Mermaids of the Lake Blog

Favorite things...Double-Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

By Mermaid Shelley

My daughter is coming home from University for the holidays. I can hardly wait! A couple of days ago I asked her what she'd like me to bake for holiday treats. She said, "Mom, you know one of my favorite things are those chocolate crinkle cookies you make. Of course I want those."

Well, of course I'm making them! If they're her favorite, then I'm gonna make them. And, I did.

I had to sample them with a little cup of tea, just to make certain they were up to my usual holiday standard... You might enjoy them as well.

Double-Chocolate Crinkles

4 oz. unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter
2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (6-oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Melt chocolate and butter together in the top of a double boiler over hot but not boiling water. Stir in sugar. Place mixture in a medium bowl; cool. Beat until blended. Add vanilla. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. In another medium bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt. Stir flour mixture into chocolate mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Refrigerate dough several hours or over night.

To bake cookies, preheat oven to 375 degrees (190 degrees C). Lightly grease baking sheets; set aside. Break off small pieces of chilled dough and form into 1-inch balls. Place powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll cookies in sugar, covering them completely. Place cookies 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake 10 minutes. Cookies will be very soft, but will become firm as they cool. Immediately place on rack to cool. Makes about 70 cookies.

Santa, elves and pixies... oh my!

Today is Pink Saturday again and our lovely hostess, Beverly has suggested that we feature our favorite holiday decorations. And... since pink is a derivative of red... we can use red. I love red! Red is my favorite color.

Welcome Home

By Mermaid Debbie

Several years ago, as I was sluggishly attempting to "take down Christmas," I realized that I had a few too many Christmas decorations. There were those that I loved, cherished, and treasured! And... there were those that I simply put out each year because they were there. So I got busy and cleared out a bunch of Christmas stuff.

My rule: Keep only those things that you absolutely love!

Apparently, judging by the number of boxes in my basement... I absolutely love a lot! Oh, but they are wonderful; so worth carefully storing and lovingly welcoming home each year.

My very favorites, other than those the kids have made through the years, are my vintage Santa, elf and pixie collections. I say, "Welcome Home," as I take them out of storage and place them in their favorite locations. I greet them with a smile and a festive mood; I play their favorite holiday music; (the soundtrack from Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer) I light a luscious holiday-scented candle; I make them their favorite peppermint coffee, and shower them with special, loving attention. 

My little whimiscal darlings bring me the most wonderful hostess gifts of smiles, silly grins, and most importantly, cherished memories and feelings of nostalgia. They also very generously move over a bit to make room for any shy little newcomer that may have been rescued from yet another antique shop or yard sale.

 

 

 

 

 

  

  



 

Please visit How Sweet the Sound for the list of all of the other Pink Saturday participants. I can't wait to visit them and see what their favorite holiday decorations are.

Happy Holidays!!!

Christmas stories

By Mermaid Debbie

We three Mermaids are avid readers. This time of year it is a fun tradition to read a Christmas or holiday book.  I have several that I read every year or so and I also love to choose a new one each year.

My new choice this year is: Little Ellie Claus, By James Manos Junior

This sweet little novel, by Emmy award winning-author, James Manos Jr. is a gift of love and hope for the Christmas season. Set in 1933, it is a magical tale for young and old filled with sweet, gentle humor and heart-felt emotion. more

We each chose a favorite this year to review for our Mermaids of the Lake holiday issue. Please read our reviews here.

Wouldn't it be fun to pick a special book each year and read it together as a family?

What are you reading this time of year? Do you have a holiday favorite? Please leave us a comment and let us know. We would love to add to our list of favorites.

My favorite charitable gifts

By Mermaid Jennifer

In a year of hardship for so many, it would be easy to hang your head in frustration. The markets are down, people are out of work, and everything still seems just as expensive in the mall.

However, I have found recently that if you look toward helping others instead of worrying about things beyond your control, you may just be able to get past the easy negativity that is around us. 

 

There are two gift Web sites that I think are just super with regard to helping others in the name of a loved one. 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

The American Red Cross

From phone cards for military personnel to money to build simple shelters, the Red Cross helps 70,000 people a year. Their Web site is easy to use and you can narrow things down by the type of gift you'd like to give - Help at home, Military, Global Compassion. Sometimes a simple blanket is the kindest thing that you could give. View the site.

Heifer International

These catalogs come in the mail with beautiful little children and fuzzy baby animals. They are so compelling, that out of all of the catalog mail, I love to look at them. Through this organization you can "gift" a goat, ducks, rabbits, and more to people in need around the world. These animals can be used for a family to start a small business. It might make all the difference to them. View the site. 

In this issue of Mermaids of the Lake...

Here are some other thoughts on "How to help others" this season on the Mermaids of the Lake website.

Would you like to share a fun story of volunteerism in your community? Tell us.

