Merry Christmas – With Cocoa!

I’m sitting on the sofa next to our lovely lighted Christmas tree, all aglow with multi-colored orbs that illuminate the shiny, sparkly, glittery blown glass ornaments that adorn it. My son is sleeping next to me, my husband watching the Dr. Who Christmas special behind me while sitting at his desk. I have candles lit in all of our milk glass and Christmas candle holders; the entire house is awash in soft light. And sitting on the coffee table before me is a steaming mug of hot cocoa.

As many of you know, it is our Christmas day tradition to celebrate at home together – no traveling, no guests – just a special day for us. It was extra special today since it our son’s first Christmas. We woke at a leisurely hour and breakfasted on scrambled eggs and bacon, because that’s what we had a taste for. We lounged around a bit and then dove into our gifts. We celebrate modestly at our house, with just a few well-thought-out gifts for each other. My husband got me a game I’d had my eye on, which will be great fun to play after dinner, as well as a cast iron cornbread pan – which I had to try out right away at lunch. I baked up a pan of cornbread to go with 15 bean soup and it was great. It’s a round pan divided into wedges, so every piece is an end piece! And that’s the best piece of cornbread if you ask me. I gave him some acrylic risers to display his award-winning miniatures pieces as well as a pair of glasses etched with Viking helmets and a bottle of his favorite adult beverage. And for our son – fabric fruit and veggie baskets, a book, an embroidered name plaque that I made and a quilt that I sewed him. In his stocking he received felt booties that I sewed as well as four miniature Sesame Street board books. So a nice, simple gift exchange.

This afternoon we relaxed – played with the baby and his new fabric food set on the floor, read the Saveur that was in my stocking and worked on a little sewing. Husband worked on some of his miniatures. The baby got to nap a lot. I’ve mixed up the dough for Russian teacakes and it’s chilling in the fridge, and I’ve got bread dough for pain d’epi on it’s third rise in the kitchen. In a bit here when I get up, I’m going to make a double batch of snickerdoodles and do a bit more sewing. Maybe have a bath later.

Dinner tonight will be our traditional meal – Norwegian meatballs, mashed potatoes, dill gravy, bread stuffing and ligonberries. And I’ll mix up a little warm glogg to go with it as well. Cookies for dessert, of course. One of the best things about Christmas day has got to be dinner. We’ve been having this one for years (sometimes we add a ham or turkey breast alongside) and it really hits the spot.

Oh, and about that cocoa. You didn’t think I’d mention hot cocoa and leave you all hanging did you? When I want hot cocoa, I do not want some fancy triple chocolate concoction hiding under a pouf of whipped cream. I don’t want peppermint. I don’t want home made marshmallows. I want the Swiss Miss that I grew up with. But I don’t want the preservatives and dairy by-products that pre-packaged drink mixes are laced with. And besides, it’s just as easy to make your own. If you just want one decadent cup, or you want to make a batch for a small crowd, here’s what you’ll need -

Single Mug

2 tablespoons cocoa

4 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

big pinch of salt

2 cups soymilk (or milk, if you can have that)

For a Crowd (serves 6)

3/4 cup cocoa

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/3 cup vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

12 cups soymilk (or milk)

For either quantity, you’ll want to put your cocoa, sugar and vanilla into a saucepan over medium low heat. Slowly whisk in your soymilk until the sugar and cocoa are dissolved and it’s heated through, but don’t let it come to a boil. If you still have little lumps of cocoa, just pour it through a fine-mesh strainer. It happens, and it can be hard to whisk them all out. You could also make it with water instead of soymilk if you’re inclined – it’ll still taste great, though not quite as rich.

I hope you all have had a Merry Christmas and got to spend some good quality time with your loved ones. And fortunately, the holiday isn’t over yet! I encourage you to whip up a batch of tasty hot cocoa this evening and let the good times linger. And hopefully you all get one more free day like I do tomorrow – hot cocoa also makes a nice breakfast beverage treat.

