MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!!

I HOPE YOU SPEND A WONDERFUL DAY CARRYING OUT THE TRADITIONS THAT ARE SPECIAL TO YOUR FAMILY AND MAKING NEW MEMORIES IN THE PROCESS!!!  ALL THE VERY BEST!

As promised, I’m also posting the lucky winner of the “Pioneer Woman Cooks” cookbook give-away.

Congratulations to Kristin, who left the following message on December 13:

“Kristin Says: December 13, 2009 at 10:28 am e

I would love the book because I am not only a fan of Pioneer Woman, I am also a fan yours and your daughters blogs.”

Kristin~please send me an e-mail at:  everydaywomanusa@aol.com to claim your prize!  I’ll need a mailing address so that I can get your prize off to you ASAP!  (I didn’t find any contact info. attached to your name, so please e-mail me and let me know.)

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR LEAVING COMMENTS; I WISH I HAD ONE FOR EVERY ONE OF YOU, BUT PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR GIVE-AWAYS IN THE FUTURE!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

“Everydaywoman” (aka Ruth)

I’m joining in on the Christmas Cookie Recipe Swap that Farmer’s Daughter is hosting at her blog.  Why not join in by sharing the recipe of your very favorite Christmas cookie?

Believe me, a virtual recipe swap is way easier than the traditional cookie swap!

My very favorite Christmas Cookie has to be my own Mom’s Snowball recipe.  I made these last night as we were awaiting the first big snowfall of the season.  It just seemed like the right thing to do!

They’re easy, yummy, and they disappear quickly!

Mema’s Snowball Cookies

1 cup margarine

1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2-1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup nuts (walnuts or pecans, chopped or ground)

1/4 teaspoon salt (I usually leave this out)

(Extra confectioner’s sugar for coating cookies)

Cream together margarine, sugar, vanilla.  Mix in flour and nuts.  Hand form into balls and bake in 350 degree F oven for 8-10 minutes.  As soon as they come out of the oven, roll in a bowl of confectioner’s sugar to coat.

Yum, yum!  Enjoy warm or cold (if they last that long!)

Although it took forever to arrive, the Blizzard of 2009 finally arrived last night and transformed our area into a Winter Wonderland . . .

Nature’s tree ornaments . . .

The Mermaid by the pool is a bit chilly . . .

With the temps predicted to stay as cold as they are, we’re guaranteed to have a White Christmas!

Hope you’re having fun wherever you are and perhaps you’re playing in the snow, too!

To see who else is strolling this Sunday, stroll on over to the Quiet Country House.

Snow began to fall softly as the North Pole Express pulled into the station, as if right on cue.

Children, bundled up in pajamas and hoods, clamored around the station, waiting to board Santa’s train.

Destination:  North Pole!

ALL ABOARD!!!

As we traveled, our conductor told us Christmas stories and shared the story of the “Polar Express.”

The Baker served up the biggest and most delicious gingerbread cookies I’ve ever seen and tasted, along with creamy, rich hot chocolate. . .

A hobo even managed to sneak onto the train . . .

In the spirit of Christmas, we invited him to join us . . .

And, then, the main attraction. . . we reached the North Pole and Santa boarded the train!

Mrs. Claus even joined him . . .

. . . and some of the elves came along, too!

Santa offered the first gifts of Christmas to passengers on the train, as he held up a shiny silver bell from his sleigh . . .

The bell that Santa handed me makes the most glorious jingling sound . . .

As we headed toward home, Santa’s Christmas wish continued to ring in my ears, Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

To see who else is strolling on this December Sunday, head on over to The Quiet Country House.

Give my son a “manlift,” a fancy stapling gun, and loads of lights, and look what he can do!

The Waterwheel Barn is complete with chaser lights on the waterwheel, which makes it look like it’s spinning, and the icycle lights are the water running down the trough onto the wheel.

If only I could get him to do this for me at home.  It’s usually me—by myself—dangling from a ladder as I attempt to hang white icycle lights around our house.

Are YOU in the mood for holiday decorating?

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:

1. Arrive early to the show.
2. Bring tissues!

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!

So, here goes . . .

Our Very Favorite “Snowballs”

Cream together:

• 1 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2-1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional–I usually skip this)
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional, but I always include these!)

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:

• 1-3/4 cups fine graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter or margine, melted

Thoroughly mix ingredients for crust.  Press on bottom and sides of 9-in. springform pan. 

Filling:

• 3 well beaten eggs
• 2  8-oz. packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup cugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt (again, I usually skip this)
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract
• 3 cups dairy sour cream

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!