You are talented and you are original

By Mermaid Shelley

I love this and think it's worth sharing...

"Everybody is original, if they tell the truth, if they speak from their true self. But it must be from their true self and not from the self they think they should be. So remember these two things: you are talented and you are ORIGINAL." ~Brenda Ueland

I believe!!!

By Mermaid Debbie

I have always loved the “magic of Christmas.” The entire season, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s, is a time I cherish. I am filled with childhood memories and wonderful adult memories, as well. My children added a whole new beautiful element to the holidays for me. My husband and I were determined to make their childhood memories of Christmas be as wonderful as ours; a beautiful, wondrous combination of the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, fabulous food, gathering with family and friends, beautiful decorations, and of course… Santa!

My most wondrous memory of Christmas was one very snowy, Christmas Eve. I was a little girl of six, and absolutely filled to the brim with anticipation of Santa’s arrival. I believed! I had spent the last month watching every Christmas special on television, sung Christmas carols until I new every beautiful word; I had helped bake cookies and eaten my share too! My visit to Santa was magical. I just knew that he loved me and I just knew that I had been such a good girl that Baby First Step would be sitting under my tree when I woke up.

As I lay in my bed, exhausted, but far too excited to sleep, I said a little prayer, wishing Jesus a Happy Birthday and thanking him and his father for creating Santa Claus. Just as I was about to drift off… I heard it!!! I know I did!!! Santa’s sleigh! I can still hear the sound of those sleigh bells in my mind. Truly I can. I can still close my eyes and imagine that glorious sleigh with that jolly old elf and his majestic reindeer. I know that Rudolf was pulling the sleigh on that cold, snowy night in the magical year of 1968; a year that made the record books in our town as one of the snowiest winters ever!

Christmas morning arrived! I rushed down the steps and there she was! Baby First Step!

 

I believe!

 

 

Please Visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound and read the memories of all of the other Pink Saturday participants. Merry Christmas!

 

Gifts that are rich, creamy and exotic

By Mermaid Jennifer

Hey there sweet stuff! You know that I love you! Your beautiful dark brown coating with a  soft caramel inside - you are so delicious!

Of course, I am addressing one of my favorite "just for me" delights - the chocolate truffle! Unless you don't like chocolate, or can't eat it due to allergies, chocolate is the ubiquitous gift of the holidays. Almost every woman loves it, and many men as well.

Children love it in the form of a bar or melted into a warm, creamy drinking chocolate. But for me, when I see a photo of truffles like the one below, I know that I've found my little 3 p.m. piece of heaven!

This holiday season, for just a moment, make sure to drop hints for your favorite gifts to your sweetie, or maybe your Mom. For me, it doesn't have to be a huge gift, but the thought of enjoying these beautiful truffles, just makes me all warm inside.

These truffles and many other chocolates can be found on www.chocolateapothecary.com. You can order online, or if you live in Spokane, WA you can go right into their store and enjoy a drinking chocolate. 

Gift buying for different generations
Whether it's your uncle Bob, or your friend Susan, everyone has people on their gift list that are hard to buy for. Either they seem picky, or just have everything. One thing to consider is in buying consumable gifts (like chocolate or gourmet food packs) you are appealing to them in a special way - it's something they might not ever buy for themselves.

There are more tips about buying generational gifts on www.mermaidsofthelake.com from the Merman column. Check it out !

Planning for a stress-free Christmas

By Mermaid Shelley

Yes, y'all, it's already here! Time to get organized for the most glorious time of the year! Guests have commented that it looks so easy for me to pull off big meals and holiday events. It’s not that it’s easy, I just organize my time preparing behind the scenes. It really makes the season more fun and certainly less stressful. I do know that taking on the role of Christmas hostess can be daunting. The intimidation of such an important holiday can take some people right out of the holiday mood!

Being organized is essential. It helps to ensure that you can relax and enjoy the holiday fun that you’ve spent weeks, maybe even months, looking forward to. I find that it helps to start tasks early in the month. Here are some suggestions that work for me.

Start at the beginning of December by doing these:

• Make the trip to the post office early People love getting Christmas cards throughout the month. When I send my holiday greetings early, it tells my loved ones that I wish them the best during the entire holiday season. The first week of December is best. It seems difficult, but I get those out-of-town gifts mailed by mid-month. When the presents are on their way, a big weight is lifted.

• Decorate the home Not only does this set up a wonderful holiday mood; it is one large planning item I can take care of early. I only play holiday music during this important task. Once the decorations are in place, I store the boxes and bins out of sight in an easily accessible location. I hold off decorating a live tree for a few weeks.

• Plan menus I think about all of the gatherings that I have planned. This might include a party I plan to host, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day breakfast, and of course, the big meal, Christmas Day. Not only do I plan the menus, but I think of the ingredients needed in menu items, right down to the spices and condiments. I make a separate list of perishable and non-perishable items.

