Happy New Year 2020 12-30-2019

Thoughts and Quotes: It's coming! A new year! A new decade! A chance to form new habits and do new things. Exciting times, right?!

Here's my standard New Year's quote. I like it so much, I just repeat it year after year.

This is the year that your dreams come true!

This is the year that your ships come in;

This is the year you find Christ within.

This is the year you are glad to live;

This is the year you have much to give.

This is the year when you know the Truth;

This is the year when you find new youth.

This is the year that brings happiness;

This is the year you will live to bless.

Wonderful, wonderful, fortunate you,

This is the year that your dreams come true!

                              Russell A. Kemp 

Time for Goal Setting: Here's that goal plan I promised. Just answer the questions.

What do I want to create?

Have you been planning to build something? Paint a picture? Write a book? Knit an afghan? Make Lindy's cheesecake?

What do I want to learn?

A new language? Better computer skills? Take a safety driving lesson? How to take better photos? There are probably classes at your local library. If not, there are free classes online. How many books do I want to read this year?

How do I want to improve my health?

Better eating habits? An exercise program? Regular checkups? Get more sun? How many pounds will I lose?

How will I be a better steward of my money?

Look for better interest rates on savings or credit card debt? Really stay on a budget? Take photos of your home/contents for insurance purposes - just in case? 

How do I want to improve my environment?

Does the garage need organizing? Does a room need new curtains? Is this the year to spoil yourself with fresh flowers every week? Bathroom need new throw rugs?

What do I want to accomplish in my yard and garden?

Improve the lawn? Take out that old tree? Plant a vegetable garden? New shrubs?

What will I repair around the house?

A new faucet in the kitchen? New paint in the living room? New hardware for the bathroom?

What do I want to acquire?

A new car? A new phone? A new toothbrush? Put everything on your list, even the little things. It's fun to check them off.

How will I improve my social life?

Invite people over twice a month? Write more letters? Send more thank you notes? Make more phone calls? Form a lunch bunch?

Where do I want to go (not travel)?

A concert in the nearest big city? A local botanical garden? A day trip to a historical place, site, National Park?

Where do I want to travel?

Europe? Asia? South America? Your state capitol? The national capitol? Disneyworld? Another state? The Grand Canyon? Fishing in Alaska?

Make your list and then record your life. Keep a daily journal and/or take lots of photos. It's fun to look back.

Tasting: Now for the Christmas cookies and candies I promised. I was busy trying new recipes to gather some things to make easily and quickly during the holidays when you're so busy doing everything else. I'll put these on drop-downs above under Christmas, as opposed to Cookies or Confections.

I made Cranberry Drop Cookies using fresh cranberries. They were good, but do not keep well. Then I made Blueberry Cookies using frozen blueberries. I didn't like them well enough to save the recipe. Then an unusual recipe made with Fritos, which were okay, but not enough production for the effort and expense.

Then I made Lime Shortbread with Dried Cherries Cookies which I thought tasted like chemicals. Learned that lesson - I don't like lime zest in cookies. Might try these again with orange zest because they're a cookie you mix and make into rolls to refrigerate to slice and bake later.

Then I tried bars made from Pillsbury white cookie mix. It called for a roll from the refrigerated case, but do they still make those? I couldn't find it, so I used the sugar cookie mix which is separated into chunks and you break them apart and bake them. You're supposed to pat it into a rectangle, after baking sprinkle on white chocolate chips, when melted spread over and sprinkle with crushed candy canes. I had some red and green M & M's I wanted to use, and I made a hot mess. M & M's crush when you cut them. Besides this was too sweet. 

But all is not lost. I think I have a great solution. Next time I'm going to use the sugar cookie dough just like it says, then use vanilla frosting from a can on the baked cookies and sprinkle with candy canes. I'll use just a dab of frosting, because sugar cookies are very sweet. This should be quick and easy. 

I did have a winner confection.  

PEANUT CLUSTERS

16 oz chocolate almond bark, rough chopped

12 oz butterscotch chips

1 lb. salted peanuts

Melt the almond bark and chips in a saucepan over low heat. If your stove is gas, use a double boiler or the microwave.

Stir in the peanuts.

Drop onto waxed paper and let set.

I made it according to the recipe, and then I made it with white chocolate almond bark, white chocolate chips, salted almonds, and craisins.

Next came chocolate almond bark, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and pecans. These would have been better with milk chocolate chips and had I toasted the pecans.

And a winner cookie.

CAKE MIX COOKIES

1 box of cake mix

1/2 cup oil or butter

2 eggs

Nuts, chips, dried fruit, or whatever you wish to add.

Heat oven to 350°.

Mix the ingredients and roll into balls.

Put on parchment lined cookie sheets and bake for 8-9 minutes.

I first made these with a white cake mix and Andes mint chips. Really good.

Then I made them with a yellow cake mix and some brickle chips and caramel chips (photo). They’re also good, but the caramel chips make them chewy.

Just use a cheap cake mix from Aldi; possibilities are limitless.

These don't look very festive, but the white with Andes mints did. Or why not use chopped candied red and green cherries? 

I gave bags of these as party favors when I did a Thank You Jimmy Carter theme dinner (peanuts, get it?). Not very festive, but quick, easy, and good.

PEANUT BUTTER DROPS

1 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup peanut butter (use a good brand)

1 tsp vanilla

4 cups cornflakes (do not crush)

1/2 cup chopped peanuts (optional)

In large saucepan, bring corn syrup and sugar to a boil.

Add the peanut butter and blend well.

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, cornflakes, and peanuts.

Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper.

When cool, store in airtight containers. 

To be continued

Things to Ponder: I've been keeping track of where the page views of my blog originated, and so far I have 101 countries. The world is truly getting smaller. But this month, the mix is strange. Blogger gives me a count of the top ten countries at any given time. Right now, for this month it's 

United States	544
Russia	284
France	25
Germany	22
Mexico	18
United Kingdom	15
Indonesia	11
Spain	8
Poland	8

But here's what's strange - number 1 is:

Ukraine

855

I'm expecting a visit from Adam Schiff at any minute. These were the numbers yesterday, and since then I've had 26 page views from Singapore. 

Thank You Again: To My Girls Up North, because now I finally have a bread board. I hadn't decided last week where to display it, but now I can show you.

Thank You to My Readers: I just discovered that this is blog post number 200. Shall we go for 300?

HAPPY NEW YEAR

SET THOSE GOALS

MAKE 2020 WONDERFUL

WE'LL TALK NEXT YEAR

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE