My "Home for the Holidays"

With only hours remaining until Christmas Eve, I thought that I'd share the final photos of my house for this year and a poem from Helen Steiner Rice. I wish each of you the magic and wonder of the season, the love of family and friends and above all, I wish you "enough". Enough time, and patience; love, and faith. Enough kindness and compassion for yourself and others.  Enough togetherness and alone time. Enough resources.  Merry Christmas.

A Season of Kindness

May the kindly spirit of Christmas spread its radiance far and wide

So all the world may feel the glow of this holy Christmastide.

Then may every heart and home continue through the year

To feel the warmth and wonder of this season of good cheer.

And may it bring us closer to God and to each other

'Til every stranger is a friend and every man a brother.



ABC's of Christmas

As I finish unpacking the Christmas decorations (with the exception of our family tree which is waiting for my son, Drew's arrival home from college this Friday), I realize that the unpacking, handling and placing of these "treasures" that I've collected over the years is, for me, almost as much a part of the season as the "Big Day" itself. 

For me, decorating takes weeks. Not literally, of course, as I work a full time job, I still have a son at home, one in college, a dog, and a house that seems perpetually in need of cleaning.  I steal an hour or two at a time during the week. It's usually in the early hours of the morning, sometimes before dawn, when the house is quiet.  It's then that I unpack the boxes, unwrap the tissue and spend a few moments remembering how the different symbols of the holiday came to be a part of what are now my Christmas traditions.

There are ornaments; gifted to me by my parents, grandparents, siblings and friends. There are both vintage and new items, some that used to be "new" that are now considered "vintage" *smile*.  There are nutcrackers and trains, cookie cutters, and angels and Santa Clauses;  all manner of holiday "stuff" that I've amassed during my life and to which, there are additions, each year. Some are gifts, some inherited, some "found". (At some point, I'll probably need to stop collecting...but that's not the point of THIS story. *wink*) 

Among my favorites is the collection of Christmas books.  Every year, from the time that they were born, I gave my sons a Christmas book on Christmas morning. These books make an appearance on the shelf, in the family room, for the month that is "Christmas" at our house.

We have read these books. At first, we read them to the boys. Then, the boys read them to us. Now, the boys read them to themselves or walk by, pause, pick one up, flip through it...sometimes only to the first page...where the inscription is. 

Among these books is one that wasn't a gift to my sons. It's my favorite book. It's my book. It's this book.

It's not fancy, doesn't have a screen printed graphic on the cover, shiny coated pages or slick typesetting in a cool font. The pages are yellow. I've had it for as long as I can remember. It was a Christmas gift from my Godmother/Aunt Mollie who was, at the time, probably 17 years old.  She bought the blank scrapbook with her own money and then spent her time filling the pages and making a gift for me that has become one of my most prized Christmas possessions.

Inside is a page dedicated to each letter of the alphabet with a Christmas related symbol, cut from an old Christmas card and with a rhyme, written in blue ballpoint pen, in my Aunt's cursive handwriting, describing each one.  Holly, drawn in colored pencil, adorns each page.  On the "Y" page, there's a photograph of my aunt and me, in the foyer of my grandparents' house, on my First Holy Communion.

This book too, makes an appearance on the shelf for the month that is Christmas at my house. I read it.  I remember reading it with my Aunt that first year. Her reading the "big" words to me and me reading the "little words" to her.  Over the years, I've read it to myself. Sometimes, I walk by, pause, pick it up and flip through it.  Sometimes it's only to the first page....where the inscription is...

In the best of all possible circumstances, when we share love and time and talent we create memories. Sometimes we do it without even realizing it. 

Thank-you Aunt Mollie. For sharing yourself, your gifts and your time with me.  I love you.

xo,

S

Home Made Marshmallows and Hot Chocolate: Recipes and directions

A friend asked for this recipe this morning and it reminded me that I needed to make a batch of these to give to my neighbors as gifts. (Thanks, Laura!) Soooo, rather than wait to show you photos of what I make (although I'll do that later, too), I thought that I'd post recipes for those of you who are looking for the perfect "little something" to give to a neighbor or friend. Home made marshmallows are wicked-wonderful! Whether they are sandwiched between graham crackers with chocolate, dipped in hot chocolate or even eaten directly from the bag....they also make a great gift.  The photo above is one that I took of Valentines Day marshmallows and peppermint hot chocolate mix that I made for my "college kids" but you can easily either cut them into squares or use holiday cookie cutters to make them into snowflakes, trees or whatever your heart desires! For "stirs" I use candy canes or cinnamon sticks, dipped in melted chocolate and covered with sprinkles!

