Auld Lang Syne.

  The only skier in my neck of the woods.. But how cute is he? 

For years and years this girl and I have been sharing ornaments etc..

She sent me this cute thing this year:) I call him Jean-Claude Killy:)

My girls..always peek at the ornaments..they know every year  something new is added:) I think I gave the girls 4 this yr.. 2 hand made..2 bought..a certain gnome grabbed my heartstrings last yr..so I bought one for my girls..myself and  Susan..

My friend Sarah and I exchange also..

 My friend Nancy sent me this book.I had no idea how popular it was  as  I had never heard of it.I read the whole thing one afternoon..author is 90.

She started The French Laundry..amongst many other resto venues..Thomas Keller bought it from her.

I want you to look at how she writes a recipe..Should it not always be this way?
I think so..

Just look at the logistics.

Linda who does not blog anymore but is on IG inspired me to learn Jewish cooking.I made my first latkes..divine..and a new cabbage dish..

My first latkes.

This summer one of our daughters took this pic of us.. 100 yrs ago she had t-shirts printed one was too small so I got it..It's of the boys in Fl..I had taken the photo..and she gifted us with them..so one night this summer we decided to wear them..The difference in the boys,,well you can see.And they have since grown again.We are so small beside them.

She gave me this light up frame for Xmas and placed the photo in it:)

I love it:)

 My daughter has a few trees in their new home..this one is so pretty when you walk in..The boys were having their photo taken..one of many.and I snuck in I need memories.I hate being photographed..Hate it.

But I want to look back..

My boys:)

All of them:) 

Christmas eve was at my daughter's home..we were 14..Fred cooked a turkey AND a crown roast..we were full:) All my daughter's charcuterie board(she is magic).  appetizers...salad..a different meat pie..stuffing..and my daughter's desserts.We were stuffed.

It was lovely.And weather was like in the Carolinas..what's up with that..

Christmas morning is here..for gifts and brunch..PJs..all in pjs..

This yr instead of setting up xtra tables etc.I did a buffet.

Everything was eaten up..next yr.. two large quiches..not one..and double the scones and double the smoked salmon,bagels and cream cheese ..cretons and bacon jam.. I had enough.But the quiches and the rest not nearly enough.

Those boys are so appreciative of what I cook.God love 'em.

They have appetites..My desserts ..were somewhat eaten but my boys are foodies..more than desserties. The muffins..(choco chips) were enjoyed..I sent Caro home with5 I think..they were all in the mood for less sugar more savoury..J's bacon..gone..so fast.

That's all I want for Christmas....to see their faces.

My daughters are funny and kind.. they fill a stocking for me:)

I like everything sparkling for Xmas morn..even my mom's silver.

Best trick.. a pail.. aluminium foil.. the utensils..baking soda..boiling water.

Shine on.

They are so finicky to polish one by one..

I love this method.

I have two new beautiful aprons(not bragging..grateful) I tried selfies.. deleted them all..LOL

Not feeling very selfie..ish.. I should have settled for those;)

They are beautiful.

Thoughtfulness:)

Have you watched Maestro? Fabulous..fabulous acting.

And The Sound Of Freedom? I love James Caviezel..and this movie ..really shocks..

So troubling.. Child slavery..Children stolen and sold to pedophiles.

I was surprised to read the controversies now coming out surrounding this Tim Ballard ..

Gérard Dépardieu is not faring any better.When I saw the footage of all his disgusting actions and manners..

He is really not to be admired.

We have had a bleak scenario here rain..fog..our properties are messy and muddy..I know others have had flooding:(

On this cheery note..

I wish you  and yours a healthy New Year.Comfort to those that are sad..Happiness to those who could need a good dose of it..Resolution to things that need resolve..Friendship to those who could use a friend.

Peace.

Love.

Oh lala a GREENish CHRISTMAS.

 

I really don't adore green Christmases..and we are having one:(Well we got a touch..hoping some of it stays..here in the country our chances are better than in the city.

Grateful to have more additions here..every yr..I am lucky enough to receive ornaments from afar and they grace our tree..

A whole family of mice live here now..when I put them away..I will take a photo:) A newer Frida lives here also.

A new book arrived..that taught me how to make latkes and a delicious cabbage..

Two beautiful aprons..

Such thoughtfulness.

