The Part Four of Cross-stitch

I started my fourth part of cross-stitch, I know that I did start in December. Some of the days were not too busy for me. So I had time to do the cross-stitch. I absolutely love to do the cross-stitch. I started on December 5 and I finished today on December 29. Most of time, it will take a month for me to finish each part, but this part was easy because there is no complicated colors to fill it in. I will be working on my 5th part tomorrow or whenever the day that I will start on. I just want to finished it but it will take long time because there is 20 parts of the cross-stitch and I have like 19 to go. so it will goes to take a while. So here is my process of cross-stitch so far.

Never have too many Kisses

It is never have too many Kisses. Every year on December, there is always one favorite cookie that I love the most. I love the Kisses from Hershey's. This specific cookie that I love the most. It was the Peanut Butter Kiss or you can called it Peanut Blossom, or many other name that you call it. This time, I make three different kind of Kiss cookie. All of those three cookies are called Candy Cane Kiss, Cherry Cordial Creme Kiss, and Peanut Butter Kiss.

The first one I make is Candy Cane Kiss. You can buy Candy Cane Kiss at the store, it might be only happen during Christmas month.

Kisses Candy Cane Blossoms

48 Kisses Candy Cane (the number did not matter, it is up to you)
1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 TBS milk
Red and green sugar, crystal, sugar, or powered sugar ( I just use regular sugar and I add the food color to mix it up for red and green individual, it work great)

1. Heat Oven to 350 F. Remove wrappers from candies ( I remove it later)
2. Beat butter, sugar, egg, vanilla in large bowl, beating until well-blended. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt: add alternately with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended.
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in red sugar or green sugar, or any other sugars. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly brown and cookie is set. Remove from oven, cool for 2 to 3 minutes. Press candy cane kiss to the center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 4 dozen.

*You can find more information on Hersheys.com/holiday*

Another Kiss of cookie, this time I made tradition Peanut Blossom which I call them Peanut Kiss. It was just very simple cookie and easy. This is one of my favorite kind. Here is the recipe for it. 

Peanut Blossoms

48 Kisses (again, number don't matter)

1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick)

3/4 cup peanut butter (any kind if fine)

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 egg

2 TBS milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp salt

Sugar

1. Heat oven at 375 F. Remove the wrappers (Again, I do it later for the wrappers)

2. Beat butter and peanut butter in large bowl until well-blended. Add 1/3 cup of sugar and brown sugar, beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk, and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture. 

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar, placed on ungreased cookie sheet. 

4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or lightly browned. Immediately, press a chocolate into center of each cookie; Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack and let it cool. 

At last, the one last Kiss that formed into Cherry Cordial Creme cookie. This is the most complex thing. I did make it and it kind of fail. So it was little tough to do it. I learned from my mistake is to cook little longer and plus greased your cookie sheet. It was just complete different kind and it was my first time to do it. Here is the recipe.

Cherry Cordial Creme Cookies

60 Kisses Cherry Cordial Creme

1 package ( 1 lbs 6.5 oz) original supreme brownie mix with syrup pouch

1/4 cup Hershey's cocoa (any cocoa will be fine)

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

Powdered sugar

1. Remove wrappers from chocolates. Place in freezer for several hours or overnight. (the reason to put chocolate in the freezer because of the inside of the Kisses)

2. Heat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour cookie sheet. 

3. Stir the brownie mix, syrup pouch, cocoa, water, oil, and eggs in medium bowl until well-blended. Take spoon onto the cookie sheet. 

4. Bake for 8 minutes or until the cookie is set. Cool for few minutes; sprinkled with powdered sugar. Immediately press frozen chocolate into center on each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 5 dozen. 

Now come to last, I have finished make those cookies, except the last one Cherry Cordial Creme cookie, I did not take picture because it was kind of fail. So this is other picture that I found on Bing to show you what it really look like. I hope you have very good Christmas. Spend time with family and friends. Enjoy it!

Childhood Christmas Tradition

I read one of my good friend's blog so I borrowed this Christmas Tradition Question. I thought it will be fun to let people read and help them remember their Christmas Tradition that we have grew up. As in hope that I will start my own tradition in the future.

Here is my Childhood Christmas Tradition!

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

I prefer Hot Chocolate only when it is cold outside, I would stir it with Peppermint Stick instead of spoon. It always taste so good. I remember when I was little girl, I always love Egg Nog but now I don’t like Egg Nog anymore. I still drink Hot Chocolate with Peppermint stick.

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Well, My parents were very trick, they know the way around it. They will leave few presents under the tree but Santa will add more presents under the tree on Christmas Eve and surprised us on Christmas morning with more presents

Colored Lights on tree/house or white?

It depend at my parents’ house, at my mom’s house, we have colored lights on tree and house. At my dad’s house, we have white lights on tree and on house. In my future, I will just have blue, white, and silver on tree and house, just like Winter Wonderland.

Do you hang mistletoe?

At my mom’s house, we always have mistletoe every since I was little girl and today we still have it. Mistletoe was one of my favorite thing to hang because you have to figure it out where the people will stand the most under the mistletoe.

