Lemon Curd

352.  Lemon Season is Here!
I am in awe seeing the beautiful lemons, grapefruit, limes and oranges hanging from trees everywhere!  It is a beautiful sight to see.  And all for the picking.
Since moving to California I am excited to learn new regional favorites.  On the east coast, oranges would come into season at Christmas and you would pick them up at the grocer or be gifted with a box from a loved one.  But in California, December thru March is citrus harvesting season!
My daughter brought a huge basket of oranges, grapefruits, limes and lemons that she picked from a friend's trees.

With so many lemons I had to get to work because you can only use so many lemon slices in your water.  So I decided to make Lemon Curd.

The aroma in my kitchen was Amazing!!
The rind on the lemons was soft and not thick and fleshy as I am use to.  And the tartness of the lemon juice was so sour I had to add additional sugar.  But OHHhh the flavor!

 In the saucepan the mixture began to resemble lemon pudding.

Here is the link to the original recipe from allrecipes,   Perfect Lemon Curd

And here is a convenient Recipe card for you

"I pride myself in figuring out how to elevate a dish with a little preserved lemon, or, then, a sprinkle of Maldon Salt."  ~ Meghan Markle

Holiday Season

 351.  Christmas Eve 2018 is here and our house is filled to the brim with family and friends.

I have two trees this year, a live 9 foot in the living room and 10 foot artificial tree in the dining room.

 And of course, a charcuterie was the centerpiece on the dining room table.  We all sat and noshed and talked and laughed.  It was a beautiful night.

 And our dinner buffet was Italian themed with lasagna, my honey's sauce, meatballs and sausage, capresé salad, green salad, bruschetta and Italian bread.  Dessert too, chocolate cheesecake and cookies of course.

"I like to compare the Holiday Season with the way a child listens to a favorite story.  The pleasure is in the familiar way the story begins, the anticipation of familiar turns  it takes, the familiar moments of suspense, and the familiar climax and ending."  ~Fred Rogers

"I cannot think that when God sent us into the world, He had irreversibly decreed that we should be perpetually miserable in it.  If our taking up the Cross imply our bidding adieu to all joy and satisfaction, how is it reconcilable with what Solomon expressly affirms of religion, that 'her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace?'"  ~John Wesley

Christmas Baking

350.  It's Christmas Baking Season and I am busy baking and preparing for 20 different types of cookies.  Here are a few of my finish array of delectable treats.

 

Gingerbread

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Cardamon Orange Twists

                         Chocolate Almond Crescents                                         

Spritz Cookies

                    Chocolate Almond Crescents                                  

Russian Tea Cakes

                  Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing                                  

Nöel Wreaths & Polish Filled Pastry

 My baking week was busy and always brings so much joy to everyone who receives and enjoys these treats.  It is always a labor of love.  
Merry Christmas to you and yours and blessings for a Happy New Year!

"Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of God and family and to create memories that will last forever.  Jesus is God's perfect, indescribable gift.  The amazing thing is that not only are we able to receive this gift, but we are able to share it with others on Christmas and every other day of the year."  ~Joel Osteen