I stopped being such an ice queen, although it's still fun to joke that I am one, and entirely enjoyed my holiday season. It could have been this napkin that cheered me up.
Early Christmas on Salt Spring was special as always with my Parents.
We picked out a cute but not so bushy tree from near the house, which
I personally chopped down with a chainsaw (Yes, Miss Danger Rose herself)
which my mom made beautiful with a string of lights and
all the decorations she's collected over the years.
Pretty much the same as every year because what's Christmas without traditions?
The socks I knit for my Dad fit well and so did the toque for my mom.
As they were the only two items I knit up this year I was very happy they worked out.
The christmas socks on their blocking hangers:
The toque with buttons freshly sewn on:
Flying on Christmas Eve into the 25th was good for an elf like myself (less exciting for our excessively delayed passengers and my captain... or is that putting it too mildly?!)
but tiring since we got back into Calgary at 6:30am.
Christmas Day I was included at a friend's parent's home for the big dinner, which was very nice - particularly the invited part, I thought!
I cannot really even say how much it means to be included on a special day.
I had no part in these truffles but since I found them to be inspiring in packaging,
appearance and imagined flavour, I thought I'd include this photo!
I did have one non-traditional yet completely delicious baking event that involved
mint and chocolate,
which can be well backed-up by plenty of tasters who offered their opinion,
which I will share here with you:
Minty, Chocolaty Brownie Cookies
(a slight modification of Jennifer Pallian's Mint Chocolate Cookies as found on the Internet)
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 3/4 cups sugar, mixing brown and white together
2 eggs
1 lid-full vanilla extract
1 lid-full peppermint extract (could be more if you like)
2 cups flour, all purpose
1 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
about a cup of chopped mint chocolate squares
(those brown and green layered ones in the grocery store bulk section)
Cream the butter, then with the sugar, then with the eggs and extracts.
Combine dry ingredients, mix them in well. Add chocolate chunks and stir in.
(It is very dry in Calgary and I added some water to make the dough stick together...
I would be surprised if that would be necessary in other climates...)
Scoop with a melon baller or an ice cream scoop and bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.
They should be a chewy moist cookie with a tendency to disappear...
*******
Following Christmas my best friend, Martina, came out for five days of fun which we spent in
Calgary and in the mountains, with another friend, Jordan. We made a pretty good trio I'd say.
The three of us enjoyed a spectacular Rocky experience in a fair amount of snow
with a good visit and craic in Jasper at the Fenton-Weir's including
carols on the grand piano, yorkshire puddings of golden goodness, a slide show of the latest african adventure, cuddles with Ozzie and the remote alpine cuteness of Jasper itself.
Martina spent some time pointing out geological features of the mountains during our drive
(shhh Jordan and I are learning..!) and taking much better photos than what I have here for you. However our favourite photo must certainly be of us in the old fashioned bathing suits
we rented to take a dip in the hot springs in Banff!
New Years was a massive martini event.
The drink list was extensive and the tastes exquisite thanks to the host who was a friend of a friend's,
which also meant there was a nice mix of friends and now new friends with whom to socialize.
Below, (not the beginning of the night) is our favourite cocktail of the evening
- a raspberry and lime delight.
I think I will avoid martinis for some time now and make a list of healthy,
horizon widening goals for 2014!
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