I few weeks ago I posted about the online holiday magazines I've been raving over, primarily Gifted and Inspire Co. The latter provided me with the best idea I've seen yet for an advent calendar - a 24 count muffin tin! I've been looking for an idea for quite some time and this was perfect. It allowed me to do some paper crafting and collaging while integrating some of my own personal style into the final product. And the muffin tins are the perfect size for hiding my favorite candy - mini Reese's cups!
Christmas paper, stickers, and other decorative materials
Circular item to trace magnets
Exacto knife or scissors
White primer spray paint
Clear sealer spray paint
Directions
1. I first found a circular item that was slightly larger than the muffin tin holes. I used the base of a plastic cup and experimented with spray paint bottles, candles, glasses, mugs, and all sorts of household items, so be creative. Then I simply placed the cup on the papers I was going to cut and traced with the Exacto knife to cut out my circles. (If you don't have an Exacto knife, simply trace the circle with a pencil and then cut out. If you have a CriCut machine, the circular cut on that should work as well, eliminating the need for a circular tracing object and Exacto knife.)
2. Then I got my tin ready. I spread out newspaper in a well-ventilated area and sprayed my primer. It was white and made for an even and thick finish, so I didn't bother with another color over top. After letting the primer dry (I did two coats), I sprayed the clear sealer over the whole thing.
3. Now comes the fun part - decorating the circles. Each circle will represent one day in the month of December, prior to December 25th. I used different types of craft and scrapbooking paper as well as magazine cut-outs, stickers, and rub-on transfers to decorate my circles. Each one has a saying or Christmas-y greeting and the number somewhere on the front.
4. After all the decorating was done, I cut out small squares of magnet and stuck two pieces on each circle - one on the top of the back and one on the bottom. This way I'll be sure my circles will stay in place.
5. Then I just waited for my sealer to dry completely before putting everything together. The candy or small item of your choice fits in the muffin tin behind the magnetic circles, and each day you can pull off the corresponding circle to see what lies underneath (for me, it'll be Reese's cups all month!).
In the original instructions, they drilled holes through the top of the muffin tin for hanging. This is definitely do-able, just make sure to wear all the proper protection and to use a bit that works on metal. I just leaned mine against the wall so there was no need for power tools. Happy Holidays and enjoy!
Last night I had the pleasure (and temporary agony) of watching James Franco's latest film 127 Hours. Based on true events, Franco portrays Aron Ralston, an adventurous mountain biker and climber who finds himself stranded in a Utah canyon gap with his right arm pinned between a fallen boulder and the canyon wall. For 127 hours, Ralston was trapped with only the meager provisions he had allotted for a single day's trip. We're taken along on Ralston's fast-paced psychological journey over five days marked by pain, regret, innovation, and a surprising degree of mental clarity.
The film begins by establishing Ralston's fearless independence and charisma. He sets out for a day of canyoneering, and along the way wins over two lost female backpackers, as well as his audience. After parting ways with his new friends, Ralston continues his previous route and comes to a narrow crevice in the trail which requires that he shimmy his way down two walls, just a few feet apart, in order to reach the trail floor. After checking that a boulder lodged between the top of these two walls is secure, he makes his way down. However his initial probing of the boulder proves not thorough enough when that same rock comes down on him, pinning his arm to the wall just feet above the canyon floor.
Armed with a digital camera, video camera, climbing ropes, carabiners, a half-full Nalgene water bottle, an empty Camelback water pack, head lamp, and a thawing burrito, Ralston's supplies are limited and, with time, increasingly discouraging. He provides himself with a variety of tasks to keep busy and stay productive - creating a suspended seat using his ropes and carabiners, making videos to pass on to his parents should he not survive, fashioning a tourniquet to staunch the blood flow to his dying hand, chipping away at the boulder in an attempt to release himself. Despite his physical limitations, Ralston keeps a relatively level head, performing necessary tasks, pacing himself, and thinking analytically about how to remove himself from, or at least improve, his situation.