Countdown to Christmas

Well, here we are – one week until Christmas. I haven’t posted anything about it because I’ve been so busy getting ready. It’s been a veritable Santa’s workshop at Apartment Farm this year. I made a quilt, embroidered name plaque and baby booties for the baby this year. And I’ve got four sewing projects and a little something for husband to finish up this weekend too. And of course, we still have wrap everything. Busy, busy!

I’ve also been baking cookies (of course). Recently I’ve done chocolate chip and soft gingerbread drop cookies. Tomorrow I’m going to do a double batch of snickerdoodles, dipped in red and green sprinkles, as well as some Russian teacakes since those are husband’s favorite. I don’t think I’m going to be able to get to the spritz this year since I have no idea where the press is. I think it’s in a plastic bin at the bottom and back of the canning cupboard, where it will have to stay. I just don’t have the energy or the will to unpack everything in there to dig it out. Next year though.

And despite some drama, we were able to purchase our annual Christmas ornament – a nativity scene of Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus. We thought it was especially fitting this year since we brought home our own wee babe just three months ago. And we didn’t have a nativity ornament yet, so double-win. The baby loves looking at the Christmas tree – all the bright colors and shiny and glittery ornaments really catch his eye.

We’ve been having a lot of cozy time in at home, which is the perfect way to spend cold winter days where it gets dark before four o’clock in the afternoon. We actually have a fair number of Christmasy Golden Books, so we’ve read through those. And we’ve gotten a few Christmas and winter-themed books from the library. We watched Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer together. This week we’re going to try to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas. And I’ve been doing a lot of crockpot and casserole dinners – bean and ham soup with rosemary, scalloped potatoes, chicken with onions and tomatoes in red wine, and the like.  And I try to bake fresh bread every week – I’ve been doing a lot of pain d’epi and rye loaves.

So we’ve been busy, but we’re really enjoying the season and hope all of you are as well!

Recent Sewing Projects

Now that the season of mass gift-giving is over, I can post a few of the sewing projects I did for Christmas. I didn’t get as much done as I wanted (and like a broken record every year, in January I vow to start my Christmas projects for the next season right away…). At any rate, these are the crayon rolls and craft totes that I made for my nieces. I also sewed a black, red and white apron that for some reason I can’t find the photo of on my computer. C’est la vie.

Happy New Years!

What a year it’s been; it flew by so quickly I almost don’t know where it went. I’m pretty excited because on this last day of 2010, four month’s into living at our new apartment, we finally have internet at home! Small successes are sometimes the most important ones.

Christmas was wonderful. We got to see most our of family, and my sister even brought my nieces out here so we could celebrate in the city. For our Christmas dinner at home I made Norwegian meatballs with dill gravy, mashed potatoes and peas – a small low-key dinner this year. Husband got me the bread knife I’ve been coveting for about forever and a wrought iron spice rack, among other things.

Our New Year’s Eve celebration tonight will be low-key as well since we’re both still suffering from the most awful colds ever – sore throat and everything. The morning was spent in ultimate boring fashion taking down all of the Christmas decor (minus the tree) and reorganizing the kitchen and crafts area. It’s nice to start the new year tidy and organized. Tonight I’m going to make pan-fried lamb blade chops and poor man’s risotto, with tunnel of fudge cake for dessert. And we’ve got a nice bottle of champagne to enjoy, even though we’re still both sick. And of course tomorrow, we’re both all geared up to watch the Winter Classic hockey game. A cozy weekend in is a great way to celebrate in my opinion.

Thanks everyone for continuing to stop by my little slice of the world. I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Years!

A Little More Gingerbread

I came across Craft Gossip via a post by Not Martha today and discovered that Mighty Girl has an awesome post about Gingerbread Cities. Quite a string of hyperlinks, I know – but’s well worth checking out, especially the White House and the Eiffel Tower! Merry Christmas everyone!

