Happy Hanukkah tonight.
As well as Solstice.
Both holidays about light in the darkness and the darkness almost overpowering the light.
Wishing you light . . .
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Raising the Bars
We've been hurriedly making new batches of treats for the last people on our gift delivery list (who were supposed to get candy. Except now they could, because we didn't have church today and so I have those 3 teachers' candy, but it wouldn't be enough for 3 offices. So we go on . . . ).
Sis begged to make the oatmeal chocolate bars from her Sesame Street cookie book, which she covets. And they turned out rather well. Better than the chocolate chip pan cookie, sans oatmeal, we were going to make. But the brownie recipe that I have cherished for years seems to sweet and not chocolatey enough to me now. The butterscotch bars are loved by people who like butterscotch, which doesn't include me.
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Chocolate Chunk Oat Bars
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ cups uncooked old-fashioned oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks or chips, divided
Preheat the oven to 375F. Lightly grease a 9” square baking pan.
Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Beat the sugar and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add the egg, water, and vanilla; beat until well blended.
Stir in the flour mixture and oats; mix well. Stir in ½ cup chocolate chunks. Spread the dough in the pan with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle wit the remaining ½ cup chocolate chunks.
Bake for about 30 minutes or just until the center feels firm. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
Sesame Street Yummy Cookies: Baking with Kids
Sis begged to make the oatmeal chocolate bars from her Sesame Street cookie book, which she covets. And they turned out rather well. Better than the chocolate chip pan cookie, sans oatmeal, we were going to make. But the brownie recipe that I have cherished for years seems to sweet and not chocolatey enough to me now. The butterscotch bars are loved by people who like butterscotch, which doesn't include me.
=-=-=-=-=-
Chocolate Chunk Oat Bars
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ cups uncooked old-fashioned oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks or chips, divided
Preheat the oven to 375F. Lightly grease a 9” square baking pan.
Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Beat the sugar and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add the egg, water, and vanilla; beat until well blended.
Stir in the flour mixture and oats; mix well. Stir in ½ cup chocolate chunks. Spread the dough in the pan with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle wit the remaining ½ cup chocolate chunks.
Bake for about 30 minutes or just until the center feels firm. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
Sesame Street Yummy Cookies: Baking with Kids
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Advent: Presents under the Tree
We have presents under the tree, from a box from Aunt Banana and Uncle Soccer. Bud and Sis promised not to unwrap them, under penalty of not being able to keep them. But they can shake all they want. And identify which one is whose. This occasioned great fun as we handled them all and put them under the tree.
My dad never likes presents under the tree before the big day. I think he wants the great impact of going from empty to completely full. Sure, sometimes we put out gifts that came from the couple of aunts who sent them, and my birthday presents until it was time to open those (our tree was always up by my birthday), but for the most part the tree skirt was the only thing under there.
I don't mind gifts under the tree. I like to enjoy the different wrappings, shapes, and sizes. And I'm an incorrigible gift-shaker. Love, love, love to handle the presents and try to guess what they are, even if I don't really ever want to know (I'm guessing there are a few books under there right now!! And maybe some clothes--matching??--for the kids. Aunt Banana, are those twin gifts???!!!! ). The fun is in the guessing (Mama won't show me any presents beforehand anymore, but does let me play 20 questions, though she lies if I get too close. It's just a game we play). As it is, we are usually wrapping presents right up to showtime and so it's a moot point. Though, the kids' excitement at the few presents there might be an enticement to get wrapping earlier.
Well, that is if they manage not to open them for the next few days!
My dad never likes presents under the tree before the big day. I think he wants the great impact of going from empty to completely full. Sure, sometimes we put out gifts that came from the couple of aunts who sent them, and my birthday presents until it was time to open those (our tree was always up by my birthday), but for the most part the tree skirt was the only thing under there.
I don't mind gifts under the tree. I like to enjoy the different wrappings, shapes, and sizes. And I'm an incorrigible gift-shaker. Love, love, love to handle the presents and try to guess what they are, even if I don't really ever want to know (I'm guessing there are a few books under there right now!! And maybe some clothes--matching??--for the kids. Aunt Banana, are those twin gifts???!!!! ). The fun is in the guessing (Mama won't show me any presents beforehand anymore, but does let me play 20 questions, though she lies if I get too close. It's just a game we play). As it is, we are usually wrapping presents right up to showtime and so it's a moot point. Though, the kids' excitement at the few presents there might be an enticement to get wrapping earlier.
Well, that is if they manage not to open them for the next few days!
Licensed to . . . Love?
We have our marriage license.
Yep. Two women. One license. A wedding. A marriage.
And, as you know, we're keeping the wedding ceremony really small. The kids, my parents, my dress, some flowers in a basket, a ring pillow, some cake, the church friends. That's pretty much it. Just the way we like it.
While Connecticut says we can get married, millions if not billions of people worldwide, and their governments (including our own and our new president-elect) disagree. In California, same-sex couples could get married for awhile. Now they can't, thanks to Prop 8 and their neighbors who voted for it, and the Mormons who funded the campaign for it. In a way, we're thrilled that we can have some of the state protection of marriage (but none of the federal), that our kids will know we are married. But as lesbians, we have long avoided letting others, especially governments, define our relationships. So, to jump on the marriage bandwagon just because the state says we can (for now, though CT doesn't seem to have any particular threats to our law. But there are always the Mormons), or to invest too much in a law that can be reversed here and ignored almost everywhere else . . . well, let's just say, we are aware of the irony, historical precedents, and monumentality of the occasion.
Lambeth's challenged one of my asides about having a casual wedding, admonishing me that weddings are always a big deal. I'd say that marriage is a big deal, especially for two women in this country where our supposedly secular government defines marriage in religiously-derived terms and only a very few states have overcome that (while 36 states have taken their religious fervor and prejudice to an extreme and outlawed same sex unions). The wedding--the private celebration of the legal union--is just the proverbial icing on the cake and, as they are usually celebrated in this country, not our style or values. I like rituals and traditions myself, but as weddings are a blank slate, have decided to define ours as casual and comfortable, homey even, our minister called it "family-oriented."
Because of course, we were a family, a loving and committed couple, long before the government of Connecticut said it was okay. We've even had ceremonies before--a small gathering of friends in NYC years ago to notarize the paperwork for our city-recognized domestic partnership; a civil union in front of congregation and parents (with 3 month old babes) complete with songs, vows, and cake. We embrace the open-mindedness of our neighbors and our ability to marry in this state against the opinions of the majority of people in this country and the world, and we greatly appreciate our friends and family's excitement, support, and love surrounding our special day, and with all of that in mind, and with the knowledge that we've celebrated our union several times before publicly, and everyday of our lives privately, we're keeping this wedding "homey." (I had said "simple" to our minister and she said a lesbian wedding was never simple. And of course she's right, even our little one has had its fair share of drama and confusion).
Who knows, when the federal government legalizes it, we can always have a different one. Again.
Yep. Two women. One license. A wedding. A marriage.
And, as you know, we're keeping the wedding ceremony really small. The kids, my parents, my dress, some flowers in a basket, a ring pillow, some cake, the church friends. That's pretty much it. Just the way we like it.
