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A last time idea,just in case you have some leftover black olives and cream cheese. And it's so in theme! Penguins love snow,they love it so much they might move over here! I made them for DDs birthdays and people were just staring at them,kind of reluctant to eat them,they thought of them being too pretty for being edible.Don't worry,they were gone in no time!
Recipe belongs to Kellie in SLO @ zaar.Quantities can be changed,of course.
Recipe belongs to Kellie in SLO @ zaar.Quantities can be changed,of course.
Ingredients:
18 large black olives
18 small black olives
1 carrot
18 toothpicks
- For the tummy:Cut a slit lengthwise from top to bottom in each jumbo olive.Fill the cavity of each jumbo olive with about 1 tsp of cream cheese.
- For the happy feet: Cut carrot into 1/4 inch slices, then out of each slice cut a small notch (this is your penquin's feet), save the piece you cut out this will become the beak.
- For the beak:Cut a small slit in the center of each small olive and press the cut out piece of carrot into the hole with the pointed end out.
- Assembly:Using a frill toothpick, stack head (small olive), body (large olive) and feet (carrot slice), adjusting so that beak, cream cheese breast and notch in carrot slice line up.
I received this via email from a lady I don't know,but was kind enough to share it with me. I was going to translate it myself,but I realised Google is doing a pretty good job,but I had to do some adjustments here and there!
"The recipe for a good year:
Take 12 months to clean it well off of bitterness,pride, hatred, envy, fear, irritability and stress.
Each month is divided into 28 to 31 days , so the supplies will last exactly one year!
Each day is prepared separately: a labor part, a quiet part, and a humor part. It adds 3 tablespoons of optimism,, a teaspoon of tolerance, a pinch of common sense and a drop of hope ...! Then poured plenty of love over the dough obtained ...Set the finished recipe on a dish and decorate it with a leaf of courage and confidence. Serve daily with joy and a cup of coffee every morning!
This recipe is not compensated, it is free and open to transmit from human to human, accompanied by the wish: A New Year , good and gracious, full of health,maximum happiness and absolute abundance. "(author unknown)
"The recipe for a good year:
Take 12 months to clean it well off of bitterness,pride, hatred, envy, fear, irritability and stress.
Each month is divided into 28 to 31 days , so the supplies will last exactly one year!
Each day is prepared separately: a labor part, a quiet part, and a humor part. It adds 3 tablespoons of optimism,, a teaspoon of tolerance, a pinch of common sense and a drop of hope ...! Then poured plenty of love over the dough obtained ...Set the finished recipe on a dish and decorate it with a leaf of courage and confidence. Serve daily with joy and a cup of coffee every morning!
This recipe is not compensated, it is free and open to transmit from human to human, accompanied by the wish: A New Year , good and gracious, full of health,maximum happiness and absolute abundance. "(author unknown)
The cookies in the photo are from two years ago,decorated by Jenifer,who was very careful that the cookies got all the body parts and we use it to decorate the tree.I think by now is missing the legs,since Stephanie tried to chew on it. But it's still hanging on the tree.
I want to wish all of you who read my blog,commented,requested it by email and all the other technical stuff, Happy Holidays and may they be exactly the way you want them! I'm really hoping that the next year will bring me what I'm wishing for and I'll share it with you as soon as it comes true.Keeping my fingers crossed for myself and for all of you,who have special wishes.
I received this card tonight and I felt like I was in a magic world.Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Merry Christmas!
CLICK HERE to see the holiday card! Merry Xmas!
Just something I made when I was busy and had no time to stay in the kitchen.Plus you know how much I love fast recipes.
Ingredients:
chicken thighs
potatoes
carrots
onions
garlic
thyme
salt
freshly grounded pepper
stock
Cut up the cleaned veggies and put them on the bottom of the roasting pan.You're making a veggie bed for the chicken.
Add the chicken,salt,pepper and thyme.A
Add stock and let it roast until chicken starts to brown.
Enjoy!