As director Danny Boyle describes it, 127 Hours is "an action movie with a guy who can't move." It has also been described as a drama and a thriller, but I find it particularly difficult to classify. It was reminiscent in style and topic to Sean Penn's Into the Wild, following a stubborn young outdoorsman on a journey that proves daunting physically, mentally, and emotionally. There were large elements of fear and gore, attributable to Ralston's probable end as well as some of the self-inflicted wounds which he is forced to endure to save himself. I found it to be most consistently a drama as we're taken from high to low, following Ralston's entire journey and sharing in his fears, confessions, and revelations. But you can't help laughing from time to time either, mostly at Ralston's sometimes sarcastic one-liners.
I don't know whether the greatest selling point of this film is the fact that this story is entirely true or if it would go to Franco's phenomenal performance. Boyle has had this film in his sights for years. Though Ralston's autobiographical book about the experience, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, came out in 2004, he wasn't quite ready for his experience to be projected on film until a few years later. Largely because of the incredible, almost unbelievable nature of Ralston's story, the film is extremely factual and actually utilized a lot of input from Ralston as well as the real video tapes from his time in the canyon for reference. But, as remarkable as Ralston's experience is, Franco's winning performance cannot be overlooked. He delivers heartfelt video messages to his character's parents with a poignancy and sincerity that never becomes histrionic or overly felt. Ralston's pain and struggle, both physical and psychological, could not have been better embodied on screen than through Franco. From the adrenaline-highs as he sets out on the morning of April 27th, 2003 to the moments when all hope of surviving is lost, Franco delivers an award-worthy performance that truly makes this movie all that it is. After all, Franco pretty much carries the movie himself since there were so few other people that partook in the experience, save the women he met and the people that most visit his memory.
If you want to see the film or read the book without knowing how it ends, I suggest you stop reading because we're about to get into all the gory details. The conclusion to this story is remarkable but also agonizing and gruesomely told. Still, it speaks to Ralston's clarity of thought and admirable tenacity. In the last hours of his 127 hours, Aron comes to view this struggle as the culmination of all the decisions and trials of his life. He is forced to consider removing himself from this boulder as the one thing he has always been living for, the fight his whole life has been coming to. With this conviction of mind and the knowledge of a seasoned outdoorsman, Ralston commits to amputating his own arm. Though he did stab himself in the arm earlier, it wasn't until his desperation and resolve grew so dire that he followed through. And this is when it becomes almost painful to watch. The scene takes a space of approximately 3 minutes but they are leave little to the imagination and are bolstered by an unnerving soundtrack that makes viewing the amputation a somewhat sickening experience. But the fact that this scene is so difficult to watch speaks to how closely it captures the real experience of Aron's self-amputation. It is nearly impossible for me to imagine having the resolve, wherewithal, stamina, and will to live that is required to cut off one of your own appendages. 127 Hours highlights how one man faced that struggle and made the life-saving decision that ended his solitary confinement.
I really can't say enough about the respect and awe I have for Aron Ralston, the praise I have for James Franco's sensational performance, and the gratitude I feel for Danny Boyle having made this moving film. No matter how much you're into action movies or outdoor adventures or psycho-thrillers, I feel like this is a must-see film. Above all 127 Hours is a story about triumph and the beyond-human capabilities that lie within each of us. It is inspiring in the most genuine and fundamental of ways and is fully deserving of all the praise it has received insofar.
Even richer than a Peanut Butter Creme Oreo, Magic in the Middles are the perfect peanut butter and chocolate cookie. With a thick, cakey chocolate dough and a smooth, surprising peanut butter center, these cookies are absolutely addicting. You can visit the King Arthur Flour website for this wonderful recipe direct from the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion Cookbook or just follow the instructions below.
I first made these many moons ago and they've been a family favorite ever since. It seems that my sisters and I go on a string of baking up Magic in the Middles - as soon as we finish one batch, someone else bakes up another because they're just that good. I am a huge fan of the classic chocolate and peanut butter combination, but even someone who doesn't always crave the sweetness of chocolate or the creamy nuttiness of peanut butter will fall in love with these cookies - guaranteed!
Though this recipe requires making two doughs - one for the chocolate cookie and one for the peanut butter filling - the actual process is not very labor intensive. Both doughs are quite straightforward and the filling procedure is very simple, plus the cookies themselves are coated in granulated sugar which helps to hide any potential mishaps. As long as you don't eat all the dough before you've assembled your cookies, you'll have a batch of beautiful chocolate-peanut butter goodness, perfect with a tall glass of milk!
