Wishing you all the very best for 2011

I hope this year will bring much joy, good health and happiness!

From my home to your home,

Happy New Year

What am I thinking? On Christmas Eve?

Christmas Eve 2010

I can't believe that I am still baking for Christmas.  The first batch my husband ate and the second, well I gave that all away in care packages for the family.  They enjoy it as do I!

This mornings tasks.. yet another batch of shortbreads, pumpkins pies and a "Low Fat" Lemon Cheesecake for those of us that can't (or shouldn't) have the others! I know.. at this time of the year it is hard not to partake and enjoy.


Here is my Grandmothers Melting Shortbread recipe.

 3 cups flour
 1 cup icing sugar
 1/2 cup corn starch
 1 lb. butter
 1 tsp  Watkins Vanilla

Cream butter and icing sugar. Add Watkins Vanilla.  Sift together flour and corn starch. Mix into butter mixture.  Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Flatten with a fork dipped in icing sugar to prevent sticking. Put in a 300 deg. pre.-heated oven for 15 min.  Cookies are ready when the bottoms are lightly browned yet the top is still white.

For something different, roll cookie balls in sugar and Watkins Cinnamon and place on cookie sheet without flattening. Or, dip finished cookies in dark chocolate.  Or, roll dough into a log and cover with chopped nuts. Slice into 1/4 inch slices and bake.  The possibilities are endless.

Enjoy!
                              

How about cheesecake for dessert tonight?

I was asked to share a recipe that I used to make years ago.  After going back over it, I don't know why I stopped making it!  Here is one of my favourite cheesecake recipes.  I have tweeked some of the ingredients to bring it down from the regular full fat recipe to one that all can enjoy without the guilt.  Make this No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake for your family tonight.

No-Bake Cheesecake

Crumb Mixture

6 Tbsp melted butter
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
4 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp Watkins Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Watkins Nutmeg

Press 2/3 of mixture into an 8 or 9 inch spring form pan; reserve remaining crumbs for top.

Filling

2 envelope Knox unflavoured gelatin
1 cup sugar, divided
2 eggs, separated
1 cup milk
2 tsp grated lemon rind (rind from one lemon)
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp Watkins Original Double Strength Vanilla
3 cups creamed cottage cheese (or 1%)
1 cup heavy cream, whipped (or 2 cups low fat whipped topping)

Combine gelatin and 3/4 cup sugar in medium saucepan. Beat egg yolks and milk together; stir into gelatin mixture. Place over low heat; stir constantly until gelatin dissolves and mixture thickens slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in lemon rind, juice, and vanilla. Beat cottage cheese in blender until very smooth; stir into gelatin mixture. Chill, stirring occasionally, until mixture mounds slightly.

Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry; gradually add remaining 1/4
cup sugar and beat until very stiff. Fold into gelatin mixture; fold in whipped cream (or whipped topping). Turn into prepared crumb base and sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Chill until firm (3-4 hours). Yield: 12 servings. Garnish as desired.

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No-Bake Cheesecake Crumb Mixture 6 Tbsp melted butter 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 4 Tbsp sugar 1/2 tsp Watkins Cinnamon 1/2 tsp Watkins Nutmeg Press 2/3 of mixture into an 8 or 9 inch spring form pan; reserve remaining crumbs for top. Filling 2 envelope Knox unflavoured gelatin 1 cup sugar, divided 2 eggs, separated 1 cup milk 2 tsp grated lemon rind (rind from one lemon) 2 Tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp Watkins Original Double Strength Vanilla 3 cups creamed cottage cheese (or 1%) 1 cup heavy cream, whipped (or 2 cups low fat whipped topping) Combine gelatin and 3/4 cup sugar in medium saucepan. Beat egg yolks and milk together; stir into gelatin mixture. Place over low heat; stir constantly until gelatin dissolves and mixture thickens slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in lemon rind, juice, and vanilla. Beat cottage cheese in blender until very smooth; stir into gelatin mixture. Chill, stirring occasionally, until mixture mounds slightly. Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry; gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until very stiff. Fold into gelatin mixture; fold in whipped cream (or whipped topping). Turn into prepared crumb base and sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Chill until firm (3-4 hours). Yield: 12 servings. Garnish as desired.

Update on My Mother-in-Law's Stroke Recovery

Here is a quick update on Maisie's condition as of Sunday, November 21, 2010.  Just to recap, she had a stroke last week and is in the midst of her recovery.

Maisie is doing great.  She is sitting up, having conversations and eating.  Next week, she will be travelling to Brandon to have a CAT Scan to see just where things are at.  Things are looking up and we are very hopeful that she will make a full recovery in the next couple of months.

Its not going to be easy.  She is a spry 92 year old that is an important fixture in this very small communtiy.  Our prayers are with her in this time of her recovery.

Helping stroke victims cope - Winnipeg Free Press

This is a great article offering information for the rehabilitation of stroke victims.  Its a comfort to know for those of us currently helping a loved one after a stroke.


Helping stroke victims cope - Winnipeg Free Press

Its kind of early in the morning and I don't think its a really good time to be starting to blog.  Its been a long day... hell, its been a long week.  My mother-in-law had a stroke on tuesday and things have been kind of difficult.  She's 92 and a fighter.  The doctors didn't want to do anything to make her comfortable but its good to see that things are being done for her now.

What is it with doctors?  Shouldn't it be the family that decides what should be done with a family member?  It was horrible to hear someone say that they are just going to leave her as she is 92, no tests, no medications,  just to let nature take its course.  This was a vibrant, fiesty and productive 92 year old.  Who was he to decide that this was it for her.  Today, she has a patch to help break up clots, the nurses are coming in more often to check up on her and she is getting lots of visitors to keep her stimulated and alert.  After only 4 days, she is weak but starting to do a lot of talking.  Now, thats the woman that I know.

She might be 92 but this is a woman that is fighting to get better.  Fighting for her right to live her life.  I only wish that I can have her drive and determination when I am her age.  Make sure you question the doctor and see that he is doing everything that he can to start the healing process.  Don't let them get away with the "let nature take its course" path.  The sooner that treatment is started, the better chance the patient has for recovery.  Here is to hoping that you have a speedy recovery, Maisie!