Keep It Clean in 2009

Maggie and I made soap! I bought a silicon mold from the thrift shop back in Portland, and some olive oil soap base, vanilla essence, and colorings at the craft store here on the East Side.

They're all wrapped and ready to give as gifts, perhaps with some homemade shower caps. Does anyone use shower caps these days? Perhaps useful for a hot bath on a wintry day like today. Happy New Year!

High Tea: Whoopie Pie!

For Mainers, Whoopie Pies are a beloved institution. I was happy to see them in both gourmet bakeries and truck stops on my last visit to Maine. You never know where you'll need a lil'...

Christmas Windows

My first attempt at stained glass cookies! Enticed by a good oven (with a window and light!) here at my mom's house, I continued baking... I have big plans for this technique in 2009. Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Hollyday Baking

I finished my Christmas cookies! Molasses Crackle-tops, Jam Rolls with home-toasted walnuts, Chocolate Cutouts, and Lemon Poppy Drops, presented together in these lovely scalloped boxes. Recipes are from this book (my ol' fave) and this book, an early gift from an English Santa.

Back East

I'm off to New York today! Holiday crafts and baking, family and friend reunions to come!

The Homemaker

I've never sewn an apron before. I decorated this one with a popular motif, and am excited to give it, for Christmas, to a lovely lady who enjoys cooking.

Embroidery for Every Purpose

I got this vintage embroidery at the thrift shop a while back, and sold it at my tag sale this past Saturday.

My next door neighbor Leslie bought it. Like other treasures, I think one of my animated character might own it in the future.

The Perfect Man

In taking cookies over to our friend's house for holiday movie night, I inadvertently created the perfect gingerbread man recipe! The rollout recipe I had was a disaster, so I chucked away the crumbly dough and freestyled this dough I thought would make good drop cookies. Alas, it rolled out perfectly! And it has no butter. Even better.

I offer to you, my friends, the perfect man:

Ingredients:
2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. nutmeg

How to:
Preheat oven to 350F. In a mixing bowl, combine oil and sugars. Add egg, beating well. Add molasses, flour, baking soda, spices. Take dough out in small balls and roll out on a floured surface. Use favorite cutouts to make shapes, put on a baking sheet lined with parchment, and bake for 12-14 minutes, or until cookies look slightly puffy and hard.

Huffing and Puffing Hat

To go with these and a book, for one of my favorite small people, at Christmas.

Get Souffled

Any dinner I can bake (versus stovetop cook) is a winner with me. I bought this souffle dish at the thrift shop months ago, then felt too intimidated to make one.

I finally did, and it was AMAZING. I used this recipe, which I saw executed on the tv. The "no-peeking" element of souffle-making is incredibly suspenseful, so fun!

The dish is definitely moving with us in coming weeks.