Here's the recipe for the marshmallows:
(makes about 90 One-Inch Cubes...fewer if you use cookie cutters)
Ingredients:
About 1 cup confectioners' sugar
3 1/2 envelopes (2 tblsp plus 2 1/2 tsp) unflavored gelatin
1 cup cold water divided as follows:
            1/2 cup with the gelatin and 1/2 cup for the mix
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup HOT water (115 degrees F)
1/2 tsp salt
2 large egg whites
2 tsp vanilla (I also add almond or peppermint extract depending upon what I'm using them for)

Directions:
Oil bottom and sides of a 13x9x2 inch rectangular metal baking pan and dust bottom and sides with confectioners' sugar.
In the bowl of a standing electric mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water and let it stand to soften.
In a 3-quart saucepan cook granulated sugar, corn syrup, second 1/2 cup of cold water, and salt over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to medium and boil the mixture, without stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 240°F (about 12 minutes). Remove the pan from heat and pour sugar mixture over the gelatin mixture, stirring until the gelatin is dissolved.
With a standing (or a hand-held) electric mixer, beat the mixture on high speed until it is white, thick, and nearly tripled in volume, about six minutes if using a standing mixer or about 10 minutes if using hand-held mixer. (Depending upon the weather outside and the amount of humidity in your home, it may take longer but be patient, it will eventually whip up to the size needed) In separate medium bowl with clean beaters,  beat egg whites until they just hold stiff peaks. Then, beat the whites and vanilla (or your choice of flavoring) into the sugar mixture until it's just combined. Pour the mixture into the baking pan (don't worry if there's some "leftover"). Sift 1/4 cup  of confectioners' sugar over the top of the mixture. Chill the marshmallow, uncovered, until firm. (At least three hours but as long as one day.)
After they are chilled, run a thin knife around edges of the pan and invert it onto a large cutting board which has been dusted with confectioners' sugar. Hold up one corner of the pan and use your fingers to loosen the marshmallow and slide it out and onto your cutting board.
With a large knife, trim the edges of marshmallow and cut marshmallow into roughly one-inch cubes. (or use cookie cutters dipped in confectioners' sugar to cut shapes.) Sift the remaining confectioners' sugar back into an empty bowl or  baking pan. Roll the marshmallows in the sugar being sure to coat all sides before shaking off the excess and packing them  in an airtight container. 
Marshmallows will keep, in an airtight container, at a cool room temperature, for about a week. If you're mailing them, make sure to coat them well with confectioners; sugar as they will "weep" during shipment.
Once you've eaten these, you'll never go back to "store bought"!

Home made hot chocolate mix:
(makes about 45, 1 cup servings)

Ingredients:
10 cups dry milk powder
4 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 3/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1 3/4 cups powdered, non-dairy creamer (you can use different flavors to get flavored hot chocolate. Cinnamon and mint are my favorites).
2 cups shaved chocolate or mini chocolate chips (again, you can use mint chips, white or dark chocolate that has been flavored with peppermint or white chocolate with cinnamon to change the flavor of your mix)

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and stir until thoroughly combined. That's it...easy peasy. Store cocoa mixture in an air tight container.
For one serving: place 1/2 cup cocoa mixture in a cup or mug and add 3/4 cup of boiling water. Stir to dissolve. Top with marshmallows and/or whipped cream! 

xo,

S

More holidays!

The holiday decorating continues!

Dining room side Board. re-purposing pine cones from Thanksgiving and burlap from exterior Autumn wreaths.



My sons' "sleigh", the birch logs from Thanksgiving.  Vintage Santa, skates and lantern - in the corner of the dining room.

Silver punch bowl with pine cone wreath and pine cones

Thanksgiving centerpiece "reworked" for Christmas using mixed Christmas greens, red berries (fake), pine cones, vintage red lantern, cardinals and a plaid bow.



Kitchen table - I made the black and white table cloth out of flannel, edged in red. Good Will Candlestick holders, vintage boot with pine cones, a "vintage" glitter snowflake and faux greens.

 I'll post more tomorrow.

Good night!

xo,

S

Christmas in My Kitchen - 2011

I thought that I'd share a few shots of this year's Christmas decorations in my kitchen...

of course, I'm not finished...