No gifts to give, they’re all right here
Inside our hearts the glorious cheer
And in the house we see a light
That comes from what we know inside
I’ll come to you, I’ll sing to you
Like it’s Christmas in the room
I’ll dance with you, I’ll laugh with you
Until it’s Christmas in the room
Until it’s Christmas in the room
~Sufjan Stevens, “Christmas in the Room”
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11.22.2010 – Bits and Pieces*
11.23.2010 – To Scale*
11.24.2010 – Almond Toast*
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Great Grandma Ahlquist’s Almond Toast (Svenska Mandel Skorpar)
Almond toast is a hybrid between a shortbread cookie and a biscotti. My brothers and I would get this sweet treat as part of our breakfasts when visiting my Swedish grandparents. I make almond toast every Christmas now that my ninety-two-year-old grandma is no longer physically able to do so. Like most Swedish baked items, almond toast is buttery with a subtle almond flavor. My family enjoys them with their morning and evening coffees. Njut!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter (softened)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. pure almond extract
- 4 cups flour
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- ¾ cup finely chopped (roasted) almonds
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Mix together butter, sugar, sour cream, eggs, and almond extract.
- In a separate bowl mix together flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder.
- Add (¾-1 cup at a time) the flour mixture to the butter mixture, and mix well.
- Add almonds to batter.
- Transfer batter to a greased pan (I use a glass 9″x13″ baking dish and a glass bread pan)
- Bake for 45 minutes.
- Cut into strips, remove from pans, and place strips on a cookie sheet.
- Return to oven (250° F) to dry and lightly brown for 45 mins-2 hours (I like them on the more toasted side, so I dry for 1.5-2 hours).
- Cool, and store in an airtight container.
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11.25.2010 – O Holy Night*
11.26.2010 – SoCal in Winter*
11.27.2010 – Textures* (The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA)
11.28.2010 – Many Thanks to Trader Joe’s Unsweetened & Unsulfured Dried Pineapple Rings*
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Blogtrack:
– Bikini, “American Mourning” (listen HERE)
– The Winston Jazz Routine, “Through the Snow” — for AIA & AGL who are making their way back to NY (listen HERE)
– Washington Mile, “All of Your Blue” (download HERE)
– Beach House, “Take Care”
Reflections on Possibility 