While Connecticut says we can get married, millions if not billions of people worldwide, and their governments (including our own and our new president-elect) disagree. In California, same-sex couples could get married for awhile. Now they can't, thanks to Prop 8 and their neighbors who voted for it, and the Mormons who funded the campaign for it. In a way, we're thrilled that we can have some of the state protection of marriage (but none of the federal), that our kids will know we are married. But as lesbians, we have long avoided letting others, especially governments, define our relationships. So, to jump on the marriage bandwagon just because the state says we can (for now, though CT doesn't seem to have any particular threats to our law. But there are always the Mormons), or to invest too much in a law that can be reversed here and ignored almost everywhere else . . . well, let's just say, we are aware of the irony, historical precedents, and monumentality of the occasion.
Lambeth's challenged one of my asides about having a casual wedding, admonishing me that weddings are always a big deal. I'd say that marriage is a big deal, especially for two women in this country where our supposedly secular government defines marriage in religiously-derived terms and only a very few states have overcome that (while 36 states have taken their religious fervor and prejudice to an extreme and outlawed same sex unions). The wedding--the private celebration of the legal union--is just the proverbial icing on the cake and, as they are usually celebrated in this country, not our style or values. I like rituals and traditions myself, but as weddings are a blank slate, have decided to define ours as casual and comfortable, homey even, our minister called it "family-oriented."
Because of course, we were a family, a loving and committed couple, long before the government of Connecticut said it was okay. We've even had ceremonies before--a small gathering of friends in NYC years ago to notarize the paperwork for our city-recognized domestic partnership; a civil union in front of congregation and parents (with 3 month old babes) complete with songs, vows, and cake. We embrace the open-mindedness of our neighbors and our ability to marry in this state against the opinions of the majority of people in this country and the world, and we greatly appreciate our friends and family's excitement, support, and love surrounding our special day, and with all of that in mind, and with the knowledge that we've celebrated our union several times before publicly, and everyday of our lives privately, we're keeping this wedding "homey." (I had said "simple" to our minister and she said a lesbian wedding was never simple. And of course she's right, even our little one has had its fair share of drama and confusion).
Who knows, when the federal government legalizes it, we can always have a different one. Again.
Advent: Missed a Day
Well, just like with real advent calendars, I missed a day posting yesterday. And, in fact, when we went to do the real calendars with the kids this morning, we had to do three days! But with marriage license pick-up on Thursday and teacher gift delivery and then Mama leaving early Friday before both kids were awake (Mama is in charge of the calendars--I usually brush my teeth! Such are the funny arrangments that arise to make your day work), we had to do three days this morning.
And, similarly, I'll be doing two posts today. Not sure what the next one will be but since we decorated our tree yesterday, that's a good candidate.
And, similarly, I'll be doing two posts today. Not sure what the next one will be but since we decorated our tree yesterday, that's a good candidate.
Friday, December 19, 2008
"Snow Cream" Part 2
So, I'd had Mama pick up ingredients for two different snow ice cream recipes. Tonight after the children went to bed, we celebrated trimming the tree by trying the second recipe, or an adaptation of it (see below).
It wasn't as sweet, which was refreshing but it was also more icy and grainy. So while it tasted more like vanilla ice cream, the texture wasn't as good. We wonder if you could use 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk (for the creamier texture) with 1/2 cup half-and-half or milk (and probably no additional sugar, just the vanilla). Maybe we'll try that tomorrow!
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"Snow Cream" 2.2
5 cups of snow (or a big bowl)
1 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix ingredients. Eat.
It wasn't as sweet, which was refreshing but it was also more icy and grainy. So while it tasted more like vanilla ice cream, the texture wasn't as good. We wonder if you could use 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk (for the creamier texture) with 1/2 cup half-and-half or milk (and probably no additional sugar, just the vanilla). Maybe we'll try that tomorrow!
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"Snow Cream" 2.2
5 cups of snow (or a big bowl)
1 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix ingredients. Eat.
Snow Babies
We've had our first foray outside in what is a pretty heavy, dry snow. And we spent most of our play time setting up our bowls for snow ice cream and cookie sheet for maple syrup candy and checking on how much they'd gathered.
After taking a nature walk to see our waterfall, visiting our neighbor's inflatable decorations, making snow angels, drawing shapes on my car, writing letters in the snow, and plowing paths with our "lawn mowers," we came inside for lunch. Soon, Mama arrived home with our special ingredient: sweetened condensed milk.
By then, our bowls were full of snow and we made "snow cream," which I'd first heard about on "Little Bear" (which the kids are watching right now as we get ready for the afternoon maple syrup candy and tree trimming marathon). You basically add vanilla to a can of sweetened condensed milk and pour it on a big bowl of snow. Stir and presto! You have something that is the consistency and color of ice cream, and sweeter than anything you can fathom. We all dug in and polished the whole thing off.
And then Sis recalled that there were two more bowls of snow outside! Maybe tomorrow, we'll try recipe #2 or the chocolate ones on the website I got these from.
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Snow Cream
1 gallon or big bowl of clean snow (if you like, you can put the bowl outdoors to collect it as it falls)
1 14-oz can of sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Mix the ingredients together and eat the snow ice cream. Yummy!
Snow Cream #2
1 gallon or big bowl full of snow
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup cream or milk
Again, just mix the ingredients together. You get the idea.
about.chemistry.com
After taking a nature walk to see our waterfall, visiting our neighbor's inflatable decorations, making snow angels, drawing shapes on my car, writing letters in the snow, and plowing paths with our "lawn mowers," we came inside for lunch. Soon, Mama arrived home with our special ingredient: sweetened condensed milk.
By then, our bowls were full of snow and we made "snow cream," which I'd first heard about on "Little Bear" (which the kids are watching right now as we get ready for the afternoon maple syrup candy and tree trimming marathon). You basically add vanilla to a can of sweetened condensed milk and pour it on a big bowl of snow. Stir and presto! You have something that is the consistency and color of ice cream, and sweeter than anything you can fathom. We all dug in and polished the whole thing off.
And then Sis recalled that there were two more bowls of snow outside! Maybe tomorrow, we'll try recipe #2 or the chocolate ones on the website I got these from.
-=-=-=-=-
Snow Cream
1 gallon or big bowl of clean snow (if you like, you can put the bowl outdoors to collect it as it falls)
1 14-oz can of sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Mix the ingredients together and eat the snow ice cream. Yummy!
Snow Cream #2
1 gallon or big bowl full of snow
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup cream or milk
Again, just mix the ingredients together. You get the idea.
about.chemistry.com
It's Snowing!
It has just started. Let the fun begin!!!!
Snowfriends, snowball fights, snow angels, snow candy, hot chocolate, popcorn.
Fun, fun, fun.
Snowfriends, snowball fights, snow angels, snow candy, hot chocolate, popcorn.
Fun, fun, fun.
Snow Day
School's closed across the region. We didn't have school today anyway but it's fun to think that it is a free day for (almost) everyone. Mama is even trying to arrange to come home midday. Otherwise, the kids and I have a lot of activities we can do and, since Mama stopped at the grocery last night, lots of food for the weekend (since another storm is coming in Sunday).
Of course, right now, there is no snow predicted for my parents' visit. But I'd be surprised if some of this didn't hang around on the ground.
Of course, right now, there is no snow predicted for my parents' visit. But I'd be surprised if some of this didn't hang around on the ground.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Sending Love Around
- to the family of playgroup friend J. D. whose brother died unexpectedly yesterday;
- to Mama Teacher and family who are so sick with colds that they've cancelled their holiday party;
- to my cousin whose mother passed away unexpectedly this week;
- to my mom's friend B. whose family has had so much loss and suffering these last few weeks.