When do you put your decorations up?

On the weekend after Thanksgiving, we know it is the best time to decorated the Christmas on beautiful day before the cold weather come, it always worked the best.

What is your favorite holiday dish?

Um, that is good question. It depend which at my parents’ house, at my mom’s house, it will be mashed potato and gravy. At my dad’s house, that will be the devil egg. So I just love the holiday dinner.

Favorite Holiday memory as a child?

That one will be at my dad’s house, when my sister, my brother, and I went at my dad’s house. When we saw this super huge present, and we had no idea what it is in there. We always guess by what it in. Every Christmas morning, we always guess what it in, most of time, we were right. But this present is huge and we still have no idea. The first thing came in our mind was the coffin. I don’t know why we think of it. At first, we opened all our presents before open the huge present because it was for my sister, my brother, and I all together. We opened the present together. We found out that it was the trampoline. We were happy that we got it because we always want one.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

I always know that the truth about Santa ever since I was little girl, BUT I do believe in Santa because I swore I saw Santa in sleigh with eight reindeer and Rudolph. I do swore that I saw Santa on Christmas morning when Santa flew to the mountain. I still do believe in Santa.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Yes, we open gift on Christmas eve, as only one gift. So it is hard decision to know which one to open to receive the good one. Every time, I opened present on Christmas Eve, it ended up a little good thing by not what I want, but still love it.

How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?

Mostly of time, it was my parents decorated the tree. Sometime they will not let us decorate the tree. But at my mom’s house, she had some ornaments that is our and let us decorate it. At my dad’s house, it really depend, so it does not matter to me at all.

Snow! Love it or Dread it?

Honestly, I just hate snow because I do not like to drive in snow with all those crazy people but I overcome my fear. But what I like the most is snow on Christmas Eve while watching movie with hot chocolate and the fire in the fireplace, just love it. I love to have White Christmas morning.

Can you ice skate?

Yea, Of course, I can ice skate. I have been ice skate in 3^rd and 4^th grade and I still do it good. It had been a while since I had skating.

Most Memorable gift?

That will be the Nutcracker, that my mom make. I always love the Nutcracker ever since I was little girl. I have too many memorable gift and I cannot remember that much.

The gift that my mom make and gave to me

What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

The most important thing to me is spend time with family and be surround with love from family and friends. The most important thing is to giving to people who need it.

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?

That will be Peanut Butter Kiss, I just love them. I will be the only one will eat it.

What is your favorite holiday tradition?

I would like to start my favorite holiday tradition, is to watch Christmas movie as to drink hot chocolate with peppermint stick, and eating popcorn. I am hoping to start this tradition someday in the future. My family holiday tradition is going to church, but it is not my favorite. I am hoping to start my holiday tradition in the future.

What tops your tree?

I have two things, at my mom’s house, it will be the angel. At my dad’s house, it will be the star. So I have two Christmas tree at different house.

Which do you prefer giving or receiving?

I prefer giving because it make me feel good to give to someone who should deserve it. I remember when I was little girl, I was little selfish, I always rather to receiving than to give. But I learned a lot is that giving is always the good deed and show that you are loving and loyal to the people. So I did pay it back by giving to people that gave to me.

Candy Cane: Yum or Yuck?

It is yum, only if it is peppermint as red and white. I do not like any other flavor, only the original. 

Third Part of Cross-stitch...

I finished the third part of Cross-stitch and I did finish it in less than 4 weeks which I did in three weeks. I am proud of how it came out. But there are still more to go. I somtime stop the cross-stitch for a while because it is December which you will be get a lot busy than ever. You know you have to shop for gifts for all of your family and friends. Also you go out to see the christmas lights and all of the events, included the party too.

I gave myself a break for a while because the needle had been poked my fingers which it is not good thing. Also I need to get myself moving around so It is good thing for myself to take break. I am going to wrap the gifts, bake the cookies, and among many other things.

Here is the third part of cross-stitch...

First Day of December!

Today is the First Day of December, or it was yesterday if you read this. I know it is late but I would not care for it. Because it is the beginning of December. It is all about spend your time with family and friends that you are thankful. I have a lot of plans to do during December. So many different events that I love to go and see. I just love the decoration and everything that people had created it.

Today, I went to one of the events that I always love to go there. It is Festival of Trees. This Festival of Trees is the host of charity for Primary Children's Medical Center. I had paid $5 for the ticket. This $5 is going to the Primary Children's Medical Center to help the children who are not able to afford the medical care. I am happy to be part of it and support it. That is the part that make me feel good about Christmas is to help people who had been struggle. I have been struggle by not find job but I just can make it through.

I have spend in there for almost two hours to look everything. There are so many beautiful tree. I was impressed by how they had created the ideas from anything like from movie to book. They all look so beautiful. I look at big tree, small tree, gingerbread house, the wreath, and the quilt. They all look so fabulous.

