Christmas Shortbread

The kitchen is quite a disaster.

The last few days have been grey and rainy, what better time to bake cookies. Shortbread is my favorite Christmas cookie. They are so fun because there are so many variations to try. This year I baked five different flavors. So, today I have been dipping and drizzling hundreds of little shortbread cookies. That is why the kitchen is a mess.

I usually use a basic recipe, then adjust it to my fancy :)

Basic Shortbread Recipe

1 Cup Butter
1/2-3/4 Cup Sugar
2 Cups Flour

Cream butter and sugar. Add flour and mix until combined. I usually end up using my hands. If dough is too sticky ad a bit more flour.
On a well floured board roll dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters and place on ungreased cookie trays. Bake at 325 degrees for 10 -14 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

Shortbread Recipe Variations

Now for the fun part! These are the varieties I made this year. There are many other possibilities.

1. Ginger Spice
Add: 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. nutmeg
3/4 tsp. cloves
2/4 tsp. ginger

Dip in melted white chocolate

2. Hazelnut
Add: 2 Tbsp. maple syrup (use the smaller amount of sugar)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Cup finely chopped hazelnuts

Dip or drizzle with melted milk chocolate

3. Peppermint
Add: 1-2 tsp. peppermint extract

Dip in melted dark or white chocolate.

4. Coffee
Add: 2 Tbsp. instant coffee granules
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Dip or drizzle in dark chocolate.

5. Orange

Add: 1-2 tsp. orange extract

Dip in dark chocolate.

I cut each variety with a different cookie cutter. It is fun and makes it easier to tell them apart.

In case you were wondering which ones are which in the pictures.

Hearts; hazelnut
Stars; coffee
Trees; peppermint
Angels; orange
Gingerbread boys; ginger spice

Red Roses...

...to wear in my hair to the ball.

A Special Visit

On Wednesday afternoon we had a special visit with the Serven Clan. They are out here in California for a little while. It was fun to see them again and catch up a little.

Enjoying good food and fellowship around the table.



After lunch we walked around outside to see the animals and our many projects. After returning inside we had fun sharing music together.
Here are some of the Servens singing a song for us.


More visiting.

Etsy

There is something new over in the sidebar!!

Introducing our new Etsy shop; The Cricket's Song.
Right now we have some greeting cards and soap listed over there. I will be working on a new logo and adding more items soon.

Experimenting

A year ago I found a fascinating book called Wild Color. It is all about making dyes from plant materials. I have been wanting to try some of the ideas in there for a long time now. So, last week I experimented with making a dye from eucalyptus leaves. Here is a photo of the results. The rusty orange yarn in the foreground is what I dyed, the green yarn is one I bought. I thought the two colors looked pretty together. Isn't the orange an interesting color for eucalyptus leaves to make?

Sunday Sunset

We were driving home Sunday evening and I just had to stop to get a picture of this lovely sunset.

A Last Minute Picnic

When Grandma and Grandpa came over for Thanksgiving they brought us a basket full of Harry and David treats. I had the idea of going on a picnic and taking some of it along. So late Saturday afternoon we did just that. We spent most of the day working on the shed and got a later start than planned for our picnic. But finally we quickly got together some of the tastiest sounding snacks and a bottle of Martinelli's sparkling apple cider. With the short days this time of year it is harder to calculate how much daylight is left. After driving for awhile and arriving at our destination it was nearly dark. But we proceeded to set out the food and enjoy our picnic. We had a little problem opening the cider because nobody had remembered to bring a bottle opener. Finally I was able to use the edge of my knife to pry it open. We had a funny and enjoyable picnic although it was rather short because it was getting dark and a little chilly. By the time we left the moon was rising, it looked so beautiful. I took a picture but it didn't quite turn out.


We took Tizzy with us also. She enjoyed the outing.


Enjoying the picnic and trying to stay warm :)


My attempt at photographing the moon.

Thanksgiving Day

We had a pleasant Thanksgiving day at home. Our grandparents came over for the afternoon. It was good to have them come over, it has been quite awhile since they were here. We had a good time visiting. Grandma was able to walk down to see the horses and goats. We had a delicious traditional dinner and afterwards relaxed in the living room looking at pictures. It was special that they were able to come because it is getting harder for them to drive over here. Here are a few pictures form throughout the day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God"
Philippians 4:6

Psalm 100

A Psalm of Thanksgiving.

"Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;[a]
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations."

Elegant Evening

A few days ago we and some friends dressed up for an event downtown. We enjoyed riding the trolley and browsing antique shops. It was fun to get dressed up behave elegantly :)

Our whole group.


Some of us girls in the park.


My sister, brother and I.


Afterwards we all went to get coffee at Starbucks.