Christmas Brag Entry
(Click on the photos to find out what you're looking at)
Why does the time before Christmas have to be so stressful? There must be a solution, there must. I just don't know which one it is. The last few days have been frantic and I kept thinking I had to cut down on chores somewhere, but the problem is this: Before Christmas there are three kinds of things to do: The first is the kind I really enjoy, like baking or crafting. I want to do those the most. They make me happy. Then there is the kind that has to be done if you don't want to be a jerk, like getting gifts for teachers and hairdressers and friends. Those usually have to be ready even before Christmas. And the last kind is the regular kind... the crap you have to do anyway, whether it's Christmas or a random weekday. I find it disappointing that after a day of standing in the kitchen baking, people still want to eat dinner! So then, it's baking & making dinner, which totally takes away from the fun of baking, because it has to be squeezed in with the boring type of cooking.
If I have to assemble and wrap presents, I should be excused from laundry.. and no, not to make up for it later, I should just be EXCUSED for those days. I need to get someone to write me a note. Of course I try to keep up with everything, living dangerously on that very thin edge to insanity. I don't sleep enough and a pregnant body doesn't forgive those things lightly. I wake up and remind myself to just be veeery careful and watch for any signs of impending emotional disaster, so that I might be able to take a nap right beforehand and spare my children the unsightly break-down.
I realize, I should just let some things go, but it's not so easy. My mercilessly strict inner voice demands me to do the regular chores first and THEN the fluff, meaning the things that are not necessary but just fun (That voice uses very belittling vocabulary when it comes to my artistic aspirations, it's very insulting.). I refuse though. I will not give up the fun crafts in order to have a vacuumed living room. I will not!
Posted at 05:08 PM on December 23, 2007 | Comments (2)Just a teeny tiny little bit terrified out of my mind...
Here I am in front of all the clutter in my house that drives me crazy on a daily basis. My belly is kind of pointy, huh?
Posted at 10:14 AM on December 18, 2007 | Comments (3)A tiny Christmas preview
Veronika doesn't read this site yet, so I can share my excitement about one gift I made for her today. I had been looking for some type of swaddling blanket for her doll, because Veronika always tries to wrap her up in a blanket and carry her around, but the blanket keeps sliding off to her great frustration and so she keeps bringing the doll to me with this half furious/half whiny voice: "Mamaaa, it.. doesn't.. stay.. ON!!!" I wanted something like this, because I got a similar version for Ivan as a gift (thank you, Kathrin!). They call it a "carrynest", but I've known it since I was little, because babies used to be swaddled in that stuff all the time (Einbinddeckerl!). Of course this thing does not exist for dolls. I looked everywhere, at least I think I did, so the logical conclusion was to make it myself. It had to be easy and fast and really, it came together this morning (the kids were at the sitters, of course!) with no major setbacks. I didn't rip one seam, now that I think of it... which is big for me.
Posted at 12:58 PM on December 17, 2007Christmas Cookies Pt 2
Here's a chocolatey one for you. You can make these in parts (which I usually do), so you don't have to have a whole long chunk of time to make it all at once. (Actually you can make the previous recipe in two parts too: make the dough and freeze it until you're ready to do the cutouts, then thaw in refrigerator). Anyway, here goes:
Chocolately Sandwich cut-outs
(This is a made-up name. The original: Kakaobusserln mit Parisercreme. Did you want to pronounce that instead? Didn't think so.)
INGREDIENTS (Again, if given in ounces WEIGH these on a scale, don't just use cups):
Cookies:
- 7 oz flour
- 3-4 oz ground nuts (walnuts or hazelnuts, maybe even almonds, haven't tried those)
- 1 stick butter
- 5 oz sugar
- 1 tbsp baking cocoa
- 1 tbsp rum
- 1 egg
Filling:- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate, chopped (don't use chocolate chips)
1. Mix everything together until a dough forms. (If you want to stop here, make a flat disc and freeze wrapped in plastic wrap) Store in fridge for about half an hour, then remove and roll out to make cut-outs. I usually don't roll out the whole dough, but maybe a quarter at a time. Cut out cookies in your favorite shapes - and make sure you have an even number of each shape (or not, then you HAVE to eat the leftover ones...!) to make sandwiches. Spread on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.