Magic in the Middles
from the King Arthur Flour Companion Cookbook
Ingredients
For the chocolate dough:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
For the peanut butter filling:
3/4 cup peanut butter (smooth or creamy based on your preference)
3/4 cup confectioner's sugar
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick cooking spray.
2. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the sugars, butter, and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Then add the egg and vanilla, mixing until fully incorporated.
4. Stir in the dry ingredients, mixing well.
5. In a separate bowl, stir together the peanut butter and confectioner's sugar for the filling until smooth.
6. To assemble the cookies, round out 26 one-inch balls of the peanut butter filling mixture.
7. Shape one-tablespoon-sized balls of the chocolate cookie dough and make a divot in the center. Place one of the peanut butter balls in the divot, then fold the chocolate dough over to cover the peanut butter filling.
8. Using your hands, roll the assembled cookies to smooth them out. Then give them a quick toss in granulated sugar to coat.
9. Arrange cookies on prepared baking sheets with about 2 inches between each. Get a drinking glass and wet the bottom with either water or oil. Press down on each cookie ball with the glass to flatten them.
10. Bake for 7-9 minutes. Remove from baking sheets and set on wire racks to cool. Enjoy!
I truly believe that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Any one who has read even a single one of my blog entries from mid-October through the end of December undoubtedly has caught on to my obsession.
And to get myself (and hopefully you) into the Christmas season, here are a few of my most favorite Christmas cards which I've created in the past few years. If you're interested in purchasing any of these cards or checking out some of my other creations, please stop by my Etsy shop! Enjoy!
Barbara Kingsolver's collection of essays Small Wonder included a piece she wrote as editor of the 2001 edition of The Best American Short Stories. The introduction to the collection of stories she selected, within this essay Kingsolver attempted to define what it was that made for quality in short fiction. Describing the way that a good short story should reveal some profound truth eloquently in a limited amount of space, I felt as though she was discussing how I, personally and individually, feel about her work. She explained that her selections as editor boiled down to those stories that moved her, that stuck with her, because they so skillfully and intelligently bestowed some knowledge or sense of experience onto the reader through a story woven in a matter of pages, rather than chapters. Though I initially read Kingsolver's introduction entirely independent from the actual stories she chose, her description of the process and guidelines by which she selected the included stories compelled me to get my hands on a copy of this collection as soon as possible. I just had to see what stories had so affected this woman whose writing had always so affected me.
Any collection of The Best American Short Stories is sure to be rife with startling, intelligently written, and important pieces of fiction. The editors, selected annually, are all noteworthy members of the literary community with commendations and honors bolstering their brief yet deserved editorial status. But if you're at all familiar with my taste in books, you have probably noticed a trend - I love Barbara Kingsolver. I admit that I have started one or two of her novels and, unfortunately, failed to find myself immersed or moved enough to delve in past page 50. As a rule of thumb, however, I equate her name with quality, talent, taste, and a shared idealism.
I have, however, frequently had trouble finding myself particularly moved by short fiction. The only other time I have been able to complete a full collection was with Jeffrey Eugenide's My Mistress' Sparrow is Dead (another author whose moving fiction convinced me to take a chance on his editorial skills). So when I wanted to try some short fiction again, needless to say, I was particularly drawn to the 2001 short story collection. These were stories hand selected by Kingsolver and, thus, I knew that they were likely to mean something to me.
Granted, not every story in here hit me over the head with its wisdom or fictional powers. But some definitely did. All topics are covered, all range of emotions evoked. Few stones are left untouched, but there is still a subtle continuity to the collection. From the woman, desperately hoping to conceive, who finds pieces of her imaginary future son's body strewn throughout her house - a story both painfully and beautifully told - to the morbidly obese high school janitor who has never known love until he finds it in the supermarket, met by the hardened woman that lives just a few houses down - a touchingly hopeful piece on love and loneliness. There are tales of politics, such as the capitalist American chicken restaurant landed in socialist China, and those of family saga, like the tale of two twin brothers whose journey from childhood to manhood is tenderly told in just 5 short pages. Stories of competition, such as the two women who rival each other their whole adult lives, become neighbors in their old age and play out their feud among the harvest of their backyard gardens, connected by a shared apple tree. And stories of essential human struggle to overcome deep and enveloping sadness, like that of the couple who fight to maintain their hold on life after a hijacked car and a miscarriage.
