cream cheese and bacon stuffed mushroom caps

8 oz softened cream cheese
6 strips bacon, fried and crumbled, reserve fat
1 small onion finely chopped
25 large mushrooms stems removes
8 mushroom stems finesly chopped.


line a baking sheet with parchment paper, preheat overn to 350, remove stems from mushrooms
place o baking sheet flat side down and bake for 8 minutes. this serves to revove excess moisture from the mushrooms so they are not mushy!!

next saute onion and mushroom stems in bacon  fat until tender.drain off excess fat, mix brumbled bacon, onion&stems with cream cheese until mixture is workable.
fill the mushrooms and bake at 350 10-15 min

finish under broiler until tops are golden.

you may want to add some minced garlic and or bread crumbs to the mixture, it's up to you. I would make a double batch as they go very fast!

Pure Joy

It is the night of our sweet Saviour's birth.  My family is in bed and I am still up listening to Jackie Evancho on youtube. She has the voice of an angel and makes me shiver when I hear her sing. She is such a sweet girl too...wow 10 years old and such grace.Listen to her Pie Jesu, or O mio Bambino Caro! You will be simply transported....Bless her! 

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night

Blessings to Everyone!

is it christmas yet?

forgot to put the potatoes in the tourtieres... forgot where I put a crochet hat I had made for secret santa so I had to make another one this morning..  I did not need this... dear lord, is this really christmas!? can't sleep well, my family eating the edible gifts I made for friends, someones gonna get hurt real bad!

headache

lordy, it's not that there is too much to do, well maybe there is, but for me it's more the organizing part that makes me nuts! Too much going on in my head, gotta do this gotta do that. Still errands to run and regular meals to prepare, so yesterday was one big giant headache, I mean literally. Spent in the day in PJ's and slept trying to get rid of the pain and also the drained feeling.  Decided to remove some things from my to do list  and I felt better, but guess what, today they are back on! I will admit I am asking for trouble and my headache is creeping back. I wonder how those ladies who lived in the early 1900's did. With no refrigeration, where did they store all the dishes that they made for christmas. Also how did they do it all, did they live with extended family and thus have sisters and aunts helping or did they travel to each others homes to help with cooking.? We have all these kitchen gadgets to help us and we are still frazzled. Honestly I don't know how my mother does it. She is an expert "freezer" she knows how to preare food so that it freezes and most importantly thaws in a way where the taste of the food is not compromised, She is a genius, I tell you, kitchen is her domain. One time at a loss for what to get her for her birthday I found this wonderful cookbook for Pasta by Giada de Laurentis and thought, ok, this looks nice, beautiful pictures and many types of  sauce for pasta, looked good to me. Mom opens th present and says" Why did you get me a book about pasta? I know how to cook pasta! Can't win them all, yes she can cook anything and make it taste very good.I did not inherit that talent sadly... ok everyone take a breath and let's continue the cooking.....

overeaters anonymous

english meetings 514-488-1812  montreal

french  meetings 514-490-1939
http://www.outremangeurs.org/

it's ok

there are baked goods all over the house. some wonderful cookies, some not  so much, some left over from poker night... I cannot expect of myself to be able to resist the temptation when  it is  all over the kitchen and dining room. I am following my food plan but right now but  I will concede that it is a touch harder.. I feel the stress of getting ready for Christmas....perhaps feel I deserve a reward... a nibble here a bite there, could add up to 600- 700 calories a day if I let it... I will be kind to myself and not expect perfect adherence right now as it is the best I can do. I plan healthy meals and  sane portions... I pray that He takes over for me. I cannot do it by myself...

when the student is willing, the teachers appears

Overeaters Anonymous appearded in my life when I was ready for it. I was not spiritually teachable  until my illness forced me to look in that direction. It was all  that was left. No human power could relieve my complusion. I am not entirely free of the pride and arrogance that shut out growth.The process of recovery seems to involve alternately giving up my will and taking it back.This creates periodic setbacks, but each time it happens I learn something.
from FOR TODAY  august 6th.

REVAMP

bear with  me as I try to reorganize my blog. Iam learning as I go along and my husband the engineer , who used to be way ahead  of me in these matters now says "this is too %^%$#$^ complicated" well great! I am going to have to do major cajoling with my  teen, now let's see what does he want that won't cost me actual $$$. I depended on him for all things "copy and paste"  and other types of funtions, so now I have to dangle a carrot in front of the resident teen! In days gone by it used to be easier, whe they were small and they wanted a Power Ranger guy or whatever, but then again I was the one more seduced by the toys. they would never really ask for anything, like some of those kids in Wal Mart who are way past their nap time but whose paremts decided to take them shopping .. they are now screaming at the top of their lungs and I no longer have any wax in my ears!!yep my kids were perfect. stop rolling your eyes, they were, I loved shopping and they had  to love it too. I would let them have a small toy from the store that I would be able to afford  and let them play with it and if they really liked amd wanted it, I would pay for it. It was cheaper than a babysitter and I knew they were safe. my philosophy. yep I  kind of spoiled them, in terms of toys, but they were always well behaved no matter how young they were. so I see that I have gotten off on a different subject than I had started with! yes, the mind wanders at my age, plus the fact that I can go on and on about my boys aand now grandbaby makes three! so this year our christmas "man" picture will number 8, while the " lady" picture will remain 4.  oh well.  I wonder how fast Ambrose can pick up this computer $%^&*&^%.!

dollarama

bought some decorative tins at the dollar store, washed them and started stuffing them  the with goodies. I love preparing small containers of  sweets that I make for friends and family you know that about me already.I get such a rush and giddy feeeling.
I made the citrus candied peel, some with chocolate dipped tips some not,  kourabiedes, peppermint bark, lemon meringue cookies.And the famous tsourekia,like my son says, BAM!

