One more...

sweet recipe before diet season begins!

These are a treat my mom and dad used to make at Christmas time, its one of those memorable tastes that stick with you for life. Guaranteed.

You will need:
Dates
Port wine, and/or other sweetish liquor
Almond paste
Chocolate - I selected Girardelli's 60% I like it dark

Find yourself some great big dried dates, the California variety are great!

Make a slit along one side, and remove the pit.

Place these open dates in a bowl, and pour on the liquor! A good port wine is great for this- and I also mixed in a little bit of whiskey. Add enough liquid to cover the dates.
Cover in plastic wrap, and put into the refrigerator. For best results leave them in there for a couple of days- at least one day.

Carefully drain the dates into a colander, and SAVE the liquid- this is for your consumption and purely delightful.

While you are getting a drink, and the dates are dripping, spread out some paper towels on flat surface.
Knead the almond paste until soft. Roll up little pieces of oval (replicate the pit) paste, and insert into the opening of the date. Carefully close it back up, and give a gentle squeeze. Put on paper towels.

Meanwhile, warm up a double boiler and melt your chocolate of choice. Place a cookie rack over waxpaper/foil next to the pot. Place the dates onto the rack, and with your spoon, pour on the chocolate. You want it to cover the top, and at least drizzle down the sides.
Put the dates in the refrigerator, and when the chocolate is hardened- indulge!

Caution- the dates do absorb quite a bit of alcohol, so consume in moderation, and don't let the kids at them!

Coming soon..

This blog is a little bit of a mix of all things I love and care about- recipes, crafts, environmental issues etc. etc. And, starting in January, I will be starting a NEW and EXCITING weight loss program. I will be featuring some new, diet friendly recipes, and more about the program starting January. And IF I am brave, I might even share my before/after/happily after after images, inch loss, successes and failures.
I'm hoping to build a team to join me, it is always easier to stick to a program when one has the support and accountability of a team.
This is a little tease, what it's all about and why I'm SO excited!

The Shaklee 180 program is going to help me and millions of others loose the weight and KEEP IT OFF.

The unique Shaklee 180 products (delish by the way) are meal replacement bars, smoothies and snacks, as well as a metabolic boost supplement, that contain Leucine™. Leucine is a patented formula that helps you maintain (and in some cases build) more muscle. This is what helps you keep the weight off.
The more muscle mass the greater metabolism!

For even greater incentive- you can earn your whole package for free! AND Shaklee will give you rewards as you loose! Amazing. 

No more yo-yo dieting- get on the program, and let me know if you want to join my team :)

Candy Weath

I am always trying new crafts, and if they are in-expensive, even better! I saw something like this wreath at a friends house, and really wanted to replicate!

What you will need:

2 or more small helpers
1 glue-gun with plenty of glue sticks
1 bag green/white mints
1 bag red/white mints
1 foam circle
clear duct tape
Ribbon

First, ask your kind little helpers to unwrap all the mints for you, its a time consuming job, but they are easily bribed with said mints. While they are doing this- wrap tape all around  your foam circle- it will make this much more enjoyable and tidy.
Pick a starting point- this will be the top of the wreath, where you will leave a "channel" for the ribbon. Alternate mint colors per your liking, and glue and place! Easy.

When the glue is dry,wrap a ribbon through the channel you created, or over it- and glue the ribbon in place.

Done!

The kiddos decided they wanted to give it to their class room at school, so we brought it in the next day, and it is now proudly displayed- teasing children- at the kids school.

We hit the dollar store for this project, and the foam circle was $1, the candy bags were $1 each, and I already had the glue and tape at home, so it was a $3 project for me!!

Putting together my Christmas gift list...

 

This list has something for everyone! Give green and healthy this year. You will be surprised at the multitude of great gifts for everyone on your list. 

 

Lussebullar

Today, in 70 degree temps, the first of Advent- I'm baking lussebullar. This is the traditional Swedish pastry we make for the Lucia celebration on December 13. It is an interesting celebration for a secular country, but none-the-less a very lovely, cute, cozy and quaint celebration that I adore. It brings some light into the harsh winter nights of December :)
I had a post for these last year, and my recipe has changed a little, as I'm always on a quest for the most moist and flavorful versions - Enjoy!

You will need:
4 oz (1 stick) butter
1 cup half-n-half
1 cup milk
2 packets active dry yeast
1 tsp salt
1 gram saffron
6 oz vanilla flavored Greek yogurt
1 cup sugar
5-6 cups flour

raisins
egg-wash (one egg, 2 tablespoons water well mixed)

Slowly melt butter in pan, adding in milk and cream. When butter is completely melted, mix in half of the sugar, and the salt. Stir well- and add the finely crushed saffron. Let the mixture stay warm until a deep yellow color has completely saturated the liquid, at that point add the yeast to the mixture.

Pour the liquid mix into a large bowl, and either with the mixers dough hook, or a wooden spoon, mix in the flour, and the rest of the sugar. Also in this process add the yogurt. Mix until you have a sticky dough.

Cover the bowl with damp towel, and let stand until at least doubled (1 hour or more). Turn on the oven to 425 degrees.

Lightly flour a surface, and place the dough on it. Kneed the whole dough until smooth and manageable, yet still slightly sticky.

Roll pieces of dough in to "snakes" about 8-10 inches long, and roll the ends opposite each other- as in picture.
Place on baking sheet.
Push raisins into "eyes" of cats, and brush them with egg wash. let them rise 5 minutes or so and pop them into oven.
It takes about 10 minutes for them to finish baking, then place them on a wire rack for cooling. And Enjoy!