This collection provided me with some of those rare stories that have the ability to leave an indelible mark on my mind, with a few authors' work to further explore, and with a greater appreciation for the short story form. I'm finding it difficult to accurately write about this collection because its contents are so vast and varied. However I can undoubtedly state that I finished reading these stories cataloguing a few more thoughts in my head, asking myself some fresh questions, and reflecting upon an impressive new set of those lasting mental impressions that only good fiction can affect.
While digitally flipping through Gifted Magazine, I noticed a fairly familiar holiday craft that was given a whole new look - paper snowflakes. But rather than using standard white paper, the masterminds behind the project used tissue paper, providing their snowflakes with a more subtle, whimsical, and etherial effect. I loved the look and instantly sought out some white tissue paper and a pair of scissors.
Another great plus for using tissue paper - it folds much easier than anything else I've used before. This allows you to fold your circles up tighter and tighter, allowing for more intricate and realistic designs.
The process is simple enough. Use a cup or other round object to trace circles onto white tissue paper. I actually traced with my exacto knife to skip out the extra step of tracing the circles and then cutting them out. Plus, I was able to layer the tissue paper and cut multiple sheets at a time.
Once you have your circles cut, fold them in half as many times as you'd like - the more folds the better. You'll ultimately want a pizza-slice-shaped section of folded tissue paper.
Then cut out your designs! I personally think they look best when the top rounded edge is cut with diagonal lines and triangles. I went to town with my scissors, making curved cut, squares, triangles small and large.
The fun part is carefully unfolding the tissue paper to reveal the entirely unique resulting flakes.
Though this project is in no way a revelation or a brand new idea, I love the look and versatility that using tissue paper provides. Just a few of the ideas from Gifted include using them to spruce up gift wrapping, hanging as a winter mobile, or adorning various household items to add a subtle touch of the holiday spirit. I also love to see these snowflakes hung in sunny windows and even spread over white walls. With a little bit of double-sided tape, I added some of my creations to the white wall of my kitchen and the white-on-white result makes a delicate wintry statement that can easily be removed post-holiday-season. Strung together as garland, these snowflakes can also be hung above doorways, along walls, or even on a Christmas tree.
For a simple and low-cost way to provide a bit of holiday punch to your decor this winter season, I hope you'll consider this new take on an old classic. Ditch the stark white paper snowflakes reminiscent of your elementary school days for these updated tissue paper versions to achieve a more sophisticated and understated holiday decoration.
Yesterday Mike and I went up to Fair Hill to go hiking in one of the Maryland Park Service's best kept secrets. Our stop was just down the road from one of my favorite places - Milburn Orchards in Elkton, Maryland. It is an autumnal wonderland for kids and adults alike. With a pumpkin patch, apple picking, and every other kind of pick-your-own fruits and vegetables imaginable available spring through fall, this place is a locavores' dream. There are also tons of games, corn mazes, and other outdoor adventures to be had for the younger ones in your clan. A market sporting fresh-made apple cider donuts, seasonal baked goods, piping hot apple cider, and farm-fresh produce makes this a great stop for pantry essentials after some fall fun.
My favorite part of the whole orchard affair, however, is the petting zoo of sorts. Chickens, pigs, and a calf or two are all available for viewing and/or petting. The best part of all - the goats. This place is like a goat fortress. I have never seen so many of these animals in one place in my life! In all shapes, sizes, colors, and ages, the goats run around, begging for food, play fighting, and traveling around the goat playground where they live. Here are just a few photographs from this most recent visit, as well as a few old ones, to give you a better idea of the wonder and intrigue of this goat paradise!
Ramps, slides, and ladders for the goats to climb
This unbelievably large pig used to be one of the sights to see a Milburn. He is unfortunately no longer there, but he was quite a sight to see in his lifetime.
Begging - typical goat behavior.
