Today is the day I live a childhood fantasy. Or at least, I attempt it in any case. Being a lifelong sucker for fairytales, I have always wanted to make my very own house of gingerbread. There's something rather enchanting about these cookie domains, and rather abysmal about those kits that are everywhere in stores.
The problem with those grocerystore kits are twofold;
1.They are so hard and disgusting that you really shouldn't bother eating the darn things for fear of either gagging or chipping a tooth.
2.There is never, ever enough candy to bedeck the house.
My theory is that if the wicked witch had moved into a grocerystore gingerbread house, after one nibble Hansel and Gretel would have hit the road, preferring to subsist on lichen rather than take another such inedible morsel.
So today I attempt making my very own gingerbread house-from scratch. In the current version of the day dream, we decorate our little house tomorrow as a family, and love it so much we resolve to do one each and every Christmas forever more. A new family tradition is born...
It's either going to be a disaster or delight. Stay tuned folks!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Cookie Fever
Forget visions of sugar plums, what I have dancing in my head are the ultimate Christmas time goodie: COOKIES! Also, this is no fairy ballerina tiptoeing about in there either, it's more like an African drumming dance.
While I love to bake anytime, there's something special about Christmas baking. One big thing is that it's the only time of year where the cookis my family pleads for is NOT chocolate chip! Variety is a good thing, particularly with so many scrumptious recipes to be had.I get real butter for my shortbread, make ridiculously large batches of gingerbread, dream over cookbooks, and even make my yearly allotment of sugar cookies (because they're too darn time consuming to make more than once every year).
Especially with such cold days upon us, it provides the perfect excuse for the munchkins and I to fire up the oven and bake cookies to our hearts content. Ben and Briggy are my willing accomplices when it comes to concocting cookies. They love stirring ingredients, using the rolling pin, and playing with the cookie cutters. I like to call them my taste testers, because first they want to snitch everything, but second, for a recipe to be repeated it has to meet their enthusiastic approval, otherwise I end up eating them all myself.
A lot of the recipes we make harken back to my own childhood memories, where I helped my Mum bake them. It's a beloved tradition and I love sharing it with my own kids. It's always great to whip up a few childhood favourites to enjoy. Mine has always been gingersnaps (or what we called Crybaby Cookies). What's your favourite?
While I love to bake anytime, there's something special about Christmas baking. One big thing is that it's the only time of year where the cookis my family pleads for is NOT chocolate chip! Variety is a good thing, particularly with so many scrumptious recipes to be had.I get real butter for my shortbread, make ridiculously large batches of gingerbread, dream over cookbooks, and even make my yearly allotment of sugar cookies (because they're too darn time consuming to make more than once every year).
Especially with such cold days upon us, it provides the perfect excuse for the munchkins and I to fire up the oven and bake cookies to our hearts content. Ben and Briggy are my willing accomplices when it comes to concocting cookies. They love stirring ingredients, using the rolling pin, and playing with the cookie cutters. I like to call them my taste testers, because first they want to snitch everything, but second, for a recipe to be repeated it has to meet their enthusiastic approval, otherwise I end up eating them all myself.
A lot of the recipes we make harken back to my own childhood memories, where I helped my Mum bake them. It's a beloved tradition and I love sharing it with my own kids. It's always great to whip up a few childhood favourites to enjoy. Mine has always been gingersnaps (or what we called Crybaby Cookies). What's your favourite?
Monday, December 7, 2009
Book of (Last) Week
Dr. Seuss was right, Christmas doesn't come from a store, in fact it means a little bit more. But what? Well, what I am busily trying to impress upon my excited children is that Christmas is really about our Saviour Jesus Christ. Admist the hubbub and bustle that is the holiday season, I'm trying to take Henry B.Eyring's advice and make room this season for what it really is all about. Here's some holiday, Christ-centered reads for your consideration.
The Challenge, Part One:
So watching the church's First Presidency's Christmas Devotional last night I got an idea. I'd originally planned to list one inspiring book about the gospel each week for December, but now I have a different goal. I've determined to read all four gospels by Christmas day, all four accounts of the Saviour's ministry instead.
I've calculated that reading ten pages a day I can do it. Anyone who likes can join me in the challenge, and we can send updates through the weekly blog. Who's with me?
For the Kids, Part One:
While I adore Christmas literature, especially childrens' Christmas literature, most of them are more secular in nature. This month I'll be mentioning some of my favourite Christmas tales that have to do in some way with the Nativity story.
First I want to mention one that you really should not miss! I'm sharing this one first so you all have time to find yourselfves a copy of "This Is the Stable" by Cynthia Cotten. Telling the Nativity story simply through rhyme, this is a beautiful little book with sublime text and pictures. To read it is to love it. Here's a sample:
"This is the stable dusty and brown,
In a quiet corner of Bethlehem town.
This is the star whose light shone down
On the quiet stable, dusty and brown."
Enjoy!
The Challenge, Part One:
So watching the church's First Presidency's Christmas Devotional last night I got an idea. I'd originally planned to list one inspiring book about the gospel each week for December, but now I have a different goal. I've determined to read all four gospels by Christmas day, all four accounts of the Saviour's ministry instead.
I've calculated that reading ten pages a day I can do it. Anyone who likes can join me in the challenge, and we can send updates through the weekly blog. Who's with me?
For the Kids, Part One:
While I adore Christmas literature, especially childrens' Christmas literature, most of them are more secular in nature. This month I'll be mentioning some of my favourite Christmas tales that have to do in some way with the Nativity story.
First I want to mention one that you really should not miss! I'm sharing this one first so you all have time to find yourselfves a copy of "This Is the Stable" by Cynthia Cotten. Telling the Nativity story simply through rhyme, this is a beautiful little book with sublime text and pictures. To read it is to love it. Here's a sample:
"This is the stable dusty and brown,
In a quiet corner of Bethlehem town.
This is the star whose light shone down
On the quiet stable, dusty and brown."
Enjoy!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Ode to Joy!
Let Advent begin! Tis the season for joy, beauty, and a good laugh or two. Therefore I present the following for your enjoyment. Try to keep it sane everybody!
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnT7pT6zCcA
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnT7pT6zCcA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
