Hello Blog Friends!
It’s been bit of a chaotic week around here. This blog is supposed offer some insights into the niche world of CTM Day Camps and also to share some of my daily life as it revolves around that central core. The road is usually fairly smooth, but at times, over the past 14 years since I began to post, there have also been some rough patches. Because it is much more interesting to read upbeat content, there have not been too many digressions into the darker areas that happen “behind the scenes” but…
Last week, due to a freak accident in my kitchen, I badly wrenched my knee and since then it is safe to say that the “road” has been pretty bumpy. Fortunately for my readers, I have no intention of going into the gloomy details, but what I do want to share is how blessed I am to be an inhabitant of the Household of Faith because, without the many angels who have come to my aid, I would be dead meat 😊.
The most difficult situation to sort out has been care of my beloved, but slightly ballistic, dog, Thomason. Having had Labrador Retrievers in my life for over 30 years, I thought I knew Labs, but Thomason is a unique character and so setting up some alternate arrangements for his care and well- being, has been challenging. Three different friends came to take him for long walks, my sweet next door neighbour (the family only moved in 6 months ago) has turned up with containers of tasty foods, and so many others call and text daily with offers to help in any way that is needed.
By this past Wednesday I had met with a professional dog-walker (referred to me by another dear friend) and it looks as if he will be a good fit for Thomason going forward. With winter fast approaching and icy streets and sidewalks I just cannot risk another fall, which would most certainly precipitate knee surgery, so finding the right person I can trust to take on this task is essential as wrenched knees can be slow to heal. Of course in the middle of sleepless nights I am already obsessing about how all the shovelling will get done but my slightly more rational daytime self is trying to focus on taking on day at a time 😊
Has CTM work got done in all this mess?- ABSOLUTELY!! The Alumni Advent Study Program kicks off tomorrow and only one week (EEK!!) from now I will be sitting at this laptop participating in the 4thannual Carols & Cocoa Event. The December Day Camp committee meeting will be happening next Wednesday evening, and, of course, there are always day-to-day banking deposits to look after, phones call to answer and tonnes of emails ranging from important to crazy spam!
Fortunately a knee in good working order is not required for knitting and since Christmas gifts still must be completed all spare moments see my needles industriously beavering away. Baking is a bit trickier as, encumbered with a cane and brace navigating around the kitchen is much slower than usual and so all types of kitchen work seems to take forever to accomplish.
And there has not been a lack of visitors😊, Besides the daily interactions with the friends coming in and out to walk Thomason, others have popped in to deal with everything from a leaking laundry tub to raking up the last of the leaves in the garden.
Thursday, I hosted a very chaotic gathering when Jillian arrived with baby Amelia in tow to visit while her husband Victor (still at home on paternity leave) took a turn at dog walking duty. Jillian’s sister, Janice (who, like Jillian, is a former Team Leader, committee member and special friend) was also part of the contingent. She and her husband and toddler have come from Vancouver to share an early “Christmas” holiday with her Montreal family since airfares were just to high for them to come closer to December 25th.
Today, in just a few minutes, I will be welcoming committee member (and sweet friend) Mae Anne for lunch. She and several family members are all going to spend Christmas in the Philippines and so this may be the only visit we can squeeze in before their departure. It took FOREVER to set the table and prepare a simple meal, but I know she will give me a hand to plate it up when she arrives.
That means it is time to end off this rather disjointed post and, even when times are rough, we have to include a recipe! As we are now in the month of December it is time to share some Christmassy recipes. I looked back through older posts and cannot find one in which I share my Stöllen Recipe so today we will kick-off the Advent Season with this German tradition.
Stöllen
- 2Tbsps. yeast
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- ¾ cup raw honey
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 3 eggs
- approx.. 9 cups unbleached flour
- 2 tsps. salt
- 1 ½ cups chopped, toasted almonds
- 4 cups chopped dried fruits- raisins, apricots & cranberries
- finely grated rind of 1 orange & 1 lemon
- ¾ cup softened butter
Dissolve the yeast in ½ cup warm water. Combine 8 cups of the flour with the salt in a large bowl. Place the cottage cheese in a medium bowl and whisk in 2 cups hot water; add the honey, orange juice, dissolved yeast, eggs and softened butter, mix well.
Add the wet mixture to the flour and stir with a wooden spoon, then work with your hands until the dough comes together, adding more flour to achieve a soft dough that no longer sticks to your hands. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Place in a clean bowl, cover and leave to rise at room temperature for 1 hour OR to slow rise overnight in the fridge. Meanwhile combine the chopped nuts, dried fruits and grated rinds.
If you do a slow rise, remove the dough from the fridge 2 hours before you wish to continue. Divide the risen dough into 4 equal pieces, shape each into a ball and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Working with one ball at time, roll it out into a large circle and cover with ¼ of the fruit and nut mixture. Fold the dough over and gently knead to incorporate the mixture through the dough. Pat the filled dough into and oval shape, about 1” thick then fold over about 1/3 of the oval to form a semi circle. Press into shape it will open again as it rises. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment and place 2 completed Stöllen, well apart, on each sheet. Cover and allow to rise in a warm place for about45 minutes. Bake at 325ºF for about 40 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through. Watch they do not burn. Remove to racks and brush with loaf liberally with melted butter. When completely cool, sprinkle with icing sugar before slicing. The Stöllen freezes well, if tightly wrapped.