Playing with Matches

Happy Independence Day!

This is my Great Uncle Bud's birthday. Everybody has an Uncle Bud. That great guy with a country farm to roam on, a river to fish and play in, who always had plenty of firecrackers and smoke bombs, and taught us the greatness of a homemade potato cannon (in case you need to launch produce great distances). I have so many childhood memories of Fourth of July picnics at my uncle's house. HIs wife used to make homemade fried chicken and there would be watermelon and cake, plenty of lemonade and conversation. We looked forward to it every year.

I hope your day is filled with fun and memory making--and lots and lots of fireworks.

I Heart You

We aren't big Valentine's Day celebrators. I've always seen it as a great marketing opportunity for companies. Flower companies, greeting card companies, and just about everyone else make you feel guilty if you're not spending a ton this time of year.

We all know, the greatest things in life are free, so to me, spending a lot on the greatest thing of life--LOVE--seems silly to me.

We'll hold each other close on Saturday. There might be a card, homemade or not. There may be flowers. There may be heart shaped pancakes in the morning, but most likely they'll look like misshapen blobs. I'll make a special dinner and maybe we'll crack open a bottle of bubbly that some friends of ours made and shared with us.

It certainly won't be a material holiday. In fact, I wouldn't go near a restaurant or anything deemed "romantic". We'll celebrate with our son. Maybe hit the movies. We'll just be together, that's all I could wish for.

My mom and her cousins hit White Castle every year. I think it's hysterical. It's become so popular that reservations are now required. They put white tablecloths on the tables and I believe there is candlelight and the workers dress up. What started as a joke celebration has turned out to be something bigger and more and more people go every year. Sliders all around and maybe a little heartburn later in keeping with the holiday's theme.

The most important thing to remember is that you can't put a price on love. With a little thought, you can make the day special without spending much if anything.

This is a dessert that my mom made throughout my childhood. There's very little fat and so is a very Weight Watchers friendly dessert. Put it in the oven right before you're ready to have dinner and it will be ready at dessert time. I think it would be the perfect ending to a homemade romantic or love filled family dinner.

Moms Hot Fudge Sundae Cake

Rich chocolate pudding on the bottom, decadent fudge cake on the top. You can make this in the crock pot too. Serves 12 at 3 Weight Watchers Points per serving.

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups boiling water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In ungreased 9 inch square pan, stir together flour, white sugar, cocoa, the baking powder, and salt. Mix in milk, oil, and vanilla with a fork until smooth.
Spread batter evenly in pan (batter will be thick). Sprinkle with brown sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa. Pour boiling water over batter.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes, then spoon into dessert dishes or cut into squares. Invert each square onto dessert plate and spoon sauce over each serving. Top with ice cream or whipped topping, if desired.

Want to control your portions and really make a wowie zowie kapowie impression on your loves? Well, bake these cakes in ramekins or coffee mugs. Each cup will get two tablespoons of batter, 1 1/2 tablespoons of cocoa mixture and two tablespoons of boiling water. Bake the cakes for 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops are cracked. Cool slightly, top with mini marshmallows and broil until marshmallows are browned like you toasted over them the most perfect campfire (without turning them into horse crap, like we always did as kids, allowing them to burn to a crisp). Marshmallows are not included in the Point count.

Happy New Year

Happy 2009!

I have such big hopes for this New Year. A new president, a new chance to make this country great again.

I'm also so grateful for so many things. This time of year provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect. We're constantly blasted by the news on how many people have not and how horrible this recession is. Let's face it, though, compared to many other countries, even our very poor are rich by their standards. Whenever I'm feeling the "I wants", I want something, I think about an experience Young One and I had volunteering. We went to Feed My Starving Children. A fantastic organization that packages and ships life sustaining food to people who are starving. They show you a video before you begin working that talks about just how very hungry these people are. So hungry, in fact, that mothers make mud cakes to ease the hunger pains of their children. One of these mud cakes is framed on the wall. I can't imagine that hunger, nor can I imagine what these mothers feel when their children are crying out and they can do nothing.

