Angel Hairy Legs

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• A White Christmas! For the 30th time (I'm guessing here) I watched White Christmas. I do love this sappy movie. What's even better, we're actually going to have one this year! Yay!
• Messages of encouragement and excitement at my prospects. I had three friends call yesterday to say the agency I interviewed with last week had contacted them as reference checks. Whoohoo! 
• My old car. You know, "The Kid Mobile" is pretty amazing. She just keeps moving along with no worries or hiccups. I'm so grateful for her!

Ahhh.....Christmas Memories

When I was a little kid, December filled me with a mounting frenetic energy. I'm pretty sure that's how it is for most children. As the month progressed, the tension and anticipation grew into a monstrous entity. The year I was five was the first Christmas I clearly remember. Yes, Christmas #5, the year of the Angel Hairy Legs, will always be burned into my memory.

My mom, per her annual schedule, started Christmas preparations immediately after Thanksgiving. There were secret sewing sessions in Santa's shop. All sorts of amazing cookies and candies, once made, were whisked away in tins. Adults talked about Santa and the chimney. Nat King Cole and Dean Martin sang of holiday goodness. And, the decorations came out.

Did I ever love the ritual of decorating the tree. (I still do!) Mom brought all of the boxes and packages of decorations out from storage. They were staged in an orderly fashion. Having been told to sit still and not cause trouble, I watched as she strung the lights. I loved watching her make sure each bulb worked. When one failed to light, I would pop up with a replacement. Mom then hung the precious glass ornaments, staggering them so they were spaced just right. Finally I got to really help. My sister and I added our special ornaments in spaces left just for us. Next came placing the foil icicles evenly on the limbs, covering the entire tree. Back to the sofa for me, as the final touch was added. Carefully mom took small bunches of angel hair and covered each bulb. That did it. The glow of the white fibers over the lights turned an ordinary evergreen into a magical, marvelous Christmas icon.

Let me tell you a little bit about Angel Hair. Back in the olden days when I was a kiddo, it was a popular Christmas decoration made out of spun glass, which was essentially fiberglass. It was used for Christmas tree trimming. Mom used it not only on our tree, but around our Nativity Scene and as a foundation of sorts for other holiday decorations. It was popular because it refracted the light and made things seem to glow.

The problem with Angel Hair is that it can be very itchy if gets on the skin. It's use was pretty much abandoned because there are other possible health concerns, such as eye, nose and throat irritation. As with any fiberglass, precautionary steps are taken when it's handled.

That's exactly what mom told my sister and me. Under no uncertain terms were we to touch the Angel Hair. It would make us itch, it could even cut our skin.

My sister was a very good little girl. She did not touch the Angel Hair. I, well, I was good for as long as I could. I recall putting my hands behind my back and getting as close as possible to the pretty reindeer, the elegant red taper candles, and to baby Jesus in the manger. I looked and looked at the shiny, glowing white Angel Hair. It was so beautiful it hurt.

But, I tell you, not touching beautiful things was an extremely difficult thing for the rambunctious and inquisitive child that I was. As the big event drew near, my resolve faltered exponentially. I remember touching the Angel Hair quickly with my index finger. I poked it a little. Nothing happened. I poked it a bit more. Still, I was ok. I even took a clump of it and held it in my hand. Geez, I was still alive. Hmmm.

Christmas eve was nuts. Mom dressed sissy and me in red tights, black patten leather shoes, and the darling plaid dresses she'd sewn for the occasion. Grandparents, uncles and aunties, all came over for a nice dinner and present opening. Well into the evening mom realized I was missing from the festivities. She felt badly because earlier I had been in a bit of trouble. Before she had a chance to open her big present, I told her that she was getting a beautiful golden bathrobe from my dad. Ooops.

My Angel Hairy legs were tucked up under mom's beautiful golden bathrobe

Yet, it wasn't like me to worry too much about being in trouble. It happened a lot and I got over it quickly. Concerned, mom looked around and found me in my bedroom crying. I was pretty upset. My legs were itchy and scratchy because I had Angel Hairy legs. In frustration, probably with herself, mom took off my red tights and saw my little limbs were welted.

"What! Where you playing with the Angel Hair?"

I had grown bold with the spun glass and did more than poke it. Who knows what I did, but somehow it got all over my legs. My tights were ruined. My legs hurt. My Christmas outfit was messed up for pictures. And, mom was not happy.

I'm certain Christmas #5 was pretty much like most everyone's celebrations, with it's fair share of crazy kids and a few mishaps. One thing I do know is that Christmas #6 was celebrated without a strand of Angel Hair.

Angel Hairy Legs

'Tis the cookie season

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• What an amazing birthday! This year I was blessed with a wonderful convergence of family and friends. While they thought to honor me on my special day with gifts and cake, their love for me and one another was the gift. My little condo was jam packed with laughs, hugs, and special words of blessing. The afterglow remains.
• Peace while waiting. Last week I interviewed for a pretty awesome job. In the past, the wondering and fingernail biting killed me. This time, I feel calm and am resting in the fact that I did my best. And, that's that!
• Did a little sewing on Grandma's machine. Damn, I love this Bernina!

Cookies!!!

Well, it's started. I know that many have all of their holiday sweets baked and packed in tins. This year I've postponed the cooking-making on purpose! Having all of my family here it would have been just too tempting to pull it all out and let them dive in. Nope, it's just better making fewer and keeping them for Santa.

The baking began with Grinch Chocolate and Mint Cookies. We have this recipe on Mermaids of the Lake as Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies. Mine are just a little different because I make them an ugly green Grinch-ish color.

Once cooled, I immediately bagged them and stashed them in the freezer. They are just too tempting! 

Grinch Chocolate and Mint Cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon mint extract
6 to 8 drops green food color
2 large eggs
1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks or chips
1 cup creme de menthe baking chips

Preheat oven to 375° F. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

***

From the vault comes the old-time family tradition of Russian Teacakes. Mom handed down the cookbook, as well as the love for these buttery, powdery, melt-in-your-mouth Christmas favorites.

Russian Teacakes

1 cup soft butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts

Mix butter, powered sugar, and vanilla. Stir in flour, salt, and nuts. Chill dough. Heat over to 400 degrees. Roll into 1-inch balls. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until set, but not brown. While still warm, roll in powdered sugar. Cool. Roll in sugar again.

***

A relatively new classic in the family cookie line-up is the Double-Chocolate Crinkle. The cookbook has been in my collection since college, so it's not all that new!

Double-Chocolate Crinkles

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
2 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (6 oz) package chocolate chips
1 cup powdered sugar

Melt chocolate and butter together in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not boiling water. Stir in sugar. Place mixture in a medium blow; cool. Beat until blended. Add vanilla. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in chocolate chips. Refrigerate dough several hours or overnight. To bake cookies, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets; set aside. Break off small pieces of chilled dough and form into 1-inch balls. Place powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll cookies in sugar, covering them completely. Place cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake 10 minutes. Cookies will be very soft, but will become firm as they cool. Immediately place on racks to cool.

***

There's more to come... just not tonight!