Advent: School's Out
It's the last day of preschool this year, with classes not resuming until January. The kids don't quite understand, either the meaning of vacation or the length of time. They probably won't realize they haven't been to school until they go back in a few weeks.
They'll understand in a few years. Oh, the last day of school before Christmas break! I think it was more exciting than the last day of the whole year, if only because I enjoyed delivering gifts to my teachers and exchanging treats with some friends. Oftentimes, I even wore my Santa hat with pins all day long. In high school, it was quite an affair--with a bagfull of presents for friends and acquaintences, including extras in case I forgot anyone. Oh, the loot, the love. I can't remember classes those days--maybe Christmas crosswords? Or a movie of the book we'd been reading? Or just a free period of talking? Iced sugar cookies at lunch (oh, those cute, awful cookies have a place in my heart). Besides the excitement of the last day of school was the fact that school was out for 2 weeks (and 4 in college, but then, we had finals that last week and it wasn't nearly as exciting; not that I liked having finals in January in h.s. and having to do some work over the vacation, like evil science fair--the reason I dropped out of honors science) and it was going to be Christmas very soon.
And now I'm on the other end of the holiday vacation, one of the parents who count down until school starts again. Actually, I'm not counting, yet, if only because I don't want to know how few days I have left to pull off a clean house for my parents (ok, clean is out of the question; presentable is the standard), gifts for everyone (bought and wrapped!), a meal on Christmas and everyday before and after, Christmas cards to about 100 people, AND entertaining the kiddos while I do it. Oh, and the wedding. Except that's done (and as I've said repeatedly, it's a small, casual affair, Mom, nothing to get worked up about, despite my new dress and a cake. That's it, see? Dad can wear khakis and doesn't need a tie. And Aunt H, gift or no gift, your choice, no worries).
I love the holidays and so today, with the kids delivering gifts to their teachers, I was transported back to my last days of school before Christmas, and so we went to celebrate with lunch, even if they didn't really understand why. They will.
They'll understand in a few years. Oh, the last day of school before Christmas break! I think it was more exciting than the last day of the whole year, if only because I enjoyed delivering gifts to my teachers and exchanging treats with some friends. Oftentimes, I even wore my Santa hat with pins all day long. In high school, it was quite an affair--with a bagfull of presents for friends and acquaintences, including extras in case I forgot anyone. Oh, the loot, the love. I can't remember classes those days--maybe Christmas crosswords? Or a movie of the book we'd been reading? Or just a free period of talking? Iced sugar cookies at lunch (oh, those cute, awful cookies have a place in my heart). Besides the excitement of the last day of school was the fact that school was out for 2 weeks (and 4 in college, but then, we had finals that last week and it wasn't nearly as exciting; not that I liked having finals in January in h.s. and having to do some work over the vacation, like evil science fair--the reason I dropped out of honors science) and it was going to be Christmas very soon.
And now I'm on the other end of the holiday vacation, one of the parents who count down until school starts again. Actually, I'm not counting, yet, if only because I don't want to know how few days I have left to pull off a clean house for my parents (ok, clean is out of the question; presentable is the standard), gifts for everyone (bought and wrapped!), a meal on Christmas and everyday before and after, Christmas cards to about 100 people, AND entertaining the kiddos while I do it. Oh, and the wedding. Except that's done (and as I've said repeatedly, it's a small, casual affair, Mom, nothing to get worked up about, despite my new dress and a cake. That's it, see? Dad can wear khakis and doesn't need a tie. And Aunt H, gift or no gift, your choice, no worries).
I love the holidays and so today, with the kids delivering gifts to their teachers, I was transported back to my last days of school before Christmas, and so we went to celebrate with lunch, even if they didn't really understand why. They will.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Problem Solved
I have Plan B for our candy gift shortage: we're going to make brownies, oatmeal scotchies, and chocolate chip bars to give to the last of our three friends. They'll each get a sample. With three batches, for three gifts, there should be enough.
Whew. Sure, I still have to do the baking, but at least I have a plan.
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Brownies
Makes 24 brownies
One 12 oz. package (2 cups) Semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
½ cup butter
3 eggs
1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup chopped nuts (optional)
In large, heavy saucepan over low heat, melt 1 cup chocolate chips and butter (for best results, melt butter then add chocolate chips and melt—prevents chocolate sticking to saucepan); stir until smooth. Remove from heat. Add eggs; stir well. Add flour sugar, baking soda, and vanilla; stir well. Stir in remaining (unmelted) chocolate chips and nuts, if desired. Spread into greased 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 18-22 minutes or until set. Cool completely. Cut into 2-inch squares.
Nestle Chocolate Chip bag
Oatmeal Scotchies
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened (used 3/4 cup vegan "butter" sticks)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or grated peel of 1 orange (used the vanilla)
3 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
1 2/3 cups (11-ounce package) butterscotch chips
PREHEAT oven to 375° F.COMBINE flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in oats and morsels. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.BAKE for 7 to 8 minutes for chewy cookies or 9 to 10 minutes for crisp cookies. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.PAN COOKIE VARIATION: GREASE 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Prepare dough as above. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until very lightly browned. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Makes 4 dozen bars.
Nestle Butterscotch Chips bag
Chocolate Chip Pan Cookie Recipe
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
12 oz chocolate chips
COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. PAN COOKIE VARIATION: Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Prepare dough as above. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. Makes 4 dozen bars.
Nestle Chocolate Chip bag
Whew. Sure, I still have to do the baking, but at least I have a plan.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Brownies
Makes 24 brownies
One 12 oz. package (2 cups) Semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
½ cup butter
3 eggs
1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup chopped nuts (optional)
In large, heavy saucepan over low heat, melt 1 cup chocolate chips and butter (for best results, melt butter then add chocolate chips and melt—prevents chocolate sticking to saucepan); stir until smooth. Remove from heat. Add eggs; stir well. Add flour sugar, baking soda, and vanilla; stir well. Stir in remaining (unmelted) chocolate chips and nuts, if desired. Spread into greased 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 18-22 minutes or until set. Cool completely. Cut into 2-inch squares.
Nestle Chocolate Chip bag
Oatmeal Scotchies
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened (used 3/4 cup vegan "butter" sticks)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or grated peel of 1 orange (used the vanilla)
3 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
1 2/3 cups (11-ounce package) butterscotch chips
PREHEAT oven to 375° F.COMBINE flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in oats and morsels. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.BAKE for 7 to 8 minutes for chewy cookies or 9 to 10 minutes for crisp cookies. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.PAN COOKIE VARIATION: GREASE 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Prepare dough as above. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until very lightly browned. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Makes 4 dozen bars.
Nestle Butterscotch Chips bag
Chocolate Chip Pan Cookie Recipe
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
12 oz chocolate chips
COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. PAN COOKIE VARIATION: Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Prepare dough as above. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. Makes 4 dozen bars.
Nestle Chocolate Chip bag
Bah Humbug
ERRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
We ran out of candy.
Three tins short.
I thought for sure that 7 batches of candy, including such high-yields as Christmas pretzels and chocolate-dipped apricots, would be more than enough. But I was wrong. True, I remembered three people after we started, and I bought tins that were probably too big (who wants little cookie tins??), but I had planned for extra.
