It is Official I am DONE Christmas Baking !!!

Read “Zen and the Art of Happiness” by Chris Prentiss

This book will give you the knowledge and instruction to be happy at all times regardless of the circumstances. Yes, this sounds like an oversimplification of happiness, but I assure you that this book will change you in an amazing way.
Zen is a way of thought and meditation that focuses on the universe, the laws of nature and man’s relationship to them.   It seeks to know the essence of man’s nature and his universe and to live in harmony with both.  It is not a religion but it is a philosophy.I believe spiritually we all have a "power within" to make ourselves happy.  One needs to find their own "spiritual" path to find the key to gain entry into one's own happiness."My yesterday began in a display of beauty and peacefulness."

What a gorgeous day it turned out to be when the sun was fully risen from the Eastern skies and warming the Earth it touched upon.My yesterday was spent by first focusing on the Shortbread Cookies I had planned on getting made, so this began by ...."..... first calling my sister, Donna, for her shortbread recipe.  Donna's recipe is much simpler then Gaylea's recipe, and also margarine may be substituted for butter for those of us on a budget."

My flour sifter has seen better days, so the wirer mesh strainer suffices and does the job just as well.

As I was sifting, rolling and cutting out pretty shapes, it had dawned on me the house was pretty quiet, unusally so, giving me reason to do some investigating only to find someone else was ...

 "..... found out !  Little Mercedes was enjoying herself a mid-morning "starch" snack.  The potato basket had once again been raided by this little "sneak". "







"But Mom it is so good and vegetables are good for us, are they not ?"





Once I had that little situation sorted out I continued on with the making and baking of the Shortbread cookies."The recipe would easily make approximately 3 1/2 dozen of cookies at this size."

"Of course yielding less with the larger cut outs."

"All done to be packaged up for Christmas giving and fun days ahead."

Shortbread Cookies ~ Recipe Courtesy of my Sister, Donna Marie Sift together:1/2 cup Cornstarch1/2 cup Icing Sugar1 cup FlourBlend in with Pastry Cutter, or two knives, and mix until soft smooth dough forms:3/4 cup butter or margarinePress & cut out, or shape into balls pressing with a fork, decorating as you like.  Bake in a pre-heated 300*F oven for 20-25 minutes (depending on the oven).I have to confess, I had to try a couple of the Shortbread Cookies, as shortbread have always been one of my favorites, and they taste just as "um so good" as when I made them last Christmas.

One of Cindy's Recipe Exchange members tried the Black Forest Banana Bread  recipe I had posted the other day, sharing this photo as well as stating "how happy she was to have made 4 loaves, as it is that good".  Thanks Carol for being the tried, tested and true person for this loaf, as it has now been saved and has a permanent place in Cindy's Recipe Exchange.It even gets better, as another Recipe Exchange member shared a link to a product I, myself, would be very interested in purchasing for my "Crabby Cabbie". I didn't even know this item existed until Ellen had posted the link to it on the exchange.
Can you believe "Crock-Pot The Original" makes a Lunch Crock Food Warmer ?  I was totally amazed !!!

Should there be anyone else there interested in such a nifty little convenience which has a 20 ounce capacity, and might suffice better then a wide mouth thermos, check it out at the following web link:http://www.crock-pot.com/Products.aspx?cid=112 Thanks to Ellen for sharing, as I would never had known !  Sharing and being shared with is the absolute best, is it not?After the Shortbread Adventure, I was Christmas baked out.  This afternoon I hooked up with my friend to go for an afternoon walk out and about Wiarton where we took in some of the sights along Colpoy's Bay.

 "It is a wonder how water fowl can withstand the cold waters the way they do.  I get chilled just looking at them .... brr."

That was pretty much my Yesterday all summed up in a nut shell with my Christmas baking complete and a beautiful weather day enjoyed.Speaking of weather, I might as well check in with the Wiarton Airport Weatherman guy to see what he has in store for me today ....

Snow?  Heavy?  Good thing my "Crabby Cabbie" is home safe and sound, at this minute snoring away I might add, and not having to be out in any heavy snow !  It is difficult to NOT have the eye draw itself way down to all that Yellow into Saturday, is it not?  ....and don't forget the Countdown is on !!!

Really !  Check it out yourself, as there is even less time now then this, according to the Christmas Countdown clock at http://www.yourchristmascountdown.co.uk/?name=just+north+of+wiarton+&+south+of+the+checkerboard.Even with the Christmas Baking finished, there is always something needing done in preparation for Christmas Day, whether it be wrapping, cleaning, or setting the "scene".  As long as it keeps us happy and together as Family and Friends, in Celebration of the Birth of Christ, bring on the Christmas Season !"Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".