I modified the recipe from a previous post to make these cherry shortbread cookies. Instead of adding white chocolate, I just added a bit of the juice from the maraschino cherries and a splash of almond milk (enough to make the dough form into a ball). Oh my, they are so rosy and sweet. Definitely a good way to spend the afternoon.

 Making pretzels. Most of the dough was made into little bite size pieces for holiday parties. I fashioned the rest into rolls. Amazingly soft inside with a chewy, salty crust. This is Alton Brown's recipe.

More Smiles for the Holidays

The Hap, Hap-piest Season of All

I thought I would share some of my recent vintage Christmas finds. I have been so lucky this year and my space looks so bright and happy filled with all these little smiling, well-loved bits of mid-century Christmas spirit. Yesterday I seem to have stumbled upon someone's collection of seasonal candles. I kept finding them tucked in every corner of the thrift shop which was having a 50% off Christmas items sale, just to put a cherry on top of it all.

I love the sweet, faded red wax on these candles, all translucent and rosy. These are not Gurley candles, but are reminiscent of them. The Gurley company was based out of Buffalo and began producing novelty candles in the late 1930s. These candles say they were produced in Montreal and I assume they were sold in dime stores as well. The company is F. Baillargeon Ltee. I can't find much more information online, although this may be the same company (apparently the oldest candle company in Canada). I have several other candles in the Gurley style that might be more recent, vintage-inspired pieces. They're lovely all the same.

My best friend's mother has a set of Gurley choir boys that I remember from my childhood. I came across this larger guy yesterday. He's in wonderful condition and his eyes are so bright and lively. Their is a little fading on the red detail in his robe. Doesn't his little angel friend look sweet with her pale blue wings and rosebud mouth?

I have also picked up some vintage cards, wall decorations, ornaments and another little village to live under my aluminum tree (my most prized Christmas item).

Today I wrapped some gifts. What can I say? It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Pink Sweets



White Chocolate Cherry Shortbread from The Black Peppercorn

The holiday season has begun and I am full of love. This is one of my favourite times of the year, truly. I have been very busy working on gifts, trying to maintain handmade Christmas while taking some help from the shops. So far, everything I have made has been successful, and if I don't feel confident in making something, I will buy something. I think it's a fine balance.

I'm hoping to be done gifts and shopping by the end of this week (haha, fingers crossed) so that I can start on some baking projects. I've fallen head over heels with pink cookies. Pink is my favourite colour. I realize it's much-maligned for its associations with a certain doll shaped representation of restrictive femininity. It's just such a cheery colour when done right. These cookies have the perfect hue down pat, rosy and sweet, warm and cheerful. I can't wait to try them out.