Thursday, November 26, 2009
Another Christmas gift for Gemma
This time from Bret. I drew out the pattern, and sometime later he had this:
An easy-to-grip maple teether. It's sanded silky-smooth. I know she'll love it, because she loves gumming my wooden cooking spoons!
All this creativity is rooted in the fact that my favorite toy catalogs are too pricey for our budget. Right now my "wishbook" is the Nova Naturals catalog. Lots of pretty things, but many are out of our price range. So I try to come up with similar items that Bret can make in his shop, or which I can sew up.
An easy-to-grip maple teether. It's sanded silky-smooth. I know she'll love it, because she loves gumming my wooden cooking spoons!All this creativity is rooted in the fact that my favorite toy catalogs are too pricey for our budget. Right now my "wishbook" is the Nova Naturals catalog. Lots of pretty things, but many are out of our price range. So I try to come up with similar items that Bret can make in his shop, or which I can sew up.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
You know it's been too long since you cleaned under the furniture...
...when your dust-bunnies look like this:
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Espresso Cutouts
Love these cookies. My sister gave me the recipe some years back. The cutouts hold their shape beautifully. I usually drizzle them with melted white chocolate when they're done.
Espresso Cutouts
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 Tbsp hot water
2 tsp instant coffee granules
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cookie sheets by greasing or lining with parchment paper.
Sift together the flour and cocoa. Set aside.
Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and blend. Mix the coffee granules with the hot water, then add to the butter/sugar mixture along with the vanilla and the cinnamon. Mix in the flour/cocoa one-third at a time. Chill dough until firm.
Roll out dough 1/3 at a time (keep remaining dough in fridge--this dough is soft at room temperature, so work quickly!) on a well-floured surface. Roll out to 1/8" thick. Cut with cookie cutters and use a spatula to transfer to the cookie sheets.
Bake for--hm--I don't have it written down. Try 8-10 minutes. They are thin, so not too long. They should be slightly puffed and look dry on the edges.
Cool a bit before transferring to a rack to cool completely.
Espresso Cutouts
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 Tbsp hot water
2 tsp instant coffee granules
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cookie sheets by greasing or lining with parchment paper.
Sift together the flour and cocoa. Set aside.
Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and blend. Mix the coffee granules with the hot water, then add to the butter/sugar mixture along with the vanilla and the cinnamon. Mix in the flour/cocoa one-third at a time. Chill dough until firm.
Roll out dough 1/3 at a time (keep remaining dough in fridge--this dough is soft at room temperature, so work quickly!) on a well-floured surface. Roll out to 1/8" thick. Cut with cookie cutters and use a spatula to transfer to the cookie sheets.
Bake for--hm--I don't have it written down. Try 8-10 minutes. They are thin, so not too long. They should be slightly puffed and look dry on the edges.
Cool a bit before transferring to a rack to cool completely.
Whipped Sweet Potatoes With Brown Sugar Topping
The one I will have to make every Thanksgiving until I die, because everyone always asks for it. I've seen a few similar recipes on the web, but this is the one I use. I'm not big on really sweet stuff, so for me, this is dessert! If you have a large family or get-together, double it.
Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar Topping
For the potatoes:
22-24 oz. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" pieces
3/4 stick (6 Tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
6 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Pinch of salt
For the topping:
1 1/2 cups crushed corn flakes
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3/4 stick (6 Tbsp) unsalted butter, melted
Make the sweet potatoes:
Place the sweet potatoes in a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, transfer to a large bowl and add the butter. Beat until smooth. Add the egg, sugar, spices and salt and blend. Transfer to an 8 x 8" baking dish (you can cover with foil and chill at this point to make it ahead. To bake, bring to room temperature before going on).
Bake covered with foil for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees (35 minutes if doubling recipe and using a large baking dish).
Prepare topping:
Mix the topping ingredients together. Spoon over the potatoes for the last 10 minutes of baking time without the foil.
Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar Topping
For the potatoes:
22-24 oz. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" pieces
3/4 stick (6 Tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
6 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Pinch of salt
For the topping:
1 1/2 cups crushed corn flakes
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3/4 stick (6 Tbsp) unsalted butter, melted
Make the sweet potatoes:
Place the sweet potatoes in a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, transfer to a large bowl and add the butter. Beat until smooth. Add the egg, sugar, spices and salt and blend. Transfer to an 8 x 8" baking dish (you can cover with foil and chill at this point to make it ahead. To bake, bring to room temperature before going on).
Bake covered with foil for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees (35 minutes if doubling recipe and using a large baking dish).
Prepare topping:
Mix the topping ingredients together. Spoon over the potatoes for the last 10 minutes of baking time without the foil.
A Christmas gift for Gemma
Don't ask me how I managed to squeeze this in between making butter and cleaning the oven. I just had to do it. I had seen the stuffed giraffes for babies on Etsy done by two or three individuals, and none of them was exactly what I wanted, so on our last visit to Hobby Lobby I picked out cloth and grosgrain ribbon. Last night I traced out a pattern, and I cut it out and pinned it this morning before the kids were up. I squeezed in the sewing and stuffing between other things. I rather like it!
