Monday, November 10, 2014

Things I once loved..I still love~











Ahh..little animal cracker cookies..
Felt like such a treat back then..
I still remember eating them..
I would let them melt in my mouth..
I have bought some for the children..
Don't know if they got the same feeling I got..
There are so many treats and snacks now..
The choice so varied..
Doesn't stop me from still loving the shape of these cuties..
Like this Dictionnaire I have told you about..
It was my first one that was French-English.
I loved it..and knew all the translations..
I loved the drawings ...the words ...the cover..
I loved to s-p-e-l-l..even M-I-C-K-E-Y...
Max does too!
Lucas likes Math..
Oli is still just cute..:)
Noah is a mix..
I think I gave my Grand Dictionnaire  to Sofia  Soulis with many of my Barbies etc when I was 17..and she was 5..cutest little kid on our street.
So I gave her all that..
I never even imagined.. I think.. having little girls of my own so soon afterwards.

I found this special book again through a reseller..and still love looking at the pics..
As you can plainly see.
What is it about dear things from our childhood that just bring back such vivid pleasures?
Glad I have a few..

So the cookie cutters are from Ebay..and they are darn cute..except in my set they put a duck instead of a giraffe..
You cannot complain..under $3.00 and free shipping I am not about to utter a word to them..just here.
I love to leave positive feedbacks.
I don't know how they do it.

Noah was coming for dinner so I made him a small batch of sugar cookies~

The cookies held their shape very well..I did chill the stamped and cut cookies for a few minutes in the freezer..
Next time..I would add more almond flavoring..or maybe her cinnamon suggestion.
Mind you it could be entirely my fault..as I used salted butter..I omitted the salt..that just may be the thing:)
They lacked a bit in taste I found..

But Noah liked them..♥
Cute matters:)
Like my book:)
And the cutters:)
Aren't they just so cute?

And then ..fruit cakes:)

Ours seemed hard  when I think about them now....and  they lasted forever in the fridge..so that.. in June... I could still pick off pieces.My dad got them as gifts I think..in the 60s...
I have come a long way since then..
My fruitcakes are all prepped and waiting..In Christmas Tins..

Thank you Pierrette for that recipe...years ago... that I keep playing with.
I will never forget you..  :)






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74 comments:

  1. Linda @ Life and LindaNovember 10, 2014 at 9:52 AM

    Ahhhh. simplicity. We all grew up with animal crackers. There's something so special with simplicity. I bet your homemade cookies are far better than the store bought. happy memories.

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 10, 2014 at 12:47 PM

      We all grew up with so much less..
      I am making up for lost time with my small passion for cookie cutters:)

      Delete
  2. JenniNovember 10, 2014 at 10:22 AM

    such a fun post, its fun remembering what are most favorite things and treats were from when we were a kid and incorporating them into our current lives, such simple pleasures.
    the color and illustrations of that dictionary are so wonderful. how fun that you were able to find it again through the internet.

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  3. Marie RaynerNovember 10, 2014 at 10:27 AM

    What a cute post Monique! I love, LOVE your dictionary. What a fabulous find! And your animal cookies, so cute. I can remember begging to have a box of animal crackers when I was a girl, in a circus box. I think the fact that they were shaped like animals and in a circus box probably made them taste a whole lotter better than they actually were! Well done you having your fruit cakes already done. Mine are still on my list of "to do's!" You are one step ahead of me. Love and hugs to you. Hope you have a fabulous week. xxoo

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 10, 2014 at 12:45 PM

      We had so little back then didn't we?
      I remember thinking black patent Mary Janes..were my most prized posession.I Vaselined them:)

      Delete
  4. RosaNovember 10, 2014 at 10:47 AM

    Que bonitas !!!!
    Besos

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  5. SavoringTime in the KitchenNovember 10, 2014 at 10:55 AM

    I wish I had some of my old dolls! You don't think ahead at that age. Mine were likely is pretty bad shape by then anyway :) Even the Fisher Price toys I saved from my girls are being used again. So glad I put them in the attic and wishing I had saved more now.

    I adore those cookie cutters! I will look on ebay. I know two young boys I know would love them! They are cute as can be and your cookies turned out perfectly. The book is a real treasure. So glad you found it again - and fruitcakes already made! You are the poster girl for being organized in advance :)

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 10, 2014 at 12:43 PM

      Yes for the boys:)

      Hope you get the giraffe instead of the duck:)

      Delete
  6. donna bakerNovember 10, 2014 at 12:34 PM

    I have many of the old child's cookie cutters, but, duh, never thought of using them. Yours are much more detailed. Christmas fruitcakes already? You are pretty awesome Monique. I have to get through making Thanksgiving before I can move on to Christmas.

