Confessions of a Mad Italian Woman!

Today I had lunch with a good family friend- you could say Jeanne is more like a family member than a friend. We were strolling down memory lane- you see, Jeanne was my very first neighbor I had when I moved into the city. We could literally reach out our kitchen windows and chat! Jeanne had the prize flower garden......her vegetable garden was a culinary kitchens dream.....but most of all she and her husband were great neighbors to me. As we chatted today about our city dwelling lifestyle in the 80's, we talked about the holidays past and present. Then came confession time! My first turkey for Thanksgiving- for me it was a total mess- a 100% breakdown- not the typical daughter of an Italian cook who could whip up great dishes blind folded. Apparently, while my sister and brother were learning the great skills of my father {and mother, however she loved the fact daddy cooked!} somewhere in the house I must have been too busy reading "TIGER BEAT" magazine.....or watching "The Partridge Family". {Did I just admit that?}

I shopped for a "fresh young" turkey just as my parents would have. Brought the bird home....put the 19.5 pounder in my refrigerator and set my alarm clock for 5:30 AM to get up and stuff the bird and get it in the oven in time to cook so I can impress my family and friends.

I woke up excited- ran down to my kitchen- put on my fancy pink playtex rubber gloves {I was not going to touch that raw bird with bare hands!!}

But something was very wrong......while unwrapping this fresh young turkey- the legs seemed "frozen" and they were wired together with what looked like a wire hanger. The more I examined this "fresh young thing"- I couldn't help but think it was FROZEN! The market guy lied to me!! I was so frustrated that as I lifted the turkey out of my kitchen sink- it flew out of my hands onto the floor! Thank goodness my dog was still sleeping!

This is where the "Mad Italian Woman" comes in......I became so frustrated with this "turkey,thing, frozen lie" that I kicked it- and broke what I called it's rib cage- later finding out its true name is "breast bone". After a good cry, I cleaned up the once 19.5 pound turkey- and other foreign body parts- um, where in the heck did they come from- I phoned my parents feeling my inner child coming out - my mother knew exactly what to say as always. My father just happened to have a FRESH YOUNG PENNSYLVANIA RAISED turkey in his refrigerator! How did he know that his youngest daughter was going to kick an already dead turkey to death?!

Thanksgiving Day dinner was rescheduled for 6:00 PM instead of the early afternoon gathering of friends and family at my little city home that year- but it was one of the best!

I couldn't take any credit for the turkey......but I can now boast about my turkey dinners of today! I don't eat turkey, but my family and friends are pretty impressed with my special secret herbs and seasonings that go into cooking the FRESH YOUNG TURKEY! I still wear my fashionable playtex gloves- {just can't get myself to touch a naked turkey} but I handle the 20+ pound turkey with TLC. I set my alarm clock for 5:30 AM, run downstairs to begin the preparations. No kicking or screaming- no swearing in Italian- it's all good!

I do make sure that my dogs are still sleeping just incase the large fowl decides to take a flying leap out of the kitchen sink! ; )

Funny thing is.... I found out there is a Turkey Hotline: #1-800-323-4848 they talk turkey talk~ ~ Gobble Gobble

Thanksgiving.......

Gratitude is the sign of nobel souls- Aesop

Santa's Favorite Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 Cups powdered sugar

1 cup of butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 large egg

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

Sift the powdered sugar and add it to the softened butter. Cream well. Add the vanilla, almond extract, and egg.

Mix well. Sift together the flour, cream of tartar, and baking soda, and add it to the creamed mixture.

Refrigerate several hours.

On a lightly floured surface- roll the dough very thin. Cut into your favorite holiday shapes and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees - for about 8 minutes, or until they are barely golden.

Don't forget to save some for SANTA!

Just a little sweetness......

Blow the horns, beat the drums,

We'll all be happy when CHRISTMAS comes;

Nuts and gingerbread, sugar plums.

We'll all be happy when CHRISTMAS comes!

Candy Canes & Stuff

Candy Canes are at Simple Dimple Primitives! These cute primitive candy canes are created by Jeanne Wagman. Each cane comes with a homespun tie & festive embellishment.

We are getting prepared to enter Grandma's Holiday Craft Show hosted by The Red Lion Bed & Breakfast, in Red Lion PA. The gracious owners, Dani & George will be holding this event in 2 floors of their B&B. The show will run for 16 days, with 84 crafters! If you are interested in more information- log onto their link: www.redlionbandb.com

Simple Dimple's shop will be closing for the winter season- going into "hibernation" on November 22nd. BUT....there will be updates on here so we can keep everyone in the loop for new items to come for spring.....which I can't even think about spring-yet!

I recently received an e-mail regarding some of the items we sell at Simple Dimple Primitives. We WILL ship to you, but we do not have a website or etsy to sell from- sorry, I love having the "wood&wood" shop here on my property- plus....time is precious so I don't want to take any "free time" away from the cottage for online sales. : )

As the holidays approach, we here at Simple Dimple Primitives thought it would be fun to have a Holiday Cookie Recipe swap- just post your favorite recipe.....maybe you have Auntie Mae's famous Gingerbread Man cookie recipe......or your Mothers mouth watering Chocolate Chunk oooey-goooey cookies? {sorry- that would be my favorite!}

Christmas is my favorite holiday- for many reasons. While you are out and about shopping, gathering your decorations, trimming the tree or hosting family/friends these next few weeks- to take a step back and remember those who are most important to you.

Christmas comes but once a year- but LOVE is the whole year thru!

Until next time.....stay warm & cozy!

The beginning of the Holiday Season.....

* sweet tooth sweets *

Saturdays Holiday Craft Festival traffic wasn't as heavy as we had hoped. However Judy, Jeanne and myself met some very interesting folks as well as a very talented baker- Christine Munoz, owner/baker of sweet tooth sweets. I not only rave about her delicious treats, {I should know first hand I ate 2 cupcakes....and more!} , I also rave about her talent to promote her bake goods. Her booth looked as if you were walking into a Manhattan bakery/deli- you know that great little place where you always need to go back for your favorite pastry?! We hope to feature Christine here at Simple Dimple Primitives during our 2010 events! Watch out ACE OF CAKES!

Next Judy and I will be "tweeking" here and there.....working on this and that is probably the best way to describe our calendar of events at this time. There are SO many things we want to do....with SO little time to fit it all in!

Simple Dimple Primitives will be having a final END OF SEASON SALE for the month of November, plus attending another Holiday Show & Event before going into hibernation.

Until next time.....stay cozy!

Introducing "Bertha Dell" & "Aurelia"

Bertha Dell & Aurelia are two of Jeanne Wagmans creations for Simple Dimple Primitives.

These two darling garden gals will be heading out to the Holiday Craft Festival on Saturday.

But before they prepare to travel- we are offering our readers a chance to purchase them.

Each doll comes with a story tag. Each doll is an original- there are never duplicate "gals" - so you will own a "one and only".

If you are interested in one or both- please e-mail me for more information.

The fall pumpkin decoration is also a creation by Jeanne. We have one left!! If interested- please contact me by e-mail!

Stay cozy!