Holiday Cookie Recipe

It makes me sad that the holiday has become so commercialized and is geared so much toward children. I wish to highly recommend a tradition that was alive for many years in my own family until she moved away. My older sister bakes cookies every year and was one of the inspirations for my foray into culinary school.

So, yearly I was allowed to help bake and decorate stockings, Santa’s, present and other cookie cut outs, which I remember fondly (oh, yeah and I always got to lick the beaters!) as we played with colored frosting and sugar. So you can imagine my delight when she actually agreed to part with her recipe! I nearly died. Then she said I could share with you! So here it is:

Carrie’s Sugar Cookies

Preheat oven to 375 F

2/3 c butter
¾ c sugar
1 egg
4 tsp milk
½ tsp vanilla
½ tsp grated orange peel
2 c flour
1½ tsp baking powder

Thoroughly cream butter, sugar, orange peel & vanilla. Add egg; beat fluffy. Stir in milk. Sift dry ingredients; stir in.
Chill at least one hour, though two is best.
On a floured surface roll ½ the dough to 1/8” thickness, cutout with cookie cutters. Chill remaining dough until ready to use. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, making sure they are not touching. Bake 6-8 minutes until light brown.

Frost as desired.

You have to promise that you will make these with your kids, your favorite niece or nephew, maybe just your not so little younger siblings. The memories you create will be the best treasures of the holiday.

On That note, happy Christmas, Solistice, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Yule Holiday!

Loft Liqueurs-Organic and Sustainable!

I recently had the enjoyable experience of meeting Lisa Averbuch, the brain behind Loft Liqueurs. These are organic, sustainable and kosher creations that enchant the tongue.

The three signature flavors are Lavender Cello, which is lovely, delicate and highly enjoyable.

The Lemongrass Cello is light with a golden colour and a very pleasant taste.

My own favorite was the Ginger Cello, a snappy bouquet & spicy, with a not overdone on the palate tingle.

The current seasonal flavor is Tangerine Cello, which brought to mind my Grandfather’s Tangerine tree which grew in the backyard during my childhood. The pop of the fruit was just like it was when I was a kid.

I was also lucky enough to try some of Loft’s future seasonal flavors, the Blueberry, which would by far be better mixed with Vodka than drinking blueberry vodka, and the Raspberry, which was sweet and tart, much the way a real berry is!

I highly encourage you to try these Liqueurs if you have a chance. And I suggest you check them out online. This is a product worth supporting. I want to drink the best of what there is on offer, and I hope you do too!

For more on Loft, make sure you check out my show (link)

www.loftliqueurs.com

To order: www.mondo.com
www.drinkupny.com

A votre sante!

A Great Discovery for the body!

Wandering through the Crocker Galleria Farmer's Market last month I came across a small booth that had bath & body products. I stopped and talked to the nice lady that was there and I am so glad I did! Naturally Delicious Skin rocks!

So you know, this small operation is literally mom, pop and kids! Jay is the mother, who sold me on the bath fizzies! I bought some and turned one over to my boss, whose girlfriend absolutely loved it.

I tried them and to be honest, I love them. I am allergic to everything, but I am happy to report that products smell wonderful and they don't make you break out. They use only the best of all natural ingrediants and everything is made in small batches by the family, which is one of the reasons I am happy to support them.

Yesterday I bought more fizzies and a bath bar scented with Neroli. It was very hard to choose as everything smelled yummy. I settled on Neroli and said it smelled sexy and Ed told me they actually have a scent called Sexy, so I think I might have to get that one next!

Please check out their website and so go visit at the Farmer's Market. They have some great holiday sets and lost of great stuff for teens, so buy local and support a nice hard working family!

http://naturallydeliciousskin.com/index.html

Even nicer, here is their wonderful thank you!: http://deliciousskin.blogspot.com/2008/12/thank-you-seletta.html