2. Bake at 375 F (approx 200 C) degrees for 8 minutes. Remove from oven, cool on a rack. (You can take another break here and store the finished cookies in a tin or plastic box until you're ready to fill them. If it's a matter of days, store in a cool dry place, if it's a matter of weeks.. freeze.)
3. For the filling (ganache), boil the cream in a small pot on the stove, heat it up slowly and drop in chopped chocolate as soon as it starts boiling. Take off the heat immediately and stir until the chocolate is melted completely. Let it cool down and store in the fridge for about an hour. Before use, whip it up with a mixer, because it will be too hard straight from the fridge. The ganache should be creamy, but not runny!
4. Spread one cookie with filling and top with another. Proceed until you're done.
5. The last step is more or less up to you. I have used chocolate glaze before (just melted semi-sweet chocolate and spread it on top of one cookie) and added sprinkles. I have also used Royal Icing - as you see in the picture and played around with the decorating tips. This will make really cute cookies (once you get the hang of it.. it took me some time), and this icing will.not.melt.ever. So that's nice, but for eating it's a little... crunchy. I recommend doing both - kids could go crazy with the chocolate glaze & sprinkles option and you could do your elegant icing by yourself.
If you end up making them, send some pictures!
Kids' Updates
New stuff on Ivan's and Veronika's sites.
Posted at 09:49 PM on December 06, 2007"Congratulations!" is the only acceptable reaction
I knew it was only a matter of time, yet I was still caught off guard:
- Are you pregnant?!
- Yes
- Wow... when are you due?
- May
- Wow... (frozen smile, awkward silence).. so that's your third, huh. So how many children are you going to have?!!
- (totally unprepared to discuss this with an almost stranger) Uhm... I don't.. know..?
- Really?! You're just going to keep HAVING THEM?!! WOW. (short pause, looking for something nice to say) Well, you are SO much more patient then me!
- Uhm.. ah. (awkward smile, while I make a quick exit)
And another one:
- Are you pregnant?! (funny how there is never a "How are you" or "Hello" in these cases)
- Yes
- (nods, cannot muster a smile, awkward silence) When are you due?
- May
- (more awkward silence, stands there, VISIBLY looking for a positive sounding, yet clear word of disapproval) Well, GOOD THING you're having them all SO close together!
- (totally ignoring the passive agressiveness) I'm really excited actually, I....
- Was it planned? Excited about what? Oh, the pregnancy... oh, nevermind then.
- (I semi-smile and turn away ending the conversation)
Oh no, you did NOT just ask me if it was planned. I have spoken to you twice in my life, lady. Maybe three times. One of them certainly having been "Good morning" and the other "Goodbye". Mind you the two conversations above where with two different people, both barely acquaintances, but they were not the only ones to ask me how many children I'm planning on having. I can't get over this fact. I can't get over the fact that this is acceptable conversation, that strangers feel comfortable asking me about one of the most personal areas of my life. How is that ok? People have way more respect and reserve when it comes to money. No one in their right mind would consider asking me about my financial situation, or my health history or even my marriage, but somehow asking me what my husband and I have decided with regards to our reproduction and family size is a conversation I am supposed to be ready to have at a moment's notice at the grocery store or the preschool drop-off.
I know. It's the belly. It just screams to be touched and commented on. A pregnant belly has this big sign on it: "I had sex and I went all the way and didn't stop the unthinkable and here it is, the result of my uncontrolled love, and since everyone can see it now, please go ahead and tell me what you think of me and this monumental occurrence. It's my own fault for going public with my love life, because obviously I should know by now how to prevent THAT." Of course, about the child running around me you will only gush over but the one covered by a few layers of skin is a free-for-all. Doesn't matter that I'm still its mother standing in front of you, you just go ahead and discuss whether its existence is justified or recommendable in your eyes. Do I sound angry? It's because I am. It's my baby you are talking about, to me it doesn't matter if you can see it or not, it's still just my child.
