Bittersweet and the little soap company

Holly Jolly...

This is a picture of my brother and I taken some blankety blank years ago.
Lennis says this picture speaks without saying. How so Lennis, I ask? You have your eyes closed and Santa has just asked you if you've been a good little girl. You answer yes, but since your eyes are closed that means you're not telling Santa the truth! Oh Lennis, you're so silly!

This is an interesting story about THAT SANTA. Sad about the mall. It used to be our favorite hangout place when we were kids. I have found what once was usually always comes around again!

Popping in to say Hi! I've been assisting guests choose last minute Bittersweets, packing holiday orders and enjoying some domestic duties. 

Studio open by appointment this week until Christmas Eve. 

 

Bittersweet Studio

The studio shadows a warm cozy glimmer on a rainy day like today.

I'm preparing for the last open Saturday shopping day before Christmas Eve. The last couple of weeks before Christmas is a busy time around here. Usually by now, folks have organized their lists, checked them twice and have figured out exactly what they're still needing to get. Possibly their list reveals they forgot so-and-so or their budget allows them to purchase a few more bars of holiday soaps after they get a handle on the hustle-bustle of choosing that perfect gift.

I always receive calls from guys wanting to get last minute Bittersweets the week of Christmas. No complaints. I'm appreciative of their business and it's always a joy when the UPS man knocks on the door after dark to pick up his supply of lip balms and bath salts for his wife and daughter to stuff in their stockings, so he's told me. It's a tradition that I love!

The soap assortment begins to dwindle and the shelves reveal bare spots.

That's the way we roll!

Enjoy caring and sharing holidays.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

  

Christmas Eve Menu and some holiday thoughts...

It's that time of year once again to publicly announce our annual Christmas Eve menu. This year my brother Mark is smoking his famous beef brisket. I have never tried it, but after chatting with him about it the other day I betcha it's really good because he's quite passionate in his description and the smoking technique he's developed! So the rest of the menu has been planned from that...

Lennis is preparing the green beans. Remember going to grandma's house and she brought out the large bowl of from scratch green beans that had been cooking all day on the stove flavored with onions and bacon? I sure remember, and LOVE those green beans!

I can't wait to make that Chocolate-Gingerbread-Toffee cake!

While waiting to get my hair trimmed the other day at the salon I happened upon the latest Southern Living magazine. I was totally engrossed with the issue. It has some wonderful holiday recipes. The picture of THAT CAKE caught my EYE!

Love the fluffy snow icing and the red berries! Seriously, how can a cake made from chocolate, gingerbread and toffee not be good? I found the recipe on-line .

Turning toward foodie tradition... The past few Christmas Eve's I've served an after dinner cuppa of Christmas cafe au late.

Doesn't that look yummy?

Click here for the recipe.

This seasons Christmas is centered around family enjoying good food and each others company and less emphases on purchased department store gifts. Our family is doing a gift exchange and Lennis, Patrick and the rest of my family are focusing more on the everyday blessings and the REAL reason we celebrate Christ-mas.

Christmas Eve with my family is my most favorite day of the year next to Christmas morning!

The gift thing...Having said that...

The reason I LOVE CHRISTMAS is because I LOVE to give! I believe Christmas is Love♥ The reason we celebrate it is all about giving and loving and sharing and caring one another. Gush, gush... 

Our entire dining room table is covered with handmade gifts. I have a long list of recipents awaiting their arrival. Although those folks don't know there getting gifts, that's the BEST part!

The elderly man that lives a few blocks down the street always makes a point to say something nice as I walk by his house each and every time I saw him outside.  He's getting some homemade cocoa and cookies. Those moments although brief encounters really touch my heart. 

I have to make a list and check it twice!

Back to "the thought that counts." Christmas should not be represented by how many gifts we receive. I believe rather it should be celebrated with love. Christmas should shadow each and every day by treating others the way we wish to be treated and caring and sharing is not only obtainable but the simplest of gestures.

I believe thinking about what we say sometimes before we speak and always considering the others feelings over ours should be common courtesy. It's always been pretty black and white for me and I have always considered those life values to be a platform on how I live my life.

I'm blessed to have been raised by wonderful parents that instilled those principles into my way of thinking by how they raised me.

Remember,  It doesn't cost anything to be thoughtful and nice! That's a priceless gift indeed!

Christmas lecture over dears....

Enjoy caring and sharing holidays. God bless each of you that happens upon Bittersweet.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than none)  

More holiday shows...

Enjoy this Christmas Slide Show...

Make a free photo slideshow

The gift of handmade flourishes, yes it does!

Have I told you that all of the gifts I'm handing out to friends and family this Christmas are handmade? Every single one! It's turning out to be quite an undertaking to get each one made before Christmas arrives. However having said that, I'm also experiencing feelings of holiday happiness unlike ever before at Christmas time.

In years past I've always made Christmas gifts, but never have I made every single one.

The left over herbs from our garden and the wonderful Spanish garlic I purchased from my farmers market friend Peg were used to prepare an herbal vinegar. Many years ago I purchased a book detailing the process. Which by the way, is really not a process at all! Simply stick a couple of your favorite herbs into your choice of vinegar and allow the vinegar to sit in a dark pantry for six weeks or so depending on the strength of your desired vinegar.  

Pour the prepared vinegar into decorative glass bottles. You may add a label if you wish. I also included a recipe for vinaigrette.

I prepared the vinaigrette to serve on our dinner salads a few nights ago and the vinegar added the perfect flavor to the dressing.

