Oct Rudy Day
Movie: I really do not have a favorite Christmas movie. What is yours that you like to watch by yourself and why?
Book: I really like murder msysteries. Probably not the best thing for a Rudy Day reading. But this book is rather funny reading:
Letters to Santa Adorable Christmas Letter from Children Over a hundred years ago or any Santa letter book.
Have you saved any of the letters your children have written? What would You say in a letter if you wrote one this year?
Recipe Book: The Christmas cookbook: Delicious recipes for pastries, appetizers and main courses to enhance Christmas with a French flavor
On Facebook, Crafting with the Shabby Tree
Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.
www.facebook.com
She also has a Blog with craft videos
theshabbytree.com
I’m pretty sure someone here turned me on to The Shabby Tree. Raise your hand. I need to thank you.
Facebook scrapbooking site: Scrapper’s Challenge by Kathy Aho. She is really nice. Search on Christmas once you get to her page. For Oct her subject is Family History
Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.
www.facebook.com
And Christmas is a great time to ask people about family stories. Well maybe not this year but during a phone call you can ask.
What is your favorite family Christmas Photo? Now or something from your childhood?
Pinterest idea: Do a search for Christmas Family Photos that you can use this year. If you are by yourself you still are a family! Post a photo for us to see or write down an idea you have been thinking of using.
One year I found Snowman shirts at Walmart. Of course they only had one shirt. I needed five in different sizes so I made them myself. Of course I can not find a photo now.
Photo Pet Peeve: I do not like to receive family photos of just the kids. I call them Orphan Photos. What are your likes and dislikes about Christmas photos?
My favorite carol: Carol of the bells
What is you favorite memory of Christmas?
I remember going up on stage to get a Christmas Sock from Santa. They always had an orange in the toe, some little toys and candy. Always a candy cane. My older brother always tried to talk me out of the orange. Didn’t work. At that time oranges were expensive so they were a real treat.
What was one of your disasters and how has it helped you in preparing for Christmas this year?
One year I was shopping for Christmas gifts in March. Not for the coming year but for the previous year. Decided I would never do that again. That is how I found Organizing Christmas. Share one of your disasters.
What is your Dream Christmas?
To experience Christmas on the Beach in Australia!
Favorite Cookie. Well worth the time to prepare them: Nigella lawson’s Pistachio macaroon buttercream cookies.
http://www.edible-woman.com/pistachio-macarons/
Interesting Blogs:
https://wisconsinmagpie.com/?s=christmas
http://celebrateanddecorate.com/?s=christmas
Here’s an 1900 photo from the Library of Congress
https://www.loc.gov/resource/ggbain.37759/
What is your Favorite Christmas Recipe that has a story? Please share it with us.
Chocolate Covered Cherries
As a kid in the 1950s my Aunt Erna made wonderful candies at Christmas. When we were at her house she stored these candies on the stairwell in a big ceramic bowl going upstairs to the unheated attic. The kids all played in attic. I had a 101 excuses to go down the attic stairs so I could steal a Candy. She died when I was 13 so I did not get her recipe. Thirty years later in 1993 my mom died, I received her recipe box. Yep, I found the recipe in her box. Since then I have shared with only one person. This is my Christmas gift to you.
Aunt Erna’s Chocolate Covered Cherries
Drain a jar of Maraschino Cherries
With or without stems
I then lay them on a paper towel to dry off
Beat until soft 1/2 cup butter (yes use butter)
Add very slowly 1 pound Powered sugar (3 1/2 cups)
Beat until very light
Add 4 tablespoons heavy cream and 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Shape into 1 1/2 inch balls with a dry off cherry in the middle. Roll this in some powered sugar and shake off the extra. Set aside on wax paper.
Chocolate Coating
Melt 4 ounces unsweetened bittersweet baking chocolate with 2 tablespoons butter and 1 inch square of paraffin. Add 5 drops of vanilla. Dip the candy into the chocolate and set on wax paper to dry. Be sure to cover the stem if you have them on the cherries.
Cut squares of plastic wrap to wrap around the cherries once they are set. Next hide them so I do not steal them.
Notes
You may have to add more powered sugar when you start rolling the butter and powered sugar. If it is sticky it needs more powered sugar or it needs to be cooled. Once you start working with it you will be able to tell which to do.
When you roll the candy in the powered sugar make sure to shake off any extra or the chocolate will not stick.
You can put nuts or dried fruit inside instead of cherries. I have added Kahlua to the butter and powered sugar mix. Some years I used drunken cherries.
I have used white Almond Bark for a coating. With a sweetened coating it might be too sweet but dear daughter likes white chocolate.
I have never liked the Chocolate covered cherries that you buy in a box.
I have made this totally by hand or using a hand held mixer .One year for Christmas I asked for a Kitchen Aid mixer specifically to make these candies.
Store in Refrigerator but not on the attic stairs