Christmas Cookies: Spiced cutouts

I remember my mother making this cookie but she didn't bake it.  She would cut them out and then cooked them on the pancake griddle.

Spice Cutout Cookies iced

This recipe was lost because my mother never shared the actual recipe for Spiced Christmas Cookies.

cutting out the cookies

Years later when I was raising a second family, I found a recipe that sounded interesting.  I baked it an to my surprise it was the same tasting cookie as my mother.  I made them plain that year with no icing and tested my memory on my brother by having him try the cookie.  Afterwards I asked him if he remembered Mom making those.

Spice Christmas Cookies with simple icing

This cookie is so festive and similar in taste to a Pfeffernusse and I love making them now with different types of icing.

Decorative Spiced Cutout

Happy baking.

Christmas Baking For Me is Black Friday Without Shopping

Maybe I'm the only one who doesn't do the shopping thing on the day after Thanksgiving but I prefer to shop leisurely and not be pushed and prodded because someone else wants that one item that is left on the retailers cut-price list.  Instead, I have bought my ingredients for Christmas Cookies and I'll begin making some of those today.

On today's list are the ever popular chocolate chip.  This one can be made from scratch or just cheat and drop the premade dough onto a cookie sheet.

and maybe some of the peanut Blossom cookies. These you can cheat and mix up a batch of peanut butter dough from the package and then add the candy kiss to them as they come out of the oven.

Both are easy to mix and bake.

The No bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie is so easy to make that it's almost sinful to call making them baking.  This is another one that you can start the holiday with and keep making it between other batches to keep those stealthy fingers of your children or grandchildren satisfied before the actual holiday arrives.

The point is I don't believe in taking the meaning out of the holiday by dangling prizes in front of the world in unheard of price slashing.  It makes you wonder what the actual cut off price is for that "I can't live without it" item you have left your home and family to run after.

Maybe I'm just old school but this is just something that I have refused to become a part of.  The younger members of my family do go merrily off to seek their prizes and that is their right to which I will not hold against them.  They have families and perhaps that is the means by which they can afford to show their children a happy holiday to come.

But, as for me I'll be at home baking my little heart out.  Besides I need a couple of dozen cookies to share with the Veteran's at their Christmas Luncheon  at the Oakmont Elks.  So whatever you choose to do with Black Friday, I wish you and yours a wonderful day while I get out the flour and sugar.

Oakmont Elks Host Veteran's Luncheon

Oakmont Elks hosts a group of local veterans for a luncheon once a month.  Each month Lodge No. 1668 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks hosts veterans from the Pennsylvania Southwest Center or the H.J. Heinz Campus of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.  This project is funded by an Elks National Foundation Grant which the Lodge applies for each year.  The only stipulation for the grant is that it be an ongoing community project that is staffed or performed by the membership of the Lodge.

One month the veterans ate stuffed shells with garlic bread, salads and cheesecake topped with strawberries.  The menu can be as simple as this or as elaborate as today with a Thanksgiving dinner complete with turkey, stuffing and all the sides.  The veterans who attend are always most grateful for the meal and often ask for and are served second portions.

In November of 2013 the Lodge expanded the guest list to include 21 children from St Irenaeus School who performed their Veteran's Day Program for the veterans.  At the conclusion of the performance which lasted about 25 minutes and included the singing of patriotic songs by the children, each child presented an American Flag to a veteran and thanked them personally for their service.

Each month a different type of entertainment is included for the veterans enjoyment.  The veterans arrive just before noon and usually stay for about 2-3 hours.

Plans are always in the works to host both Southwest and Aspinwall groups for the December luncheon which is a Christmas party for these deserving men and women.  The veterans all receive a small tin of homemade cookies and a token of our appreciation for their service to our country.

Special Occasion Cheesecake - Wedding Day

Anyone who loves cheesecake will get into the swing of things by making some one's Valentine's Day a memorable one.  You Can also use this for wedding showers and wedding tables.