I love looking at past Christmas creations:)This year..just an assortment of cookies as my daughter has made sooo many desserts..a big one would be a waste.

Ran out of pre-printed cards I had made with a snowman I painted..but the quality was not good..so I started painting some and some will be for next yr..God willing.

One treat that always must be featured..are Auntie Bernice's Shortbreads..Made in an 8 x8 pan.

I wanted to make them in half batches for one pan.. and ended up making 5 pans lol..

I have revised the recipe..here is the final one I think.

An 8x8 pan.

I put parchment on bottom.

Preheat oven to 300 F.

2 sticks softened butter( no such thing as unsalted here)

1/2 cup icing sugar

1  1/2 cup flour

 1/4 cup rice flour

1/4 cup cornstarch.

Place all in your KA..it will all blend and pull away from bowl.

Spread in pan..push it in uniformily.

Prick with tines of fork all around and prick all over.

Bake ap 55 mins.. keep an eye..every oven is different.

You don't want to see a dough line once baked which could appear in middle..they must be cooked through:)

I thought I was making a cute gingerbread man wreath gleaned on IG..but as soon as I raised it..the men wanted no part in staying stiff..I had to glue some together..so it defeated the purpose and became a flatlay lol:)

Can you believe those copper color vessels are La  Fermière yogurt pots? I lugged blue ones back from Provence and every time Sarah..discovers new colors she sends me some:) I have beautiful colors..A real collection.These were perfect for this..My green pines are so this holiday also.

I loved this card from last yr.. this yr was a snowman but the printing was sad compared to Costco..

One of my favorite Paris People..

Santa..

I leave you with him..

with my wishes for a safe  and happy holiday season..

I know it's not easy for many.

xox

Me again..

 

Every yr..I try to make linzers..my all time fave recipe is from Gourmet 2005 and you can find it here..I have been making it for almost 20 yrs now.I tried different ones..not comparable.

You may wonder why I try and get my baking done a bit early.Well. to start with we have a wonderful cold room which keeps things refrigerated in winter.It's so handy..

And every yr I like to make a selection for someone who might appreciate a gift box of them..

I find the best way to offer..although I love the look of all the cookies displayed beautifully in a compartmentalized box eye candy..I prefer doing this..

Cello wrapped..individually by type of treat..and a little tag saying exactly what they are..

Works for me..:)

I found large boxes at HomeGoods...They store a variety comfortably..and I could add a card and ornament..wrapped also inside.

The recipients don't know I blog..so they won't see this;)

This..makes me happy.To put little things together..

And this ..wow..2014...where does time travel to?

Darling darling boys.

I have to say in 50 yrs..I have come to the conclusion..in our home..as it was in my home for the short time I had with my mom.

It's the mom that makes Christmas..

The food..the gifts..the wrapping..she is the one that wants to try and create..memories. 

Forgive me if you know dads that do this.

I don't..

I do know that couples without children..some of the husbands seem very caring and make certain their wives are thought of:)

Every card that says from Santa..is the mom..lol. Every dessert baked..is the mom..Every gift wrapped..I've never seen an elf here lol..

I think that's why moms can get overwhelmed and certainly  can feel under appreciated..Many many work outside the home..as I did ..yet things were done and not by Santa;)

To all the moms creating Xmas memories out there.

I appreciate you.Because however humble and small and non materialistic my childhood Christmases were.My MOM made it Christmas for me.

Thank you Maman. xoxoxo

It was the gift under the white plastic tree with tinsel..the faux fireplace at one home..The smell of tourtière.. the way she sat in the darkness and looked at the lights on her own..I caught her a few times.

My eyes fill with tears at this vision.

I bet she was thinking of past Christmases before losing a daughter..her parents..etc.A different life maybe? At the artist she had been?

Christmas is the king and queen of nostalgia.

That's the hard part right?

I want my Littles to keep this nostalgia free feeling forever.

No losses no pain..

I am thinking of many of you having a very hard Christmas.

I am sorry for you.

For loss..illness..Some of you have confided in me.

Take care.

She was the one:) For this one.

A girl I know on Titok always signs off with..

Much Love.And blows a kiss..

xo

Up to now..

 

Watching the last season of The Crown.

Absolutely charismatic spot on actress playing Diana.

Elizabeth Debicki.

Beautiful ..talented.

