I think I'm off to the grocery to pick up some shortening and dried figs!

Sugar Cookies Or Take Out the Christmas Cookie Cutters!

Here is the Bestest Christmas cookie recipe--in my book anyway!

I would make up this dough and let it sit in refrigerator till there was

plenty of time for the kids to gather around the table so we could all 

play with the cookie cutters.

2 Cups shortening (does anyone use shortening anymore?!)

3 Cups sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (don't leave this out!  makes all the difference in the world)

1 teaspoon vanilla

6-7 Cups of all purpose flour

Cream shortening and sugar till fluffy; add eggs one at a time, beat till

incorporated (I love saying that!)

Add flavoring, nutmeg and flour (enough to form still dough--use your good 

judgement on this)

Gather up into ball and chill at least one hour.

When ready, roll out at least 1/4" thick, use powdered sugar on your cutting board--

trust me--this is super delicious and no floury taste to the cookie!

Cut into desired shape.  Bake 400* at least 8-10 minutes--but check to make

sure nothing is burning--No one likes burnt sugar cookies!

Usually, I didn't take the time to frost, but you can if you have the energy and time.

Of course, in today's market, you can find all kinds of prepared frostings.

A glass of cold milk with your cookie is perfect!!