As a young child, I spent some time with the Russian immigrants who owned the land we drove through to access our hunting land. I have two clear memories of time with them. One, being told not to drink the large glass of "water" that they would offer me as it was homemade vodka. And second, I remember complaining to my parents about how I was "starving" and could we please hurry up and GO! Very quietly, Fedor said, "Ah, but have you eaten grass?" I've never forgotten that moment.

My goal this year is to help the hungry. It's not a resolution. It's something I've always done, but something I feel I can do more of. Because I have so much, I have so much to give.

Happy New Year to You! May this be a time of good reflection and much happiness.

I have no idea why the spacing won't work on this post. I'm not going in to edit the HTML because I'm too tired and I don't think I should have too. Dang Blogger, get this error fixed, please!

Our Rockin' New Year's Eve

Our house is rockin' this evening. Young One has three friends over and they're playing Rock Band in the basement Kid Cave. I'm alternating between laughing at some of the singing and crying because I'm no longer anything other than the ride and pizza provider.

In the past, we've always had a seafood feast at home on New Year's Eve. Going out is way too expensive and I hate being on the roads this night. We'd buy a case of crab legs from a restaurant supply and then share with friends or family. It was fun, but this seems like a new tradition developing.

He's getting older and I can see the next few years as filled with gatherings like this. Pretty soon there will be girls here too, I'm assuming. I told D that if they play Seven Minutes in Heaven with the girls in my laundry room, I'll just die.

We're enjoying some Chinese food, a movie, and some guilt free Internet surfing while sharing some smiles over the giggles emitting from the basement. It seems a lot of people are staying home tonight. There were tons of people at the grocery store and at the library checking out videos. I don't know if it's the economy or if people are like us, and just want to stay close to home tonight. It feels like we've turned a page. New tradition, same location.

Funny how life marches on.

Happy New Year!

I Still Believe

There's magic everywhere today. You can see it in the eyes of your children. You can see it in your family, your mom, your grandma, your siblings. We all have just a glimmer in our eyes today.

It's the magic of Santa.

I still believe in him and I'm not alone. Oh yes, I know, I've been told he's just a myth. I've been told, "there's no such thing." But, I still believe.

He's in the gift that you didn't quite expect. He's in the unexpected guest that you haven't seen in years. He's in the joy of the moment your children shake you awake. He's hidden in stockings and under trees. He's in the shared table and in the hands we hold while we pray. He's in the closeness of family, however small.

I've found him in church while the carols sing. I've seen him in the snowflakes as they drift down in a picture perfect white day. I've seen his work in between the lines of a Christmas letter from a friend. I've watched him dance in the eyes of my son.

We all carry a bit of Santa's magic and share it this time of year. I know, there's much much more to this day than just Santa and presents and magic, but I like to think Jesus wouldn't want his birthday celebration to be any other way.

May your day be Merry.

Peace.

A Trial Run

We got up early today. I think Young One was practicing for tomorrow's mad rush to the tree. I don't mind getting up early, as long as it's my idea! Christmas and Easter morning always dawn bright and early for us and we're pulled stumbling down the stairs by Young One, who most certainly has been lying awake for at least an hour.

We established the no presents until after 6 am rule after we were awakened before 5 one Christmas morning. Amazing how you learn as you go with this parenting thing!

A long time ago, someone I admire who also has an only child mentioned that Christmas can be kind of odd when there is only one child. There's not that Christmas of your youth, you know, the combined ripping open of packages and exclaiming that only comes when you throw together a group of young siblings. I don't agree with her at all. I do remember the combined joy, but I also remember making comparisons, fighting for mom and dad's attention, and the scoffing of my brothers as I opened my Baby Alive doll, a present I still remember in it's perfectness. My childhood Christmases are perfect in my memory, but they are MY childhood experiences, not Young One's. It's easy to get lost in comparisons when you have just one child. I constantly remind myself that he know only this experience and that it's my job to make sure his memories are joyful.

I love our Christmas mornings, however bleary-eyed I might appear. It's just the three of us, without any distractions. Our little family, perfect just the way it is. To criticize that would be to look God in the eye and laugh at His plans.

Today is delightful in it's perfect anticipation. I've always loved Christmas Eve. I get to spend the afternoon and evening with my extended family. Then we come home to savor the waiting. I'll wrap a few more presents for tomorrow morning. I'll make some cinnamon rolls and set them to rise for tomorrow's Christmas breakfast. I'll snuggle in close and enjoy the perfectness of my little family.

Merry Christmas!

Blue Christmas

I'm missing my dad terribly this Christmas. Dad died four years ago of pancreatic cancer. I was more than just his little girl. We were good buddies. In his eyes, I could do no wrong, and that's a beautiful place to be.

I don't know why I'm missing him more this year than others. Grief comes with surprising intensity at times. Just when I think I'm OK, it hits me, heavier than a ton of bricks. He's here with me, I know that. His teachings, his wisdom, his words, they all echo through me, through Young One, through my brothers.

My mom and I talk, and laugh, and shed a few tears over memories. My dad wasn't a perfect man. No one is. But, he is missed. I think everyone who has someone to miss, will miss them more around the holidays. It's just one more reason to hold those you love who are still here, even closer.

Do something for me, for my dad, this year. If you know someone that is alone, who has lost a spouse or dear one this year, include them in your celebrations. Reach out to them. For, I can't imagine going through this alone.

Peace.

Christmas Bread

I'm a mutt. I'm a Scottish-German-Swedish-Czech American. Hubby throws some Finland and Norway into the mix, so Young One is a real combination.

We celebrate the season with bits and pieces from all of our nationalities.

This simple Christmas bread is part of both of our childhoods. My mom always bought it and I have to say I never really liked it as a kid. Too much "weird stuff" in it. It took me many years to overcome my candied citron phobia. My father-in-law makes a particularly tasty loaf, and while mine is nowhere near the deliciousness of his, it's pretty darn close. It's delicious with your Christmas Eve meal and even better, toasted for Christmas breakfast the next day!

Some people frost this bread, but I prefer to top it with organic cane sugar. It melts into sweet, crispy goodness making the top of the loaf sparkle. The cardamom is absolutely necessary, so don't leave it out!

Julekaka

Yes, the name (pronounced Yool-Ka-Ga) will cause young children to giggle. Some say, Yool-Ka-Ka, but that is what made me laugh hysterically as a child. I still can't order a PuPu platter with a straight face. Sweet, dense, cardamom spiced dough heavy with golden raisins and candied fruit. Call it Christmas bread, call it Julekaka, just be sure to call me when you make it!

1 (.25 ounce) package active
dry yeast
1 cup warm water (110
degrees to 115 degrees)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup butter softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup diced citron or mixed
candied fruit

glaze: 1 egg, beaten and raw cane sugar

In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar, egg, butter, salt, cardamom and 2 cups flour; mix well. Stir in raisins, citron and enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to greased top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

Punch dough down; divide in half. Shape each portion into a flattened ball. Place in two greased 9-in. round baking pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

Beat an egg until frothy. Paint the loaves with beaten egg and sprinkle liberally with raw cane sugar.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to cool on wire racks.

Freezes well.

There's Nothing Better than a Homemade Gift--Pistachio & Tart Cherry Chocolate Bark

My brothers always used to make almond bark at Christmas time. Melted white chocolate and almonds, melted together and spread thin until cool. Nothing fancy, but a delicious treat, nonetheless. I like to take this theme and expand on it. Simply delicious, there are many combinations that you can make. This one is my favorite.

Pistachio & Tart Cherry Chocolate Bark

Store in the refrigerator. Best when used within one month.

1 lb. semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped--I use chocolate chips

8 oz. real white chocolate

12 oz. pistachio nuts (1 1/2 cups), toasted

8 oz. dried cherries (1 1/2 cups)

Place semisweet chocolate in a large microwave-safe bowl. Place white chocolate in another bowl. Heat semisweet chocolate in microwave, covered with wax paper on high 2 to 3 minutes or until almost melted, stirring once. Remove from microwave and stir until smooth. Heat white chocolate, covered with wax paper, 1 to 2 minutes or until almost melted, stirring once. Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.

Stir 1 cup pistachios and 1 cup cherries into semisweet chocoalte. On a large cookie sheet, spread chocolate mixture to about 1/4 inch thickness. Spoon dollops of white chocolate onto semisweet chocoalte mixture. Swirl chocolates together with a knife. Sprinkle with remaining cherries and pistachios.

Refrigerate one hour or until firm. Break bark into pieces. Store in tightly sealed container in refrigerator. Pack in decorative boxes, lined with waxed tissue paper or colored cellophane for gift giving.

There's Nothing Better than a Homemade Gift--Sugared Cranberries

Sweet and tangy sugared cranberries make a surprising addition to candy bowls, your favorite apple pie recipe, cheesecake or baked brie. What a nice way to treat your neighbors, your mail carrier, or the paper delivery person.

Sugared Cranberries

3 cups sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
3 cups water
3 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed
1 cup superfine sugar

Mix sugar, cinnamon sticks and cloves with water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Simmer for 1 minute, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, cool for 15 minutes or so, and pour into a bowl. Stir in cranberries. Cover and refrigerate for about 8 hours. Drain cranberries. Reserve liquid, strain out cinnamon sticks and cloves and use as a simple syrup to add a holiday touch to cocktails.

Place superfine sugar in a bowl and gently toss in cranberries, coating evenly. Place cranberries on a baking sheet to dry, about 1 to 2 hours. Store in an airtight container for 1 to 2 days or package for gift giving.

There's Nothing Better than a Homemade Gift--Citrus Salt

I think I'm sensing a theme here! I must need vitamin C because everything seems to be citrus flavored this year!

Lemon, lime and orange zest add bright, fresh flavor to gourmet sea salt. A great addition to any seafood dish from grilled fish to shrimp stir fry, and perfect for rimming margarita glasses too.

Citrus Salt

2 cups sea salt, grey salt or fleur de sel

2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest

1 tablespoons fresh lime zest

1 tablespoons fresh orange zest

Preheat oven to 225°F. Mix salt with zest and spread evenly on a baking sheet. Place in oven and bake 2 hours, or until zest is dry. Mine only took about 40 minutes, so check it often. Place in a food processor or blender and pulse until evenly mixed. I've only made this once, but I think next time I would just mix it all real well after it's cool and not pulverize it. Divide evenly and package in decorative containers for gift giving.

There's Nothing Better than a Homemade Gift--Sweet Orange Body Scrub

I've been making this body scrub for ages. It's so much more inexpensive than purchasing it and I think it works great. I scented this batch with sweet orange essential oil, but you can choose your favorite scent. This goes together quickly so quickly and you can package it as gardener's hand scrub or body scrub, depending on who you're giving it to.

Super Simple Body Scrub

2 cups Epsom salts or organic cane sugar

1 cup canola oil--or any other scentless oil, like sunflower oil

8 drops of your favorite essential oil-- or more, to desired scent

food coloring

Stir first three ingredients together until well combined, add food coloring in a color to compliment the scent you used. Since I used sweet orange essential oil, I used a peachy orange combination of food coloring to color it. Package in unbreakable containers--no glass in bathrooms!! Use anywhere you'd like super soft skin. Rinse off completely, being sure to rinse shower or bathtub well as oil can make surfaces slippery.

There's Nothing Better than a Homemade Gift--Tangerine Sugar

This one is so easy and it impresses everyone. It's delicious too.

Tangerine Sugar

The bright citrus flavor of this sugar is ideal for sprinkling over grapefruit or stirring into iced tea. You could even dip the rim of a martini or margarita glass in it. I think it would be great sprinkled on buttered toast, but I haven't tried that yet.

3 tablespoons tangerine zest--If you don't have a Microplane Zester, you must purchase one! I use this gadget at least a couple of times a month.

3 cups sugar

Place sugar and zest in food processor. Pulse until you see flecks of zest evenly distributed throughout the sugar. Divide evenly and package in decorative containers for gift giving.

There's Nothing Better than a Homemade Gift--Pumpkin Butter

Got a few minutes and need a few last minute gifts? I'm going to post a few quick recipes and ideas over the next few days. Time is short here, as I'm sure it is where you are!

I whipped this Pumpkin Butter together in about 5 minutes last night, and let it simmer for a half an hour. Cool, place in cute jars, label and it's done. Delicious on toast, muffins, waffles, cornbread. YUM.

