Melting Moments

I don't know if these were a Christmas cookie or not.  They may have been something Mom made to feed to the Spinsters, but they have become a bit of a favourite at our house.  Amber will have to tell you about her experiences with them last year, when she made them for a cookie exchange.  They are really just a whipped shortbread.

Melting Moments
2/3 c. cornstarch
1 c. flour
1/3 c. powdered sugar ( icing sugar)
1 c. butter (do not substitute!)

Cream butter and sugar well, and add flour.  Drop by spoonfuls on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake about 15 minutes at 325 degrees F.  The recipe can be doubled. I ice them, shortly before serving, with a basic, lemon flavoured, butter icing ( be a little generous with the lemon).  If you ice them too soon, the icing becomes very hard and distasteful.  The uniced cookies can be frozen, but will also keep for a couple of weeks in a well sealed container.

I have 1 jar of Cross and Blakewell Mincemeat left. It has been in the cupboard for about 4 years, and I plan to use it a little closer to Christmas.  I haven't seen it in Safeway in years and used to sometimes find it in the Bay Basement, but I honestly haven't looked lately.  David likes the tarts, but no-one else does, so I just make a few each year as a treat for him.  The family used to enjoy the mincemeat in Matrimonial cake, and just about any mincemeat works for that.

Peace

It is the "peace" I enjoy, not piece as is written haha

Melting moments

Now that you have mentioned these again, I expect they are favourites?  I looked in my recipes and couldn't find a recipe so wondering, yet again, if you could send. I may not make them, but at least I will know what you are making. Perhaps I know them by a different name, but this name does not come to my mind. I have actually pulled out the tree and have it half assembled. There is a telethon on TV right now from 2 pm to 11 pm and Harry is watching so I may get in the way to be fussing with the tree. I lay in bed thinking where and how I could rearrange things so that it could go up in the middle of the mess and so far seems to be working regarding space that is. I always have liked to sit by the tree with only the lights on and enjoy the piece so getting it up will mean a lot to me. We got a great deal accomplished at Mothers today in the garage so things are looking up. Take care

When you have a minute.....

Beth, if you ever have a chance, you should take a look at the Fast Friday Fabric Challenge blog ( fastfridayquilts.blogspot.com )  It is a fascinating site with many, many challenge quilts, made by people from all over the world. so good, some bad, some very bad! lol I have been a member for over 5 years (from the beginning) and, while I don't participate often, I love to look at what people do in response to the challenge.  On the blog, others are free to make comments or suggestions about the quilts, so it's also a great place to learn.

We made two batches of Mom's Butterscotch Refridgerator cookies today.  Yesterday it was the pinwheel and checkerboard cookies that we used to make at home for Christmas.  I plan to make some Melting Moments a little closer to the Big Day.  The ones we havemade so far, are tightly wrapped in rolls, frozen, and ready to be sliced and cooked, when the time comes.  Cooking them now would be bad for my waistline!

Mince meat tarts

What a nice message to read as I log on this evening. Thank you for the support. Today I created another "treasure of pleasure" and made mince meat tarts. I used Selection brand mince meat – can't find the old favourite Cross and Blackwell (?) nor the Maple Leaf so this was the next available. The pastry was also very nice made with Tenderflake. I have wanted to make some for a few years now and it seemed quite appropriate and  timely to do it today. I even had a notion to make some Cheese and Lemon Tarts but have resisted for the sake of my waist line haha. I will only eat them all and as it is, I have already had about four mince meat tarts today. Fairly good day with many little odds and ends accomplished around the house and yard. I connected the outside lights to an extension cord and so there was some colour tonight outside, and I put up an electric candle wreath on the wall by the piano so there was also some colour inside. Ho hum......Tomorrow we will be going to Mothers early to try to clean out the garage a bit more – what a lot of stuff to go through and many trips to the dump as well. Harry's brother is now planning to come next Wed so hopefully he can assist Harry a bit more?  Here's wishing you all a happy weekend. ps love your 12" X 12" challenge piece Patty that you posted on Mouse Factory.  It was bright and colourful and very cheerful!