quick gift to make

a few months ago when the crochet bug rehit, you all know that between scrapbooking and cross stitch and whatever it is you do for fun a type of boredom  with the project sets in and you want somehthing new but fast, something just for you to enjoy finishing under an hour. I found that dish cloths fit the bill not dish towels, the wash cloths for dishes I also found that they wash much better than anything on the market right now. In order to get the performance you need it needs to be cotton yarn and not acrylic. Why crochet wash cloths? Because they are fun, fast, pretty, make cute little side gifts and its handmade. Back when I was a little girl, is a class mate wore a handmade dress she was deemed very poor.  Have you seen the price of supplies. Making it yourself used to be so much cheaper. Not so anymore, a vogue pattern can cost up to $50 or more dollars, then you have to cut it all out and we know about Vogue patterns don't  we? Even though I never sewed myself, my Mom did and I  gleened all this information from her. So handmade is good, someone took the time to make something for you, they went to the store, they picked they pondered what supplies and color to get  and then they took the time to  make it.
You've heard that the Kennedys make each other gifts the gifts that they give easch other  at Christmas. Yep, money is no object for them but then it is also meaningless to them, they can afford to get just about anything. So out come the creative talents, whether they can write a  poem, make a shawl, I don't know what other talents they have but as far as I know they are still doing it, of course I am not privy to their goings on except for what Maria tells me!

wash cloth

bernat cotton yarn
color of your choice, go crazy

stitch 21
single crochet across for as big as you want it.
thats it! how easy is that!!!
Gift ideas

make a set of three
buy some hooks
buy some yarn. wrap everything together with pretty grosgrain ribbon
write out the instructions on pretty dollar store notebook.
give to your niece or a favorite little girl or other person
with a promise to show her how to crochet as part of the gift!

How sweet is that! I'm sure you can come up with a few similar ideas yourself.
JUST think outside the box and also think  of what would make you happy besides a plasma TV that is or an Iphone.

chance

Chance is pehaps the pseudonym of God when He did not want to sign. Anatole France

improvement

I see some improvement in how I feel about what I have been eating... I do not feel so desperate.. I am calmer and even with junk food left over from the guys' poke night I am not tempted to eat it. A semblance of calm has returned. Geez, I felt so ashamed and embarrassed. I mean if I can't do the 12 step program or   rather if I don't want to put the time and effort it takes to work the steps, what will I have? This makes sense of course, but this disease is such that a lot of the time, we don't even think about it... we are addicts.. I remember back when I felt so self righteous about the  drug addict mom who  was taking drugs while pregnant. I did not understand.. for me the the times that I was able to do what I needed to do in terms of food was when I was pregnant with my two boys. I would do anything for my kids even temper my addiction. I had plenty of support though, My mom made me special low fat gravy, my husband would  stay with me while I walked on the treadmill to reduce my glucose numbers. I prayed to all the saints I knew!  But there was something intangible that I felt, and that was faith and hope. I was sure my  pregnany outcome would be just fine, how, I don't know but it's just a superhuman feeling I had where my kids were concerned. I knew, knew everything would be all right, I even had to reassure my OB, don't worry , I would say to him, I've got it covered. All the Franciscans my brother knew were praying for a good outcome, parents were praying, my mom's neighbhor sent me religious cards. I was praying and doing what I had to do to keep my gestational diabetes under control and hence keep Christopher safe in by belly. So I wondered why was this drug addict not able to give up her drugs while pregnant. I don't know exactly why but it must have been similar to the time where for about a year, while diabetic, I did not take my blood sugar readings nor follow any of the dietary protocol for diabetics,I had given up. I could not do this anymore! I was done!  I had been struggling for close to 50 years, I had had it. No one could say I didn't try everything out there, and I had.
I imagine, though that drugs obviously do a number on your brain and change anything  of a rational sort in one's brain, so just because I was able to curb my eating while pregnant I had no right to judge. Just like I did not want to be  judged, for my shortcomings. Maybe this woman had no support, or health care or a loving husband and family. 
I have a little saying upstairs in my craft room that says' When the world says give up, Hope whispers" Try one more time" I'm sticking with hope.

teen gifts

what kind of gifts will you give your teenager this christmas? will they be the newest electronic game, the wii type games, the xbox 360's? most teenagers want money, it's a well documented fact! I know mine does, especially if they no longer have the summer job through the winter and are driving one of the family cars and need gas money. I can't buy my teen clothes as he has his very own sense of  style and even claims to have gotten everyone in i high scholl wearing cardigans! aren't cardigans for older teachers? what's even worse is when family ask what they can get said teen for christmas...teens want money.. no it doesn't mean the giver has  no imagination or that he can't be bothered... lets face it money gives them freedom, it gives us all freedom, that's what I like about money, yes we can all learn to live with less but you're still gonna want money.  so before you think of getting the teen in your life another cute hoodie, think again, maybe a gift card to Tim Hortons would be better.... it's the thought that counts, we all say that, but it's like the dissapointed look on Poirot's face when he received these handknit wool  gloves with sunflowers on them  and 3 sizes  too big that we realize that some thoughts, well, suck!

traditional tourtiere

christmas is almost here, and although I'm trying to stop thinking of food, I have the need more than ever to feed my family and friends, I don't know what it is, my  son tells me not to cook so much but I don't feel that I do, granted he his referring to when the kitchen looks like a bomb hit it and I am too tired to clean up everything. I can't say that I blame him though, but right up until the last moment I will invariably  be tempted to try a new recipe. this is not last minute though  as I have been wanting to make these for a long time.It is a time honored tradition in Quebec,  these tourtieres, there are as many recipes out there as there are people, I guess. my hubby loves tourtiere   and so do I, if it's well made and not too heavy with lard in the crust. anyway I am not making my own crusts this time, I  need  to save some time and most of my sanity.

tourtiere filling

2 lb lean ground pork
1 1/2 cups cubed peeled potatoes
3 cups sliced mushrooms
3/4 cup finely chopped celery
3/4 cup chicken stock
2 onions finely chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp each pepper, dried savory and thyme
1/4 tsp each ground cloves, cinnamon
1 bay leaf
1 egg yolk

cook potato about 12 minutes, drain and mash, set aside.
in deep skillet cook pork over medium high heat mashing with a fork until no longer pink about 8 min, drain of fat.
add mushrooms, celery, stock,onions, garlic salt, pepper savory, thyme cloves,cinamon, and bay leaf.
bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer until alomost no liquid remains about 25 minutes. discard bay leaf, mix in potatoes. let cool.

spoon into the filling, brush pie rim with water cover with top crust and press edge to seal. trim and flute.
brust with egg yolk bake at 400 degrees for 50 min on bottom third of oven.

joyeux noel

Larry King

Tonight we said  goodbye to a class act on CNN. Host and interviewer of the Larry King Show, he was a master of his craft. We loved watching you and we will miss you. All the best.

heaven... I'm in heaven...

