If there’s one movie you take your family to see this holiday season, make it “Marley and Me.” If you’re a dog lover–even a little bit–it’s sure to strike a chord with you!
Two pieces of advice, though:
I wasn’t really expecting it to be a tear-jerker, but by the end when the lights came on, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house–and it was a packed house!
We came home to give our two dogs, Duke and Eddie, a few extra hugs. Enjoy!
Hope your Christmas was wonderful and that you enjoyed your day as much as Duke did! He LOVED what Santa left him under the tree!
How did it happen? Can it possibly be Xmas Eve already?
I just wish it was snowing instead of raining right now! Our snow is shrinking by the moment and I hear we’re in for a December “thaw” next week. Just when the kids will be out of school and ready to play in the snow!
Whatever the weather is in your neck of the woods, I hope you enjoy a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones and that the New Year brings you peace, joy, and good health!
(My favorite, “new” Christmas tree ornament, fashioned from found materials: a spiral shell and sea glass, that I found at a church fair this season.)
As promised, I’m posting some pix of our favorite Snowball Cookies. As the snow/ice/rain/sleet swirled around outside this weekend, transforming us into a true winter wonderland (or a terrible, slippery/slidy mess–depending on how you look at it!) I finally popped a batch in the oven.
Trouble is, in a few moments, there were . . .
GONE!!!!
Fortunately, I did take my own advice and tripled the batch, so I have more dough in the fridge. My 3 guys decided they like them best warm and when there were looking for some more last night, I popped another batch in the oven and they were again devoured at breakneck speed. Problem is, at this rate, there will be NONE for Christmas! But, they’re enjoying them now! Hope you do, too!
Abbie, my very own, real-life daughter, over at Farmer’s Daughter, is hosting a Christmas Cookie Recipe Swap, so I figured I’d better jump in with our favorites here, even if I haven’t bake a single Christmas cookie so far. But I plan to this weekend, so does that count?
You know if your recipe cards look like this, they’re surely your family’s favorites:
So, here goes . . .
Our Very Favorite “Snowballs”
Cream together:
Roll by hand into small balls. Bake in 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.
While still warm, roll in a small bowl of additional confectioner’s sugar and enjoy! It’s always a marvel if any are still left by the time they cool off, so you might want to make multiple batches and hide some for Christmas!
I’ll post a pic as soon as I make them this year (which had better be soon!), but meanwhile I do have a photo of our family’s VERY favorite, all-time special dessert which is requested ALL year long, and especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas. I actually made this last night for my father-in-law’s birthday!
Alfie’s Famous Cheesecake
Crust:
Thoroughly mix ingredients for crust. Press on bottom and sides of 9-in. springform pan.
Filling:
Mix cream cheese and sugar (easiest with an electric mixer). Add eggs, salt, vanilla and almond extract. Beat until smooth. Blend in sour cream. Pour into crumb crust. Bake at 375 degrees for about 40-45 minutes (or longer or just until set). (Sometimes I leave it in the oven with the heat turned off for 15-30 mins. after the initial baking time, to get it set.) Chill thoroughly, about 4-5 hours, before serving. (Important–although most baked treats are best warm–cheesecake isn’t!)
Top with your favorite topping . . . we like fresh raspberries, strawberries, or blackberries. If using fresh fruit, I usually skim the top of the chilled cheesecake with a thin layer of sour cream and then place the fruit in a pattern of choice. I was unable to get raspberries yesterday, so used blackberries instead, which everyone loved.
Some people may want to top with a canned pie filling (such as cherry, which I personally detest!), but use whatever will please you and your family!
OK, so there’s a story behind this favorite cheesecake. It’s named ”Alfie’s,” which is a nickname for my dear husband who ONCE made this recipe, to my knowledge. Seems that my DH took a culinary class way back in high school and concocted this favorite dessert. I’ve only know him to make it once–for my high school graduation and we won’t even say how long ago that was–but everyone has made it in the family ever since crediting my DH –and our children’s incredible Dad– for this invention.
Hope your family enjoys it, too!
My weekend took me to an unexpected place: the icy, Northeast Kingdom! I wasn’t expecting to post a Sunday Stroll and had a zillion things to do at home, but due to the necessity of checking on a questionable furnace at our family’s northern home during recent winter ice and snow storms, we made a mad dash to this polar wonderland.
Despite the -1 F temps, I totally enjoyed this experience—especially the incredible sights. I know that everything will still be awaiting me at home, but it was well worth it!
Icicles galore!
Duke totally enjoyed himself, making his own kind of snow angels . . .
Fortunately, my multi-talented DH was able to clean a screen on the furnace and restart it before any pipes had frozen, and was also able to shovel snow. . .
After getting the chalet in order, we took in some Christmas-y sights at a nearby, larger town . . .
and, then, enjoyed the fire!
GOOD NIGHT!
To see who else strolled this Sunday, visit the Quiet Country House.
Just a reminder. . . if you haven’t yet entered my Extreme Give-Away (click here), do it today!!!
This “green” digital photo frame keychain could be an awesome holiday gift for you or someone special! It holds up to 180 images for the person on the go, who wants to share photos without having to print them!
I’m going to be away this weekend at a destination without Internet access–how will I survive?–so the drawing won’t be held until Monday. You have all weekend to enter! GOOD LUCK!!!
There are LOTS of ways to celebrate a GREEN Christmas! I’m really going to try this year not to get pulled in by the commercialism of the season and not to BUY, BUY for buying sake, but to try to please those I care about with thoughtful gifts that are a bit easier on our planet. How many times do you end up with a lot of useless STUFF just because you get caught up in the excitement of the moment?
How about trying . . .
What are you doing to green up your holidays? The best ideas are those that are shared!
OK, I just couldn’t resist trying out a new banner, that’s very Christmas-y, on this weekend after Thanksgiving, right before the first of December!
It was a tad ridiculous when I saw Christmas items in the stores before Halloween–and I was rather surprised when I saw the spruce on the green all lit up when leaving school one night–but now I’m ready for it. I almost couldn’t wait to rip off the autumnal brown/orange/sienna tablecloth on the diningroom table, complete with cornucopia as soon as Thanksgiving dinner was served–OK, actually the next day–so I could garnish with some crimson and greens!
How cute is this little Charlie Brown Christmas tree? Just couldn’t resist . . .
Just seeing the very first, few flakes of snow early this morning (which quickly dissolved into hail, then rain) helped put me in the mood!
I already had the white candles in the windows for Thanksgiving and a few white lights on the palm tree inside, but now I’m aching for a family viewing of Christmas Vacation or even Christmas with the Kranks. My daughter has already warmed me to lose the holiday vest! (Maybe it’s just the luxury of having had a few days home before I jump headfirst into school responsibilities and activities tomorrow and forget that it’s even December!)
What are you doing to change gears from autumn to winter? Do you have some favorite traditions that your family likes to share as you usher in this magical season? Please share . . .
What Flower
Are You?