One of the most endearing of the little guys.
Standard goat behavior - taking it head to head.
These sweet little things wanted all the corn they could get. We were real cheap and were just picking up spare kernels all over the ground to feed them until a generous orchard patron gave us an ear of corn to use. I don't know if he pitied our efforts or just didn't feel like taking the time to remove all the kernels himself.
The poor little guy kept getting trampled by the older folk whenever we tried to give him a few kernel. Mike and I tried to distract the greedy guys so we could feed this one, but they were smarter than we gave them credit for.
Goat pen, complete with chicken wire and dog house.
I still can't believe that this contraption is here for goats to walk on at a place of kid's entertainment. I just have this picture in my mind's eye of a goat falling from these ramps 20 feet in the air and the poor little children witnessing the whole thing. Luckily, I haven't heard of any such accident yet.
This place always makes me think of "The Lonely Goatherd" song from The Sound of Music. Yodeelay yodeelay yodeelay heehoo!
One of the things I miss most about college is the dining hall macaroons. I know what you're probably thinking, that I must have had a really sorry college experience. It's not so much that college was that bad as that the macaroons were that good. Chewy and moist, no other macaroons have ever been quite as delicious, or addictive. I actually entered college a bit wary of all things coconut but one night the limited dessert options left me no choice but to dare to try a coconut macaroon. I was delighted to find that macaroons, at least the University of Delaware's Dining Services' version, were actually a deliciously creamy and chewy treat!
I've tried various recipes in an attempt to replicate those unbelievably soft and flavorful macaroons, and this is the best one I've found. Try them dipped in chocolate and pop them to the freezer to save for later snacking. Enjoy!
I haven't been particularly crafty on here lately, mostly due to being wrapped up in seasonal food items and books. But with the holidays approaching, more and more craft projects have been popping up... here's one that is pretty simple to do (as long as you're more precise than I was, you'll have great success!) and is wonderful as a gift or a treat to yourself!
When the slippers I've had for the past seven or eight years finally were on their last legs, I decided that, rather than buying some Deerfoams or other unnecessarily comfortable and pricey slippers, I would make my own. I use them primarily for padding around the house and keeping my toes warm, so support requirements were minimal. I was mostly looking for warmth, coziness, and a little bit of character.
There are plenty of patterns for slippers online if you're a bit more diligent and patient than myself. I personally was planning to use Martha Stewart's but decided against it when I watched the woman at the fabric counter release more and more fuzz from the sherpa material I had chosen with each click of her scissors. I opted for a simple band over the top of the slipper so I could utilize the pre-hemmed edge on my material, rather than cutting a fresh line that would only more shed and need to be hemmed again. Some might call it laziness, but I prefer to think of it as being particularly efficient and practical. In the long run, my method is sure to reduce the number of inevitable frustrations with my sewing machine and the cleaning of sherpa sheddings from all over my home. I will admit, this is the most basic of slipper patterns I could have come up with and my methods of measurement were extremely inexact and approximate... however I now have some comfortable, fitting, albeit slightly wonky, slippers to lovingly and adoringly wear around my home!
So back to the project - a real simple pattern. I put my foot down on the fuzzy sherpa fabric, giving a generous 2-inches in all directions, and cut an outline. Then I laid that freshly cut footprint out and cut another matching footprint. These two matching footprints will be sewn together to make one sole of one slipper. Then I did the same for the other foot - tracing it with plenty of room to spare and then cutting a duplicate to reinforce the slipper's bottom.
The band over top was simple for me because one edge of my sherpa material was already nicely hemmed, so search for a pre-hemmed fabric if you'd like to make things easier on yourself. I simply laid the fabric down over my sewn-together-soles and used my foot as an informal guess-timation tool (I told you I was extremely imprecise!). I wanted the top band to hit a little more than halfway down from my toes, but used my actual foot for better reference. Then I cut away, using the sole as an outline for where the toe-side of the top band would stop.
