Kate Collins's Blog, page 172
December 24, 2014
Merry Christmas from The Chicks!
We all hope your day and your entire festive season is wonderful! Love from all The Cozy Chicks!
December 23, 2014
Christmas Cookies have no calories…right?
Okay, it’s Christmas Eve...not even Christmas Day yet...and I’m already starting to feel fat!
I haven’t gotten to the gym lately ‘cause of trying to get things done and I’ve eaten waaaaay more then usual. So, as I sit here in my oinkieness it occurred to me that there are seven basic kinds of fat during the holidays.
First off there’s cookie fat. This is the most dangerous kind of fat because even if I promise I will not eat any cookies and will give them away, I have to test-taste the cookies to make sure they are okay. And of course I have to eat the cookie dough to make sure I’ve added enough vanilla or almond flavor, or I have enough dough to nut or chocolate-chip ratio.
The second kind of fat is the cream cheese fat. Cream cheese must account for at least half of the calories consumed during the holidays. It’s in appetizers, deserts, casseroles, doughnut filling and any white sauce on any veggie. I think I’m doing myself a favor with those veggies and forget...or maybe just ignore the fact...that there’s cream cheese sauce that kills all my good intentions.
The third kind of fat is the desert fat. This is probably the most obvious fat. I eat deserts this time of year that I never eat the rest of the year.
The fourth fat is the nibble fat. This is the sneaky fat as I just take one little piggie-in-the-blanket, one pecan tart, one Swedish meatball... You get the picture.
The fifth kind of fat is the omission fat. This is where I have so much to do I don’t take that walk, go to the gym, get on the treadmill. You see, I don’t have the time or I’m so darn tired from trying to get ready for the holidays I just can’t imagine doing one more thing without keeling over with fatigue.
The sixth kind of fat is the Just this once fat! When I say to myself that just this one desert can’t hurt...just this one cookie can’t hurt...just this one piece of candy can’t hurt. And all that is true except I do it again and again and again. Oink!
The seventh kind of fat is the polite fat. It’s when my neighbor/friend/relative passes me that piece of pie/cake/pudding along with the story of how she/he spent hours making it. No way can I turn down that chocolate pie with a thousand calories per bite after that declaration of effort.
So there you have my explanation of why I now weigh five pounds more than I did a month ago and it’s not even Christmas yet! I see many days of Zumba ahead of me to get rid of this oinkiness.
I wish you all a terrific Christmas and sure hope you’ve done a better job than me on keeping off the weight this holiday season. If you have I want to know your secret. If you are in my state of oinkiness tell me what you’re going to do about it. I need all the suggestions I can get.
Happy Christmas Eve.
Hugs, Duffy Brown
I haven’t gotten to the gym lately ‘cause of trying to get things done and I’ve eaten waaaaay more then usual. So, as I sit here in my oinkieness it occurred to me that there are seven basic kinds of fat during the holidays.
First off there’s cookie fat. This is the most dangerous kind of fat because even if I promise I will not eat any cookies and will give them away, I have to test-taste the cookies to make sure they are okay. And of course I have to eat the cookie dough to make sure I’ve added enough vanilla or almond flavor, or I have enough dough to nut or chocolate-chip ratio. The second kind of fat is the cream cheese fat. Cream cheese must account for at least half of the calories consumed during the holidays. It’s in appetizers, deserts, casseroles, doughnut filling and any white sauce on any veggie. I think I’m doing myself a favor with those veggies and forget...or maybe just ignore the fact...that there’s cream cheese sauce that kills all my good intentions.
The third kind of fat is the desert fat. This is probably the most obvious fat. I eat deserts this time of year that I never eat the rest of the year.
The fourth fat is the nibble fat. This is the sneaky fat as I just take one little piggie-in-the-blanket, one pecan tart, one Swedish meatball... You get the picture.
The fifth kind of fat is the omission fat. This is where I have so much to do I don’t take that walk, go to the gym, get on the treadmill. You see, I don’t have the time or I’m so darn tired from trying to get ready for the holidays I just can’t imagine doing one more thing without keeling over with fatigue.
