Tis the Season

Drove down to Albany and went shopping with my daughter yesterday.  Adison stayed at home with her Dad.  We got a lot accomplished and enjoyed our day together.  But the best was when we returned home.  Adison was just getting up from a late nap; I had purchased a little nutcracker for her at the Christmas Tree Shop (she has a thing for nutcrackers this year it seems).  She moved his little mouth around and then put him down on the shelf to decorate.  "I'll put him here near the stable so he can watch over Baby Jesus too", she said.  Then she picked up her nativity pieces and told me who were the shepherds, the wise men, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and, of course, all of the animals.  I asked who the other figures were and she said, "Oh Grandma, those are the angels.  Do you know everybody now"?  That was just so precious to me.  After all, tis the season.

Hey Baby It's Cold Outside . . .

A little nippy out there this morning and getting a little nippy in here - woke up to a chilly room and thought "Oh, no!"  Out of fuel but they're going to be bringing it sometime today.  I hate mornings like this but I am enjoying my coffee, especially with a picture of Adison, my granddaughter, staring at me from the mug. 

Adison is really looking forward to Christmas this year.  She talks about seeing Santa, about the dolls and books she wants Santa to bring her, and about Baby Jesus in the manger.  I have a manger set here that one of my kids received piece by piece through their Sunday School years.  Adison puts it together and takes it apart over and over again when she is here.  She knows the wise men and the shepherds and, of course, the animals.  She doesn't always remember Mary and Joseph but we're working on that.  Adison will be three the 21st of January so I think she does alright remembering most of them.  She has a set at her house too but they don't have all of their Christmas things out yet.

Each year at our church we have a 'Christmas Tea' - dainty little sandwiches and yummy desserts served with coffee or tea (December 19).  I'm bring Adison this year and she will think she's at a big tea party, I am sure.  Her Mom and Dad both have to work that day so Adison and Grandma will have a big day together.  Well, that's all the rambling for now. Have a great day everyone.  

Southern Cookbook - 322 Old Dixie Recipes

This is a small cookbook I bought on one of my most favorite vacations - down to Pennsylvania where we visited the Amish countryside, Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Hershey Park, Eisenhower's home and more.  We even went to Reading to do a little shopping but mostly to see our AA division of the Albany-Colonie Yankees play the Reading Phillies.  The Yankees won and we had such a good time.  The players even recognized our kids and said hello to them and said 'what are you two doing here?".   They were a great team and the core four still play for the NY Yankees.

I bought this book mostly to add to my collection but here is a recipe I've taken from it to try.

Spiced Devil's Food Cake

2 c brown sugar

1 c butter

2 eggs

1 c buttermilk

3 c flour

4 squares melted cooking chocolate

1 1/2 Tbs cinnamon

1 tsp allspice

1 tsp cloves

1 tsp baking soda dissolved in

1/2 c boiling water

1 tsp vanilla

Cream sugar and butter and add to well beaten eggs; then add milk, chocolate, and beat flour in lightly, adding a tsp of vanilla and spices.  Add baking soda dissolved in boiling water.  Bake in layer cake tins in a moderate oven, 350 degrees, for about 30 minutes.

Sounds yummy to me - another one worth a try!!  ENJOY

The ABC of Jiffy Cookery

Another great auction find - recipes from A to Z.    I just turned the page and the first recipe up is for Apple Soup!  Let's give it a try! 

APPLE Soup (Preparation time:  20 minutes)

4 apples, pared and diced

1/2 c sugar
Rind of 1 lemon, finely chopped
3 c Hot water
1/2 c red or white wine
2 Tbs flour
2 Tbs Cold water
1/2 c heavy cream

Combine apples, sugar, lemon rind, and hot water.  Cook until apples are tender.  add wine.   Blend flour and cold water.  Thin with a few tablespoons of hot soup.  Mix into soup.  simmer 5 minutes.  Chill, and add cream before serving.  (Serves 6)

Peanut Brittle from The Holiday Candy Book

Before my husband passed away we used to attend many auctions and estate sales together.  He came across this cookbook at an auction of a Saratoga estate quite some years ago.  The author is Virginia Pasley and this book was copy written and  published in 1952.   It is well worn both on the outside as well as the inside.  I actually never used it but my husband made peanut brittle once in a while.  I think I shall try it this year.  Here is the recipe:

1 1/2 c sugar

1c light corn syrup

1/3 c water

1 Tbs butter
1 1/2 c salted peanuts
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla

Measure sugar, corn syrup and water into a 3-quart saucepan and stir over low heat until sugar dissolves.  continue stirring until syrup boils, then put in your thermometer and boil over high heat until thermometer registers 280 degrees.  Lower  heat and add butter, stirring rapidly, then the peanuts.  If your peanuts are not salted, add 1/2 tsp salt.  Cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes, then stir occasionally until temperature reaches 300 degrees.  Remove from heat; add baking soda and stir until it bubbles up; add the vanilla, stir again and then pour onto two large cookie sheets.  Spread out thinly with a spatula and when the edges are cool enough to handle, pick them up and stretch out as thinly as possible.  As the candy cools down, pull it loose from the pan and turn it over, stretching again.  This candy does not keep well and will get sticky unless kept in a tightly covered tin.

ENJOY!!

Where have I been?

Sorry for not keeping up with my blog and yours too!  My computer is giving me lots of trouble and I've only been getting online when at my daughters.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving; yes, we survived it all!  There was so much food and we had such a good time being together.  Maybe we'll do it again next  year!  Have a great DECEMBER!!