Winter Chill

It is cold in Chicago. So cold that I am loathe to leave the house. But with Christmas less than a week away that’s likely a good thing. My apartment looks like a tornado just went through the toy workshop the North Pole – piles of wrapping paper (this year, it’s store-bought – one is printed with peppermint candies of all shapes and sizes and the other is printed with winterberry branches on snow), ribbons and gift tags, half-finished sewing projects and baking ingredients. But I’ve been getting a lot done. I’ve sewn a lot of gifts this year, including two crayon rolls and mini tote bags for art kits for my nieces. I actually remembered to take pictures of everything before wrapping it, so I’ll get those posted soon I promise – and I’ve even got a new camera that I actually know how to use too!

I need to finish a small zippered bag for a “makeup kit” for my eldest niece – she’s four and loves to do her “makeup” with mommy in the morning. I found some cute little lip balms that are shaped liked cupcakes along with some brightly colored hair clips and nailpolish (which her mother strangely agreed would be fine for me to include). And I do have a little hand sewing left to do, in finishing the play fruit for my younger niece’s other gift – I’ve got to finish the strawberries I started last week as well as do up some lemon and orange slices. I should be able to finish them up this week while parked in front of the television (as I inevitably will be for a least a few hours – I need decompression time after the office job!) 

I’ve done a little bit of baking this year, mostly by doing quick breads. Last week’s cookie baking with my in laws got cancelled because of some nasty weather, but I do plan to do some Russian Tea Cakes (which are husband’s favorite) and some snickerdoodles (which are mine) this evening so we have some tasty munchies this week. I’m also going to do another batch of my Super-Pumpkin Pumpkin Bread so we’ve  got something good for breakfasts this week.

Time just seems to fly by me lately – I still can’t quite figure out where this year has gone. There have certainly been some difficult moments in the last year, but I feel good to have my family around and a good home to comfort me. I probably won’t post a whole lot of new stuff between now and New Year’s because this time of the year is so hectic, but I promise to be back full-swing in January – I’ve got two seed catalogs to continue planning with, and lots of post-Christmas winter projects to – sewing “draft dodgers” for the in front of the doors, sewing house slippers, working on scrapbooks and trying some new things in the kitchen – so stay tuned for all of that. And if I don’t get a chance to say it to you all in between now and then – have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Gingerbread Roundup

As an homage to the season, and as a reminder to you all that I haven’t forgotten you in the hustle and bustle (Christmas in a week!!? There’s still so much to do!) I thought I’d post a little roundup of nifty gingerbread things I’ve come across recently.

- How to make a gingerbread house mug garnish (so cute!)

- “Half eaten” gingerbread man ornaments (wickedly fun)

- “The Gingerbread Architect” by Susan Matheson (I wish I had the patience to build some of these designs!)

- Martha Stewart’s Christmas Workshop: Gingerbread (some beautiful house designs)

- An awesome photo of a gingerbread streetscape at Chicks & Gluesticks

- An impressive array of gingerbread stuctures at Ultimate Gingerbread

- A gingerbread Tardis (for all of you Dr. Who fans out there!)

Happy Holidays!

Christmas is Coming!

I love Christmas. It’s glittery, sparkly, and warm. You get to spend time indoors with tea or cocoa or spiced wine and tasty baked goods and share it all with the people you love. And it’s so fun to make or choose the perfect gift for people that deserve something special.

As per our usual tradition, we got our Christmas tree from Gethsemane Garden Center on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year, we had Grandpa Olsen join us. The day was crisp and cold and sunny – a perfect winter day. Gethsemane was bustling with other families on their Christmas tree mission, but it wasn’t so swamped that it was impossible to get around. After much deliberation, we chose a five foot Fraser fir. I think this is the second year in a row we’ve gotten a Fraser Fir. In my opinion, you just can’t beat the color, fragrance and lasting ability of them.

In addition to the tree, we also wanted some greenery for the back deck. We selected two bunches of pine boughs for the window box, as well as some branches of wintergreen. We also got an 18 inch round boxwood wreath.