The sixth kind of fat is the Just this once fat! When I say to myself that just this one desert can’t hurt...just this one cookie can’t hurt...just this one piece of candy can’t hurt. And all that is true except I do it again and again and again. Oink!
The seventh kind of fat is the polite fat. It’s when my neighbor/friend/relative passes me that piece of pie/cake/pudding along with the story of how she/he spent hours making it. No way can I turn down that chocolate pie with a thousand calories per bite after that declaration of effort.
So there you have my explanation of why I now weigh five pounds more than I did a month ago and it’s not even Christmas yet! I see many days of Zumba ahead of me to get rid of this oinkiness.
I wish you all a terrific Christmas and sure hope you’ve done a better job than me on keeping off the weight this holiday season. If you have I want to know your secret. If you are in my state of oinkiness tell me what you’re going to do about it. I need all the suggestions I can get.
Happy Christmas Eve.
Hugs, Duffy Brown
December 22, 2014
Happy Holidays!
by Maggie SeftonI've spent the past few days in Houston, TX, getting an early start on holiday celebrations. I was helping daughter Serena and her fiance Jeff (wedding scheduled for next April) prepare for a great Christmas and Holiday Party last Saturday. It was lots of fun. Serena always calls it a "Tree Decorating" party because for the past six years she's allowed the kids who attend to completely decorate her Christmas tree. Serena puts the ornaments out on the coffee table and lets the kids go to town. I have to say those kids do a great job. Here're the results for this year's tree at the top of this post.
Even their miniature Dachsund, Oscar, participates in his Holiday outfit. I have to say, Oscar is absolutely adorable. I've always been a "bigger doggie" person, but Oscar has carved a large place in my heart. And---a spot by my side. The moment you sit on the sofa, Oscar jumps right beside you and snuggles beside your leg. Oscar is a lover, for sure. Cozy Chick M.J. will probably tell me that "all" minature Dachsunds are like this. :)
The next photo is in a Starbucks Drive-thru in Houston suburbs where Oscar is enjoying what Starbucks calls a "Doggy Whip." It's a small cup with whipped cream given free for customers' doggies.
Have you folks ever bought one for your dogs? Is it just a Texas thing? Serena and Jeff make sure Oscar doesn't "overeat" because extra weight isn't good for Dachsunds. Too much stress on that long spine. That's me holding the cup. :)
And to the left is a photo of their front lawn lights. Nothing spectacular. Uh. . .except for the blue plastic inflatable rocket. That's because Serena is a NASA Astronaut. I wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas or Very Happy Holidays. Enjoy, Everyone!
December 21, 2014
And Then She Wrote: THE END
By Kate Collins
My seventeenth Flower Shop Mystery is due to my editor this week, and for the last few days I have been struggling to write the last chapter. This is not due to writer’s block or not plotting out the story well enough or my bout with the 24-hour flu or all the Christmas preparations or -- well, okay, it has been a little bit due to the flu and Christmas.It’s my emotions. They’ve run amok. And I have no one to blame but myself -- or Abby Knight -- so let’s blame her.
I’ve been looking forward to finishing this book because I knew the ending would be dramatic, but for that reason I’ve also been dreading it. I write from my heart, and when emotions are high for my characters, they are sky high for me. If my words didn’t have that effect on me, it probably wouldn’t on you either, so in a way it’s the price I pay for a darned good ending, if I may say so myself.
And I’m the writer, so I do say so myself. Who else would? (Can you tell I’m a little gleeful and even a bit punch drunk from seeing those glorious two words: THE END?
But, man, it’s hard on my eyes. I just couldn’t get through this one scene without tears falling. I even started to cry just describing it to my author assistant/son when I told him what I had in mind. The test will be whether it has that effect on my editor. I always love to see a note in the margin “Wonderful! Made me cry!”
And please don’t worry. They are happy tears, just like at the end of SEED NO EVIL and A ROOT AWAKENING (Oops. You haven’t read that one yet. It’ll be out February 3 , 2015.)Now I need to celebrate with Marco and Abby. Another case closed. Another tragedy averted. A lot of mishaps and laughs along the way.
