...time for toys and time for cheer
We've been good but we can't last
Hurry Christmas, hurry fast
I think this silly chipmunks song -- even though I find the chipmunks' squeeky voices a bit annoying, and I haven't listened to that Christmas tape in years -- perfectly sums up my childish anticipation when it comes to Christmas. That's probably why it's been stuck in my head for the last few days.
Today I'm enjoying a somewhat lazy day because I finished my Christmas shopping, gave out all the invitations to our Christmas program, got the cards off in the mail, sent email or facebook greetings to everyone else, and I'm feeling very happy and accomplished. Starting from tomorrow we have busy programs going through Christmas day, so it's nice to sit and relax, enjoy the pretty tree, lights, and decorations, and tell myself that soon I will get up and see to the housework.
Yesterday one of my friends suggested moving some of the Christmas day celebrations, particularly opening the presents to the 26th, and I went a bit balistic. You'd have thought he was trying to cancel Christmas or something. In actuality his reasoning was good. We are going to be pretty rushed on Christmas day. But really I'm just a little kid inside who can't wait to open her presents...hurry Christmas hurry fast...
But really I think it's nice to be able to act a bit childish once in a while, especially if it means keeping that sense of childish wonder and enjoyment. After all, this is the time when we remember that God's son, probably one of the most powerful beings around, was born into the body of a little tiny and helpless baby, just because He loves us. It doesn't really matter how many times I've heard, told, or celebrated the story, I still think it's pretty awesome.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Christmas cookies & bazaars
For me a huge part of Christmas is baking. I love making desserts any time of year and for any occasion, but Christmas just isn’t Christmas without cookies, and nothing looks more Christmassy than prettily decorated sugar cookies.
This year my friend, Lily, encouraged me to make them to sell at one of the Christmas bazaars we always have a table at, and they were pretty popular. I was very happy with the little flowers and stars covered in red, green, and white sprinkles.
Here’s the recipe I used:
I like this one particularly because it uses sour cream which gives a bit more of a kick to the flavour of the cookies. Sugar cookies can tend to be a bit plain.
1 cup sugar (these are not very sweet, you could even add a little more sugar)
1 cup shortening (I use a combination of butter and oil, it mixes up better than just using butter)
1 egg
1 cup of sour cream (or use thick yogurt if you don’t have sour cream)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
About 4 ¾ cups flour (you really do need all this flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
Combine first 3 ingredients; beat until light and fluffy. Stir in sour cream and vanilla mixing well. Combing flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; add to creamed mixture, beating well (at this point you’ll have to use your hands or a fork instead of a whisk). Chill dough at least 1 hour.
Divide dough into thirds; work with one-third of dough at a time, keeping remaining dough refrigerated. Roll out onto a lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness; cut into desired shapes. Place cookies on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees (170 C) for 10 minutes or until very lightly browned.
To decorate the cookies, apply sprinkles or colored sugar before baking.
Some more interesting decorating tips I found but didn’t have time to try:
Mix an egg yolk with a drop or two of food coloring. Paint onto the cookie before baking.
Ice with royal icing (there are lots of recipes for this, and they generally all call for egg white, so you could use the yolk for painting and then pipe designs with a different coloured icing afterward)
All recipes has an excellent looking recipe for icing that only calls for mixing a little milk and corn syrup into the icing sugar. I didn’t try it, but it looks much simpler than royal icing.
This year my friend, Lily, encouraged me to make them to sell at one of the Christmas bazaars we always have a table at, and they were pretty popular. I was very happy with the little flowers and stars covered in red, green, and white sprinkles.
Here’s the recipe I used:
I like this one particularly because it uses sour cream which gives a bit more of a kick to the flavour of the cookies. Sugar cookies can tend to be a bit plain.
1 cup sugar (these are not very sweet, you could even add a little more sugar)
1 cup shortening (I use a combination of butter and oil, it mixes up better than just using butter)
1 egg
1 cup of sour cream (or use thick yogurt if you don’t have sour cream)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
About 4 ¾ cups flour (you really do need all this flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
Combine first 3 ingredients; beat until light and fluffy. Stir in sour cream and vanilla mixing well. Combing flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; add to creamed mixture, beating well (at this point you’ll have to use your hands or a fork instead of a whisk). Chill dough at least 1 hour.
