Friends and family. Holiday treats. Red-nosed reindeer. For me, that's what Christmas is all about!
My friend Jerry lives in Paris and once a year he comes home for the holidays. His visit was a welcome time, full of catching up, a little shopping and lots of fun.
There's always a snafu or two or three during the holidays. My most recent one deserves sharing. I rarely sift flour when baking cookies (unless absolutely necessary). So, when making what looked like a fabulous new ginger cookie recipe, I proceeded to dump in my three cups of King Arthur flour from a brand new bag (expiration date sometime in 2025) into my recipe and beat it up.
Then I noticed these.... white shards, thin -- like plaster. Some were larger, some broken up by the mixer. I had no idea how they got there. Could they have possibly got into the bowl (which I would have sworn was clean) from having my ceiling fixed the month before?
So, I tossed the dough. (I'll try the recipe again because they look great!)
I still needed to make cookies for the kidlets to decorate -- but this time, I sifted the flour -- and in just the first cup of flour, I found this. (And this is just a sampling -- there was much more!)
Needless to say, now that the holidays are over, I'll be taking up this issue with the King's customer service folk. My words of wisdom from this? If you have King Arthur flour, sift it! I'm sure I'm not the only one who found this.
Cookies completed, it was off to spend Christmas with the kids. We would spend three nights, and return home on Christmas morning after breakfast. Kevin is a fabulous cook and we ate well. Rick did his part (with some assistance in measuring), making pizza dough for our lunch pizza.
Ever since the big boys were kids, we have done cookie decorating on Christmas Eve. The schedule has changed a bit and the big guys dropped out, but the little guys were into it! I'm not sure I would have eaten any of the Camster's cookies -- I think that frosting-loaded finger got a work out and that the spreading knife was in his mouth as much as it was spreading frosting!
Meanwhile, Big Brother was more deliberate!
In any event, our cookies were delicious (and no shards of plaster!).
Lots of smiles!
I think we were a little less successful with building the Oreo train (from a kit). It looked more like a train wreck.
Our weather was unseasonably warm -- in the 50s. As darkness fell, the boys took cookies to the neighbor, dressed in their Christmas lights!
I mentioned that Kevin is an amazing cook and his dinner didn't disappoint -- grilled steaks with a wonderful sauce, crispy potatoes and asparagus. Those who preferred chicken nuggets didn't know what they were missing!
Our Christmas morning was on Christmas Eve (technically). We started out with opening presents.
This one might have been the hit of the morning -- the indoor snowball fight kit. We all participated (one had to -- when a soft snowball is chucked at you by a five-year old or his brother, you have to throw it back!) Highly recommended for all ages!
And then a lovely breakfast at a lovely table!
I would be remiss not to mention Waffles, the most patient cat in the world! I know he is Gypsy, living his next best life!
We took off on Christmas morning after breakfast. It was a warm morning (this is SO not Michigan -- last year we drove home in the aftermath of an ice storm, which was a harrowing ride.
We passed through the area where this fall's tornado did severe damage.
My visual lesson from this? You hear the tornado warning, you get low!
I am not bonding well with flour this season. At home we decided on an easy dinner -- scalloped potatoes with ham, one of my specialties. I'm not sure if I was overly tired or just spacy, but I forgot to put in the layer of flour between each layer of potatoes and ham. When I went to check on it -- theoretically 15 minutes before it was to be done, what I saw was akin to potato soup. We sort of rescued it with a flour slurry, but I can't say we were racing to enjoy the leftovers! At least the table looked pretty.
Several years ago, Panoply blogger Rita sent this glorious tablecloth and napkins. It looked wonderful with my mom's Spode dishes, silver and crystal.
Rick and I opened our own presents to each other -- with an audience!
Our holiday isn't over -- we have one more fun Christmas event with friends (more on that later) and I suspect more than a few more jollies before festivities end. Meanwhile, I leave you with some smiling faces!
I hope that during the rest of this winter holiday season you are merry and bright. And mellow. And relaxed.
Well, at least some of the above! (Have a cookie!)
Sharing with: Rain's Art and Dinner Date / Friday Face-Off
58 comments:
...let's have merriment year long!
You guys really know how to have fun! Happy New Year!
Your cookie making tradition looks like so much fun. The boys are adorable! Beautiful family! You make fun wherever you go and whatever you do. Happy New Year, Jeanie
Kevin is a great cook, no doubt. I loved the relaxed party mood over there. Too bad about the flour. How awful. Good that you saw the plaster before baking.