Today I  visited with Ambrose and his mommy Amy! What a child, ftoo ftoo! that's greek, for "ward off evil stuff" crazy! well he is a sweetie and even though we hadn't seen him in what seemed like way too long, he was all smiles. So I played with him and sang some gibberish songs and was dismayed that my repertoire of baby/children's songs had dried up!  So good old google to the rescue and I found my boys' favorite Raffi songs.  I remembered a song sung by Shirley Temple,  we are singing this one next time Bubbla!


Once my Mother said " my little pet
You ought to learn your alphabet"
So in my soup I used to get
All the letters of the alphabet
I learned them all from A to Z
And now my Mother's giving me

Animal crackers in my soup,
Monkeys and rabbits loop the loop
Gosh oh gee but I have fun
Swallowing animals one by one

In every bowl of soup I see
Lions and tigers watching me
I make 'em jump right through a  hoop
Those animal crackers in my soup.

Do you remember little Shirley and that sweet face of hers. She became a US Ambassador!la la la la la

overeaters anonymous

ok, so 50 years of dieting, yea you read right, and I am not 100 years old, just dieting since nine years of age.
fast forward to this past summer, I joined Overaters Anonymous and I knew I was home.. I was  accepted and made to understand that there was nothing wrong with me and that I was not a pig, but that I Had an addiction. OA is your basic 12 step program, simple.... but not easy, like my sponsor says. You choose your food plan not a diet and the objective is to stop eating compulsively. OA is not concerned with weight loss., say what?
When you stop  eating compulsively the weight will come off in time. We acknowledge that we are powerless where food is concerned and ask God or whichever higher power we believe in to   help us. You don't even have ro believe, you can go on as if you do! Well, that's a novel  concept, but most people who show up at OA are on their last destination . We will do anything.
I have come a long way in terms of personal developement and was doing reasonably well, but this winter I started skipping meetings and not doing readings, or praying, no meditation. I don't know what happened. Am I just lazy?  Really what is going on?  I am an addict and I will always be addicted to food. For me all that really happened that I can see is that I went to bed later and later. Getting up later, feeling too tired to go to meetings and insidiously starting to nibble here and there and now full blown $%$#$^ hitting the fan.
What went wrong, remember this is the last stop for me and I have nowhere else to go. I spoke with my sponsor who is praying for me to get the willingness to get back to the work to be done. I need to start my day with readimg my OA literature, back to prayer, calming meditation,  etc. It's alot of work. You have to think about your program all through the day. You have to go through the 12 steps.  I need to do this, or I will have no life. Pray for me.

No Bake Peanut Butter Balls like Reeses

Like Reeses Peanut butter cups, these will keep in the fridge for  up to 2 weeks but they won`t last that long!
I haven`t made these yet myself but they are on my to do list for this Christmas.

2 cups smooth peanut butter
1 quarter  cup unsalted butter room temperature
1 quarter tsp salt
1 half tsp vanilla
2- 2 one half cups icing sugar

chocolate coating

9 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
2 tbsp shortening

-lline baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminium foil

-place peanut butter, unsalted and salt in a microwavable bowl and heat for 1 mi or until just soft, check  and
 stir every 20 seconds
-stir the vanilla extract and icing sugar and mix until it has the consistency of a dough ( add more sugar if necessary)
-roll dough into 1 inch ball, place on cookie sheet and refrigerate for about 1 hour or until firm.
-place a toothpich in center of each ball
-melt the chocolate and  shortening in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. dip the balls one at a time and make sure the entire ball is coated with chocolate.
-remove from chocolate allowing any excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl.
-place chocolate balls back on the balking sheet
-when all the balls have been dipped place innrefrigerator until the chocolate has set.
-place influted candy cups and store in airtight container.

snow snow snow

I never made it to Zellers yesterday for the yarn I was so anticipating getting. Just  so much snow out there , SO SOOOO MUCH SNOW and I could not seem to be able to warm up. I had my boots ready to leave, but then I decided start today's supper  so I would not have to worry about it. Today we are visiting with my baby grandson and his mommy.  Getting by Bubbla fix! I swear that baby smells sooo good. Oh my, it is delicious I just want to eat him up!  Still way too much snow on the ground, lord, we will have to dig out before we drive off across the bridge to Lasalle. My cat Charlie who is all white canot be seen when he is out in the snow and he is anxiosuly awaiting for me to open the patio door and let him in but the door is frozen and I am too lazy to go upstairs and get the hair dryer!! I hear footsteps upstairs, maybe hubby will bring the dryer. Also finished Ambrose's firsst ornament in cross stitch, it's a teddy bear decorating his christmas tree, it looks like a Charlie Brown tree, very spindly aand cute.  I don't know how I am going to cajole my teeenager to show me how to upload pictures on my blog. Every time I ask him he rolls his eyes!

Please Don't Eat the Daisies: Raspberry Almond Squares & Chocolate Marshmallow Balls

Please Don't Eat the Daisies: Raspberry Almond Squares & Chocolate Marshmallow Balls

recommendations

Before I got out to Zellers to get some yarn, I wanted to post one more . soemtimes I run out of books to read, not that happens  often as I can't go anywhere without a book. but sometimes you need a book and you have read everything from your regulars, you know,  the authors that you know and like. Sometimes I like to expand my author list so  I can have more variety. nothing makes me happier than knowing that I have several books lined up for me to read. I read before bed, and in the bathroom, excuse me! but yes! and I want pretty much a sure thing, I don't want to waste my money on unknowns. so I got some second hand books at value village for $3.99 so even if it's dud,  I didn't pay full price, which I never do anyway! so here's a list of books that I have enjoyed and hope that you will too. happy reading!

The Good Earth                Pearl S. Buck

The Help                           Kathryn Stockett

Dead Tomorrow                Peter James   ( British author  found at amazon.ca)

The Red Tent                     Anita Diamant

The Three Daughters of  Madame Liang                    Pearl S. Buck

Plain Truth                          Jodi Picoult


I'm off to get my yarn, I am feeling giddy, I will be making the granny stripe blanket  that that wonderful lady has on her blog  " Attic 24" .  I bought some new hooks as well and it is a real treat to be able to do this. The colors all absolutely enchanting , it's almost like the technicolor dreamcoat in the broadway show " Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat" many many colors By the way that musical by Andrew Lloyds Webber is very funny and very singable as opposed to Sondheim who is not, just had to get that in here. I hate it when the conoscenti criticise a composer because his compositions are singable and thus moneymakers!   I just had to rant about it, its just unfair... that's all I am going to say, there...

