35 Days of Celebration: 14-18

I’ve been baking at least one holiday goodie a day all weekend, actually, since Wednesday. Rather seems like the thing to do this time of year, although I don’t really need all these lying about the house. Which is why most of them have been (or are being) put in the freezer for prolonged keeping. It will be nice already having a variety of sweets ready for various holiday functions. Likewise, I can pull one out for dessert should I desire, while not having them ready to eat at a moments notice. Should keep me from binging on all of them at once. Fingers crossed. I’ve remade Grinch Cookies and Trix Krispies as well as adding a couple new recipes: Nutella-Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies and Kringla, and then the traditional sugar cookies.

Grinch Cookies
Ingredients:

• 1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) sugar cookie mix
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon mint extract
• 8 drops green food color
• 1 egg
• 1 cup mint baking chips
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees
2. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, extract, food color and egg until soft dough forms. Stir in both mint and chocolate chips.
3. Using small spoons (teaspoons, drop dough 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 8-10 minutes or until set.
5. Remove from oven and cool.

Trix Krispies
Ingredients:

• 1 x 400g bag of mini marshmallows
• 10 cups Trix cereal
• 1/4 cup butter

Directions:

1. Place the butter and marshmallows in a glass bowl and pop in the microwave for about 2 to 3 minutes to melt.
2. Stir well.
3. Mix in your trix and stir.
4. Pour into a large greased pan (9 x 13 or 11 x 11) and press down with a spoon.
5. Cut into squares.

Nutella-Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:

• 2 sticks butter, soft
• 1/2 cup Nutella
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 bag (12-ounces) white chocolate chips, divided
• 1 bag (5-ounces) dried cranberries, divided

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Prepare a cookie sheet and set aside. Do not grease.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and Nutella; mix until creamy.
• Add light brown sugar, sugar, and baking soda; continue to beat until combined.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time.
• Add vanilla and continue to mix until thoroughly combined.
• Add flour in batches; beat each batch until combined. You may have to stir in the last batch of flour.
• Stir in 1/2-bag of white chocolate chips and 1/2 bag of dried cranberries.
• Drop by rounded spoons on prepared cookie sheets, 2 inches apart.
• Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until edges are just browned.
• Cool on cookie sheets for 2 minutes then transfer to wire rack.
• Decorate with the rest of the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries as they cool.
• Cool completely.
• Serve.

Kringla
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 2 eggs
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. baking powder

Directions:

1. Cream sugar and margarine until smooth.
2. Add eggs and sour cream.
3. Sift flour, baking soda and baking powder. Stir Well
4. Let cool overnight.
5. Shape in figure 8’s and bake at 375 until done

Until next time
~ Q

35 Days of Celebration 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 & 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 17

35 Days of Celebration: 17

Today was a lovely day. I spent a good deal of time with my sister Bailey. Together we headed to Des Moines for dinner and a show, nothing says ‘holiday spirit’ like Zombie Burger – right? Only joking, however the show we went to was very holiday! Luckily White Christmas has been in Des Moines the past two weeks and we went to the matinee this afternoon. It was difficult, at first, to not constantly compare it to the classic movie. However in the end I reminded myself that, like books turned to movies, they are two separate forms and to treat them as such.

Shoo with your pointy heads. Why are you always under boot?― North

North and I have similar ‘problems,’ elves are his; a cat with an affinity for cuddling with feet, while they are walking, is mine.

When I returned home for the evening I painted a bit of the basement. I also prepped some kringla, tomorrow I plan to see if making the Scandinavian treat is inherently in my blood or not. I rounded out the evening relaxing while I watched Rise of the Guardians. Now the movie takes place a few days before Easter, but since Santa, aka North, is such a central character it’s easy to think of it as a holiday movie. Perhaps all movies with Jack Frost just seem to be holiday movies, despite the fact they take place in the late winter/early spring. Now matter the reason, it was a calming and good way to end a great day.

Until next time
~ Q

35 Days of Celebration 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 & 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 16

35 Days of Celebration: 16

Tonight’s dinner was food that was red or green (and white for good measure). I was thinking of making it a red and green food themed day, but that didn’t go according to plan. Why you may ask? Oh, that would d be because I decided to go the midnight showing of the hobbit. That somewhat upset my timeline for the day. Of course, I’d do it again in a second, disruption and all. Anyway I slept in late, not leaving me enough time to make the imagined red velvet pancakes for breakfast. Lunch was going to be salad, but then I ended up napping instead. This brings me to supper, which I ate way to much of. Spinach salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing and parmesan cheese, veggie farfalle with pesto sauce, and green crystal-lite (martini & margarita mock-tales mixed). It was my first time making pesto and it was quite lovely.

Until next time
~ Q

35 Days of Celebration 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 & 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13

35 Days of Celebration: 13

I have no idea when I became a ‘send out Christmas Cards’ person. Well, I do, last year I believe I sent them out for the first time. I just don’t know how. Not that it matters much, I thoroughly enjoy doing it. Deciding what form the card will take is half the fun. I’m a nerd, but that’s okay.