Looks like you all had a fun and floury time! Your Munchkins have got so big. Gladx you were able to drive home safely. Here all of the rivers are flooding - LWa something different! Hugs, Valerie
How weird about the "plaster." Could it possibly be just hardened flour, maybe from the inside of whatever vats they use at the factory? Yes, I'd definitely talk to customer service!
Waffles looks terrified. LOL
Looks like you had a wonderful time. So much happiness. As for K.A. flour I NEVER use it! There seems to be something wrong with it, anyway for me.
That's crazy about the bits found in the flour.
Glad you sifted. That was a good way to catch it.
Loved the Christmas light headbands.
And, the tree branches. I love branches!
I think it all went well for you except for the flour. That's weird. It's rainy here and we have no snow except for spots where is was blown and not too many at that. Very unusual.
OMG Waffles is such a good sport! The look on the cat's face is kind of a look of "helppp." Sounds like the perfect cat to have with little kids around. When we talk about Oscar, Taco says "kitty goes HISSSSSSSS." Oscar is not a kid cat. But she's very happy at my MIL's house.
We had an unseasonably warm Christmas, too. It was 54 on Christmas Eve! I wore thin pants with flats and NO SOCKS. It was crazy!
Smiling faces! They are beautiful!
What fun y'all had, good memories to hold there.
Sounds like the flour got wet at some point, and crusted in the mixing process. Horrible for sure.
Really too bad about the King Arthur flour! I never sift any more, maybe I should.
Your table settings and all the food are just beautiful. So great that you could be together with all of the family.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Looks like everyone had fun, issues with flour notwithstanding. And decorating cookies with kids is always a sure-fire winner of an activity. My only rule: each kid has to take their cookies home (no way am I eating those!).
As always, such a pretty table! And I'm glad you & Rick had some time to yourselves amidst the hubbub for a more personal gift exchange.
Poor Waffles! He looks terrified. Or maybe he's just fascinated by the elder's amazing headband.
Great pictures, too. And you picked the perfect one to lead in to the post.
Merry Christmas!
How sweet! A wonderful family holiday and making great memories.
What a dreadful thing with flour. I'm sure that would result in a product recall here. It's obviously factory level contamination. Goodness only knows how many other bugs a flower affected across the nation. At least it hasn't prevented you from having what looks like a lovely fun time over Christmas. Everyone looks so happy and jolly. Wishing you all. a very happy new year.
Not good with that flour!
Great pictures, and so nice to see the happy smiling faces.
Enjoy these last few December days.
All the best Jan
Spread the happy cheers!
The photos with the kids are fun. Isn't that what Christmas is about? Seeing the smiles on kids faces. And I wonder what was up with that flour. It looks like it got a little damp. Oh no, what a disaster. You should definitely call them. And your table does look very pretty. My daughter got some of those dishes for Christmas. I hope you have a great holiday week Jeanie. hugs-Erika
What wonderful fun you had!!! I use king arthur flour all the time! I just bought a new bag but it is not open yet. I definitely would contact them.
Cathy
The family photo is absolutely fabulous: so warm and loving. I'm glad you have been enjoying the holidays together. Looks like the kids are having a wonderful time.
I love those Christmas plates and decorations. It looks like you had a really fun holiday. I hope you and your family are all safe.
That is really creepy about the bag of flour! I wonder what they are going to say when you show them the chunks!?
Loved all the photos. The boys did a great job on the cookie decorating. The oreo train didn't look that bad, I didn't think. What a wonderful time you've had over the holidays. A friend from Paris visiting, family, and more to come. How nice! Merry Christmas and soon to be Happy New Year! :)
Hello,
Fun times with the family, wonderful holiday memories for you all.
I never sift the flour, I am glad you noticed those bits mixed in the flour.
Love all the photos! Take care, have a great day!
What a great Christmas. I'm grateful for the weather this year, especially when compared to last year's. Lol, that Oreo train wreck- too funny. And I'd forgotten about your table linens I sent, but I sure noticed the beautiful table, Jeanie! Great family photo! Carry on, merry, merry!
Who knew that flour could thrown a wrench into the works? Other than that looks like you had a fine time, Jeanie.
Perfect Christmas .. not talking flour:). Beautiful family..and how nice your host in Paris once again visited!
I have a friend who once made disparaging remarks about King Arthur flour, and said she never would use it again. I'll have to ask her more specifically about her issues with it. That's just too weird, although I'd bet on moisture before plaster.
How marvelous, such fun with the kids and cookies. Wow, plastic in the flour, that is awful! Happy New Year!
It sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas! How odd about the flour; I'd definitely be writing to them.
