Welcome 2011

This is it, the end of 2010. We are going to welcome 2011 today. Won't sum up the past year since you have a good idea what it was about if you have read the blog and if you have not then perhaps it is time to try it.
Have a wonderful evening and all the best for the New Year.

2011!

Time to start thinking of the New Year.
1. I have booked courts for next Monday, Sunday was already done. Tomorrow, I will be one of a number who will book for Wednesday. Oh my, there is plenty to be done.
2. Have work to be done on the heating system, that is planned for next week Tuesday. I will plan to be home the whole day. When the first part was done, I was called on every once in awhile to help answer a question, sort out a problem.
3. Getting travel plans underway. My goodness, there are plenty to do. Michael and I are going to Portugal in the spring, the Maritimes in the summer and to New England some time in the fall. We will go and see some one's presentation and then visit the Red Lion Inn in Massachusetts.
4. Want to start planning some of the home renovations. The coach that was given to us by friends needs some TLC, and we have been talking about an island in the kitchen. Both good ideas.
Will have more ideas as the days go by.

Amaretto Cheesecake

We have friends who love Amaretto, especially the husband. Because they are coming over tomorrow, I baked an Amaretto Cheesecake. Time to start making new recipes. Want to finish my cookbook. Guess that I was inspired by Julia Child's biography. She was certainly a force to be dealt with.
Here is the recipe:

Amaretto Cheesecake

Ingredients:
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons white sugar
3 tablespoons butter
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 1/4 cups white sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
5 tablespoons amaretto liqueur
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
2. Mix together the graham cracker crumbs and the 3 tablespoons white sugar. Add the melted butter and mix well. Press into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and cornstarch, and mix until smooth. Add sour cream, vanilla, amaretto liqueur and salt. Mix until well blended. On low speed of an electric mixer, add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Pour batter over crust.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes. Remove from oven. Loosen around the edges with a knife and cool on a wire rack while still in pan. Refrigerate, remove from pan when completely chilled.

Merry Christmas 2010

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and happy holiday. Hope that you have time to spend with family and friends.
All the best.

Christmas Cards for neighbours

Christmas cards are still coming from unexpected sources which is nice. I don't mind responding to those. I am up to date except for the fact that I have not put out the cards that we have received for display. There are quite a few. I always thought that once I retired the cards would diminish a great deal but that is not the case. Putting out the cards is a job for today as well as getting up some decorations. Want the house to look festive.
Today, I will get cards ready for the the neighbours so that they can be delivered tomorrow. Do not want to deliver too early causing neighbours to feel an obligation to us. Realized that our neighbours have an extensive collection of pewter ornaments. The pewter ornaments are from Amos Pewters in Mahone Bay. Amos Pewters makes a lovely unique ornament each year. We have been giving them an ornament each year for over 20 years. Soon their tree like ours could be decorated with just pewter ornaments. That would be a lovely site.

Cards from lost friends

Today, the cards that I was preparing were for friends who I had not heard from for quite some time. Does that happen to you? One of the people had not contacted me for quite a few years and now she has separated from her partner, I don't think that they got married and she wants to get together. I will wait for her to make the next move. I have sent a card in response. Strange after all these years, it has been since my retirement and I retired over 4 years ago.
Another person is a person I met at music camp a number of years ago. I had forgotten about her since we do not correspond during the year. Time to change that. She is a nice person who has had family problems the past few years. The same kind of problems that we all experience as our parents get older.
The third card today was from someone I have served on a board with for many years. All of sudden he has sent a card. Not sure why this happened this year. I did send a card in return. I try to do that when there is time and we do have 4 days of mail left.
Will be interesting to see what tomorrow's mail brings.
Actually, I forgot there was a fourth card for someone who I had not heard from since her wedding 2 years ago. I thought that I was no longer part of her life but it seems that love and marriage had taken over her life. Now she is thinking about others.
Will let you know if there are any exciting cards tomorrow.

Christmas Entertaining

Now that the cards are out, most gifts have been purchased, I will play my last Christmas concert tonight, it is time for entertaining. The real part of Christmas, getting together with friends is the focus. That is the best part of the holidays. Having time to enjoy with friends. Michael has already purchased some wine so it is now my responsibility to come up with menus. I think that I am going to make things that can be left in the oven cooking while I enjoy friends. Not spend my time slaving over the stove. That is for another time.
Will post some of the recipes.
Happy holidays.