Today I finished up the letter, the design, got them printed, cut, scored, stamped and stickered shut. All there is to do now is wait for the morning when I will drop them in the post. I think part of the reason I enjoy Christmas cards so much is through my process of creating my cards, I always look over the past year. Doing that, it’s easy to see that I have been very blessed this year. To some I may have a simple life, and that’s okay. It’s my life and not theirs, and I truly cherish the people that have been in my life this year and the experiences I had. Sappy? A bit, but again, that’s okay.

Until next time
~ Q

35 Days of Celebration 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 & 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12

35 Days of Celebration: 12

Tonight’s movie was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Whoever heard of a skinny Santa Claus? Eat. Eat!―Mrs. Claus

Boop!

Ah, maybe Mrs. Claus is also a specter that floats around my house whispering this exact sentiment to me. I enjoy all the misfits, especially the elf that just wants to be a dentist. Not much to say, like Jack Frost, I enjoyed the visual effects, and it’s definitely a holiday staple.

Also, this is my 200th post. That’s kind of a big deal, right? Oh, and I’m 1/3 of the way through my 35 Days of Celebration and I’m beginning to get excited for the ‘big event’. Christmas. I’ll be lucky enough to see my out-of-state besties a couple of days before Christmas. I’m also hosting my family for Christmas Eve before we head to my parents place for Christmas Day. So until then I’ll continue to hang out with Rudolph and the other misfits. They’re my kind of people.

Until next time
~ Q

35 Days of Celebration 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 & 08 | 09 | 10 | 11

35 Days of Celebration: 11

I knew it would happen, I would do some more decorating. Considered it was snowing all day, I was put in a ‘white Christmas mood’ and it was easy to feel jolly. As I decorated it started to see a theme. If there are materials I have in abundance they are 1) ornaments and 2) glasses. They are everywhere; on the dining room table, the bookshelf, the living room table…just all over the place. However, as I’ve come to realize, cluttered is a bit my style. Just yesterday I was discussing with my mother how my living room always looks messy, no matter how much I have everything cleaned up. My mother than informed me of a distinction: messy and cluttered are different. Instantly I felt better. Funny how easily that happens.

I was surprised by my parent’s offer to help me scoop my drive. They really are just too kind. The first time it snowed it took me 45ish minutes to scoop my driveway, maybe longer. I came to the obvious conclusion that I have the longest in town driveway in the world and that Guinness should promptly be notified. However with the three of us it took only about 15-20 minutes. Strength in numbers.

Dad―‘What is that on your hat’
Me―‘Jack Skellington. He’s a character from Nightmare Before Christmas…you know, because I’m an adult.’

Originally I planned to have french toast and cocoa for my first themed supper. I feel like french toast isn’t the same unless you use texas toast. I was not stocked with such bread, so instead I had pancakes. Of course, I had to have them in the shape of snowflakes to match the snowy day, and with powdered sugar to make the scene complete. Similar to the ‘Sunday Snowflakes’ that my mom would make for us when we were younger. To this day if I have french toast with powdered sugar I call them Sunday Snowflakes. Embarrassing if you are having them on a Tuesday night. However it would have worked today. Even with the pancake exchange it was a fun dinner indeed.

Until next time

~ Q

35 Days of Celebration
01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 & 08 | 09 | 10

35 Days of Celebration: 06

Tonight I tried to assemble and decorate a gingerbread house. Keyword: tried. I purchased a kit from Target because it looked like a laugh. When I opened it I saw that half the pieces were broken into two at least, and some were in more than that. Now I enjoy a challenge as much as the next person, so of course I kept going. I tacked together the roof pieces and started assembling the walls. Then my frosting was punctured and it got a whole lot harder. Again, I kept going. Finishing the walls I prepared to add the roof. For a few moments I thought I had it. Then the worst occurred and the roof gave way. Oh well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. For the best, I suppose. I really didn’t need those sweets lying about and it was a laugh. Fun while it lasted. Perhaps I’ll try again on another night, but use graham crackers. Those will be a little easier to manage I think.

Until next time
~ Q

35 Days of Celebration
01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05

35 Days of Celebration: 04

Last Christmas I was fortunate enough to be given a handful of holiday movies. This year I decided to toss them all in a bag and pull them out at random for movie nights. Today’s movie? Jack Frost (1979 version)

Once upon a snowflake…

Although it doesn’t mention Christmas specifically a whole lot, it’s still a Holiday staple. It focuses on Winter (and it’s ending) as a whole, but there is one Christmas scene. I really like the ‘dream present’ song/scene. The concept of wrapping a present up nice and neat and leaving the contents up to the imagination is quite appealing. Sure there isn’t anything actually inside the box, but it’d be cool if that’s how things actually worked. I particularly like that Elisa’s dream present is a magic wand. Clearly she is on vacation from Hogwarts….or perhaps she is a Durmstrang girl since it gives the impression of being located up North.