Dear Tony

Today you turned twenty three and in 4 days it will be your first year wedding anniversary! You  are also a new Dad of my Darling Ambrose and husband of our sweetie Amy. What can I say. You were a delightful child! You loved everyone and were  very friendly. I remember vividly the first time we met  Tom and Mary Marooun, you went right up to them and when we introduced ourselves   you atomatically  gave Mary a hug as if you knew them already, they were amazed at your friendliness. Of course you were used to a lot of outwardly shows of affection from your family who were constantly kissing you and hugging you! Dad used to call you " the tree hugger" . You were always thoughtful and kind with me and a gentle little boy.

You grew up to be a  kind and considerate young man.  Whenever we ever needed any help, Dad and \i could always count on you. Even though you were really freaked out by spiders and bugs you would still help me when I needed some new tree or bush planted. Even though it meant possible contact with all things insect.

I could go on forever listing all your good qualities, but it could take forever! Suffice it to say that we are privileged to be your parents! We are busting at the seams with pride and much much love, it makes me tear up  again.! We know that everyone who knows you loves you!  That is quite something!

Dearest Tony, We wish you a long, healthy and  happy life with Amy. We wish you joy in parethood. We wish you success in the career that you have chosen. We wish you every good thing that you wish for yourself. And I  know it's way too premature, but we wish you the joy of being a grandparent!

So today, we raise our glasses  and toast  to one of God's most wonderful creations, our Son!


Love, Mom and Dad

everybody love raymond braciole

remember the braciole episode? yea I know I watch a lot of TV, sometimes I act like my life is a sitcom, it helps me get through the day on bad days! I keep telling myself I  need to get to the mall with my husband who is part of the mall walkers, but who gets up that early? I can't except when I can't sleep anymore but I digress. The braciole episode.. debra makes the  braciole whose recipe she got from a magazine amd Marie is livid because Frank loves Debra's braciole. I love Frank!  RIP Frank. 

This looks like it's complicated but what the heck, but I want to know what all the fuss is about, don't you.?  For many years I cooked only supposedly healthy boring things because I told myself I was dieting and I could not eat anything really good with sauces.. you know, it felt as if I was wearing a dietary  hair shirt.. I mean my husband travelled extensively and  I was home with my two boys and basically I cooked just  so called healthy boring food. So I never actually learned how to cook all the great food that is part of my Italian heritage . So I find myself curious to try to make all the great tasting food out there. Hence my desire to prepare braciole, they made such a duss about it on the show so I want to try my hand at it.


Braciole recipe

1 lb boneless beef top  round -- trimmed of fat and cut into 4 thin slices
4 thin slices of prosciutto
1 thick slice provolone cheese about 2 oz. cut into 4 equal pieces.
2 tbsp pine nuts
2 tbsp currants or raisins
1 clove garlic chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium yellow onion
1 cup dry red wine
4 large tomatoes peel, seeded and chopped
1 tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
3 fresh basil leaves- torn into small pieces 3 or 4
kitchen string
plastic wrap
Place the meat slices between2 sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound with a meat mallet until 1/4 inch thick.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper

Lay a slice of prosciutto and a peice of cheese on each one.
Sprinkle with a few pine nuts currants and garlic. Roll up the s;ices, tucking in the ends. Tie the rolls at 1 inch intervals with litchen string.

In a large skillet, warm the oil over medium heat, add the beef rolls and cook, turning as needed until browned on all sides about 15 minutes.

Add the onion and cook stu=irring occasionally until tender about 5 minutes longer.

Add the wine and cook until most of the liquid evaporates about 2 minutes.

Add the tomatoes and  sprinkle with salt and pepper, reduce heat to low, cover  and simmer, turning the rolls occasionally until the beef is tender when pierced with a knife. about 2 hours, check from time to time to see if sauce is becoming too dry, add a little water if needed.

Uncover, scatter parsley and basil evenly over the rolls and cook 2 minutes longer. Transfer to plates and spoon sauce over top and serve.
==================================
**************************************

This looks good, doesn't it, I would serve some crusty italian bread with this for soaking up all the sauce, yum. And... some  sliced oven baked potatoes with olive oil, garlic and rosemary.... I figured something easy would be helpful as the brasciole take a while, right.  Perhaps a spinach salad would be nice too. Trying to keep it healthy and nutritious ( I've noticed lately that I don't spell as well as I used to, what is that,  I used to be a spelling bee queen!)
P.S.

If you  try this, leave me a comment and let me know how it turned out for you. tata
                                

eight reasons why we can't lighten up

1. We're too busy. Let's face it--- will we ever not be busy?  Maybe at our funeral....

2. We're afraid of what they may say. I don't know who they are, but they sure stop the laughter for a lot of people.

3. The committee is meeting. \many of us are filled with inner critics who want us to be terminally serious adults.

4. We need to be right. It's hard to laugh we we're always proving a point.

5.We have a tendency to judge and criticize. ( this comes up a lot, doesn't it?)

6. We'ge got too many rules ad regulations. When we behave like drill sargeants and life  is a forced march, it becomes difficult to chuckle.

7. We need to suffer, before, durig and after anything stressful.

8. We've got too much ego. When we're overinflated, we can't laugh because we're afraid we'll lose our sense of importance.

Stolen from Loretta Laroche Life is too Short------- Wear  Your Party Pants.....
                                             ((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))

Alice Horton's Donuts

Who doesn't remember the  scene in Days Of Our Lives, where Alice Horton tries to get Roman out of jail by distracting the guards with her delicious donuts? The actress who played Mrs H. actually did bake these. I have been watchig this soap for over 28 years now and it is still my favorite especially after the demise of Another World and As The World Turns. So without further ado......

Alice Horton's Donuts

2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
5 tbsp melted shortening
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups flour, sift before measuring
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick butter melted
cinnamon sugar   ( 1 cup sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon)
-in a large bowl beat eggs until foamy, gradually adding sugar, beating constantly.
-stir in milk shortening and vanilla
-sift together flour, bakig powder and salt
-add to the wet ingredients mixing well
-cover and chill 30 min to 1 hour
-preheat oven to 450
-spray baking sheet with pam
-roll out or pat the dough on a lightly floured counter to 1/2 inch thickess
-cut with a donut cutter, place the donuts & holes on baking sheet about an inch apart.. Bake 10-15 min until -golden brown
-brush each donuts with melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar to coat all sides
-makes 36 donuts
                                  Like sand in an hour glass So are the Days of our Lives !

