Christmas Cookies

Ho ho ho!

Tonight in class, we will have the chance to taste a few different kinds of cookies. Around Christmas, cookies are a very common treat. 

On Christmas Eve (December 24th), children leave a plate of cookies for Santa Claus to eat while he puts presents under the tree. Parents will usually eat the cookies after the children have gone to bed so that in the morning the children will believe Santa came the night before!

Below is the recipe for the chocolate cookies we will have in class, including how to make them into peppermint chocolate cookies.

Chocolate Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• a pinch of salt

Optional for peppermint chocolate cookies:

• 1/8 cup crushed candy canes or mints
• 
  

PREPARATION

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Step 2

Cream the butter and sugars together at medium speed until well incorporated.

Step 3

Add the egg and the vanilla extract. Be sure to scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl halfway through.

Step 4

Stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder. Add to the butter mixture slowly, and stop once it is all incorporated; don’t over mix the dough.

Step 5 (Optional)

Gently stir in the crushed peppermint candy.

Step 6

Take small spoonfuls of the dough and roll into one inch sized balls and place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Step 7

Let cool on the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 8

Let's eat!

The other cookies we will have in class are cranberry almond biscotti and M&M cookies.

11 Great Christmas Movies

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer had a very shiny nose!

Christmas is coming and it's time to get into the holiday spirit!

Take a look below for some suggestions for Christmas movies. They're a good way to spend time together with your family on a cold, snowy winter night.

Check TV listings to find movies being played on TV. Services such as Netflix, Hulu, iTunes and Amazon Instant Video can allow you access to these movies on your computer.


Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
This stop-action animated movie is a very popular Christmas classic. It is often played on TV throughout December.

Frosty the Snowman
Another animated classic, this movie tells the story of a snowman brought to life by a magic hat!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Based on a children's book of the same name, this movie tells the story of the miserly Grinch.

The Muppet Christmas Carol
Based on the Charles Dickens' story A Christmas Carol, this version uses the popular Muppets to tell the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge.

It's a Wonderful Life
This movie is a Christmas classic. This black and white film shows us the value of friends and family in our lives.

Miracle on 34th Street
Another black and white movie classic, this film features the iconic Macy's store on 34th Street in New York City.

A Christmas Story
This movie tells the story of a young boy's story of Christmas in the 1940s. 

Jingle All the Way
Arnold Schwazenegger stars in this comical Christmas story of a father's struggle to connect with his son over the holidays.

The Santa Claus
This is a story of how a man accidentally becomes the new Santa Claus.

Elf
Comedian Will Ferrell stars in this story of one of Santa's tallest elves.

Home Alone
What happens when a young boy gets left behind by his family when they leave on a Christmas vacation?

Happy Thanksgiving!

In just a few days, families all over the U.S. will be celebrating Thanksgiving together. It is a time to think back over our lives and give thanks for all that we have and to those people in our lives who have helped us along the way.

Tonight in class we have our Thanksgiving Potluck! I made a typical pumpkin pie that most families will include in their Thanksgiving dinners. Don't forget to top your pumpkin pie with some whipped cream!

Don't forget: we have no class on Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 28th). I will see you again on Tuesday, December 3rd.  We have no class again on Thursday, December 5th.

I hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving!

Halloween Pumpkins

Halloween Pumpkins, a set on Flickr.

Here are the different Jack-o-Lanterns we drew last week on Halloween!

Spooky!

Biscotti

Biscotti are very versatile cookies. With a good base recipe you can make any kind of biscotti you like!  In the cookies I made most recently, I used maple sugar, no almond extract and added pecans instead of cranberries and pistachios.

It's a fairly simple recipe, but makes a delicious batch of cookies!
Give them a try!

Apple Picking

It feels like Autumn! The days are getting shorter and the temperatures cooler. In New York, that means it's time to start thinking about apples and pumpkins. 

Below are a few choices that are available for apple picking in the Buffalo area as well as some farms that have fall produce markets. Most farms may also have other local products available such as jelly, maple syrup or honey.

Remember, if you want to go apple picking, it is important to pay attention to the picking schedules. The farms that offer "u-pick" (you pick your own apples) will have a schedule or chart displaying when each type of apples will be ready. 

Wash your apples before you eat them!

Becker Farms

Blackman Homestead Farm

Coulter Farms

Murphy Orchards

Whittier Fruit Farm

Brant Apple Farm

Anna Dauer

Some of you may know or remember Mrs. Anna, a fellow ESL teacher who used to teach with me at Windermere. Recently she had been diagnosed with cancer, and had been in and out of the hospital for some time. This past Friday, Mrs. Anna passed away.

