as cozy as spring

The Last Christmas Cookie

This Advent, I dutifully prepared our Sunday Teas.  They weren't pretty and I took no photos.  I did just enough to call it done (meaning distracting the children with sweets while I curled up in bed).  I don't even think we ever lit that last candle. I'm sure they won't remember.

This Sunday we wrapped it all up with pizelles, which I save for Epiphany.  They are my personal favorite and tied up with so many old memories.  I hope that setting them apart for this last Christmas feast will make them just as special for my children.  Every year my son struggles with remembering and pronunciation and then exclaims joyfully as he sees the iron, "Oh I love those!".

My recipe:

• 2 cups of flour 
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 tsp or so of vanilla
• 1/2 tsp or so of cinnamon 

I beat the eggs and sugar until thick, add in the cooled, melted butter and then mix the dry ingredients.  I tablespoon of batter is placed in the pizelle iron* and pressed for 30 seconds or until golden brown.  I find this much easier to manage with a smaller sized cookie scoop.

My recipe is not traditional as it does not include anise which I cannot have in the house - can't even think about without shuddering.  It is not a flavor I care for, to put it mildly.  But these, buttery and crisp, flavored lightly with cinnamon and sometimes a little orange zest are eaten up in seconds.  

* Mine is made by VillaWare, a gift from my parents many, many years ago.  It still works beautifully. 

And oh, y'all - while I'm on the Williams-Sonoma website.  My husband hit their post-Christmas clearance sale and picked up a Stump de Noel which I find absolutely adorable and hilarious.  This will be for the fourth week of Advent next year.  I've made a proper Buche de Noel in years past but rarely can find the time these days.  This should simplify things.  It looks like the pan isn't available online anymore, but you might check your local store (it was weirdly less expensive in-store anyway).

Week in Review

I forced myself to get up every morning and come to the table for lessons. I also made the weekly trip to visit with my grandmother, took down the Christmas tree (it was starting to smell not-so-festive), gave the main rooms a good scrubbing (we shan't speak of the children's rooms), and made dinner for the first time in months. It all took a tremendous amount of effort and determination, but it feels good to be more of a mother and wife than I have been in the past few weeks.  

I did end up finishing The Age of Innocence.  Eh. It picked up a bit towards the end, but I just could not stand Newland Archer with the fancy house, easy work, and beautiful, accomplished wife longing for what he could not have.  Is he supposed to be a sympathetic character?  I found far more to admire in May.  I moved on to Into the Wild for a quick read.  I think I've been sucked into the whole concept of 52 books in 52 weeks thanks to Faith and wanted to knock out two in the first week, as I will probably lose steam.

I finally planted our hyacinth bulbs.  Not many, but a couple of clay pots sitting in our bright and warm kitchen window is enough to cheer me up through the winter.  My husband brought home a few grape hyacinths to plant as well and I may get to that this weekend (or he will, more likely).  He also called me from the nursery to ask if I wanted a fruit cocktail tree.  Have you heard of these?  My immediate response was "No, absolutely not.  It's an abomination."  I realize it's probably not any worse than any other grafted tree.  But still, I can't do it.  We do plan on putting in a couple of plums and I'm thrilled about that. 

So all things considered, it's been my most productive week in a long time.  I might not be feeling better, but I hope that I'm handling it better.  

Happy New Year!

First, let me thank you for all the notes of congratulations on our little blessing.  We are very grateful.

I had hoped to be back here regularly after saying farewell to the first trimester but, as in past pregnancies, I still feel rotten most of the time.  But that's boring and depressing to talk about so I'm going to just fake this and focus on whatever I can think of that makes me happy right now.

I feel well enough to read these days (there were several weeks when I couldn't even do that).  I'm in the middle of The Age of Innocence which isn't my favorite style of book, but it was free on the Kindle and I hate not finishing a book, so I am committed. Up next:

• Dracula (also not my thing, but we are seeing the ballet soon)
• The Botany of Desire (very much my thing)
• Into the Wild (Krakauer is so readable.  I don't want anything very challenging right now)
• The Wilder Life (I've read mixed reviews, but I thought I'd give it a try.  Any Laura bios you'd recommend?)
• The Forgotten Garden (read only rave reviews)
• I really should also finish The Hobbit, but I don't want to.

I've loved reading all the 2011 book lists 'round the blogosphere this weekend and hope to add more to my to-be-read list soon.