Garlic Fermented Honey

 The problem with winter gatherings with lots of people, are the germs that spread.  I had good intentions of cleaning the house, after the gathering we had here, and I failed.  I love my family, but with them come germs.

By "clean" I mean to disinfect bathrooms, door knobs, and the like.   Not all hands get washed (especially little hands when no one is watching), and I had not gone anywhere other than the library.  My husband said to me, "I don't get it. You haven't been anywhere but the library."  Yep.  Also, he can bring germs home from work (as we have found out back in October).

I caught a bug of some sort, which started with a runny nose, then sore throat and watery eyes etc.  I instinctively took Four Thieves Vinegar, but later remembered I made garlic fermented honey.

I have been sipping hot teas with the garlic honey, and will report back as to if it helped shorten the length of this said bug or not. 

I'm still finding reasons to get outside to get fresh air.  I'm hoping this bug passes quickly.

Random wise words I recently heard:

"Words come from the lips.  Actions come from the heart."

I have no idea if these are famous, or who said them, we heard them in a movie recently.  I had to share.

Garlic Fermented Honey ~ A Family Christmas Tradition © Dec 2023 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Sour Cream Softies ~ A Family Christmas Tradition

 I thought for sure, that I had posted the recipe for these cookies, but so far I have not located it on my blog.  So...

Here is the recipe for Sour Cream Softies, a traditional Christmas cookie, that was passed down from my Mom.

I had no idea where the recipe came from prior to my Mom, but she loved to sit and listen to a radio station, where recipes were shared (definitely a thing in the past that is not done today on the radio). It is possible she obtained it from the radio station, but I am not for certain.

Sour Cream Softies

3 cups sifted all purpose flour (we use organic)

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 c. butter softened (we use organic)

1 1/2 c. sugar

2 eggs (we use farm fresh)

1 tsp. vanilla (I made this homemade)

1 cup (8 oz) sour cream (organic)

Measure flour, salt baking powder, and soda into a sifter.  Cream butter with sugar until well blended.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Sift in flour mixture, alternating with sour cream.  Drop by teaspoonful on parchment paper lined baking sheets (spread each teaspoonful out a bit).  Sprinkle with red/green sugar sprinkles.  Bake at 400°F for 12 minutes.  Cool on wire racks.  Store in an airtight container.

I never got the chance to make homemade sour cream, when we had Lamancha dairy goats.

Sour Cream Softies ~ A Family Christmas Tradition © Dec 2023 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart