Baking on Day 15

Hello Everyone,

I'm a bit later with my post today. I've been busy baking for Preview Night down at In Between Stitches tonight. I hope to see some of you there. Here's what I'm bringing to add to the dessert buffet ..... Raspberry Shortbread .....yummers!! Here I go with the butter again. Use the real thing for the best taste. Here's the recipe from the Wilder Family Cookbook.

Raspberry Shortbread

1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 (10-ounce) jar seedless raspberry or blackberry jam divided
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
3 ½ tablespoons water
½ teaspoon almond extract

-Beat butter and 2/3 cup sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour; beating at low speed until blended.

-Divide dough into 6 equal portions; roll each portion into a 12- x 1-inch strip. Place strips on lightly greased baking sheets.

-Make a ½ inch-wide by ¼ inch-deep indentation down center of strips using the handle of a wooden spoon. Spoon half of jam evenly into indentations.

-Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven; spoon remaining jam into indentations. Bake 5 more minutes or until lightly browned.

-Whisk together powdered sugar, water, add almond extract; drizzle over warm shortbread. Cut each strip diagonally into 1-inch slices. Cool in pans on wire racks.

-Yield: 6 dozen

Source: Southern Living 1999 Annual Recipes

I used both blackberry and raspberry. We almost like the blackberry jam better. I made a double batch so I could keep some for us and pass some on to friends for an early Christmas indulgence. Form your logs first.

Make the indentation in the log with a wooden spoon.

Fill them to the rim with the seedless jam.

Flaky, tasty, pretty....what more can I say other than make a batch to share.

I'll be bringing my two, yes only two blocks from the Party in the Garden BOM that will start in April 2010. I have a few more months to finish. I just put the windows on this block last night. My granddaughter says I still need to add a doorknob.

Don't you wish you could peak inside to see who lives here?

As always,

Lynn

Making the day count......16

Hello Everyone,

So instead of counting everyday, I'm making everyday count. Whether it's making something for Christmas, or making the day a special day for someone.

This morning I decided to leave the fiber in the pantry. No Raisin Bran and granola for us.....we were having pancakes! Not just any pancake, but pancakes in the shape of gingerbread men, Christmas trees, snowflakes and snowmen.

I wanted to practice making these first, so what better test subject than my husband, Joe. He wouldn't mind if one of the snowmen just happened to get decapitated during the cooking process! But, I didn't want to traumatize the grandchildren.

I mixed up a regular batch of Krusteaz, my favorite pancake mix. I learned that I needed to spray the molds first with a cooking spray. I waited patiently for bubbles to form before removing the mold. These molds have little handles that don't get hot and were very easy to use.

OOPS, a little leakage here.....Mr. Gingerbread was engaged in a hearty laugh!

Once the mold is removed, you have a nice, fluffy pancake that's ready to be flipped. We had fun making these this morning and just as much fun eating them. (It was a lot more fun than cold cereal!)

I use my Christmas plates the whole month of December. In the past, I only used my Christmas plates on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. That was silly. Now I use them....enjoy them.....what was I saving them for? They bring pleasure to me and make the table so festive.

Bon appetit and make your day count....not just at Christmas, but everyday throughout the year.


As always,

Lynn

17 Days to go......

Hello and Happy Holidays to Everyone,

Just 17 more days until the BIG day. We did a little more shopping for the little kids this morning. We got out early to beat the crowds....but there weren't any crowds at all.

This quilt is called Christmas Windows by Brandywine Designs. http://www.brandywine-design.com/ You can see the whole quilt on their website. I have to fold the first row down to make sure the quilt fits over my fireplace. Speaking of fireplace, it is blazing right now because we are having a cold snap in sunny California this week.

This is my husband's all-time favorite quilt that I've made. It travels from the cabin to home and is on display throughout the whole year.

The block size is 9" and the pieces are just large enough to make your applique go fairly quickly. This is the 2nd quilt that I quilted on my Handi Quilter and I remember being absolutely terrified when I started up the machine. I was so afraid that I was going to ruin the whole quilt. Notice that I didn't show you the borders? They are okay....but I can do so much better now. But we all have to start somewhere and this was my somewhere.

I've incorporated as many plaids, checks and stripes as I could to give it a nice "country" charm.

I've got to get back to work here. I feel and look like Mrs. Claus puttering around the house hanging garlands, making persimmon cookies while listening to Christmas music. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Mr. Claus is reclining on the couch pretending to be intrigued with CNBC....but I know better. The occasional snorting sounds are a dead giveaway that he's dreaming of sugar plums.

As always,

Lynn