Vinaigrette's can sometime be tricky to get right. I have found that they either have too much vinegar taste or not enough, too sweet or not sweet.  This one was perfect. I tweaked the orginal recipe some by adding honey and lemon. Between the honey, lemon and herbal vinegar the salad dressing had just the right taste.

Garlic & Herb Vinaigrette

1/2 cup of herbal vinegar

1-2 T. Dijon mustard

3 garlic cloves, minced

Generous pinch of sea salt and freshly ground pepper

1 T. organic honey

1 squeeze of a lemon

2 T. of fresh herbs or 2 teaspoons of dried, basil, oregano, chives or thyme

1 1/2 cups of olive oil

Drizzle olive oil into herb and vinegar mixture until well combined.

You may also place ingredients in a blender and drizzle the olive oil in slowly while the blender is running.  

Enjoy caring and sharing holidays.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two holiday hugs are better than one)

 

Tweet

Homemade Cocoa and Marshmallows for Christmas...

Remember the homemade cocoa and marshmallows for gift giving this season.

Who doesn't enjoy sipping a hot cup of rich dark cocoa? Seriously! If you top off the gift bag with a few homemade marshmallows your gift will be even more appreciated and loved.

I've shared both the cocoa and marshmallow recipe on previous posts, but in case you didn't catch it I'm posting the two once again. Tis the season for cocoa and all! 

I sampled several cocoa recipes before finding this really good one. The trick it to use dark dutch cocoa in the receipt. I order mine here.

Cocoa Recipe
Download Cocoa Labels

Homemade Marshmallows Recipe

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

 

Seasons Greetings

I hope you enjoyed a peaceful happy Thanksgiving!

This is the first year that I brined the turkey. I tend to over cook the bird. If you brine the bird before roasting it will more likely stay moist and juicy even if you happen to over cook it some.

Last Christmas my sweet Aunt Vivian sent me a vintage roasting pan. I used the pan to cook the turkey this year and it was divine! Thank you Aunt Vivian for caring and sharing. I love you.

I'm planning on brining all the poultry I prepare from now on. Working on the Christmas Eve menu and am pondering thoughts of roasted chicken prepped with brine. Now the fun of searching for the yummiest sounding brine. I'm thinking citrus would be fitting for holidays.

Martha talks about brining the bird here. There are oodles of brine recipes on the Internet to choose from.

Getting prepared for a busy Saturday! The studio/shop begins to hop and usually doesn't quit hopping until Christmas Eve.

Holiday soaps will begin to fade into the sunset after Saturday!

FRESH Lip Balms, Laundry Soaps, Linen Sprays and that Pound Cake Lip Balm seems to be the favorite this season. Soap Sacs for tucking a bar of aromatique Myrrh & Frankincense.

Tis the season for caring and sharing.   

Packing your holiday orders today and finishing up preparing FRESH Extreme body creme.

We had to purchase a new washer and dryer several weeks ago. The two guys that delivered them were the nicest men! There names were Gene and Jose. I gave them a couple bars of Bittersweet before they left that day.

Wednesday we were having new gutters installed and I hear a peck at one of my doors. With all the banging outside it was hard to detect where the knock was coming from! I went to the front door, nobody there! As I turn around I see Jose looking at me through the small window by the fireplace. He's motioning me to come. I open the door and greet him. Well Hi Jose, how are you? He replies, "My wife and I LOVE that soap you gave us and I want to get some more!"

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! Another person that will have soft moisturized skin walking about on the planet. Not to mention, lovely folks. His wife called me shortly after and I could tell by talking to her on the phone, she's a jewell too!

I will be looking for the caring and sharing moments while on my round abouts. You may remember some of the earlier ones from previous Christmas pasts.

Enjoy caring and sharing holidays.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

 

Toffee for the holidays...

This is the BEST TOFFEE RECIPE!

Toffee is easy to make and oh so yummy! I'm making a few batches to add to the Scottish short bread cookies to give to neighbors and friends.

Thank you Mr. Lebovitz for the toffee recipe.

12 jars of Cranberry Chutney in the house. I'm wrapping them in brown paper bags with red and green accents. 

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree... Attaching ribbon to pine cones and hanging on the tree with burlap garland.

A customer/friend sent me a message on FB telling me about a brine she prepares for the turkey.

After I checked out the recipe I though it looked good.

I'm hearing more and more about how a turkey marinated in brine is oh so good and much better than the norm. Easy enough to prepare and I love moist juicy turkey meat! Who doesn't? I also purchased their dry brine rub.

Thanks Tina for the tip. Hey, how about "Tips from Tina!" Like the sound of that jingle!

Packing more orders and enjoying some puppy love.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

 

Wrapping with ticking...

Ticking, a strong, tightly woven vintage fabric. Who doesn't like it? I'm partial to the red though!

I picked up a bolt the other day to use for wrapping Christmas presents. The red and white twine or yarn may be purchased at most craft stores. You will find it in the yarn section. I like wrapping packages with the yarn and prefer it over twine because of its thickness not to mention it's much more cost effective compared to the twine.

I'm planning on topping my cranberry chutney jars with shrugs of the timeless cloth.

Lastly, a rose from the November garden. Most Novembers have brought with them  more than several cold frosty nights, but this November seems to prefer mild warm spring like days. H'm, I wonder if Woolly Bear was correct in his prediction? Only time will tell! I'm keeping an eye on his accuracy.

Kicking into the holidays full throddle. I hope you're enjoying some peaceful time with family and friends. Time passes so quickly. Remember don't sweat the small stuff and keep a smile on your face.

Enjoy caring and sharing holidays.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)