A Season

Christmas may be done but until the last of the celebrations have been had and the new year ushered in that holiday feeling persists.  It no longer seems that Christmasy feeling of celebration disappears in the space between Christmas day and boxing day. It now carries on until the last gift of the year is out from under the tree, I have sang Auld Lang Syne and the last of the baking has been taken care of in the most delicious way. It has become a slow fade, a whole season to embrace rather than just the one single day.

A favorite Carol - O Holy Night

I love the sound of Christmas carols and songs. So much so in fact that about half of the songs I'm actually able to play well on piano are carols. There is something about carols that are warming to the heart whether sung by a chorus of adults or by a children's choir the never fail to cheer me and put me in the Christmas spirit.  One of my favorites has always been O Holy Night yet I rarely hear a version that seems to do it justice.  I found this version by The Corrs a few years ago and it has stuck with me as a rather good one that I listen to a few times each year. 

Cards

Today I am finishing up my Christmas cards to drop in the mail.  My list continues to grow each year and as always it's something I enjoy both giving and recieving. Cards are a wonderful way to express that a person is in your thoughts even if it isn't all the time that they are still in there somewhere.  In light of this I am offering the above as a Christmas card to all those readers who I do not know in real life or those who I know but aren't on my list.  So Merry Christmas to all!  

Holiday Sweets

I make many different kinds of cookies and sweets around the holiday season and will often try something new but each year there are a few special ones.  These are the cookies and baking that I make every year without fail, they are the must have favorites that everybody loves.  

These recipes are all tried and tested traditional items which mostly come from several recipe books which are older than I am and which never fail to please.  Gingerbread, ginger snaps, sugar cookies and shortbread make the short list and I thought I’d share mine, and my whole families, favorite one.

Ginger Snaps

Bake at 375˚ for 8-10 minutes

 ¾ cup shortening

1 cup Sugar

¼ Cup molasses

1 egg

2 cup flour

2 tsp baking soda

½ tsp cloves

½ tsp ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

Pinch of salt

small bowl of white sugar

Pre-heat oven to 375˚

In a small saucepan melt shortening at low temp then transfer to a large mixing bowl.

Slowly add sugar, molasses and egg stirring constantly.

Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl then add slowly to shortening mixture.

Blend well before forming into teaspoon sized balls.

Roll balls in the small bowl of sugar and then place on an ungreased baking sheet.

Flatten with a fork.

Bake for 8-10minutes.

Allow to cool and enjoy. 

Picture Day - Getting into the Spirit

It's that time of year to once again to start decorating, shopping, baking and having fun at every turn.  The Christmas season requires a lot of "dressing" and it is just about time to get into the spirit of things.

Picture day - Christmas at the forks

My favorite place to spend a day during my favorite season what could be better?