Book Chatterings . . . Memoir of the Sunday Brunch

This is a book that I started before the Holidays and finished in late January.  As the title says it was a memoir of the Authors life growing up the youngest in a large family that held faith front and central while running a family restaurant.   As soon as they were old enough ALL children were required to work the Sunday Brunch  . . . there just were no excuses  not to . Many lessons were learned through this experience although the ultimate lessons were going through the deaths of both parents. This was a book for me that held my interest but had parts that read faster than others. It is always refreshing to read of families in this day and age that still work-together, respect each other and hold each other up during the good and bad times.

Food for thought Friday - Almond Bars

                   I am going to try and share some food item or other thoughts from the kitchen on Fridays. I am not going to have stylized food photos. I will share recipes sometimes. I like to cook , bake and I like to share the bounty from the kitchen in many ways with others. I have come to recognize that time around the table with family friends and strangers is important, but it does not need to be all homemade- it is the time that is important. Since I have had multiple requests for this recipe, simple as it is, I decided to just share it here.

  Almond Bars

Beat eggs and sugar until Lemon color

Add 2 1/2 -3 tsp. Pure Almond Extract

Into the oven - add sliced almonds and any decorating sugars that you want.

Out of the oven -don't overcook

Ready for Tea

Almond Bars:     325 degrees for 30-35 minutes
Just 5 ingredients makes these yummy special bars.

4 eggs
2cups sugar
1 cup melted butter
2 cups flour
2 1/2 -3 cups pure almond extract

Beat eggs and sugar together until a nice Lemon color
Beat in Melted butter and almond extract
Gradually mix in flour, mix well, it will become thickened at this point.
Grease ( spray Pam) a 9x13 pan and spread batter in the pan.
Add toppings as desired, sliced Almonds, sugars, Decor elements

Bake 325 degrees for 30-35 min - you want them on the moister side for more flavor I think .  I also think that they are almost better the next day- there is more flavor.  They seem to keep very  very well.

This is excerpt from where I found this recipe
"This is one of my favorite recipes for last-minute school bake sales," writes Sandy Kerrison from her home in Lockport, New York. "

Cookies 2013

Put into a Church Auction

For a Bridal Shower

Chocolate Crackle Cookie on my Husbands Birthday!

Part of a Tray for Robotics Saturday Lunch

      Well I have to say that I have always liked to bake cookies.  I am not sure if it is the taste or the size or the pretty factor but something really intrigues me.  To get such flavor out of something so small?  May be that is it. Some Christmas Seasons I bake more than others. Since I had several events to take cookies to , I baked quite a bit  this season but I still did not get made all the kinds that the family wanted.  Some of what I did make are as follows:

• Anise sugar cookie cutouts - family German recipe
• Gingerbread cutouts with lemon icing - recipe from my friends Grandma in Minnesota
• Jan Hagels - Dutch cookie from Jr. League of Holland Michigan
• Pecan Butter Balls- new this year from a book I read
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip - Chestnut Hill Original
• Spritz
• Jammy Dodgers - Tea Cookbook
• Almond Bars- new this year- the yummiest from a woman in Lockport NY
• Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Snicker-doodles - award winning from my friend Missy
• Plain Sugar cookie cutouts
• Buttermilk cutouts- new from friends MIL
• Chocolate Crackle Cookie- Martha Stewart cookbook
•  Easy Fudge -
• Peanut Clusters
• Cris Cross Jelly Squares - from Sophie-  one of my mom's best Friends

Do you have a favorite Cookie that you like to make?  Does it have a story?
 I make the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies the most often in a year and I really wonder just how many batches I make.  I bet in a year I make 50-75 batches - that would be 100-150 dozen  or 1200 - 1800 cookies - just of that kind.   I am not sure if my Math is quite right or not.  The next most popular is a Ginger cookie. So bake on . . .

PS- I know . . . that's a lot of cookies . . . please realize they go to church, to scouts, to school, to PTA, to Robotics, to neighbors, to stampers, to Quilt Guild,  to worksites, they do not all stay or are consumed in our house by any means.

Decenber Daily or almost- Cookies 2013

       These are the Christmas Anise Cookies that the family looks forward to and most request.  We have a white anise cookie and a Molasses Anise cookie from the German side of the family.  There is anise in both the cookie and the frosting.  The decorating changes year to year - right now bold colors and marbling are very popular.

December daily or almost . . .

"Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down our blankets for a nap."

Barbara Jordan

The beginnings of Chestnut Hill Cookies 2013!

Whats your favorite cookie?

Owl Cookies - Just for Fun!

So I made these today- Just for Fun!!! 

You make a white rather basic sugar cookie dough- take 1/3 and mix in melted semi-sweet chocolate- like 1/2 cup.  Roll it in a narrow roll wrap in wax paper and refrigerate.  Roll out the white dough into a rectangle, then wrap it around the chocolate dough, and refrigerate again.  Slice assemble and bake.

This idea came from the book Coming Home   This is the time of year that we often have an Eastern Screech Owl take up residence in a tree out front. It is a very cute little owl.

The Moments No.11

 

Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today.  

That way, at least you'll get one thing done.  ~Author Unknown

 

Happy Friday!!!

Sweet delights, this is a go to when asked to bring finger friendly dessert/sweets.

Valentine Signs

Little things here and there are showing us that it will soon be Valentines Day!  My kids are all beyond exchanging valentines but we are doing ti at work so I am making Valentines this weekend!  Making some sweet treats as well.  How about you?  My Amaryllis in the first picture has perfect timing this year!

Cookies for Appreciation

So on Tuesday it was Teacher Appreciation day at the High School. Our contribution was this big basket of cookies. Big Ginger cookies far left, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip in the middle and Magic 7 layer bars on the right. My basket came back empty. I love baking and especially having somewhere to take the baked goods!
We appreciate all the big and small things that the teachers do for our kids and the youth of the community every day. It is work and a job but many go beyond that and touch lives and making their jobs be their passion and thus inspiring youth for their lives. Thank YOU!

Halloween a coming . . . .

What does Halloween Look like at your house?
Well here at Chestnut Hill, here are some of the comings and goings.
Decorations here and there, trying on masks, baking sweet Halloween treats. Looking through books and magazines for new fun ideas, both to make and to eat. Deciding on a costume and how to carve our pumpkins, scary, happy, abstract? We greet each Holiday with lots of enthusiasm!! Bring them on, we are ready. We need to decide where to Trick or treat as well. Living rurally we need to go to somewhere else to Trick or treat. Stay tuned for more Halloween!

Silver Lining

Too Many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold.
- Maurice Setter


There almost always is a silver lining if you look hard enough for it. It often can be hard if we are looking for "Perfect". You know that saying a bad day at the beach is still better than a day at work. I have found that setting my expectations lower often leads to some amazing events. I know that may sound anti -productive. Aren't we a society that says set your expectations high or you will never go anywhere? In some instances that os true, regarding education and jobs but when we look at how we spend our time or the receiving of "things" we need to modify and adjust. Having kids helps a great deal with this. Your time is not your own and you never know when you will have time. So make the best of whatever time you get when you get it. Gifts- expecting nothing means anything you get will be great! The perfect vacation, time and experience tells me and shows me that adversity in weather and circumstances if with in reason allows for a more meaningful experience.
Don't overlook the silver lining, it may be hiding the gold!