Afterward, I went to see my nephew's Christmas program at his school. My nephew did it really great and he was so cute! (I don't have any pictures of it)

Here is the picture from Festival of Trees...

 "Up" from Disney Movie

 "Charlie Brown's Christmas"

 "Harry Potter Christmas Tree"

 "Shattered Glass" Quilt

I dream of White December...

The month of December is coming near...
I planned everything out for December. I have found a lot of events during that time. I hardly can't wait for it. I will for sure love it. It will be great experience that I created for myself. I have list that I want to visit and check things out. My plans for December is

1. Go to see Festival of Tree
2. Go to see Dickens' Christmas Festival
3. Go to see Christmas Light at Temple Square
4. First time to make sugar cookie with my nephew
5. The last thing hope for white Christmas on Christmas eve and Christmas day as watching Christmas movie at night with Peppermint hot Chocolate by fireplace.

That is my plan for December as I am hoping that I am doing those things. It will be more fun for me. All of those events are happen in Salt Lake City, UT so you can check your town to see if there is any Christmas event related. It will be more fun if you go to those events. For the people who live in Utah, you can check out those website...

Festival of Tree... http://festivaloftreesutah.com/
Dickens' Christmas Festival is in Utah State Fair... http://www.utah-state-fair.com/tickets/#1017

I have not start yet with Christmas shopping...I just prefer to wait until after Thanksgiving, not the Black Friday, just doing during the month before Christmas because I have plenty of time to do...

Don't get too stress over with Christmas thing, just plan in ahead of time...

Ever wondering about your future?

"Past is Past, Present will become Past, Future will become Present." (Quote by Unknown)

I had dream a long ago with this quote. I do not know who it was from. It just only appeared in my dream. It just question me about my future. Ever since I graduated from college last May 2011 and I went to Ireland to do my two-months internship program. After all of those things, I thought that I could get job easily. Because I have been told by many people as they told me that if you do the internship program. You could get hired easily. 

Guess what? It is not...It was so quite difficult for me, it is not only the economy reason....It is the based of your experience that you have. You know there is many jobs out there but they were so picky on the people based to their college degree and experience. My dream job was to work in museum, library, or gallery...but it is not goes to happen, because it was required to have Master Degree. My future goal was to get my Master Degree, but the only problem is that I do not know what I do want to study. I have open life and experience. It does changed me a lot with my own view of point. 

It is tough life...I often wondering about my future because I do not know what it goes to happen. It goes to take a lot of time, a lot of patience, and a lot of work to think about the future. I do not have any dream by what I really want. Because I can't just point one thing because I came with many talents that I possessed. 

It all take a moment to think about your future...and might be your dream too...

While the summer drifted away...

I am sure you are wondering about the topic. I do sometime think the summer was not over for me but now it really does. I had missed out my two months of warm summer because I was in Ireland. In Ireland, it always rain and hardly have sun. So I only had one month of summer when I got back home.

The only thing that I love is the fall time because of the colors and the warmth to it. It just make me want to cook warm food because you know it is hard to have warm food during summer. During the fall, I always think of Grandma's pie that she made. My Grandma always made different kind of pie that I love the most during summer. My Grandma would make apple, cherry, berry, and even lemon pie. The lemon pie was the first thing that came to my mind. I always want to make lemon meringue pie. I did it one time two year ago but it was not successful because the meringue did not work well.

Yesterday with all of my determine to make the perfect lemon meringue pie. I had all of the ingredient that I need but came to realized that I did not have pie crust. So I realized that I have to make homemade pie crust. I have done the pie crust but it was not always best. I did research about how to make the pie crust. I have come to many different recipes and they all were seem easy. I decided to make my first attempt to make homemade pie crust. I did everything to follow it and it did end really well and I was proud of it. Here is recipe that I made.

Ingredient
1. flour
2. sugar
3. salt
4. butter
5. ice cold water

That all you will need to make the pie crust. Here is the website that you can use it to make pie crust. http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Making-a-Pie-Crust-Step-by-Step/Detail.aspx

While the pie crust was baking, I went ahead to make the lemon filling. I used one of the old recipe that my mom had before I was born. I looked through and found this very simple recipe that I could use it. Here is the recipe.

Fresh Lemon Pie

1 1/2 cup of sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (you can add more for more flavor)
4 eggs yolks, beaten
1 1/2 cup boiling water
1 - 9 inch baked pie shell
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon butter

For Meringue only:
4 eggs whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
6 Tablespoon sugar

Combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually stir in cold water and lemon juice. Blend in egg yolks; add butter and boiling water. Bring to boil, stirring constantly until mixture thickens. Pour into baked pie shell.

TIPS: I mixed all of the ingredient and then I pour it into the pan to bring it boil and also stir it more often.

For Meringue:
Beat egg whites until foamy; add cream tartar and 1 tablespoon of sugar at a time until whites are stiff. Put meringue on hot filling and bake at 350 F degree for 12 to 15 minutes.

When I took the pie out and it looked really great.

Then I tasted the pie and it did taste really good. I am proud of myself for make the perfect lemon meringue pie.