Extended Wish List

In all honestly, I couldn't really ask for much more than I've already received this Christmas. My kids were happy, my parents seemed satisfied, and I had a nice day to relax, put some worries behind me, and enjoy being with my family.

While I did receive some lovely gifts, I can still window shop and daydream a little, eh? Right. So, here's my extended wish list. Maybe Cupid or the Spirit of MLK Jr. Day (that's a thing, right?) will come drop little pressies off on my doorstep.

Weekend Listening: Holiday Playlist from Jillian

It's been a while since we did a Weekend Listening post, so I'm gonna start it up again. Holiday tunes are on the docket this weekend, and I can think of no one better than my very music-savvy friend Jillian to tell us about the best holiday songs we should be listening to while we sip eggnog and trim trees. Jillian... take it away!

Perfect Salted Caramels

I met Lauren from Craft My Life Away at the From Scratch Club food swaps. As a first-time swapper, I was eager to get to know Lauren... especially since she brought these insane salted caramel bars that were a hot-ticket item at the swap. Seriously, they were soooo good.

Anyway.

Lauren is a pretty nifty lady, as she is a excellent baker/confection maker and crafter. Since each year I try to send my friends and loved ones a little treat for the holidays, I thought I'd ask Lauren to share her Salted Caramel recipe with me (us) - they'd be perfect to send in the post! So, Lauren, have at it. School us in all things caramel!

Swedish Crispy Syrup Cookies

Last year, I participated in the first Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap and had such a blast that I thought I'd do it again!

This year, the GFBCS organizers asked that all participants donate $4 to the "Cookies for Kids Cancer" campaign. The participating bloggers raised $2,300, and OXO generously matched this donation, bringing the total to $4,600! Thanks OXO!!

Just like last year, I was matched with three bloggers to send my cookies to. These bloggers were:

Chris from The Keenan Cookbook (beautiful site, Chris and Rachel!)

Karen from Small Kitchen, Big Taste (great recipes for bakers and cooks alike!)

Becca from The Salted Cookie (she likes champagne, her grandpa, and Alton Brown-esque analog tweets... sounds like my kind of gal!)

And I received cookies from:

Kathy from Panini Happy and Cooking on the Side (she made Spritz cookies)

Jessica from My Baking Heart (she made Spiced Rum cookies)

Becca from It's Yummilicious (she made Almond Log cookies)

This year, I decided to make Swedish Crispy Syrup Cookies. I received a copy of Swedish Desserts: 80 Traditional Recipes by Cecilia Vikbladh to review from Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. (Thanks Skyhorse!) The recipe was really easy to follow, but the cookies didn't turn out as crispy as I thought. This could be "user error," as perhaps I should have rolled out the logs thinner. The cookies did stay soft and syrupy in the center, though, so I got that right :-). I would qualify these cookies as good "dunkers..." you know, the kind that go perfect dunked into your coffee. I think adding a little bit of cocoa powder to these cookies would make them the perfect accompaniment to hot chocolate.

I'm really looking forward to trying a few other recipes from the book, especially the variations of Saffron Buns for Christmas morning, lemon twists, and Panettone with Limoncello.

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Crispy Syrup Cookies
From Swedish Desserts: 80 Traditional Recipes by Cecilia Vikbladh
Makes about 40 cookies

1 1/3 sticks butter (room temperature)
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1 egg yolk
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder

1. Whisk butter, sugar, corn syrup, and egg yolk together, preferably with an electric mixer.

2. Mix and add flour, vanilla, and baking powder. Let the dough rest in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Set the over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

3. Split the dough into four equal parts and roll them out on the two baking sheets so that they stretch from one end to the other lengthwise. Flatten them lightly with your hand. Bake for 15 minutes and cut into pieces while still hot. Let the cookies cool on the sheet. Store them in a tin with a lid.

Homemade Halloween Goodies

First off, I'm hoping anyone affected by Hurricane Sandy is doing well. Best wishes for a safe and speedy recovery.

If you are like me, you probably waited until the last minute to get your Halloween goodies together. Fear not - there is still time to make some treats from scratch!

Popcorn Balls

Candied Apples

Caramel Apples

If you don't have the time to make your own, I'm going to let you in on a new favorite secret of mine: G.H. Cretors popcorn! This stuff is bonkers good, and the best part is that it's Gluten-Free, GMO-Free, Kosher, and made with all-natural ingredients. 

The Chicago Mix is definitely my favorite - it's a mix of cheese and caramel corn. I love the Caramel Nut Crunch, too.