I've got enough for all the teachers, but am empty-handed now for PT, the pediatrician, and the vet. And we always give treats to them. So, as Sis sagely remarked, we're just going to have to do it again.
I thought we were done.
Live and learn.
We ran out of candy.
Three tins short.
I thought for sure that 7 batches of candy, including such high-yields as Christmas pretzels and chocolate-dipped apricots, would be more than enough. But I was wrong. True, I remembered three people after we started, and I bought tins that were probably too big (who wants little cookie tins??), but I had planned for extra.
I've got enough for all the teachers, but am empty-handed now for PT, the pediatrician, and the vet. And we always give treats to them. So, as Sis sagely remarked, we're just going to have to do it again.
I thought we were done.
Live and learn.
Cookie Swaps
My planned cookie swap didn't work out this year, mainly because we all decided too late that we wanted one and then couldn't find enough people willing to bake or able to come.
But today's article in the NYTimes on butter made me wish we managed to pull it all together. I had great fun playing in butter last night to make my butter mints, and I know I would just love the Orange Butter Cookies included in the paper. But I'm pretty much done making sweets this year, except maybe one more batch of sugar cookies to decorate with Gommie and Pop next week. Even as I type, the kids are inhaling the last of last week's sugar cookies. Sis likes this with "sugar inside, not on the outside" (meaning, "Mommy, don't put colored sugars on my cookies before you bake them, like you did for the bake sale!").
The best part of the article was the link to The Cookie Exchange website. Robin Olson, the woman behind the site, has been organizing cookie swaps since I was in high school and lists a series of successful rules and tips, which I've seen in numerous other articles and resources. I'm going to sign up for her cookie exchange newsletter so maybe next year I can organize a successful swap. And I'm going to make these cookies.
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Orange Butter Cookies
Adapted from “The Sweeter Side of Amy’s Bread” by Amy Scherber and Toy Kim Dupree (Wiley, 2008)
Time: 1 hour
1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 2/3 cups cake flour or more all-purpose flour (cake flour gives a finer texture)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter
2 packed teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
1 large egg plus 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
FOR THE ICING (SEE NOTE):
1 orange
1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 to 4 tablespoons whole milk
2 drops almond or vanilla extract
Pinch fine salt.
1. Position two oven racks in top and bottom third of oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk flours, baking soda and salt together. In a mixer, cream together the sugar, butter and orange zest at medium speed until light and smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of bowl frequently. Add egg and mix. Add one egg yolk and mix. Add remaining egg yolk and mix. Stir in dry ingredients just until combined.
3. Scoop tablespoons of dough onto parchment, leaving more than 1 inch between cookies. Press each one down lightly with 2 fingers to flatten to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Leave any ridges and valleys on top of cookie intact, but smooth the edges.
4. Bake about 15 minutes, rotating cookie sheets halfway through. Cookies should be pale but baked all the way through. Cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack and cool before storing in airtight containers up to 1 week.
5. When ready to serve, make icing: Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Peel orange, being careful to remove only outer orange zest, and cut into thin strips. Blanch in boiling water 1 minute; drain. Sift confectioners’ sugar into a bowl. Whisk in 2 tablespoons milk. Whisk in more milk if needed to make mixture thin enough to spread. Add extract, salt and zest, and whisk to combine.
6. Place cookies on a rack and drizzle icing over each one (make sure there is some orange zest in each spoonful). Icing will settle into cookie crevices; let harden.
Yield: About 4 dozen cookies.
Note: Instead of icing, cookies can be sprinkled with coarse crystal sugar before baking.
But today's article in the NYTimes on butter made me wish we managed to pull it all together. I had great fun playing in butter last night to make my butter mints, and I know I would just love the Orange Butter Cookies included in the paper. But I'm pretty much done making sweets this year, except maybe one more batch of sugar cookies to decorate with Gommie and Pop next week. Even as I type, the kids are inhaling the last of last week's sugar cookies. Sis likes this with "sugar inside, not on the outside" (meaning, "Mommy, don't put colored sugars on my cookies before you bake them, like you did for the bake sale!").
The best part of the article was the link to The Cookie Exchange website. Robin Olson, the woman behind the site, has been organizing cookie swaps since I was in high school and lists a series of successful rules and tips, which I've seen in numerous other articles and resources. I'm going to sign up for her cookie exchange newsletter so maybe next year I can organize a successful swap. And I'm going to make these cookies.
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Orange Butter Cookies
Adapted from “The Sweeter Side of Amy’s Bread” by Amy Scherber and Toy Kim Dupree (Wiley, 2008)
Time: 1 hour
1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 2/3 cups cake flour or more all-purpose flour (cake flour gives a finer texture)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter
2 packed teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
1 large egg plus 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
FOR THE ICING (SEE NOTE):
1 orange
1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 to 4 tablespoons whole milk
2 drops almond or vanilla extract
Pinch fine salt.
1. Position two oven racks in top and bottom third of oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk flours, baking soda and salt together. In a mixer, cream together the sugar, butter and orange zest at medium speed until light and smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of bowl frequently. Add egg and mix. Add one egg yolk and mix. Add remaining egg yolk and mix. Stir in dry ingredients just until combined.
3. Scoop tablespoons of dough onto parchment, leaving more than 1 inch between cookies. Press each one down lightly with 2 fingers to flatten to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Leave any ridges and valleys on top of cookie intact, but smooth the edges.
4. Bake about 15 minutes, rotating cookie sheets halfway through. Cookies should be pale but baked all the way through. Cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack and cool before storing in airtight containers up to 1 week.
5. When ready to serve, make icing: Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Peel orange, being careful to remove only outer orange zest, and cut into thin strips. Blanch in boiling water 1 minute; drain. Sift confectioners’ sugar into a bowl. Whisk in 2 tablespoons milk. Whisk in more milk if needed to make mixture thin enough to spread. Add extract, salt and zest, and whisk to combine.
6. Place cookies on a rack and drizzle icing over each one (make sure there is some orange zest in each spoonful). Icing will settle into cookie crevices; let harden.
Yield: About 4 dozen cookies.
Note: Instead of icing, cookies can be sprinkled with coarse crystal sugar before baking.
Advent: Snowflakes
It started sometime on Monday, this obsession with paper snowflakes. I'm not even sure really how. But when I came home from errands, the babysitter and the kiddos were up to their eyeballs in paper snippies, finished snowflakes, and smiles. Even after she left, we continued to make snowflakes: I was in charge of squaring the colored construction paper and then folding/cutting it into a triangle/square/circle and then they would make little snips in the paper, open them up, and tape them on the back window.
Then Tuesday at school they must have asked to make more snowflakes and came home with a whole new pile of white ones, plus two marble-painted evergreens, which were all added to our back deck door in a winter wonderland scene. Then I pulled out the square origami paper and they went to town cutting more snowflakes. I even contributed a few lines of paper dolls. The cats loved it, as they chased bits of paper all over the kitchen.
There must have been some magic in those snowflakes that we made--we're supposed to get 1-3" snow!
Then Tuesday at school they must have asked to make more snowflakes and came home with a whole new pile of white ones, plus two marble-painted evergreens, which were all added to our back deck door in a winter wonderland scene. Then I pulled out the square origami paper and they went to town cutting more snowflakes. I even contributed a few lines of paper dolls. The cats loved it, as they chased bits of paper all over the kitchen.