There is something to be mentioned about the animation style. I love how movies use to have physical props and settings (like the original Star Wars). Call me sentimental, and although today’s effects are top notch and seamless, I just enjoy the old classics so much. Perhaps that’s part of the reason why I like vinyl records. There is a quality within them that digital just can’t quite capture, no matter how hard it tries. However with digital you get quite a few more options. How I digress.

Long story short I watched Jack Frost and it will continue to be a staple in my holiday movie options. I always feel a bit sad for Jack. He’s so naive thinking Elsa is truly in love with him. She loves him the way I love, I don’t know, egg nog. I like it a lot, but obviously I am not going to marry it. What a harsh lesson for him to learn. Especially when he risks so much for her. A good man, that Jack Frost.

Ah Snip, I can’t do anything right as a human! ― Jack Frost

Oh Jack, you and me both.

Until next time
~ Q

35 Days of Celebration
01 | 02 | 03

35 Days of Celebration: 01

It’s here! The best part? All the time I’ll get to spend with friends and family over the next month. One of the best parts of the holidays is that all my friends that have moved away come home to visit their families. More often then not I get to see them for a cup of coffee at least. Anyway, the season has started and our family kicked it off well. Our Thanksgiving is never really traditional. We (my immediate family) usually have a laid back Thursday since my mom’s family comes down for the entire weekend. This year we had breakfast for dinner before heading out to go Christmas Tree Hunting. I got to help my sister make dinner, under her very watchful eye, which was fun.

What are you doing? This is a very critical moment, the meat is sticking together! ― Bailey

This year was a bit different in that 1) my nephew got to come with us on the hunt (he’s three) and 2) I also had the fun of picking out a tree for my house too. We had a very successful hunt and the three of us (me and my sisters are always the ones that get to pick the tree) were able to agree on a tree in record time. It was quite fun having the whole family along, even though nephew wasn’t super helpful on the narrowing down process. He liked all the trees, but since we couldn’t get them all it was down to the three of us. I have an inkling that as the kid gets older his opinion will start to be a factor. Time will tell on that though. So as day one winds down, with all the fun I’ve had with my family so far, I know this next month (and change) will be lots of fun.

Until next time
~ Q

The holidays are coming and I’m getting excited!

Introducing my plan for the 35 Days of Celebration! Last year I almost made it through blogging about my 41 Days of Celebration, but towards the end got a little too preoccupied. Last year (which can be found here, here, here or here) I did a LOT of cooking with a classic, baking, & watching Doctor Who (which is NOT a bad way to spend the season). This year will be slightly different, but still some of the same. Now since I didn’t quite get all of the days posted last year I’ll see if I can make it through this time around. Once again have a LOT planned. Something everyday from Thanksgiving (November 28) through New Year’s Day. This is merely an introductory post, so if you are looking for a list of Holiday ideas (like I was) I hope this serves as a good reference and generates some fun ideas. Here are the days they I’ve compiled from various blogs and sites as I have them planned out right now. Granted these are as if I were to live a simple hermit life, which, as a lack of posts over the last six months implies, I don’t quite live anymore.

The list:

1. Go Christmas Tree Hunting & Thanksgiving
2. Atkins Thanksgiving (extended family)
3. Create a Christmas Music Mix (to be listening to for the month)
4. Holiday Movie Night #1
5. Wrap Christmas Presents
6. Make a Gingerbread (or Graham Cracker) House
7. Holiday Movie Night #2 & Make paper chains/snowflakes
8. Make Homemade Ornaments
9. Decorate Christmas Tree
10. Decorate House
11. French Toast & Hot Chocolate for Dinner
12. Design Paper Nativity Scene
13. Holiday Movie Night #3
14. Design & Mail Out Christmas Cards
15. Bake Christmas Cookies
16. Decorate Christmas Cookies
17. Make a Fort & Holiday Movie Night #4
18. Red & Green Food Day
19. Go Ice Skating
20. Make a Snow globe
21. Make Stocking Stuffers
22. Cook Christmas Fudge
23. Holiday Movie Night #5 & Sleepover Under the Christmas Tree
24. Candlelight Fancy Dinner
25. Make Dipped Pretzels
26. Holiday Movie Night #6 (I have a lot of holiday movies thanks to my family)
27. Read the Christmas Story
28. Christmas Day with the Family
29. Chestnuts Over an Open Fire (Marshmallows too!!)
30. Hot Chocolate & Candy Canes
31. Make Hot Chocolate Balls
32. Holiday Movie Night #7
33. Make Homemade Mulled Wine
34. Holiday Movie Night #8 & Make New Year’s Resolution
35. Take Down Decorations While Having a Christmas Music Dance Party

That’s the plan, but I’m sure that my friends and family will alter and enhance the plan. In fact I know of a work tradition (going on the tour of homes) that is missing. Oh well, looks like I’ll double up more.

Until next time
~ Q