"Simple Pleasures for the Holidays"

donna

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
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Joined
May 12, 2010
Location
Now Florida but always a Kentuckian
"Simple Pleasures" for the Holidays by Susannah Seton is a treasury of stories and suggestions for creating meaningful celebrations. The book is divided into several chapters on many holidays and celebrated days including Halloween, Mexican Day of the Dead, Guy Fawkes Day, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas Eve, Christmas, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Chinese New Year, "Id al-Fitr, and Kids' and Adults' Birthdays.

The book is filled with ideas and help to make these celebrations more meaningful. There are home made candles, ornaments, decorations, and many recipes. There is some history and information about these simple rituals from around the world that will enrich your own traditions..

An example from the book is Old-Fashioned Gingerbread which dates back to Colonial New England and is ideal to make for Christmas.

Gingerbread (recreated)

5 cups flour
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 tablespoons ground ginger
1 pound butter, softened
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, and ginger. Gradually combine with butter (mixture will feel coarse and crumbly). In a separate bowl, combine the eggs and milk, then add to the flour mixture, stirring until well blended. With a floured rolling pin, roll the dough out thinly onto a large baking sheet. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes or until brown.
 
It is time for me to get this cookbook out for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is full of many great ideas and recipes Mincemeat cookies are a great dessert to serve at Thanksgiving. These are very tasty and different.

Mincemeat Cookies

1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 cups unsifted flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups ready to make mincemeat, I prefer in the jar and not the box.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a baking sheet. In a large bowl, beat shortening and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs and mix well. Gradually add in the dry ingredients, mixing well after each addition. Stir in mincemeat and combine well. Drop the mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls, 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. For crispy cookies, allow to cool completely before covering, and for softer cookies cover when just slightly cooled. Makes about 6 dozen.

An idea for your Thanksgiving guest, make a dozen cookies for each person and put in a pretty tin for them to take home.
 
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