There are so many recipes for good cheesecake that it is hard to pick one.  I have one but due to a family tradition, my daughter has banned me from sharing it. So needless to say, I have to rely on other good recipes for this edition of my blog.

Individual Heart Molded Cheesecakes

Let's start out with perhaps the simplest of cheesecakes and make them individually in a a mold such as the ones made by thebigapplemama.com.  The link takes you to the recipe for making this delicious cheesecake individually for your family and friends.

Heart Shape Cheesecake

Next on our list of cheesecakes is one that is just that a cheesecake made in a heart shaped cake mold and not decorated  With this cheesecake you have the best of all worlds in that you can use the recipe above and leave it up to the individual to use the topping of their choice while enjoying the cheesecake flavor.

Since I can't use my own recipe, I'm suggesting that you use the recipe of the one that I linked you to for the rest of these Valentine's Day offerings.

Cherry Cheesecake

The first is my personal favorite.  It is a cheesecake decorated with cherry pie filling and whipped cream topping.

Strawberry Cheesecake

A good portion of the people prefer strawberry topping with their cheesecake.

Blueberry Mini Cheesecake

Others are partial to blueberries.

My final suggestion takes a little more decorating ability and is made with raspberry jam swirled on top of the cheesecake.

Whether you top these off with whipped cream or not is totally an individual preference.  I vote for with whipped cream.

Try these for that special someone in your life in their favorite flavor.

Holiday Spending: Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas

With Halloween behind us, this subject has always been one that I stress when it comes to spending money for the holidays.

peanut butter cookies

Halloween is where I start as I look for the best treats for the least spent.  Before home baked treats were banned, I would bake brownies and peanut butter cookies for the gremlins and hand out special cookies to each child that came to my door.

As a young adult with children and a small budget, the holidays were always stressful for me because it meant buying presents for nieces and nephews with money I didn't have.  It took away from what I could spend on my own children.  That situation didn't matter to my husband's siblings because we were given a list of toys that were just not within my budget.  We were looked down upon if we didn't come up with those presents and similar ones for the adults in the family.

Don't get me wrong.  We were not struggling financially but my first husband could only be described as a miser when it came to money.  He made a good salary but I was only allowed to spend what he thought was appropriate so that he could squirrel away in the sock drawer what was left over.  This side of his personality was never seen by our families.  I don't want to ever demean someone, but my point in revealing this fact is that this is not the true meaning of the holidays.  If you resemble this miserly person, take heed and read on.

china tea set

I know it is better to give than receive and I was brought up that way but to a different extent.  As children we were given hand-me down presents among various smaller bought games or toys.  Mine was a doll that wore clothes that were kept from when I was a baby and a real china tea set that were my mother's and her mother's before that.  My big present one Christmas was a desk that my grandfather had made in the basement.  I had that desk until after I was married and it was one of my most treasured pieces of furniture because of the sentimentality of the work that went into it.

The best Christmas I can remember was the one that I had with my second husband when we were trapped by a deep freeze into spending Christmas Eve into Christmas Day at one of our homes where we didn't actually reside because the presents for all seven children were hidden there to be brought up after the children had gone to bed.  It was so cold we had to pack the children up hoping that the car would start in the freezing temperatures to get them to where the presents were hidden.  Each child got something special and some smaller things but nothing extravagant.  But it was the happiest Christmas of my life being able to give with no expectation of receiving in return.

cookie tray for the holidays

In each household every family has a different budget to follow.  Sometimes even baking for the holidays can put a strain on a strict budget.  So in the coming Thanksgiving and Christmas season, be thankful for what you have been provided by God and share it with your loved ones within your means.  If that leaves some left over for others go for it and give that donation or bake those cookies to give to your friends and neighbors.  You don't need to spend money to feel bountiful and happy.

