Billie's Christmas Corner: Aug 7

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Almond Lace Cookies, Florentines (Italy)

Florentines (Italy) From Food Network Kitchens

These Tuscan cookies are a Christmas classic. They're nutty,

lacy and crisp, as well as deceptively simple to make.

Drizzling them with chocolate turns them into the perfect

holiday indulgence.

1 3/4 cups sliced, blanched almonds (about 5 ounces)

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Finely grated zest of 1 orange (about 2 tablespoons)

1/4 teaspoon fine salt

3/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons heavy cream

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Chocolate Topping, optional:

2 to 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350

degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or

parchment paper.

Pulse the almonds in a food processor until finely chopped,

but not pasty. Stir together the nuts, flour, zest and salt in

a large bowl.

Put the sugar, cream, corn syrup and butter in a small

saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until

mixture comes to a rolling boil and sugar is completely

dissolved. Continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and

stir in the vanilla, then pour mixture into almond mixture and

stir just to combine. Set aside until cool enough to handle,

30 minutes.

Scoop rounded teaspoons (for 3-inch cookies) or rounded

tablespoons (for 6-inch cookies) of batter and roll into

balls. Place on prepared baking sheet, leaving about 3 to 4

inches between each cookie since they spread.

Bake 1 pan at a time, until the cookies are thin and an even

golden brown color throughout, rotating pans halfway through

baking time, about 10 to 11 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for

5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool. Repeat with

remaining batter. Serve.

Optional chocolate topping:

Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan

filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very low simmer; set

the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate

occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the

chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent

power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and

continue heat until completely melted, about 1 to 2 minutes

more.)

For sandwiches: Drop about 1/2 teaspoon chocolate onto on the

flat side of half of the cookies and press together with

remaining halves. Return to rack and let chocolate set.

For chocolate decor: Drizzle melted chocolate over Florentines

as desired. Set aside at room temperature until chocolate is

set.

Busy baker's tips: Store baked cookies carefully, separated by

parchment or waxed paper, in an air-tight container for up to

3 days. Florentines are best stored separated from moist

cookies and cakes.

Reserved

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: "Dreams Take Their Place..."

by R. Armistead Grady
IDEALS Christmas Magazine 1962

It's over now, this lovely day.
Dreams take the place of laughter gay.
We dim the lights on Christmas tree,
And then we tiptoe around to see...
Mother and I, each little bed,
To touch every weary little head.
We tuck them in... Mother and I,
With mingled smile and prayer and sigh.
It's over now, the day is done,
But ah! what mem'ries have begun.

The shouts of ectasy and joy,
The charm of happy little boy,
The budding mother-love aglow
As little girls their dollies show.

The sweet clean faith of little lad
In Mother, Santa Claus, and Dad.
The smiles that flash from heart to heart
In mem'ries play a lovely part.
The stars in Mother's eyes I see,
To light my memories for me.

We dim the lights on Christmas trees,
But ah! ...what lovely memories
Light up our hearts, and shining there
Make every day almost as fair.

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http://cathiefilian.blogspot.com/2009/12/create-vintage-style-holiday-wreath.html#

Create a Vintage Style Holiday Wreath

Create a Vintage Style Holiday Wreath
Vintage holiday style and decorations are back in fashion this season for home décor. It is once again hip to pay tribute to holidays past. Soft hues of pinks and peaches mixed with pastel blues and warm lime greens are being paired with traditional cranberry and forest green. Gold and silver metallic tinsel are also being used to complete a color pallet that is warm and inviting.

It is easy to achieve a vintage look on a budget. For tree decorating, all you need is simple white lights, colored ornament balls, strings of tinsel and a star topper. If you want to add a little glitz to the ornaments, add a little white glue to the top with a foam paintbrush, sprinkle a little glitter into the glue and tap of the excess.

For tabletop decorations, try wrapping Styrofoam cones with tinsel and hot gluing a few small ornament balls around the cone. If you have clear vases or bowls, fill them to the rim with ornament balls and bits of tinsel.

For mantles, create your own signature style vintage wreath with the simple instructions below. All the items needed are readily available at any craft store. Have fun decorating this season and get creative expressing your vintage style.

Materials:
Small wood birdhouse
FolkArt Craft paint: Belle Blush, Taffy and Fresh Foliage
Foam paintbrush
Mod Podge
Tissue paper: cream; peach and light green
Scissors
Decorative paper
Folk Art Texture Paint
Toothpick
Rhinestones and ribbon
Hot glue
Silver tinsel
2 square Styrofoam wreaths
Small glittered plastic snowflakes
Velvet flowers & small ornaments
Small decorative tree

Steps:

1. Paint the birdhouse. (for this project I am using the back of the house as the front) paint the roof taffy, the base fresh foliage and the house belle blush.

2. Cut the tissue paper into small random shaped squares. Apply the squares to the house with Mod Podge. Add the cream to the roof, the peach to the house and the green to the base. Topcoat with a layer of Mod Podge. Add additional layers of tissue if needed. Allow for dry time between layers.

3. Cut the decorative paper into a rounded door shape. Mod Podge to the front of the house.

4. Using a toothpick, add sparkle Texture Paint to the roof and base of the house. Poke the ends of the snowflakes into the Texture paint. Allow to dry.

5. Hot glue a rhinestone for a door handle and a ribbon embellishment to the top of the house.

6. Hot glue the two wreaths together. Glue and wrap the tinsel around the wreath base. Hot glue small ornaments into the tinsel and a flower into the corner. Attach the house and the decorative tree to the center of the wreath with hot glue.

Happy Holidays!

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things to do at Christmas time

Make cookies

It is possible to make cookie dough ahead of time. place in the freezer, then bake later. A wonderful way to save time, and you can bake several different kinds when your ready to do some baking.

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