People will disagree, but I do firmly believe that this development has something to do with the fact that our society has neatly decided to separate sex and reproduction. One is ok anytime, the other only in certain cases and only when its timing was specifically desired and orchestrated by the parents. (But even then your judgement might differ from other people's so be prepared to listen to their opinion on what you should've done.) It's like this, you have a headache, you pop a pill. You don't want to get pregnant? You pop a pill. And therefore because it is so easy and duh! obvious, it's ok for this to be public conversation. But you see... those two things are not really the same. I have never ever experienced this much public interest for my headache. What's it to them? Apparently everything. The curiosity, the need to meddle and compare and include their own history and ideas about this subject will override any leftover sense of privacy and boundaries they might have left.
I'm just left with regret... about all the things I should've said. The good comebacks I can only think of afterwards ("Just tell them: "Gotta hurry, we have to make it to 17!" says my smart husband) or the simple questions I should've asked back: "Why are you asking?" or "That's a very personal question, don't you think?" or, if I feel particularly mean: "Were you planned?" I find this very hard to do, because in the moment I can feel that the person isn't aware of the enormous social no-no they've just committed, or my hurt feelings for that matter. So then it's up to me to make them aware and that will cause embarassment on their part (ideally) and I'm just not used to doing that... embarass people, not consciously at least. Unfortunately I might get plenty opportunity to practice.
Posted at 09:53 AM on December 05, 2007 | Comments (7)Christmas Cookies Pt I
Last year I made Christmas cookies and put some photos up on flickr and several people asked for the recipe. One year later here I am fulfilling their request. I can't say I'm speedy, but I AM on time... for Christmas. I will post another recipe a little later, since I have to translate them both and it takes me a while because usually I am not allowed to sit at the computer for longer than a few minutes at a time. Apprently I don't make the rules aorund here. Both recipes are from Austria, some magazine or a friend, I don't recall.
(I proof-read this, but if you find a mistake, PLEASE tell me, I don't want to ruin Christmas!)
Burgenländer (Makes about 90 cookies)
For measuring use a scale, do NOT use cups!!!
10 oz flour 2 sticks of butter, chilled 2 oz powdered sugar 3 yolks
For filling and topping: 3 egg whites 10 oz sugar Melted chocolate (preferably dark) 3-4 oz apricot jam
You will need a roundish cookie cutter, a cake decorating bag with a star-shaped tip of your choice (between ¼ and ½ inch diameter)
Mix flour with cold butter until it resembles coarse mal, then quick mix in sugar and yolks to form a smooth ball of dough. Wrap dough in saran wrap and chill for an hour.
In the meantime for the meringue, beat egg whites with sugar over steam until very stiff. (You want to slowly add the sugar as you're beating the eggs, so you don't make the egg whites to heavy from the start. Heat some water in a deeper pan until it starts bubbling, hold the bowl with the egg whites and sugar above it while you beat it. I usually use a bowl that is wider than the pan, so I can let it sit there a little bit and don't have to hold it the entire time.). When you're done, let the eggwhites cool off and then fill your bag.
Preheat oven to 350. Cover cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll out dough on surface dusted with flour, it should be about a 1/8 inch thick (about 2-3 mm). Cut cookies with a circle-shaped cutter.
Place cut-out cookies on the cookie sheet and with your decorating bag make circles on top of only half of them. Bake cookies on middle rack for about 12 minutes (check a few minutes earlier to make sure you don't let the meringue get too dark), remove from oven and let cool.
Spread apricot jam on empty cookies and join them with the meringue covered ones. Warm up your chocolate and place a drop on the center of each meringue circle.