Christmas 2015 Photos

Here are a few photos of our house, ready for

Christmas 2015:

Our antique feather tree with vintage glass ornaments

Instead of a big tree, we decorated a few small ones in different rooms.

Here's a lantern from my son's wedding.  We use it every Christmas to remember the wonderful day he married sweet Abba!!

Snowmen!

I knitted Christmas stockings for all of us this past year. Everyone chose their own colors - nice:)

Nutcrackers keep watch on the piano.

Here are our favorite Christmas cookies - Gingerbread!!

My mother loved this ceramic Christmas tree - it comes out every year.

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Here's my kitchen door:

The Italian Feast of the 7 Fishes prep:

Our Christmas Eve Seafood Feast was amazing:  fried calamari, monk fish/crab salad, baked stuffed clams, fried orange roughy, broiled shrimp and scallops, linguini aglia e olio, all thanks to Tony and his expertise in the kitchen!

a few more photos:

Gingerbread Cookies

Homemade Gingerbread Cookies are SOOO much better than anything store bought.  I make them every Christmas.  They are a favorite with my family and friends.

Here's the recipe:)

1 stick softened butter                 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup brown sugar                    1 Tbsp powdered ginger

1/2 cup molasses                          1 tsp cinnamon

1 egg                                                 1 tsp nutmeg

2 1/2 cups flour                              1/2 tsp allspice

1 tsp baking soda                           Powdered Sugar Glaze

Cream the butter and brown sugar in a stand mixer.  Then add the molasses and egg.  Slowly add all dry ingredients until a sticky dough forms.  Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Roll out to 1/2+ inch thickness.  Use your favorite cookie cutters and place shapes on a baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 7-9 minutes until slightly firm but not hard.  I underbake my cookies a little so that they are soft and chewy, not crispy.

I make a glaze/frosting with powdered sugar and enough drops of milk to make a thick consistency.  Add sprinkles and let dry!

Make It A Merry Christmas!

Are you feeling the pressure of the season instead of the joy?

Are you dreading the next few weeks?

Here are a few things you CAN do to make

this season a good one:

1.  Focus on people, not gifts.  Try to remember the people in your life who are blessings.  Give thanks for them from the heart.  If you have an opportunity, let them know how much you care.  A heartfelt sentiment is worth more than any store-bought gift!

2.  You don't have to do it "all."  The Earth will not fall off its axis if you fail to make all 15 kinds of Christmas cookies your family likes.  The sun will still shine if you don't put up every decoration you own.

Why not enjoy the things that you make and decorate with those you care about as time allows?  And leave the rest in storage for next year - or maybe for donation!

3.  Ask for help when you need it.  Are you committed to host an event?  Or did you volunteer to bake dozens of cookies for your church?  Why not ask a friend to help you?

I have some excellent memories of friends who have helped me in my kitchen when I had an enormous task to finish. When I taught high school French years ago I had to make 15 Buches de Noel one Saturday, traditional chocolate rolled Christmas cakes, for my students.  I asked some friends to help me with all the time-consuming mixing and baking.  It turned out to be a fun day.  "Many hands make light work" as they say!

4.  Be honest, resist pressure and say "no" when you must.  There's no law that says you have to give in to all the advertising pressure of our culture and spend too much money.  Be honest with yourself and let your family know your situation.  Don't feel bad about setting limits on spending and activities.  This is supposed to be a season of enjoying family and friends - so do just that!  Say "yes" to the good, and "no" to the unnecessary.  

If you are feeling stretched and pressured - try some of these suggestions and make this a Merry Christmas!!

Nature's Flu Shot

If you want to give your immune system a "Shot" to help fight off colds and flu, you might want to give this natural mixture a try.  For almost 3 years now I have been drinking a few tablespoons of this "Flu Shot" every day.  I think it has helped me to stay cold-free throughout our long, freezing winters.  If you want to google this name, you will find other recipes that include raw garlic and other ingredients.

This simple recipe works for me!

Cut and juice 6 lemons.

Add 2 Tbsp Raw honey (like Manuka), 2 tsp. Ginger,

1/2 tsp. Turmeric, 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper

Add 1-2 cups orange (or other) juice and shake well.  Drink 1 "shot" a day and see if it doesn't bolster your immune system to fight off colds this winter!

Apple Cake

Don't tell my cousin Dorothy, but this recipe will always be my Mom's Apple Cake.  I have many memories of being in the kitchen with my mom, helping her slice the apples, watching her add ingredients to the batter in her stand mixer, and the best part, licking the beaters!  If you want to try a fairly simple, old-fashioned cake, try this one.  It has a velvety texture and is simply delicious.

Peel and slice 4 apples in a small bowl. Add 2 tsp. cinnamon and 3 Tbsp. sugar. Stir to coat.



Chop 1/3 cup walnuts.  Set aside.







In a large mixer bowl add:

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup orange (or apple) juice
3 tsp. vanilla

Beat slowly.  Then add:
3 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
Mix well.

Stir in walnuts.



In a greased and floured tube pan, alternately pour a layer of batter, then a layer of apples, ending with apples on the top layer.







Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour 30 minutes.  Cool 20 minutes in the pan.

Bruschetta

Tony made a fantastic Bruschetta last week for a big dinner we cooked for some friends.

First he scooped out the seeds and pulpy center of meaty plum tomatoes.  Then he chopped the outer fleshy tomato edges. He added chopped scallions, feta cheese, fresh basil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, olive oil, and a little balsamic vinegar.  Chopped brined olives or capers are optional.

He sliced a baguette on the diagonal into lengthy pieces.  He browned them in the oven on a cookie sheet.  Then he rubbed a piece of cut garlic onto the bread for some flavor.

Look at this beautiful presentation!  We served these with some Italian Sausage Kale Soup.  It was a great first course.

Fall Cleanup Checklist

Here's a quick list of things I do before winter hits:

1.  Disconnect Garden Hoses - You don't want a freeze

to ruin your hose.

2.  Store Patio Furniture - Clear off your patio or porch and store summer furniture in the garage.

3.  Feed your lawn with a Winter Mix.

4.  Remove all dead annuals from your vegetable garden

and do a last weeding before the winter sets in.

5.  Put in Storm Windows and Check Window Locks.

6.  Uncover Heating Vents and Change your Furnace Filters.

Now you're ready for winter:)

Antipasto

Tony makes the best Antipasto.  It's Italian for

"before the meal."  Here's how Tony builds

a beautiful antipasto for a classic

Mediterranean meal.

He buys good quality Soppressata (an Italian salami) and Capicola (a hot Italian ham).  Tony rolls the slices individually and arranges them on a platter with thinly sliced carrots and celery.

He looks for a couple of good cheeses.  Some of our favorites are Soft Asiago, Fontinella, Havarti, and Provolone.

Tony adds the cheese slices to the platter.

We serve baguette pieces with the Antipasto, along with some sliced London Broil or Filet Mignon, 

roasted red pepper salad, chick pea salad, and some dipping sauces.

Here's the table with all the components of Tony's Antipasto.

 Here's another platter he creates, Caprese Salad made with fresh Mozzarella, sliced tomato, olive oil, fresh Basil, and Italian brined olives.