Ingredients:
chicken thighs
potatoes
carrots
onions
garlic
thyme
salt
freshly grounded pepper
stock
Cut up the cleaned veggies and put them on the bottom of the roasting pan.You're making a veggie bed for the chicken.
Add the chicken,salt,pepper and thyme.A
Add stock and let it roast until chicken starts to brown.
Enjoy!
I found this little gem in Australian Women Weekly's biscuits and slices and I always make these cookies.I've tried them with almond,peanuts,sesame seeds and walnuts.
Ingredients:
125 gr butter
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 self raising flour
2 tablespoon cocoa
3/4 unsalted dry roasted peanuts
extra 1 cup unsalted dry roasted peanuts(for rolling)
Beat butter, vanilla, sugar and egg till smooth. Stir in flour and cocoa, then peanuts. Make small balls - or bigger if you like them bigger- roll in extra nuts, place on greased oven tray, flatten slightly. Allow a few cm between cookies. Bake in moderate oven for about 15 minutes or until firm. Cool.
Ingredients:
125 gr butter
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 self raising flour
2 tablespoon cocoa
3/4 unsalted dry roasted peanuts
extra 1 cup unsalted dry roasted peanuts(for rolling)
Beat butter, vanilla, sugar and egg till smooth. Stir in flour and cocoa, then peanuts. Make small balls - or bigger if you like them bigger- roll in extra nuts, place on greased oven tray, flatten slightly. Allow a few cm between cookies. Bake in moderate oven for about 15 minutes or until firm. Cool.
This is Lainey6605's recipe and I made them last Christmas and they were great! Went really fast too!
Ingredients:
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/4 cups confectioner's sugar
pinch of salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 teaspoons milk
Ingredients:
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/4 cups confectioner's sugar
pinch of salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 teaspoons milk
- Grind 1/2 cup of the coconut in food processor.
- Chop remaining coconut and set aside.
- Add flour, 1/4 cup of the confectioners' sugar and the salt.
- Pulse to blend
- Add butter and vanilla; pulse until dough comes together.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls.
- Place dough balls 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake cookies until firm but tender, 15 minutes.
- Remove to rack, let cool completely.
- In small bowl, stir together remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar and enough milk until smooth but still thick.
- Dip cookies in glaze (about 1/2 t for each), letting it drip down sides.Dip in chopped coconut and set aside for glaze to dry.
I was going through my reviews and this recipe popped up twice and since I made it last year and had quite a few people wondering how to make it, I knew it's about time I posted it in here too.I still haven't finished transfering my recipes,but what can I do if I keep making new ones .This is SweetPQ's recipe,I haven't heard from her in quite some time.Hope she's OK.
IIngredients
2 1/2 quarts popped corn (remove unpoppped kernels)
1 cup granulated sugar
IIngredients
2 1/2 quarts popped corn (remove unpoppped kernels)
1 cup granulated sugar
2 -5 drops food coloring (your choice of color & intensity)
3 tablespoons icing sugar
- Put popcorn in a large bowl that you have lightly buttered.Put sugar and water in a small pan and boil to 238* on a candy thermometer (or until it forms a medium ball in cold water), adding the food coloring toward the last of the cooking.Pour over the popcorn & stir evenly, then sprinkle at once with the icing sugar. Make sure you continue stirring until the syrup turns sugary and the kernels separate. Enjoy!
When I think of Dreamer in Ontario,this recipe comes to mind.It's so easy ,fast and delicious that you'll try them for sure.
Ingredients:
granulated sugar
1/2 lb puff pastry,defrosted
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Sprinkle a thick layer of sugar on a pastry board.
Ingredients:
granulated sugar
1/2 lb puff pastry,defrosted
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Sprinkle a thick layer of sugar on a pastry board.
- Place puff pastry on top and roll into a neat oblong.Fold one long side of puff pastry inward, like a jellyroll, stopping at the centre.Repeat on the other side. The 2 sides will meet in the centre.Cut into 1/4 inch slices and press each slice in sugar.Place slices on an ungreased cookie sheet.Bake for 6 to 8 minutes.Turn over and bake for another 6 to 8 minutes or until golden brown.