Listen to your body

Beth, you have just come off of an extended period of relentless stress and physical labour.  Your body needs a break.  It was several months after I first retired before I could even begin to think about moving on.  I even napped everyday, and after I retired the second time, I napped everyday for several years.  You must look after yourself.  And, yes, you will notice the lower physical energy, but this isn't being unproductive, it's a very normal and necessary reaction to what you have been through.  In terms of myself, I feel as though I have just wakened from a lengthy sleep--somewhat like Rip Van Winkel.  But even that didn't happen over night.  It has been three months now, and only within the last 2-3 weeks has my need for a daily nap lessened. You are an expert at finding small joys and  pleasures, and I'm always love to  hear how you find ways to indulge yourself with them.

 Unfortunately, I am now very much more aware  of how neglected my house has become.  This isn't necessarily a good thing, as there are other things I would much rather spend my time on.  However, I managed to give the bath tub a good scrub out this week.  This is the first time in 18 months that I have been able to kneel down.  My left knee has been very slow to recover from my fall in July of 2010, and I hurt it again when I fell last January.  I just couldn't bear weight through it to kneel. If I had to guess what the problem was, I would have to wonder about a small fistula just below the patella, that had been draining off and on until about 3 weeks ago.

Today I went for a haircut, and there was a sign advertising three specials for the month.  One of them was only a couple of dollars more than I usually spend, so I indulged.  A special shampoo and rinse. then a scalp massage, a "precision" haircut, blow dry and styling.  She talked me into getting a very young style, although the cut itself can be styled into my usual, next time it gets washed.    I could have paid an extra $2.00 and received some free product.  As I was leaving I noticed a basket of the "free" product on sale for --you guessed it--$2.00.

So for today, we should be grateful for small, (hidden?)pleaseures, and our capacity to recognize them  and indulge.

I wish....

....that I could be as wonderfully busy and productive as you sound to be Patty. I bring to mind the word "mundane" to describe things here lately. Well, we went to Mothers again after two days absence because of the severe weather we had. The power went out again today and there are still approx 4000 customers without power at all. So I guess we are lucky to have fluctuating service?? We have enough snow to last for winter – and it all fell in the last two days after we had been enjoying nice Fall like conditions up until now. I also got some badly needed housework done this afternoon after returning from Mothers with another load. It feels so good to do housework – I like the idea that I have washed floors and cleaned up but no one could ever tell except me haha. I walked with the dog tonight after supper and purposefully went around the subdivision to look into windows. I like to see the Christmas decorations and really enjoy the walk and the viewing. We don't have anything in the way of Christmas up yet – we actually have no room for the tree right now in the front room and if truth be told, I am not really in the mood to put anything up. But I'm sure that will change or I will be forced to change. I wrapped gifts for Harry's sister and family over the weekend so have that done and all the cards were mailed today. The one thing I enjoy is playing Christmas music on my CD player, and starting today ( Dec 1) the radio station is playing Christmas songs now so I quite like that. On Sat Dec 10 we are going to a show in North Bay – Scott Woods Band – remember we went in June and I told you how good it was and Cathy I mentioned they were coming to Neepawa. Well, on Dec 10 they are back to North Bay for a special Christmas show at 3 pm with a dinner to follow at the Legion In Callander. I am not sure if the tickets we purchased cover the dinner but I'm sure we will find out once we get there. I haven't been reading anything for the last week and I think perhaps I am in withdrawal?? The optometrist called Wed to say my glasses were in, but because of the bad weather they weren't coming to Sundridge until next week so I couldn't even get my new prescription. I will be getting bifocals instead of trifocals and a new set of frames so I'm anxious to get them to see if I can "see" better. Cost plenty $$$ so they better be OK.  Take care for now...