Sunday, December 30, 2007
Happy New Year
Friday, December 28, 2007
third major snow storm in progress
The name of the snowstorm begins with C but I forgot what it was, some girls name I guess.
Broke my glasses and had to go get new frames, luckily they had ones that fit the lenses.
Kids are very tired, came from Mom's without any naps or lunch...fell asleep on the floor watching Ben10.
I'm rather sick today, but it may be just the barometric pressure drop with this snowstorm...hope so.
Had some good stew for supper...Owen...Grandma daddy made me eat that stew! So I gave him some gingerbread cookies and milk.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Merry Christmas
Just dropping in a minute to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. A little hectic around here, cleaning, baking, wrapping...a few more things to get done this year with the kids here. It's fun though...except for the five and a half inches of blowing snow we got yesterday. Lots of birds at the feeder have to go fill them again and get some of the snow off the paths.
I'm looking forward to a nice warm cup of tea when I get back in the house...oh, and can you believe I lost two pounds this week even with all the junk food around. I have a couple good books to read and some nice music to listen too also.
Merry Christmas
Friday, December 21, 2007
Winter Solstice
December 25, 1927 Presidential Message, Calvin Coolidge (1872 - 1933)
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Vintage Windows
I just had my little camera along at the museum...30 second videos...but it gives you a little glimpse of the windows from long ago that were in Prange's Department Store windows at Christmas and are now located at the museum along with Santa and helper and Bruce the Spruce.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
A Poem
Sunny, still and cold
Found, on the gravel road I walked this morning.
one beer can, part full of frozen tobacco juice
that when I shook it came apart like chunks of amber,
and a quarter-sized piece from a fluted china plate,
with a soft pink rose the size of a pencil eraser
and a curl of flying ,pale blue ribbon. In a nearby tree,
five noisy crows who had seen me snooping there
were busy creating a plausible story.
Ted Kooser
Winter Morning Walks
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
There's Something About Fruitcake...
Earleen's Masterpiece Fruitcake
2 cups sugar; 1 cup butter; 2 1/2 cups applesauce; 2 beaten eggs; 2 cups raisons; 2 cups chopped walnuts; 4 cups flour; 1 tsp. salt; 1 tsp soda; 1 tsp baking powder; 1 tsp cloves; 1 tsp nutmeg; 2 tsp. cinnamon; 2 pounds candied dried fruit; 1 1/2 cups chopped dates.
Cream sugar and butter. Add beaten eggs and applesauce. Mix flour, salt, spices, soda, and baking powder, then gradually add to other ingredients. Mix well. Blend in candied fruit, dates, raisins, and nuts. Mixture will be stiff. Bake in 325 degree oven in two loaf pans for one hour.
Cool and remove fruitcake from pans. Cut a piece of cheesecloth to fit and soak in 1/2 cuprum or brandy. Pour any remaining alcohol over the fruitcake. Wrap fruitcake in cheesecloth and then cellophane, followed by aluminum foil. Store in refrigerator for up to three months.
Sophie McKay's Chocolate Fruitcake
Make 3 weeks in advance. Store in refrigerator.
Place into large bowl:
2 cups maraschino cherries, sliced in half; 2 cups chopped dates; 2 cups pineapple tidbits, well drained; 1 cup coconut; 2 cups walnuts; 2 cups pecan halves; 2 12 ounce packages semisweet chocolate chips.
Beat the following ingredients on low for thirty seconds, then on high for three minutes:
3 cups flour; 1 1/2 cups sugar; 1 TB baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 3/4 cup shortening; 3/4 cup butter; 2/3 cup creme de cacao; 1/2 cup cocoa powder; 9 eggs
Pour batter over fruit and nut mixture. Pour into two well-greased loaf pans. Bake at 275 degrees for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. After two hours, check with a toothpick every fifteen minutes. When cool, set each loaf on a large piece of plastic wrap and pour a jigger of creme de cacao over them. Wrap tightly and place inside a ziploc bag and keep refrigerated for 3-4 weeks.
Peggy Lucas's No-Bake Fruitcake with Marshmallows
1 cup raisins (dark or golden); 2 cups dates; 2 cups mixed candied fruit; 4 cups chopped nuts (you can reduce this to three cups if desired); 3/4 cup evaporated milk; 2 cups marshmallows; 2 cups very finely crushed graham crackers.
Mix raisins, dates, dandied fruit and chopped nuts in a large bowl. In a saucepan (or in a bowl in the microwave) bring evaporated milk to a boil, add marshmallows and stir until thoroughly combined and marshmallows are melted. Grind the graham crackers in the food processor (one package at a time) until they are very finely ground (like flour). You can also use packaged graham cracker crumbs. Stir the graham crackers into the fruit and nut mixture. Add the marshmallow mixture. With wet hands, mix all ingredients. Rinse hands, wet them again and press the mixture into a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan lined with wax paper. Press it down well and refrigerate for 2 days until set.
Note: If you use 1/2 cup candied fruit, 1/2 cup flaked coconut and 1 cup candied pineapple instead of 2 cups candied fruit, the cake has a topical taste. If mixture seems to dry, add a little orange juice or strawberry jam. Don't worry if it seems too wet, because as it sets the graham cracker crumbs will absorb the liquid.
These are the three recipes that are in There's Something About Christmas by Debbie McComber
