Deep Breath please....

So now that the oven is working fine and that Xmas prep is well under way...

The hot water heater decided to spring a leak on Friday night.  I was running like a chicken without a head!

Finally to calm my nerves I wrapped a couple of Xmas gifts and with a clear head I was able to attend to the mess.

I filled buckets, pitchers and bottles and then I brought out the ladder ,closed the breaker and the valves.

When the water stopped it was 11:30 pm.

 This ol'girl was built in 1998.

 It was running from around the valve.

 That didn't stop me from baking the traditional Quebec

meatpies, just in time for Xmas

 Of course the kitchen was a mess after...and I had to bring 

all the dishes down to my Dad's to wash.

In the meantime.....

 Yoda was lounging in the cat grass.

Here's the new hot water heater.

All bright spanking new

 The installation was over at 1:30 pm.

I was to get hot water by 3:00 pm.

Guess what?

NO HOT WATER!!!

it is 10:39 pm and no hot water....

I just want to scream and cry

They are coming back tomorrow.....

Xmas Sandies....YUM

The recipe I'm about to share was my maternal Grandma's.

It was the only place I would eat those and I had the great idea to ask for the recipe before she passed away.

They were called Christmas Shortbread, but shortbread don't become golden.....hence the name change.

Xmas Sandies

3 1/2 cups flour
3 teaspoons beaking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
16 tablespoons of softenned butter and shortening
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup mixed red and green candied cherries
1/2 cup chopped almonds
2 teaspoons vanilla

Measure the flour with the baking powder and salt. Cream butter and shortening, gradually add sugar.
Mix well, add eggs, then flour mixture gradually. when all added add vanilla and cherries and almonds.

the dough should be soft but not sticky. Separate the dough and place on waxed paper and roll.

Refrigerate or freeze.

 The full recipe makes about 8 or 9 dozens small cookies. Since Dan and Dad find them kinda boring... I cut the recipe in half.

They keep about 3 weeks in the fridge or a couple of months in the freezer.When you are ready to bake them, pre-heat the oven to 425 F. Cut in slices and bake about 6 minutes.

When totally cool place in a metal cookie box lined with waxed paper...They are even better after they have sat it the box for a couple of days...

A great little cookie with a cup of tea, a blast from the past....

Almost Xmas!

This is the first year I feel so good @ Xmas. I feel calm, serene, in control, totally in the zone and full of Xmas joy. I think I finally realized that Xmas will never be perfect and I'm not stressed anymore.

Yesterday I baked some creme brulée, I've never made some, but I'm crossing my fingers it was super easy! It's for Veronica my step daughter, it's her favorite dessert and she orders it every chance she gets.

Here's all the ingredients and what do you know? I decided the best dishes to cook it in was the beautiful Pyrex Pixies.

Here they are ready for hot water for the bain marie. Thank god for food network! Watching all the shows helps with my technique.... 

Here's Veronica in all her Xmas glory. When I found this pic earlier this week, I cracked up I couldn't help myself! The hat and scarf are really meant for pets, My cats don't want to wear them, and I've tried numerous times....This was taken 5 years ago. I asked her permission before posting this,lol.

This morning, bright and early I baked this delicious french quatre quart (pound cake) with almonds for tomorrow. We are spending Xmas evening with friends (Like a mega sleep over) and I was asked to bring dessert...Of course this being Xmas, I couldn't just bring one thing!  

 So I'm bringing: The almond cake, Xmas shortbread, caramel corn, raspberry drop cookies and pfeffernusse (the round cookies in the box). These are my totaly fave Xmas treat!

I finally finished the tree last night. I realized that we bought a mutant totally uneven tree!

It is what it is.

We don't smoke but I love vintage ashtrays....What can a girl do? Here are my 2 faves: the brown one that doubles  as a magazine rack (1$ at a garage sale 10 years ago) and the bowling Hull heart ashtray, bought last year for 2$ at Finnegan's flea in Hudson.

Here's Henry hanging out with Santa and one of our dearly departed cats; Polpetonne (meatball), he was the nicest cat EVER and would fall asleep in my arms.

Dan is on vaccum duty, after it's shower time and the presents need to go under the tree :)

Merry Xmas to everyone!

P.s: Xmas will never, ever, ever be perfect, so take a chill pill ;)

   

Adventures in bread making....

I love bread! About 2 years ago I took the plunge and started trying to make bread.

I say trying because I'm not always succesful....really!

I tried making baguette (that was real awful) ,regular white bread (better as toast), biscuits(too thin), slow cooker brown bread (just like a big muffin but real tasty) and an amazing bread that takes forever and you need to preheat a dutchoven for ages in the oven, but the result has been really,really good!

Lately after a really long no baking period, I tried hamburger buns (That's definitely Guy Fieri's fault...lol...Dinners,drive-ins and dives). The buns didn't rise properly and I ended up with slider size buns, good but too compact. Yesterday I trid Naan bread, a traditional indian bread, a recipe from Emeril...Well Emeril you are full of....It tasted like Pita bread not Naan!!! Well I ate most of it...hehehe! I have tons of lentil curry leftover, so I'm trying another recipe....To be continued! lol

On another subject....I love opening my email and finding I sold something on Etsy! It always makes my day!

I hope to save enough to pay half of the car's repairs....Positive thinking!!!

I read a lot of blogs and people plan their weekly menus a lot! I can plan for Friday,Saturday and Sunday but that's it! After it's a long string of leftovers...I am so grateful Dan loves leftovers! My dad is a big leftover person too and my mom (let's not go there!!!) was definitely the queen of leftovers...oh yeah definitely....lol

Tonite I plan to make some kind of asian cold noodle salad with green and red peppers, spring onions, a spicy dressing with chicken and maybe shrimp.....Should be D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!!

Until next time....Be kind to your neighbors, they might have Pyrex (I couldn't help myself...I find this hilarious....)