Setting by the Fire

This morning I woke to a star filled sky, just what I like to see.  It soon ended while having coffee and checking out the news around the world and FB friend's news which is also from around the world.  Looking up to see if the hub was going to pour our second cup I realized I couldn't see the neighbor's house.  White outs have been frequent the last couple of days mixed with big white fluffy clouds and clear blue sky.  It is quite a picture to enjoy.  The wind has picked up and now blowing gusts of snow from the Pine Trees, also another beautiful thing to watch.  The birds are chowing on the suet and seed in the bird feeder.  Dick placed 2 Christmas trees under the feeders and the birds love hiding in them and eating seeds that have fallen under them to the ground.  Simple little gestures to keep the critters happy.  The hens are not happy, snow on the ground and they are hoed up in the barn picking around the hay bales and dirt where they can.  This too shall pass, spring is just a blink away.

The day before is a day I look at the weather, if it's going to below the 20 something mark it usually means the oven will be lit for baking.  Yesterday I made some Sour Cream Cookie Dough, placed it covered on the back deck overnight so it would be ready to bake with this morning.  Since there was a half a box of raisins and few a dates left from Christmas baking I made a filling for some of the cookies.  Mom and Gramma Gross baked these frequently and also Eleanor Stavisky.  I use Eleanor's filling recipe.  This is a nice time for me to set at the table, watch the oven, back field, feel the warmth and enjoy the flames from our gas fired stove and write letters or a blog. It's a peaceful morning, just me, the dog and my thoughts.

 A hot cup of Maple Tea and a cookie, ( a sample, wouldn't want to give them away and not be tasty) while writing a letter to my cousin.  Joan lives in Florida now with her husband and twice a year we handwrite letters to each other to catch up on the "Gross Clan".  Email and FB work but there is nothing better than opening an envelope and reading a letter or card.  More time, effort and thought go into it with a personal touch.  Much easier to tuck away in my drawer for later enjoyment, even years down the road.  I still have letters from Dick in college and our sons when the first went into the Army.  Treasures.


One sample wasn't enough, two cookies will do.
Happy Valentine's Day!

One more plan for my "me" day......browsing through our Jung Seed Catalog.  Last night we watched a few garden shows on YouTube and decided to try a couple suggestions from the "Elegant Backyard Gardner".  He is an older man that reminded me of my dad, Uncle Orville and Bill Stavisky.  Great tips that we wrote down and book marked him on our favorites.  We watch a lot of nature, garden, travel and documentaries on YouTube.  Long ago we gave up on Dish and Direct TV.  Way to expensive to get the 3 channels we watch, the other channels were a waste for us.  It is nice to pick what we want to watch with NO commercials.  We also have Netflix which is ok for the price but YouTube has everything we need.  I like the quilting, knitting and crocheting tutorials.  Very nice to get me out of a bind.

Well the last batch of cookies is in the oven.  I have two tips about rolled cookies that Eleanor gave me many years ago and it does make a difference on the last few batches.  Especially if it is a large batch of dough.  When you roll out the first batch and cut with the cookie cutter, put the scrap dough aside and do not use it in the next batch you roll out, always use fresh dough.  In the end when all you have left is the scraps from all the roll outs start using it and in the same manner as you did with fresh dough.  This way minimal flour is being added to each roll out.  Using the left over dough as you cut out each time just makes the dough get thicker, tougher and dry cookies.  I hope that makes sense to you, a little confusing but if need be, message me and I will try to explain it better.  The other tip is keep the dough cold!  Refrigerate over night (when it's below freezing I put my dough outside in a cabinet) once you start rolling the dough put the extra back in the frig.  Cold dough does not suck up the flour on the floured board like warm dough does.  Less flour in cookies, pies and cakes is best and the less you touch the dough the softer the end product. 



Date and nut filled, sugar crystals and strawberry drizzle.

I love the large sugar crystals, they remind me of  when the sun shines on
fresh fallen snow, little diamonds glistening.