Thank you for checking in to read my Comfort & Joy Blog. I'm still blogging, but I have a new blog address: www.greenfieldsoap.com. Click on the "Blog" tab and you'll be there!
With sincere wishes for blessings of Comfort and JOY to you,
Susan
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Peppernuts
These spicy little cookies are a traditional Christmas treat in many German families. Individuals familiar with Peppernuts generally have strong opinions and preferences regarding flavor, color, size and texture of the tiny cookies. Some individuals, for example, prefer them larger than I make them, pillow-shaped and lighter in color. Some bakers of Peppernuts insist the dough must be rolled out and cut with a nickel-sized round cookie cutter in order to achieve a more uniformly round shape. Once, I even saw a bowl of individually iced Peppernuts! You make them how you like them; whatever you decide regarding size and method will surely result in a delightful, aromatic, spicy treat. EnJOY!
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2/3 cup butter
1 egg
2/3 cup dark corn syrup
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground star anise
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 cups flour
Mix. Let rest in refrigerator 24 hours. Roll dough into rolls, approximately finger thickness. Chill rolls until firm. Slice rolls with a sharp knife into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place discs on parchment-lined pan, and bake until brown (approximately 4-6 minutes) in 350 degree oven. Allow to cool; then store in airtight container. Hint: Peppernuts are most content when stored in a glass jar or metal cookie tin.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Terri's Peanut Clusters
These are quick, easy and yummy!
Ingredients:
7 squares white almond bark
24 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
32 oz. salted, dry-roasted peanuts
Melt almond bark in double boiler; add chips and stir until melted. Add peanuts; stir to coat. Drop on waxed paper. Chill.
Here are my chips and the "almond bark" hanging out in the top of a double boiler. I couldn't find "almond bark", so I used white chocolate baking squares.
Salted, dry-roasted peanuts:
The chocolate is beginning to melt together in the top of a double boiler:
Here it's smooth & creamy and ready to pour over the peanuts:
Stir to coat the peanuts:
Drop by teaspoonfuls on waxed paper:
Ta da! These little clusters freeze well.
I think it would be fun to experiment with this recipe. It would be easy to add other types of nuts or dried fruit pieces, for example. Or maybe we could skip the nuts, add some peppermint flavoring and some crushed peppermint candy.
Hmmmm....
Now all this chocolate-y nuttiness has me thinking of an old sign that used to hang in my dad's workshop: "Women are like candy bars; half sweetness, half nuts". Whatever, Dad!
Blessings of JOY to you and may all of the people that you meet be nutty and sweet!
Ingredients:
7 squares white almond bark
24 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
32 oz. salted, dry-roasted peanuts
Melt almond bark in double boiler; add chips and stir until melted. Add peanuts; stir to coat. Drop on waxed paper. Chill.
Here are my chips and the "almond bark" hanging out in the top of a double boiler. I couldn't find "almond bark", so I used white chocolate baking squares.
Salted, dry-roasted peanuts:
The chocolate is beginning to melt together in the top of a double boiler:
Here it's smooth & creamy and ready to pour over the peanuts:
Stir to coat the peanuts:
Drop by teaspoonfuls on waxed paper:
Ta da! These little clusters freeze well.
I think it would be fun to experiment with this recipe. It would be easy to add other types of nuts or dried fruit pieces, for example. Or maybe we could skip the nuts, add some peppermint flavoring and some crushed peppermint candy.
Hmmmm....
Now all this chocolate-y nuttiness has me thinking of an old sign that used to hang in my dad's workshop: "Women are like candy bars; half sweetness, half nuts". Whatever, Dad!
Blessings of JOY to you and may all of the people that you meet be nutty and sweet!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
My Christmas Tree
It's not the actual tree that's become so special to me. The tree is fake. It came in a box, and it is factory-wrapped in white lights. It is compact and sets up in three easy steps. We bought it on sale after Christmas a few years ago.
