Merry Christmas to you from Carol and Don

Every year I try to send out a Christmas Letter filled with all the things we have been up to during the year, but if you scan my blog, you will get the idea about what we have been up to. I love pictures, so I post them often. I've posted lots of trips and things we like to do. What the pictures don't say is that I'm so thankful for our family. As we celebrate the birth of Christ, I am so thankful for all He has giving us.

Chris and his family are doing great. Chris continues to work at Standard Insurance. Jess is a wonderful daughter-in-law who makes sure that Maryn and Lucy talk to us often. She is also a wonderful and creative mother. Maryn and Lucy constantly entertain us. They are sweet and adorable. They have been to California 4 times this year and that makes us very happy. We will go up to Portland for Christmas. So, there is always a chance we will have a White Christmas.

Laurel is doing great. She recently moved to a great place in Berkeley. She continues to work at a software company and is an amazing jock. She gets up at 5 AM a couple of mornings a week to go to "boot camp" where she is on staff. She is constantly busy, loves to travel and having a great time. She managed to spend 2 1/2 weeks in Maui while her Maui cousin toured the mainland. She is a great housesitter and loves to have fun. She also rowed the Rogue River this summer. It's fun to see her thriving.

Don and I seem to be stuck in a fairly predictable rut. Now, that's not a bad thing. We work, volunteer, play, walk, talk about aches and pains, take trips, skype and eat more things than our aging bodies should. But, Life is Good and we feel very blessed. This picture should be of Don fishing because that is what he loves to do and he does it often. But, I loved this picture of us cross country skiing at near Bader Pass in Yosemite.

Here is the recipe that I always love to include in my Christmas greatings. It is a simple but delicious cookie recipe. We make this in the kitchen at church and it is always a success. If you need me to email this to you, just let me know. I hope you like like. By browning the butter, it gets a really nice flavor.

BROWN SUGAR COOKIES

14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter (10 Tbs plus 4 Tbs Separated)
1¾ cups packed dark brown sugar
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons (about 10 2/3 ounces) unbleached all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon table salt
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Combine for rolling cookie dough in before baking.
¼ Cup Brown Sugar
¼ Cup White sugar

1. Melt 10 tablespoons of the butter in a 10 inch skillet over medium heat, about 2 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring the pan constantly until the butter is dark golden brown and has a nutty aroma, 1 to 3 minutes. Transfer browned butter to a large heat proof bowl. Stir in the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter into hot butter to melt. Set aside for 15 minutes. . Add 1 ¾ Brown Sugar to cooled Butter mixture.
2. Mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. Beat Sugar Butter Mixture until there are no lumps. Beat in Egg and extra yolk and vanilla. Mix for about 30 seconds until fully incorporated. Add flour mixture and mix until combined, about 1 minute.
4. Scoop into 1 ½ in balls and roll in white & brown sugar mixture. Put on parchment. Tap down a bit.
5. Bake at 350 for 12 to 14 minutes. Centers should be cracker but look raw in between the cracks.