Month: December 2018

Hippo Project

Dear Sis,

For the past year, William has played with a stuffed hippo at the quilt shop each time I venture in to acquire some fabric. After our zoo trip this summer where he admired a hippo for twenty minutes straight, I let him get the pattern so we could make one of our own. We decided to make it a holiday project for all the nieces and nephews and the two boys I used to nanny, as well. What kid wouldn’t want A Hippopotamus for Christmas? Thus, one hippo became eight. 

We finished and packed the last four hippos tonight. They will be off to Iowa cousins very soon:)

I hope Evelyn enjoys her hippo. It was great seeing y’all for a few days.

Love,

b

Our Christmas

Dear Sis,

Today we opened gifts over the course of the morning. William did most of the unwrapping, even for Josh and I:) 

 

We all took a nice long afternoon nap. Willam and I spent the better part of the evening making our gingerbread train. William mostly contributed by eating the extra candy:)

Happy Holidays!

Love,

b

Gingerbread Cookies

Dear Sis,

Today William and I made Gingerbread. We turned some of them into tree ornaments:)

Gingerbread
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Ingredients
  1. 3 c unbleached flour
  2. 3/4 c dark brown sugar
  3. 1 T ground cinnamon
  4. 1 T ground ginger
  5. 3/4 t baking soda
  6. 1/2 t ground cloves
  7. 1/2 t salt
  8. 12 T unsalted butter, sliced and soft
  9. 3/4 c backstop molasses
  10. 2 T milk
Instructions
  1. Combine dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer and stir until well combined.
  2. Add butter slices and mix until it is cut into dry mixture.
  3. Gradually beat in molasses and milk. Wrap dough in plastic and chill.
  4. Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheets with parchment or silicone baking mats.
  5. Roll dough to about 1/4 inch, dusting with a flour/powdered sugar mixture, as needed. Cut out and place on lined sheets and bake 8-9 minutes. Cool cookies a few minutes on sheets before removing to wire racks to complete cooling.
Adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe
Adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe
Tag Sis, You're It! https://www.tagsisyoureit.com/
Love,

b

Cranberry Citrus Slice and Bake Shortbread

Dear Sis,

We are getting ready for your visit by making your favorite holiday cookies:)

Cranberry Citrus Shortbread
Yields 5
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Ingredients
  1. 1 c salted butter, soft
  2. 1 c granulated sugar
  3. 1 egg
  4. 2 T milk
  5. 1 t vanilla
  6. 1 1/2 t baking powder
  7. 3 c unbleached flour
  8. 10 drops red food coloring
  9. 2 t orange zest
  10. 1/4 c pecans, crushed
  11. 2/3 c dries cranberries
Instructions
  1. Line a loaf pan with waxed paper.
  2. Cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs, milk, and vanilla.
  3. Mix baking powder and flour into sugar mixture. Divide dough into two portions. Set one aside.
  4. Beat food color and zest into second dough portion. Fold in nuts and fruit. Divide cranberry citrus dough into two portions.
  5. Press one portion of cranberry citrus dough into the bottom on the lined loaf pan. Press in plain dough. Top with remaining portion of cranberry citrus dough. Cover with plastic and chill until chilled through.
  6. Preheat oven to 375. Remove dough from loaf pan, peel away waxed paper and plastic wrap. Slice loaf in half lengthwise. Slice cookies 1/4 inch thick. Place 1 inch apart on baking sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes. Cool on wire racks before storing airtight at room temp or in freezer.
Adapted from Taste of Home
Adapted from Taste of Home
Tag Sis, You're It! https://www.tagsisyoureit.com/
Love,

b

Winter Event Ready

Dear Sis,

Tonight we put the finishing touches on my winter look, for the event at the Cincinnati Museum tomorrow. Unfortunately, I had to take my own pictures in the mirror:)

The belt you made me dresses up my simple day dress very nicely!

My paletot doesn’t have buttons yet, but pins will work for tomorrow. The hood you made me looks lovely!!!! I can’t wait to trim the coat when I have more time:)

Love,

b

 

Holiday Ornaments and a Party too

Dear Sis,

I made these D.I.Y. candy cane ornaments a few winters ago with the kids I used to nanny. William found the leftover supplies in our holiday box. I was shocked how much time he put into making them:)

We went to our reenacting group’s Christmas Party last night. We had a random gift exchange. I chose the gift that was wrapped in fabric and ribbon:) It ended up being Joy’s gift. A mink muff! I don’t know that I want to make a muff with it, but it will be nice trim for a winter paletot:)

Love,

b

 

Eighth Night of Hanukkah

Dear Sis,

We spent most of the day driving home from Nashville. Uncle David took a family photo for us before we left.

We unpacked our candles and menorah just in time to light them:)

Happy Hanukkah!

Love,

b