Santas and More Santas

Don't you just love Santas? I've been collecting them for a while now - and I have rarely seen any two the same - wonder how they do that? I have them in the dish cupboard - on the buffet - in the windows - under the tree - all around the house - even outdoors.

I have the windowsill in the dining room lined with Santas . . .

They all get along so nicely - I think they are planning christmas surprises. . .

This Russian St. Nicholoas is one of my favorites. . . although sometimes I think my favorite is the one I'm currently looking at . . .

Some of the Santas are in the china cabinet - these Peace Santa are so hip . . .

You'll always find Mr. and Mrs. Santa together - ready to season your food with salt and pepper. . .

This little guy isn't't a santa - but this mousie has been around for about 40 christmases - and yet he still looks so young . . .

Many of the Santas are in amongst the holly leaf dishes on the buffet . . .

And of course teapots shaped like Santa - and snowmen . . . I love teapots too . . .

What is your favorite holiday decoration?

Christmas Tree

Our tree has always been a family tree, ornaments the kids made when they were growing up, ornaments I've made, ornaments from friends and family. It is so full of ornaments that we have to make sure it doesn't tip over - and some years it has, and with no help from our cats either. We are better at balancing the ornaments all around now so rarely do we get the dangerous swaying.

One year, when we still had real trees, the trunk of the tree was so crooked that the stand was about a foot away from the center of the tree, but we even got that one balanced. Come - enjoy our ornaments - and there are lots to enjoy.

We'll start with the lights - bubble lights. Don is in charge of lights on the tree and he puts on hundreds of tiny colored lights, then bell lights and big round colored snowball lights and finally bubble lights. We've almost always had bubble lights and some years you can find them in stores, and some years not. More recently the ones in stores have clear bases and are too bright to even look at - they look like searchlights on the tree. So if we need to replace any we'll have to look for vintage ones.

Some cute "candy" ornaments. They do look like candy, but are only plastic - and cute . . . this reindeer is a lollipop . . .

Birds are always a favorite on our tree - this was a gift from Jamie . . .

Two little Eskimos from a famous artist in Alaska - although I grew up in S.E. Alaska, where we didn't wear parkas and have a lot of snow and cold, these are a cute reminder of Alaska. . .

One of my favorite geese . . .

A Hawaiian Nene Goose ornament, brought back by Rusty and Jamie from their honeymoon . . .

A goose painted on a flat round of wood . . .

And some of Don's bells. He loves bell ornaments and has quite a collection over them, gathered over the years. Some vintage, some new and some that are now vintage but were new when we bought them.

Humpty Dumpty made of felt, the year our first child was born. He's held up pretty well . . .

Our grandson Jahn-Zyel made these paper gingerbread ornaments for each family member one year . . .

Picture frame ornaments with Jahn and Ben when they were younger . . .

Linus and Sally - special ornaments that Don and I put on the tree together each year . . .

Lori made this ornament in early grade school - one of our sentimental favorites . . .

A moose from Maine - do you see his lobster? Thanks Lili!! He's always right out front on the tree. . . I wonder if he rode in their skiff the Chowdabowl before he came here?

Another felt ornament that I made - the year our youngest daughter was born . . .

Shiny vintage ornaments . . .

A very heavy glass pear. This one often is near the back of the tree to help balance the tree and keep it from tipping forward - I told you it was heavy . . .

I hand painted this christmas pie, it is cut from very thin wood . . .

Shiny, white, glittery glass pinecone . . .

And what tree is complete until you have a slice of pumpkin pie? An ornament from the annual ornament swap our family has.

More glitter, more shine. I love the glass beads . . .

Fancy lace snowflakes made by my friend Franni . . .

This little guy is about 3/4 " tall total - but looks like he can get into plenty of mischief . . .

Made from ash from the Mt. St. Helens eruption 30 years ago in Washington . . .

I adore vintage ornaments - these little girls add such cheer to the tree . . .

And Christmas trees always need angels. These two were given to me by my father when I was 5.

They have stiff angel hair wings and soft clouds of angel hair to sit on. . .

And a lacy angel that I made. Her body is made of thin painted wood and a tulle and lace skirt with lots of ribbons.