- Variation:Add chopped nuts or cinnamon before rolling.
Ok,it was quite small,but our town is quite small too-about 40,000 population. I live on the 8th floor so up here it was quite warm looking the weather.That was just until we arrived downstairs.Two little daughters with myself,little's little in the stroller and we went to the Christmas market.It was cold.Freezing cold,but luckily it's a five minute walk from my home.Initially,we planned to stop somewhere else too,but it was just too cold.
The best thing about the market was that there were no Chinese products,everything was made locally.
Handmade cushions with pretty details.
These things were made by the children and the money went for charity.We got the ornament with the dried orange.Isn't that a neat idea???
The best thing about the market was that there were no Chinese products,everything was made locally.
It was the last day of the market.
And more ornaments made by kids.
We bought some of these to hang on the tree and they're made of sugar.Can't believe we still have them! Probably little's littles forgot about them.They're still in my backpack.
This sure looks warm! The rags are traditional to this area.
And a better glimpse.
Homemade jams and I just got a few ideas on how to design my jars for the gift basket.
My favorite stand,I could work for free there!
Jenifer was busy with her new friend the "camel" as she called it.
There was also a little show about the birth of baby Jesus,but for some reason they had two babies.Maybe they've lost one in the past and were not taking any chances.
If you're ever in the area,make sure you'll try the local bread. Local means,Miercurea Ciuc or Csikszereda in the middle of Romania and one of these days I'll present my homecity properly. Merry Christmas and enjoy your holiday shopping wherever you are!
Right when we were leaving something funny happened.We're hosting the Group B of Hockey Championship for U20 and the South Korean team came to the market and they took pictures with Jenifer.They treated her like a little celebrity ( I saw this happening a lot in Asia with Caucazians,especially kids but not here) and she was shocked!!! I hope their time here was just as good as mine in Seoul! Weather was pretty much the same!
My sister,who visited last week,brought me from St. Thomas some Carribian spice mix and a fat free ginger sauce.
Now I don't mind anymore that not everything is available,makes hunting for stuff more fun and I always get excited when I see a new product in the store. Thai red curry sauce is the last item I saw,but not the real deal,just the one you just really add some chicken in it.But still,it's better than nothing! Oh,I forgot to say that I got nori,sushi seaweed sheets for sushi!!!
I've made this during November's Veggie Swap and this is cookgirl's recipe.I liked the speedy process and I had to leave out the chili pepper so my girls could try it (but unfortunately they didn't like it),but my green Mucho Mas Habanero was on hand.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup white onion, chopped
1/4 cup water
1 green chili pepper, chopped coarsely (mild or spicy)
1 tablespoon lime juice or 1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup morelos' rice - I used long grain rice
2 cups vegetable broth or 2 cups chicken broth
salt, to taste
In a blender combine the parsley, cilantro, white onion, water, chili pepper, lime juice, and garlic.
Process until almost smooth. If necessary, stop blender and scrape down sides.
In a large saute pan heat the olive oil on medium heat. Saute the rice for about 5 minutes or until golden brown.
Heat up the broth and add to the rice along with the cilantro/parsley mixture.
Cover pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for approximately 20 minutes or unti rice is tender and liquid is absorded.
Once cooking is complete, turn off heat, keep pan on heating element for 10-15 minutes to allow rice grains to firm up.
Season with salt to taste.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup white onion, chopped
1/4 cup water
1 green chili pepper, chopped coarsely (mild or spicy)
1 tablespoon lime juice or 1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup morelos' rice - I used long grain rice
2 cups vegetable broth or 2 cups chicken broth
salt, to taste
In a blender combine the parsley, cilantro, white onion, water, chili pepper, lime juice, and garlic.
Process until almost smooth. If necessary, stop blender and scrape down sides.
In a large saute pan heat the olive oil on medium heat. Saute the rice for about 5 minutes or until golden brown.
Heat up the broth and add to the rice along with the cilantro/parsley mixture.
