Santa pictures

I met Carrie and Allyson at Tacoma Mall for Santa pictures today. Allyson fell asleep when we got to the mall so we did some shopping. She looked so cute in her dress, everyone kept stopping to comment how cute she was!

Watch out for doggy feet!

As I was putting kolach on the table tonight to cool, I stepped on something that moved. I looked down to see Roscoe's feet. He didn't get up and move or anything, just kicked his leg as if to say, "Watch it!"

Kolach

Okay, I am seriously a masochist for trying out this family recipe. I knew I was in for it when the recipe started 16-17 cups of flour. I remember my Grandma making this every year and the gigantic bowl that she used to make the dough. According to my mom and aunts, my Grandpa actually helped her with this. My Grandma was tiny - only about 5'1" and never weighed over 100 lbs unless she was pregnant. I can totally understand why after today - no sane person would do this alone! I do have to give snaps to Jason - he rolled out one ball of dough for me after I told him my Grandpa helped my Grandma.

So hear goes - I learned today that you can tell when yeast is bubbling. (It might be hard to see though!)

The dough rose! I left for my massage appointment and came back to see it had risen. You can see where I poked it with my finger. Another thing I learned - yeast will make your dough hot. I was so surprised (and was afraid something was wrong) when I felt how warm the dough was.

You roll it out then put the nut/raisin mixture in. Total bummer sidebar, grinding up the raisins may have broken my food processor. The blade is totally stuck in there and I can't get it out. Jason tried too, no luck.

Yum! I ended up with 10 loaves and have dough leftover but ran out of mixture. My mom told me about a cheesecake type thing my grandma used to make with the leftover dough. I need to get a glass pie plate tomorrow in my travels. I ate a tester slice and it tastes just like a remember it. It's so strange how smell triggers your memory. As soon as I smelled it baking, I knew I had made it right, it smelled just like my Grandma's kitchen used to. It makes me so sad that I didn't get to make this with her tonight. I was very close to my grandparents so the holidays are always tough on me because they're not around. I know they were smiling looking down on my tonight and wishing they could have some too!

Kifli

Kifli is a tradition in my mom's family and I do my best to make them every year. My friends have grown addicted to them as well. The dough is made from lard so they're pretty rich but oh so good. I thought I would do a play by play.

First you take the dough.....(I LOVE my pastry mat from Pampered Chef by the way, way less frustrating than having dough stick to the rolling pin AND the counter!)

Roll out the dough....

Cut into 2X2 squares....

Add in the nut filling in the center....

Roll them up and put them on the baking sheet and into the oven....

Remove from the oven and place on wax paper, cover them with powdered sugar.

Holiday Baking

I'm off this week so have been working on my baking.
I rolled out the sugar cookies which is really a pain.
I had twice as many as these when I pulled a Megan and dropped the container and they spilled on the floor.

My four legged friends were more than willing to help any chance they could get!

Deck the Halls!

Our tree is up and Jason even put up lights outside! I am so excited to have white lights on the tree for the first time ever in my life! I think this look is worth keeping!

Tree Hunting 2008

Last Saturday, we made our annual trek to Sprouffske's Tree Farm with the Masterson's. I gave R and T their Christmas presents so I could see them open them up. I scored big with R apparently, she put the shirt on immediately.