Monday, December 18, 2006

Busy, busy, busy


Today I was pretty much missing in action around blogland today because I was busy making this:




Cheese Shortbread Cookies

These cookies are perfect for those who cannot have a lot of sugar.

1 container (250 grams/1/2 lb.) McLaren's Imperial Cheese [the one in the red container with black lid] *Update: here is a link to this cheese. Apparently it is a Canadian product but I guess made by Kraft so I'm thinking it would be available for you south of the border!

http://www.ioriginals.net/imperialcheese.htm

1/2 lb. butter

2 cups flour

2 Tbsp. light brown or golden sugar

Bring cheese and butter to just room temperature. Mix all ingrediants together with mixer. Push into a ball in bowl, cover and refridgerate 1 hour or more.

On large square of wax paper, spread a little flour down. Place half the ball of dough on wax paper, folding the paper over the ball. Now roll into a tube like shape. Do the same with the other half of dough so that you have two rolls of dough. Place in freezer for 1 hour for easier clean slicing. Cookies will be pretty much as large as you made the roll and as thick as you slice them.

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Place sliced cookies on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from pans immediately and cool on racks. Makes about 2 1/2 - 3 dozen cookies depending on size and thickness you make them.

If you don't consider rolling pins an instrument of torture you can roll and cut them with cookie cutters.

We also made these today with the 2 - 3 year olds:



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On a large sheet of paper, I used newsprint, trace around a small plate or dish. For the hand prints I used 2 different greens. Use the round area as your boundary for the heal of the hand. For the young kids I totally helped them to place their hands turning the paper for them.
After cleaning up on a stiffer piece of paper, such as construction paper we colored 3 round shapes, then daubed glue on them, then shook sparkles to make them shiny. After then handprints were dry, I braced the back of them with strips from an old file folder as the newsprint tends to curl up a bit.


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Then I just cut out the "balls" and let them glue them where ever they wanted and gave them a hunk of curled ribbon to glue on where they wanted. Voila: handprint wreath.

With the 4 year olds I made this Christmas countdown.

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They traced and cut out the star shape (some with a little help), then cut strips of construction paper. I made 7 for the 7 days left for Christmas. With older children you can do from December 1 as their countdown. I find that is a big concept for a 4 year old and 7 days is plenty. They grasp that easier. We glue and sparkled the star, then made a chain of the strips. Each night at bedtime they tear off the bottom circle. When only the star is left it is Christmas Day.

So that is why I didn't get to visit to many of you today. I will catch up tomorrow.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

You were very busy today with your little preschoolers! Great ideas! I'll try to remember them when Olyvia is old enough to do them.

Melanie @ This Ain't New York said...

Those cookies look yummy! You have certainly been busy.

Anonymous said...

Great craft ideas...I think I'll do them with my little ones! Thanks for the ideas! They are really cute.

Kim

Barb said...

My goodness, you were busy today, too! What fun things you did with the kids and those cookies look wonderful.

My mom and Cameron were here all day. I never got near the computer. Same thing again tomorrow. All I can do is hope everyone understands this is a crazy week and I'll be catching up later, too.

Hen Jen said...

Susanne, I really like the wreaths, I think I will try that with my kids.
thanks for sharing!

Jenny

Anonymous said...

Wow, you were busy today - I am sure you all had a great time doing the crafts together, what great ideas (taking note!).

Anonymous said...

Hey Susanne, I fixed my problem! yay! I have never seen cookies like that, nor that butter. Maybe it's sold only in Canada?

Beck said...

I love those crafts! My littlest one freaks out when her hands get dirty, but I'm going to see if she's in a more pliable mood this morning and possibly try making the wreath with her.

Anonymous said...

I agree with everyone else - you certainly were busy! But what wonderful things you have to show for it! The Cookies sound yummy. I'm not sure if we have that cheese here, but I'm going to check when I'm at the store later this week.

Anonymous said...

Glad you had a fun day with the kiddos. Spending time with them is much more important than anything written on a blog.

Anonymous said...

I like the little wreaths and the paper chain. The cookies look yummy too!

Donnetta said...

You have been a busy woman indeed!

Linda said...

I think it was time well spent. You are helping those little ones create wonderful memories. Everything looks great.

Anonymous said...

cute cute cute! must try that wreath tomorrow!

Blessings,
Karla

Anonymous said...

I love the wreaths...what cute ideas....

Shawna said...

Great craft ideas, Susanne! You are very brave to do these projects with little ones! I am glad you shared them with us & tidbits about your day.

Janice (5 Minutes for Mom) said...

what yummy cookies - what a great idea! And GREAT work with the kiddos! :)

wendybirde said...

Hi Susanne, I found you through Sarah's blog and look forward to exploring. These cookies look REALLY good, and just my kind of simple recipe, it was such a nice treat running accross them today : )

Christmas Blessings : ) Wendy