Thursday, December 17, 2015

Recipes Only for Christmas

I've been doing some baking this week but since we are going away for Christmas, I don't have to do as much and what I do make, has to travel well!


Last year I discovered "Cuban Lunch" on Instagram - we loved these and quickly became one of our favourites.  People have said this was a chocolate bar, I had never heard of it - it really was, it was mostly a Western Canadian bar, made in Winnipeg by Paulin's or so I've read.    This recipe was the first one I googled, so I chose that, there are other variations, I won't be changing, we like this one!


Cuban Lunch


2 c. peanut butter chips

2 c. butterscotch chips

2 c. chocolate chips

1 1/2 c. crushed ripple potato chips

1 1/2 c. peanuts (salted or unsalted)

Melt together the peanut butter, butterscotch & chocolate chips in top of double boiler (I used the microwave)

Add crushed potato chips and peanuts.

Mix together with melted chips.

Spoon into mini cupcake  paper cups.

Keep in refrigerator.


This next recipe is one of my daugther's favourites - they're easy and they're good - they're Peppermint Meltaways!




Peppermint Meltaways


1 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. icing sugar

1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

1 1/4 c. flour

1/2 c. cornstarch


In small bowl, cream butter & icing sugar until light and fluffly.  Beat in extract.  Combine flour & cornstarch, gradually add to creamed mixture, mix well.


Shape into 1 inch balls.  Place 2 inches part on ungreased pan ( I use parchment).  Bake 350 - 10-12 minutes.



Frosting - 


2 tbsp. butter, softened

1 1/2 c. icing sugar

2 tbsp. milk

1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

2-3 drops of food colouring.  I use very little as I want them to be a very light pink.


In small bowl, beat butter until fluffy.  Add icing sugar, milk, extract and food colouring.  Beat until smooth.


Delicious - both of them!!!



Friday, December 11, 2015

A Christmas Story & The Leg Lamp

I love this movie!!!  But, I never discovered it until a couple of years ago, hard to believe because it was first shown in 1983 - my children missed the experience of this great movie!  But, now they know about it!!!!


I found a little Hallmark tree ornament in the shape of the "leg lamp" from the movie, I was content with that until I was away this past weekend and saw a 20 inch lamp, I loved it but I thought it was too expensive, that was on Friday night, I thought about it all weekend, I went back on Sunday afternoon, gone - every one!!  I was so disappointed - really disappointed!!!


I started searching the internet and found where I could order here in Canada, I ordered Sunday night, I had my leg lamp yesterday.  Lesson learned there though, I ended up paying more but it's worth it,   it's everything I had hoped for!!



If you've watched the movie, you know all about the leg lamp - how Ralphie's father won the full size lamp - "It's a Major Award", Fra-gee-lay - It must be Italian, Isn't it Glorious - and, my lamp if glorious!


When we were in Cleveland last year visiting the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame, we stopped at The Christmas Story House but it was too late in the day, it was closed.   But, I did see the lamp in the window - the film was shot in Cleveland and Toronto - here's an article about the Toronto locations that were used in the film.  I want to go back to Cleveland again so I can tour the house and visit the gift shop across the street!!  




This is my very favourite Christmas movie!!  Do you like it?

Thursday, December 3, 2015

New Old Christmas

I actually found a few vintage kitschy Christmas items in the past few days, all bought at different shops,  costing me less than $2 for the three items - my kind of price!



A knee hugger on gold - pure kitsch!!  25 cents!!



Why didn't I head to the Christmas section as soon as I got to this shop - there was a man browsing and he picked up three boxes of old ornaments, I got my hands on these right quick.  He says - "they don't make them like this anymore"  REALLY??  I kept watching him in the hopes he would put them down but no such luck.    I paid 25 cents for them so I shouldn't complain!!!  Hoping to collect up enough to make another wreath for next year!


I bought the two mini cups, my first two tiny ones - love those Santa cups!!  $1


Vintage Christmas has been scarce so far and I'm more selective than I was - I have a lot!!


Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Christmas Colouring

I jumped on the colouring bandwagon in the summer and I'm still on it!  The summer meant colouring flowers, now it means Christmas -and I found just the perfect book.


This book by Mary Tanana has the most beautiful images, it was the last one on the shelf the day I found it, I didn't hesitate paying full price because it has just the type of pictures that I like.  I posted this book on Instagram when I bought it, Mary Tanana herself commented!!!


It's a busy time of the year, I'd like to be colouring more, here are a few that I've done..





It's very hard to photograph colouring pages and get them cropped without cutting off some of the picture, especially the double pages.


I so enjoy colouring!  Have you joined in yet on the colouring craze?