MMMMMMMerry Christmas to all!

A fabulous way to celebrate the holidays is with some chocolate ... here is a keeper:

NO-CHOLESTEROL BROWNIES

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 egg whites, beaten to blend
2 teaspoons vanilla
2/3 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 8-inch square pan with 2-inch-high sides. Combine first 5 ingredients in large bowl. Add oil, egg whites and vanilla and blend. Stir in walnuts. Transfer to prepared pan. Bake until brownies are slightly puffed in center and edges are beginning to brown, about 30 minutes. Cover hot brownies in pan with foil and chill overnight. Cut brownies into 16 2-inch squares. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Store in airtight container.)

Yay!

I finished all my Christmas cards Saturday morning .... lots of writing but at least I used address labels to address cards so I didn't have any of that. After all that envelope licking, I had a great idea. Why don't they make flavoured gummed envelopes? Would make life so much better, no?

Christmas creations

Trying as best I can to make more Christmas cards .... have to churn them out! Plus I have thank you cards to write for students' gifts. They have been so generous this year!

an ornament 

A little tree .... 

Stars and sparkles 

An ornament  

Chocolate Earl Grey Cake

Yes, I know, it seems so odd but it is absolutely amazing! I just made it for a dinner party last week and thought it might be nice to post the recipe for others to try.

the recipe ...

6 Earl Grey tea bags or 2 tablespoons loose Earl Grey
1 cup water
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
3 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup plain yogurt
Confectioners' sugar

Heat oven to 350° F. Coat an 8-cup fluted tube pan with cooking spray. Brew the tea in the water 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags or strain the leaves and set the brewed tea aside. Using a mixer, beat the butter, eggs, and granulated sugar until fluffy. Blend in the chocolate. Beat in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, yogurt, and brewed tea. Pour into pan. Bake 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out with a few crumbs attached. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes. Turn out of pan and cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

Yield: Makes 10 servings

CALORIES 413(0% from fat); FAT 17g (sat 10g); PROTEIN 7mg; CHOLESTEROL 88mg; CALCIUM 76mg; SODIUM 266mg; FIBER 3g; CARBOHYDRATE 64g; IRON 3mg
Real Simple, MARCH 2003

At Freckles' request ...

A Christmas card front ...

Here is an example of the shadow stamp I used ... hard to see on this textured paper, but it's the green part behind the tree itself. It's bumpy so the stamp shows up as dots galore.

Trying to get some Christmas cards ready to go ... glitter and glue flying everywhere!