Ok, I totally understand that the following clip is a commercial. But three time Mr. Israel, Sagi Kalev, looks so fantastic in his 2008 calendar I had to say, who cares? This You Tube clip is worth the watch. To buy Sagi’s calendar you’ll need to go directly to his website.
Happy New Year!
Would you believe this dog is a Yorkie? Poor little guy got a bad haircut at the groomer’s for Christmas, his allergies acted up, and now he’s forced to wear this ridiculous Christmas costume for our holiday entertainment.
He’s dearly loved, though, and Santa will bring him toys, treats, and goodies to eat on Christmas Day.
Gotta’ make up for that ba-a-a-d-d haircut.
Doesn’t he look like the Grinch’s Christmas dog in the story The Grinch Who Stole Christmas?
December is the month of the Cold Moon and Winter Solstice when autumn ends and winter begins. Solstice is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still). The Earth’s axis tilts away from the Sun, at its greatest distance from the equator, marking the exact moment the seasons change.
Though Winter Solstice lasts only an instant, the term refers to the full day and night the event occurs. Saturday, December 22, 2007, at 1:08 a.m. EST (06:08 UT) starts the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
The day of Winter Solstice becomes the shortest day and longest night of the year as the Sun reaches its lowest point in the sky. After Winter Solstice the days will begin to grow longer and the nights shorter until the seasons change again.
The full Cold Moon arrives on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2007, to light up our holiday sky. The red glow of the planet Mars will appear close to the full moon that night, when the Earth passes between the Sun and Mars; an event that will not happen again until 2010.
Below is an illustration of Earth as it passes between Mars and the Sun, courtesy of NASA.
Here’s a fun recipe for Mini Moon Pies, a delicious addition to your holiday baking treats, and a tribute to the beautiful full moon that will shine over Christmas.
Mini Moon Pies
Recipe courtesy Gale Gand
Show: Sweet Dreams
Episode: Blasts from the Past
Homemade marshmallow is one of my favorite things to make. People are amazed when you whip it up from egg whites, corn syrup, and gelatin - those pillowy, snow-white puffs seem so impossibly perfect. The flavor is bright and fresh and the texture lush, ideal for these dark chocolate-coated mouthfuls of crisp cookie and marshmallow. Smaller than Moon Pies or Mallomars, they make a cute, pop-able bite that is especially appealing to kids. Leftover marshmallow can be molded or piped into any shape you like (including little chicks) and decorated with colored sugar, or piped into tiny cones for hot cocoa.
If making marshmallow isn’t in your plans, you can use supermarket marshmallows. Cut them in half horizontally, place them on the baked cookie bases, and warm them in a 300 degree F oven until puffed and sticky, about 5 minutes.
Dough:
12 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup all-purpose flour
Marshmallows:
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup sugar
2 egg whites
1 tablespoon confectioners’ gelatin
2 tablespoons cold water
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Chocolate Coating:
12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 ounces cocoa butter, or 1/4 cup vegetable oil
Equipment: 1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
To make the Dough: In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter until soft and smooth. Add the sugar and continue mixing until well blended. Add the vanilla and mix until light and fluffy.
In a separate bowl, stir together the cocoa powder, cornstarch and flour. With the mixer running at low speed, add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and blend just until combined. Form the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours or overnight.
On a floured work surface, using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough out to 1/8-inch thick, or as thin as you can possibly get it. Use flour-dipped cookie cutters to cut out 1 1/2 inch diameter circles and place them on an ungreased sheet pan, leaving 1-inch between the cookies. You can re-roll the scraps. To make them look more like store bought, prick the disks with a fork a little. Bake until crisp, 12 to 14 minutes, then let cool on the pan.
To make the Marshmallows: Combine the 1/4 cup water, the corn syrup, and the sugar in a saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer. Bring to a boil and cook to “soft-ball” stage, or about 235 degrees F.
Meanwhile, in a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. Sprinkle the gelatin over the 2 tablespoons water and let dissolve. When the syrup reaches 235 degrees F, remove it from the heat, add the gelatin, and mix. Pour the syrup into the whipped egg whites. Add the vanilla and continue whipping until stiff.
Transfer the mixture to a pastry bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe a “kiss” of marshmallow onto half of the cookies, and top with the rest to make sandwiches. Let set at room temperature for 2 hours.
To make the Chocolate Coating: Melt the 2 ingredients together in the top of a double boiler or a bowl set over barely simmering water, stirring occasionally.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. One at a time, gently drop the marshmallow-filled cookies into the hot chocolate. Lift out with a fork and let the excess chocolate drip back into the bowl. Place on the cookie sheet and let set at room temperature until the coating is firm, about 1 to 2 hours.
A Note to Readers:
Cold Moon, Winter Solstice is an original article by author Adele Dubois and may not be copied and reposted or reproduced without the courtesy of permission and full credit given to the author.
I’m thrilled to receive another great review for MOTORCYCLE HEAT! Joyfully Reviewed has this to say:
Motorcycle Heat by Adele Dubois
Loose Id
Multicultural Erotic Contemporary
ISBN-10: 1-59632-457-0
ISBN-13: 978-1-59632-457-2
Reviewed by Barb
Antonio Alvarez is in Annapolis to see his brother graduate from the Naval Academy. Once he leaves Annapolis he is off to the FBI. Driving along on his Harley he falls head over heels – literally - for Lisa. He has to find out more about her and see about getting rid of her issues with men in uniform.
Lisa Gibbons flips her tank top and flashes the Harley rider. He wasn’t supposed to crash land at her feet. The least she can do is have a drink with him and learn more about him.
Antonio brings out the wild side in Lisa. And Lisa brings out the heart that Antonio thought he had lost. Can they overcome her crazy, womanizing ex-boyfriend Rick. Or will Rick destroy Lisa and her reputation.
Motorcycle Heat is a steamy tale of a good girl gone bad; and finding that being bad was the best choice she could have made. Adele Dubois writes a wonderful tale filled with smartly written characters that you either love or hate. And Adele adds twists that keep the reader enjoying the ride. Most definitely worth the read.
Maxine’s Night Before Christmas courtesy of Humorhaus.com/ Too funny! You have to watch this!
Merry Christmas!
Enjoy!
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