Dirty Banana

I want to say that this is health food because it has a banana in it, well hum, I don't know but is sure sounds delicious!  I am trying this one soon.

1 medium banana frozen
2 oz dark rum
1/2 fl oz tia maria
2 fl. oz half and half
ground allspice

Put peeled banana in a blender along with rum and tia maria, add the half & half and blend until smooth. Pour in chilled wine glass, garnish with allspice. Sounds a little like Brown cow but with banana added, cheers!

Raspberry Almond Squares & Chocolate Marshmallow Balls

this is a to die for confection, really easy, I just adore when recipes are easy and turn  out well each time, I don't have Martha's staff and I tire easy these days, so it has to work bang on right away. Many have requested this one so here it is.

bake two different kinds of squares in two different pans at the same time by doubling the crumb ingredients and using two different kinds of jam for the fillig. Apricot, cherry, strawberry or pineapple wpuld be a delicious alternative to raspberry.

1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 1/4 cups raspberry jam
1/2 cups sliced almonds

Stir together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly, stir in
oats. Press 2/3 of the mixture firmly into a greased 13x9 inch pan. Spread evenly with jam.
Stir almonds into remaining crumb mixture. Sprinkle evenly with jam patting dow ligjtly. Bake in 375 degree oven for 30- 35 minutes or until golde brown. cool in pan on wire rack. \makes aboit 28 squares more if you cut them smaller.
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Chocolate Marshmallow Balls                   

A chocolate lover's fantasy comes true in these quick to fix confections that don't need baking. Balls of creamy chocolate studded with tiny marshmallows are rolled in a coconut coating. They keep several weeks so you can prepare them early.

4 oz cream cheese
2 tbsp milk
2 cups sifted icing sugar
2 oz semi sweet chocolate chips melted ( microwave works great)
3 cups miniature marshmallows
shredded coconut
wax paper

Beat cheese and milk until smooth. Gradually add icing sugar and chocolate. Mix well, add marshmallows, stirring to coat with chocolate mixture. Drop by small spoonfuls into
 coconut, Toss until coated Place in pan lined with wax paper. Chill until firm. Store covered in refrigerator. Makes about 50 balls

I haven't tried these myself yet, but they sound yummmy and I am thinking I could add some chopped walnuts to these and they would be awesome.

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quick and easy christmas centerpiece

picked up 5 votive glass  holders from the dollar store, they are the squarish ones, really cute about 3 1/2 inches tall  and some larger tea lights, they are double the size of regular tea lights. they come 6  to a package. set them up in a row on my mantle for now. but if i want to use them on the dining room table i will add some of those glittery silver ferns from the dollar store and just place then along the length of the table middle and then arrange the votives in the middle of the ferns. it is simple yet effective. as soon as i learn how to put pictures up here, i will be in heaven. gosh  i hate not being teck savvy! i have to wait around for my teenager, sometimed my husband and | can't even get the tv  to work after someone had an dvd in and he's an engineer! but age isn't always the reason, my 86 year old father knows how to burn cds.. . anyway soon it will more enjoyable on my blog with pictures!

Happy Birthday Son

Tomorrow is your birthday! I am so proud to have you as my son! You are a wonderful human being and just thinking of you makes me tear up.The sweetest, kindest all around good man the  type that people think doesn't exist anymore, a gentleman, good husband and new Dad.  I wish you everything you wish for yourself,  I love you. huuuuggggssss, ma

christmas smells

a inexpensive way to make your house smell great  is  to buy some oranges and whole cloves and stud the oranges. start at the top of the orange and press in a clove, now go down in a line and keep pressing in more cloves. you can go all around the orange with as many or few cloves as you wish. the oranges will be preserved for several weeks and give off an wonderful smell plus they are pretty to look at.

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I am an extremist

No not that kind, but why is it that I feel the need to make so many  goodies for the holiday? Is  this the only way there is to show my love to my family and friends? In any case who am I trying to impress?  It is not about impressing people, I believe it is an offshoot of the nurturing desire. I only have one teenager left at home and he is not inpressed with anything I say or do, dude! Why are they so arrogant at seventeen? I feel as if I  am always getting a performance report and failing miserably. Well he is studying ancient civilizations and  well I obviously don't measure up! He never wants to hear what I have to say, but the few strands of hair on his chin are " call the media" worthy!  I hope I live long enough to see when it is that he will say " hey, Mom was pretty smart , you know" He already has told me that I did a great job raising him! Wow is that a real compliment or is it conceit! I don't know and I don't care, I will take it. Not only that he said that our messy house is so much more comfortable than some of his friends' homes that are very very clean and picked up but you never feel confortable stretching out and watching a hockey game, that our home felt like people live there, well they do! It made me cry from gratitude. Let's face it I am a great Mom but a lousy housekeeper! I just have better things to do.  If Hollywood ever needs someone to set up a disaster site or home invasion set up they should call me. I can turn a room  crazy chaotic in 5 minutes, I don't know what it is, it must me a recessive gene or something. To top it all off my husband is super organized and neat. Oh well, my son's wife won't  have to be concerned about her mother-in-law  checking for dust. 

christmas giving

we have been inundated with requests for donations for many worthwhile causes. and while we have a budget for this type of donation, at christmas we like to do a little more.One  wonderful organization that allows you to change someone's life for as little as $20.00 is Heifer .org  You might have heard it talked about on Oprah. $20.00 will buy you a gaggle of geese or chicks or ducks and $30.00 will get you honey bees. this orgaization's philosophy is to help a family help themselves by allowing them to provide for their families, buy school supplies for their children and just basically pull them out of poverty. This small amount can change someone's life forever. I love it! a few years ago we received an unexpected windfall and so decided to share. we decided my husband  and Iwhat our favorite charities were and i must say it was such a thrill to be able to go shopping for more than just one  family. I cannot begin to tell you how happy it made me feel  that we were able to help several families get out of despair. With a goat here, some chicks, rabbits etc. so if you are so inclined this year and have only a small amount of money to spare, this is a truly worthwhile cause. check  it out for yourself at http://www.heifer.org/  you will never feel the same again, merry christmas!

