In the St. Nick of Time!!!

The Be Jolly By Golly Blogfest  (thanks Jen and Melissa!!!) presents me with the perfect opportunity to post the purchases from our Christmas extravaganza from the previous three posts (if you missed, you'll want to catch up!) 

Freshly brought in from the cold, is our tree as aromatic as a mountain cut pine (although a tree cut in the mountains would never look this full!) Here we have not yet begun putting on our decorations. 

But first to go on...

Having an eye for the nostalgic this year, and having a love for horses, I chose this lovely little rocking horse.

Last year's catch was this glass dolphin

Failing to find another petite aquatic ornament that hooked my fancy, I found one that reminded me of the place that I wish I were when the cold winds are ablowin here in Colorado...(the lighthouse would be what I am referring to, not the penguin! 10 points to the commenter who figures out what place I am referring to!)

A dino tree was spotted this year and as dinosaurs carry a lot of weight in our house, there are several new ones on the tree...

 Giraffes are another favorite of a newer member of the family... 

A favorite ornament from our tradition, years past, is this one...

With all the favorites of each family member specially chosen over the years donning the tree, the final results are quietly pleasant...

 and under??? Could those be package for pretty little girls?*

And a favorite drink? Well, around here, drink of choice, in Key West or by the Christmas tree,  is always...

Champagne

And finally, the recipe...

When I was a very little girl, my grandmother (mentioned previously on this blog in a fiction piece) was a marvelous cook. Each year she made mountains of a particular cookie, a German cookie called a Pfeffernuesse or Peppernut. They are generally made with anise although my grandfather hated Anise so she never added it. I prefer it with Anise myself so I will include it in the recipe...

Evelyn's Peppernut Recipe 

3/4 c Oleo (I don't think they make Oleo anymore... Butter or "I can't believe it's not butter" or something like that. Butter is the best!)

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. dark brown sugar

(mix well)

2 c. flour

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp. cloves

1/2 tsp crushed anise

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cream of tartar 

1/2 tsp. salt

 1/2 c. chopped nuts (pecans generally)

Mix dough. Chill several hours or overnight. Roll dough into thin ropes (finger widths thick). Freeze them. 

 When you are ready to bake them, (heat oven to 350 degrees) take out four at a time and cut them approximately 1/2 inch wide. Place flat side on cookie sheet and bake them 10 minutes or until brown.  

Last tradition:

A piece of chocolate each day to count down to Christmas. Some years the house contained a clue to tell you where the chocolate was hidden. This year, we simply get the chocolate out of the door that coincides with the day of the month counting down to Christmas day!!!

*Lucy from Charlie Brown's Christmas