Sunday, December 3, 2017

Happy Holidays~










I have been away..seeing some sunshine..it seems hard to find these days in Québec..but as always it is always good to be home..
Oh Toto..I just want to go home;)

I started with Christmas preparations..we put our new tree up..that is taller and skinnier..I was used to more girth..but this one was so much easier for Jacques to put up while I fluffed the branches and then decorated..not sure why but something is missing?
He put the colonial candles in the windows..we may add a few lights and maybe a projection light out back..not sure..I bought it second hand on Varage sale:)
I am happy w/ just the candles..fell in love w/ them 100 years ago in Burlington Vermont and they have never failed to be our go to♥

Started baking too!
With help from a beautiful beautiful book..by Isabelle Lambert..our Québec treasure..a native of France..she calls Québec her home and we are so lucky to have her..
You can see behind the scenes of making her book here..

I started with an unusual recipe that is quite frankly delicious..
A cookie recipe w/ cooked egg yolks!

La recette

For the cookies..

1 cup of flour
2 hard cooked egg yolks
1/4 cup almond meal
1/2 cup icing sugar
 2/3 cup cold butter cut in cubes
a pinch of baking powder
2 pinches of salt.
1 tbsp of dark rhum


Glaze

1 beaten egg
1 tsp Fleur De Sel

Pre~ heat oven to 350F
Prepped your baking sheets w/ parchment

Place all cookie ings except the glaze ings. in your food processor successively (pulse function) and process until a ball forms

Wrap  dough  in cling and refirigerate 30mins.

Flour your work surface and roll to ap 1/4 inch.
Use your cookie cutter or stamp  (I flour)and make your impressions.
Freeze for 10 minutes.(I can use..and did use my screened in porch..)


Brush with beaten egg wash and sprinkle w/ Fleur de Sel.

Bake ap 15 mins until lightly golden
Let cool on rack..
The book is filled with wonderful recipes..

*** I only had 2 eggs left..so for my glaze I used milk mixed w/ sugar..  the egg wash keeps dough more precise.

Makes a fab fab gift under the tree for the cookie lovers.
A great addition to your cookbook collection..
I am in awe of these cookbook authors..
The hard work that goes into every book is astounding

The book is available in most bookstores..and I saw them at Costco too!
She is a very popular author.
And a nice person.
We have exchanged emails through the years..I know it:)
Happy to have her beautiful book in my collection!


Below..2 pics  I love.
We're allowed to get nostalgic  during the holidays~

 Our white plastic tree..tinsel..faux fireplace..tv..my shiny shoes..frilly socks..pink dress  that had raised dots..like a dotted swiss organza ..crinoline .. and black velvet ribbon..the ashtrays..the cards..my uncle and his skinny tie..and my very own canopy bed for my doll.God I loved my life.



Thanks mom♥(my dad too♥..but she was everything to me..)





49 comments:

  1. The cookies sound wonderful. I love the vintage pictures!

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    1. Thank you Penny:)I wish I wish I wish I had so many more♥

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  2. I have missed your posts Monique....so happy to have you back home....
    I put up our tree today...just the lights done...ornaments soon!
    I love your old photos...wish I had more too...not sure where they all went!?
    Looking forward to watching your decorating progress...it will be fab!
    Enjoy your week ahead...my 2 gals are still in the hospital :o(

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    1. OH those girls..what troopers.I am thinking of them as I type.
      Nothing more important than health..I wish them well so soon Linda.
      ❤️

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  3. You haven't changed a hair since yr kid days have you. Still same ravishing smile 😀

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    1. On the painting you did of me:) I have had some problems...LOVE that painting you did:) Thank you again.

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  4. I love that you have really kicked into Christmas mode Monique! Putting the book on my wish list! I love the cookie recipe from it that you have shared. It is unsual for sure. I had never heard of Isabelle Lambert except for you mentioning her! You are a dear, dear friend. Love your little girl ornament from Posie. So sweet. You did a lovely job on her. Also adore the old black and white photos from when you were a child. How very adorable. You have the same smile. Oh, that chair, my parents had one very like that. All of it tugs on my heart strings. Christmas's were much simpler then, but so very special. It is fun to go back in our minds and reflect on them. Love and hugs and Happy Holidays! xoxo

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    1. OMgee so much simpler..the main decor ..all aunties and uncles coats on the beds..nary a closet big enough for anything! Such a small upper duplex..how she did it w/ 3 kids.. wow.
      She had to climb steep stairs just to get into the place..w/ groceried etc..we really have commercialized Christmas..I look at blogs and am amazed.Every inch is decorated..:)
      Pocketbooks seem much fuller! Lol.And most is all in great taste..
      The sma eto you Marie..I am going to highlight your book again and show the volume itself.:)

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  5. Oh, my goodness, Monique! Those photos are such a treasure! I remember having dotted Swiss dresses... do they even make that anymore? Your Christmas decorations are so beautiful. We've done a LOT; I have more to go... but, not sure I'm going to put it all up this year. We went back to a fresh tree this year... it's pretty big. And, fat again. I had gotten used to our "skinny-er) tree. I think you will like yours; they do take up much less space. LOL! I've never seen a cookie recipe with hard cooked egg yolks. Learn something new everyday! I had to chuckle... you get recipe books; I got a new knitting book... with Christmas patterns. hee hee. Wishing you a wonderful week! blessings and hugs ~ tanna

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    1. If I had your fairy fingers for knitting..I would be a collector of them too:) Again so grateful to have hobbies we are..they are truly GODSENDS.
      They busy the hands which lead to the brain.
      :)
      Take care:)

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  6. Happy Holidays to you!🎄. Love the photos of you as a child. 💕

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    1. Thank you..Oh to be cuddled one more time right?♥:)

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  7. Lovely memories, my dear!
    You were such a dool!
    Have a nice week.