We laid the pine boughs and some of the wintergreen into the window box, securing them down with landscape pins. In the planter in front of our bedroom window where we have the dwarf creeping juniper dwarf blue spruce planted, we also laid some of the pine boughs down in front where a few gourds were previously. We also stuck a few wintergreen branches vertically in back for a little height. For the wreath, I wound a glittery red ribbon around it and we hung it on the back door. And I had intended to post pictures, but we forgot about taking them while it was still daylight and now we’ll have to wait until the next weekend since it gets dark at four o’clock. (I really do intend to start posting photos here again!)

While the tree was opening up, I put around all my Christmas tchotchkes – nutcrackers, candles, figurines and such. I hung the stockings in their place of honor on our bookcases. And then trimmed our tree with colored lights and our ever-growing collection of hand-blown and vintage Shiny Brite ornaments. The house is looking quite festive!

I also got started on some of my Christmas crafting – I’ve got fabric pieces cut for four gifts, and have to cut fabric for another four gifts in the next week, so everything is all ready to sew up at once. I also started crocheting another gift, and will be taking my crochet tote on the train this week in order to get a few things done during the commute. Let the games begin!

Holiday Wine Guide

A bottle of wine makes a great gift – for the hostess, people who have everything or professionals that you’d like to give a holiday present to. I’m still at the basics level when choosing wine, but fortunately Natalie McLean has some entertaining suggestions for which kind of wine to share this holiday season.

 “Wine is one of the few presents that makes both the giver and the receiver look good,” says Natalie MacLean, the red-nosed e-sommelier behind www.nataliemaclean.com, one of the largest wine web sites. “You look like you spent a bundle on the gift (even if you didn’t) and the recipients are happy that you think they know something about wine (even if they don’t).”

This holiday season, anyone can tap into MacLean’s expertise via her free web site and mobile apps for iPhone, BlackBerry, Droid and other smartphones. They help consumers with a whole new type of pairing: wine with the people on your Christmas shopping list. The app and site also pair wines to thousands of dishes, including holiday favorites, such as turkey, goose, duck, and even partridge in a pear tree.

“When you give wine, doubles are fine, there are no wrong sizes and you can always find something good in stock,” MacLean adds. “Vintage gifts will get anyone into the holiday spirits.”

Natalie’s Top Ten Gift Wines for Your …   

1. Hairdresser: For the person who combines humor and optimism every time she styles your mop. Go for a light, gulpable wine like a dry rosé. It’s versatile and fuss-free—a great quaff for your coif. 

2. Psychiatrist: Of course, he’ll analyze whatever you give him so choose a wine that’s all about balance. Easy-drinking pinot noir is medium-bodied yet packed with flavor. Surprise him with a large-format bottle, like a magnum. Big thinking means big progress for you. This wine also works for psychologists, marriage counselors and bartenders.

3. The Boss: Pick too pricey a wine and your boss will think your last raise was too much; go cheap, and she’ll think you lack judgement. Focus on a label with a lot of white space since that makes the bottle look more expensive. A castle in the distance also works, but avoid fluffy animals.

4. Personal Trainer: Think a muscular, robust red would work? Hold that position. Instead, try riesling: this light white wine pairs well with a health-nut diet of salad and seafood, plus it’s low in alcohol. You can also give it to Pilates instructors, yoga masters and Tai Chi coaches.

5. Financial Planner: You and he both know it’s going to take decades before your portfolio recovers after the crash of 2008. With that long-term view, vintage port makes the perfect gift. This fortified wine from northern Portugal, with its long aging potential, will be around for both of you into your retirements.

6. Travel Agent: She’s been everywhere and seen everything, so go local with your choice of wine. Even better, if you live close to the winery, get the bottle signed by the winemaker.

7. Teacher: If you can’t find a suitably obscure wine with a Latin name, there’s always cream sherry. It’s the tipple of Oxford dons, not to mention the centerpiece of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic short story The Case of the Amontillado.

8. Mail Deliverer: Go for a winery that’s consistent year after year in producing a wine that can be enjoyed in snow, rain, sleet or hail. Try an Australian shiraz or Argentine malbec.