There must have been some magic in those snowflakes that we made--we're supposed to get 1-3" snow!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Mommy's Candy Castle
We did it! We finished our teacher gift candy-making marathon. Two sessions of Christmas pretzels (where the kids would name each teacher who got each pretzel. "This one is for Mrs. Director. And Mrs. Teacher . . . "), plus chocolate dipped apricots, rocky road with cherries instead of nuts, and two batches of peppermint bark (their favorite because of the smashing of the candy, even if Bud said it was too spicy to eat). And then, in the evening I made toffee (too dangerous with boiling sugar in butter. And, as always, fond memories of the deceased coworker whose recipe it was) and double-decker fudge (ditto, plus it has off-limits peanut butter) and butter mints (which I just thought the kids would think were boring). The butter mints were the new candy for me and I loved kneading the crumbly mess into this light yellow, soft dough with this incredible smell. But it made 200+ mints, which took up a lot of time this evening. Still, they came out wonderfully and I'll definitely make them again. Thank goodness for Google though, because, when my oil wouldn't "drop," I managed to discover that 20 drops of peppermint oil equals 1/5th of a teaspoon! Now, we just have to assemble the tins and finish the cards for everyone. The kids are really looking forward to delivering them. And that was the goal, to share a little of our holiday joy with everyone.
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I. B.'s Easy English Toffee
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
1 cup sugar
Cook in saucepan. Stir until mixture changes color; it’s done when mixture turns caramel color (the butter will separate out; stir until it is reabsorbed).
Pour on greased cookie sheet. Spread out as best you can.
Sprinkle on about ¼- ½ cup chocolate chips. Sprinkle on ¼- ½ cup nuts.
Refrigerate.
Break into pieces.
Easy Rocky Road
2 cups (12 oz. package) chocolate chips
¼ cup butter or margarine
2 tablespoons shortening
3 cups miniature marshmallows
½ cup coarsely chopped nuts—we used 10 maraschino cherries instead!
Butter 8 inch square pan. In large microwave-safe bowl place chocolate chips, butter, and shortening; microwave at medium for 5 to 7 minutes or until chips are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred. Add marshmallows and nuts; blend well. spread evenly into prepared pan. Cover; cill until firm. Cut into 2 inch squares. About 25 squares.
Double-Decker Fudge
About 2 pounds fudge.
1 cup Reese’s Peanut Butter chips
1 cup chocolate chips
2 ¼ cups sugar
7 oz. (1 jar) marshmallow crème
¾ cup evaporated milk
¼ cup (1/2 stick butter)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Line 8 inch square pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan. In medium bowl, place peanut butter chips. In second medium bowl, place chocolate chips. In heavy 3-quart saucepan, combine sugar, marshmallow crème, evaporated milk, and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil; boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Immediately stir half of the hot mixture (1 ½ cups) into peanut butter chips until chips are completely melted; quickly spread into prepared pan. Stir remaining hot mixture into chocolate chips until chips are completely melted. Quickly spread over top of peanut butter layer. Cool to room temperature; refrigerate until firm. Use foil to lift fudge out of pan; peel off foil. Cut into 1-inch squares. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature.
Peppermint Bark
Makes about 32 pieces
12 oz. white baking chips
½ cup crushed peppermint candies or candy cane
Microwave white baking chips 1 minute and then in additional increments of 20 seconds, stirring after each, until almost melted. Stir until completely melted.
Add crushed peppermint candies, stirring until mixed. Spread mixture thinly onto aluminum foil-lined cookie sheet.
Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces.
Miss B's Butter Mints
1 pound confectioners sugar
1 stick butter plus 2 tablespoons
20 drops oil of peppermint (get at pharmacy)
Cream together sugar and butter. Add peppermint oil. Mix together with hands. When together, knead for 5 minutes. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired to any portion of mixture. Snip off size of mint desire (I like the size of a marble). Place on a cookie sheet or flat surface and press down with a fork. These will keep for weeks in the refrigerator, or they may be frozen.
Our “Christmas Pretzels”
mini pretzels (or whatever pretzel you like; big sticks are pretty but the chocolate ratio isn't always good)chocolate chipssprinkles/jimmiesMelt the chocolate chips in the microwave (1 minute; stir; 30 seconds; stir; and the last two steps until almost melted--they will melt when stirred. Don't over microwave.) Dip pretzels in chocolate. Roll in sprinkles. Let dry on rack or aluminum foil. Store in airtight container.Or just eat them all right then.
Chocolate-Dipped Apricots
See above recipe, but use dried apricots instead of pretzels, without the sprinkles or jimmies.
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I. B.'s Easy English Toffee
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
1 cup sugar
Cook in saucepan. Stir until mixture changes color; it’s done when mixture turns caramel color (the butter will separate out; stir until it is reabsorbed).
Pour on greased cookie sheet. Spread out as best you can.
Sprinkle on about ¼- ½ cup chocolate chips. Sprinkle on ¼- ½ cup nuts.
Refrigerate.
Break into pieces.
Easy Rocky Road
2 cups (12 oz. package) chocolate chips
¼ cup butter or margarine
2 tablespoons shortening
3 cups miniature marshmallows
½ cup coarsely chopped nuts—we used 10 maraschino cherries instead!
Butter 8 inch square pan. In large microwave-safe bowl place chocolate chips, butter, and shortening; microwave at medium for 5 to 7 minutes or until chips are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred. Add marshmallows and nuts; blend well. spread evenly into prepared pan. Cover; cill until firm. Cut into 2 inch squares. About 25 squares.
Double-Decker Fudge
About 2 pounds fudge.
1 cup Reese’s Peanut Butter chips
1 cup chocolate chips
2 ¼ cups sugar
7 oz. (1 jar) marshmallow crème
¾ cup evaporated milk
¼ cup (1/2 stick butter)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Line 8 inch square pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan. In medium bowl, place peanut butter chips. In second medium bowl, place chocolate chips. In heavy 3-quart saucepan, combine sugar, marshmallow crème, evaporated milk, and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil; boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Immediately stir half of the hot mixture (1 ½ cups) into peanut butter chips until chips are completely melted; quickly spread into prepared pan. Stir remaining hot mixture into chocolate chips until chips are completely melted. Quickly spread over top of peanut butter layer. Cool to room temperature; refrigerate until firm. Use foil to lift fudge out of pan; peel off foil. Cut into 1-inch squares. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature.
Peppermint Bark
Makes about 32 pieces
12 oz. white baking chips
½ cup crushed peppermint candies or candy cane
Microwave white baking chips 1 minute and then in additional increments of 20 seconds, stirring after each, until almost melted. Stir until completely melted.
Add crushed peppermint candies, stirring until mixed. Spread mixture thinly onto aluminum foil-lined cookie sheet.
Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces.
Miss B's Butter Mints
1 pound confectioners sugar
1 stick butter plus 2 tablespoons
20 drops oil of peppermint (get at pharmacy)
Cream together sugar and butter. Add peppermint oil. Mix together with hands. When together, knead for 5 minutes. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired to any portion of mixture. Snip off size of mint desire (I like the size of a marble). Place on a cookie sheet or flat surface and press down with a fork. These will keep for weeks in the refrigerator, or they may be frozen.
