Tag: Christmas

Christmas Cookie Exchange: Gallettes

karenringalls34 Comments

Gallettes are French cookies made with a waffle iron. My mother-in-law would make them for us every Christmas. She passed this recipe down to me for which I am very grateful. I make the Gallettes every Christmas season and I have passed the recipe down to my sons and grandchildren.

The tradition continues!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb. unsalted butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 6 large eggs, separated
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

Recipe:

  • Step 1: Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  • Step 2: Separate egg yolks and beat slightly; lightly add vanilla and almond extracts with a fork.
  • Step 3: Gradually add egg yolk mixture to the creamed sugars until incorporated.
  • Step 4: Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
  • Step 5: Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into dough
  • Step 6: Beat butter at medium speed until smothered and creamy. Beat in both sugars until well combined, light, and fluffy.
  • Step 7: Drop batter by 1-2 teaspoons onto a preheated waffle griddle and bake until lightly brown. Carefully remove with 2 forks to cool on a rack.
  • Serve and enjoy!
SANTA’S FAVORITE COOKIE

My thanks to Staci Troilo for this year’s cookie exchange.

See every baker’s offerings by checking out the link https://stacitroilo.wordpress.com/2023/12/14/third-virtual-cookie-exchange/) and then clicking on the links shown.

Christmas Blessings & Memories

karenringalls11 Comments

As is true for everyone, the pandemic changed the traditional Christmas celebrations. Today I am going to share some blessings and memories of Christmases past from which I learned important lessons.

My first memory of the magic walnuts was when I was about 4 or 5 years old. Each year a walnut hung by a red ribbon from the Christmas tree. There was one for my sister and one for me. When we opened the walnut shell, there was a crisply folded one-dollar bill! In the 1940s that was a lot of money. My grandfather watched us with a big smile.

LESSON: It is good for children to believe in magic. It is an opportunity for them to use their imaginations.

When I was 12, I sneaked a peek at a gift when no one was home. I was terribly disappointed to discover it was NOT a cashmere sweater. My mother discovered what I had done and the present disappeared from under the tree.

LESSON: Do not cheat or lie or sneak a peak. You will only hurt yourself and others.

Christmas 2020 has an uninvited guest: Covid-19 virus. Our annual trip to MN to spend a few days with family was canceled. Anger, disappointment, and tears were part of my private pity-party. I decided to put my “big-girl pants on” and celebrate this special holiday with love and gratefulness for all that I do have.

LESSON: Life is not perfect. Adapt and cope. Be a better person by reaching out to others who are not with their families, bake extra cookies, and send cards with meaningful messages.

I have been remiss in keeping up to date with my blog, supporting authors with tweets and reviews, and not commenting on blogs I follow. I have had two priorities that have taken my time away from the above: writing my fifth book and setting up my involvement with ovarian cancer awareness and fundraising more efficiently. I have made strides in both areas, but have more to do.

At a recent Zoom support group, we each shared a favorite Christmas memory. I invite you to do the same in the comment section. Wishing you each a blessed Christmas.