Christmas Cookies
The Smalls have just left for the Christmas vacation, and I am feeling surprisingly teary. I thought I'd be thrilled - I'm exhausted and in desperate need of a break, but in fact I feel more than a little lost. We spent the afternoon reading on the sofa in front of the fire, and the house feels strangely quiet, although Beloved will be home soon with his two, so the noise will continue shortly. I really ought to just enjoy it while I can.
I was reading one of the many magazines The Chestnut brought me the other day. This one was Tatler, which is a ridiculous publication, unless you're English, Upper Class, and sixteen. I don't buy it, and always feel as if I'm reading about a rather exclusive club of which I'm not a member.
But there was something in there that I found fascinating, namely the new teen lingo. I have noticed that The Eldest Daughter uses all sorts of peculiar acronyms and slang on her facebook profile that I don't understand, although given a while I can usually figure it out.
Of course there's the ubiquitous OMG (oh my God), and now IDK, which is I don't know, but Tatler has a couple I hadn't seen before that I quite like:
BFFN: Best friends for now, NFP, new favorite person, and the rather good Fomo: Fear of missing out, as in, it's fomo that drags me to a party on Christmas Eve when I'd rather be home wrapping presents.
Particularly brilliant were a few of Tatler's new social concepts.
Texpectation: The agony of waiting for a text from someone you like.
Chairdrobe: Accumulating discarded outfits on a chair in the bedroom. (Or in my case, bathroom. This might be my favorite).
Fakebook: Asking someone you hate to be a friend on Facebook.
Nillionaire: Someone with no money.
I will also give you the recipe for this year's holiday cookies, which have gone out as gifts together with the candied orange peel. Not for the Smalls - the taste is rather too sophisticated for them - but Grown-ups have loved them.
Christmas Cookies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 stick unsalted butter
1 cup flour
1/2 cup candied fruit peel (I find mine in the grocery store in the produce section at this time of year)
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup walnut pieces
zest of 1 orange
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 egg.
Method.
Combine first three ingredients in a mixer and blend well. Add rest and pulse until blended, but not pureed. You want the fruit and walnuts to stay in chunks, so they're vaguely recognisable. The Chestnut's daughter made these for me the other day and pulverised them, and whilst they were delicious, they didn't look nearly as pretty.
Put soft dough in saran wrap, roll into sausage shape and chill for an hour. Preheat oven to 350.
Slice into 12 thick rounds. Place well apart on a baking sheet, and bake for 10 minutes.
Enjoy.
I love it! Texpectation and nillionaire are the best!!! My new faves! Enjoy the quiet while you can. Get some reading done or something. Happy Holidays! Love, Trish and Heartbeat. (A friend on donny.com calls it that!) xxx
I love it! Texpectation and nillionaire are the best!!! My new faves! Enjoy the quiet while you can. Get some reading done or something. Happy Holidays! Love, Trish and Heartbeat. (A friend on donny.com calls it that!) xxx
wow just found out I am a nillionaire!!! LOL!!!!
Have a fantastic Christmas and a great Vacation!!
Christmas hugs, Bev X
wow just found out I am a nillionaire!!! LOL!!!!
Have a fantastic Christmas and a great Vacation!!
Christmas hugs, Bev X
Merry Christmas Jane!!
I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself in that lovely warm climate!
p.s. my flowers from Botanica arrived this morning and they are absolutely spectacular - thank-you so much for the recommendation!
Merry Christmas Jane!!
I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself in that lovely warm climate!
p.s. my flowers from Botanica arrived this morning and they are absolutely spectacular - thank-you so much for the recommendation!
Your Christmas cookies sound infinitely easier to make than the ones I chose to slave over. While Stained Glass Ornament cookies look beautiful and taste great, they take quite a bit of effort to make! If you're ever feeling adventurous with your cookies (and I'm sure you will, since you always seem to be whipping up something phenomenal), visit MSN.com's Delish! section, and simply look up Stained Glass Ornament Cookies. They're made with a butter cookie recipe and hard candy.
Many wishes for a happy holiday season for you and yours, and enjoy the enviably gorgeous weather in the Bahamas!!
Your Christmas cookies sound infinitely easier to make than the ones I chose to slave over. While Stained Glass Ornament cookies look beautiful and taste great, they take quite a bit of effort to make! If you're ever feeling adventurous with your cookies (and I'm sure you will, since you always seem to be whipping up something phenomenal), visit MSN.com's Delish! section, and simply look up Stained Glass Ornament Cookies. They're made with a butter cookie recipe and hard candy.
Many wishes for a happy holiday season for you and yours, and enjoy the enviably gorgeous weather in the Bahamas!!
The cookies are delicious Jane, do you have the recipe for those neat orange rind ones dipped in chocolate?
Thanks for including the above recipe!
The cookies are delicious Jane, do you have the recipe for those neat orange rind ones dipped in chocolate?
Thanks for including the above recipe!
Suzanne - the recipe for the candied orange peel is under recipes on the right hand side. Merry Christmas! j x
I'd like to share my new work with you. Debation. The state of debating something. I'm in debation; should I wear my brown shoes or my blue shoes? My sister & are the only ones that use it.
I'd like to share my new work with you. Debation. The state of debating something. I'm in debation; should I wear my brown shoes or my blue shoes? My sister & are the only ones that use it.