Our “Christmas Pretzels”
mini pretzels (or whatever pretzel you like; big sticks are pretty but the chocolate ratio isn't always good)chocolate chipssprinkles/jimmiesMelt the chocolate chips in the microwave (1 minute; stir; 30 seconds; stir; and the last two steps until almost melted--they will melt when stirred. Don't over microwave.) Dip pretzels in chocolate. Roll in sprinkles. Let dry on rack or aluminum foil. Store in airtight container.Or just eat them all right then.
Chocolate-Dipped Apricots
See above recipe, but use dried apricots instead of pretzels, without the sprinkles or jimmies.
Catching Up
Lots to tell from our busy weekend, only about an hour left to tell it in (Mama's at yet another office party tonight):
Friday--My birthday playgroup, pinatas, and purple frosting
I had a great birthday playgroup, even though lots of people cancelled at the last minute. The remaining few fit perfectly in my house and made the day very happy. Sis had decided minutes before the party that we could indeed use the pinata instead of keeping it as a pet and so we stuffed it full of M&Ms and Tootsie candies (including, Aunt H, the fruit kind, since you had asked). We had fun knocking its head off, literally, with everyone getting a turn and my delivery the final blow (with lots of help from the other moms--this was one stubborn pinata). We then enjoyed chocolate cake with deep purple frosting and rainbow sprinkles, with all the kids helping me blow out the candles (it's a wonder the next plague didn't get its start that day)--one candle for each guest (instead of one for each of my 38 years). Oh, and did I mention that we decorated sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles? Yep, it was sugar overload at my house. With sherbet punch too! No wonder I've sworn off the stuff now.
Friday--Kids' party at Mama's office and Frosty's sneakers
That afternoon, we headed to Mama's office for the company party, also with cookie decorating (but with brushes to put on the Royal Icing--I'm going to try this at our next groundhog party!). Plus foamie ornament making. And face painting. And Santa, of whom Sis is still deathly afraid (she said all week that she didn't even want to go to the party because he'd be there, but Mama was her protector and Santa was kind enough to steer clear when he saw her cowering). And Frosty, whom Bud befriended right away. He showed Frosty his Thomas the Train "tattoo" and the cookie he decorated and his own picture with Santa. He thought Frosty was cool. Sis, clever Sis, was suspicious--why would a snowman wear shoes? Maybe there was a person in there. She didn't make friends with Frosty, but nor did she cry. He intrigued her, from a distance. And she even braved the clowns to have a white bunny painted on her arm. They both loved the fiber optic wands they took home, waving them in the dark car all the way.
Saturday--see "Christmas in the City, Expanded"
Sunday--Decorating the church for the holidays
This was the final touch of our jam-packed, festivity-filled weekend. We participated in the pageant at church and then attended the soup potluck (I liked the cheesy corn chowder. Didn't realize there was bacon til I got the recipe, below. But yummy!) and tree trimming. Oh what fun the kids had helping with that! We'll be putting up our tree this weekend.
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CHEDDAR CORN CHOWDER (this serves 10 to 12)
8 ounces bacon, chopped
1/4 cup good olive oil
6 cups chopped yellow onions
4 tblsps unsalted butter
1/2 cup flour
4 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
12 cups chicken stock
6 cups med.diced white boiling potatoes(about 2 pounds)
10 cups corn kernels (fresh 10 ears) or (frozen 3 pounds)
2 cups half-and-half
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese grated.
In large stockpot over med.high heat, cook the bacon and olive oil until the bacon is crisp, about 6 min.. Remove bacon with slotted spoon and reserve. Reduce the heat to med. add the onions and butter to pot, and cookfor 15 min, untill onions are translucent.
Stir in the flour, salt....... pepper and turmeric and cook 3 min. Add the checken stock and potatoes, bring to a boil, and simmer uncovered for 15 min, until the potatoes are tender. Add the corn to the soup, then add the 1/2&1/2 and cheddar, Cook for 8 more minutes, until the cheese is melted, season to taste with salt and pepper.
serve hot with a garnish of bacon.
Enjoy
Friday--My birthday playgroup, pinatas, and purple frosting
I had a great birthday playgroup, even though lots of people cancelled at the last minute. The remaining few fit perfectly in my house and made the day very happy. Sis had decided minutes before the party that we could indeed use the pinata instead of keeping it as a pet and so we stuffed it full of M&Ms and Tootsie candies (including, Aunt H, the fruit kind, since you had asked). We had fun knocking its head off, literally, with everyone getting a turn and my delivery the final blow (with lots of help from the other moms--this was one stubborn pinata). We then enjoyed chocolate cake with deep purple frosting and rainbow sprinkles, with all the kids helping me blow out the candles (it's a wonder the next plague didn't get its start that day)--one candle for each guest (instead of one for each of my 38 years). Oh, and did I mention that we decorated sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles? Yep, it was sugar overload at my house. With sherbet punch too! No wonder I've sworn off the stuff now.
Friday--Kids' party at Mama's office and Frosty's sneakers
That afternoon, we headed to Mama's office for the company party, also with cookie decorating (but with brushes to put on the Royal Icing--I'm going to try this at our next groundhog party!). Plus foamie ornament making. And face painting. And Santa, of whom Sis is still deathly afraid (she said all week that she didn't even want to go to the party because he'd be there, but Mama was her protector and Santa was kind enough to steer clear when he saw her cowering). And Frosty, whom Bud befriended right away. He showed Frosty his Thomas the Train "tattoo" and the cookie he decorated and his own picture with Santa. He thought Frosty was cool. Sis, clever Sis, was suspicious--why would a snowman wear shoes? Maybe there was a person in there. She didn't make friends with Frosty, but nor did she cry. He intrigued her, from a distance. And she even braved the clowns to have a white bunny painted on her arm. They both loved the fiber optic wands they took home, waving them in the dark car all the way.
Saturday--see "Christmas in the City, Expanded"
Sunday--Decorating the church for the holidays
This was the final touch of our jam-packed, festivity-filled weekend. We participated in the pageant at church and then attended the soup potluck (I liked the cheesy corn chowder. Didn't realize there was bacon til I got the recipe, below. But yummy!) and tree trimming. Oh what fun the kids had helping with that! We'll be putting up our tree this weekend.
-=-=-=-=-
CHEDDAR CORN CHOWDER (this serves 10 to 12)
8 ounces bacon, chopped
1/4 cup good olive oil
6 cups chopped yellow onions
4 tblsps unsalted butter
1/2 cup flour
4 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
12 cups chicken stock
6 cups med.diced white boiling potatoes(about 2 pounds)
10 cups corn kernels (fresh 10 ears) or (frozen 3 pounds)
2 cups half-and-half
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese grated.
In large stockpot over med.high heat, cook the bacon and olive oil until the bacon is crisp, about 6 min.. Remove bacon with slotted spoon and reserve. Reduce the heat to med. add the onions and butter to pot, and cookfor 15 min, untill onions are translucent.
Stir in the flour, salt....... pepper and turmeric and cook 3 min. Add the checken stock and potatoes, bring to a boil, and simmer uncovered for 15 min, until the potatoes are tender. Add the corn to the soup, then add the 1/2&1/2 and cheddar, Cook for 8 more minutes, until the cheese is melted, season to taste with salt and pepper.
serve hot with a garnish of bacon.
Enjoy
Good Morning, Korea!
Miss T and son J have been in Seoul, I'm figuring, about 12 hours now, after what must have been a grueling 14+ hour flight. She's there for her brother's wedding, which is in the next day or so. I hope you are having a wonderful time in your old home and can't wait to hear all about it.