Pumpkin Butter

1 (29 ounce) can pumpkin puree--I used the pumpkin puree I made from this year's jack-o-lanterns
3/4 cup apple juice--I think apple cider would be much better, but I didn't have any!
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves--I didn't have any and the store I went to was out, so I substituted apple pie spice from Penzeys (which if you haven't checked them out, please do! Great spices!)
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg


Combine pumpkin, apple juice, spices, and sugar in a large saucepan; stir well. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes or until thickened. Stir frequently.
Transfer to sterile containers and chill in the refrigerator until serving.

Pecan Pumpkin Butter Appetizer Dip

So delicious, your guests will wonder what the secret ingredient is!

8 oz cream cheese

6 TB pumpkin butter

1/3 cup chopped pecans

2 TB crumbled, cooked bacon pieces

2 green onions, finely chopped

Beat cream cheese with pumpkin butter until smooth and creamy. Mix in the rest of the ingredients. Refrigerate or serve immediately. Serve with crackers or pretzels.

My Favorite DaySugar and Spice and Why Frosty has a Cancer Stick

Excuse me for a moment while I remember fondly the cute little, blond haired boy who's made a gingerbread house with me every year since he was able to stand on a kitchen chair to reach the counter tops. His lips would be stained bright red from some crimson candy, snitched when he thought I wasn't looking. He loved to engineer the building of the house, thought the frosting was like cement, and his sticky fingerprints all over the house's exterior were priceless to me.

Fast forward a few years and we have Barack Obama looking out one of the windows and one of the snowman has a cigarette. (Now, I had a hard time with this at first, until the laughter became contagious. After all, Frosty, DID have a corncob pipe, so I'll let this candy cigarette pass this time!!) Gales of giggles erupted as we put it together. There was more candy eating than there was decorating. My counter tops are still sticky.

Good times.

You'll find my gingerbread and frosting recipes below. Making the gingerbread from scratch is not hard and it smells delightfully Christmasy. I formed the pieces using a gingerbread house mold that I got at a thrift store for a buck, but you can just cut them out using a template found online OR challenge your creative side and make your own design!

This is one of our traditional Christmas activities. We haven't missed a year and have included dear friends in our gingerbread house construction. It's one of my favorite days!

Gingerbread House Dough

Don't be intimidated by the length of these directions. It goes together really quickly. Make it a family project and you'll have a great, messy, fun time! I DO NOT recommend eating any gingerbread house (however tempting).

5 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cloves
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 ¼ cups molasses
2 eggs, beaten

In large saucepan, melt shortening on stove over low heat. While shortening is melting, in a separate bowl stir together flour, salt and spices (if using for cookies, add 1 tsp. baking soda). When shortening is half melted, remove from heat and continue to stir until completely melted. Add sugar, molasses and beaten eggs. Mix well and quickly (to prevent eggs from cooking). Add molasses mixture to flour mixture. Mix well. Dough will be soft. Cover and refrigerate until firm enough to handle.

Place in mold and bake as mold manufacturer directs or:

Remove dough from refrigerator when firm enough to handle. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough onto aluminum foil. To prevent aluminum foil from slipping, wipe counter with wet sponge then smooth aluminum foil over damp counter. This will prevent the foil from slipping while dough is being rolled out. Working with a small handful of dough (about the size of a baseball), roll dough onto aluminum foil that has been sprinkled with flour. Sprinkle dough with flour to prevent dough from sticking to rolling-pin. When finished rolling and cutting, LEAVE your piece on the foil and simply lift the foil and place on cookie sheet.

After baking and cooled, simply remove the foil from the back of your baked piece. IF DOUGH IS TOO STIFF, MICROWAVE FOR 10-15 SECONDS TO SOFTEN THE DOUGH. Roll dough to about 1/8” thickness. Place gingerbread house pattern pieces onto dough and cut-out dough pieces (don't forget to cut out windows). A pizza cutter works great for cutting out walls and roof sections. Remove excess dough pieces. Lift entire piece of foil and place on large cookie sheet.

Place cookie sheet in oven. Check frequently to prevent burning. Bake until golden brown. Large pieces may bake as long as 14 minutes. Smaller pieces might take 6 – 7 minutes. To prevent from sagging, bake roof sections until dark brown, almost burnt. When dough pieces are done baking, remove baking sheet from oven. Quickly lift foil from baking sheet and place on a flat area for gingerbread pieces to cool. If pieces have distorted while baking, while still warm, run knife or pizza cutter along sides of walls/roof sections to create a straight edge. If pieces have curled up during baking, while still warm, gently push edges down to lay flat. With gingerbread pieces still on the foil, let cool overnight. Next day – gently peel foil off of gingerbread pieces. You are now ready to assemble, or add windows!

