Salt dough Christmas decorations

Things You'll Need:

• 1 cup of water
• 1 cup of salt
• 2 cups of flour
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

1. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and knead well.

2 Once you have kneaded it, you will need to roll out the dough. To make this easier, it helps to either use wax paper under the dough when you roll, or to lightly coat the counter with flour before placing the dough on it. Roll out dough to a 1/4 inch thickness.

3. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Use a toothpick to put a hole for a string in the top of the shape. 

4. Place shapes on a baking sheet and place in a preheated oven at 300F degrees. Bake for 45 minutes. Before removing from oven, ensure there are no soft spots, if so you can bake until they are gone. 

5. Once your decorations have cooled, they are ready to paint. Any acrylic craft paint will work. Once painted, you will want to seal them to keep out moisture by putting on at least one coat of clear varnish, polyurethane or even clear nail polish. 

Christmas Card

Christmas Card

Oatmeal Shortbread for Christmas

Ingredients

1 cup (8 oz) butter
3/4 C brown sugar
2 t (teaspoons) vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour (plain flour)
1 cup rolled oats

1. Cream together butter and sugar; blend in vanilla.  Gradually work in flour and oats, using spoon or fingers.  Chill for about 20 minutes or until firm enough to roll.

2. Roll out on lightly floured surface, to about 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut into 2-inch rounds.  Place on ungreased baking sheets; prick with fork.

3. Bake in 325 F (160C) oven for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.  Makes about 48 cookies.

Cranberry mincemeat

Homemade Cranberry Mincemeat

500g dried fruit (heavy on currents and raisins with 75g of dried cranberries)
3 dessert apples, peeled, cores and finely chopped
Zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon
the juice of 1 small lemon
3/4 teaspoon each ground cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon
150 g dark soft brown sugar
125 ml of Harvey's Bristol Cream sherry
300 g cranberries
1 tsp vanilla

1.Mix all the ingredients except the vanilla, together.
2.Simmer for 20 minutes until everything looks pulpy and has absorbed most of the liquid. You may need to mush up the cranberries with the back of your wooden spoon.
3. When it has cooled somewhat add the vanilla and stir.
4. Spoon into sterilized jars.

Dumplings!

I made dumplings last night for the first time in years! I had forgotten how great they are and very filling. Here's the recipe I used but I'm sure there must be variations. Ideas any one?

Sieve together:
2 cups of flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt.

Add enough milk to make a stiff dough. Drop spoonfuls into boiling broth and leave the lid on for ten minutes! They were delicious with our beef stew.

Roasted Olive and Grape Tapenade

Here'a a quick and easy recipe for a spread/topping. It was in the free magazine our local grocery store, Raleys, distributed last fall. Makes a nice gift when put in jar with tag.

Roasted Olive and Grape Tapenade

1 1/2 c pitted Kalamata olives, halved
2 1/2 c red grapes, halved
3 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme

Preheat oven to 350F.
Stir together all ingredients on large rimmed baking sheet.
Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes
Serve warm or room temperature with goat cheese and baguette slices.
Will keep refrigerated for about 2 weeks.

Yields about 1 cup. May be doubled.

Zucchini Egg Foo Yung

Just had this for supper to use up the multitude of zucchinis we have this year! Wonderful!

Grate coarsely
4 medium unpeeled zucchini

Mix in
3 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup (2 fluid oz in a measuring cup) plain flour
1/4 t (teaspoon) garlic powder
1 t salt
1 onion, grated

Fry by tablespoonfuls in hot oiled skillet, turning once when golden brown. Arrange on platter and top with sauce.
Combine in saucepan
1 cup chicken broth (8 fl. oz)
2 T. (tablespoons) soy sauce
1 T. cornstarch

Cook and stir over low heat until thickened. Serve with rice.

Options:

Add fresh bean sprouts with grated zucchini.

Switch from Chinese to Italian meal by topping with tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese. Serve with spaghetti.