I hope you enjoyed a little tour of our tree. What are your favorite ornaments?

Summer Sausage

One more recipe - I've had a lot of requests for this one! A batch is in the oven right now, I make a double batch at a time because it is so popular. Another double batch is going in the fridge to chill overnight.

It is another family favorite - I've been making this for years. It is great for gifts and for snacks - not just at the holidays but anytime. And very easy to make!





Summer Sausage

2 lbs lean ground beef
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp garlic salt
1 c water
2 T tender quick
1/4 tsp onion salt
1 1/2 tsp Liquid Smoke

Mix all ingredients. Shape into three logs. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (at least 12 hours) Remove plastic wrap and bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours at 300 degrees. Refrigerate after cooking. Slice and serve on sandwiches or crackers, with cheese (and, no, I don't have a recipe for cheese - since I've never made any).

I use disposable gloves for the mixing - you really need to get your hands in there tom mix it completely.

Tender Quik has been a little harder to find lately - in our town you can usually find it at Haggen Stores. It used to be available in any market. It is in the section by the salt.

Enjoy!

Cranberry/Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Since several friends have asked for my Cranberry/Pecan Shortbread Cookie recipe I thought I would put it here where I can share with more people. Enjoy - and next - a recipe for Summer Sausage!

Cranberry Pecan Shortbread

Or - The Best Cookie You'll Ever Eat!

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature (do NOT use margarine)

2/3 cup sugar

1 t. vanilla

2 1/3 cups flour

1/2 t. salt

1 cup pecans, chopped

1 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

2 T cold water

Cream the butter until smooth (about 1 - 2 minutes). Add the sugar and beat until smooth and creamy (about 3 minutes). Beat in the vanilla. Gently stir in the flour and salt just until incorporated.

Fold in the chopped pecans and dried cranberries and water (Make sure that the nuts and cranberries are evenly distributed throughout the dough).

Divide the dough in half. You might have to knead the dough a bit to get it to stick together – this is a rather dry dough. Place the dough on a piece of waxed paper or plastic wrap. Smooth and shape the dough into an evenly shaped log that is about 10 inches long and 2 inches across . Then thoroughly wrap the shaped logs in the waxed paper or plastic wrap, twist the ends of the paper to seal the logs, and chill for at least two hours, or up to three days. (The logs can also be frozen for about two months. If freezing, it is best to defrost the logs in the refrigerator overnight before slicing and baking.)

Preheat oven to 325, with the rack in the center of the oven. Grease pans or use parchment paper.

Using a thin bladed knife ( I used a good thin, finely serrated knife), slice the logs into ¼ thick cookies. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about ½ inch apart – the cookies don't really spread.

Bake for about 15 - 20 minutes, or until the cookies are just beginning to brown around the edges. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

Makes about 48 shortbread cookies. What I like about these cookies, besides they are the best tasting in the world – is that you mix them up one day and then bake them another, when the kitchen is clean and there is no mixing-up-cookie-dough mess.

And I always make a double batch (that is all that will fit in my mixer bowl - if I want more I make a second double batch) - they get eaten quickly.

Check Your Craisins

After posting my recipe for Cranberry Nut Bread, my friend Christine sent me this recall notice. I wanted to pass it on to you so if you are planning to make the delicious cranberry bread you can do so safely, after checking your Craisins.

Thank you Christine, for helping make us safe. Do pop over and visit her - she has a fabulous blog and some terrific quilt patterns, for blocks and for quilts. A truly wonderful lady!

Now back to our regularly scheduled holiday baking.

Cranberry-Nut Bread - made with dried cranberries

1cup sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

zest of one orange

2 eggs

2/3 cup milk

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

1 cup dried cranberries (craisins)

1/3 c fresh squeezed orange juice (from the lemon you zested)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour the bottom and sides of a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan; set aside.

In a large bowl stir together the sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, cranberrries and chopped nuts.

In small bowl beat eggs with a fork; stir in milk, orange zest and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Add the orange juice at this time.

Spread in loaf pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Wrap and store overnight before slicing - if you can wait that long.