Unused dough may be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 weeks (bring to room temperature and knead briefly to use again).


Royal Icing - Cement Frosting

3 tablespoons meringue powder
6 Tablespoons warm water
1 pound powder sugar
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon Vanilla or Almond flavoring

Note: 3 egg whites may be substituted for 3 tablespoons of meringue powder. Omit the water if using real egg whites.

Because this frosting dries quickly, and very hard, this is the recommended frosting to use for gluing together the walls and roof sections. Keep all utensils completely grease-free. Combine all ingredients, mixing slowly with stationary mixer until peaks form. Beat at high speed for 7 to 10 minutes. This is important for the frosting to be soft enough to use with pastry bag.

This frosting is fast drying – keep bowl covered with a damp cloth. If icing is too thick when using fine tubes, add a few drops of water. For thicker icing, beat in a little extra confectioners sugar.

Store leftover frosting, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for weeks. Re-beat before using again (if using real egg-whites, the frosting will not keep its cementing properties after the initial beating).

This recipe makes about 3 ½ cups of glue frosting.

Frosting Tip: When working with egg whites or meringue powder, keep all utensils grease-free. Any oil or grease will break down the frosting mixture. Note that the "decorators frosting" contains grease (shortening). When decorating, it is helpful to keep one bag exclusively to be used for "glue frosting", and another bag to be used for the decorators frosting. This helps to keep grease away from the "glue frosting".

The First of the Christmas Crafting

We're only giving homemade gifts this year. It really has nothing to do with the "economic downturn", "recession", or the bleak state of our nation's economy. It's more about our own personal scaling back, a hearkening (don't you love that word?) to a simpler time, or a goal in our family to focus less on material goods and more on personal experiences and the time we share with those we love.

I've been collecting craft ideas, with a special focus on using things that we already have or that use recycled products, in my Christmas folder. My Christmas folder is an organizational secret I've been using for years. In it are craft ideas, to do lists, secret present lists and pictures/sources of the gifts for Young One, and the return envelopes from all of the Christmas cards we receive (makes it easy if we can't find someones address or if we have a new addition to our list.) I rip up magazines all year, pulling out intriguing recipes, crafts, and gift ideas. Or I print ideas and recipes from the internet. There are many wonderful bloggers out there that are filled with great, simple ideas.

On a side note, I use and reuse Young One's old school folders for years, basically until they fall apart. This is another cheapskate tendency. I just can't bear to throw them away, so I have spaceship folders, Garfield (from a shortlived stage), and sports themed folders everywhere! I keep one in my car filled with restaurant coupons for those times when we're out and about and just can't decide on where to go to grab a bite to eat. I also keep my gas coupons, car wash coupons, and any freebie or discount offers that I might want to pick up while errand running.

Each Christmas gift that we're making this year has been carefully and thoughtfully chosen for it's recipient. Today, I made these Bath Bombs for some very special women in my life (who happen to know NOTHING about this blog, tee hee). Bath bombs, bath fizzies, if you don't know what they are, are these fun, scented fizzy thingies (technical term) that you place in your bath to fizz and scent the water deliciously. They also soften your skin beautifully. I had most of the ingredients in the house already, so this one went together very quickly!

Bath Bombs

You can find citric acid at your local health food store, at a wine making supply store, or online at Bulk Foods. Organic cane sugar (turbinado sugar) is found at your local grocery store. Read the entire recipe before starting! You must be very careful how much water you add. Trust me, I learned this the hard way and gave Young One the ones that bubbled over and out of the molds because they were too damp. He loved playing with them and smelled like a lime for a day. Very little water is the key. Use just enough to make it clump together.