Will you join me in a virtual glass of champagne? Here’s to finishing a job! Here’s to number 17, FLORIST GRUMP.
Here’s to you for reading them. I’m so grateful for your support. So MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKKAH, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all!
What are you grateful for as you end your year?
December 20, 2014
When Did Air Travel Become Torture?
by Leann
I remember the first time I rode an airplane and how great it was. Everyone got first class treatment. Nice meals, large seats, leg room--all the things we don't have now. Is it me--or did it seem to happen overnight that a 737 turned into a torture chamber?
Now, everything costs extra, the seats are narrow even for someone like me--5'2" and 110 pounds and people just seem generally surly. I have to make a very long trip to see my grandchildren--a trip to Europe is actually quicker--and I am dreading it. The terminals are crammed, children run around like they've been set free on the beach, people sitting next to you have no problem talking on their phone over the din and say things I shouldn't be hearing about their personal life. And no one smiles. And, gosh, it is so darn noisy. (Can you understand one word of the announcements that come over the P.A. system? I can't, but there sure are a lot of them.)
The overhead bin business is the worst part of it all. Since airlines began charging so much money to check a bag, folks are cramming everything they can into bags that fit in those small overhead bins. And if you rode on an airplane lately, there's always that one person--or often more than one person-- who HAS to know that their overstuffed bag will not fit overhead. And yet they stand in the aisle and push and shove and hold up everyone as they try to fit that square peg into a round hole.
When you take a long flight like we will be taking, there are 4 tiny bathrooms at most. Two for about 200 people and two for about 20 people. There is something very wrong with that picture. It's greedy on the part of the airline and it's downright rude. And what better way to get sick than sharing air with people crammed like sardines into as many seats as they can fit onto a airplane?
I had the joy of taking a flight not too long ago and the child behind me--whose mother had brought no snacks, no toys, no books for her kid, kicked my seat constantly. Flight attendants are so busy rolling a huge cart down a silly narrow aisle--so narrow only one person can really fit--they have no time to pay attention to the comfort of passengers. I love children but I do not love inattentive parents. Screaming babies I understand, but a child deliberately hurting someone over and over without being spoken to by their parent? I don't get that.
The only good thing about airplanes is they can save me a 5 day trip across the country and transform 5 days into one day of travel--because if I had my way, I'd rather drive than deal with so many inconsiderate, miserable people. And even though it's a 6 hour flight, it's a MUCH longer day than that for everyone who gets on a plane.
Yes, there was a day when riding a plane was comfortable and pleasant. But these days that kind of flight is only for the very rich or people who have lots and lots of miles because they have to travel all the time. The rest of us are crammed into "coach" sitting on the laps of strangers. It is a strange, strange thing. Could we have a throwback flight day? Please?
Sorry to be a complainer, but I figure if I get it out of my system, I'll be one of those rare people who can smile and be polite on that long and tiring day traveling to see my wonderful family for the holidays. But they will make me forget as soon as I see their smiling faces. Happy holidays everyone! Maybe I'll see you at the airport!
I remember the first time I rode an airplane and how great it was. Everyone got first class treatment. Nice meals, large seats, leg room--all the things we don't have now. Is it me--or did it seem to happen overnight that a 737 turned into a torture chamber?Now, everything costs extra, the seats are narrow even for someone like me--5'2" and 110 pounds and people just seem generally surly. I have to make a very long trip to see my grandchildren--a trip to Europe is actually quicker--and I am dreading it. The terminals are crammed, children run around like they've been set free on the beach, people sitting next to you have no problem talking on their phone over the din and say things I shouldn't be hearing about their personal life. And no one smiles. And, gosh, it is so darn noisy. (Can you understand one word of the announcements that come over the P.A. system? I can't, but there sure are a lot of them.)
The overhead bin business is the worst part of it all. Since airlines began charging so much money to check a bag, folks are cramming everything they can into bags that fit in those small overhead bins. And if you rode on an airplane lately, there's always that one person--or often more than one person-- who HAS to know that their overstuffed bag will not fit overhead. And yet they stand in the aisle and push and shove and hold up everyone as they try to fit that square peg into a round hole.