You can read her obituary online. Services for Mrs. Anna will be held on Tuesday from 2:00 - 4:00 PM and 7:00 - 9:00 PM. Her funeral service will be Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM. Her students are more than welcome to attend. However, the family does politely decline flowers.

Services will be held at the Amigone Funeral Home located at 569 Cleveland Drive. 

Susan's Last Day

Susan's Last Day, a set on Flickr.

Here are the photos from Wendy that we took last Thursday as we bid a fond farewell to Susan before she left for China!

The President Visits UB

Thursday is sure to be a hectic day in Amherst as we welcome President Barack Obama to the area. You can read more about Mr. Obama's visit in the news or directly from UB.

Find the latest on President Obama's visit on Twitter by searching for and using #POTUSBuffalo

Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons water

2 cups all-purpose flower
1 cup chopped almonds
confectioner's sugar for dusting

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Stir in vanilla and water. Add the flour and almonds, mix until blended. Cover and chill for 3 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
3. Shape dough into balls or crescents. Place on an unprepared cookie sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from pan to cool on wire racks. When cookies are cool, roll in confectioners' sugar. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

Taste of Buffalo

You might want to head downtown this weekend if you're not too busy. The 30th annual Taste of Buffalo food festival will be held this Saturday and Sunday (July 13th and 14th). Over 50 restaurants and a number of wineries set up booths to give visitors a sample of their best dishes. It is the largest two-day food festival in the U.S. and attracts approximately 450,000 visitors every year!


Food and drink aren't the only reasons to visit! Music performances of various kinds will be going on all weekend, and if you're really interested in food and cooking, check out the Culinary Stage! You can enjoy a cooking demonstration or even a cooking battle between some of the top chefs and sous chefs (i.e. assistant chefs) from the Buffalo area.

Taste of Buffalo happens downtown from just south of Niagara Square near City Hall along Delaware Ave heading north to Chippewa Street.

The festival begins at 11:00am both days. It ends at 9:00pm on Saturday and 7:00pm on Sunday.  There is no admission charge, however, getting food requires tickets which you purchase for $0.50 each. Tickets are sold in $5 sheets (i.e. 10 tickets). Most food items cost between two and eight tickets.  Be sure to bring cash as festivals like this don't usually have credit card machines!

Summer Picnic 2013

Summer Picnic 2013, a set on Flickr.

What a wonderful picnic we had this year! Lots of sunshine and lots of fun!

Here are three photos from Frank as well as a few I took of the food.

If you have any you'd like to share, feel free to email them and I will add them to our collection!

Summer Picnic

On Thursday, June 20th we will have our annual summer picnic!  Weather permitting, we will hold class in Dellwood Park in Amherst. Check the map below for the park's location.

If you are driving, I suggest parking on Ivyhurst, but be sure to pay attention to any parking signs and fire hydrants! 

It will be a potluck so be sure to bring something to share.  As I mentioned in class, I will take care of the basics--cups, plates, forks, spoons, etc.--and a dish or two.

Feel free to bring friends or family with you, and keep your fingers crossed for good weather!

View Larger Map

Summer Classes

Starting on Tuesday, June 25th, we will move our class to the basement of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. The time will remain the same: from 5:00 to 8:00 in the evening.

St. Peter's is very close to Windermere. It is located at 205 Longmeadow Road in Amherst.  Take a look at the map below for directions.


View Larger Map

Monday, May 13, 2013

We will not have class on Monday, May 13, 2013. Enjoy your free time and see you Thursday!

Monday April 15

Class today with NOT be in the library. We will be in the Multipurpose Room near the cafeteria.

Summer is Only Around the Corner!

Not too far away in Akron, NY is the headquarters of Perry's Ice Cream.

Summer is the perfect time for eating ice cream, and in preparation, Perry's has announced five new ice cream stand flavors!

From Oh My, Cherry Pie! to Movie Time, these new flavors are sure to be unique.

Try one or try them all this summer at an ice cream stand near you. Don't know where to find an ice cream stand that sells Perry's Ice Cream?  Use their handy locator to find one.

Tired of Winter?

The long Buffalo winters can be very tiring as we wait for spring.  Even though it may be white outside, the Buffalo Botanical Gardens can cheer you up with a preview of the flowers to come.