What's dear to me is all the stuff I hang on it every year. The assortment has become a collection that tells a bit of a story about us, the owners of the fake tree. And the ornaments have become the center of a quiet tradition of remembering and practicing thanksgiving at Christmastime.
Sheldon deserves the credit for starting this quiet tradition. He sent me the ornament that started it all in a care package years ago before we were married. I thought it was a very sweet gesture, and I still smile about how he addressed the package to his "Sweatheart".
Sheldon and I celebrated our 13th Wedding Anniversary this year, and every Christmas his gift to me has been another ornament for the tree. Most of them have a white, heart-shaped style like this one:
But sometimes the ornament reflects a significant event that occurred in that year like this one:
Or this one:
Not all of the ornaments on my tree are from Sheldon. We are blessed with sweet family and friends and neighbors who share their lives and love with us, so the tree reflects the privilege and beauty of living in relationship with others.
Here is a garden elf from a neighbor and friend:
And the pig Jesse made in '04:
And the lump Saul made in '04:
My sister made these replicas of the shortbread cookies my mother bakes every year:
My mom crocheted a lovely collection of snowflakes and covers for my shiny red orbs:
And this little Santa Face is also homemade by mom. It reminds me of the Christmas Trees I enjoyed as a child.
My dad contributed several red hearts, handcrafted from wood and painted by his hand:
I have several ornaments from Pam now. The photo doesn't capture the layers of gorgeous color on this one she dipped--so adeptly!
And here's one from Stef:
One year at a Cookie Party I made these ribbon and wreath ornaments with friends:
This little angel reminds me of my church family. Everybody got one at a Christmas Brunch a few years ago:
This is my Noodle Angel from Kathleen. She's given me quite a few angels over the years. I'm surprised at how well this little thing has held up!
This is a chubby, happy angel I purchased myself; I like her attitude!
Here is the tiniest ornament on my tree, but it represents the biggest, most glorious truth! Jesus was born (like it says in Luke 2) and Jesus died on the cross (like it says in Luke 24) and now I am forgiven and free to walk in joy (like it says in Romans 8)! It's really, really cool to think about how much God loves you and me. He offers life to all who believe! And this is why I celebrate and this is why I hope and this is why I will continue this quiet tradition of remembering who God is and what He has done. I know I can do it anywhere, anytime...but in this season, I do it quite a lot at my Christmas Tree.
It's difficult to hang a nativity set on a tree, so we set them up around the tree:
Thanks for touring my tree with me! I wish you comfort and joy where you are in this day!
What's dear to me is all the stuff I hang on it every year. The assortment has become a collection that tells a bit of a story about us, the owners of the fake tree. And the ornaments have become the center of a quiet tradition of remembering and practicing thanksgiving at Christmastime.
Sheldon deserves the credit for starting this quiet tradition. He sent me the ornament that started it all in a care package years ago before we were married. I thought it was a very sweet gesture, and I still smile about how he addressed the package to his "Sweatheart".
Sheldon and I celebrated our 13th Wedding Anniversary this year, and every Christmas his gift to me has been another ornament for the tree. Most of them have a white, heart-shaped style like this one:
But sometimes the ornament reflects a significant event that occurred in that year like this one:
Or this one:
Not all of the ornaments on my tree are from Sheldon. We are blessed with sweet family and friends and neighbors who share their lives and love with us, so the tree reflects the privilege and beauty of living in relationship with others.
Here is a garden elf from a neighbor and friend:
And the pig Jesse made in '04:
And the lump Saul made in '04:
My sister made these replicas of the shortbread cookies my mother bakes every year:
My mom crocheted a lovely collection of snowflakes and covers for my shiny red orbs:
And this little Santa Face is also homemade by mom. It reminds me of the Christmas Trees I enjoyed as a child.
My dad contributed several red hearts, handcrafted from wood and painted by his hand:
I have several ornaments from Pam now. The photo doesn't capture the layers of gorgeous color on this one she dipped--so adeptly!