Divide dough into thirds; work with one-third of dough at a time, keeping remaining dough refrigerated. Roll out onto a lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness; cut into desired shapes. Place cookies on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees (170 C) for 10 minutes or until very lightly browned.
To decorate the cookies, apply sprinkles or colored sugar before baking.
Some more interesting decorating tips I found but didn’t have time to try:
Mix an egg yolk with a drop or two of food coloring. Paint onto the cookie before baking.
Ice with royal icing (there are lots of recipes for this, and they generally all call for egg white, so you could use the yolk for painting and then pipe designs with a different coloured icing afterward)
All recipes has an excellent looking recipe for icing that only calls for mixing a little milk and corn syrup into the icing sugar. I didn’t try it, but it looks much simpler than royal icing.
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Advent of Christmas
I remember the first Advent calendar I had as I child. I was probably about ten years old, and my friends and I would race to the calendar each day and fight over who’s turn it was to open the window. It was just a simple calendar with pictures behind the little flaps. Now you can get ones with chocolates, or other sorts of surprises inside. Still I felt such excitement opening each window and counting down the days until Christmas Eve.
Today I was thinking about how wonderful it is that it’s the start of December with a whole month to enjoy the Christmas spirit. Each day is like opening the little calendar window and seeing what new surprises lie in wait for us.
This month I want to take time to appreciate the simple joys in every day. Little things like a hot cup of coffee in the morning, a transport vehicle pulling up right when I need one, or taking a pleasant walk in the sun when the traffic is blocked. Going up on the roof to take a warm nap in the sun when not feeling well. Coming home from a long day out tired and loaded down with bags, but happy to have found the perfect gift for a friend.
These are some of the little things that are making this a perfect Christmas month.
Today I was thinking about how wonderful it is that it’s the start of December with a whole month to enjoy the Christmas spirit. Each day is like opening the little calendar window and seeing what new surprises lie in wait for us.
This month I want to take time to appreciate the simple joys in every day. Little things like a hot cup of coffee in the morning, a transport vehicle pulling up right when I need one, or taking a pleasant walk in the sun when the traffic is blocked. Going up on the roof to take a warm nap in the sun when not feeling well. Coming home from a long day out tired and loaded down with bags, but happy to have found the perfect gift for a friend.
These are some of the little things that are making this a perfect Christmas month.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Happy December
It's December 1st and it's starting to feel a lot like Christmas! I like cold winters, though unfortunately there is no snow in Kathmandu valley.
To get in the mood for Christmas I'm getting an early start on my Christmas shopping. It may not seem like an early start for all those in the US where Christmas starts right after Thanksgiving, but here it's a little different.
Nepal doesn't really celebrate Christmas. The big holidays here are in October/November. Christmas has slowly been picking up popularity, but you still can find people who don't really know what it is other than that it's a western holiday.
This means that I do miss out on some things like the fantastic light displays people in other countries put up in their front yards, hearing Christmas music play in almost every store; but at the same time we also miss all the major commercialism of Christmas, which is actually quite nice.
Starting this weekend we have several programs coming up during the month, so I'll try -- internet and electricity permitting -- to update more frequently. And I hope you are all enjoying a good start to this month and feeling Christmassy. Here's a nice Christmas thought:
To get in the mood for Christmas I'm getting an early start on my Christmas shopping. It may not seem like an early start for all those in the US where Christmas starts right after Thanksgiving, but here it's a little different.
Nepal doesn't really celebrate Christmas. The big holidays here are in October/November. Christmas has slowly been picking up popularity, but you still can find people who don't really know what it is other than that it's a western holiday.
This means that I do miss out on some things like the fantastic light displays people in other countries put up in their front yards, hearing Christmas music play in almost every store; but at the same time we also miss all the major commercialism of Christmas, which is actually quite nice.
Starting this weekend we have several programs coming up during the month, so I'll try -- internet and electricity permitting -- to update more frequently. And I hope you are all enjoying a good start to this month and feeling Christmassy. Here's a nice Christmas thought:
A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
But softly gives itself away;
While quite unselfish, it grows small.
—Eva K. Logue
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