Thanksgiving Day Favorite Dessert Recipes

In our house as I was growing up, we always had a pumpkin pie and a mincemeat pie for Thanksgiving Day.  My grandfather always made the pies and his crust skills couldn't be beat for being flaky.  We didn't vary from those choices.  But, as the world says move over to the traditional pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving Day, I suggest that you include it even if you are preparing some of the other pumpkin dessert recipes.

One of the current favorite for pumpkin desserts is the pumpkin cake roll filled with cream cheese frosting.  This recipe has been a favorite in the supermarkets in the past few years.  It's really not a new idea because I remember one of my neighbors making this when my now grown children were toddlers.  There is a skill needed to make this without breaking the cake.

My favorite recipe that I made for my family is a Pumpkin Chiffon Bundt Cake.  This recipe is so simple and one that I've made over the years.  It can be served plain with powdered sugar and with a whipped cream icing.

Another favorite of my children is a recipe that my friend's mother made in the fall.  This little German lady was quite a dessert baker.  She made pumpkin cookies that simply melted in your mouth.  For that matter, anything Mrs. T made from custard pies to Christmas cookies was a real treat indeed  Mrs. T's pie crust was always sprinkled with sugar and could rival my grandpap's.

For those of you who prefer your cakes in the form of a loaf, there is the ever popular Pumpkin Bread.  We made this often for the holidays and used it both for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

When I would attend an Elks District Meeting at McKees Rocks Lodge, they always served a variation of pumpkin pie in squares, which was a graham cracker and nut mixture base with a pumpkin pie filling.  They always topped it off with just a dollup of real whipped cream.

Whatever you serve for dessert for Thanksgiving, be it pies, cakes, cookies or breads, you really need to have a pumpkin flavor along with the turkey, stuffing and other sides.

Thanksgiving: Favorite Recipes From My Childhood

I'm still taking my trip down memory lane.  I think everyone has an Aunt Sal, who wasn't your blood relative but the aunt of a friend.  Some of life's fondest memories come from those experiences.  I grew up in a family that only had one other living relative and their family which gave me exactly 3 cousins.  So I adopted my next door neighbor's family and all of their many aunts, uncles and cousins.  That family knew the meaning of family and visited often.  I don't remember my friend going to visit that often but I remember the various parties and holidays spent with the Aunt Sal's and Uncle Dave from next door.

My friend and I moved into our homes when she was 2 years old and I was almost 1.  We grew up together and shared more than just toys and fun times.  She passed away two years ago but I still make Aunt Sal's Apple Cake.

I diverse from my reason for today's article.

Square of Aunt Sal's Apple Cake

My favorite fall recipe or maybe just one of my favorites, because thinking back there are many, is Aunt Sal's Apple Cake with Caramel Drizzle Icing.  This cake was different because it was made with chunks of apples instead other means of making the cake moist.   Moist was an understatement for this cake because it oozed of sweetness and goo.  It was full of apple and walnut goodness along with that syrupy caramel drizzle.  Being a sugar freak when I was younger I gobbled up this cake like there was no tomorrow but one piece at a time.  That was more than enough with all that sweet, sweet and more sweet.

Sage dressing made on the side in a pan. 

Another of my Favorites for Thanksgiving was my Mother's Sage Stuffing.  She would save heels of bread in a brown paper bag and my brother and I would break them up into pieces for my Mom to cook over the stove the night before Thanksgiving.  she mixed it in a skillet lined with Crisco and added chopped onions, green pepper and celery.  She would keep on making it until there was enough to stuff the turkey the next day. The stuffing was stored in the roaster until my Dad would stuff the turkey in the morning.

When there was leftover after the turkey was stuffed, we made stuffing balls.  This idea came from a neighbor who never stuffed her turkey but made the stuffing balls on the side.  Since it is no longer suggested to roast your turkey with the stuffing inside it, I now make more of these in a casserole with just enough turkey stock poured over to keep the stuffing moist.

