Good morning! How was your weekend? It’s been a perfectly splendid one for me, and I’m feeling rested and happy. 🙂
Saturday I went to town for the annual Scandinavian Festival and had a jolly time perusing the Nordic wares of the numerous vendors. I love bustling events like this. It’s so fun seeing folks dressed up in their native garb, sporting lavish jewelery and intricately embroidered dresses. I like leafing through books of history and culture, eying the homemade pastries, and choosing the perfect souvenir – this time a hand-painted wooden butter knife.
Then I drove through the rain to my favorite thrift store in search of desperately needed winter clothes. It was so fun!! I found a whole stack of treasures that met my needs and budget perfectly. Woohoo! 🙂
I slept a whopping ten hours that night – yep, I was tired – and woke to sunshine and falling leaves and glorious stillness. Sunday afternoon I lit the beautiful lantern my brother brought me back from Morocco, popped in a Nero Wolfe mystery, and started decorating for Christmas.
I had such a great time hauling out boxes of glittering fruits, shiny berries, and all sorts of fabrics in glistening gold and jewel tones. I still have a ways to go, but I’m so pleased with how warm, cozy and welcoming it all looks. I can’t stop smiling.
In between decorating and cleaning I took breaks for big cups of Vanilla Caramel tea and the last of the Maple Cinnamon Shortbread I made earlier in the week. Mmm. They’re humble looking cookies but absolutely delicious with the nuttiness of whole grain, hint of spice and buttery crispness.
What is your favorite memory from this weekend? When do you start decorating for Christmas?
This is my contribution to Chaya’s Meatless Mondays.
Maple Cinnamon Shortbread
Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tsp maple flavoring
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In medium bowl stir flour, sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
- Melt butter and stir in maple flavoring.
- Pour into flour mixture and stir with wooden spoon until incorporated and mixture sticks together. (Add more butter if necessary)
- Press dough onto ungreased baking sheet about 1/4-inch thick. Cut into squares or desired shape.
- Bake 20 minutes until edges begin to brown.
The picture of the maple cookies is great! Tweeked my imagination to cut them out with my maple leaf cookie cutter. Perhaps you’ll see them at Thanksgiving! 🙂
we went apple picking and it was truly gorgeous – (pics on Wed. at Passage Paradis – hint, hint!)
oh but xmas decorating!? try me like on the 23rd of December?
looking forward to seeing what yours look like tho, Krista – might get me in the mood!
Growing up we would decorate the house in stages–wreaths on the door beginning after Thanksgiving, adding a creche, mantle decorations, outside lights, a Christmas “village,” etc. in early December, but the tree we saved until about Dec. 15. The decorations would stay up into January. Decorating a one-person household for Christmas has been a tough thing for me, but you’re inspiring me to bake and decorate just for my own joy, even though Thanksgiving in the states isn’t here yet. 🙂 I *love* finding new shortbread recipes! One of my faves is a ginger shortbread using candied ginger and ground ginger . . . a spicy party in your mouth! If I can find the recipe I’ll send it your way.
Thanks, Mums! YES!!! They would be even better in cute little shapes. 🙂
Oh how fun, Paradis!! I’ll pop over to see your pics today for sure. 🙂
I love your decorating traditions, Anna. 🙂 I hear ya about decorating for one. It’s a big job for sure, but I think we’re worth it. 🙂 Maybe that’s why I like to start early. It’s so much work all by myself, and I want to get as much enjoyment out of it as possible. 🙂
Yes, please send me the recipe for those ginger shortbread cookies! YUM!!
They look delicious AND with caramel tea. Heaven.
I love that your recipe uses whole wheat flour, that is wonderful! It sounds absolutely delicious. Your photographs are beautiful, by the way!
I normally start decorating for Christmas the first weekend in December, but I plan to try to start earlier this year – hopefully the last weekend in November.
Thank you, Tracy. 🙂 Yeah, they were a perfect pair, that’s for sure. 🙂
I just made a spiced oatmeal shortbread and posted it on my blog, but this maple cinnamon shortbread sounds delicious as well. It would be a nice change from the regular shortbread I usually eat.
Already decorating for Christmas? Oh my, you must really enjoy the season! We start decorating the first weekend in December. I love all of the decorations and the spirit that comes with it. By December 26th however, I am ready to pack it all up and put it away!
These shortbread cookies are sure to get you in the mood for decorating. I bet they smell amazing while they bake!
that recipe sounds so lovely!
Oh Lisa, that sounds delicious!!! What a lovely version of shortbread. I need to stop by for that recipe for sure! 🙂
I really do, Debi! It’s my absolute favorite time of year and I like to drag it out as long as possible. I’m like you though – by the end of the season I’m ready to pack it all up again. 🙂
Thank you, Duchess! 🙂 It’s so easy, quick and scrumptious. 🙂
Um yum!!! My favorite memory is curling up in bed with some red velvet cheesecake and watching Sex and the City 2. 🙂
What a great weekend…I love festivals 🙂 (of course you probably knew that already!). There’s a great Scandinavian one near my hometown too..not to mention the Christmas markets are coming up!
My favorite memory from this weekend was seeing the sun shine on Sat morning when we went to the farmer’s market – still chilly, but we got to sit in an indoor cafe & feel the warm rays!
Can’t wait to start decorating..have lots of crafty ideas for this year…hope we’ll get to see some of your Christmas decor soon 🙂 xo
Ooh, I have never used maple flavoring before. Is it an extract like vanilla? Or a powder?
That cinnamon shortbread looks wonderful – it reminds me very much of a gingerbread that is sold in Cumbria in the UK. I’m wondering how to sub maple flavouring… I guess a spoon of maple syrup won’t work or will it?
Your weekend sounds like such a fabulous mix of fun and relaxation! That scandinavian festival sounds awesome, as does relaxing at home with some vanilla caramel tea and this delicious maple shortbread! Yum.
Fave memory of the weekend? Family Dinner on Sunday night and then watching the latest Sex & The City movie…, had a nice relaxing one.
Love thrift shopping, isn’t it fun to find something new and exciting.
That sounds like a glorious weekend, Andi! So decadent and girlie. 🙂
Ohhh, that sounds so lovely, Tuula. 🙂 How fun to have so many festivals to choose from. SO glad you got a little bit of sunshine on your oh so rainy weekend. 🙂
It’s marvelous, Katie! You can get it just like vanilla extract. 🙂
Good question, Sarah. Maybe if you go half sugar and half maple syrup that would do the trick? Or maybe use maple sugar?
It really was perfectly lovely, Joanne. 🙂 I enjoyed it immensely. 🙂
That sounds like a GREAT weekend, Anna! 🙂 Love Family dinners and good movies. 🙂 Hey!! Another thrift store lover! That’s great! 🙂
Growing up we would decorate the house in stages–wreaths on the door beginning after Thanksgiving, adding a creche, mantle decorations, outside lights, a Christmas “village,” etc. in early December, but the tree we saved until about Dec. 15. The decorations would stay up into January. Decorating a one-person household for Christmas has been a tough thing for me, but you’re inspiring me to bake and decorate just for my own joy, even though Thanksgiving in the states isn’t here yet. 🙂 I *love* finding new shortbread recipes! One of my faves is a ginger shortbread using candied ginger and ground ginger . . . a spicy party in your mouth! If I can find the recipe I’ll send it your way.