Then everything got pinned and sewn together for each slipper. I kept the suede side down for both layers of the soles, so my feet would rest on the sherpa inside and the suede would touch the floor. I then flipped the top band - the sherpa was facedown so it brushed the top of my toes and the neat suede was face-up on the outside of the slipper. To make sure you have enough room to fit your foot in between the soles and the top bands, I suggest stuffing a ball of newspaper or other material inside there while sewing - if you simply lay everything down flat, the slipper will fit really tightly, if it even opens at all to allow your foot inside. As long as you've got something to hold the place where your foot should be while you're sewing away, you should be in good shape.
I worry these directions have been highly informal and embarrassingly imprecise. However, I found that it was much easier for me to wing it than to print out a pattern and such. I simply used my feet to make custom slippers. If you're looking for something a bit more resilient, I don't recommend using a mere two layers of sherpa, but rather finding another idea elsewhere on the web or adding a layer of foam in between the two sherpa layers of the sole. But if you just want something comfy and simple for keeping your toes warm this winter, this project just may be it. Good luck!
I came across some online holiday magazines the other day and Gifted Magazine, brought to us by the Creature Comforts blog, has completely stuck with me like no other. It's full of handmade and homemade ideas for celebrating, decorating, and gifting as well as articles on indie crafters, holiday dress, and contributors' Christmas memories. The content is innovative and inspired and the crafts, oh so easy - I can't decide which project to start first! Do yourself a favor and check this magazine out. If nothing else, it will lift your spirits by getting you in the swing of the holidays. At best, you'll come away inspired and full of holiday ideas! I'll be sure to post about all the craft projects I take away from this one!
Another great magazine from Inspire Co. - Amy Powers' Inspired Ideas online magazine's Christmas edition (to access the magazine, look for the icon on the top right side of her blog). Though this magazine is focused more solely on crafts, it is also chock-full of holiday inspiration. I've been looking for a unique homemade advent calendar idea and I think I have found the one in this issue made from a muffin tin! Soon as I get started I will surely post my process and outcome on this one!
When Mike and I went on our epic cross-country road trip adventure in the fall of 2009, we had to make a stop at Sonic since there were, at the time, none of these unique drive-in fast food stops in our area. Now they're popping up everywhere, but at the time it was a real treat.
I'd had the good fortune of being a veteran Sonic customer, but Mike was completely new to the place. And Mike has a great talent for ordering - it seems that whenever we go out to eat, I'm always wishing I had ordered whatever ends up on his plate. And when it came to Sonic, things played out much the same as usual. Mike saw the chili cheese tater tots on the menu and his mind was made up and I was left wishing I had noticed them before.
So chili cheese tater tots - it sounds a little bizarre but it actually is quite sensical. Chili cheese fries are a common enough menu item, tater tots and fries are both made from a form of fried potatoes, and tater tots are, to my mind, more fun than french fries. We actually tried to re-create this meal when en route to the west coast at a small town mid-western dinner. When we ordered just a side of chili and a side of tater tots, we got a strange look from our waitress but I guess she'd just never been to Sonic.
Once we made it home and moved in together, chili cheese tater tots became a staple meal in our place. I love chili and I love to make chili. And it's easy to find huge bags of store-bought tater tots that will keep forever in the freezer. Thus, it's a fun and easy go-to meal for us.
I assume that you can figure out how to do the assembly - just prepare the tater tots however you wish (fried, baked, etc.) and add the warm chili over top, then sprinkle with cheese. But I will provide you with a winning chili-recipe that I use again and again. It comes from one of the best birthday presents I've ever received. My friend Sheela gave me The Bon Appetit Cookbook (which also featured a free 1-year subscription to the magazine!) and I use it all the time. Any ingredient, any type of dish, I just open up to the index and can find something delicious to make that is a sure-fire crowd pleaser. And this chili is no different.
I think what makes this chili so delicious is the 1/4 cup of chili powder. Don't worry - it is not a spicy chili at all! Rather, the abundance of chili powder provides greater depth of flavor and more warmth than spice. This chili is a perfect way to warm up on a cold day or to add a little something to your tater tots! And the recipe is really flexible. It calls for beef broth, but I usually opt for vegetable stock instead. Any type of ground meat will do and I usually lighten up on the beans, using 2 cans instead of 3. Just stick as closely as you can to the major seasonings and flavors and you'll come out with a stellar chili!