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 10, 2014 at 12:44 PM

      They have to be made ahead these as there is alcohol ..wonder what Limencello would have been like:)

      Delete
  7. AnonymousNovember 10, 2014 at 1:17 PM

    Mon I have the book too and gave it to the kids...the paper dolls I still have the ones you gave for MN~

    And now the kids are into fishy's in all different flavors! Although Francesco still enjoyed the crackers.

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 10, 2014 at 1:23 PM

      You ahve that book too?

      Our moms were alike:)

      Oli still loves the Fishies too..

      Delete
    2. AnonymousNovember 10, 2014 at 4:51 PM

      Gosh how we don`t look alike...your tall, blond, younger and talented..I`m short, dark hair older and Oh so not talented!!! xo But our moms are friends in Heaven..

      Delete
    3. La Table De NanaNovember 10, 2014 at 4:56 PM

      Di.....You ARE talented!

      Delete
  8. Pattie @ Olla-PodridaNovember 10, 2014 at 1:50 PM

    I have that same book, along with books of French travel words and food words, both children's books in great condition that I picked up for under a dollar at the library book sale.

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 10, 2014 at 3:40 PM

      What a deal..I think I paid about $10.00 plus shiping..
      I bet you enjoy them!

      Delete
  9. SarahNovember 10, 2014 at 1:57 PM

    Monique, who doesn't love animal crackers in their cute little circus car boxes? I used to make little mini cookies like yours for my students and for gifts on special occasions or if the circus was in town. A circus is a rare thing here now. I always loved the circus! My cutters are simple, no detail. They were the ones from my childhood kitchen set. Do you remember that style?
    Love this post with the reference to the dictionary. You are very clever! I'm smiling!!!!!

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 10, 2014 at 3:39 PM

      I don't remember those..I guess I didn't have any:(The cookie cutters..That's perhaps why I am making up for lost time:)
      There used to be a Circus in Sarasota..many years ago when we would visit..Barnum and Bailey..
      http://www.ringling.org/history-circus-museum
      It is a museum now I believe..but when our girls were little..the circus did come to town:)

      Delete
  10. Sam Hoffer / My Carolina KitchenNovember 10, 2014 at 2:14 PM

    Cute definitely matters and your book and cutters are adorable. I must see if I can find that dictionary. It would be helpful to me and a fun way to learn French

    Hope you are having a good week.
    Sam

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 10, 2014 at 3:34 PM

      Sam..Ebay has one at the moment $8.99 they say the spine is damaged but the book is good..
      :)
      It would be a great learning tool!

      Delete
    2. Sam Hoffer / My Carolina KitchenNovember 19, 2014 at 1:28 PM

      Monique,
      Thanks for all of you help in finding this Dictionnaire. The one your found from Ebay arrived yesterday and I love it already. The inside is in good shape and I'm very pleased. Again, merci beaucoup for your help.
      Sam

      Delete
  11. debNovember 10, 2014 at 5:01 PM

    adorable!
    I would have bought the cookie cutter set just for the elephant :-)

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 10, 2014 at 6:13 PM

      Me too Deb~
      The duck can happily live with the rest of the circus:)

      Delete
  12. UnknownNovember 10, 2014 at 5:10 PM

    These animal cookie are so cute-)) Another good idea for cookies, Monique-)) I am so happy you have the stamps now, so funny-)))
    I can not wait to see what you will create!
    Hugs,

    Yelena

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 10, 2014 at 6:12 PM

      I am looking forward to sending them to the blog friend I had in mind..she lives in QC and enjoys cookie cutters like I do.
      She's famous:)
      And lives very far from me..
      They look like they work well!

      Delete
  13. Kathy WalkerNovember 10, 2014 at 6:21 PM

    How adorable. Sabine would love the little cookies....I must check out the cutters. I can't believe that you have your fruitcakes ready...but they do have to be made ahead, don't they?

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 10, 2014 at 6:26 PM

      Well these do..the recipe from Pierrette..the cheesecloth soaks in Brandy..or your liqueur..or alcohol of choice.. ..I let them imbibe..in the pantry..for a long time..now they are in the fridge..until Christmas..I am planning their adornments:)
      Now is not too late Kate..
      Love her name..

      Delete
  14. Gloria BakerNovember 10, 2014 at 7:13 PM

    Still I love play ! really I have some things:)
    I love these cookies! and I love the dictionary!!!
    Still I love Them!!

