Author Archives: Christene

Bake All The Things

This isn’t really a post, but more of a list, and mainly for my own reference.

I am extremely excited about my holiday baking this year! I think it will be the best turn out yet, and I have finalized the recipes I will be creating for friends and family.

The above is a partial picture of what my dining table looked like last year after I was done. I am very serious with my baking.

According to the reviews I got for last year’s batches, I kept some of the recipes, and added some new ones that I hope everyone likes.

Did I mention how excited I am about making these??

In no particular order, here they are:

Amaretti Crisps

Gingersnap Palmiers

Lebkuchen

Dark Chocolate Cookies with Sour Cherries (made these last year too)

Chocolate Charms (made these last year too)

Mexican Wedding Cookies (made these last year too)

Pecan Logs

Maple Pecan Shortbread

Buttered Rum Meltaways (made these last year too)

Cranberry Pistachio Cornmeal Biscotti

Rum Balls (make these every year)

Chocolate Thumbprints (make these every year)

Pecan Bars (made these last year too)

Talking It Over

I would like to think him leaving is his loss, but really it is mine too. There were many things about him I enjoyed, but one thing in particular I miss most. Actually what I miss most fluctuates, but right now, this is what I want.

I loved telling him about whatever I was reading, studying, teaching (although the latter is a new development and not one we discussed in detail).

I can’t explain it, except that he always knew. He probably thought I was ridiculous in my odd fascinations, yet he humored me anyway. I would find whimsy in the strangest quotes, but still, he knew.

Whatever I had studied, or was reading, he most likely already read, and had an opinion on it. I enjoyed hearing it, constantly getting me to think about something else, new, and maybe different.

I think my favorite part was making him figure it out. He would and I would squeal and giggle in delight, reading his email or text that unraveled whatever random thing I would send.

I sometimes wonder if he enjoyed it, and viewed it like a game the way I did.

There was one time I thought it would amusing to create something formatted like the reference in the title of this blog and see where it went. Pick a subject, any subject, and go from there. The end result would have been entertaining.

If we were still talking, I would tell him about my lesson planning for next week:  “on ne nait pas femme: on le devient.” He could easily figure out what/who I am teaching… but the why… especially considering my opinion on the subject…  that would be a whole different puzzle.

Well, I guess if I want puzzles, then I will have to go back to Sudoku.

Wordless Wednesday

Mary was trying to take a photo… I could not stop laughing…
There were about a dozen of these shots, with me at various stages of trying to focus…. but I will spare you and only post two…
Still laughing… trying really hard to focus… and then the camera was out of focus… this is actually the best one.
Hannah and I went to one of my favorite places, and this is the first time Mary has been there. It is an interesting bistro/wine bar with a very assertive wait staff. It is where I come when I want to be told instead of asked. I got there early, got us a table, and ordered a glass of white wine. The owner said no, tonight I will be having Chianti. Then he nixed my food order and brought me tuna tartar. He felt I would like it better than what I had originally ordered. When I told him everything was delicious, he replied “I know.”
Hannah was in no submissive moods. She told him she wanted organic low sulfate wine and she would take no substitutes. I didn’t even know such a thing existed. It does.
“Mom, what are you doing?” I look confused… She snapped an impromptu picture of me… while her finger was covering the lens. The only person in the world more technologically challenged than me.
As you can tell, I have very few pictures this week and adding all sorts of filler. I was bored and took a picture of my ring.
I promise better pictures next week!