Amazing .

I admit to having tears.

So much to say ..but I won't.

So the book I am reading..

My friend Anne Frank.

Tears again.

How could this happen..how is it happening again.

It's because I am green isn't it?

Think about it.

I'm not sounding very Christmasy yet I am.I am in my cocoon of a small Hallmark town..I love my town.

Getting ready..baking..wrapping..

Fairy lights to brighten the long dark days..(I love them)

Nothing over le top.

Just regular fare..Same ornaments..same stockings..a lot of the same food..

But I feel spoiled.

The mint snowballs are new..

From  Sally

I like adding..trying new things.Small delish mosrsels..

The mushroom cookies are from Winnie

Fun to make..Tourtières made that day are work..these are a play date..Next time Ill make sure I have FRESH red oil based food coloring I used my Wilton and it turned out mauvier than red. My Callebaut white choco is kind of creamy color could be that too..For my dots I used icing sugar glaze.

My fave baking days were with the littles..gosh my heart melts when I start going down the rabbit hole of old pics.Oli is on a bench there baking..now he is 14 and 6'3.

He towers over me.

Darling darling boy.

Tourtières are made and frozen..this is an old pic lol..

As this is..This was the day we baked so many  Oli wanted nothing to do with that apron lol..

Max was ok with it:)

We had company for dinner..and a roast was the main meal but I served stuffed shells  served along with garlic bread as a PRIMI course.. I used Natashas Kitchen recipe but I added my take on them..here and there..and a bit of these.I was literally all over the place;)

My not so local cards with inserts  and one gift are  off..  soon a local gift ..well MTL..and cards..

I like being ahead of myself..ask my husband:)

This season goes by so fast.

Let's savor it.

Bake!

 

Have you watched All The Light We Cannot See? On Netflix?

I had read the book and liked it..but a while ago so it was quite a fog in my memory..anyway we loved this on Netflix..Tears:)

The child actress is really blind as well as the adult Marie.Unbelievable performances.

Mark Ruffalo is so easy to look at.I love him as an actor..and Uncle Etienne is portrayed beautifully by Hugh Laurie (House)..Madame Manec is so good too.Anyway we loved it.

I love baking.. I really do..These are this yr's new cutters.

I must say I am a hoarder.No.. a collector..but for 50 yrs of married life very soon ..one can collect a lot.

I'm in my craft room these days and even in the kitchen..I am a hoarder.Just a very tidy one..unless I decide to deep clean..Then I know I have a problem.

Number one..All things baking..ALL.. cake pans ,cookie sheets,muffin tins, madeleine pans..silicone..aluminium,ceramic...copper you name 

it..I developed a liking for trying different things and I was working so after necessities were met I really wasn't collecting handbags and shoes..

It was all kitchen.

Number two..without a doubt,craft supplies..paints,pencils,paintbrushes,papers..all kinds..stamps,inks.

Number three..stitching supplies.. needles,floss,pattens,fabrics..wool..yarn..

Number 4..cameras..I had to take pics of my Littles that are now bigs and then all the extras mentioned above.

So just imagine a craft room..of a girl who saves everything.:(

It's overwhelming.But I swear its organized and tidy.I need see through bins..just a few so that when I open that closet I see..what is where..

I'm old..I've amassed a fortune in cookie cutters and molds and paints.

LOL.And plants;)

Which brings me to another reason I like online libraries..

I do buy art books..I used to buy cookbooks..but novels..never anymore.

There is no room with all my other memorabilia..

Oy.

I do like to receive a book but when I am browsing books I would love to read..if it's online..I am in.

I made delicious biscuits..delicious..layers and layers and layers of goodness..you can find the recipe at @laurenbakedcake on IG.

Only two out of 7 stayed upright.The secret is to scoot them upright during baking and bake frozen:)I know because she gave me the tips.Mine were frozen but not rock solid..these were a treat with honey butter.The recipe makes many more but I froze unbaked ones.

I love the wreaths.I still have thyme and sage:)

PS..The second and third ..photos were frozen solid..I find the rise better just really cold without freezing overnight..I did scoot over..it helped;)Honey butter with..elevates;)Also they are minis.

I do hope I never stop finding my happy in baking.

Once you have retired,,November is a great month to find cozy in all things home.

So grateful I still can and enjoy.