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  15. SarahNovember 10, 2014 at 11:21 PM

    Those are adorable. Have you ever counted your cookie cutters? You must have a whole cabinet just for them.

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 11, 2014 at 8:40 AM

      I have a few:) So do you;)
      Hope my daughters keep them later...

      Delete
  16. martinealisonNovember 11, 2014 at 1:27 AM

    Bonjour ma chère Nana,

    Ces petits biscuits avec les animaux sont terriblement affriolants... Je pense que les enfants doivent aussi les adorer. Une belle manière de rester à jamais des enfants nous aussi !

    Je te fais de gros bisous ☁︎

    ReplyDelete
  17. BarbaraNovember 11, 2014 at 7:08 AM

    I STILL love animal crackers! What adorable cutters you have, Monique.
    And the paper dolls brought back memories..I used to love those too and spent half my childhood cutting them out. Nobody seems to do that any more, sadly. I have a friend who has been collecting them for years and she actually gave a talk to our antique club last year. Such fun!

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 11, 2014 at 8:41 AM

      I loved cutting out dolls and clothes..Betsey McCall :)

      Delete
  18. TerrykNovember 11, 2014 at 8:23 AM

    As you know, I made some too. Last night our granddaughter came for a visit and one of the first things she asked of me was can I have a cookie? We had been away so made the Pillsbury sugar cookies at the last moment. I should have made these because the taste of the Pillsbury ones were nothing compared to the real home made. The animal crackers are so sweet. It is great to find a long loved book again. My girls grew up with the golden books and I have a few of their books. I just ordered the new baby one which I read to Beth when her sister was one the way. We just found out that Katherine will be a big sister next summer, so this will be one of the presents I give to my daughter and son in law so they can prepare her.

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 11, 2014 at 8:43 AM

      Another one on the way:) Congratulations..more reasons to keep making cookies.Sweet that she asked for a cookie?
      Noah always asks what did you make for me Nana?:)
      Your cookies were perfect Terry..

      Delete
    2. TerrykNovember 11, 2014 at 11:26 AM

      Thanks Monique. Even without another I think everyone else is enjoying my baking.

      Delete
  19. RosenoisettesNovember 11, 2014 at 8:48 AM

    Oh ces biscuits ! Les Z'animos ! J'en mangeais aussi petite, avec le nappage au chocolat. Irrésistible *O*

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  20. myfrenchkitchenNovember 11, 2014 at 9:00 AM

    It is great to discover new things to enjoy, but it stays wonderful to have those old ones and still get so much joy from them. This year I am also going to bake a fruit cake...it is not custom here in France. But I will go for a light one, not the dark heavy one. and cookies...can't have the season without cookies...old ones which I enjoyed as a child and which my family loves too...
    A lovely post full of nostalgia.
    Ronelle

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 11, 2014 at 4:50 PM

      Mine is light too..It's the dark ones that were loitering in the fridge in my youth:) The paper stuck to it..
      I ate everything back then I think.
      La nostalgie réchauffe toujours mon coeur.
      Thanks Ronelle~

      Delete
  21. From the KitchenNovember 11, 2014 at 11:22 AM

    My once little boys loved animal crackers. Me too! Love those illustrations.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  22. PamNovember 11, 2014 at 4:08 PM

    Animal crackers rock! My boys liked them way back when and my grandson now too. We all do! That's one great tin you have! Have a good week!

    ReplyDelete
  23. she's in the kitchenNovember 11, 2014 at 4:27 PM

    Oh Nana - everything is adorable - the book, the cookie cutters, the memories - and many thanks for the animal cookie recipe! Izzie is still on a GF diet, but I think she can have ONE cookie way out there in Minnesota. Wouldn't that be a wonderful pre-Christmas present for the grands: the recipe and cookie cutters. I must look on the Internet pronto. And the childhood memories of books! My father read the three of us Alice in Wonderland, aloud, and I was so alarmed by it I sneaked off to sit in the bathroom. Ferdinand the Bull (with the lovely flowers), and The Marmalade cat in Paris, whose name I have forgotten. Winnie the Pooh. Heidi. Madeline. I love your French/English dictionary! Never much liked dolls (which I found a little creepy), but books and my stuffed animal, who was a donkey, were just fine with me. Happy November, Nana!

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 11, 2014 at 4:52 PM

      You too Katrina.. love your memories..wish I could remember someone reading to me!!
      They are all over Ebay..I think Amazon has them also:)

      Delete
    2. she's in the kitchenNovember 11, 2014 at 7:05 PM

      Thanks, Nana - I will go look.

