MERRY CHRISTMAS 2012

Christmas waves a magic
wand over this world, and
behold, everything is softer
and more beautiful. 

~Norman Vincent Peale

I wish you peace, love,
warmth, joy and happiness
where ever you are this
Christmas season.
See you next week.

THIS MOMENT

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Joining with SouleMama. xx

 

 

NEVER FAIL DIVINITY

I'm really a scientist.
I follow recipes exactly
- until I decide not to.

~ Ina Garten

 

 

                                     [Candy Sprinkles, totally unrelated to recipe, 
                                     but at least the color is right ;) ]

There are certain recipes that
only make their appearance once
a year, and one of those in my
home is Never Fail Divinity.
My humidity is 99% today so
there won't be any candy making,
but I thought it might be a
great day where you live to
give it a try.
And encase you missed it,
I am hosting a Giveaway,
so please pop over and tell
me your favorite treat for
the holiday.
 

Hints and Tips

Before you turn on the stove, take a look at the weather. Clear, dry days are best for candy-making. On rainy or humid days, the cooking time can increase substantially or your candy may never set up at all. Sugar attracts water, so the humidity can adversely affect your recipe.
Test your thermometer to make sure it is accurate. (You will need to do this every time you make candy.) Immerse it in a pan of water, and bring the water to a boil. The temperature should read 212 degrees F (100 degrees C). If it does not, you will need to adjust your recipe to reflect this. For example, if your thermometer reads 215 degrees F (102 degrees C) in boiling water, and the recipe requires that you cook the candy to 250 degrees F (121 degrees C), you will need to cook the mixture to 253 degrees F (123 degrees C).
Last, but not least, measure all your ingredients before you begin. It takes a long time to reach 220 degrees F (104 degrees C), but after that the temperature rises quickly. You will need to have everything within easy reach.

 If you live in at a high altitude:For every 500 feet above sea level, decrease the temperature by one degree. If you live at an altitude of 3500 feet and the recipe calls for cooking to 234 degrees F (112 degrees C), cook it to 227 degrees F (108 degrees C).

Never Fail Divinity

2 cups sugar
pinch salt
1/2 cup water
1 7 oz. jar marshmellow cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 chopped nuts {I add more}

Boil sugar, water, and salt until it forms a hard ball in water [285 degrees].  Place marshmellow cream in a bowl and stir in hot syrup.
Continue stirring until slightly stiff and holds a peak. Fold in nuts and vanilla. Drop on buttered wax paper.

YARN ALONG

"Now, let us all take a deep breath
and forge on into the future;
knitting at the ready.”

-Elizabeth Zimmermann-
  The Opinionated Knitter

 

Six  Annabel Cardigan's,

all knit and waiting

their turn for buttons

and tags! Can you tell 

I'm smiling?  I can't tell

you how happy it makes

me to see them all in

a row!

I feel a huge sense of

relieve to have the 'big'

knitting projects out of

the way, now it's on

to a few pairs of fingerless

mitts, a scarf and maybe

a hat or two if there is

time.

To spice things up and

keep it interesting I am

also joining Evelyn's

Holiday Sparkle KAL 

and have plans to cast

on a few of these. Don't

you want to join along?

The more the merrier.

 

Reading is all about

knitting this week as

I have huge plans once

all my holiday knitting

is complete.

 

I am hosting a small giveaway

to be drawn on Thursday, please

stop by and say hello.