Dec 3, 2011 |
Well, here it is December 3rd, and I’ve managed to start the month by writing every day. Just when I thought I might take a break. But, I can’t seem to stop writing (go figure).
Because now I have an entire month to dote on holidays, treats, gift ideas, stories, and of course, recipes.
So stay tuned. Later today I’ll be making another batch of the Holiday Doo-Dads, and this time, I’m taking pictures. And yes. I’ll post the recipe.
Consider it one of my gifts to you.
Enjoy!
And remember to eat, drink, and be merry!
Nov 29, 2011
I am really excited to share this recipe. Yes, it was posted a few weeks ago, but this time, this time, I used the ZipList plug-in. As I recently mentioned, this gives me the ability to streamline my recipes. And gives you the ability to create your own on-line recipe box.
So have fun. Have a cookie. It’s a real gem!
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1-1/2 cup sifted confectioners sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 egg
- 2-1/2 cup sifted flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cream of tartar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup small gumdrops, sliced (don’t use black)
Instructions
- Thoroughly cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Beat in egg.
- Sift together flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Gradually stir into creamed mixture; mix well.
- Shape dough into roll 2″ in diameter x 12″ long. Wrap in wax paper, chill several hours or overnight.
- Cut 1/4-inch thick slices. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate tops with gumdrop slices.
- Bake at 350 for approximately 12 minutes, or until lightly browned.
- Cool slightly before removing from pan.
- Makes approximately 4 dozen.
3.1
https://franklymydearmojo.com/2011/11/29/recipe-gumdrop-gem-cookies/ (c) 2012 Frankly, My Dear... New Inklings Press
Nov 25, 2011
Dear Black Friday Retailers…
You disappoint me. I used to get up early. I mean, early, to shop with a friend. It was fun, exciting. Special.
But this year you have invaded my holiday. Many of you have opened your doors at a ridiculous hour. Causing your employees to choose between sleeping or celebrating. All so you can line your pockets and your CEO’s get a bonus.
Will these hourly employees see a bonus? Will they even get a raise? Will the Seasonal Employees keep their jobs after the New Year? Prob’ly not.
Do you care that most have family functions? Obviously not.
You offend me with your so-called “Holiday Spirit”. Christmas is not, repeat: not about the money. At least it shouldn’t be. But you think it is. You think it’s only about the money. Don’t pretend you are doing me a favor by dramatically lowering prices one day a year.
If your super low sales prices can sustain you through your “holiday season”, I don’t understand why you don’t keep the prices low all the time. Then perhaps people would shop more regularly. Then perhaps you would have regular income and could afford to hire more permanent help. Then perhaps those people would pump their paychecks back into the economy. Then perhaps the economy would recover more quickly.
If you can afford to lower prices the day after Thanksgiving, why can’t you lower prices on May 10th? Or August 5th? That would be doing me a favor. Or is it that you just don’t want to?
Don’t pretend you’re doing me a favor by opening up so early. Keep your doors closed til 4 a.m. Friday. Let people have the chance to enjoy time with their family and loved ones and get the sleep they need to work a ridiculously busy shift afterward. Let people have a day off without worrying about cutting their visit short, or worse, not being able to travel at all due to time constraints. That would be true “Holiday Spirit”.
It is mean, hurtful, and insensitive to take a beautiful holiday like Christmas and use it for your personal financial gain. Worse, you’ve now encroached on Thanksgiving.
But since you’re not worried about offending me, I guess you won’t mind that I won’t be shopping at your stores any time soon. I’ll be celebrating on Small Business Saturday: my locally owned and operated stores that care enough about their staff to close on Thanksgiving, and to offer good discounts throughout the year. Sure, they’re understaffed and don’t have ten thousand of the same item to sell within the first three hours. But they do have something you don’t: My business.
Insincerely yours,
Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
DISCLAIMER: I wrote this post on Wednesday. On Thanksgiving Day, my daughter and I arrived at my mom’s down the street to find my brother had driven down to surprise us for the weekend. He recently moved five hours away and is in search of a Home Goods Store. So on Black Friday, we will be riding along with him to the closest location, which is 45 minutes away from here. I can’t convince him to come back down next week to avoid Black Friday, or even shop somewhere else. I don’t plan to spend any money, and we’re not leaving at the crack at dawn. In fact, we’re just going “along for the ride” so to speak, in an attempt to spend more time with him before he leaves… and drive Mom crazy with our over-talking, loud-laughing, sibling banter. And maybe a Christmas sing-along or two. … He’s already been warned that he’d best not get me to compromise my anti-spending stance… but if he wants to spend money on us, hey. That’s his call. Welcome home, Bro. ;)
Nov 17, 2011
These were my Dad’s favorite cookies at Christmas. I haven’t made them yet this year, so don’t have any photos for my blog. Again, operative word being yet.
These are like little mini fruitcakes that go great with coffee, tea, egg nog, milk, mulled wine, cider, hot chocolate… pretty much any holiday beverage you prefer.
They’re great to give as gifts, store well in cookie jars and air-tight canisters. They also travel/ship well for those out-of-town travelers and Care Packages.
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
1-1/4 cup sifted flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 cup finely snipped dates
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chopped candied cherries
Halved candied cherries (to top cookies with)
DIRECTIONS:
Cream butter, sugar, and eggs until fluffy. Stir in sour cream.
Sift together flour, cinnamon, soda, salt, cloves. Stir into creamed mix.
Mix in oats, pecans, dates, raisins and chopped cherries.
Drop from spoon 2″ apart onto lightly greased cookie sheet. Top each with halved cherry.
Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.
Cool on rack.
Makes approximately 5 dozen.
This recipe has been entered in the 2011 Holiday Recipe Exchange. “Come join the fun at the My Baking Addiction and GoodLife Eats Holiday Recipe Swap sponsored by OXO.”
Nov 16, 2011
Hey, everyone!
So, you know I’m nuts about blog giveaways (and have populated Snobby Kitchen by entering more than a few).
Well here’s one that I stumbled upon through a fellow blogger’s site.
This is Burlap & Buttons, a great blog I just discovered. Kirstin is a crafter and she’s offering a free Wreath just for commenting on her blog post here.
Even if you’re not interested in winning, take a look at her blog. You’ll find some amazingly creative ideas on decorating, some family stories, and just good reading.
Be sure to tell her Hi from Frankly, My Dear Mojo…
