Monday, December 22, 2014

Why do all our Christmas cookies look like Alien vs Predator?

Cranberry orange pancakes
No, no pictures of our decorated Christmas cookies but lets just say, my Stepdaughter and I had fun decorating them but none are picture worthy and I will have  a hard time picking out non-offensive ones to give to my Mom lol.  They taste darn good, however, and that is what matters.

I did snap a shot of these yummy Cranberry orange pancakes we had for breakfast yesterday.  You just use your usual from scratch pancake recipe (I use this one from allrecipes.com),  add 1 cup thawed whole cranberries cut in half and juice and meat from one large orange.  I also throw in any leftover cranberry sauce - in this case some I had frozen after Thanksgiving.  The reason you use thawed cranberries versus fresh is that they soften up and are much juicier.   These cranberries are likely even from Vancouver Island as there are a few local cranberry growers who sell all of their crops to that big brand cranberry producer.

Christmas is just a few days away and the entire family is all done their shopping.  We dropped the kidlet off at the mall on Friday and she speed shopped.  Her and hubby need to do some wrapping and I might just make one more set of cookies to take to the neighbors and that's it.  We decided to do a Mexican dinner for Christmas Eve along with spiced rum and cokes and coronas.  We will likely play games or watch a Christmas movie that night and the next day will have turkey and open our gifts.  It is so nice having Mom live two blocks away - we get to spend lots of time together and we can just walk her home.  She has now been living in our town for almost exactly one year and she loves it.

My Mother-in-law turned 80 this week.  We had given her her gifts/presents last month when we visited but sent her a Christmas flower arrangement on her birthday as well.  She was required to take a new driving test but missed the appointment (fortunately) and now has lost her license.  She can only get it back if she takes the exam but she has decided not to do so.  Thank Goodness!!  She has dementia and was insisting on driving when the entire family has been trying to convince her not to.  She had a very bad incident earlier this year when she drove several miles down the wrong side of a divided highway.  A police car finally pulled her over (after several people called 911)  but he let her off.  I know sometimes police are trying to be nice - but seriously - she could have killed someone and she should have been forced to address the issue then.  Unfortunately, you cannot force your family to stop driving - only a doctor or the court can do that.  In Alberta at 80 you have to have a medical exam which she passed and it is up to the Doctor if he thinks you need to take another driving exam - which he required.  She has access to transportation at her senior home and gets meals in but was being very stubborn about this driving issue.  We are all very relieved although I am certain she would not have passed the test anyway.

Hubby has a really bad respiratory/chest infection and is going to the Dr today for medication - the only side benefit to that is that he is forced to sit on the couch and relax (he is type A, that never happens) to try and get better.  I am hoping he gets healthy soon so we can enjoy Christmas and the rest of our holidays.

This will be my final post until after the 25th - so I wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy Christmas!

17 comments:

  1. I hate it when that happens to my cookies, too!!!
    Louis Dean is 78 - I may need to check Texas driver's rules! Haha! He will pass - for now!
    Merry Christmas!! LD is in there baking cinnamon rolls as I write!

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    1. Merry Christmas to you - so jealous about those cinnamon rolls though, he is such an incredible baker!

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  2. Your pancakes look great! Have a blessed Christmas with your family xx

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  3. I can't believe the police let her off - OMG!! It was hard for both my mom and dad to give up their license. Fate intervened for my mother when tornado blew down large tree limbs on her car. Then a couple years later neighbours spotted my dad driving his car in circles in his backyard!! Oh my. Hopefully I'll do the right thing when it's my time but it is so hard giving up one's independence.
    Merry Christmas!!

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    1. Hubby and I have a pact - no arguing when it is time to give up driving. It is likely I will be his taxi service later in life however as he is 8 yrs older lol - Merry Christmas to you too!

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  4. thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment....Merry Christmas to you too!

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  5. Taste is more importance than appearance -- at least when it comes to food!

    We had a neighbor in her late 90's still driving. I swear she couldn't see 20 feet in front of her. It helped us to live in a city with a good public transportation and programs available to help seniors get rides.

    I do hope your hubby is up to snuff by Christmas, it's a bummer to be sick on an official day off!

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    1. We just found out today it is not his usual chest infection but one that is likely a virus - I am trying to be loving at a distance now :( that or my stepdaughter will be learning how to stuff a turkey

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  6. Those pancakes look amazing! Sounds like you are having a great (pre) holiday with the family. Enjoy! :-)

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  7. Merry Christmas to you and your family. I am only going to make a batch of Spritz cookies, a family tradition. There's only Wayne and our good friend Jeanne for Christmas so we don't do a whole lot. But this year I wanted a turkey. We may end up eating it for months, but it will taste so good on Christmas day. Just like a old family holiday. Your pancakes look yummy. - Margy

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    1. I have a spritz cookie maker, Mom gave it to me when downsizing this year. I haven't tried it since Mom and I made them when I was a kid though. This one is a 1960s version. Happy Christmas!

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  8. I hope Hubby kicks the shit out of this lung infection!!!
    I've been fighting a lung irritation for a week now and I don't feel I am getting better fast enough. I still get out of breath just walking outside even with some cortisone pills!

    Merry Xmas and a great New Year!

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    1. He is definitely on the mend, sleeping better and less grouchy lol. I hope you feel better soon too! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family as well!

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  9. Hope hubby is already well on the mend. Merry Christmas!

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