When you take a long flight like we will be taking, there are 4 tiny bathrooms at most. Two for about 200 people and two for about 20 people. There is something very wrong with that picture. It's greedy on the part of the airline and it's downright rude. And what better way to get sick than sharing air with people crammed like sardines into as many seats as they can fit onto a airplane?I had the joy of taking a flight not too long ago and the child behind me--whose mother had brought no snacks, no toys, no books for her kid, kicked my seat constantly. Flight attendants are so busy rolling a huge cart down a silly narrow aisle--so narrow only one person can really fit--they have no time to pay attention to the comfort of passengers. I love children but I do not love inattentive parents. Screaming babies I understand, but a child deliberately hurting someone over and over without being spoken to by their parent? I don't get that.
The only good thing about airplanes is they can save me a 5 day trip across the country and transform 5 days into one day of travel--because if I had my way, I'd rather drive than deal with so many inconsiderate, miserable people. And even though it's a 6 hour flight, it's a MUCH longer day than that for everyone who gets on a plane.
Yes, there was a day when riding a plane was comfortable and pleasant. But these days that kind of flight is only for the very rich or people who have lots and lots of miles because they have to travel all the time. The rest of us are crammed into "coach" sitting on the laps of strangers. It is a strange, strange thing. Could we have a throwback flight day? Please?
Sorry to be a complainer, but I figure if I get it out of my system, I'll be one of those rare people who can smile and be polite on that long and tiring day traveling to see my wonderful family for the holidays. But they will make me forget as soon as I see their smiling faces. Happy holidays everyone! Maybe I'll see you at the airport!
December 19, 2014
What's Santa Bringing Your Pet This Christmas?
by Mary Kennedy
I asked book reviewer and all-around great guy Fred Yoder what he was giving Duncan (pictured above) for Christmas. Since Duncan is a fan of the Cozy Chicks blog, we figured discretion was in order, so at the moment, Duncan's gift is a secret. By the way, I love this picture of Duncan. He looks like he's straight out of an LL Bean catalogue in his adorable little parka, as he braves the elements to go on a daily walk with Fred. In case you're wondering, most Americans do buy presents for their pets, to the tune of $5 billion annually. 63% of dog owners and 58% of cat owners have a present under the tree for their pets. Since I've talked so much about my cats in this blog, I thought it would be fun and share a recipe for a great home-made doggie treat. (And yes, I made a box for Duncan and they are winging their way to him right now.) They're delicious and nutritious (at least I hope they are, I haven't tried them myself) and you'll be surprised at how easy they are to make.
Homemade Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats Ingredients: one banana, one cup oat flour (I used regular flour) 3 Tablespoons peanut butter, one beaten egg, 2/3 cup rolled oats and 1/2 cup dried parsley. (You can substitute 1/4 cup of mint and 1/4 cup of parsley--either way, it gets rid of "doggie breath.) Instructions: preheat oven to 300. Place banana in mixing bowl and mash with a fork or a potato masher. Add all the other ingredients and stir to combine. Set aside for 5 minutes. Roll mixture into 24 balls and place on parchment lined cookie sheet. (I didn't have parchment paper, but I had that paper from Reynold's wrap that has tinfoil on one side and paper on the other, and it worked out fine.) Use the back of a spoon or your hand to press each ball into a 1 and 1/2 to 2 inch cookie. Bake until firm and rich golden brown on the bottom 40-45 minutes. Set aside to cool and store in airtight container. Your dog will love them! Hope you and your pets will have a great holiday and I hope Duncan likes his doggie treats! Mary Kennedy
I asked book reviewer and all-around great guy Fred Yoder what he was giving Duncan (pictured above) for Christmas. Since Duncan is a fan of the Cozy Chicks blog, we figured discretion was in order, so at the moment, Duncan's gift is a secret. By the way, I love this picture of Duncan. He looks like he's straight out of an LL Bean catalogue in his adorable little parka, as he braves the elements to go on a daily walk with Fred. In case you're wondering, most Americans do buy presents for their pets, to the tune of $5 billion annually. 63% of dog owners and 58% of cat owners have a present under the tree for their pets. Since I've talked so much about my cats in this blog, I thought it would be fun and share a recipe for a great home-made doggie treat. (And yes, I made a box for Duncan and they are winging their way to him right now.) They're delicious and nutritious (at least I hope they are, I haven't tried them myself) and you'll be surprised at how easy they are to make.
