Coconut Macaroons

This recipe is from Ina Garten.  It's simple to follow.

These are Tony's favorite!

Ingredients

14 ounces sweetened shredded coconut
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large egg whites, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Combine the coconut, condensed milk, and vanilla in a large bowl.

Whip the egg whites and salt on high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until they make medium-firm peaks.

Carefully fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture.

Drop the batter onto sheet pans lined with parchment paper using either a 1 3/4-inch diameter ice cream scoop, or 2 teaspoons.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Cool and serve.

Antique Cupboards and Armoires for Storage

I have many antique cupboards and armoires that I use for storage in my house.  If you need storage pieces, consider looking at your local antique shop or thrift store for the right sized piece.  Here are some examples of what we use to store everyday items.

This is the bottom of a "Stepback" cupboard in my foyer.  I keep cards, stationery, maps, batteries, music...
lots of stuff in baskets here.

This is where I keep my Fiesta everyday dishes in the kitchen.  The glass doors are perfect for finding the right dish - and the colors are pretty!

Also in my kitchen, I have a huge armoire...look what amazing storage this provides.  I used to have to store this stuff all over the house.  Now it's all in the kitchen where it belongs.

This is a small cupboard that fits in a nook near my kitchen.  I call this the "landing pad." It houses our phone, cookbooks, candles, note pads, pens and pencils, and my junk-mail bowl. 

Here's a Barrister Bookcase where we keep all our classic novels.  If we read a book we really like and want to keep, this is where it goes.  It fits along a wall between
2 bedroom doors.

In one of our bedrooms I use this antique music cupboard instead of a dresser for guests.  It has 3 shelves inside and fits nicely in the corner and takes advantage of the height.

Thank You Notes

Not long ago I was sweetly surprised to receive 3 lovely Thank You notes from 3 special people.

The first one was from a friend.  She made this lovely notecard by hand-pressing leaves onto card stock.  It's a beautiful piece of art!

The second one was from my daughter-in-law.  The heartfelt sentiments are so special to me.  She also makes her own cards.  They are each unique and lovely.  This one is still on my counter and keeps encouraging me!

The last one was a note from a student of mine.  This young man is very special and has made lots of progress in his English learning.  I do my job with all my heart whether students notice it or not, but it's nice to know he's thankful.

In this age of texting and emailing, I still LOVE to send and receive paper cards and notes.

Is there someone you could thank today?  You won't regret sending a note to someone special!

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.

:

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!