Winner announced!

With no further ado, the winner of my holiday contest is Melissa.

Congratulations Melissa!

Thanks to everyone who participated!

December in Maine

Maine is already getting pounded by Old Man Winter! I think I've discovered new muscles in the last week, just by shoveling. Who needs a gym when winter is on the doorstep? And who can get to the gym with these roads?

Actually things are pretty clear here this morning. I'm going to dash out and pick up the last few gifts and some more baking supplies before the weather takes another turn. Too, I promised I'd stop by the bakery and help make some cookies. Tomorrow I just may have a new recipe to share.

That is, if I'm not shoveling!

Yummy!

Hazelnut Puffs



1 cup softened butter

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, divided

1 tablespoon milk or cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup finely chopped hazelnuts or filberts



Cream butter with 1/2 cup of the confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Add milk or cream and vanilla. Mix well, then gradually add flour and hazelnuts. Again, mix well. Chill until dough gets firm, about 30 to 45 minutes.



Shape dough into 1" balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, then place in preheated 375° oven for 12 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool for 10 minutes, then roll in remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar.

Banana Muffins

We're having Banana Muffins today. I hope you enjoy the recipe!

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Lightly grease 10 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.

In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.

In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.

Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

Holiday Time!

In my house I'm in full-gear holiday mode. Trees, garland, lights, dinnerware with poinsettias...the whole shebang. I've got boxes strewn over every inch of free floorspace and honestly, it looks like Santa's workshop puked in my house.

There's stuff everywhere.

Hopefully by tonight I'll have it all organized, but right now it's really, really scary. And I love it.

Hope you're getting set to have a wonderful Saturday. Me? I'm hanging lights.