• Buy non-perishable food items When I look at my list it usually has quite a few items I can get early. There are relish items such as olives, pickles, and cranberry sauce. I almost always bake and will need butter, sugar, flour, spices, and all of the embellishments. Every holiday meal calls for beverages. So, I stock up on coffee, wine, sparkling cider, alcohol, mixers, and fruit juice. There are also all of those non-food items, such as candles, festive napkins and center pieces. I can buy my frozen turkey now and put it in the deep freeze.

Throughout the month:

• Start cooking anything that can be stored Cookies, candy; whatever can be prepared ahead of time is started early. I take the time to enjoy myself. I love to include the kids; we make it fun and create memories. Again, I only play holiday music at this time. It’s important to store these creations properly. Warning to those who bake early: if you want some goodies left for the big day, make it abundantly clear that cookie stealers will be prosecuted!

• Wrap gifts as they are purchased I love wrapping gifts. I take the time to be neat and tidy, as well as creative. A beautifully wrapped present is a gift in itself. When time is limited, I take advantage of department store wrapping. Many of the nicer stores have complimentary wrapping services, others charge a small fee.

• Enjoy the season I suggest doing several of these festive activities during the month: take time to watch your favorite holiday movies; reflect on the meaning of the season; have a special seasonal latte with girlfriends; drop spare change in the Salvation Army bucket; sit on Santa’s lap; attend a holiday music event; buy a little Christmas gift for yourself, maybe lipstick or a Starbucks Christmas CD; sing carols at the retirement home; enjoy the Christmas lights in your neighborhood; relish the sights, sounds and smells; read traditional stories to children; and, drink a toast to your loved ones.

At the countdown:

• Christmas Eve Eve (two days before…) I take inventory of my list of items for the holiday dinner, as well as check for any last minute gift I might need. The stores are getting crowded and many shoppers are feeling crazy and losing their patience. But, not me! There are just a few things left that I need. Now is the time I buy the items on the fresh ingredients list, including ice for beverages. It’s time to defrost the turkey. My refrigerator is getting full at this point!

• Christmas Eve Things are getting pretty exciting. Presents are accumulating under the tree. Parties and such have been going on for a week or more. In preparation for the big day tomorrow, I lay out the Christmas table. I peel potatoes and prepare the other vegetables. I cover them in water and refrigerate. Christmas breakfast, which is usually something special, yet simple, is readied. The kids hang up their stockings with care. We all watch our favorite holiday movie and have treats. Someone puts food and drink out for Santa and Rudolph. And, we tuck ourselves into bed. While visions of sugar plums dance in our head. Ho ho ho!

Christmas Day

• First things first Today is the day I look forward to all year. The very first thing I do is tell the kids to hold on one more minute (because, of course, they’re dying to see what Santa brought them) while I make coffee. Then, we all settle in to open presents. I gather discarded wrapping and ribbon as we go. This helps keep crazy messes at bay. Really, this is the most precious time; being with those I love, enjoying the moment. Once the gift exchange has come to a slow halt, we lazily eat a special breakfast.

• Take a little time for myself Before I get busy in the kitchen, I get myself ready. This step is very important in keeping me calm. When I take my shower, fix my hair and do my makeup before hand, I know I am presentable if guests arrive early. And, they always do!

• Then…. I get cooking! Christmas dinner is the heart of the season. Yes, it takes a lot of planning and orchestrating, and the presentation can be challenging. Yet, if I have stayed true to the plan, dinner is stress-free and a special event for everyone…including me!

Pink Christmas trees for Pink Saturday

By Mermaid Debbie

It's the Holiday Season! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Pink may not be the traditional color of Christmas, but in some homes it may be tradition. My Grandma had the most beautiful white flocked tree, with pink lights and pink ornaments. This was in the 60's. My Grandma was very traditional in most ways, but she had this little flare that I always admired. Grandma is 95 and we just moved her from her home to an assisted living facility. I inherited all of her photo albums, among other things. I will be looking through them and hoping to find a picture of that beautiful tree, but for now, here are some fun pink trees. Grandma was before her time.

 
I found this one here.

Here are some more!

  

  
  

Please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound and see all of the other Pink Saturday participants.

Happy Holidays from The Mermaids!

We have a wonderful holiday issue of our online magazine. Please visit Mermaids of the lake and get inspired

Turkey Day!

By Mermaid Jennifer

Whoohoo! Thanksgiving is almost here. I am personally trying to get a little extra exercise this week before the big day so that I can eat heartily. If you love turkey like I do, you'll love this recipe posted by Mermaid Debbie for Thanksgiving. She has been making it for years, and everyone loves it. 

She notes, "It is so moist and with just a hint of orange - it is wonderful." 

View the recipe on our e-zine.