Holiday Goodness

a late December trip to Indy...

 warm and welcoming in the frosty near twilight--We visit the home of longtime dear friends for a Christmas Open House party.

 

bowl of antique lights 

 

snow on the mountain cake

(We all grab a fork and simultaneously

dig in!  YUM!)

an overflowing abundance of yumminess! 

  



so cozy and joyful inside!

 

 

one of two beautiful trees decorated with antique and newer ornaments












There are so many beautiful decorations scattered throughout this lovely home--truly a feast for the soul.

 

Christ Church Cathedral--
downtown Indianapolis on the circle

After spending the night in a hotel we eat at a local restaurant before heading home.

 
3 Sisters Cafe--Broad Ripple

a window (right)

 

Our food was delicious!  wonderful, friendly service.  highly recommend.

grilled eggplant sandwich with chili (on left)

mushroom potato soup (on right)

view of downtown Indianapolis from hotel room.  No, this is not a grayscale photo!  It is color!  If you enlarge the photo, you will notice some color in the cars.  It was so dark; like twilight all day long.  And free-z-ing!

 

NOTES and LINKS:
Cottage Home Neighborhood website   

Cottage Home Neighborhood is a Near Eastside Historic Neighborhood which takes its name from the style of houses built between 1870 and 1900 in this area. Early residents built modest frame cottages in a variety of styles, including shotgun and Queen Anne vernacular. Many of the cottages feature turned posts and spindles, gingerbread trim porches, brackets, and fishscale shingles.

3 Sisters Cafe website

Christ Church Cathedral website

photos by me © 2009

PS:  Once again, blogger is being persnickety.  What you see  (when writing the post) is NOT what you get.  It has its own mind as to the placement of photos and words.  arrggghhhh! 

wishing you...

a very merry, happy, wonderful, blessed, joyous Christmas!
photo by me © 2005

a favorite Christmas

Apart from all the hoopla, commercialism, gifting, partying, there IS a deeper meaning to this season.  The esty bloggers' carnival this month asks the question:  Holidays - Christmas, Hanukkah & Others, what was your favorite gift received? Was it handmade?  This recalled to mind a Christmas long ago when my husband and I had little money and a small child.  Although we gave gifts to him, we gifted each other with mostly "coupons."  This remains my favorite Christmas gift experience.

a cookbook and coupon for cooking sessions together

Another special Christmas was two years ago when my mother went into the hospital just days before.  On Christmas Day, my husband's family was here and we were just sitting down to eat when I got the news my mother was being released.  I hurried to the hospital and brought her to my house in time for a meal and family fun.  Everyone was so happy to see her and spend time with her! 

 my son and I long ago

HERE is where the carnival will be posted sometime on Monday, December 21 by LindaB.  Check out Linda's  etsy shop, too!

photos by me © 2009 

Homemade Candy, a Christmas Tradition

 At Christmastime, in our household, it is a tradition to make at least one kind of candy.  Oh the deliciousness of homemade candy!  We eat some (of course!) and we give some away, wrapped festively.  Over Thanksgiving, my daughter, her boyfriend, and I made this delicious brittle.  Sadly, it is all long gone.  So we will have to make more to give away.
 

This is how it looks at just before 250 degrees.  This process takes a while, so be patient.

Now it's ready! 

INGREDIENTS

4 C chopped nuts

1 C butter, cut in slices

1/4 C water

1 C brown sugar

2 C white sugar

1/2 t baking soda

2 t pure vanilla extract

10 oz chocolate (your choice)

Pan is off the fire.  Adding the soda and vanilla.





Roast nuts in oven @ 350.  Chop. 

Cover a long pan with wax paper or parchment paper.  Spread 1/2 the roasted nuts on the pan.  (We made half the pan almond, half pecan.)                                                                                           In a saucepan, mix together sugars and water.   Add butter.  Stir.

Slowly (on medium ), heat to almost 300 degrees.   Do not stir.
When this temperature is attained, remove pan from heat.  Stir in baking soda and vanilla.  Pour over nuts and spread with heat resistant spartula.  (see photo below.)

Now carefully spread the chocolate on top.  We used bittersweet baking chocolate, chopped, and semi sweet chocolate chips.  Us the spatula to spread evenly.

See how the chocolate melts?

Now spread the rest of the nuts on top and press them in a little.

WAIT!  Oh, this is the hard part!  You can hasten the cooling process by putting the pan in the freezer.

YUM!  We made our own maple syrup ice cream and mixed in some of the finely chopped candy.  Garnish the top with more candy, voila, nirvana!

Ice cream ingredients:  2 C heavy whipping cream, 2 C whole milk, 3/4 C pure maple syrup  (That's all!)   Process in ice cream maker.   


This post is for the etsy bloggers' carnival,  hosted this time by Erika of Nico Designs.
THIS is where Erika blogs and where the carnival will be published on Monday, December 7.   
And here,  in her SHOP, is where you'll find her wonderful creations!

photos by me © 2009