That is terrible about the flour, very scary!! Keep us posted on what King Arthur says! Your cookie bakers look like they had a lot of fun, and your Christmas sounded wonderful. Keep up the merriment and good times into 2024!
Jenna
Fun times for all, I bet the kids loved the decorating. Too bad about the flour. Your table looks lovely Jeanie, very festive. Happy New Year.
Your Christmas table does look so pretty with the tablecloth and Spode for sure.
Love your cookie making tradition with the boys of all ages. And an indoor snow ball fight I would love. I need to think of that next year for my one boy. Ugh! King Arthur should know better and have a better quality control on that flour. Hope they rectify it nicely for you. And Waffles, that expression on his face is priceless in the arms of the little/not so little anymore guys. Hoping your week after Christmas is special and still full of a few hugs, cookies and well wishes.
Happy faces and plenty of smiles. Looks like a wonderful Christmas to me. :)
Your Christmas celebration is heart-warming - fingered icing and all. Wishing you a happy and healthy new year!
That's the brand of flour I have. Yikes! I've never seen an snowball fight kit, but it sounds like great fun. It looks like y'all are having a wonderful holiday season 😊
It looks like lots of family fun, aside from the flour!
Good work. Too bad about your potatoes. Better luck next time!
I love Waffles! It sounds like his personality is a lot like Howard's. There's just something about the orange guys. <3
Your Christmas festivities look so fun and cheery.
Jeanie,
Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas!!!
Our was quiet...We are waiting for our twin grand daughters to be born as Danielle is in the hospital now....
Merry Christmas!
Thanks so much for always stopping by!!!
Hugs,
Deb
That all looks wonderful!! I NEVER sift flour but now I’ll be thinking about your warning the next time I bake. -Jenn
Looks like a wonderful Christmas..It's for kids for sure!! My stepdaughter uses King Arthurs flour..I'll have to ask her if she had a problem..haven't heard anything...
Your table and decore was lovely.
Thanks for sharing you photos..
You had a lovely Christmas, Jeanie, and those "flour accidents" made me laugh - gosh, doesn't something like that happen to all of us sometimes? I think they make good stories that we can laugh about later, and also make the Christmas memorable. All the very best wishes for a happy and healthy new year - Carola
Yes let the merriment continue to next year as well !!!
That cat! Lol. Orange cats are awesome. :)
It looks like you had a fantastic holiday, despite the weird flour issues! We have King Arthur flour, I am going to make sure Billy is sifting it (he is our baker).
Christmas looks wonderful in every way…family and fun! The flour incident is crazy. Happy New Year Jeanie!
So glad you had a wonderful family Christmas.
Waffles is very patient.
Your boys had a great time, I love the headband lights! That's a beautiful family photo, and I love Waffles :-) Good job you sifted the flour.
Looks like a perfectly wonderful Christmas! Well, except for that darn flour. And poor Waffles! Was he glad when the kids were gone, lol?
Fun times!
I love all of these happy faces. Thank you for sharing with FFO.
what an adventure your Christmas time has turned out to be, Jeanie! may the new year give us lots of opportunities to be creative, joyful, and grateful. so thankful whenever our paths cross. bless you!
What a wonderful post you shared, Jeanie! It warmed my heart. I used to do cookies with various nieces and nephews years and years ago. Now they are all past that age. I miss that fun! I'm aghast at your flour. I used the same kind! Fortunately I didn't find any weird stuff in mine. I can't remember the last time I sifted flour. Your grandsons look adorable in their Christmas lights. They will long remember all the fun. Have a happy and healthy new year!
Thank you for this journey. Here it was but Ingo and I and for the first time in my life I am sad the year is over.
You cheered me up big!!! Thank you - such fun pics, so much to smile about!
You had great fun!
The flour troubles were quite a surprise. I'm glad you saw them in time.
So much fun!
What a wonderful Christmas with family, even without the cookies. It is a great time of the year, when one gets to see family and friends. Hope New Year passed well and that you are set for a fantastic 2024. All the best.
Commenting after the BIG holiday, Jeanie, and hard to believe that all the celebration and festivities of decorations, cookie decorating has passed and you all certainly had a wonderful Christmas. Thanks for sharing all the wonderful family activities. Too bad about the flour and perhaps other bloggers assumptions about it the bag getting wet may be correct, however, it seems they may be another cause and should you get an update from King Arthur, do share.
Thanks for your blog posts this past year of 2023 and looking forward to seeing you in blog land this new year!
Nice photos! The table setting looks so pretty!
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