December 2004
Dear Friends,
The holidays are here and I’m sure most of us will do some holiday baking. I’ll include some
baking tips in a minute, but first I must tell you about two new books!
The first is by my friend, Rebekah Wilson, and is the second in her “Grandmother’s Hope Chest” series.
Each book teaches different hand sewing stitches, and “Lucie’s Snowflakes” teaches gingham embroidery and hem stitching. Rebekah is a gifted writer and has a wonderful way of weaving the sewing directions with the story as Grandmother teaches Lucie to sew. You daughter can learn along with Lucie and when she’s done, she’ll have a pretty gingham bread cloth. If you can’t sew, don’t worry! You can learn right along with your daughter with Rebekah’s easy to follow directions.
But there’s so much more to this delightful 80-page book: Biblical truths, good manners, an old hymn, and an old family recipe all grace the pages along with beautiful large color illustrations. This would be a lovely gift book! You can also order the kit with everything needed to make the same bread cloth pictured in the book. Rebekah has even tucked a little surprise amid the sewing supplies. I’m sure your girls will be as delighted as I was to receive the book and kit, and what a nice quiet activity for those cold winter days spent indoors. Go to
www.hopechestlegacy.com and click on “Grandmother’s Hope Chest.”
The second book is a
family heirloom I discovered a few years ago carefully tucked into a box in the attic of my father’s house. A small card was clipped inside the little book of children’s prayers: “A Birthday Remembrance,” it read, from a Sunday School teacher. This thoughtful gift was given to my father’s twin sister who died at the age of three in 1927. It was her only possession to have survived these many years.
I was so touched as I read these tender prayers and the vintage artwork is a feast for the eyes. The 1912 edition has been out of print for many years, a great loss. As I prayed about it and spoke to my husband, we decided to bring this book back and hope it will become a treasured heirloom for many other families.
“Classic Prayers for Children” will be available in February. In addition to the 48 page original book, I have added a prayer journal section for parents to record their child’s first prayers and later, for children to write down their own. We’ve also added a presentation page.
Click here for more information.
Here are the baking tips I promised. Streamline cookie baking by mixing all your cookie dough on one day and then baking it another day. Wrap each batch of dough in plastic wrap or waxed paper, label it and put it in a plastic bag in the frig. Most dough can be kept refrigerated for several weeks or frozen for several months (use freezer bags).
This is a more efficient way of working and when baking day arrives, you won’t have to stop to mix the dough, wash the mixing dishes and clean up first before you bake! I find that I really enjoy baking so much more when I divide my time this way, and I don’t get so tired out.
I use at least four cookie sheets when I bake large batches of cookies. It’s important to always place cookie dough onto a cool cookie sheet. But it takes time for them to cool down. Try this:
put several bath towels in your freezer a few hours before you’re going to bake. Place a cold folded towel on your countertop and set the hot cookie sheet on that. It cools the pan down quickly, and protects your countertop! It frees up your hot pads, too.
Most cookies need to be removed from the hot cookie sheet immediately. Invest in a cooling rack or two. If you put the cookies on a plate to cool, they usually bend. Also, the steam from the bottom of the cookie can’t escape. Besides my cooling rack, I like to use the
broiler pan from my oven as a cooling rack. Make sure it’s clean! Set it on the countertop or a table. The crumbs drop into the bottom of the pan, not all over the counter – a real plus!
For many holiday cookies, you’ll be measuring sticky ingredients such as molasses, honey, or peanut butter.
Coat the measuring cup or spoons with a little oil first, then measure. The sticky ingredient will come out easily, and clean up is easier, too.
Be sure to measure flour correctly: spoon the flour into the measuring cup then use the straight edge of a knife to level it off. Don’t scoop the flour out of the canister or tap the flour down into the cup. If you do, you’ll end up with a couple tablespoons of more flour and that results in dry cookies.
Resist the temptation to add more flour to make a stiffer dough. Cookie dough often needs to be thoroughly chilled before baking (another reason to bake one day and mix the next).
Chilling the dough will stiffen it as the butter hardens.
Read the recipes you plan to prepare ahead of time so you’ll allow plenty of time if dough needs to be chilled, and double check you ingredients. Baking powder is only good for about 6 months once it has been opened, so this is a good time to stock a fresh supply. Write the date you open it on the can. Cinnamon and other spices may have lost their potency, so check on them, too.
For an explanation of the chemistry of baking powder and baking soda, please read page 53 of The Future Christian Homemakers’ Handbook. For cookie recipes and tips, please see Chapter 12.
In January, I’ll share tips on organizing your kitchen to make your work easier.
Until then, from our home to yours, have a blessed Christmas!
Yours in Him,
Copyright, 2005, Laurie Latour.
www.FutureChristianHomemakers.com You may make one printed copy for your own personal, private use. FCH leaders may make one printed copy for each person in their group. Copyright line above must be included in all copies. Permission for any other use must be requested in writing.
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