Stress Reaction

okay - it's percolating.. I'll be getting back to you-
meanwhile, Merry Christmas Leah!

All I need is a funny knitting story? Okay. Remember the dishcloth that Hannah started last week? The one that was going to be a Christmas gift? The one that she said would be the first of two or three knitted Christmas gifts? She's knit exactly 9 rows on the thing. I told you she was doomed!

This is my husband's favorite cookie recipe. They are yummy and super easy to make.

Orange Slice Cookies

1 pkg (12 oz) candy orange slices
1 1/2 cups flour
2/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1 cup coconut (optional)

Cut orange slices in small pieces. I put them in powdered sugar to coat them after cutting, it makes them easier to handle. Sift together dry ingredients. Cream shortening and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla, stir in dry ingredients and oats, coconut and orange slices. Mix well. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

They call these "Mexican Wedding Cakes", "Noel Balls", and "those things my aunt made us when we were kids"...
I'm making them today:

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all-pupose flour
1 cup finely chopped almonds or pecans
1/4 teaspoon salt
powdered sugar

Pre-heat oven to 325 F. In a large bowl combine 1/2 cup powdered sugar, butter and vanilla. Blend well. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 15-20 minutes until set but not brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheets. Cool slightly and roll in powdered sugar. Cool completely and reroll in powdered sugar.

I'm just going to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a super New Year full of knitting, spinning and joy!

to the tune of Rockin' around the Christmas Tree:

Blogging along in Christmas land, have a happy holiday.
Fiber and yarn dance merrily, everybody's stressed today.
Wrapping and egg nog fill the air, is there snow on your lawn now?
Christmas is coming, let's all dance and we'll go and paint the town.

have a joyous day!

Grandma's Toffee

1/2 cup margarine or butter melted
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Combine the butter and brown sugar in a saucepan. Cook over low to medium heat until mixture reaches 290 degrees F (use a candy thermometer). Stir constantly. (This takes a while...don't try to speed it up or you will likely burn it.) When it reaches 290 degrees immediately pour the mixture onto a greased cookie sheet. Let set 1 minute, then sprinkle with chocolate chips. When the chips looks glossy, spread with a knife to cover the toffee. While the chocolate is still soft sprinkle the nuts on top. Cool completely and break into pieces. Enjoy!

The best cookies this year? The ones that arrived under the tree from my college roommate. Molasses, and I didn't have to make them!

My favorite holiday knitting story is probably this years - I had a long and pretty bad night on call last night (Christmas Eve), and while waiting for my attending to waltz in so we could round and I could go home, I called home briefly. Hearing that the socks I knit my dad this year were the best ever made my day, night, and everything. Then it finally felt like Christmas.

It's the Day After Christmas, the house is a wreck.
I'm making an effort to keep my temper in check.
Apparently "Go put your presents away,"
Really means "Leave them for some other day."
There's stuff by the front door and stuff in the hall,
I am getting quite sick of presents at all.
William Henry, however, is having a blast
He is sitting in gift bags and playing with trash.
His activity just causes the chaos to spread
M doesn't care - he's snoring in bed.
I've one consolation in all this, my dear:
365 days 'til Christmas next year!

hi Leah,
Hope you had a wonderful holiday and here's to a happy new year. Keep an eye on my blog for some love socks, coming up soon. or at least in time for valentines day. Can't wait to use that wonderful handpainted yarn. :)

Here is an old favorite of my family
Date pinwheels
Filling: to be cooked until thick
1 1/3 c pitted chopped dates
1/2 C Sugar
1/2 C Water
1/2 C chopped nuts

Cream together 2/3 c shortening 1 1/3 C brown sugar and 2 beaten eggs. The add 2 2/3 C flour 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp soda. chill this well and roll into rectangle. Spread with filling and chill overnight. Cut into slices and bake 375 for about 8 minutes

Here's a family favourite cookie recipe. They're really easy to make (although not exactly cheap), and everyone seems to like them.

Crescents:

Cream together 1 cup butter and 1/2 cup icing sugar. Add 1 tsp. vanilla, 3/4 cup chopped pecans, and 3/4 cup chocolate chips (semisweet). Stir in 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour. Shape into crescents (roll into balls, roll and bit to elongate, & curve into crescents) and place on cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated 325F oven until light golden brown. Cool on racks.