I Like Thursday #9: Holiday Edition

Who doesn't love a good countdown?


Hopefully this one finds you excited
and not stressed. 


I like to put lights everywhere, like on my china hutch.
I've come to the realization that I could do nothing but put
up garlands and lights all over the house, and a well-lit
Christmas tree, and it would be enough.
I have a small assortment of Christmas decor but I'm
very selective about adding any more.  For the most part,
I've stopped buying it altogether and I hope to only add in
mini-quilts and runners (that I haven't made yet!).
That sort of thing.


'Tis the season of wintry things and I love snowmen!
Once upon a time I started picking them up here and
there but as stated above, I kind of stopped doing that.
There is much to be said for having less and
appreciating that "less" much more.


 These little snowmen ornaments have been
a huge favorite with me for more than 20 years.


I found them at a craft show and, if I'd had any
idea then how much I'd grow to love them, I'd
have picked up more.


For years, I looked at other craft shows
but I never found the artist.


I guess this proves my point, though.


I love these little guys to pieces and if I ever
find them in pieces, it'll be a sad, sad day.


I like it when my chicken bowl is FULL of eggs!
I am sorry I ever doubted because these girls are
stepping up and we're getting about 7 - 11 per day.


And they've stepped up just in time for me
to get cookie dough into the freezer:  3 batches so far.
 That might be it for my pre-gaming the holidays...
but you never can tell.  
And there are more to be made last-minute.

Cookie #1

Cookie #2
Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies:
These are a variation on Mexican Wedding Cookies.
Like a chocolate chip shortbread cookie with orange
and cinnamon--two flavors that say holidays to me.  
Makes up two rolls of dough to have on hand,
ready to slice and bake as needed.
(Recipe below.)

Cookie #3


I like the Army-Navy football game and all that goes
with it.  It's hilarious to see the antics and trash-talk
among the West Point cadets but we know that it is
all good fun.  Under all that rivalry, there is always
respect for fellow servicemen.  We'll be watching from
home this Saturday, and maybe we'll catch a glimpse
of our cadet--which is pretty difficult when they're all
dressed alike.  And I do like love all of their uniforms!


I like my latest quilt project.
It's always nice to have something going
together on the design wall.

Check out the other I Like posts at

Happy quilting!

Cinnamon-Chocolate Chip Refrigerator Cookies
A variation on Mexican Wedding Cookies from
"The Best of the Kitchen Library:  Baking"
by Williams-Sonoma

3/4 c unsalted butter, room temp
1 c (250g) sugar, divided
1 1/2 t grated orange zest
2 3/4 ground cinnamon, divided
1/4 t salt
2 egg yolks
1 3/4 c (280g) flour
1 c semi-sweet mini-chocolate chips

Combine butter, 1/2 c of the sugar, orange zest,
1 1/4 t cinnamon and the salt.  Beat on high until light
and fluffy.  Add egg yolks and beat until light and fluffy.
Reduce speed to low and gradually add in flour and
mini-chocolate chips just until incorporated.

Divide in half; shape each into a log about 1 1/2" in
diameter.  Wrap each log tightly in plastic wrap and
refrigerate until firm about 1 hr, up to overnight.

Preheat oven to 350' (180'C) and lightly grease cookie
sheets (or use silpat mat).  Unwrap each log and cut
into 1/4"-thick rounds.  Place on baking sheet, 1" apart.

Bake until edges are brown, about 15 minutes.
Transfer to wire racks to cool for 5 minutes.

Whisk remaining 1/2 c sugar and 1 1/2 t cinnamon
together in a small bowl.  Toss each warm cookie
in mixture to coat.  Return cookies to rack to cool
completely.  Repeat with remaining cookies. 

Comments

Home Sewn By Us said…
Hi Cheree! Your snowman ornament collection is so darn cute. I think you have the perfect amount of them and you're able to treasure those you were able to collect. I picked up some gourds made into Santas at a craft fair one year and was never able to find them again to collect some more. Darn it! WPW! 7-11 eggs per day - what do you do with all of them? I love the look of lights all over as decoration. That's my favorite part of the tree and the Village - just enjoying the lights. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
I love lights at Christmas time, too - the decorations above your china cabinet look lovely! And the snowmen - so cute! It sounds like you're really organized with all the cookie dough being prepped ahead of time. Thanks for sharing the recipes!
chrisknits said…
I have decided to stop buying decorations and just make more runners too! I also collect snowmen, are we twins? LOL. I am thinking I need to make my daughters some runners for their homes this year or next.
PaintedThread said…
What cute snowmen! Look at all those eggs! Those tree blocks look great. The cookies look interesting.
Awesome likes. I add a bit to my decor every year now. After my husband was killed my mom encouraged me to buy a tree and ornaments that I may have always wanted, but never would purchase because of kids, grandkids, cats, dogs, etc. Every year I purchase 2-3 more to add to my tree. I may have to agree though, I think mostly in the future I will be adding wall hangings, table runners, maybe some holiday quilts.
piecefulwendy said…
I used to collect snowmen; my mom would give me one each Christmas. Now that she's gone, I don't pick them up anymore. I have plenty, but I enjoyed seeing your snowmen ornaments. Your decorations look lovely, and that bowl of eggs is so pretty with all the different colors. Thanks for the recipes, too!
One grandfather was in the Army (WWII) and the other was in the Navy (WWI & WWII). Whoever's home we were in for the game, that was who we rooted for that year.
Thank you for the links and the recipes. I love your Christmas decorations. I think less is better sometimes but my family likes to put up a lot of decorations. Cute snowmen!
LA Paylor said…
I like lights everywhere and it's been so snowy and gray I'm turning them all on in the morning and leaving them on all day! (step on ext. cords are great) snowmen... eggs... all so pretty. We moved here from Annapolis MD so we're highly aware of the Navy game
A wonderful post that I enjoyed reading very much. Lights are so pretty especially this time of year when it gets dark so early. Yes, your girls are good layers and perfect for all the wonderful Christmas baking. Thanks so much for the recipes!
Globalbakes said…
Thanks for sharing my recipes! Now I have to go make those Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies!!