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Thursday, December 11, 2014

Christmas Baking, Lights and some Action



Beardo landed in a Music Trade Magazine.
You can read more about it here!
photo Courtesy of Pepper
Cupcake ended up in an article on the popularity of the Ugly Christmas sweater here!
Cupcake is in all red!
Beardo, Cupcake and I spent the day baking as a labour of love!

With mobility issues I sat at the table doing what I do best,
cutting out several double batches of cookies,
Cupcake added the sprinkles.
Photo courtesy of Pepper
First we made our traditional Shortbreads passed through the generations!
The secret is to knead the dough for twenty minutes
You can make them ahead so they shorten up before Christmas.
They get way better with age!!
They freeze well too!

One pound of real butter
One Cup of Light BROWN sugar
Four cups of  all purpose flour

Knead for twenty minutes, put the timer on.
They can be cut into shapes or used with a cookie press
Bake at 275 degrees Fahrenheit  for 45 minutes or until golden brown
We like them a little overdone rather than underdone!


Even though we use the metric system in Canada.....I still bake using the imperial system
 Photo Courtesy of Pepper


 These are ginger molasses ones I rolled in balls then dipped in sugar!
Cupcake has an egg allergy so we used an egg substitute
 and they turned out beautifully!
Soft and yummy! 

Ginger Molasses Cookies

3/4 cup margarine melted
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup molasses
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
 1/2 tsp ginger
mix 1/2 Cup sugar with the margarine and egg add molasses
Then mix in dry  ingredients
secret is to cover and chill for one hour
preheat to 375 degrees
 roll into small balls
Dip into the other 1/2 cup of sugar.
Cook 8 to 10 minutes...ours took 12 minutes!

Photo Courtesy of Pepper
 Amazing Almond Roca

1 cup of  Real Butter
1 cup of sugar
2 tables of corn syrup
2 tablespoons of water
1 cup of  toasted (until golden brown) slivered almonds
2 of your favorite plain dark chocolate bars
(we use purdys chocolate because I'm a bit of a chocolate snob)

Add butter, sugar, corn syrup and water to a large pot
(it needs room to foam up a bit, non stick is best)
turn on medium heat  
  stir only until  melts....then leave it to rise to
290 degrees Fahrenheit with a candy thermometer

then quickly stir in 3/4 cup of the toasted slivered almonds 

into the mix and dump it onto a cookie sheet!
Break the chocolate bar into small pieces and drop it onto
the hot candy mix. Spread evenly  as it melts
Then crush the remaining 1/4 cup of toasted almonds
and sprinkle on the the top while chocolate is still warm
place in fridge to cool

later crack it with a knife and place in a container
Makes a wonderful gift too!
Photo Courtesy of Pepper
While they made the almond Roca which I have done

 traditionally each Christmas and Valentines day for years!
I made Perogies!! Oh yes I did.... They made the potato, 

cheddar cheese and onion mixture while  I made the dough 
and rolled and pinched them all. Then  Beardo boiled 
them up! I've randomly made them only on a rare occasion 
since I was a kid....they are so much work!

They were the best I have ever made them too!!
Courtesy of Pepperpf instagram
I made them unconventionally bigger than normal,  

 not one opened up while boiling! A rare occurrence.
We fried them as left overs the next day! So yummy!



In the meantime I have been working on revamping
 an event calendar.These are small boxes 
of Christmas trees
 They are difficult because I don't like working small.

This is a superficial post only because lately there has
 been so much sadness of late! Cooking with my kids 
all day brought so much joy, and you can always 
be sure fits of laughter will ensue!



Here are a few photos of the lights Beardo and Cupcake 
saw at Vancouver Stanley Park this year. 
The Firemen put it together as a fundraiser for burn victims! 
So many good people in this world doing wonderful
 things for others!! 
We need to stay focused on that!

You can click on the photos to get a better feel for 
the lights! All photos Courtesy of Pepper
Enjoy!
Can you imagine the joy of seeing this through a childs eyes!
I took cupcake here when she was little, it was such a long lineup
with half as many lights! We had roasted chestnuts.... 
which are way overrated...
I don't remember liking them! 
They're much better in the Nat King Coles Christmas Song!






 What is your favorite Christmas recipe?

32 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

What a joyful and yummy post! Thanks for sharing! Hugs, Valerie

kat said...

Oh full of Christmas fun here, just great! Lots of yummy food and beautiful Christmas tree art, thanks for sharing it all! xx

sharon said...

A real Christmasy post! Love the red sweater! The recipes look really interesting too. I haven't got into the Christmas mode yet, will have to pull my finger out, lol!

Netty said...

wowee such a great post and your lovely family. Have a smashing Christmas and new year, hugs Annette x

http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

Marianne said...

Beautiful pictures in this post :)
Your chistmas-trees are so cute - think one of them just gave me an idea :) :)

Ginny said...

What a wonderful Christmas post. My husband and I spent a very special day in Stanley Park several years ago. I loved seeing it with all of the Christmas lights. Thank you for sharing your pictures with us.

Faye said...

Sherrie, I loved your post. I hope you didn't leave out anything in that recipe because I'd like to try it. A whole pound of butter would be a lot to waste! All the lights would mesmerize a child or any adult with a childlike heart. I know the scene is gorgeous. And congrats to Beardo for the article. Very nice. Your Cupcake is such a beautiful girl. Hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas.

sheila 77 said...