quick fix

still so much to do in preparation for the holidays including still more baking, some errands  house cleaning, the cats are bored being inside and  getting into trouble pawing the bows on the christmas presents, uugghh, the meringues turned  out great but too big. sleepover poker on tomorrow, so i need something fast but still healthy for supper. i opt for quick fix quesadillas

-quesadillas

-1 rotisserie chicken
-multigrain tortillas
-green chilies
-tex mex grated cheese, or grate your own cheddar and add a few teaspoons chili powder ( its cheaper and i always seem to hand extra packet of chila powder and cheddar on hand)
-salsa
- 3 large  onions sliced and sauteed til golden
-optional
guacamole
sour cream

shred chicken
add to one side of the tortillas
add salsa
add cheese
add sauteed onions
fold tortilla in  half
heat the frying pan to med high and cook folded tortillas for a few minutes on each side until warmed well throughout and cheese has melted.

serve with guacamole or sour cream and a salad

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with all the quasi frenzy of things that still need to be done i have this urge to start a crochet granny blanket i saw on a blog that i follow" attic  24 crochet" it is amazing. crocheters check it out you will not be disappointed.  it is a gloriously colored affair and so easy to do, the colors just cheer me up... there is truth to color therapy... my christmas tree is decorated with ornaments of varying shades of pink, rose and mauve and it makes me feel happy.some are dollar store finds, some are martha's, a mix really. so treat yourself, if something makes you happy and you can afford it, go for it.
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in the oven

the meringues are in the oven. i have to say that 20 egg whites makes a LOT of meringue and it takes a long times to beat up even with a kitchenaid mixer.. also i noticed that the recipe i posted earlier did not contain cream of tartar, so i added  a couple of teaspoons to the  egg whites. they turned out beautiful , very glossy and stiff but i have way too much and there is no more roon in the oven.. oh well i will  have to freeze the rest of my egg whites or else i will never get out of the kitchen and folks still expect supper tonight!

Lemon Meringue Cookies

after two tries for tsourekia, i am now left with 60 egg white, yep that's right! i have to do something before they spoil. in days gone by i would just chuck them down the kitchen sink, but nowadays i make a concentrated effort in not being wasteful, waste not want not... i could  make egg white omeletes, which i may still, but i could use the cookies as gifts and for our christmas gatherings.. also my husband like to have something sweet  with  his afternoon tea so its christmastime  and i am trying to be extra nice to him! so meringues it is, even tho my kitchen is a total disaster and it makes everyone grumpy, well too bad...it christmastime  and i have to bake.... so ...
i don't know how many this recipe makes but i would double it. thats just my modus operandi, why go to all the trouble for just a few cookies..

4 large egg whites out of firge for 30min before baking
1 cup superfine sugar (caster) you can make your own by processing  regular sugar in your food processor antil it is superfine! super easy!
1/4 tsp lemon extract 
1 tsp lemon zest

-preheat oven to 200 degrees
-make your your bowls  and implements are grease free
-whisk together egg whites until soft peaks are formed

-add 2 tbsp at a time mixing between additions to ensure sugar dissolves
-continue mixing until egg whites are stiff and glossy

-fold in lemon extract and lemon zest and drop by tablespoons onto 2 large parchment or aluminum lined
 baking sheets.
-place in oven for  1 3/4 hours ( thanks Amy for editing)
-turn off and leave door slightly open. leave in oven for 2 hours or overnight

i will be making these in about twenty minutes and hope they turn out ok

figgy pudding

i watched  brothers and sister tonight and in this christmas episode a la scrooge, nora  decided to chuck christmas  and go to santa fe with her boyfriend. the kids were all fighting and there was reference to " figgy pudding". i had never heard of this concoction  and was intrigued so i googled it. it is quite an extensive recipe and one which i will not attempt this year, as apparently i am making too many desserts already and it is a very seriously long recipe. i just don't feel like trying it  at this time . so many recipes so little time.. and right now i kinda feel underappreciated and santa fe is looking better and better.

struffoli

this is favourite neapolitan  treat made at christmas but it is also made throughout the year ... a favorite with children

serves 6-8

6 eggs
1 cup sugar
4 cups flour 1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking powder
oil for frying

topping

a mixture of cinnamon and sugar or
warm honey and candy sprinkles

put the flour into a mound on a clean counter. make a well in the ceter and put the sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking powder, and cinnamon into this well.

using a fork begin to mix everything together by pulling the flour slowly into the egg mixture.nce everything is well mixed, form the dough into rolls about the width of your thumb, cut each roll into 1 ich pieces. shape into balls,
fry the struffoli in oil heated to 375 degrees F until golden7 puffed.rain on paper towels ad top with choice
of cinnnamon sugar or honey.

from nonnalinaskitchen.com

christmas

the countdown is on, most of my wrapping is done and I'm waiting for another package to come in the mail from a seller on ebay.. these days I like to shop online, i don't enjoy  getting dressed, driving to one place finding a parking space going in to the store only to discover that they don't the item you are looking for, plus its much cheaper on ebay , generally speakng, even with shipping, you have to know the price of things though.  the games for xbox 360 are running going for89.00 at amazon, now that just nuts, i usually get a lot of books from them, all discounted and free shipping if you buy 25.00 worth but christmas is near and , they are going for the gold. christmas will be extra special this year with my grandson Ambrose, who will be 3 months old and already the darling of the family. i am sleepy aand want to go to bed but my teenager is still out and i always wait up, its a mom thing i guess, come home chris, mama is sleepy...

CANDIED CITRUS PEEL

okay here is a really inexpensive home made food gift. made with lemons, oranges and grapefruits or you can choose to do only one of these... i don't do grapefruits because no one at home will eat the grapefruit, the adults because they are contraindicated for people on blood pressure meds and Chris doesn't like grapefruit...

this is really easy  and its really fun to give as gifts, wrapped in  a cute tissue line tin or a decorative box from the $ store an ornament from the same place,  some leftover ribbon et , . voila, good for your child's teacher, babysitter anyone really just not your mother-in-law she may think you are cheap... you know  how that goes, i'm kidding... it will cost you the price of the fruit, which you are going to use anyway .

we like to eat these after our christmas meal at my moms, when we are stuffed to the gills, it helps with digestion, just don't eat too many..


