Let it Snow!!!

Snow is a blessing to our family!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

TJ's vs. WS

OK, so I tried the Trader Joe's Peppermint Bark and here is what I think. (since some inquiring minds are wanting to know!!) It is very good! :) It is a little different than Williams Sonoma brand, however. I think it could have had more candy bits on the top. I also think that it doesn't look as homemade because it is cut into six perfect three inch squares. The chocolate is very smooth and rich, but I do think it could stand to have just a tad more peppermint oil added to it. (I really do love it, though!) It definitely is worth the $10! I just cannot pay $26 for the other brand. The TJ's tin would make a perfect teacher, coach, etc. gift. :)

Let's Build a Gingerbread House

Let's Try It!!

Look what I found at Trader Joe's today!! Get this . . . it was $16 cheaper than at Williams Sonoma. (both are 1 pound and both have pure ingredients . . .) We'll see how they compare.

**see last Friday's post

Celebrating Christmas in Downtown West Chicago

On Saturday night, we went to our town's Christmas festival. It was very quaint. They handed out stockings to the children and they walked around to all of the local businesses and filled them with candy and little toys. (kind of like Halloween in December?) They also had free popcorn, hot chocolate, and even horse drawn carriage rides (that you had to wait an hour in line for, but it was worth it). Oh . . . and they had live reindeer to pet and carolers. What a special night!!!

Favorites on Fridays . . . Like Oprah's "O" List, But Not Really

Favorite Christmas Indulgence : Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark

Oh my . . . what could be better?? I get so excited each year to see if any of John's students give him a tin of this for Christmas. (I never buy it for myself because it's more than $20 per tin!) I have bought cheaper versions of it, but the ingredients are not good for you at all . . . partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil (--shudder--) The ingredients in the WS brand are pure and simple.

yum.

Cooking with Grandpa

For cooking class today, we had a guest chef . . . Grandpa!!! He and Caroline made some very delicious scones. Yummm . . .

Here is the recipe :

2 cups of flour

1/3 cup plus 1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

8 Tbsp. unsalted butter (frozen and grated through the large holes of a hand grater)

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup sour cream

1 large egg

In medium bowl, mix together the first 5 ingredients minus the 1 tsp. of sugar.

Grate the butter into the flour mixture and use your fingers to work butter into flour mixture . . . the mixture should resemble course meal. Add raisins.

In a small bowl, whisk sour cream and egg until smooth. Using a fork, stir mixture and add to flour mixture.

Use your hands to press the dough against the sides of the bowl into a ball. The dough will be sticky in places and there may not seem to be enough liquid at first, but as you press the dough it will come together.

On a floured surface, pat the dough into a 7-8 inch circle. Sprinkle with remaining tsp. of sugar and cut into 8 triangles. Bake on a baking stone if you have one at 400* for about 15 - 17 minutes and serve nice and warm.

Enjoy this delicious blessing!!!