Tuesday, December 12, 2006
I've Been Tagged!
Anita, over at My Country Cottage Garden has tagged me to share some of my favorite Christmas songs. Here are a few of them...
1. O Holy Night ~ Mariah Carey
2. Walking in a Winter Wonderland ~ Anne Murray
3. Last Christmas ~WHAM
4. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus ~Jackson 5
5. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas ~Gayla Peevey
A Christmas song list just isn't complete without....
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
Don't want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy!
You can listen to the whole thing here, it's adorable!
I have lots of other favorites but I'll stop at 5. If you would like to do this Meme, consider yourself tagged! Let me know in the comments so I can come visit you.
Photo from Art.com
Monday, December 11, 2006
Christmas Goodies
This past Friday night, I got together with 2 friends and we made truffles. We each made a batch ~ Plain chocolate, peppermint and rum.
They are very easy to make!
Chocolate Truffles
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
In heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt chocolate chips with condensed milk. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla (or one of the variations). Chill 2-3 hours or until firm.
This is the perfect time to watch my new favorite movie, The Lakehouse. :0) We all loved it!
Shape into 1-inch balls; roll in any of the listed coatings.
Chill 1 hour or until firm. Store tightly covered at room temperature.
Coatings (optional):
Finely chopped toasted nuts, flaked coconut, chocolate sprinkles, colored sprinkles, unsweetened cocoa powder, confectioners' sugar or colored sugars, mini chocolate chips.
Variations:
-Amaretto: Omit vanilla. Add 3 tablespoons amaretto or other almond- flavored liqueur and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Roll in finely chopped toasted almonds.
-Orange: Omit vanilla. Add 3 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur. Roll in finely chopped toasted almonds mixed with finely grated orange rind.
-Rum: Omit vanilla. Add 1/4 cup dark rum.
-Peppermint: Omit vanilla. Add 1 teaspoon peppermint extract.
-Bourbon: Omit vanilla. Add 3 tablespoons bourbon. Roll in finely chopped toasted nuts.
I also made another easy recipe this weekend. These coconut macaroons are nice and crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside.
Coconut Macaroons
Makes 30
3 large egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoons salt
1 package (14 ounces) sweetened flaked coconut (5 1/3 cups)
1. Preheat oven to 350F Line baking sheet with parchment paper (or coat generously with nonstick cooking spray).
2. In a large bowl, whisk together egg whites, sugar and salt until frothy. With a fork, stir in coconut until moistened.
3. Drop mixture by packed level tablespoons (I use a metal cookie scoop) onto prepared sheet. Bake until lightly golden, 25 to 30 minutes.
Recipe from Martha Stewart
Enjoy!!
They are very easy to make!
Chocolate Truffles
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
In heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt chocolate chips with condensed milk. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla (or one of the variations). Chill 2-3 hours or until firm.
This is the perfect time to watch my new favorite movie, The Lakehouse. :0) We all loved it!
Shape into 1-inch balls; roll in any of the listed coatings.
Chill 1 hour or until firm. Store tightly covered at room temperature.
Coatings (optional):
Finely chopped toasted nuts, flaked coconut, chocolate sprinkles, colored sprinkles, unsweetened cocoa powder, confectioners' sugar or colored sugars, mini chocolate chips.
Variations:
-Amaretto: Omit vanilla. Add 3 tablespoons amaretto or other almond- flavored liqueur and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Roll in finely chopped toasted almonds.
-Orange: Omit vanilla. Add 3 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur. Roll in finely chopped toasted almonds mixed with finely grated orange rind.
-Rum: Omit vanilla. Add 1/4 cup dark rum.
-Peppermint: Omit vanilla. Add 1 teaspoon peppermint extract.
-Bourbon: Omit vanilla. Add 3 tablespoons bourbon. Roll in finely chopped toasted nuts.
I also made another easy recipe this weekend. These coconut macaroons are nice and crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside.
Coconut Macaroons
Makes 30
3 large egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoons salt
1 package (14 ounces) sweetened flaked coconut (5 1/3 cups)
1. Preheat oven to 350F Line baking sheet with parchment paper (or coat generously with nonstick cooking spray).
2. In a large bowl, whisk together egg whites, sugar and salt until frothy. With a fork, stir in coconut until moistened.
3. Drop mixture by packed level tablespoons (I use a metal cookie scoop) onto prepared sheet. Bake until lightly golden, 25 to 30 minutes.
Recipe from Martha Stewart
Enjoy!!
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Christmas Photos
Phillip took the official photo for our Christmas cards this year.
It started out with the giggles....
...then went straight to fits of laughter!!
Whew...finally! That's a keeper!
Grace (8), Emily (7) and Benjamin (5). Christmas 2006.
It started out with the giggles....
...then went straight to fits of laughter!!
Whew...finally! That's a keeper!