Homemade Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats Ingredients: one banana, one cup oat flour (I used regular flour) 3 Tablespoons peanut butter, one beaten egg, 2/3 cup rolled oats and 1/2 cup dried parsley. (You can substitute 1/4 cup of mint and 1/4 cup of parsley--either way, it gets rid of "doggie breath.) Instructions: preheat oven to 300. Place banana in mixing bowl and mash with a fork or a potato masher. Add all the other ingredients and stir to combine. Set aside for 5 minutes. Roll mixture into 24 balls and place on parchment lined cookie sheet. (I didn't have parchment paper, but I had that paper from Reynold's wrap that has tinfoil on one side and paper on the other, and it worked out fine.) Use the back of a spoon or your hand to press each ball into a 1 and 1/2 to 2 inch cookie. Bake until firm and rich golden brown on the bottom 40-45 minutes. Set aside to cool and store in airtight container. Your dog will love them! Hope you and your pets will have a great holiday and I hope Duncan likes his doggie treats! Mary Kennedy
It might be winter outside, but I'm stuck in summer!
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
The first day of winter hasn't yet hit, but it'll be upon us in just a couple of days. Meanwhile, my head is firmly rooted in early summer.
Writers usually have an inspiration before they start work on a new project. Here's one of mine.
Not the two boats in the foreground, but the buildings smack-dab in the middle. Yup, that's what I call (in my new Lotus Square Mysteries) Cannon's compound. There's a bait shop; a boat house, a regular house, and, in my made-up compound, a little 7-unit motel.
The stories feature two best friends forever.
During the course of their first big adventure, Tori and Kathy make a new friend, Anissa Jackson. She's a construction worker whose father was murdered and found in one of the Cannon's motel units.
And in the course of their dealings, they meet someone else who's destined to be a good friend.
These women have one thing in common. They all want to own their own businesses. And where do they choose to do so? On Lotus Bay.
Haven't yet met Tori and Kathy? Their first mini mystery was Panty Raid.
Tori Cannon and her BFF, Kathy Grant, get together for a girl’s weekend of wine, cookies, and laughter, but there’s also the specter of a panty pincher hanging around the laundry room of the complex where Tori lives. Kathy thinks they can catch the culprit red-handed in a panty raid!
Kindle | Kobo | Nook | iBooks | Smashwords
Tori and Kathy's (and Anissa's and Noreen's) first full-length adventure begins in With Baited Breath, which debuts on January 6th and is now available for pre-order.
Tori Cannon and her grandfather return from her grandma’s funeral to find a body jammed in one of their derelict motel units. The victim had no enemies except for maybe the rich woman who wants to level his eyesore of a home, a resentful daughter, and friends who were anything but. Tori’s BFF, Kathy, arrives to help spruce up the place and they are soon mixed up in the deadly consequences that murder entails. Can they save the business and find a murderer or will they, too, sleep with the fishes?
Amazon (Trade Paperback)
Kindle | Kindle Worldwide | Kobo | Nook | iBooks
Will you head back to summer on January 6th?
The first day of winter hasn't yet hit, but it'll be upon us in just a couple of days. Meanwhile, my head is firmly rooted in early summer.
Writers usually have an inspiration before they start work on a new project. Here's one of mine.
Not the two boats in the foreground, but the buildings smack-dab in the middle. Yup, that's what I call (in my new Lotus Square Mysteries) Cannon's compound. There's a bait shop; a boat house, a regular house, and, in my made-up compound, a little 7-unit motel.
The stories feature two best friends forever.
During the course of their first big adventure, Tori and Kathy make a new friend, Anissa Jackson. She's a construction worker whose father was murdered and found in one of the Cannon's motel units.
