Music Obsession: George Michael (RIP) - A Different Corner

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” - Charles Dickens
(RIP George Michael)

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession: Michael Bublé - It's Beginning To Look A lot Like Christmas

"It is a fine seasoning for joy to think of those we love." - Moliere

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession: Celine Dion - Oh Holy Night (LIVE)

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.“ - 2 Corinthians 9:7

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession: O Come, All Ye Faithful - Pentatonix

"Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart." ~  Washington Irving

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession: Donny Hathaway - This Christmas (Extended Version - Atco Records 1970)

"Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling." ~  Edna Ferber

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession: All I want for Christmas is you - Mariah Carey

“Money. Both cure and cause of so many evils, isn't it?” ― Eileen Wilks

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession - Oh holy night - Alicia keys

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” 

― Charles Dickens

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession: Cabbie Chronicles - Greetings from Yadd!

Christmas is a time when you get homesick — even when you're home. ~Carol Nelson

Greetings from Yaad!

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession: Mary, Did You Know? - Pentatonix

“How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!”  ― Benjamin Franklin

Mary, Did You Know? - Pentatonix

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession: Little Drummerboy - Faith Hill

"Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday." - Dale Carnegie 

Little Drummerboy - Faith Hill

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession: Michael Bublé | Mis Deseos / Feliz Navidad (Duet With Thalia)

"He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree." ~Roy L. Smith

Michael Bublé | Mis Deseos / Feliz Navidad (Duet With Thalia)

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession: Michael Buble & Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You

"Things can get so hectic sometimes that we forget to stop and enjoy life, live a little."― Lisa Mondello

Michael Buble & Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession: Band Aid 30 - Do They Know It’s Christmas? (2014)

I prefer the original, but this version is good....

Band Aid 30 - Do They Know It’s Christmas? (2014)

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Edible Gift Tags

Edible Gift Tags

Sugar Cookie Dough: 

2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons whole milk

• Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 
• Add the egg and vanilla and continue to mix until incorporated.
• Beat in the milk, then add the flour mixture. (Mix until dough forms.)
• Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until firm.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
• Line a baking sheet with a liner or parchment paper and cut out the gift tag templates.
• Roll out the chilled dough on a floured work surface to about ¹⁄8-inch thick. 
• Use a sharp knife to cut around the template, and carefully place the cookies 1 inch apart on the baking sheet.
• Gather and re-roll scraps to make more cookies. 
• Use a straw to punch a hole in the top of each tag.
• Bake for 10 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown. 
• Let cool.

Royal Icing:

4 cups (about 1 lb.) confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons meringue powder
¼ cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla, almond, or lemon extract
Gel food coloring

• Combine the sugar, meringue powder, water and vanilla in the bowl.  
• In a stand mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, beat until icing is shiny and soft peaks form. (The consistency is right when you remove the whisk attachment and the peaks falls onto themselves. If icing is too thick, add more water, one teaspoon at a time. If it’s too runny, add more confectioners’ sugar.)
• Depending on how many colors you want, divide the icing evenly into small bowls, and color with food coloring. 
• Once colored, scoop icing into piping bag fitted with a size 3 tip.

To Assemble:

• Use a small offset spatula to spread royal icing on the top one-third of the cookie, then cover with sprinkles or crushed candy canes.
• To personalize, pipe message in royal icing and set aside to harden.
• Once dry, carefully loop a ribbon through the hole and tie the tag to a wrapped gift. (If your gift will be handled a lot, place the cookie in a flat cellophane gift bag before attaching.)

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession: Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas

"Seek not greater wealth, but simpler pleasure; not higher fortune, but deeper felicity.”  ― Mahatma Gandhi

Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession: Last Christmas - Wham!

"There’s nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.” ~ Erma Bombeck

Last Christmas- Wham!

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Almond Cookie Tiramisu

photo from tarladalal.com

INGREDIENTS:

• 24 Almond butter cookies
  
  
  SOAKING SYRUP 

• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp coffee powder

FILLING

• 1 1/2 cup beaten whipped cream
• 2 1/2 tbsp powdered sugar
• 2 tsp coffee powder
• a few drops of vanilla essence

1. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and fold gently.
2. Fill into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle and keep refrigerated.

GARNISH

• 4 tbsp grated chocolate
• 4 tbsp almond slivers

DIRECTIONS 

1. Dip 12 cookies, one by one, in the soaking syrup and place them on a plate.
2. Pipe a bit of filling mixture onto each cookie.
3. Dip the remaining cookies, one by one, in the soaking syrup and place them over the filling.
4. Garnish with chocolate and almonds.
5. Refrigerate at last 30 minutes.

1. 
   
2. Serve chilled.*** any butter cookie can be used.***

12 servings 

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Gooey Chocolate Chip Caramel Peanut Butter Bars

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 (16 oz.) packages of refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough 
• ½ cup evaporated milk
• 60 whole caramels (unwrapped)
• ½ cup peanut butter (melted-you can melt it in microwave)
• 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 375° F and grease 9 x 13-inch jelly-roll pan (baking sheet or pan with rims).
• Spread one package of cookie dough into prepared pan and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. 
• Remove pan from oven and set aside.
• In a double boiler (a metal bowl set over a saucepan of boiling water) melt caramels with ½ cup evaporated milk.
• When melted and combined, add ½ cup melted peanut butter and pour over cookie base. 
• Sprinkle chocolate chips as evenly as you can over the caramel.
• With the second package of cookie dough, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls evenly onto caramel and chocolate chips mixture; press down lightly.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and edges are set. 
• Cool in pan on wire rack.

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Snowball Cookies / Russian Tea Biscuits

Snowball Cookies / Russian Tea Biscuits 

INGREDIENTS:

2 Cups - All purpose flour
2 Cups - Finely chopped pecans
1/4 Cup - Sugar
1 Cup - Butter (Softened)
1 tsp - Vanilla
Powdered sugar


DIRECTIONS:

• Heat oven to 325°F. 
• Combine all ingredients except powdered sugar in bowl. 
• Beat at low speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until well mixed. 
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls. 
• Place 1 inch apart onto un-greased cookie sheets. 
• Bake 18-25 minutes or until very lightly browned. 
• Cool 5 minutes
• Roll in powdered sugar while still warm and again when cool.

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.

Music Obsession: Chris Brown - This Christmas

"Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling." - Edna Ferber

Chris Brown - This Christmas

Until next time, when we can chit-chat again! T.