Monday, August 2, 2010

Meet me on Monday, the eighth

I'm linking to Java's with the answers to her cool questions for this monday. I'm trying to post this while washing dishes from our party last night. Everything turned out well! Almost everyone came, except for my 19 year-old nephew, wonder if he has a new girlfriend? :) (21 people in total)

Questions:


1. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas, hands down. I love that we can celebrate Jesus's birthday, I love the sunday school's programm on Christmas eve, I love that our first child was born a week before Christmas. It gives me a little understanding of Mary's firstborn baby so many years ago! The picture shows my daughters' programm a few years ago. The wise man with the turquoise dress is my youngest, Brianna. The dark haired singer with the green dress on the right is Cindy.


2. What color clothing do you wear the most?
Blue (as in jeans), sage green, dusty rose and brown.

I would totally wear something like this, but i'd close the front opening a little. No need to show everyone everything:)

3. What is your heritage?

My grandparents were german descendents living in Russia 80 years ago. They immegrated to Paraguay in 1930. My parents moved to Canada after they married. I was born in Winnepeg, Man. Canada. We moved back to Paraguay when I was 10 years, and have been here ever since. I am Mennonite by faith. This is the Heritage Park in my town.

4. What is your middle name?
Susan, after my Grandma Susa.

5. What is your favorite cookie?

Right now it would be Alfajores. But that could change:) I love all cookies!

Alfajores are two white cookies stuck together in the middle with Dulce de Leche and rolled in coconut.

Here's the recipe from About.com

Alfajores, a favorite South American pastry, are cookies filled with delicious caramel, dulce de leche, and rolled in coconut to make a buttery-rich for an afternoon tea, a special dessert or an anytime snack.

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Ingredients:

•12 tablespoons butter
•1 cup granulated sugar
•1 egg
•2 egg yolks
•2 tablespoons cognac
•2 1/2 cups cornstarch (corn flour)
•1 cup all-purpose flour
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•1/2 teaspoon baking powder
•Zest of 1/2 lemon
•Dulce de Leche
•Grated coconut

Preparation:
To make cookie dough:
Cream the butter and sugar together, then mix in the remaining ingredients except the dulce de leche and coconut until well blended. Knead on a floured work surface until the dough is smooth and let rest for 15 minutes.

Make the cookies:
Roll the dough out to a thickness of about 1/4 inch and cut into 2-inch rounds. Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 300°F oven for 20 minutes. When cool, spread some dulce de leche on the bottom of half the cookies and press another cookie on top, allowing some of the dulce de leche to squeeze from the sides. Roll the sides in the coconut until the sides are covered.

Makes about 12 delicious, definitely non low calorie cookies!

To make dulce de leche:
Method 1: Pour 1 can sweetened condensed milk into 9-inch pie plate. Cover with aluminum foil. Place the pie plate in a in larger shallow pan filled with hot water. Do not allow the water to cover the smaller pan. Bake at 425 degrees F for 1 hour or until thick and caramel-colored. Beat until smooth.
Method 2: Place unopened can sweetened condensed milk in a pot with enough water to cover the can. Bring slowly to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer and let cook for 4-5 hours until the milk is caramelized. Be careful! Keep the can covered and simmering slowly to avoid the risk of the can exploding. Cool the can before opening.

7 comments:

  1. Those cookies look sooo good! Thanks for the recipe!

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  2. Ahhh, no coconut for me!

    I loved reading about your background in your "about me." Very different than my "have always lived in the Chicago 'burbs" life.

    Thanks to Java, I think I will follow!

    <3

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  3. BTW, one of my best friends is a Brenda.

    And YAY for Christmas and Jesus! I have the best post about that, your reference to Mary and your first born, totally an excerpt from a book. I'll email it to you when I find it...

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  4. LOVE your blog!! Adding it to my favorites, so I don't miss anything :)
    Thanks so much for the recipe - will definitely have to try this.
    I'm in Manitoba! and Mennonite too! Do you still have relatives out here?

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  5. Hi There,
    I’m stopping by from Meet Me on Monday, and I am your latest follower.

    The cookies really do look fantastic!

    I would love it, if you would come join me at Follow Us Monday Morning .

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  6. Hi Brenda, thanks so much for stopping by to say hi..I need to make sure I follow you, what an interesting life you have! Love how those Alfajores sounds..I am a simple baker, but they sure look delish..

    blessings
    Barb

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  7. It was so nice getting to know you through your questions. Those cookies look so yummy!
    I grabbed the recipe. Thanks for sharing!

    Have a great week!
    Candace

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