1/2 cup citric acid

1 cup baking soda

3/4 cornstarch

1/4 cup organic cane sugar

About 6 drops of food coloring

10 to 15 drops of essential oil

equipment: a small spray bottle, ice cube trays, storage jars for gift giving

Stir together citric acid, baking soda, and cornstarch. Sift through a fine sieve or a flour sifter. Stir in sugar. Place a very small amount of water in the spray bottle. Add food coloring--try to match the color to the essential oil that you're using. I used a very small amount of green to match the lime essential oil that I used. Spritz the dry mixture lightly, it should be damp, but not fizzing. Mix with a metal spoon and spritz and mix until mixture clumps together. Add essential oil until strength of scent is to your liking. Continue mixing until scent is well dispersed. If mixture no longer clumps, spritz with more water and mix well. Pack firmly into ice cube tray, pressing firmly. Let dry at room temperature overnight. Pop out of trays gently and pack in jars. Label with instructions to add 2 to each bath to enjoy effervescent relaxation.

You could use candy molds or when I was making the last batch, I decided that packing them into a cookie scoop would be the easiest way to do it. Just pack firmly, pressing down on the mixture if you can, then pop out. I'll try this next time.

I'll share more of my Christmas gift making as time goes on. Print them and file away in your new Christmas folder. Did I inspired you to start one? I truly hope that you are simplifying your gift giving this year too. I figure, if we cut back, we can help others more this season. No, I'm not talking about making sure that other people can buy presents or get presents, like with Toys for Tots (although this organization does do wonderful things). I'd rather be able to give to the very poor. Those that are hungry or homeless. I feel their need is greater this year and because of our country's financial situation, there are probably greater numbers in need.

Peace to you!

Aren't these Cute?

I just love this blog. Snickerdoodles. First of all, it's a great name, it's one of my favorite cookies, and she's a darn good writer. Her make and take craft nights got me thinking that I should try to get a group organized too.

Follow the link above to her latest project. Great for the holidays, but I think you could probably have these out all year. And, she uses recycled materials. Love it!

My Favorite Day (well, hour)--A Little Holiday Cheer

I took an hour to myself yesterday and it was so much fun!














I love to decorate my front porch, especially during the holiday season. There's something about the scent of pine boughs, spruce tops, and juniper that just gets me happy. Snipping dried branches and flowers, rose hips, and berries from my yard (and purchasing just a few) and placing them in my porch containers is really very easy. Just give them a trim and stick them in! The secret up here in the frozen North, is to thaw out your containers of potting soil with hot water before adding the greenery. I always give them a good soaking after I put the greenery in. It helps to freeze the branches in place.

I feel almost Martha Stewart-ish over this.

Merry Christmas! Happy Winter Solstice! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanza!

Who am I forgetting? Whatever your religious leanings, whatever you celebrate (or don't) this time of year, I wish you all good things!

Peace.

In Gratitude

• For being incredibly fortunate and having so much compared to many in this world.


• For my family and especially my two boys, D and Young One.


• For the ability to laugh together with family.


• For my brother, who has hosted Thanksgiving I don't know how many years now.
  
• And for D for helping me cook our own Thanksgiving dinner the day after, just because we want our own leftovers!!


• For the Bald Eagles that circle my house almost every day. I never go tired of watching them.


• For Young One's many friends. Listening to them play Rock Band has both made me giggle and brought tears to my eyes. They're growing up so fast, but yet still little boys. Love it!


• For my mom's surgeon, who's talents helped mom go through her surgery without serious issues or complications. And for having her home before the holiday.


• For my Grandmas, one 97 and one 84. They are like second mothers to me and also really good friends. I treasure my talks with each of them.


• For my dogs. For their comic relief and cuddling just when it's needed.


• For my simple, happy life.


• For my wool felt clogs. I dig them out every year and just love the warmth they provide.


• For my nursing education. Although, I'm not working, it still comes in handy almost daily.


• For the smell of hot cider simmering on the stove.


• For the week of school off so I could spend time with Young One after being away at the hospital so much.


• For a gathering of friends.


• For hands on, homemade gift making.


• For a bit of peace and quiet and time to myself, before another busy time.


• For the ability to write it out when I need to.


• For the time of Thanksgiving.

There's so much more that I'm thankful for, but these are the things that just came to mind in the last five minutes. I decided just to let my mind wander and my fingers follow and this is what came out. I am so thankful this year.

Happiest of Thanksgivings to you. May you hold your family and friends close and enjoy this day of togetherness.