The Barefoot Kitchen Witch

Some Images from Christmas Day

 

I took no pictures while we were opening gifts, but I did take this shot of Julia’s hermit crab (I don’t know it’s name – sometime’s it’s Hermie, sometime’s it’s Shelly…sometimes it has other names, depending on Julia’s whims) playing with one of the new sponges Santa left in his/her stocking.

Galeux Roasting

…by an open fire….

Only Bill just pointed out that it’s not a Galeux…it’s one of the hybrid squashes.  Duh.

Sigh.

Still…”Galeux roasting” sounds more festive than “hybrid roasting.”  Right?

Spiced Honey Cookies

A few weeks ago a dear friend of mine sent me a box of cookbooks.  Included in that box was a book of German recipes, and contained therein was a recipe for Lebkuchen different from the one I’m used to making. 

So I thought I’d make a batch. 

New Mom

I’ve probably posted this before, but I haven’t seen the picture in ages.  I was cleaning and reorganizing today, and just now came across this picture of me with a very little Alex.

It’s one of the few pictures of me that I like.  Bill took the picture with my old film camera.

Wow.  Almost ten and a half years ago.

Time.  The part about it flying. 

Yep.

Scratchy on His Red Chair

We have this red chair in the living room.

Scratchy believes it’s his.

It’s got lots of white cat hairs on it.  Evidence that Scratchy spends a good deal of his down time curled up and shedding there.

Candied Citrus Peel

I had two days off, back to back, last week, and figured I’d use them for a baking marathon.  That time of year, you know.  I try (really, I do) to get the German cookies made early enough so we can ship them off to various far-flung family members so they arrive BEFORE Christmas.  (Without having to overnight them, heh heh.)

Anyway, one of the cookies that’s part of that collection is Lebkuchen, a traditional German spiced cookie that includes candied citrus peel – what kind you use depends on the recipe you’re following.  Bill’s mom’s version has candied orange peel and candied citron, the kinds that come in those 4 oz. containers in the grocery store. 

I generally make more than one batch of these cookies, because they’re one of the favorites, so that means several containers of each kind of candied peel. 

Now, this year, for various reasons (including the Scratchy saga), money is tight.  And those candied peel containers are pricey, for the amount you get.  And they’re also probably loaded with preservatives and additives and other “-ives” that aren’t at all good for you…so I decided it would be both healthier and cheaper to make my own candied peel.  And it’s a cool thing to do.  And pretty.

I’ve thought of doing it in years past, but then I’d get lazy and just buy the containers.  This year, with two days off IN A ROW! I decided to candy some peel. 

So here we go…

Unwavering Peaks

I did a lot of baking yesterday, plus other baking-related stuff.  Haven’t done that in a long time – a full day’s worth of just playing in the kitchen.

I’m hoping to post about some of it later today, but in the meantime, just wanted to share this little bit with you.

Softzilla

At least she’s not destroying the village.