Christmas in the City, Expanded
Here are some notes and observations on what is now our annual trip to the city for the holiday season. The kids have proudly told everyone about their trip to New York City, which means we'll be going again, both for the holidays but also sooner. I guess we're all New Yorkers at heart now (even if Sis said she wouldn't want to live there because of the noise and the number of people).
This year's tree at Rockefeller Center
It didn't seem as tall as in years past but it was just as brightly lit and welcoming. And crowded as time passed. The kids were amazed to see it but, once they had acknowledged that it was the largest Christmas tree they'd ever seen, they were more interested in the . . .
The Zamboni
As Bud has told everyone who asked, he didn't see the skaters because they were making ice with the Zamboni. I think it was his favorite part. Sis's was . . .
Teuscher chocolates
"The chocolate store" is what she's said was her favorite part of the day, when asked. She got a chocolate cat. Bud got a chocolate-dipped apricot. I walked away with a bag full of dark chocolate orange peels/wedges/slices, marzipan, Grand Marnier truffles, and the like. Plus the champagne truffles which are the reason for this annual pilgrimmage. Bud missed half of the visit to the chocolate store because he wanted to see the . . .
Salvation Army tuba player
He loves music. And gave the man a few dollars for his pot. Then I ducked off to visit . . .
Metropolitan Museum of Art bookstore
We couldn't squeeze in a visit to the museum and it's Neapolitan creche, so this was the next best thing. I tootled around looking at various things, until I was late to . . .
St. Patrick's Cathedral nativity and pipe organ
Not as crowded as previous years, and with children old enough to enjoy it, we spent some time admiring the architecture. When we pointed out the rose window to Bud, he noticed the grand pipe organ instead (but wasn't that intersted in hearing it when it started to play later). Sis loved the nativity, even if the baby was missing (I understand that this is a Catholic tradition of not bringing out Jesus until Christmas), and marveled at the size of it and all the animals and the angel. Bud was, however, impatient to get to the . . .
Train at Citigroup Cener--its final year
Our third year to visit with the kids, the train is a highlight of our holiday season and unfortunately is now a victim of the failing economy. Ailing Citigroup says it can't afford to put on the $1 million/year extravaganza next year (I say, charge a small fee and donate any profits to charity and you'll create a lot of goodwill). So this was our last visit. The kids didn't understand that, really, and so just enjoyed looking at the 30+ trains zooming along the 4 different areas, with their different time periods, geographical locations, seasons, and times of day. I tried to soak it all in, remember all the little details. Luckily, we have the DVD and can watch it, because I won't be able to remember all the bits that make it so marvelous. TV can be a great tool, especially when it's . . .
"Mippy" statues
(okay, so that was an inelegant transition) We saw giant white welded metal statues of Miffy the bunny from the TV show Sis likes as we walked to the train. There were also metal sculpture of Hello Kitty and My Melody (i.e. Hello Bunny). Sis and Bud were fascinated. It was our little bit of lagniappe for the day as we had no idea they were there (at the Lever Building on Park). If that was the best unplanned part, the most frustrating was . . .
The bus
On the whole, the bus is a great way to see the city especially when it's freezing outside and the sidewalks are crowded. But we missed a bus as we walked up to the stop, the next one was a limited and didn't stop, and it was then a long time til the next one. We could've walked the 5+ blocks but the kids were tired and cranky. And we thought it would be fun. Which it was when we finally got on, but then we overshot our stop on the way to . . .
FAO Schwartz--bears, hippos, and penguins. Oh, my!
Yes, I did confiscate Mama's credit card as we stood in what seemed a long line (around the building, to the next block!) but actually took no more than 7-10 minutes. I didn't take her parents' cards though and they ended up buying a hippo for Sis and a penguin for Bud. Sis tried to buy me one of the big furry $120 FAO Schwartz bears we saw in the window--she ran inside, told me to wait right there, and then tried to pick it up (I imagine it was 2x as tall as she was and weighed more too) and hand it to me so I could have it. I almost paid for it myself (because, of course, I had all the credit cards!), so sweet was that gesture. But I settled for a momento of the occasion, a small FAO Schwartz bear-in-a-bag for $7 (Sis has since named it Amy the bear and takes care of it for me). On our much more successful bus ride to lunch we saw . . .
5th Avenue--parade of Santas??
That's right, 100s of young men and women (i.e. not professional working Santas) dressed as Santas, plus some elves and even a Grinch. I bet there were 300-500 of them on the sidewalks. Was it a lark? Some kind of charity walkathon? I googled but can't find it. Sis and Bud were fascinated. We all were. And hungry for . . .
lunch at Virgil's
I know, I know, what does a vegetarian eat at her favorite BBQ restaurant 3 buildings down from where she used to live? Lots of french fries with blue cheese dressing and hush puppies with maple butter and sweet tea and some of a shrimp po'boy (because under diress, I did order some seafood. Even I can't order a grilled veggie sandwich at a BBQ joint). Sis devoured her crunchy chicken. Bud loved the pickles, onion rings, flat dogs and bun (which he ate from the side!!), but not the spicy coleslaw (which he otherwise loves). Then we wandered around . . .
Times Square, my old neighborhood
The lights are much brighter there . . . and Bud and Sis were amazed at all the flashing neon signs and tall buildings. I enjoyed seeing what had changed (my old crappy dorm is now a hotel), what was the same (Red Flame diner!). Weirdly, Times Square will always be one of my "homes." But when I was there, it didn't have . . .
Crumbs cupcakes
I finally got to go. And Miss T would've loved it (the cupcakes, anyway. It was just counter service, with not quite enough space for that). We ordered 6 giant gourmet cupcakes, including eggnog (my favorite), hostess (just like those cupcakes, my 2nd favorite; for Sis but she decided not to eat it), mint (kinda creme de menthe-y, my 3rd favorite and Mama's first), M&Ms for Bud, and blackout (for me, but it was mediocre). There were other flavors, but they mostly had nuts, which we weren't getting cos of the kiddos. Across the street was . . .
NYPL--Beedle the Bard, the original manuscript
Oddly, the lions weren't wreathed this year, one of my favorite holiday traditions, but the kids still enjoyed seeing them. Budget cuts? Damage to the lions? We left the kids eating cupcakes outside with Ma and Gong (or so we thought, turns out they waited to eat them at home with us) and ran upstairs to see J.K. Rowling's handwritten and illustrated original manuscript in the catalog room (which still gives us both palpitations from diss time). It was small, beautifully bound, and drawn in . . . blue ink! The page we saw doesn't exist in the mass reprint, and included a bridge over water, a shield, and other details. Just a little treat for us, from our pre-kid selves. Can't wait to share Harry Potter with them. But until then, we shared a . . .
Taxi cab
Yep, after visiting the children's room in the library (a new addition and a welcome one!), where we read Lionni's Tico and the Golden Wings, we knew it was time to head home so we hailed a cab on 42nd and headed back to our car uptown. Bud and Sis loved riding in the cab, with Bud saying "I've never ridden in a cab before." I love riding in cabs, too, Bud. We piled in our own car, parked across from the MoMA and headed out of town, past . . .
Horse-drawn carriages in Central Park
We must have seen 50 of these clip-clopping along CPS, much to Sis's delight as she squealed with each new horse, "a white one! a brown one! another brown one! hey, that one's brown and white!" I think we'll have to add that to our list of things to do next year. And so, with Bud sound asleep and Sis chattering away in the backseat, we watched the rise of . . .
