Almond Meringue Cookies (DIABETIC)

Don't forget those who are watching their weight, as well as the diabetics in your family, while baking your Christmas cookies this year! Here is a wonderful meringue cookie that is great for everyone. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
4 egg whites
8 tsp. powdered skim milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. liquid artificial sweetener
Cinnamon to taste

Beat egg white until stiff. Add skim milk powder. Mix well. Add extracts and sugar substitute. Drop cookies by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake at 275 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet and dust with cinnamon.
Makes about 2 dozen.

Don't Forget Kitty This Season!

If your cat loves treats as ours does, why not make something special for him/her this Christmas? It's easy and you will be loved for it.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup canned salmon
1 tablespoon corn oil
1 medium egg (beaten)
1 cup breadcrumbs (whole wheat preferably)
1/4 teaspoon brewer's yeast

Crush the salmon in a medium bowl into very small pieces. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Place 1/4 teaspoon full on greased cookie sheet and bake for 7 - 8 minutes at 350. Cool and store in the refrigerator in a sealed plastic container.

Christmas Sandwich Creme Cookies

These cookies are wonderful, and not just perfect for Christmas, but any time of the year. Just change the color of the food coloring in the filling and they are ready for any occasion. I have also been known to put ice cream between the sandwich cookies in lieu of the filling in the summer months. I then wrap them in plastic wrap or waxed paper, place in a freezer bag, and have a great treat any time we fancy one.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter (no substitutes) softened
1/3 cup whipping cream
2 cups all purpose flour
sugar

Filling:
1/2 cup butter (no substitutes) softened
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons real vanilla
food coloring

In a mixing bowl, combine butter, cream and flour; mix well.
Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until dough is easy to handle. Divide into thirds; let one portion stand at room temperature for 15 minutes (keep remaining dough refrigerated until ready to roll out). On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8" thickness. Cut with 1-1/2" round cookie cutter. Place cut outs in a shallow dish filled with sugar; turn to coat. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Prick with a fork several times. Bake at 375 for 7-9 minutes or until set. Cool on wire racks.

For filling:
In a mixing bowl cream the butter, powdered sugar and vanilla. Tint with food coloring of your choice. Spread about 1 teaspoon filling on half of a cookie, top with remaining cookie.

Makes about 36-40 cookies.

Have You Noticed...

That I change the sidebar on my blog a few times a week? You never know what you'll find there, helpful tips, meaningful quotes or poems, links to great sites around the web, Irish Radio, the list goes on!

Scroll down and check it out when you visit. You may just find something interesting!

May you be blessed with
warmth in your home,
love in your heart,
peace in your soul
and joy in your life.

Did You Know...

That the herb Rosemary is known as the herb of rememberance and Sage the herb of domestic happiness? Honor those you have lost and the joy of those who remain by cutting rosemary and sage and using ribbon tied bundles of both herbs intertwined as napkin decorations at the Christmas table this year. The fragrance touches your soul and the thought will touch your heart.

Winter Solstice...Ireland

December 21st is an important date. It's both Winter Solstice and the day the Sun moves into focused Capricorn. In old Europe, it was known as Yule.

Our ancestors lived in a world where everyone believed in mystery and magic. Every year they gathered together to celebrate the seemingly miraculous return of the light after the longest night of the year. To this day, people all over the world celebrate Winter Solstice as a time of rebirth, a new beginning and a chance to marvel at the power of transition from darkness into light.

A Winter Solstice celebration depends on illumination to ward off the darkness of winter, and to spark our imaginations. The very first Solstice festivities often featured a large bonfire around which members of the community would dance. Whether we congregate around a flame or a lightbulb (which is more likely these days), fire energy is key to providing a focus for our attention.

At Newgrange in Ireland, the passage and chamber inside the ancient mound are illuminated by the winter solstice sunrise. A shaft of sunlight shines through the roof box over the entrance and penetrates the passage to light up the chamber. It was apparently designed specifically to provide natural illumination to the passage at the winter solstice. This phenomenon was re-discovered only as late as 1967 by Professor O'Kelly, according to the Newgrange Solstice Webcast. The tour guides say it's bright enough to read a book -- but only if it's a sunny morning.

The Miracle Of Friendship

There is a miracle called Friendship
that dwells within the heart
and you don't know how it happens
or when it even starts.

But the happiness it brings you
always gives a special lift
and it's then that you realize that Friendship
is our most precious gift.
Author Unknown

Wishing a wonderful day to all of my readers around the globe,
Laura

Frugal Gift Ideas...

We all know money is tight this year but that's no reason not to have a special holiday season! There's nothing more appreciated than a personalized gift. Everytime it's used, you think of the person who gave it to you. It gives you a feeling of importance somehow.

Here are some ideas on how to have a more affordable holiday season and make it memorable. After all...it's not how much you spend. It's the memories you create that make for a special season.

Jar gifts...if you've been reading my blog you know I love them. Easy to make and great to have in the pantry, what you can gift in jars is endless! From bakers, to soup lovers, to people who love to sew and craft (think buttons layered with thread spools, embroidery floss, various items from the dollar bin at the craft store)etc. they are wonderful!

Making coupon books at Christmas (and birthdays)has been something I have done for years. Something as small as covering someone's chores for a day makes for a very appreciated gift! Make a coupon for friends and/or family that entitles the bearer to homemade baking once a month for an entire year. This is a gift that is especially appreciated by seniors, who will look forward to your visit as much as your baking. I know it sounds like a lot, but if you are a baker it's easy to make a few extra muffins or cookies when you are baking some for your own family. They are easy to freeze as well, so their gift can last almost until the next month comes around! Be creative and there's no end to the coupons you can give out. I always include one for free babysitting days, a day out for a manicure, a day out to a movie, etc.

Agree to exchange cards instead of gifts with friends.

Have a potluck instead of an elaborate feast that requires you do all the work (and grocery shopping).

Make do with last year's decorations without being tempted to purchase more. Just add a few homemade touches, clove studded fruit, a basket of pinecones, greenery from outside etc.

Persuade your extended family to draw names rather than have everyone buy everyone else a gift.

Agree with the other adults to give gifts only to the kids this year.

Buy giftwrap and greeting cards only if on sale, or better yet, make them yourself.

Plant an herb garden for a friend. While you're at it, make one for yourself.

Treat your partner/spouse to a homemade spa. Give him/her a coupon (there's my coupon idea again :)announcing a full one-hour body massage and facial. This gift is easily worth over $75!

Make some creative hand puppets for a child if you have mismatched socks and buttons lying around your home.

Buy movie tickets... a gift where one size fits all. When movie tickets are purchased in advance from movie theaters, you can usually get them at half price!

Offer to make dinner for your friends if you're a good cook.

Give a single friend or elderly family member freshly frozen dinners for a week.

Make a year's worth of greeting cards and personalized stationery for someone if you're a bit crafty. Make enough birthday cards, anniversary cards, and blank cards for a year's worth of holidays. The thoughtfulness will go a long way throughout the year.

Help someone else get organized. If the person you need to give a gift to is an entrepreneur or extremely disorganized, make a filing system for the upcoming tax year.

Purchase gift-with-purchase cosmetic/perfume specials and split the gifts. Usually the gift is nicely wrapped, generic, and valuable enough to give away for an upcoming gift.

Most importantly, be creative. The ways you can show people how special they are to you are endless. Now, relax, have some tea, and enjoy your holiday season...debt free!