Gosh, what a roller-coaster of a blogpost!
I've read all the linked articles, browsed the Instagram photographs and studied the recipes, some new to me. I don't know what Perogies are but I'm going to find out, they sound delicious.
I really like the four Christmas sweaters, not ugly at all IMO.
Your painted piano looks terrific and both Beardo and Cupcake look so lovely and happy in all their photos.

Christine said...

Wonderful Christmas post! Thanks for the recipes...Merry Christmas Giggles until next week.

lee said...

what great kids you have
thanks for the recipes and the pictures, I do make the ginger cookies, almost identical recipe
shortbread mine no kneading required, and I might make Nanaimo bars, and bark

Marji said...

What a joy to come here today - so much Christmas spirit in one blog post! Those cookies look divine and congrats to Beardo and also to Cupcake for her perfect ugly sweater :)

denthe said...

Wow, didn't realise those piano's are so small! Makes them even cuter :-) You must've been tired after a whole day of baking. I like baking more than cooking, but I don't think I could bake all day. Your creations look yummy and very festive!

Tracey FK said...

Christmas is all about the baking I think... and today Phants and I are getting stuck in... yesterday we made pean and dried cherry tart, which has a yummy macadamia and almond crust... it is a new favourite, but we make dream bars and shortbread every year, all gluten free for us i am afraid, though Gf shortbread is delicious... and we are attempting Gf gingerbread today... might be disastrous, but you never know... great post and love to you all...xx

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

All your Christmas treats sound delicious, and for a good cause too. I've done the decorating, but won't start any baking until the girls come in from college next week. The photographs of all the Christmas light displays are magnificent! Blessings to you and your family, my friend!

Carol said...

Such a festive post and I have already written down a couple of recipes ♥ The lights are beautiful as is your family!!! Thanks for sharing it all with is ♥♥♥♥♥

My name is Erika. said...

Wow, you've had a very holiday week. So many fun things to share and celebrate. I love it. Doing holiday things is so much fun, and I can tell you had a good week too. Glad you shared these.

Gillena Cox said...

a most delightful PPF sharing
have a nice weekend

much love...

Victoria said...

Wow..fantastic pictures..festive and fun..and beautiful pics of beardo/cupcake..so sweet and adorable! Congrats to them both. Wonderful art..magical my friend! Thanks for shining your creative spirit always!
HUgs

Tammie Dickerson said...

Wow!! You are ahead of the holiday game, while I am behind!! I will have to start working into the wee hours just to get everything done in time! LOVE your post - full of holiday cheer! I am going to try your shortbread recipe - my daughter and I have been looking for a good one! Happy PPF!

bellefrogworks said...

Oh - I have missed visiting you. I haven't even posted on my blog in almost 3 months. I am glad I stopped by today. I loved the article about your son-in-love (as my friend always called her married children's spouses). My mama baked but I don't. Your cookies look wonderful - but how I love pierogies! I once knew someone who made them from scratch - but we do have a wonderful store in Beaufort SC where they make fresh pierogi. Can you believe that? In the deep South? Anyway - lovely to visit with you.

Tammie Lee said...

It sounds like you have been having some wonderful family time. Thank you for sharing your recipes, they look so good! wish i could have made the Almond Roca for my father, he loved them so much....
Lovely holidays to you and yours.

Paper rainbow said...

Where do I start!? Well firstly beardo and his wonderful guitars. I recognised your piano. It is for a wonderful cause and so worthwhile. Cupcake...nothing ugly about her lovely red jumper. The more christmassy the better. And my you have been busy. I thought kneading shortbread for so long would make it tough. Obviously I was wrong I will try it! Your little parcels look like ravioli are they similar?
Loved seeing your christmassy lights
wonderfully festive post!! :)

Ayala Art said...

omg... I want ALL your cookies and baked goods YUM!
Congrats of the articles to both B and C ♥

Faye said...

Hi Sherrie, I just made a quarter recipe of the shortbread cookies and they are delicious! I took your advice and baked them longer - 47 minutes - and they are perfect. Thanks for the recipes. I may try the other cookies too.

Irene Rafael said...

Beardo has quite a collection! I am so glad Pepper shared the photo. Love the Christmas sweaters. I made a few in years by-gone and am looking for an ever to wear them to. And yum, Perogies. I haven't had them in decades. They look delicious. What a full, fun, festive post this week, Giggles. Love that you showed the lights too. You got me in the holiday mood. Thanl you for your thoughtful comments on my blog this week. xo

Unknown said...

Wow, look at all that yummy food! It's got my mouth watering! Lovely Christmassy photos too :) x

Jo said...

What a fun post!! I think I got a sugar high just looking at all the sweetness and the recipes. So nice to have a loving family to share all that with.

Abigail Davidson said...

So sweet! Those recipes look delicious and beautiful photos of the lights -- happy PPF!

Bronson Hill Arts said...

Such joy! And I must try the ginger molasses cookies.

The event calendar is wonderful, too!

-Barb

Janet said...

Wow! What a jam-packed post. And now I'm hungry after reading all those recipes. My favorite Christmas recipe is Mocha Nut Balls. I have to make them every year for both my kids. If I didn't there would be a rebellion!!

JKW said...

What great recipes. . love the decorations, we haven't been out looking yet. The Advent calendar is going to be great. Merry Christmas. Blessings, Janet (Love your little family.)

Jenn Jilks said...

Such lovely photos.
Each year that brings change is so difficult, isn't it?
My husband, with allergies to yeast, dairy and eggs. It's been so difficult changing al my cooking style.

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