Get a sample pack and try them all out! So good. You can buy on the site, on Amazon or use the store locator for more information. This would be an awesome holiday present (hint hint). Keep tabs on G.H. Cretors on Facebook.

Good luck prepping for Halloween! Are you handing out candy or going the extra mile to make something special? How many trick-or-treaters do you get? (We get two.)

Handmade Holiday Gifts

Once fall hits, I start thinking about what I'll be making my friends and family for the holidays. I love giving gifts that are intentional and filled with love, and handmade gifts fit that bill. Here's what I'm thinking of making my loved ones this holiday season -

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Fourth of July everyone! For those of you not in the US, I hope you have a lovely day just the same. For my fellow patriots, here's a few little reminders of what today is all about (you know, besides all the bbq and fireworks and whatnot - although all important parts of the American historic and cultural landscape!). My plans today include sharing some good times with dear friends and convincing Edith that it's America's birthday, not her birthday :).

Resolutions

For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. - T.S. Eliot

I'm happy 2011 is history. It wasn't a great year for me. Sure, many nice things happened, but overall, it seemed to be filled with disappointment and hardship, regardless of how I tried to redirect my path. 2012 is a clean slate with endless possibilities, and I'm looking forward to making the most of the next eleven-and-a-half months.

My most lovely friend Deborah knew I was having a hard time recently, and like a good friend would, she lifted my spirits with a thoughtful card that included the above quote. Bingo, I thought. This is exactly how I need to approach 2012. This year is going to be momentous in my life for many reasons: The restructuring of my personal life; the launch of a new business; the exciting adventures that lie ahead for Silly Goose Farm... the list is really endless.

I don't think I've found my 2012 voice yet. I'm working on it. I'm developing a new language all my own that will guide my actions, thoughts, and feelings through this year. I'll pull from the positive experiences of previous years, but work to re-imagine my life in only the most positive ways. I think it will brace me for any future failure or hardship I might face.

I could list out all my resolutions (and believe me, I have many), but instead I'm going to post about how I've put my resolutions into action. I'll talk about the little things (start making 2012 Christmas presents now!) as well as the big things (like my quest to drop a few lbs, among other things). Hopefully some of what I'm aiming to accomplish in 2012 resonates with your own personal goals. Perhaps we'll be each other's support system.

And who knows... maybe we'll even understand each other's unique new voices.

Picture via Pinterest

A Silly Goose Farm Thanksgiving - 2011

Another Thanksgiving come and gone. It's hard to believe that 2011 is almost over, but I'm very much looking forward to saying au revior to this year and welcoming 2012 with open arms. Until then, how about a little retrospective on the 2011 SGF Thanksgiving celebration?

This year's dining crew was the same as last year's, except Eric was big enough this year to sit at the table with us (well, sort of at the table -- he kept trying to stick his hands in the mashed potatoes and dump the gravy boat over his head).

I made place cards out of cardstock, vintage bird images, and alphabet pasta (yes... alphabet pasta. Listen, I had to get some Martha OCD out at 2am on Thanksgiving while the pumpkin pie was cooking, okay?). I used a similar method to make a "pie banner" (see pictures below). I got my inspiration here.

I tried to keep the tablescape relatively un-fussy. Some pumpkins and gourds for centerpieces, plus my turkey candlesticks I thrifted from Goodwill, paired with fresh-pressed linens. My $30 collection of antique china, vintage silver, and wine glasses topped of the look.

The menu wasn't too complicated, either (and almost all ingredients came from within 150 miles of our table). Here's what I made:

Maple and Cider-Glazed Turkey

Mashed Potatoes

Apple, Onion and Sage Stuffing

Pan Gravy

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Grapes

Roasted Carrots

Cranberry Sauce

Biscuits

Herb Compound Butter

Pumpkin Pie

Chocolate Cream Pie (made by my mom)

Vanilla Whipped Cream

Vanilla Ice Cream

Rub some herb butter under the turkey skin and roast it breast-down for maximum juiciness

Brussels Sprouts - Best part of the meal

The feast came together pretty well! Except that my oven went on palliative care mid-point in cooking the turkey, so I had to microwave the poor bird. Based on how moist and tender the gobbler actually turned out, I might nuke the turkey every year! Thankfully, that was the only hiccup of the day (unless you count my temper-tantrum in the kitchen when I noticed the turkey was uncooked and the fact that the dog almost ate half the meal off the table before we sat down). We paired the meal with a lovely Sparkling Riesling. A few more pictures to illustrate:

Based on this face, the meal was either really good or completely awful

Edith playing with her food...

...and Grammie threatening her.