The BIGGEST moon ever
The perfect end to a wonderful day.
This year's tree at Rockefeller Center
It didn't seem as tall as in years past but it was just as brightly lit and welcoming. And crowded as time passed. The kids were amazed to see it but, once they had acknowledged that it was the largest Christmas tree they'd ever seen, they were more interested in the . . .
The Zamboni
As Bud has told everyone who asked, he didn't see the skaters because they were making ice with the Zamboni. I think it was his favorite part. Sis's was . . .
Teuscher chocolates
"The chocolate store" is what she's said was her favorite part of the day, when asked. She got a chocolate cat. Bud got a chocolate-dipped apricot. I walked away with a bag full of dark chocolate orange peels/wedges/slices, marzipan, Grand Marnier truffles, and the like. Plus the champagne truffles which are the reason for this annual pilgrimmage. Bud missed half of the visit to the chocolate store because he wanted to see the . . .
Salvation Army tuba player
He loves music. And gave the man a few dollars for his pot. Then I ducked off to visit . . .
Metropolitan Museum of Art bookstore
We couldn't squeeze in a visit to the museum and it's Neapolitan creche, so this was the next best thing. I tootled around looking at various things, until I was late to . . .
St. Patrick's Cathedral nativity and pipe organ
Not as crowded as previous years, and with children old enough to enjoy it, we spent some time admiring the architecture. When we pointed out the rose window to Bud, he noticed the grand pipe organ instead (but wasn't that intersted in hearing it when it started to play later). Sis loved the nativity, even if the baby was missing (I understand that this is a Catholic tradition of not bringing out Jesus until Christmas), and marveled at the size of it and all the animals and the angel. Bud was, however, impatient to get to the . . .
Train at Citigroup Cener--its final year
Our third year to visit with the kids, the train is a highlight of our holiday season and unfortunately is now a victim of the failing economy. Ailing Citigroup says it can't afford to put on the $1 million/year extravaganza next year (I say, charge a small fee and donate any profits to charity and you'll create a lot of goodwill). So this was our last visit. The kids didn't understand that, really, and so just enjoyed looking at the 30+ trains zooming along the 4 different areas, with their different time periods, geographical locations, seasons, and times of day. I tried to soak it all in, remember all the little details. Luckily, we have the DVD and can watch it, because I won't be able to remember all the bits that make it so marvelous. TV can be a great tool, especially when it's . . .
"Mippy" statues
(okay, so that was an inelegant transition) We saw giant white welded metal statues of Miffy the bunny from the TV show Sis likes as we walked to the train. There were also metal sculpture of Hello Kitty and My Melody (i.e. Hello Bunny). Sis and Bud were fascinated. It was our little bit of lagniappe for the day as we had no idea they were there (at the Lever Building on Park). If that was the best unplanned part, the most frustrating was . . .
The bus
On the whole, the bus is a great way to see the city especially when it's freezing outside and the sidewalks are crowded. But we missed a bus as we walked up to the stop, the next one was a limited and didn't stop, and it was then a long time til the next one. We could've walked the 5+ blocks but the kids were tired and cranky. And we thought it would be fun. Which it was when we finally got on, but then we overshot our stop on the way to . . .
FAO Schwartz--bears, hippos, and penguins. Oh, my!
Yes, I did confiscate Mama's credit card as we stood in what seemed a long line (around the building, to the next block!) but actually took no more than 7-10 minutes. I didn't take her parents' cards though and they ended up buying a hippo for Sis and a penguin for Bud. Sis tried to buy me one of the big furry $120 FAO Schwartz bears we saw in the window--she ran inside, told me to wait right there, and then tried to pick it up (I imagine it was 2x as tall as she was and weighed more too) and hand it to me so I could have it. I almost paid for it myself (because, of course, I had all the credit cards!), so sweet was that gesture. But I settled for a momento of the occasion, a small FAO Schwartz bear-in-a-bag for $7 (Sis has since named it Amy the bear and takes care of it for me). On our much more successful bus ride to lunch we saw . . .
5th Avenue--parade of Santas??
That's right, 100s of young men and women (i.e. not professional working Santas) dressed as Santas, plus some elves and even a Grinch. I bet there were 300-500 of them on the sidewalks. Was it a lark? Some kind of charity walkathon? I googled but can't find it. Sis and Bud were fascinated. We all were. And hungry for . . .
lunch at Virgil's
I know, I know, what does a vegetarian eat at her favorite BBQ restaurant 3 buildings down from where she used to live? Lots of french fries with blue cheese dressing and hush puppies with maple butter and sweet tea and some of a shrimp po'boy (because under diress, I did order some seafood. Even I can't order a grilled veggie sandwich at a BBQ joint). Sis devoured her crunchy chicken. Bud loved the pickles, onion rings, flat dogs and bun (which he ate from the side!!), but not the spicy coleslaw (which he otherwise loves). Then we wandered around . . .
Times Square, my old neighborhood
The lights are much brighter there . . . and Bud and Sis were amazed at all the flashing neon signs and tall buildings. I enjoyed seeing what had changed (my old crappy dorm is now a hotel), what was the same (Red Flame diner!). Weirdly, Times Square will always be one of my "homes." But when I was there, it didn't have . . .
Crumbs cupcakes
I finally got to go. And Miss T would've loved it (the cupcakes, anyway. It was just counter service, with not quite enough space for that). We ordered 6 giant gourmet cupcakes, including eggnog (my favorite), hostess (just like those cupcakes, my 2nd favorite; for Sis but she decided not to eat it), mint (kinda creme de menthe-y, my 3rd favorite and Mama's first), M&Ms for Bud, and blackout (for me, but it was mediocre). There were other flavors, but they mostly had nuts, which we weren't getting cos of the kiddos. Across the street was . . .
NYPL--Beedle the Bard, the original manuscript
Oddly, the lions weren't wreathed this year, one of my favorite holiday traditions, but the kids still enjoyed seeing them. Budget cuts? Damage to the lions? We left the kids eating cupcakes outside with Ma and Gong (or so we thought, turns out they waited to eat them at home with us) and ran upstairs to see J.K. Rowling's handwritten and illustrated original manuscript in the catalog room (which still gives us both palpitations from diss time). It was small, beautifully bound, and drawn in . . . blue ink! The page we saw doesn't exist in the mass reprint, and included a bridge over water, a shield, and other details. Just a little treat for us, from our pre-kid selves. Can't wait to share Harry Potter with them. But until then, we shared a . . .
Taxi cab
Yep, after visiting the children's room in the library (a new addition and a welcome one!), where we read Lionni's Tico and the Golden Wings, we knew it was time to head home so we hailed a cab on 42nd and headed back to our car uptown. Bud and Sis loved riding in the cab, with Bud saying "I've never ridden in a cab before." I love riding in cabs, too, Bud. We piled in our own car, parked across from the MoMA and headed out of town, past . . .
Horse-drawn carriages in Central Park
We must have seen 50 of these clip-clopping along CPS, much to Sis's delight as she squealed with each new horse, "a white one! a brown one! another brown one! hey, that one's brown and white!" I think we'll have to add that to our list of things to do next year. And so, with Bud sound asleep and Sis chattering away in the backseat, we watched the rise of . . .
The BIGGEST moon ever
The perfect end to a wonderful day.
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