The dessert for Thanksgiving was always made by my grandfather, who made the best pumpkin pies on earth.  He would also make a mincemeat pie but I wasn't fond of that pie.

You need to know that I judge a pie by it's crust rather than the filling so I'm very particular about my pies.  My grandfather taught me that you needed to be sure to have it right the first time you rolled it out because rolling it more than once made the crust tough.

Turkey Dinner with Cranberry Jelly, Stuffing and Ambrosia 

Whatever you serve as sides on Thanksgiving with the turkey, you need to have at least the stuffing and pumpkin pie to make my Thanksgiving perfect.  I love mashed potatoes, corn and cranberry sauce with my turkey, but these three recipes are my all time favorites.

Senior Citizens: What To Do When Laid Off

In today's economy, not too many people can afford to get laid off from their jobs.  Senior citizens who choose to work are the most vulnerable in this area.  They work because they were not fortunate enough to put away enough income to keep up their expenses for the rest of their lives. 

In some cases, it's the little things that they continue to work for such as spending money, golfing fees, special vacations or even special food extravagances.  Hopefully, you have put away a portion of your former income and are able to sustain your expenses with your reduced income.  If not, you will need to seek unemployment compensation and this carries with it some other concerns which we will look into later.

Whatever your circumstances, you must once again look over your budget and determine if there are places that you can cut expenses.  This isn't always easy because when we are working we allow ourselves to slip back into bad spending habits and become used to the little extravagances.

Credit Card Payments  Hopefully, you have been making bigger payments on credit card bills while you were working to reduce or pay off balances.  Temporarily reduce these overpayments on credit cards and other bills that you have been making more than the minimum payment.  This does not free up huge amounts of money but sometimes is enough to carry you through without doing the unemployment application until you can find other employment.

I have always overpaid my credit card bills with more than the minimum payment so that at some point in time, my card can be paid off.  Even when I consolidate bills for lower interest rates, I pay off certain cards but do not close the accounts.  This way my credit score is not adversely affected.  I just don't use those cards except for some small purchase that I can pay off before any interest is charged to the account.

Standing in line at the Unemployment Office

Now let's talk about unemployment compensation.  If you are forced to sign up for unemployment compensation, you are under a lot of rules which compel you to be actively seeking employment and physically able to work.  That doesn't always mean employment at the level you were used to working.  If you are offered a position which does not pay your former salary or meet your working hours, you can lose your unemployment if you turn down the job and they contact the Agency.  Besides that, unemployment compensation is taxable on your IRS return and you should have a portion of your payments deducted to help with the end of the year expenses that occur because you were forced to take unemployment.

Be prepared for some people thinking you are being greedy and really don't deserve unemployment because of your age.  This is ridiculous since you have been and are able to work.  It's better to work at a reduced capacity than to rust away from not using your God given gifts.

No one said life was easy and it's especially hard on those senior citizens who for whatever reason need to continue working in whatever capacity you choose.  Here's a tip from my personal experience:

Let's be realistic:  in today's world you need a cell phone if for no other reason but to call 911 from outside your home.  Fortunately, before I was affected by a cut back, I had already reduced my cell phone bill by 1/3.  What was costing me $50 a month now costs me $33.10 and I have much more flexibility.  It meant an initial investment into a smart phone but I save that back within the first year of my new service.  I gained unlimited texting access (which some seniors don't use) and unlimited internet access from my cell phone.  I reduced my phone access to 300 minutes per month from unlimited but I found I don't even use 200 minutes by using texting for some of the contact that is necessary between family members instead of picking up the phone and calling them.  Things like, "I bought the bread" can eliminate a telephone interruption or a duplication of purchasing.

Have faith and continue putting in applications for employment.  I found that Craigslist was the best source of opportunities for me.  There are employers out there that continue to hire the people with the most experience.

Hopefully, you will never find yourself in this dilemma and can stay gainfully employed for as long as you wish to keep working.