Candied Citrus Peel

makes 2 1/2 cups

2 grape fruits, , 3 oranges or 4 lemons
4 cups sugar plus more more rolling
4 cups water

pretty good so far huh

using a paring knife, make 6 slits along the curve from top to bottom of each citrus fruit.  cutting thru the peel but not the fruit,gently remove the peel, reserve the fruit for another use.

slice each piece of peel lengthwise into 1/4 inch strips, using a paring knife remove excess pith from each strip ad discard.

place strips in a large saucepan and cover with cold water, bring to a boil, then drain, repeat twice

bring sugar and water to a boil stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves, stop stirring. wash sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming.

add strips to boiling syrup, reduce heat to medium low.

simmer gently until strips are translucent about 1 hour

remove from heat and let strips cool in syrup, using a slotted spoon transfer strips to a wire rack placed on a rimmed baking sheet, wipe excess syrup with paper towels, them roll strips in sugar.. arrange in a single layer on a wire rack and let dry for at least 30 minutes, it actually take a couple of hours

sugar peels will keep covered at room temperature for 2 weeks..

off the wagon

I need help....  haven't been to my oa meetings and I am not doing well in the food  department, got to find time for myself, to pray and meditate... I feel sick to my stomach, been sampling everything and now I really feel crappy. Does anyone out there have the same problem?

Tsourekia/pites/ greek christmas and easter breads

For as long as I can remember my Mom made these for Easter and   the New Year. We are Italians from Constantinople, commonly known as Istanbul.  We loved these traditions of  making  the  tsourekia and as kids we could look forward to this ritual, we knew what to expect. It was an all day affair as the dough took very long to rise and then because my Mom usually made a big batch for us  and to give to friends who were not able to make them, it also took quite long to bake all the breads. For many years when I was living in the States,  I tried to make these but was never able to make them, my Mom cooks with her own brand of "a little of this and a little of that" but of course for these she had more exact measurements, however I was still a new bride  and didn't know how to cook an egg. Also terms like "warm" meant little to me. I wanted exactness, I was an ex banker  after all. Also her directions as to what to look for in texture and things like that left me dumbfounded, needless to say for 27 years I never managed to make the breads. Mom suggested that we didn't have the right kind of butter in Massachusetts, so one spring my Dad and Mom drove the 250 miles to our home in Pittsfield. She brought everything with her. Yeast, butter, milk, flour,  mastiha, mahlepi, sugar etc etc. We were not going to fail, no, no. My Mom, Nonna to the kids was showing me ohw to make them and of course she had been making  these since 1950, besides she was an expert baker and cook.  Well the breads turned out lovely bevause basically my Mother made them, but I never felt quite sure of myself  and when my husband and I tried to make these, we could never get the dough to unstick,... he kept saying " add more flour" I knew we could not do this as the breads would turn out tough, you had to knead them to make them unstick and become smooth. So another year without the breads. It was a big disappointment because it was a tradition that I cherished and wanted to preserve for my children... and this was frustrating my efforts.
Fast forward to 2009 and I am on the computer, browsing ebay, checking email, checking up on my kids on facebook, I wander to the recipes as I am always looking for supper ideas. I went searching for some turkish recipes stumbled upon Binnur"s turkish cookbook. I recognise many dishes that my Mom cooks  and then lo and behold I see something called Paskalya  tsourek. What?  The Turks  are a muslim country, why would they have  something labeled " Easter bread"?  The author explained that in Turkey there many different cultures living there and that everyone enjoys these easter breads as a matter of course. Well it was worth a try. I looked over the recipe. I noted something unusual in that it called for egg "yolks" instead of the whole "eggs"
I was excited to try this, one last time and if this did not work out we would continue buying the tsourekia from the Marche Village. A greek lady makes them for the store and they are very good, but she does not use mastiha in her breads. Now mastiha is the resin from  special pine trees that grow in Greece and Turkey  and adds a very disinct  and pleasant flavor to the breads.
S, I gather my supplies and start. I google yeast. I was always terrified of yeast, no not the infection! I look up how to proof the yeast without killing it! Warm means 105-115 degrees, finally information I can use. Ok I follow the directions gingerly, I am nervous..I will not keep you in suspense any longer, the breads were so easy to make, it was ridiculous! My theory is that the egg whites are left out and hence the dough is quicker and easier to knead. THE CURSE WAS OVER . Yea that's how I thought of it, the curse, like the Boston Red Sox curse! I was soo giddy. They turned out so delicious, finally I had done it. So here is the recipe for 8 tsourekia, this can be doubled easily but I suggest you start out with 8 because  more is harder knead.

Tsourekia/Pites
4 packs Fleischmans yeast ( check expiration date)
1 cup warm milk ( 105=115 degrees) use thermometer
4tsp sugar
16 cups flour
2 tsp salt
1 pound unsalted butter melted
4 tsp mastiha ( middle eastern or greek grocery stores)
4 tsp mahlepi ( same)
20 egg yolks room temp, save whites and make merengue cookies or egg white omelet
4 cups warm milk ( 105-115 degrees)
3 cups sugar
For the tops
4 yolks with a few tsp water mixed together

Procedure

Please follow exact order

In a pyrex see through measuring cup, mix the yeast, sugar and 1 cup warm milk, stiiring well for yeast to dissolve. Let it rest for 15 min/ It should double in size.

In a large bowl. sift the flour ( I don't do this part works fine)  and salt. Add the melted butter, mastiha, mahlepi and the bubbly yeast mixture in the flour

Whisk the egg yolks,milk and sugar and pour in the flour. Mix and place the dough on a lightly floured counter.
Knead well for 10- 15 min until it becomes smooth ( no more crumbs)

Then spread some olice oil inside a  large clean pan or bowl.  Place the dough in it and spread a little more oil with your hands all over the dough.
Cover with a clean damp towel. Put aside in a warm room for 7-8 hours until dough rises to double its size.
Shape into braids ( easter) or rounds ( Christmas/New years)
Brush with egg yolk and water mixture.

Bake in preheated over 350 degrees for 50 min approx or until top is golden.

On the New Years pita, we shape the dough into numerals to reflect whichever new year it will be. Also we place a washed loonie in the dough and when it is cut at New Years the person who get the loonie in her
piece will have good luck throughout the year!