      Delete
  24. PennyNovember 11, 2014 at 4:31 PM

    Ah, childhood memories. Our books and toys seemed less complicated. Love your dictionary. I too would like to find a copy of it to help me with my French. The animal cracker molds are adorable. You always have such great ideas Monique. It is a joy to come here.

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 11, 2014 at 4:55 PM

      If you Google the title..and ask Images..click on the ones that look like my book..you should be able to get very lucky..either Ebay or an Amazon reseller..It's fun because there are conversation sentences too.Good luck!

      Maybe you and Sam will both get one..and chat away:)

      Delete
  25. susanNovember 11, 2014 at 6:12 PM

    Thank you for the walk down memory lane. What lovely thoughts all the photos conjured up. Animal crackers were a big treat in our house because my mother baked most of our desserts.
    Thank you for the joyful memories.

    ReplyDelete
  26. UnknownNovember 11, 2014 at 9:00 PM

    It's true, kids have so many treats these days. I remember when tangerines in our Christmas stockings were such a treasured treat. Now the kids would probably laugh if I gave them tangerines in their stockings. They can have them every day. Love your little animal crackers. I think they'd still be a treat. :)

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    1. latabledenanaNovember 11, 2014 at 9:19 PM

      Many have everything and more...
      Both parents work..bigger incomes..
      It was a big thing for me to take ballet and tap...
      Now the kids are in so many things..
      Gee I am sounding so ancient!

      Delete
  27. LOuisetteNovember 11, 2014 at 9:11 PM

    Have anice week, here in Belgium, it has been the day veteran first war, 14-18

    http://retriever-louisettesblogs.blogspot.be/2014/11/armistice-tombeau-du-soldat-inconnu.html

    http://louisette.eklablog.com/mes-autres-blogs-p842116

    ReplyDelete
  28. Cheri Savory SpoonNovember 12, 2014 at 10:31 AM

    Hi Monique, Those cookie cutters are the cutest things, nice to take a walk through childhood memories. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Deana SidneyNovember 12, 2014 at 10:45 AM

    I love sugar cookies and those are indeed great cutters... love that they have top texture too.

    I had to go to a fancy dog birthday party in Soho years ago and toiled over making about 10 different breeds and frosting them. It's still one of my favorite food projects and worth every minute spent hand cutting from cardboard shapes and frosting painting. Animal cookies just make me smile.

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 12, 2014 at 3:43 PM

      I bet they were adorable!
      Animal cookies make me smile also..

      Delete
  30. diane November 12, 2014 at 9:12 PM

    Ahhh......animal crackers! I wonder if they would taste the same in my adult mouth???
    Lovely post!

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  31. Thibeault's TableNovember 13, 2014 at 1:15 PM

    Adorable!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Painting the hamptonsNovember 14, 2014 at 8:05 PM

    I love the photo of the elephant cookie on its page in the dictionary. So Sweet :) Did you touch kitchen twine on the backs of the raw cookies to get them out of the molds or did you just pose them on the string? Love it.

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    1. La Table De NanaNovember 15, 2014 at 9:00 AM

      Posed them:)
      After they baked..
      They make you want to play:)

      Delete
  33. Stan and Jody GabaraNovember 15, 2014 at 10:06 AM

    Monique,
    When I was little my mother would buy us a box animal cookies sometimes for a special treat. I'd be so excited to open the box to see what animals I got. They bring back such wonderful memories. Thanks so much for sharing. I have to buy the cookie cutters now...
    Hugs,
    Jody

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    Replies
    1. latabledenanaNovember 15, 2014 at 12:35 PM

      Believe me..you often send me Googling with your ideas:-)
      Our treats were so simple weren't they?

      Delete
  34. Rosa's Yummy YumsNovember 17, 2014 at 3:51 AM

    I had a similar book when I was growing up. It was a gift from my English grandparents...

    Cute cookies.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  35. Sketchbook WanderingNovember 18, 2014 at 6:12 PM

    Dear Monique, We had so much less of everything than many kids today, but how we treasured those sweet jouets & books. They bring back such nice memories. I loved my paper dolls, among other things. How nice that your grandson likes the dictionnary with you. I get to continue my passion for children's books through my current work.

    ReplyDelete
  36. La Cuisine d'HeleneNovember 19, 2014 at 11:48 AM

    I also love animal cookies and I like vintage cookbooks.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Karen (Back Road Journal)November 19, 2014 at 4:01 PM

    I think one of the things I enjoyed about animal crackers was the box and little handle. I'm sure Noah enjoyed the cute cookies.

    ReplyDelete

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