The current main exhibit is called LifeCycles.  It is an orangery, a greenhouse for orange trees, and a demonstration garden. Garden staff, volunteers worked in collaboration with students and staff from the UB Department of Agriculture. Admission to this exhibit is included in the general admission price.

General Admission
Adults - $7
Seniors (55+) - $6
Students (13+ with ID) -  $6
Children 3-12 - $4
Children under 3 - Free
Garden Members - Free

The special exhibit until April 7^th is the Spring Flower Show.  The Botanical Gardens will be filled with the bright colors and fragrances of spring. Additionally, during the day, bring your children to meet Farmer Brown’s Animals.  You can visit baby bunnies, chicks, lambs, pigs, goats and more from 10am until 4pm!

Flower Show Admission
Adults - $9
Seniors (55+) - $8
Students (13+ with ID) -  $8
Children 3-12 - $5
Children under 3 - Free
Garden Members - Free  

The Buffalo Botanical Gardens are open Monday through Sunday from 10am until 5pm.

St. Patrick's Day Parade 2013

As we discussed in class, this Sunday is Saint Patrick's Day.  Buffalo has two parades celebrating this holiday.

Below I have inserted maps for the routes of each parade.  As far as parking, Buffalo has a lot of street parking.  Go early for the best parking and view of the parade.  Find a side street close to the parade route, such as Virginia Street or Franklin Street, for the parade on Sunday.  Be sure to pay attention to any signs and fire hydrants to avoid parking tickets.

Saturday, March 16th at 12:00PM 

Parade Route

View Larger Map

Sunday, March 17th at 2:00PM

Parade Route

View Larger Map

US High Speed Rail

The potential progress of the high speed rail system
over the next 17 years.

Currently in America, we don't have a very convenient train system.  Our trains also aren't very fast.  

Back in 2009, President Obama proposed a plan to build a new high speed rail system across the U.S.  Since then, the plan has hit a few bumps, but has begun to make progress again.  Beginning tomorrow, February 11th, and going until the 13th there will be a summit in Washington, D.C. to discuss the future of a high speed rail system in America.

Read a little bit more about it here.

Animals Predicting the Weather

Last week we discussed Groundhog Day--that crazy American tradition where we ask a groundhog if we will have an early spring!

We talked about many other animals that people use to help predict the weather.  Take a look at this story about animals predicting weather from the Weather Channel.  It has some of the same animals we discussed in class and some new ones!

Writing Your Recipes

In class on Thursday night, we discussed the next step in our class cookbook project.  For the homework due by next Thursday (2/7/13), write your own recipe using the Recipe Format worksheet.  If you need another copy of the worksheet, use the PDF linked to above.  

Remember to fill in all the pieces:  

• the name of your recipe
• your name
• the yield (how many or how much your recipe makes)
• the total time
• the ingredients
• the directions

Make sure you use imperative sentences when writing the directions.  For example:  

(1) Measure the water.
(2) Add the water to the pot.
(3) Turn the stove on to medium-high heat.
(4) Wait for the water to boil.


If you have any questions, let me know in class!

Happy Groundhog Day!

As we talked about in class, today is Groundhog Day!  Punxsutawney Phil gave us some good news earlier today when he predicted that we will have an early spring!

Remember, if the groundhog sees his shadow, we will have six more weeks of winter.

If he does not see his shadow, we will have an early spring!

Take a look here for more information and a video clip!

Mashed Potatoes

Yum! Delicious mashed potatoes!

On Thursday, we discussed many of the unique verbs used when cooking.  One of these verbs was "mash".  

During our discussion, we talked about how to make mashed potatoes.  It's really quite simple!  This video shows you how to make mashed potatoes, and, as I mentioned in class, you can add almost anything to make them more delicious.  You might add cheese, sautéed onions, garlic, or any herbs or spices you like!  Don't forget the butter and you can always put gravy on top!

CLASS CHANGE TO MONDAY AND THURSDAY

Hi Students!

This is important information, so please be sure to tell your friends and classmates if they haven't heard!

STARTING MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2013

CLASSES WILL NOW BE ON MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS

SAME TIME:  5:00PM to 8:00PM

SAME PLACE:  Windermere Boulevard Elementary School Library

SAME TEACHER

Please remember this and tell your friends!  

Yes, we will have class Tuesday, January 8, 2013 and Thursday, January 10, 2013.

Remember to sign in at the office when you enter the building and get your visitor sticker.

Always check the class calendar on this blog, too!

See you tomorrow in class!