I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving feast, too, and that you have counted all your blessings many times over. This year, I'm especially thankful for my independence and will to always strive to be better and achieve great things. I think that theme will continue into 2012 (and of course, I'm always thankful for my family, friends, and lovely readers like you! Thanks for reading along :-). I posted some ideas for a secular grace over on the Eat Local blog, if you'd like to take a look. If you have questions or requests for recipes, please leave a note in the comments or find me on Twitter or Facebook. Now... bring on December!

Eric's First Birthday and Party

Thanks for all the well-wishes and congratulations last week regarding Eric. His first birthday was a blast, but I'm a little sad my little baby isn't such a little baby anymore! Pictures of his first birthday (including his first haircut!) are available here, while his birthday party (complete with vintage typewriters, homemade Play-Doh, handmade streamers, and a cake that looks like a cheeseburger) is documented here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! Got any special plans? I've already celebrated V-Day (and got some pretty, sparkly pressies!), but I thought I'd share with you my gifts to my friends and loved ones this year.

I love getting mail and presents through the post. And I always want to make sure that those I love know that I think and care about them. So I had a lot of fun sending out these packages.

I made several batches of cookies and brownies (chocolate chip, oatmeal cranberry, peanut butter, and this recipe from Bon Appetit magazine). I tied them up with little labels and twine. They were placed very gingerly in boxes with tissue paper and heart-shaped confetti (which I was told, while charming, was everywhere after the package was opened).

For some, I included a Valentine's Day music mix with songs by Hall and Oates, John Lennon, Amos Lee, Big Star, Slim Harpo, Islands, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Sam Cooke, among others.

I was so happy to send these little treats out and I hope the recipients liked them!

Now, I'll leave you with my essential thoughts on Valentine's Day:

All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt! - Lucy Van Pelt

2011 - Looking Ahead

via

I'm still trying to work on New Year's resolutions. I know there is plenty I want to change, but I feel the things I want to improve upon are deeper than a one-line resolution. Still, I feel a big shift (or a couple of them) coming in 2011. In efforts to motivate this, I thought I'd share a few inspiration quotes that fuel the fire to make 2011 a great year.

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance - Alan Watts

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself - Leo Tolstoy

It is a bad plan that admits of no modification - Publilius Syrus

The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present - Abraham Lincoln

The world hates change yet it is the only thing that has brought progress - Charles F. Kettering

Nothing we can do can change the past, but everything we do changes the future - Ashleigh Brilliant

If you can neither accept it or change it, try to laugh at it - Ashleigh Brilliant

You can find more quotes on change here.http://creatingminds.org/quotes/change.htm

Ever Forward!

Merry Christmas

via

Merry Christmas everyone! Just wanted to poke my head in and wish you all a very happy holiday. We are currently at my parents' house and are finally done opening presents. I'm glad we are at my parents' house, mainly because I've seriously lost my holiday mojo and I'm hoping to get it back soon, even though the holidays are basically over (Dave, the kids and myself all caught a nasty cold that wiped us all out). I didn't decorate at all! Wishing my house kind of looked like that above. Oh well, another year. 

I hope you've all had a wonderful time celebrating the holidays, and thank you so much for reading this measly little blog. Looking forward to seeing you all again in the New Year!

Weekend Listenting - Holiday Edition

Merry Christmas Eve! The big holiday is upon us, and if you're like me, you have just as much anticipation over the pending festivities as you did when you were eight. I think I get more excited for everyone to open the presents I gave them than opening my own presents! Before you nuzzle into bed and dream of sugar plums, grab a cup of eggnog, cozy-up by the fire (don't forget to put it out for poor Santa!), and put on some good Christmas music. I think the following selections are perfect backgrounds for wrapping those last-minute presents and stuffing stockings.

I love classical guitar, and the Windham Hill Holiday Guitar Collection  is no exception. Each track is driving and exciting, but still mellow and melodic. The version of "The Holly and the Ivy" does justice to one of my all-time favorite holiday songs, and I only wish my version of "Angels We Have Heard on High" that I begrudgingly sang each Christmas Eve in church sounded as beautiful as this one.

A Scottish Christmas by Bonnie Rideout, Maggie Sansone and Al Petteway is a fun spin on Christmas classics. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and "O Come All Ye Faithful" have that traditional Celtic sound, merged with the familiar melodies of Christmas. I definitely think this album deserves to be listen to with a nice glass of Scotch, you know, to keep with the theme.

Well, lovelies, have a wonderful Christmas! I hope tomorrow morning brings lots of smiles, love, and okay, a present or two. Enjoy the day and be grateful for all the goodness in life! I'd love to hear about how you spend Christmas.

