I do believe that when you bruise your bottom (me, and a little ego) and when things feel just a bit too hectic, it's wise to wear your instruments in your backpack (the boy) and make some gingerbread boys. Do not bake gingerbread babies though (total toddler alarm at the mere thought of the potential chaos). Eat and repeat.
One more snow picture because, well, it's snow and that's my boy. You can't go wrong, in my book. Just to clarify I didn't mean, Ha, ha, I'm so calm about the holidays while you're out scavenging the shops for gifts. It's just a feeling of gratitude, I think, for this particular holiday season. Nobody is really ill after a series of years of big, bad stuff (knock on wood) and this little boy can appreciate the wonder of the season this year, thereby renewing my view of the joy of twinkly lights, the enchantment of Santa, happiness in togetherness and just all of it. It's nice.
Alrighty then. We used to spend ages making a huge selection of cookies and chocolates for friends and neighbors. We'd sweat in the tiny kitchen, have massive cookie disasters and we'd end up with a beautiful selection of goodies all wrapped up on cute, little holiday plates. We'd deliver and then the reaction was always, "Eh... Thanks." I don't know. Maybe we missed something but a batch or two is fun (and super-fun when there are folks who really appreciate it and they still get some) but somewhere along the line we decided that knocking ourselves out for "Eh" wasn't the way we wanted to spend the holidays. Plus Mom, my grandma and my mother-in-law make all of the family favorites and we get our fill plus some. Lucky, lucky us.
Enter: Mom's Easy Fudge. I don't like fudge but even I can appreciate the yummy factor of this stuff. And it's super-duper easy. You can make a batch in, like, five minutes. I don't know where she got the recipe (my book just says, "Mom's Easy Fudge") but it's the perfect thing to whip up, deliver and the reaction is usually, "Wow!" The other week we bought a basket full of powdered sugar and butter after tallying up the neighbor, friend and office gift list. I love the new Ball Mason jars (they're marketed as a more "modern" look and were just in the grocery store) so I have lots of those and holiday tins from the dollar store. With some natural waxed paper and ribbon you'll be set.
Mom's Easy Fudge
1 pound confectioners (powdered) sugar
1/2 C cocoa
1/4 C milk (you can use soy if you want)
1/4 pound butter
1 t vanilla
1/2 C chopped walnuts (optional)
Spray an 8" square pan with spray butter. Place sugar and cocoa in a non-metal mixing bowl & stir. Add milk and butter but DON'T STIR. Heat uncovered in the microwave for two minutes. Add vanilla & stir rapidly until blended. Pour quickly into pan & refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting.
* There's at least one antique bowl Mom has that doesn't work with this recipe and metal bowls are out. Be sure to use glass or a newer ceramic mixing bowl.
Yum!
...Soups, pastas and more in the winter?
There are apple slices in the dehydrator now.
The other day we got up, played, had breakfast, got dressed and went outside. We took pictures, did a little gardening, played some more, did some chalk drawing, got the bubbles out, moved the lawn furniture, made a road and traveled on the little bike, took a wagon ride, played with the rice tub and threw the balls around. We came inside, washed our hands, had a snack, sat down to read and I decided I was exhausted. I looked over at the clock: 9:30 a.m.
Which is to say that I'm doing a lot but it just doesn't feel like I'm accomplishing a lot of things sometimes. You know, like things you could cross off a list. If you got it together to write out a list.
I did finally make a little smocket, courageously cutting into the bird fabric (Simplicity 5691 via Beki, similar free pattern here on sidebar). We were visiting with my grandparents, heading off to run errands and I mentioned that I had to buy red buttons. Tub upon tub upon box later I learned that my grandma is the reigning queen of vintage buttons (and belonged to a button club and knows a lot about the history of all sorts of buttons). These little red beauties are courtesy of her incredible collection. I love that the pocket button looks like it's part of the fabric.
What else? My latest interview with Erica is up on the Sew, Mama, Sew blog and I do wish I could have the (1) sunshine, (2) photography talent and the (3) darling little girl to take a picture of the smocket that looks even slightly close to Erica's amazing photos.
Oh, and I can attest that these spring rolls are absolutely delicious and easy and it's sort-of like the freezer paper stencils; It's exciting that I can do it myself. Yum!
Did you see my (latest, greatest) ultimate find last week? Here's yummy Cooking Clips Recipe #1 for you, courtesy of C + H Pure Cane Brown Sugar sometime in the 60's (for you, Dear Homemaker, as the recipe booklet says). This is a Brown Sugar Bonanza Recipe, of course, and they were really, really yummy and easy. The recipe makes a smaller batch than cookie recipes do these days, which is probably good for you! Mine weren't the prettiest cookies on the block but they're gone now and that says something.
Brown Sugar Refrigerator Cookies
1/2 C (1 stick) soft butter
1 C C+H Golden Brown Sugar
1 egg, unbeaten
1 t vanilla
2 t grated orange rind (I left this out but you can be brave if you want)
1 3/4 C sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 t salt
1 t baking powder
Beat together butter, sugar, egg, vanilla + orange rind. Combine flour, salt, and baking powder; sift into first mixture and mix well (or just toss it all in like I do). The directions for chilling are weird so you can just: flatten dough to 1/8" thick between two sheets of wax paper and chill for an hour in the fridge. Use floured cookie cutters to cut into shapes. Bake cookies at 400 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes. Makes many "butterscotchy" cookies (but not overwhelmingly butterscotchy). You can also just chill this in a roll and cut 1/8" slices off, and you can also frost these though they're plenty sweet as is.
I also recently found this little 1979 Simplicity book with tons of crazy, fun 70's-verging-on-80's patterns and projects.
The bunny is cute, and the bags are great (I offered to make T a custom "tabard" [left, center pic in the bag spread] for his running and he said, "No.").
Anyhow, I don't need this anymore and it can be yours if you want it. Drop me an email or comment and I'll find some random way to pick a name (assuming there are more than two people in the world who will see this and get excited like I once did). It's all beat up but it's fun.
Plus you could hate all of the patterns and it'd still be a plus for all the fun you'll have enjoying the Fabric of the Month Club ad. Oh, there are crochet patterns (crocheted jam topper, anyone?) too...