And in the course of their dealings, they meet someone else who's destined to be a good friend.
These women have one thing in common. They all want to own their own businesses. And where do they choose to do so? On Lotus Bay.
Haven't yet met Tori and Kathy? Their first mini mystery was Panty Raid.Tori Cannon and her BFF, Kathy Grant, get together for a girl’s weekend of wine, cookies, and laughter, but there’s also the specter of a panty pincher hanging around the laundry room of the complex where Tori lives. Kathy thinks they can catch the culprit red-handed in a panty raid!
Kindle | Kobo | Nook | iBooks | Smashwords
Tori and Kathy's (and Anissa's and Noreen's) first full-length adventure begins in With Baited Breath, which debuts on January 6th and is now available for pre-order.Tori Cannon and her grandfather return from her grandma’s funeral to find a body jammed in one of their derelict motel units. The victim had no enemies except for maybe the rich woman who wants to level his eyesore of a home, a resentful daughter, and friends who were anything but. Tori’s BFF, Kathy, arrives to help spruce up the place and they are soon mixed up in the deadly consequences that murder entails. Can they save the business and find a murderer or will they, too, sleep with the fishes?
Amazon (Trade Paperback)
Kindle | Kindle Worldwide | Kobo | Nook | iBooks
Will you head back to summer on January 6th?
December 17, 2014
By Mary Jane Maffini who is sometimes Victoria Abbott Tim...
By Mary Jane Maffini who is sometimes Victoria Abbott
Time flies when you're having fun! And tomorrow I'm celebrating a special anniversary.
I made it through one year in my book club. One of my my early posts in Cozy Chicks last year was my my first visit to book club and I thought you might like to know that I've apparently made it through my 'probationary period'. I hope you were rooting for me not to get tossed out for literary misbehavior.
I'll be staying on with this amazing group of fun woman who love reading and talking and each other. It's possible that they love chocolate and wine more, but I would never say that out loud.
Only one rule: there must be chocolate!It's been a great year. I've learned the rules. Not that you have to read the book. No. Sometimes hardly anyone reads the book, claiming it was too long and too boring or too something. But everyone always samples the chocolates and finds out everyone's news, happy or sad. This group has been together for many years and they have been though many important life changes together, showing love and support.
Have I mentioned that at the December meeting our friend Ulla, who is the hostes,s celebrates by having a wonderful sit-down dinner that she does herself? She loves to decorate for Christmas and she's a great cook. Our job is just to show up, looking respectable, if we can pull that off!
Here's last year's dinner table at Ulla's.We are blessed indeed!
But whether there's a fancy dinner or not, I believe there's something very special about women who love books - I think all of us who are part of the Cozy Chicks family -- authors and readers alike -- feel that in our hearts.
If you have a special group of women readers in your life, I'd love to hear about it. Is chocolate part of the equation? Wine? If not, what is? Make my day and let me know.
And if I don't hear from you until after Christmas, may your days be merry and bright, full of love, great food and wonderful books.
Much love from MJ and Victoria, Daisy and Lily. Peachtree refuses to wear the Santa hat claiming this is more dignified.
HO HO HO!!!
December 16, 2014
‘cause grandma did it…that’s why
We are all pretty much mutts here in the US meaning we are a combination of many nationalities. This time of year brings that out in the way of food and recipes passed down from when Grandma and Grandpa or Great-Grandma and Grandpa when they came here from another part of the world.
I am part Italian. With a maiden name like Castelluccio I’m sure the Italian part is right. I married a Kruetzkamp so we now have the German influence.
As an Italian we always made our own pasta. My grandma brought her very own ravioli rolling pin over from Italy and for years we used it to make ravioli. For desert we made Amaretti cookies. They have an almond taste and are amazing with wine and really capture that warm essence perfect for the holiday season.
The Kruetzkamp half of our family meant we had pfeffernusse cookies covered in powdered sugar. They are delish cookies full of a mix of warm spices that taste sort of like gingerbread cookies. I learned to make little fruitcakes for my husband. No, he didn’t use them as hockey pucks but loved them. They are great with coffee and hot chocolate and mulled wine. We always serve mulled wine at our house.