Grace (8), Emily (7) and Benjamin (5). Christmas 2006.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Time for Tea
This afternoon, we are having some friends over for afternoon tea. My friend and I will sit in the livingroom with our tea, but I thought I would set a more fancy table for the girls and their friend. And Benjamin, of course! :0) Paper doilies make anything fancy!! They will be drinking hot chocolate and munching on Gingersnaps, Coconut Macaroons and Red Pear slices.
Once they are all full of sugar they will be making the Scrappy Fabric Ornaments that I shared last week. :0)
Tonight I am going to a "Truffle Making Party." I will be sure to share pictures and recipes!
Have a wonderful Friday!
Once they are all full of sugar they will be making the Scrappy Fabric Ornaments that I shared last week. :0)
Tonight I am going to a "Truffle Making Party." I will be sure to share pictures and recipes!
Have a wonderful Friday!
Thursday, December 07, 2006
"New To Us" Treasures
We usually make our way to our favorite resale store near the beginning of each month. Everyone gets their allowance and are ready for a treasure hunt.
I want to share with you a few things we found yesterday. At the bottom of a box, I pulled out a small bag with these Christmas figurines inside. It looks like they just stepped out of a Tasha Tudor book!
If you click on the picture they will show up closer. The little girl on the left is so cute! We are keeping them on our diningroom table so they can be played with. ($2.00)
This "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town" painting was new with the tags still on. I put it on the wall beside my china hutch. ($2.00)
Here is another item that was new. A red velvet shirt for Grace. She is going to wear it with a black velvet skirt she has for our Christmas pictures. ($3.00)
Grace hit the jackpot on horse books! They were 59 cents each!
We found several Christmas books and a video of Miracle on 34th Street. One of the stories is "Twas the night before Christmas" told by a family of mice. A Christmas carol book and a "Best of Christmas" poem book.
The poem book has the prettiest pictures...
I sure would love to spend some time in this kitchen! "Grandpa and Grandma welcomed us in their usual, sincere manner. At their house the Christmas spirit prevailed all year 'round. We stomped into the warm kitchen and its savory smells of cooking made us hungrier than ever. Momma put on an apron to help."
Santa in his toy shop. I'll bet it's a busy place right now. ;0)
Here is one of my favorite poems from this book.
Christmas Is...
Christmas is holly
And gay mistletoe;
Christmas is tinsel
And soft candleglow!
Christmas is cookies
And candy cane treats;
It's the warm cheery greeting
For friends that we meet.
Christmas is children
With faces aglow;
It's Santa and reindeer
And new-fallen snow.
It's tissue and seals
And bright colored string;
It's greeting cards and presents
And the carols we sing.
Yes, Christmas is this,
But, oh, it's much more
Than tinsel and trees
And gifts in a store!
Christmas is angels
Drawing nigh to the earth
To tell the good news
Of the dear Saviour's birth.
Christmas is God's Son
Sent down from above...
The real meaning of Christmas
Can only mean love.
Kay Hoffman
I want to share with you a few things we found yesterday. At the bottom of a box, I pulled out a small bag with these Christmas figurines inside. It looks like they just stepped out of a Tasha Tudor book!
If you click on the picture they will show up closer. The little girl on the left is so cute! We are keeping them on our diningroom table so they can be played with. ($2.00)
This "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town" painting was new with the tags still on. I put it on the wall beside my china hutch. ($2.00)
Here is another item that was new. A red velvet shirt for Grace. She is going to wear it with a black velvet skirt she has for our Christmas pictures. ($3.00)
Grace hit the jackpot on horse books! They were 59 cents each!
We found several Christmas books and a video of Miracle on 34th Street. One of the stories is "Twas the night before Christmas" told by a family of mice. A Christmas carol book and a "Best of Christmas" poem book.
The poem book has the prettiest pictures...
I sure would love to spend some time in this kitchen! "Grandpa and Grandma welcomed us in their usual, sincere manner. At their house the Christmas spirit prevailed all year 'round. We stomped into the warm kitchen and its savory smells of cooking made us hungrier than ever. Momma put on an apron to help."
Santa in his toy shop. I'll bet it's a busy place right now. ;0)
Here is one of my favorite poems from this book.
Christmas Is...
Christmas is holly
And gay mistletoe;
Christmas is tinsel
And soft candleglow!
Christmas is cookies
And candy cane treats;
It's the warm cheery greeting
For friends that we meet.
Christmas is children
With faces aglow;
It's Santa and reindeer
And new-fallen snow.
It's tissue and seals
And bright colored string;
It's greeting cards and presents
And the carols we sing.
Yes, Christmas is this,
But, oh, it's much more
Than tinsel and trees
And gifts in a store!
Christmas is angels
Drawing nigh to the earth
To tell the good news
Of the dear Saviour's birth.
Christmas is God's Son
Sent down from above...
The real meaning of Christmas
Can only mean love.
Kay Hoffman
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