And here's one from Stef:
One year at a Cookie Party I made these ribbon and wreath ornaments with friends:
This little angel reminds me of my church family. Everybody got one at a Christmas Brunch a few years ago:
This is my Noodle Angel from Kathleen. She's given me quite a few angels over the years. I'm surprised at how well this little thing has held up!
This is a chubby, happy angel I purchased myself; I like her attitude!
Here is the tiniest ornament on my tree, but it represents the biggest, most glorious truth! Jesus was born (like it says in Luke 2) and Jesus died on the cross (like it says in Luke 24) and now I am forgiven and free to walk in joy (like it says in Romans 8)! It's really, really cool to think about how much God loves you and me. He offers life to all who believe! And this is why I celebrate and this is why I hope and this is why I will continue this quiet tradition of remembering who God is and what He has done. I know I can do it anywhere, anytime...but in this season, I do it quite a lot at my Christmas Tree.
It's difficult to hang a nativity set on a tree, so we set them up around the tree:
Thanks for touring my tree with me! I wish you comfort and joy where you are in this day!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Lemons and Optimism, Friendship and Bilquist Day
Yesterday, I was a vendor at the Bilquist Bazaar, a well-organized and well-attended event for folks who love handmade items. It was a fun day to be a vendor...lots of traffic and steady sales until about one o'clock. I loved meeting new customers and I absolutely loved seeing some of my "old faithful" fans again! Thank you for coming out, old faithful fans!
And thank you, Stef and Pam, for bringing me refreshment in the mid-afternoon. You encouraged me with your enthusiasm, and then you helped me in such a very practical way. Thank you for packing up my gear and lugging it all out to the car! You are dears, and I am so very blessed by your friendship!
My top seller on Bilquist Day was the highly favored Lemon Soap; this bar is bursting with bright, lively citrus oils, and the scent is fresh and uplifting. Beware, Melancholy Dollies! When you choose Lemon Soap by Greenfield Soap Co., you are inviting a hefty dose of optimism to your soap dish!
I always look forward to finding out which Greenfield Soap Style will be the most esteemed on any given sale day. It varies, you know, and that is part of the intrigue! For this day, Lemon Soap became the happy favorite, and I understand its a-peel (har!).
Lemons are beautiful, but surprising. Lemons, like many blessings, make a lovely first impression before they reveal a zingy, sour side along with a vast potential for sweetness. If you chew on a lemon, your face will pucker and dance out of sync. I once had a car that was a lemon; I didn't chew on it, but it made me red in the face, and it nearly destroyed my happy dance for quite awhile! There has been much written about lemons. Foodies like to quote (and misquote?) Rilke who speaks of lemon disks sinking into the tea (or the dusky sea?). Lemons permeate or complement; they appear in perfumes, in candies, in drinks. Lemons look nice beside fish on a plate, and it can seem just right to squeeze a lemon over greens in a salad. Lemons, like many blessings, are beautiful and surprising, and I thank you, fans of Greenfield Soap Co., for celebrating lemons for a moment with me!
Wishing you many blessings and the JOY of a thankful heart in all of your sour and sweet affairs,
Susan
GREENFIELD SOAP CO.
susan@amicusdata.com
www.twitter.com/greenfieldsoap
http://greenfieldsoapco.blogspot.com
coming soon: www.greenfieldsoapco.com
"every morning lean thine arms awhile upon the window-sill of heaven and gaze upon the Lord; then with the vision in thy heart, turn strong to meet the day."
And thank you, Stef and Pam, for bringing me refreshment in the mid-afternoon. You encouraged me with your enthusiasm, and then you helped me in such a very practical way. Thank you for packing up my gear and lugging it all out to the car! You are dears, and I am so very blessed by your friendship!
My top seller on Bilquist Day was the highly favored Lemon Soap; this bar is bursting with bright, lively citrus oils, and the scent is fresh and uplifting. Beware, Melancholy Dollies! When you choose Lemon Soap by Greenfield Soap Co., you are inviting a hefty dose of optimism to your soap dish!
