Week 52 Sunday (1/11/15)

Recipe Review              

Today’s Recipe and Location:           Christmas Cherry Cookies        

Found in: The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays

                  Pages: 308 - 309      Copyright:  2013  Harper Collins

I figured out that there are 101 calories per serving, if 30 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

The Rollo looks like a top hat

If you look carefully, you can
see the lemon and orange zest

Here is the group for the veterinary staff

         I almost skipped this recipe because of the cherries. but I thought I would be brave and daring and make them with Rollos on top rather than the red and green cherries that made these cookies pretty.  I blew it. The Rollos did nothing for these gems.

         I would make this recipe again, but for me I would just leave the cookie alone. It has a wonderful citrus flavor that can’t be beat. It is made with both lemon and orange zest. Okay – the rest of you should add the cherries because they are a show stopper, and I will just be different and eat them plain.
        I did take these cookies to the Sandwich Veterinary Hospital and they said that they loved them with the chocolate on top. That is really the best part. There is something for everyone. 

Trivial Triffles

         Over the Christmas break, I watched two versions of Miracle on 34^th Street. Of course, I have seen the 1947 original version many times. I love Edmund Gwenn as Santa. In fact, he is the ultimate Santa in my mind. I judge all other Santas based on his performance. In the 1994 version, Richard Attenborough did an excellent job playing the same role. Is he as good as Edmund Gwen?  In my opinion, that answer would be no. He did a great job, but I prefer Edmund Gwenn.

         Natalie Wood was amazing as Susan Walker. She had the best facial expressions, and I loved her in this role. No wonder she went on to be an actor for as long as she lived. Mara Wilson did an excellent job in the 1994 version. I loved both of these amazing child actors, and don’t have a full out winner between the two of them.

         Maureen O’Hara is a favorite character of mine, because I loved her performances in the old John Wayne movies. Her counterpart from 1994 was Elizabeth Perkins. I actually prefer Elizabeth Perkins in this role. Sorry, Maureen.

         John Payne played Fred Gailey in the original version, and Dylan McDermott played his counterpart. They were both great, but let’s face it Dylan McDermott wins hands down.

         I really enjoyed all of the Christmas movies this year. I have seen almost every one since they replayed them constantly. My Mom and I were comparing notes on all of the movies we watched this holiday season. We loved so many of them. We both agree that they need to start showing them on December 1^st. By starting them in November it really ruined a few of them because they became old after awhile.

Memory Musings

         Yesterday, I saw a large raccoon cross the road when I was driving to the groomers in Sandwich. This triggered a memory of my Dad.

         One day, my Dad went into the garage to get something out the cabinets hanging from the ceiling. He opened the door and was greeted with a hiss by a large raccoon that had taken up residence in the cabinet.

         He slammed the cabinet door shut and took a deep breath. We made eye contact and he burst out laughing. He was determined to remove this resident, so he pulled the cars out of the garage, opened the cabinet door, and set some food outside on the driveway.

         Sure enough, before too long, the raccoon left the garage. Dad shut the garage door and the problem was solved.