Happy Winter Solstice!

I love December 21. Not only is it our son's birthday--a joyous thing!, but it is the winter solstice.

Why would a sun-lover like me love the shortest day of the year?

Because after today, the sun begins it's journey back to our hemisphere. Every day between now and June 21, there is a smidgen more daylight each day.

Which means spring is on it's way.

Longer, sunnier days.

Rose blossoms.

Heat.

Pool, picnic, and porch swing time.

Just knowing the sun is beginning it's journey back is enough to get me through the cloudy, gray, cold days to come.

It seems like a grand time to start a new project or two, doesn't it?

A SUN Day

I know I promised the Mint Chocolate Cookie recipe, but the SUN came out on Friday. After days of gray, gloomy, misty, foggy, windy, cold weather you didn't expect me to stay inside on a pretty winter's day, did you?

I spent the afternoon catching up on gardening tasks. Cleaning up some post-summer debris, harvesting seed pods, watering thirsty roots. Most of all, soaking up the sun.

Gardeners are a faith-filled folk. How else can you imagine the importance of a dry husk? Gardeners take a seemingly dead thing--a seed--plant it and hope for growth. Amazing thought. Even more amazing is when the seed sprouts and vibrant life springs forth.

As I ripped the crispy Moonflower vines from the trellis, I gathered seed pods. Holding them in my hand, I realized I was holding next summer's flowers...those saucer sized, sweet-scented, impossibly white blooms which unfurl as the sun sets. Long ago I read a saying about seeds....Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in the seeds. For a few minutes on Friday, I felt like I was sharing a secret with the Creator. I don't know how many blossoms are in there, but I know they are there. Isn't that marvelous?


There are lots of seeds in your creative life right now. Some of them are very dry and unpromising looking. Some are swelled with the potential for life. Some have been laying abandoned on hardscrabble dirt for years. All of them need water, a safe place to flourish, and nurturing. Isn't it exciting to participate in their coming to life? I know beautiful blooms are in there...waiting for their turn in the sun.

I can't wait to see what blossoms in your creative soul.

Christmas Cookies

It's cold outside, so we've been cooking up a storm inside. Christmas treats for the most part. Recipes filled with yumminess and generous helpings of love and good wishes. I usually make biscotti with only almonds in it, but for Christmas it is fun to add color and additional flavor.


Cherry Biscotti

You can use either dried cherries or maraschino cherries. If using dried, soak in hot water for 10-15 minutes to plump. If using maraschinos, quarter and lay out on paper towels to drain for 10 minutes or so.

2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

3 large eggs, beaten lightly

2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon almond extract

Zest from one lemon. (An orange can be used if desired)

1 cup sliced almonds, toasted and cooled
1 cup cherries

1 egg for an egg wash.

Toast the almonds on a cookie sheet in a 350 degree oven for ten minutes. Stir half way through. Allow to cool.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Sift together 2 cups of flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

In a small bowl, combine eggs, sugar, vanilla, and almond extracts, plus the lemon zest.

Make a well in the flour mixture. Add eggs and sugar mix to the well. Stir the flour into the well slowly mixing. If necessary, add additional flour to make a workable dough.

Add almonds and cherries. Fold into dough until mixed.

Divide dough into two equal pieces. Flour your hands to keep dough from sticking to you. Gently form the dough into logs--about two inches x eight or ten inches. Carefully transfer each cylinder to the parchment lined baking sheet. Evenly brush the dough with egg wash.

Bake until dough is slightly risen and light golden. About 25-30 minutes. (If you are using maraschino cherries and the dough is a bit wetter, allow for the longer baking time.)

Allow to cool on a cooling rack for ten minutes.

On a cutting board, slice each cylinder at a sharp diagonal angle. Make the slices 1/2 inch thick. Stand the biscotti upright on the baking sheet with some space between them.
Return to oven and bake until biscotti are a deep golden brown, about 15 minutes.

These are dry crispy cookies perfect for dipping in coffee or a rich wine. Once cooled, the biscotti can be stored in an airtight container for up to one month.

To make even more special, melt some good chocolate and dip one end of the biscotti into chocolate.

My original recipe came from Patricia Well's 'Trattoria' cookbook. I have tweaked it a bit in the years I've been making it. Usually when we make this recipe, we triple it. It's that good.

Santa Fe Stew Day

It's a cold, gray, and windy Monday. I'm thankful for the bright cheerfulness Christmas lights and decor bring to my surroundings. A day like this is perfect for Santa Fe Stew.

Santa Fe Stew - makes approximately 4 quarts

1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 or 2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 packet taco season mix, if desired
32 oz. Velvetta, either hot or mild depending on taste
1 can whole kernel corn with liquid
1 can kidney or pinto beans
1 small can chopped green chilies
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1 can beef broth or two cups of water (Omit to make the stew thicker)

Cook hamburger, onion, and garlic in skillet. Drain any grease. Add taco seasoning.

Add meat mixture to crock pot. Add all other ingredients. Let simmer several hours.

Serve with warm crusty bread, tortillas, or crackers.

Note: if cooked in a regular pan on the stovetop, this recipe will scorch. I prefer using a crockpot set on low.

It's even better the second day after all the flavors have mellowed together.
Freezes well.

What's on your To-Do list?

Tis the season of busy.

What's still on your list to accomplish before the big day?

Mine:

Finishing addressing Christmas cards, seal, send.

Make a pie. Cherry, apple, or pecan?

Wrap some stocking stuffers.

Assemble a Christmas care package for oldest son.

Assemble a birthday care package for oldest son.

Ship care packages.

Drive around and look at Christmas lights

Finish Twilight Zone-ish short story.

Decide on next sewing/quilt project

Ongoing house tidying

Finish gifts for people in our lives. Give.

Here's to checking things off in a timely manner!

Gift ideas for Creative Souls

Need some ideas on how to stuff the stockings of your creative friends? Or, maybe, you need to give a list to someone in your life so they can stuff your stockings in a grand fashion?

1. Small supplies.

For Quilters, a spiffy new rotary cutter with blades, a handmade pincushion, or a new ruler. Fat quarters and charm packs are always fun.
Gardeners love cool hand tools like trowels and pruners, knee pads, hand lotion, wind chimes, bird houses, seeds, small transplants from your garden.
Artists (gotta think of another name for these...we are all artists) brushes, portable cases, hand made papers, sketch books, inspiration books.
Writers--interesting pens, printer cartridges, paper, clever notebooks, Starbucks cards, small pillow for their backs while they write.

2. Magazine subscriptions to a creative magazine.

3. Artist Date supplies....entry to an art museum, promise of lunch out with like minded souls.

4. Creative books

5. Junque...cute themed key chains, mouse pads, Christmas ornaments, socks, tee-shirts.

What are some of your favorite creative boosting gifts you've gotten or given over the years?

Finished Quilt!

I finished it this morning!

This quilt was my 're-learn to quilt' project. It is a generous lap-sized quilt in rich purple solids, dark greens, and bright sunflower prints. The colors are my favorites and designed to be a cheerful spot of intensity during the cold, gray days of winter.

Some of the corners won't hold up to close scrutiny and the binding has more issues than a magazine subscription, but it's all there. Put together and and use-able.

My theme in 2008 has been Do It! For the later part of the year, I've enhanced the thought with Finish It! By completing the NaNoWriMo challenge, a significant church project, and this little quilt, I feel like I'm on a roll.

This is fun! Now what?