Sparkling Blue

It was too cold to take photos outside today. I must tell you that the top is a deeper blue than it appears as all the lurex thread caught the light and lifted it several shades. That's a pity because it is one of the prettiest blue tops I own. Don't laugh (you will anyway) but it is from the Niki Minaj line at K Mart. I know! She's not the first person you think of for a poloneck sweater. I regret not purchasing it in other colours last year as it turned out to be a well made, inexpensive item of clothing that layers easily.

The heavy velvet maxi skirt is vintage Susan Bristol made in Hong Kong. Susan Bristol is best known for horribly twee (and expensive) sweaters and cardigans. It was nice stuff, but a little too cute for me. This skirt isn't typical of their offerings, just as the top is a bit out of place for Niki Minaj. Strangely, they work well together.

I couldn't decide! So I wore them all. I like a cluster of small pins anyway. Someday, I'm going to pin them all to a jacket at one, and get it over with.

The earrings had to come off outside-it was cold enough I was afraid they might freeze to my ears.

I baked some spritz biscuits. As you can see, my skill with the press isn't great, probably as I only use the thing once a year. I used quality butter for these as they're mostly butter and I only bake them at Christmastime. The recipe is from my mum's old copy of the 1950 Betty Crocker cookbook. 

You Will Need:

1 cup soft butter (1/2 pound)

2/3 cup sugar

3 large egg yolks

1 teaspoon flavouring (I used vanilla)

2 1/2 cups plain flour

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Mix together butter, sugar, eggs, and flavourings. Work in flour gently with your hands. Force through press onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake 7-10 minutes rotating pan at midpoint. Watch for burning. The dough takes nicely to tinting if you want to make green wreaths, etc. I made a few pounds of candied cherries earlier in the year for Danny to use in his Fair baking and now I'm looking for ways to use them up. Surrounded by buttery dough sounds like as good as use as any!

Net week, I'll bake the stollen. We already did pulla, and I have quite a bit of it in the freezer to get us through the winter. I try to space the baking through Advent so that I don't need to worry about Christmas until after Danny's birthday. This week, the biscuits go to our library volunteers, State park employees, and the staff at our favourite thrift store. For the State park I'm doing iced biscuits shaped like the leaves of our native trees. Last year I did fish, the year before that, birds. I like the challenge, but this might be a bit more detail than I'm capable of piping. I rely on food writer pens that deliver food colouring through a felt tip point. If you haven't tried them, my advice is to take extra care when spreading your icing and make certain it is completely hardened before proceeding. they don't work well on un-iced surfaces. 

Outfit Particulars:

Niki Minaj top-K Mart

Belt-Shop Ko

Vintage velvet Susan Bristol skirt-Goodwill

Large bangle-Goodwill

Scatter pins-Can't remember

Vintage handbag-Goodwill

Earrings-K Mart

Fragrance-Rive Gauche (Because I'm wearing black, blue, and silver. I recently bought a vintage canister, and I wasn't sure the accellerant would still work. It still works! The vintage really does smell different-I'm so happy to have a large canister of it). 

I wore my, Old Lady coat, because I am one...old. Not a lady. Sure, I looked like a polar bear, but I wasn't freezing my behind off like the kids in their oversized puffer jackets that let in all the wind. With this kind of cold, you'll want a cocktail. Something warming.

Hot Point (serves 4)

4 oz. Scotch whisky

32 oz. ale

1 egg, beaten

4 tablespoons sugar

Heat ale to boiling. Combine egg, sugar, and Scotch. Mix well. Slowly add boiling ale, stirring constantly to prevent curdling (I'd temper the mixture first). Pour into mugs from a height to create froth. Drink immediately-words that are like music to my ears.

Stay warm, and if you can't stay warm, stay toasted.