Another tradition with my husband’s family was to put the Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve. His parents did that for as long as I can remember. Our next door neighbor was second generation Greek and always made Baklava. Their whole family got into the act at Christmas and our family always ended up with a tin of this delish gooey, honey flakey pastry.
Our other neighbor was French and made Yule log of chocolate cake rolled around a rich vanilla cream filling.
Are there any traditional foods in your house this time of year? Do you use Grandma’s candy recipe, the one she
brought over from Ireland? Maybe your great aunt’s recipe? Do you have an heirloom star for the top of your tree? Stockings by the fireplace that were yours when a kid?
Thanks for sharing. I love family traditions and at this time of year there are a ton.
Hugs, Duffy
I am part Italian. With a maiden name like Castelluccio I’m sure the Italian part is right. I married a Kruetzkamp so we now have the German influence.
As an Italian we always made our own pasta. My grandma brought her very own ravioli rolling pin over from Italy and for years we used it to make ravioli. For desert we made Amaretti cookies. They have an almond taste and are amazing with wine and really capture that warm essence perfect for the holiday season. The Kruetzkamp half of our family meant we had pfeffernusse cookies covered in powdered sugar. They are delish cookies full of a mix of warm spices that taste sort of like gingerbread cookies. I learned to make little fruitcakes for my husband. No, he didn’t use them as hockey pucks but loved them. They are great with coffee and hot chocolate and mulled wine. We always serve mulled wine at our house.
Another tradition with my husband’s family was to put the Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve. His parents did that for as long as I can remember. Our next door neighbor was second generation Greek and always made Baklava. Their whole family got into the act at Christmas and our family always ended up with a tin of this delish gooey, honey flakey pastry.
Our other neighbor was French and made Yule log of chocolate cake rolled around a rich vanilla cream filling.
Are there any traditional foods in your house this time of year? Do you use Grandma’s candy recipe, the one she
brought over from Ireland? Maybe your great aunt’s recipe? Do you have an heirloom star for the top of your tree? Stockings by the fireplace that were yours when a kid?Thanks for sharing. I love family traditions and at this time of year there are a ton.
Hugs, Duffy
December 15, 2014
Holiday Recipes---Yummy Nut Bread
by Maggie SeftonI don't know about all of you folks, but I'm still up to my neck in holiday preparations---including making some of my family's favorite recipes. During previous Holiday Seasons on the Cozy Chicks Blog, I've posted Maggie's Chocolate Mint Fudge and Aunt Helen's Gingersnaps. And last week, I shared a lethal Holiday Eggnog recipe. :) I've decided to use the remaining Tuesdays in this "holiday" month to share more of my favorite holiday treats. Today, I'm posting a positively yummy Cranberry Orange Nut Bread. Let me know if you give it a try. :)
This nut bread is good all year round, not just during the Holiday Season. I kept tinkering with recipes until I came up with the flavors that I especially like. I simply love the flavor of orange in this rich quick bread, just like I love the cinnamon/cloves/allspice flavors in the pumpkin bread and the extra lemony flavor in my Gingersnaps. This bread is quick to make and cranberries can be found year round. Give it a try and enjoy!
CRANBERRY ORANGE NUT BREAD
2 cups all-purpose flour1 ½ teaspoons baking powder½ teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon ground cinnamon½ teaspoon salt1 ½ cups white sugar1 cup orange juice¼ melted butter2 eggs1 cup fresh cranberries (not frozen)1 cup chopped walnuts½ cup grated orange peel
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease one regular size bread loaf pan (or two small loaf pans). Dust pan lightly with flour, dumping excess. Combine 2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in large mixing bowl. Combine the sugar, orange juice, melted butter, and eggs in another bowl, mixing well. Stir into flour mixture along with cranberries, walnuts, and orange rind. Mix well, blending all ingredients. Pour into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50 minutes or into knife inserted into the center of loaf comes out clean. Remove pan to wire rack to cool for 10 minutes, then run knife around edges of pan and turn out onto rack to cool completely.
Enjoy!