Adrian said, "It looks real!" I asked him how many pink giraffes he's seen. "No, I mean like real from a store!" I guess some of my home-made versions of things may be a little "unreal" at times.
Adrian said, "It looks real!" I asked him how many pink giraffes he's seen. "No, I mean like real from a store!" I guess some of my home-made versions of things may be a little "unreal" at times.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Simple Woman's Daybook for November 23rd
Outside my window…4:53 and dark. Gemma woke me at 4, smiling sleepily, and went back to sleep. I have so much to do this week, I decided to get up for my prayers, coffee and an early start.I am thinking… of this day's list of things to do. I need to go over my Advent/Christmas preparations list and see where I am.
I am thankful for…all the really big things (family, health, food and shelter, the Church, etc.) and many little things that are perhaps not necessary, but which give life bright moments of joy and laughter. I am thankful and praising God for giving Bret a third (!) altar to build for the Fathers of Mercy, this one in their private chapel. God is good. This ought to be good for at least a few decades off in purgatory for my husband's wild youth, don't you think? [wink!]
From the kitchen...probably muffins and applesauce. What I really crave is an apple crumble, but whether I have time for that this morning...?
I am creating…another hat like the one I made for Gemma. This one is in a navy blue with variegated striping and will be for my nephew James, if it will fit him. I still have Una's sweater to seam, but I'm a wimp about seaming and will put it off this week.
I am reading ...craft blogs and cooking blogs. Brown-Eyed Baker has some nice cookie and confection recipes for the holidays. Still reading Pinocchio to the boys.
I am hoping...that I will be efficient this week and not be tempted too much to dawdle on the computer or at my knitting!
I am hearing…the dryer.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Lots of cleaning and cooking in preparation for my mother and my sister's family coming on Thursday. I will be enlisting everyone to help clean so that I can cook and bake. You are welcome to come by and visit, as long as you come ready to work!
I am praying...for C., who has an appointment for an ultrasound after having miscarried yesterday morning; that everyone remains healthy for our family celebration on Thursday; for a joyful week and happy Thanksgiving for my friends and family.
Picture Thought: I don't have a picture right now, but maybe I'll edit one in later if I manage to pick up the camera.
Visit Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook for more entries, or add your own. Have a blessed week!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
"Children are a reward..."
An acquaintance of mine just miscarried this morning. She is my age, and childless, and although she was only nine weeks along, this was a greatly-desired baby. She had names picked out and was full of hope.
"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth."
I was ruminating on this line of scripture shortly after this lady called with the news that she was suffering symptoms that seemed indicative of miscarriage. I have never felt comfortable with the word "reward" as it is used here in this passage. It seems to imply that children are like merit badges given out by God for pleasing Him, which would of course imply the opposite for the state of childlessness. Lack of children is not, we know, a punishment. So what to make of the word "reward" here? Maybe "gift" would be a better word to understand the meaning; after all, we also know from scripture that all things are gifts from God for those who love Him and strive to do His will. Everything is intended for our sanctification. It is the carrying of the Cross that sanctifies us and purifies us, making us over in the image of Christ, our Lord. For some the Cross is childlessness, and for others, caring for the children they have. Those on both sides of the fence will have times when the Cross seems much too heavy to bear.
Christianity is strange, isn't it? Embracing the Cross sounds like foolishness to the world, but the world's wisdom is foolishness to Christ. Embracing the Cross isn't easy, but it can be easier when we try to see from Heaven's viewpoint rather than our own. And that isn't always easy, either. but God doesn't tell us that any of it will be easy. Only that it will be worth it.
Please say a prayer for C. and ask the Lord to give her peace. My heart--so enlarged by Him through love of the children He has granted me--aches deeply for her.
"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth."
I was ruminating on this line of scripture shortly after this lady called with the news that she was suffering symptoms that seemed indicative of miscarriage. I have never felt comfortable with the word "reward" as it is used here in this passage. It seems to imply that children are like merit badges given out by God for pleasing Him, which would of course imply the opposite for the state of childlessness. Lack of children is not, we know, a punishment. So what to make of the word "reward" here? Maybe "gift" would be a better word to understand the meaning; after all, we also know from scripture that all things are gifts from God for those who love Him and strive to do His will. Everything is intended for our sanctification. It is the carrying of the Cross that sanctifies us and purifies us, making us over in the image of Christ, our Lord. For some the Cross is childlessness, and for others, caring for the children they have. Those on both sides of the fence will have times when the Cross seems much too heavy to bear.
Christianity is strange, isn't it? Embracing the Cross sounds like foolishness to the world, but the world's wisdom is foolishness to Christ. Embracing the Cross isn't easy, but it can be easier when we try to see from Heaven's viewpoint rather than our own. And that isn't always easy, either. but God doesn't tell us that any of it will be easy. Only that it will be worth it.
Please say a prayer for C. and ask the Lord to give her peace. My heart--so enlarged by Him through love of the children He has granted me--aches deeply for her.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
What I was doing instead of posting
Isn't this cap adorable? The pattern is Aviatrix from Just Jussi, and it was really quite easy. I haven't blocked it yet, so I'm hoping I can stretch it a bit bigger.The cardigan was made by a friend for Sebastian. and the buttons were a gift from another friend, and were given to me many years before I was even married.
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