I always look forward to finding out which Greenfield Soap Style will be the most esteemed on any given sale day. It varies, you know, and that is part of the intrigue! For this day, Lemon Soap became the happy favorite, and I understand its a-peel (har!).
Lemons are beautiful, but surprising. Lemons, like many blessings, make a lovely first impression before they reveal a zingy, sour side along with a vast potential for sweetness. If you chew on a lemon, your face will pucker and dance out of sync. I once had a car that was a lemon; I didn't chew on it, but it made me red in the face, and it nearly destroyed my happy dance for quite awhile! There has been much written about lemons. Foodies like to quote (and misquote?) Rilke who speaks of lemon disks sinking into the tea (or the dusky sea?). Lemons permeate or complement; they appear in perfumes, in candies, in drinks. Lemons look nice beside fish on a plate, and it can seem just right to squeeze a lemon over greens in a salad. Lemons, like many blessings, are beautiful and surprising, and I thank you, fans of Greenfield Soap Co., for celebrating lemons for a moment with me!
Wishing you many blessings and the JOY of a thankful heart in all of your sour and sweet affairs,
Susan
GREENFIELD SOAP CO.
susan@amicusdata.com
www.twitter.com/greenfieldsoap
http://greenfieldsoapco.blogspot.com
coming soon: www.greenfieldsoapco.com
"every morning lean thine arms awhile upon the window-sill of heaven and gaze upon the Lord; then with the vision in thy heart, turn strong to meet the day."
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Here's An Easy Snack Mix Idea
Kathleen’s Munchie Mix
Place in clean, food safe large bag your preferred combination (about 4 “ice cream pails”—or about 16-17 cups) of all or some of the following: Shreddies Cereal, Crispix Cereal, Cheerios, pretzels, Ritz Bitz, peanuts, fish crackers, bugles, etc. Note: I like to include something with cheese like cheesy ritz bitz, and something with peanut butter (again, like peanut butter ritz bitz) and a little bit of sweet (like a few honey-coated peanuts).
Add ½-1 cup oil and shake to coat. (I find ½ c. is enough for my taste. I prefer extra virgin olive oil; the mild kind which says “good for sautéing and baking” on the label.)
Sprinkle in the following spices to your preference and shake: 4 T garlic salt, 3 packages Ranch Dressing Mix (I only use 2, I think.), 3 T dill weed.
I know, it’s a bit of a vague recipe; be creative and…
Enjoy!
Susan
GREENFIELD SOAP CO.
susan@amicusdata.com
www.twitter.com/greenfieldsoap
coming soon: www.greenfieldsoapco.com
"every morning lean thine arms awhile upon the window-sill of heaven and gaze upon the Lord; then with the vision in thy heart, turn strong to meet the day."
Place in clean, food safe large bag your preferred combination (about 4 “ice cream pails”—or about 16-17 cups) of all or some of the following: Shreddies Cereal, Crispix Cereal, Cheerios, pretzels, Ritz Bitz, peanuts, fish crackers, bugles, etc. Note: I like to include something with cheese like cheesy ritz bitz, and something with peanut butter (again, like peanut butter ritz bitz) and a little bit of sweet (like a few honey-coated peanuts).
Add ½-1 cup oil and shake to coat. (I find ½ c. is enough for my taste. I prefer extra virgin olive oil; the mild kind which says “good for sautéing and baking” on the label.)
Sprinkle in the following spices to your preference and shake: 4 T garlic salt, 3 packages Ranch Dressing Mix (I only use 2, I think.), 3 T dill weed.
I know, it’s a bit of a vague recipe; be creative and…
Enjoy!
Susan
GREENFIELD SOAP CO.
susan@amicusdata.com
www.twitter.com/greenfieldsoap
coming soon: www.greenfieldsoapco.com
"every morning lean thine arms awhile upon the window-sill of heaven and gaze upon the Lord; then with the vision in thy heart, turn strong to meet the day."
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