Happy New Year

I want to wish everyone a VERY Happy and Healthy New Year! It is a beautiful day here in Northern Michigan; it is 45 degrees and the snow is melting, and the yard is getting bare! :)I know we will get more snow, but for now, I am enjoying these warmer temps! It reminds me of spring weather, hint, hint, to Mother Nature! A little early to be wishing for spring, but hey, you never know until you try! :) I love my new china "Old Country Roses". I say 'new', but I have had it a couple of years now , and haven't used it much so it still seems like new to me.

Take care everyone and have a safe New Year's Eve!

Mary

Christmas Napkins

My SIL made these napkins for me and I think they are soooo cute. I just had to show them off on my blog! What a neat napkin pattern. She is such a talented sewer and does so much for their church and of course their family. My brother also brought me a bottle of his special homemade blueberry wine and I can't wait to try it...what a great holiday treat!

Below is the napkin open and there is stitching in all the creases so when it is washed and re-folded, it will be quite easy to press it into a tree shape.

Don't you just love special gifts!? Wishing everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS and BLESSINGS in the NEW YEAR!

A Tasty Fruitcake

I don't like fruitcakes that have all that citron fruit in them so I have been looking for some time for a recipe that I would like to try. I was browsing through some of my cookbooks and saw this recipe in this book by Julee Rosso. Another Michigander!! :) The ingredients sounded very good......and NO citron! Today I made it and was very pleased; I loved it! The texture of this fruitcake is just like the store-bought cakes, nice and moist. I have bought some though that are dry..and of course have that citron in them. Can you tell I am not a fan of that? LOL

I was happy it made four of the small pans so I could put mine back in action again! I have eaten half of one of the pans already, but seriously, look how small they are!

The recipe says to wrap it well and store it in a tin for a couple of weeks so that is why I wanted to make it today so it would be ready for Christmas, but I had to try it (just thinking of my guests, of course). Since I ate half a pan already, you know it doesn't need two weeks to develope flavor...at least not for me! :) I wrapped up the other three and now have to look for something to store them in, maybe a tupperware container as I don't have a tin to hold them all. I thought I would share the recipe in case anyone else wants fruitcake...without the citron. Happy Baking!

Cherry-Walnut Fruitcake

2 cups dried cherries

2 cups chopped, pitted dates

1 cup cream sherry

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 cups chopped walnuts

1 egg

2 egg whites

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Lightly spray or wipe four 3x6x2- inch loaf pans with vegetable oil. In large bowl , combine the cherries, dates, 1/2 cup of the sherry;set aside for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. In separate large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and baking powder. Add nuts. Add the egg and egg whites, and mix well. Stir the flour mixture into the fruit mixture. Place 1 cup of batter into each pan. Bake for one hour, or until golden brown and tests done. Remove from oven and immediately pour the remaining half cup of sherry over the loaves. Keep in a tin, well wrapped with plastic wrap for up to two weeks.