And a partridge in a pear tree!

I am moving into the home stretch with one more final in the Sustainability course, a lunch out with the other students in the class and a final cleaning of our first quarter classroom where we had practicum. I am excited about the end of the first quarter as well as the ramping up of the holiday season. My trips to the farmers market have included a stop to pick up some winter seckel pears. The kids are going nuts over these. This is especially true of my daughter, the budding culinarian. Today I'm off to a party with the other students for a cookie exchange and socializing. All in all, this will be a nice week.


In addition, I have been thinking about how my family and friends have supported/encouraged me in this endeavor. I realize how wonderful the world is when pursuing a passion, and I know my family especially has seen the results of a much happier dad and father. Yes, I have the privilege of rose colored glasses for a while. Notwithstanding, this year has had its ups and downs. I have experienced both loss and change, and have been keenly aware of friends who have been going through their own personal joys and sorrows. I fear sounding clichéd but there have been many opportunities to see how life does operate in a circular fashion, queue "Circle of Life" from The Lion King. Perhaps, we are given opportunities to be more like phoenixes that burn up in fire then rise from ashes. It can be hard to know when the fire ends and when the ashes are ready but somewhere somehow I think it will happen. That I guess is the definition of Hope. In the spirit of the season - I HOPE you have a Happy Holiday season, and leave you with a modified recipe I remember my grandparents making every Christmas...

Toffee Bars
1 c. unsalted butter (room temperature)
1 c. tightly packed brown sugar
1 egg yolk (use large egg for best result)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 c. All-Purpose flour (do not sift)
1/4 tsp salt
1 c. finely chopped walnuts (although I like pecans)
12 oz chocolate (you can use chocolate chips - my grandparents used the small hershey bars)

Steps
1) Set oven to 350°F
2) Cream butter.
3) Add brown sugar and cream together with butter.
4) Add egg yolk to butter and sugar and mix until well blended.
5) Mix salt and AP flour until blended. Gradually add to butter-sugar mixture.
6) Spread evenly in a half-sheet pan, you can use a 15"x"10 inch pan.
7) Bake in oven 15-18 minutes.
8) Remove from oven, place chocolate on warm bars and put in oven for thirty seconds.
9) Spread chocolate evenly across bars.
10) Sprinkly chopped nuts over top and lightly press in to chocolate.
11) Cool and cut into desired serving pieces.