Weekend Listenting - Holiday Edition

Wowie, can you believe it? Only one more week until Christmas! I don't know where 2010 went, but I know it's been an exciting and fortunate year for us here at Silly Goose Farm. To keep us in the holiday spirit, let's explore some holiday tunes, shall we?

First up: Jingle All the Way by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, one of my favorite bands. I can only dream of playing the banjo as perfectly and effortlessly as Bela. Bela and the boys have some great, inventive covers on this album. I love Victor Wooten's bass solo on "The Christmas Song," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" makes me want to put on my dancing shoes. My nostalgia-loving heart really swells when "Christmas Time is Here" and "Linus and Lucy" are queued up. Speaking of which...

...Here the original versions on A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Original Sound Track Recording of the CBS Television Special by Vince Guaraldi Trio. Of course we all know and love the movie, but the music, I believe, is great anytime of year. It just makes me laugh thinking about all the Peanuts characters pointing their little noses in the air and "Oo Oo Oo-ing" their favorite Christmas carols. I think "Skating" is my favorite song on the whole album, although truly, each song is a gem.

Good luck with the final push towards Christmas!

Chocolate Chip Butter Cake and Buttercream Frosting



I wanted to make a somewhat unexpected birthday cake for Edie's birthday. And since she's such a little thief when it comes to chocolate chips, I thought I'd try a a chocolate chip cake. I found a recipe here, and put my own spin on it.

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Old-Fashioned Butter Cake with Chocolate Chips

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup soft butter

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

3 eggs

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup chocolate chips*

1. Cream together the butter and sugars until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beat until incorporated. Add vanilla.

2. Add baking powder, baking soda and salt. Combine chocolate chips with a bit of the flour. Alternately add flour and milk, ending with flour. Add chocolate chips. Mix each addition until just combined.

3. Pour batter into greased and floured cake pans (two 8-inch round cake pans or a 9x13-inch pan). Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. **

4. Cool cake in pans for 15 minutes before removing. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

*I used mini chocolate chips, but feel free to use any type of chocolate chips or chopped chocolate you prefer. Despite my best efforts, the chocolate chips still sank to the bottom of the cake. When I frosted the cake, I just faced the layers so the chocolate encased the frosting.

**In order to get the two-tiered cake for Edie's birthday, I made two batched of the cake. The first in two 8-inch cake pans, the second in a 9x13-inch pan, which I cut two circles out of and layered together.

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Buttercream Frosting

1 cup soft butter
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
8-10 tbsp milk

1. Beat butter until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla and salt.

2. Gradually add half of powdered sugar. Add half of milk, one tbsp at a time, to loosen frosting. Add the rest of the powdered sugar and milk in similar fashion. Once incorporated, beat at high speed until white and fluffy.

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I added white and red drages to the cake once frosted, then rolled and cut blue and white fondant for the ribbons. When cutting the cake, I removed the top tier and served slices from that first. The bottom tier was cut by making an inner and outer circle and cuting wedges from it. For a tutorial, click here.

Edie's Birthday Party

Little Miss Edith's birthday party was just the best ever. She was (relatively) well behaved, had a blast playing with her friends and cousins, and said "Wowie!" every time she opened a present.

We did a "County Fair" theme. I tried to make food that would resemble what you would find at a summertime carnival.

I found inspiration for the party here and here. I think Edie liked it. For more pictures of the party and all the goodies, click here. Stay tuned for some select recipes!

Happy Birthday Edith!

Yesterday was Edie's second birthday. I can't believe it! Already? We had a wonderful family day together. I wish it could be that perfect every day. Tomorrow, we will have a party for her. Stay tuned for pictures!

To read about Edie's entrance into this world, please visit over here.

Inspired Ideas

I just found this great e-zine, Amy Powers' Inspired Ideas - Christmas Issue. Have you heard about it already? Some of the things here were a little too "country" for my tastes, but I can't help but share a few of my favorite ideas with you.

Theses little felt houses are darling! I might try to make them, along with the felt ornaments on page 46.

I believe my mother has a hidden set of vintage glass ornaments very similar to these. Thinking they need to become mine.

I love silhouettes and cameos. This idea would be adorable framed, perhaps above the kids' cribs?

The sample trees remind me of a cute sweater Edie wore all the time last winter. It had a little hood with a pompom, and made her look like an elf.

Really liking this felt play mat idea. Hopefully I can cram one into my holiday sewing. Edie and Eric love cars and trains right now.

Head on over to Amy's blog to check the rest of the e-zine out for yourself! (Sorry for the blurry pictures!)