Close up of Little Bee's ornament boxes

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

 

My fireplace mantle adorned with two exquisite boxed scenes made by Deb from Little Bee. Deb sells at Nannyberry's Antiques in Huntington, Long Island and is a very gifted artist.

Nannyberry's Antiques 

Love the holiday store window of our neighborhood Long Island Anthropologie - that's one classy reindeer!

I meditate every day and I found this quick meditation on You Tube that you can do any time, any where. And the background is soo MONTAUKesque.

 

Here's a picture of my Grandma in her jodhpurs somewhere on a weekend getaway in the late 1920's. When I think of the holidays, I think of Gram. When I wonder where I got my creative spirit, I think of Gram.  When I think of Home, I think of Gram. How about your Grandmother? Any special recipes or Holiday traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation?

 

 

Edna Mae's Spritz Cookies

(I always loved the pink ones, even though it was just a matter of food coloring!)

 

 

2 1/2 cups flour (flour was just flour back then - but use all-purpose)

1/2 tea. salt

1 cup butter softened (my Midwestern Grandma only used Land O' Lakes salted)

1/1/4 cup confectioner's sugar

2 egg yolks

1/2 tea. almond extract

1 tea. vanilla extract

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Makes three dozen cookies

 

Sift together flour and salt (Make sure you use a vintage sifter - more fun!) and set aside.

 

In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar (use a vintage hand mixer with good wiring.) Stir in the egg yolks, almond extract and vanilla extract.  Slowly blend in the sifted ingredients.

Fold in the food coloring of your choice. Fill a cookie press with dough and keep them 1 1/2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. decorate with sprinkles if you wish - I like mine plain :)

 

 Bake 6-8 minutes