9. Mechanic: Yes, there’s a wine called Red Truck, but try to be more imaginative. Why not give a wine made by Mario Andretti in California or Ferrari in Italy?

10. Online Date: So you’re on your second or third rendezvous with the person you met on eHarmony or Dating.com. If you’re not sure yet whether marriage is a possibility, try something middle-of-the-road, like merlot. Yes, it’s the soft jazz of wine, but until you know, play it safe.

And after all that shopping, don’t forget yourself: even Santa’s little helpers need more than milk and cookies. Try something with high-alcohol like Italian Amarone or Rhone syrah: these big reds easily drown out tone-deaf caroling and pair beautifully with tired feet.

For Natalie’s favorite wineries, tasting notes and recipe matches for all the wine types mentioned above, please visit: http://bit.ly/GiftWine

With Natalie’s great suggestions in mind, for a little extra holiday flair, think gift wrap. There are countless styles of wine gift bags on the market, but customizing your own is easy. You can find plain white or brown gift bags at craft stores or the Container Store.

For a simple classy bag, you can’t go wrong with gold. I like to take a brown bag and turn it into a faux bois masterpiece with a little gold acrylic paint and a faux bois tool. Using a foam brush, paint a thin layer of paint onto the front of the bag, then gently drag the faux bois tool down the paint, gently rocking it, as you drag it toward you in one stroke. It takes a little practice, so try it out on a few scrap sheets first until you get the look you want. When the front of the bag dries, do the same on the back side. Paired with green velvet ribbon and some frosted pinecones, it’s a sophisticated way to present a quality bottle of wine.

You can also use a hole punch to add a border to the top of your bag – snowflakes or scrolls are both festive choices. And you can find a multitude of rubber stamps these days – you can use traditional ink with these, or stamp into adhesive so that you can emboss, glitter or flock the image.

However you choose to present your wine, keep these easy suggestions in mind this year while doing your holiday shopping – your recipients will be glad you did when they’re able to pop a cork after the hustle and bustle of season and enjoy a glass that was picked just for them.

Let Them Eat Gifts!

Tis the season for giving, and what better gift to give than one that’s edible? Something you craft yourself is more special than a random something chosen from an over-crowded store, and for those who have everything, you can’t go wrong with food or beverage.

Some excellent food gift items that have caught my attention recently are -

- custom blended spice or marinade mixes

- gingerbread or cranberry scone dry mix

- home made marshmallows with chile spiked hot chocolate

- home baked rye crackers with a bottle of wine (bonus points if you make the wine yourself)

- custom blended herbal tea mix

- candy cane bark

- chocolate dipped anything

- red velvet whoopee pies

- a trio of mini breads (cranberry, gingerbread and pumpkin are great)

- limoncello

- schnapps

- peanut butter balls

- custom blended popcorn seasonings

- home made oatmeal cream pies

- cocoa brownie dry mix

- orzo, couscous or rice mixes

- cornbread dry mix with custom blended chili seasoning

For recipes for some of the gifts above, you can look for the Food Gifts magazine by Better Homes & Gardens. Items in green above can be found inside, as well as a lot more and great packaging ideas. Yes, it’s $10.00 but treat it like a book and keep it on your reference shelf – you’ll come back to these ideas year after year.

And of course, if you thought ahead this past summer and fall, you might have jams, jellies, pickles and such that always make great gifts. And think about those things that everyone asks you to cook – can you turn it into a dry mix you can share? And you can never go wrong with a box of cookies, fudge, nut brittles or breads. These are often treats that nearly everyone loves, but most people won’t make for themselves – making them coveted little luxuries. And if you’re really interested in doing something unique, if you start now there’s just enough time for you to brew a batch of beer or wine in time for Christmas.

I’ve got an idea as to what I’ll be handing out this year, but my lips are sealed since this is a public forum and all – so I’ll have to catch you up after the fact on what made the cut. But rest assured, I’ll be food crafting up a storm over the next six weeks!