Cover pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for approximately 20 minutes or unti rice is tender and liquid is absorded.
Once cooking is complete, turn off heat, keep pan on heating element for 10-15 minutes to allow rice grains to firm up.
Season with salt to taste.
I live in a place where raspberries are available in the summer time,it's just a 15 minutes walk from my home.I haven't been able to go much since I have my kids,but my parents's like to spend time outdoors and always bring us some too. This is the only cake that I've made with raspberries and I keep making it even in the winter with frozen ones.It's low in sugar and you can make it low fat too if you go for that yogurt.
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup yogurt
2 tablespoons margarine, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup raspberry (fresh or frozen, if using frozen do not thaw)
In a bowl, combine the flour sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Combine the egg, yogurt, butter, and vanilla: add to dry ingredients just until moistened.
Spoon two-thirds of the batter into an 8-in round baking pan
Sprinkle the raspberries over the batter.
Spoon the remaining batter over the top.
Bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched and is golden brown.
Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup yogurt
2 tablespoons margarine, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup raspberry (fresh or frozen, if using frozen do not thaw)
In a bowl, combine the flour sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Combine the egg, yogurt, butter, and vanilla: add to dry ingredients just until moistened.
Spoon two-thirds of the batter into an 8-in round baking pan
Sprinkle the raspberries over the batter.
Bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched and is golden brown.
Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.
I wasn't keeping it a secret (already posted about it in my Romanian blog),but we already set up the Christmas tree. This year,somehow,everything started so early and I'd rather have my kids feel the holidays spirit now and not after Christmas is over.
In Europe,on the night between December 5th and 6th St Nicholas comes.My Jenifer calls him Santa's little brother. He brings presents for the good kids and a stick for the naughty ones. So we set up the tree that evening.
In our family,we have a tradition:we collect Christmas decorations and share memories about them around the holidays.
I've received these ornaments from Laura,lalaloula as you might know her. It was last year around this time that we 've heard of eachother at the Holiday tag game and she wanted to send me a Christmas package because she thought I was a nice person. Now talk about nice,who the nicest person in this story is? Not a lot of people would do this.These beautiful ornaments were in the package and everybody here adores them.
The photo frame,comes from Toranosuke,my little student from Osaka,from the days when I use to teach there.I left Japan just when the Christmas holiday started and I was overwhelmed by the number of presents I received . I asked this kid's mother why she gave me a present and she said:"Because everytime you'll look at the frame you'll remember my son."And she was so right.
These are the cookies that we've made a couple of years ago with Jenifer.Did you notice her attention to detail? This year we'll try the cute animal cutters and I'll go shopping next week to search for the seasonal ones.
Tree is being decorated now.
Everyone's helping...
But someone got tired!
And here it is our little golden and red themed tree.I'm against having a real tree,I really see no sense in cutting a tree for a few days.
We still look for decorations but haven't seen anything special yet!
In Europe,on the night between December 5th and 6th St Nicholas comes.My Jenifer calls him Santa's little brother. He brings presents for the good kids and a stick for the naughty ones. So we set up the tree that evening.
In our family,we have a tradition:we collect Christmas decorations and share memories about them around the holidays.
And here it is our little golden and red themed tree.I'm against having a real tree,I really see no sense in cutting a tree for a few days.
I had to share the beautiful cards that I got at the Holiday Card Swap. I decided that I won't send my relatives cards this year,since in the past I didn't even get a thank you. My kids really enjoyed looking in the mail box every day,they were kind of uses after I took part in the post card swap.
This card is from LeahMarie:
And the other one is from 4-H-Mom.
We're expecting even more cards since I signed up at Kittencal's as well,lots of friends there too. My daughter,Jenifer,is working on a couple of surprise cards that she wants to send.
I want to thank to the nice ladies that I was teamed up for their lovely cards.Happy Holidays!
This card is from LeahMarie:
The next one is from NurseJaney and it's handmade.
I want to thank to the nice ladies that I was teamed up for their lovely cards.Happy Holidays!
