...the package.

I always love card shopping and am always finding new ones to add to my collection. I look at them as individual pieces of art. I feel a little guilty though, especially at the holidays, sending one that I didn't make myself. So...I try to incorporate them into the gifts that I make each year. This year I found 2 cards that were just perfect for giving all my baked treasures. After all...it's all in the packaging. And those who know me best, know that I am a sucker for packaging! The card above, with the mouse baking and the great sentiment,was just too perfect on top of the boxes I gave as gifts to my friends who were at the Christmas Dinner. The smaller version below worked out great for the girls from the book club. I had found the card during the summer and it summed up our "No Guilt Book Club" perfectly!

Use the outside of the box as a template for the bottom layer of decorative paper.

I used small mini muffin paper liners to hold the cookies.

Layer the heaviest cookies on the bottom. I used my Toffee Bars.

Cut a piece of chip board the same size as the bottom decorative layer. This will act as the bottom of the next layer of cookies. I used a round decorative punch to cut out a section on the side. This makes it easier to remove and get to the layer below.

Use the lightest cookies for the top layer. If your box is deep enough for additional layers, just start from heaviest to lightest. These are sugar cookie snowflakes and Nighty Nights!

Use what ever card or decorative paper suits the occasion for the top of the box, tie with a bow and your done! There are plenty of box companies out there on line to choose from. I've found that Paper Source has a really great selection of interesting shapes and sizes and have a substantial weight to them. Not especially expensive either. Baked gifts are such a treat and take time, energy, and love...however you choose to gift them should be as special as what is inside. Happy baking, and Merry Christmas!

...an evening with friends and family

In my fantasy mind, which is far more organized than my real life mind, I thought I would somehow have the time to post daily quips about the activities leading up to the big holiday dinner. Well, as you know, that never happened and the day came upon me faster than I could type... Merry Christmas. And so, I will leave it up to your imagination...flour flying, boughs trimming, ribbons bowing, and cake cooking! Here are a few images of the wonderful evening to come from all the glorious and frenzied preparation. Every year I say... "this is the last one." But after all the candles are lit, fire is crackling, and the wine has been poured I look around at the friends and family gathered together and know that I will do it all again in a heartbeat. As the inscription says on my new punch bowl, given to me by one of my most closest friends....
" Together with friends and family is always the happiest place to be."

...butter, and flour, and sugar...oh my!

...three days and counting, and it's all about baking. For all the years I have mixed, whipped, kneaded, and folded, I am always amazed at what these 3 simple ingredients can transform into. For me baking is more that just the sum of it's actions. If your patient, and can follow directions, almost anyone can bake. It's a kind of chemistry. Measure the ingredients carefully, mix together, bake and a magical transformation occurs. I believe though, it's more than that. It's more about the items you don't find in any recipe. I cup of caring, a pinch of love, a teaspoon of self. And a bit of chocolate never hurts. A lot of myself goes into what I bake and hopefully into the hearts of the recipients of my labor. The next couple of days are about the treasure boxes of love and care that will be my Christmas gifts to those I love.
And of course I'll be sure to take out all the calories!

...snippets of December.

December came and went much too quickly. So much to do and savor and create that I let my time tick away without sitting and sharing.
It is truly amazing how much can be stuffed into one month.
Here is a small look at all I've been up to during my favorite time of year.
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season spent with family, friends and those you love.

...my Christmas Chandelier.

There is a series of Christmas cards I found a few years back by a company in the UK called
Two Bad Mice I have had them tucked away as "too special to give away", and take them out each year with my Christmas things. Enclosed with some of the cards are touching little short stories by Alan Le Grock. I can't seem to find anything out about him, or the stories, but here is one of my favorites. Ever since I came across this I think of Missy and Mouse as I decorate my Christmas Chandelier.
Double click on the story below to be as enchanted as I was!

...images of Christmas

I sit here covered in glitter, snow, tinsel, and Christmas cheer! It's always such a decorating frenzy to get everything up and sparkling for the holiday season, but the sooner I get it all up the more time there is to enjoy it. There is something so magical about opening the door at the end of the day and walking into such a wonderland.
Thought I would invite you in for a peak!

Happy Holidays!

...Chocolate Pecan Pie.

Don't know what came over me, but last night after I got home from work, (yes I do have a real daytime grown-up job) and in between the Christmas decorating, photo taking, and blogging, I decided to bake a pie! This one happens to be one of my all time favorites. I have to say though, I felt a bit silly eleven o'clock at night whipping out my camera and snapping photos. I truly believe that photographing food is definitely an art and I have so much respect for the photographers of all my favorite foodie magazines! Trust me though, I guarantee this tastes much better than it looks.
Bon Appetit!

Ingredients:

For the pastry dough:

1 1/4 cups soft winter-wheat flour, such as
White Lily brand, or cake flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 cup cold solid vegetable shortening

4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut
into small cubes

3 to 6 Tbs. ice water

For the filling:

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup light corn syrup

1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted

3 eggs, lightly beaten

2 Tbs.Brandy (optional)

1 Tbs. grated orange zest

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

1/4 cup good quality chocolate chips

Directions:

To make the pastry, in a bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Add the shortening and cut in with a pastry blender, 2 knives or your fingers until the mixture resembles cornmeal. Add the butter and cut in until it forms tiny pea-size balls. Add the ice water a little at a time, stirring and tossing with the pastry blender or a fork until the mixture holds together. Gather the dough into a ball and flatten into a disk. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough into an 11-inch round about 1/8 inch thick. Fold the round into quarters and place in a

9 1/2-inch nonstick or traditional tart pan with a removable bottom. Unfold, then press gently into the bottom and sides of the pan. Trim the overhang even with the pan rim. Refrigerate until ready to fill.

Position a rack in the lower third of an oven and preheat to 325°F.

To make the filling, in a bowl, stir together the sugar, corn syrup, melted butter, eggs, bourbon, orange zest, vanilla, salt,chocolate chips, and chopped pecans. Pour into the chilled pastry shell and place the pan on a baking sheet.

Bake until the center is slightly soft to the touch, the edges are set and the crust is golden brown, 45 to 55 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 30 minutes, then remove the pan sides and slide the tart off the pan bottom onto a serving plate. Serve warm or at room temperature. Top with whipped cream. Serves 8.

...deck the halls.

Here we go! The beginning of the decorating frenzy! I started taking the boxes up from the garage last night and what a treat it is as I open each one. Even thought it's been only a year since I gingerly packed everything up, I sometime truly forget all the Christmas treasures that I have. This is part of my Shiny Brite collection. It started with 6 ornaments from my childhood and after a few days on eBay, and I won't divulge how many Pay Pal transactions later, I now have...well...let's say enough to bring back a deluge of childhood memories. After all, no matter how old we become, Christmas really does bring out the child in us all.