Little Bits of Christmas

I've been thinking about all things holiday related lately, and I've been collecting new recipes by the dozens off of Pinterest and other places to try in the next couple of months. I'm itching to try them all, but I'm making myself hold off for a few more weeks.

However, yesterday it was really dreary outdoors. When it started snowing, I decided I HAD to try a new Christmas recipe. So, I braved the snow and sleet to head to the store for a couple missing ingredients, then headed back to my kitchen where I created these.

 

 

 

Old-Fashioned Butter Mints. I had no idea you could make these at home. And they're so simple, too!

 

I realize it's not exactly a Christmas recipe, but since I colored them green and red, I'm saying that officially makes it one.

 

The mints are basically a dough of butter, powdered sugar, a little salt, sweetened condensed milk, peppermint extract, and food coloring. Mix it together, roll it out into logs, and cut into tiny pieces. You can find the full recipe here.

 

I think when I make them again, I will use a little more peppermint extract than what is called for in the recipe. Otherwise, I won't change anything. It does make A LOT, but they are should keep for quite a while.

 

Enjoy!

 

 



Witches and Vampires and Daemons, Oh My!

In honor of Halloween, I like to read something a little other-worldly in the month of October. This year, I picked up Deborah Harkness's A Discovery of Witches.

It's the story of Diana Bishop, a scholar of alchemy and a reluctant but very powerful witch, who can trace her lineage back to the witches of Salem fame.

It's also the story of the charming but brooding Matthew Clairmont, a centuries-old vampire, who of course only looks 35.

One day while researching in the library at Oxford, Diana requests and receives an old manuscript called Ashmole 782. Unbeknownst to Diana, the manuscript has been missing for years and is highly coveted by witches, vampires, and daemons alike, who will stop at nothing to possess it. Her acquisition of it sets off a huge and complicated chain of events, most notably Diana and Matthew coming together in a rather strange and forbidden relationship.

I really liked this book. It's long, over 500 pages, but reads quickly. The ending leaves you hanging, but luckily a sequel came out this past summer. I haven't got around to reading it yet, but I will. Soon.

A fun read. Check it out.