The Swedish Christmas cookie is like a cross between sugar cookies and a butter cookie. It's thicker and has a more doughy texture than your standard sugar cookie, but is a bit more substantial than the average butter cookie. I came across this recipe a few Christmases ago and have been making them annually ever since. These are some positively delicious cookies sure to please any crowd throughout the holiday season. They also freeze really well if you want to make them in advance to give out as gifts closer to the holiday season. So make a batch for yourself, make one for your friends, and hold on to this one for years to come!
I found this recipe on the Food Network website and pretty much follow it to the book. I do substitute cinnamon for cardamom if I don't have the latter on hand. And though their method encourages refrigerating the dough and forming it into logs to slice, I've turned out little balls of the dough, coated each in colored sugars, then arranged them on a baking sheet with a generous amount of space between each. Then I come through with a round drinking glass, which I wet the bottom of, and press down to spread the cookie dough balls out. This achieves the same look and decreases the wait time for these cookies. But either option will produce beautiful cookies - simply do whatever is most convenient for you!
Swedish Christmas Cookies
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp ground cardamom
1/4 tsp fine salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest (I use lemon juice if I don't have fresh lemons on hand)
Colored sanding sugars
Directions
1. Whisk flour, cardamom, and salt in a bowl.
2. Combine butter and confectioner's sugar. Beat or place in a food processor to mix until light and fluffy.
3. Mix in egg, vanilla extract, and lemon zest.
4. Add the flour mixture until combined.
5. Divide dough in half and wrap in 2 12-inch sheets of plastic wrap for 30 minutes
6. Remove dough and form into logs. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
7. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
8. Scatter sanding sugars and roll dough logs to coat evenly.
9. Cut logs into 1/4-inch thick disks and arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets with about 1 inch between each.
10. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cookies will be golden around the edges when they're done.
11. Cool on wire racks. Enjoy!
These cookies are especially delicious when enjoyed wrapped in a fleece blanket with a mug of tea while watching The Family Stone... just a suggestion.
I believe that there are a few authors who really speak to each of us in an extremely personal and almost eery way. Maybe they're not always on the mark, maybe every piece of work they churn out isn't our favorite, but in some small way, their writing has made a profound and unparalleled impact on us that will forever burn their names in our hearts and minds.
This is how I feel about Barbara Kingsolver. The only piece of fiction of hers that I've been able to get fully immersed in was The Poisonwood Bible, but Animal, Vegetable, Miracle really moved me in a way few pieces of nonfiction have ever been able, and so did her collection of short essays entitled Small Wonder.
Inspired by the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Kingsolver meditates on a wide range of issues, most of them pertaining to what it means to be an American and what it means to be a parent. Bolstered by Third World parables, stories of foreign travel, anecdotes from her own family life, and a revolutionary sensibility inspired by the likes of Susan B. Anthony, Emma Goldman, and Martin Luther King Jr., Kingsolver has woven a stunning fabric of truth and authenticity that makes the personal political.
The thing I find most inspiring about Kingsolver is her optimism, her belief in the goodness of human nature and the potential for change. Nearly all of her ideas ultimately come back to love, peace, and respect. Though she may write on international conflicts, humanitarian crises, the domestic homeless population, or the war on terror, her views are remarkably accessible to all because they are grounded upon the small wonders of everyday life. The love a mother feels for her chid, the comfort of having a family to come home to, the right to live a healthy life - these are the things upon which she frames her larger critiques and interpretations of modern American society.
Armed these so-called revolutionary standpoints, Kingsolver's point is not to inspire guilt about the wasteful and selfish ways of America, but rather to inspire a sense of responsibility to make a change. Despite the many national decisions made with which she entirely disagrees, Kingsolver does not allow these discrepancies between her country's ideals and her own to diminish her sense of national pride. Instead, she draws upon the same ideas that inspired the founders of our nation as she holds out hope that change is possible. The United States holds the resources and the power to be a role model, to make changes that will improve the whole world, not just our small corner of it. Kingsolver implores us to take that potential and do something productive with it, to create a movement to spend our money more wisely and generously while restoring our sense of contentment grounded in something other than our latest purchase at the mall.
