Christmas Presents – Elegant Survival

christmas_2016_copyright_m-j_de_mesterton — **Oil Paintings by M-J de Mesterton**

My Christmas Cakes, 2010 and 2016–Always White with Royal Icing

M-J’s Classic Christmas Cookies

I have been enjoying these festive shortbread biscuits since I was a child.

One half-pound of butter

Two and a half cups of flour

One cup of powdered sugar

One tablespoon of milk (full-fat, of course)

One teaspoon of vanilla (imitation vanilla is just as good as the real thing)

One egg yolk mixed with two tablespoons of cream (to brush on top, as a base for sprinkles–adds nice flavour, believe it or not)
If you are going to use icing and a piping bag to decorate these Christmas cookies, skip this.

Method:

The ingredients, except for the egg yolk and cream, are mixed together and rolled out to a quarter (1/4) inch thickness. Then cookie-cutters are employed; the things are brushed with egg yolk/cream and sprinkled with coloured sugar. Sometimes I prefer to decorate the cookies with Swedish pärlsokker, or white pearl sugar. Transfer the cut-out cookies to an upside-down cookie-sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

M-J de Mesterton

Wye Valley Specialities for Christmastide from Our Dear Friend Peter King

Ideals Christmas Magazine, 1947

Elegant Christmas Gifts

4 Dec 20114 Dec 2011 M-J de Mesterton

Aloe vera plants make excellent hostess gifts. Their neat habit and elegant shape make them welcome in any room. They are low-maintenance and useful in wound-care applications. Because aloe vera needs very little water, it is also the perfect plant for a college dormitory room. The aloe vera plant provides a natural healing salve and some elegant greenery. ~~M-J

Elle Fitzgerald Sings Cole Porter: Great Cocktail Music

Elegant Dressing, elegant living on a shoestring, elegant survival, the original elegant living on a shoestring

Women’s Warm Winter Slippers at Target

1 Dec 20084 Dec 2009 M-J de Mesterton

Today’s a good time to repeat this post, since Target sent me an email to the effect that they are having some sort of sale.

Chandra Slippers at Target

These comfortable slippers are the next best thing to sheepskin, very comfortable and warm, with a non-skid sole to keep you from slipping and falling on slick floors. Ladies’ “Chandra” scuffs are faux-fur lined, real suede mules; they come in several colors. They’re a good deal at $16.99 per pair. My tests prove that they will not put scuff-marks on floors, despite their name!

Chandra Scuffs at Target.com

My Chandra Slippers from Target

Elegant Dressing, elegant living on a shoestring, elegant survival, Elegant Survivor, the original elegant living on a shoestring

Women’s Warm Winter Slippers

23 Oct 20081 Dec 2008 M-J de Mesterton

Chandra Slippers at Target

These comfortable slippers are the next best thing to sheepskin, very comfortable and warm, with a non-skid sole to keep you from slipping and falling on slick floors. Ladies’ “Chandra” scuffs are faux-fur lined, real suede mules. They’re a good deal at $16.99 per pair. My tests prove that they will not put scuff-marks on floors, despite their name!