Christos Anesti and Eftihismenos o kenourios hronos!

second try

time to make the tsourekia

happy

the saying goes that happy people have no story... translating verbatim from french. I am happy as I sit at my computer desk in my den which overlooks my garden.A window  in front of me and one to the side. I can see my many plantings, dead black eyed susans,, the weepimg caraganna tree, the upright one of the same family., the rhododendron that is soo big now, the small lilac I planted this summer,.. the weeping apple tree, the yard should look desolate but it does not.. I can't wait for next spring...

symphony

This morning my deck is being bombarded with excited little chicadees feastimg at my bird feeder! These tiny birds are so beautiful, their little black heads like little caps on thier heads and their underbody a pure white and a patch of fawn on the sides. These birds are so well formed with streamlined tails, they almost look like a ballerina, graceful ad flowing,as if they have been practicing diving down and around... they are pure joy to watch... I have my husband to thank, I will remember to do so... what can I do to bring  joy to his life today....

poem

My eyes have wrinkles in them when I smile,
My hair is touched with gray.
But all the years become worthwhile
when I held you in my arms today.
A little one with eyes so blue
And face so fair to see
I look at the world with joy anew
My grandchild smiled at me!

the Borgias are coming!

EEh Haaa! Next year on Showtime the Borgias will thrill us with their intrigue and murder and mayhem. I'm guessing it is a la Tudors, lots of lavish scenery, beautiful ladies and gents, glorious clothes or lack of them, bishops, popes, mistresses, plenty of debauchery, bought papacy and the like. Get out the popcorn!

big fail

I did not knead the dough long enough it seems so my Christmas breads are kaput! They baked for the required amount of time and browned but they are raw innside. Dang!  I am going to buy more mastiha and start over. I am pooped and very unhappy but I shall chalk it up to experience. If only the mastiha, which is the dried hardened sap from a pine trees that grow in Greece and Turkey.didn't ost $450. a kilo yikes.

nonna

I am a new grandma! I have a little grandson named Ambrose Michael. He, of course is an absolute doll! And the most beautiful and smartest baby in the world, let me tell you! I am in absolute and total love. I love my children and my beautiful daughter-in-law, ugh what an awful word to call someone, an in law. I prefer  daughter-of-my-heart! Anyhoo, as much as I adore my children, and I do, nothing really prepared me for what I feel for this little baby. Is it because most of us (especially mothers) love babies , and that along with the fact that this child is our child's child? I do not know but it makes me giddy when I know I am going to see him soon!Right now for me everything I think of or plan or do revolves around this little person. I love the way he gurgles at me when we sing and rock, it seems to me that he knows that I love him.  The other day my son, Chris was talking  to me about how it was that  people get this superhuman strengh when faced with a situation that requires uncommon heroism and strength such as the grandmother who lifted the car her granddaughter was under. He was wondering how that happens. I guess its the power of love, yes I believe in love and the power it can provide. My siblings had been teasing me and calling me Yiayai, which is greek for grandmother but I prefer to be called Nonna, which is grandma in Italian. as that is my heritage.  All I know is Yiayia or Nonna they both mean love!

What is love?

Today as I was on my computer playing pop pies 2 and drinking my coffee, I glanced up and saw 2 beautiful cardinals sitting on our fence and seekig protection from the cedars bushes. I just love birds but lately as I have written on this venue  my cat has been killing and eating birds much to my consteration. Winter is here and the cats hate it outside with all the snow so I thought the birds had nothing  to fear at this point.  I mentioned to my husband that I should feed the birds now that the cats are not going out and they will not be sitting ducks anymore! He told me to throw out some bread  pieces but I complained that the birds would not see the bread and so on.....So as far as I knew that was that.... I was busy making my pites or tsourekia for Christmas and for my son Tony's birthday. I would be up till 2.00 am baking my 16 breads,so my mind was on that endeavour....
Since my better half is now retired he does all the groceries and errands. He was off to Wal-Mart for cat food, gloves for Chris. So a while later in he walks with a brand new bird feeder and seed! Wow, that made my day. He anticipated my heart's desire! He knew it would please me to have a feeder up. What a sweet man. In a marriage, it often is the little things that make you happy and also the little things that can make you miserable.  I am a lucky gal!

Peppermint Bark

Last year after Christmas, I found some packages of peppermint bark that were marked way down at Loblaws. I decided to get some for my son and us to try.Never having had any of this treat I was delighted at how tasty this was! I decided to make some as part of a new thing to try this year for the holidays and if it turned out good I would perhaps give some to friends, my manicurist, my niece the candy monster etc etc. I google peppermint bark and found that you had to "temper the chocolate " and right away I went oh oh, not another complicated process where you are asuured of frustration but not assured of success, yikes, so on I went looking foran another recipe. Well lo and behold the people we make fun of, the folks at Kraft foods had the best and easiest recipe for peppermint bark ever. I tried it out yesterday. The recipe calls for microwaving the chocolate, which is great , no messing with double boilers and scorched cholcolate. I used semi sweet chocolate chips, 16 oz of them in a pyrex measuring cup and microwaved at the prescribed 2 1/2 minutes stopping every 40 seconds to check on it and stir. It took me 3 min 30 seconds to get it melted.
I then  poured it on a bake sheet covered with greased aluminium foil and spread the 9 mashed candy canes. Place in freezer for 15 min. voila! simply fantastic looking. The only problem was I used candy canes from the dollar store and they were awful. They are waxey  and hard to break and have very little mint, they tasted like crap, sorry but that just what they were..It was hard finding the actual peppermint canes that's why I had sent out my hubby to the dollar store, but no more. W ith good candy canes this will be just lovely to give as gifts to teachers and everyone on your list where a small gift is de rigeur.

Peppermint Bark
1 lb semi sweet chocolate  chips
9 peppermint candy caned broken up with tenderizer mallet or whatever works
waxed paper or aluminium greased
butter
cookie sheet
Line cookie pan with either waxed or aluminuium and grease lightly set aside
place  16oz chocolate chips in microwavable bowl, do not use plastic ( causes cancer)
microwave for 40 seconds, stir microwave another 40 or so second arriving at a total of 3 min  and 40 seconds (depending on your microwave) keep ckecking so it doesn't burn.
When it is liquid, remove and pour/spread onto baking sheet and spread with metal spatula, add the broken candy canes , place in freezer for 15-20min.
Break up into pieces .