Kingsolver dreams of an America that cares just as much about its homeless citizens as those that are safely housed with their families every night. She envisions a country where the local independents can thrive, where unnecessary desires and obsession with consumption takes a backseat to the simple joy of working to put food on the table and fulfillment from relationships and family. As a storyteller, Kingsolver's imagination is obviously in great form but this ideal US is not some unattainable dreamland in her head. Reading the pieces contained within Small Wonder will make you realize how possible and necessary these changes can be, from the impact of harvesting vegetables in your own garden, to caring about your fellow citizen enough to sacrifice a few dollars of luxury spending.
Small Wonder will make you reconsider what you thought you knew, and it will raise questions you may have never thought to ask before. But Kingsolver will also undoubtedly instill in you a sense of hope and the revolutionary spirit to alter your life for the betterment of yourself, future generations, and those in need all around. And she'll perform this great feat of inspiration by pulling on the most fundamental and universal of human heartstrings: love and family.
And the winner of my Etsy anniversary giveaway winner is... Michelle of Books 'N Shoes! Congrats Michelle and thank you everyone who became a follower! I truly appreciate your interest!
If you're still interested in any items from the Etsy shop, feel free to stop on over for a 25% off sale through Saturday. Just message me before you commit to buying any items so I can adjust the price for you.
Hope you all have a lovely election day!
PS - Here are a few pictures of the newest addition to our home... our new kitten Digby! He's only about 10 weeks old and, though he enjoys waking us up by poking our faces and chasing our feet under the covers, Mike and I love our new cat friend.
It's getting to be that time of year when my garden is overrun with herbs and there aren't enough meals in the day for me to use them all. I'm learning how to best freeze, preserve, and use what I've got in my garden, basil, parsley, and sage, so that none of these delicious and flavorful herbs go to waste!
First of all, freezing is an incredibly easy method of preserving herbs that lots of people tend to overlook. Since you're most used to seeing herbs in fresh or dried form at the market, the whole freezing process is easy to forget. However, it is probably the easiest. Requiring minimal effort while saving the maximum herb flavor, all you need to do is chop your herbs up and freeze them in ice cube trays with a little bit of water (best for basil, parsley, and similar herbs) or pick and rinse the fresh leaves, them stick them in a freezer bag for storing (best for heartier leafy herbs like sage). The ice cube method is especially handy for using herbs in soups and stews. All you need to do is pop an herb ice cube or two out of the tray and let it melt into your soup to release all that herby-goodness. And though a thawed-out whole leaf herb won't be quite the same in texture or freshness as it's fresh from the garden counterpart, these types of herbs can be used pretty much anyway you would have used them fresh.
Another great option is making pesto, dressings, and sauces ripe with herbs. I have a delicious and slightly unusual recipe for Parsley Almond Pesto that is simple to make and more affordable than your traditional basil pesto because it calls for almonds instead of pine nuts and does not require any cheese.
And if you've got lots of basil on hand and want a somewhat more affordable pesto option, here's my take on an almond pesto made with basil.
Basil Almond Pesto
Ingredients
3-4 cloves garlic, peeled
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup almond slivers
1/2 shredded Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
1. In a food processor, finely chop garlic and basil. Then continue to puree while streaming in olive oil.
2. Add the lemon juice and pulse to incorporate.
3. Add the almonds and pulse to a fine chop, making sure everything is well-mixed and fully incorporated.
4. Remove the mixture from the food processor and stir in Parmesan cheese. If pesto is thicker than desired, add more olive oil or thin out with pasta water if serving over pasta.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve as a dressing for pasta, as a spread, over chicken, as a dip, or any way you can think of. Enjoy!
I covered some bowtie pasta with this delicious pesto, then added some black beans, fresh tomato, red onion, and black olives for a flavorful and colorful pesto pasta salad. Try out whatever add-ins you'd like - no combination is a bad one!
If you want to freeze this pesto, a great freezing method is, once again, the ice cube tray. Simply pour the pesto into a Ziploc bag, cut off one corner, and pipe the pesto into empty ice cube trays. Some people swear that you can't freeze pesto with the cheese, but I've never had any problems with it. But if you'd like to err on the side of caution, simple make sure you've got some cheese on hand for the big thaw and mix it in at that time.
