Category: Seasonal
Well, at least the pies are ready ….
Happy Thanksgiving
Knitting – Gift Idea – Jolly Old Elves
This is a really cute, free pattern I used last Christmas with less than a year’s experience in knitting. I had no problems and thought they turned out well – something a little different from the usual holiday decorations. Here is the link: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jolly-old-elves
I used two difference sizes of yarn and needles to get two different sizes from the same pattern.
The larger elf (about 8 inches tall) was made with #4 worsted yarn and #5 circular needles.
The smaller elf (about 6 inches tall) was made with DK or sport weight yarn #3 and #3 circular needles.
I gave one to each of my daughters along with a gift card for a special Christmas morning gift.
A Christmas Walking Cane
On Friday, I remember a single moment from the past week.
“Hand me down my walking cane”
The most unusual Christmas gift I received this year was from my older daughter who thought that since my 84-year-old bones can’t handle much walking any more, I would enjoy a cane that commemorated all of the walking I’ve done in the past in some beautiful, wonderful places – most of them with her at my side. She found just what she wanted at an antique store in Lebanon, Ohio – a vintage cane with metal tags commemorating hikes the owner had made. It so happened they were tags from German places which we had visited over 25 years ago. She bought a few more tags on eBay and I have a good start on a cane that reflects some of our trips: Berchtesgaden, Herrenchiemsee, Schloss Neuschwanstein, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Indiana, Monticello, Gettysburg, Antietam, and Gateway Arch – St. Louis.
I love the worn and well-used look of the cane right on down to the tip.
I know more tags will be added – we haven’t even touched on Ireland and Switzerland yet, not to mention numerous places in the U.S. I might need another cane.
The walking cane will have a treasured place by the fireplace where I can see it every day and think of all of the memorable walking I’ve done in my life.
Happy Holidays to All
My youngest grandson has been coming to my house to bake Christmas cookies since he was three years old. He loves the holiday traditions and even though he received his acceptance from Wright State (Dayton, Ohio) this week, he’s happy to cut out and decorate sugar cookies once more. He says it’s one of his favorite memories and that makes it one of my favorite memories.
Happy memories to everyone during this holiday season, whatever your celebration might be.
Easy Fruit Stollen
I really love this version of stollen which is easy and fairly quick to make. The ricotta gives the dough an interesting texture and the bits of dried fruit are delicious. Even with a heavy coating of powdered sugar, this is not overly sweet. Lovely with hot coffee or tea.
Dough: Topping: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Blend the butter cubes into the flour mixture to form uneven crumbs. In a separate bowl, mix together the cheese, egg, vanilla and flavorings. Toss the fruit and almonds with the flour mixture until evenly distributed. Than combine the wet and dry ingredients, mixing until most of the flour is moistened. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead it two or three times until it holds together. Divide dough in half. Form each half of dough into a rectangle about 4 inches x 7 inches, 1-1/2 inches thick. Bake the stollen until they’re lightly browned around the edges – about 40 minutes. A cake tester inserted into the center of a stollen should come out clean. Remove stollen to a rack and allow to cool. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle heavily with powdered sugar. Wrap in plastic wrap until ready to serve. Cut into one-inch wide slices to serve. This version of stollen does not keep for weeks as traditional stollen does. Best if used within 3 days or so. Easy Fruit Stollen
2-¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup granulated sugar
1-½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
½ cup cold butter, cut in cubes
1 cup ricotta cheese, part-skim milk type
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-½ tsp. butter flavoring (optional)
1 tsp. grated lemon peel
l/4 cup each of figs, dates, apricots, raisins, chopped to ½ inch cubes
1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted and cooled
3 Tblsp. butter, melted
½ cup powdered sugar
Lightly grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment.
Place shaped stollen on the prepared baking sheet.
Yield: Two one-pound stollen.
Fresh from the oven
Topped with butter and sugar
Pause and Remember –12/16/16
On Friday, I pause and remember a single moment from the past week.
Having fun at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant with great-grandson Isaiah.
Pause and Remember – 12/9/2016
On Friday, I pause and remember a single moment from the past week.
We celebrate St. Nicholas on December 6 with small gifts and treats. The gift from my younger daughter was a real treat – hand-knit bunny PJs just like Ralphie’s in the movie, Christmas Story, right down to the “sappily staring” slippers.
I have an American Girl size doll that my daughter keeps dressed in imaginative costumes.
She looks perfect displayed along with my village-sized Ralphie’s house …
…and Higbee’s Department Store. You can see Ralphie peering into the window, dreaming about his air rifle.
Happy decorating, everyone.
Happy Thanksgiving
This is my favorite Thanksgiving picture – a
photo of my youngest granddaughter
in a 2010 first-grade Thanksgiving pageant.
Thanksgiving greetings to everyone.
Handmade Birthday Gifts
I had a wonderful weekend celebrating my 84th birthday with my two daughters, son-in-law and two teenage grandchildren. The three-day jubilee started on Friday with lunch at my favorite Italian restaurant and a ride on the brand-new downtown Cincinnati streetcar. I especially enjoyed the ride through my old neighborhood where I grew up in the WWII years.
On Saturday, my son-in-law and grandchildren joined us for a fish taco lunch at our special Mexican restaurant and then the treat of riding for the first time while my grandson drove to a nearby cemetery on a beautiful sunny, blue-sky day. There were small gifts on each of these two days.
Sunday brought everybody to my house for my younger daughter’s famous white cake with caramel frosting and gifts. I received so many nice things, but my favorites are always the handmade ones. My younger daughter, who has inspired me to take up knitting, made an amazing Elizabeth Zimmerman Pi shawl.
This shawl measures about 52 inches in diameter and is made in the softest possible yarn with her perfect stitching.
One of my older daughter’s gifts was a lovely vase setting on one of her hand-crocheted doilies.
At first glance, I thought this was an addition to my Roseville collection but didn’t recognize the floral design. Then, I found out my daughter made the vase by covering a glass jar with polymer clay and using her painting skills to make it look very similar to a vintage piece.
Every year, the two girls go out of their way to give me the best birthday celebration ever. I wonder what they’ll do next year?
LILLIAN'S CUPBOARD 