Christmas Cookie

Cranberry Pistachio Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup unsalted butter
1 large egg
2 tbsp milk
3 cups sifted flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1 package (3.4 oz) instant pistachio pudding mix
1 cup chopped pistachio nuts (shelled - of course)
1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries

Cream sugar and butter.  Beat in egg, milk and vanilla/  Add sifted flour, pudding mix, soda and salt.  Stir in pistachios and cranberries until combined.

Drop by rounded tablespoons onto cookie sheet and flatten slightly with your fingers.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 9-11 minutes.  Be sure not to over bake. 
Let cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet before moving to rack to cool completely. 
Store in an airtight container.  Makes about 4 1/2 dozen.


This recipe was originally from Betty Crocker (http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/cran-pistachio-cookies/e36c24c7-851f-4785-8a9e-13672ef9d97c#?st=6&term=pistachio&ps=9&pi=9&fv=AND%28HasGridViewImage%3ATrue%29 ) using their sugar cookie mix.  I decided to try it using my mom's sugar cookie recipe and adding the additional ingredients.  I really liked the way they turned out and although a bit on the salty side right out of the oven, they seemed to mellow overnight.

Holiday Shopping - Punjammies!

I came across a site which sells the most adorable "Punjammies".

LOVE all the patterns and had the hardest time deciding which to buy - I think both my sister and my aunt would love them - but I have all of their Christmas gifts purchased for this year, so I decided to buy a pair for myself and see how the fit is, and then go back and buy more!

Punjammies are sold by International Princess Project ( intlprincess.org ) and the description on the website reads:

PUNJAMMIES™ are made by women in India rescued from forced prostitution seeking to rebuild their lives. Proceeds from the sales of PUNJAMMIES™ provide fair-trade wages, savings accounts, and holistic recovery care.

The Capri style runs about $35 and if you use the promotional code: SHAREHOPE - you get free shipping during the month of December.

I love the mission statement of this company and I am really looking forward to receiving my Punjammies!  I'll keep you posted when the arrive - 

Share Hope this Holiday Season!

Book Club - December 2011

Hi and Welcome to the first entry for Poppy Ridge Farm Book Club!

For this month, I selected "The Mermaid Chair" by Sue Monk Kidd:

I chose this book because it is about a woman, in her 40's who is on a journey of self-discovery.  You should be able to find this in paperback for decent price pretty easily - I found my at the Goodwill for $3.29 - I will post discussion questions next month.

I look forward to Book Club-ing with all of you!

Being of Service

Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.  Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

  

- Howard Thurman

Rescued!

I am a strong believer in rescuing animals from high-kill (and even no-kill) shelters.  I actually have three and wanted to share with you where I adopted them and what great additions they have been to our household.

First up is Cata

She came from the Peninsula Humane Society peninsulahumanesociety.org and we have had her for about 13 years.  She came to us at 8 weeks old and had been picked up as feral at 3 weeks.  She isn't the nicest cat, but she is one of the prettiest!  She enjoys laying in the sun and getting her neck scratched.

Holiday Shopping - Part Two

Yesterday I mentioned how difficult it was to find things not produced in the USA while Christmas shopping.

I came across an item on the ABC News website about how, if every American spent just $64 this holiday season on gifts manufactured in the United States, it would generate 200,000 jobs here at home!

abcnews.go.com/WN/MadeInAmerica/

You can go here and find peoples suggestions about places to shop and products to buy that have been Made In America.  You can even post where you have spent your $64 this season.

So far this season I have bought the following products "Made in America":
Drinking glasses from World Market ($28)
Paint supplies for craft projects from Orchard Supply Hardware ($40)

I know this doesn't really count as "Made in America", but at least it didn't end up in a landfill, and I didn't buy something from overseas - in fact, the mirrors were both produced in the USA in the mid-60's!

Mirrors, toys and books from Goodwill ($36)

I'll post the finished Goodwill and paint projects at a future date.

Let me know if there are any Local Purchases you have made and want to share!

Holiday Shopping

I have been out shopping the past few days just for some little odds and ends to add to my Christmas decorations - and possibly gifts.  What has really disturbed me is the lack of American made products for sale in the stores I visited:

Paper Source - I don't think ANYTHING was made in the USA - every item I picked up had been made in China

Sur la Table - Had great things that I would have loved to buy - a garlic rocker from Joseph Joseph, double-walled glassware from Bodum and an electric hand mixer from Cuisinart... all made in China

Pier1 - I know that "Imports" is part of their name, and I was able to find some candles and decorative tiles  (Vietnam) which I did purchase

It got me to thinking about trying to be more "local" in all of my spending - but the harsh reality is that some things that you want are only made overseas (my Silhouette SD machine for one).

I'm not saying that you shouldn't buy items made in other countries, just that if you have a choice, I believe it best to purchase those locally produced.