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  8. I was hoping you would be able to share the recipe! When I first saw them on IG I thought they looked so golden and delicious. Now I know the secret ingredient :) Love the rocking horses ♥ I will try them and look for the cookbook! I felt the same way about our slim tree when we first got it. It wasn't as 'full' as our wider tree. Then I found some lovely faux branches at a favorite decor store and starting filling in here and there (probably 20 branches worth). Then I added simple filler ornaments inside toward the 'trunk' of the tree - ones that reflected light. It made all the difference! Our grass is still green but change is on the way today and tomorrow. Brrrr is coming along with Christmas :) I had a dress like that too :) You make me want to go through old family photos. I felt like you too - things were great back then XXX.

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    1. Things were great..

      The horse is from Hobby Lobby..one of my Fl finds..since we have none here..
      The salt on the cookies of course:)
      It's full..I can't see through it just is shaped more like Jacques and Oli now instead of me;)

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  9. Look at you! You are incredibly adorable in those photos. Aren't they the best? I love every detail.

    I'm hoping to bake up something from Isabelle's Lemon cookbook (wonderful book!) soon. And getting ready for the holidays. Some of the trees are up but I'm just behind. Gotta get my mojo working! But the jingle is there -- it's just a slower paced jingle! Your photos are beautiful as always. So much to love here, my friend! You do Christmas right!

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    1. Oh my gosh you do every holiday right..so filled with joy and diverse lovely collections..I love being interested..if I see a tree w/ too much of a theme..it all looks so store bought wout memories attached :( But everyone is different and we must celebrate our differences..like in Wonder..

      you have been a trooper doing everything you have done while undergoing treatment.
      Kudos Madame!

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  10. Love that vintage television set. My Father was the TV repairman in our town. We were the 1st to have one and everyone loved my Dad. Love the secret ingredient in those cookies.

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    1. Oh Penny..I picture an old black and white movie w/ a TV shop in it..which movie was that? And now I picture you and your dad:)

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  11. And you haven't changed a bit Monique.

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    1. I have been thinking about you:) Jacques too:)Going to go see if I missed something from you....

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  12. It's the most wonderful time of the year ❤️...love from me Ria 🌲🌲🌲

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    1. It sure is festive everywhere..but I am wishin' for snow..it can then leave Feb 1rst:)

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  13. Hi Monique, Would you be able to give me the name of those cookies. I want to try the recipe and would love to file the recipe. Merci!!

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  14. Absolutely..page 140.
    Sablés aux oeufs durs.
    Bienvenue!

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  15. Merci beaucoup Monique pour tes mots gentils :) quelles belles photos de toi, j adore :)

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  16. I love your childhood pictures.. so cute!

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    1. Oh to step back in time and appreciate as an adult:) So safe..so loved..Grateful for my parents:)♥

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  17. Oh, Monique, those photos are priceless! Our childhoods were so different from what children experience today. My childhood was simple, quiet, and very modest. I loved it! I wish I had more photos from those years, but my parents didn't take pictures like parents today. Your images are classic! Thank you for sharing.
    Did you get away to FL? You two are busy travelers!

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    1. We did..This year has been unusually on the go.I think we were on hold for yrs..and then decided one day it may be too late.Fl is so nice because we know such nice people there☺️
      I agree our lives were humbler..far humbler back then..it was the norm😘Yet I lacked nothing❤️

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  18. Such lovely festive and nostalgic pictures. :-)

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    1. Thank you😊I now qualify as vintage myself☺️

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  19. Thanks for providing good information,Thanks for your sharing.

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  20. Happy holidays to you too. Love seeing your sweet Childhood photos. Treasured memories you will always have. The vintage tv made me smile. I am not sure if my mom has any photos of us at Christmas. I remember a silver tree with a color wheel. The cookies are lovely. Another cookbook to add to my collection. I am off to post some Christmas decor.

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    1. :) Our youths stay with us..but I find photos a MUST..all these lucky children that their moms have Shutterfly photobbooks..they often look at them..that ingrains the memories..(I want some lol) My parents never took pics..have no clue how I have some..must hav bben aunts and neighbours..Have fun w/ the decorating:)

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  21. Monique, Love your Christmas photos of you, when you were younger. I think we had the same T.V. too. The photo of you and your dad is priceless!! Thanks for sharing the cookbook too, looks very good! Hope you have a wonderful week baking. One of my goals today, starting my Christmas cookies ♥Hugs, Jody

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    1. LOL Jody I have never known you to not accomplish so many beautiful things all year round..so I am not worried about the pretty cookies:)
      Thank you and have a great day.It's pouring here:(

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  22. I started another note to you but it got lost...You were quite the fancy lady in those photos, and so recognizable to today! J'ai adoré la vidéo, merci. Les biscuits et Isabelle elle-même sont tellement jolis!!
    Alors, YOU could produce a beautiful gorgeous exceptional book! You already have in blog form! You so admire the work of others, but your book would be so interesting, fun and beautiful! Yes, I like being in Maine this time of year, but it is a bit cold and gray...It might snow tonight...but I think it will rain...

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    1. It is so deep and dark and humid here with lots of rain..

      Rita you are so sweet..

      I have not one single solitary desire to publish or write any book whatsoever.
      Or to do anything that is an obligation anymore..

      I worked as a teen..and then when both girls were in school for almost 30 yrs.
      I find not having to work..not having to be anywhere at a certain time apart from doctors etc..the best .
      I don't want any responsibilities at all.:)

      Had a lifetime of them..

      And truly..everything I bake..cook..etc..I gleaned the recipe from a book..a blogger..friends..family.:)
      But how sweet are you?:)

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  23. The photo is perfectly you - so sweet! xo

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