Alfajores - (Sugar cookies with Caramel filling)

Alfajores (Sugar cookies with Caramel filling)

This recipe is a favorite…an original…from my Aunt Kath who lived in Argentina about 20 years. (Maybe I’ll hear back from her if it isn’t correct!) It is one of the best we ever tried. And its the ONLY recipe I ever use for alfajores. Everything is measured in grams, here (in Paraguay) and in the recipe, so I am not sure about the exact cup measurements. Try these out!

2 cups margarine (400 grams)

1 ½ cups of sugar (300 grams)

6 yolks

2 tablespoons vanilla,

“dulce de leche” liquor or rum

3 cups corn starch (600 grams)
2 cups flour (400 grams)

Mix the margarine and sugar. Add yolks and flavouring. Stir in cornstarch and flour. Roll out. Cut out with a round cookie cutter. Bake until LIGHTLY browned. Cool. Cover one cookie bottom with "dulce de leche" (caramel jelly) and stick another bottom cookie together to make a sandwich. Roll in shredded coconut.

I used mandioca starch instead of cornstarch since it is 1/3 the price. I also used Watkins Irish Creme flavoring. I also don't have the perfect sized-circle cutter so I used the top of a spray-can and it was just the size I wanted. You can save the egg whites for a jelly roll. :)

These cookies kind of like melt in your mouth!

Sunsets

You may have seen this yesterday on Facebook, but I wanted to write a little story behind it here.

When I was in seventh grade, Mr. Shelton, our art teacher asked us to do a free-style picture of a paradise. I dreamed up some palm trees and an ocean setting and started to draw. I don't want to brag, but I almost never got lower than an A-. So, I drew and colored a sunset paradise. It actually looked almost exactly like this real picture I took the other day. I proudly presented my work and it came back graded as an F!

I was soooooo mad I could not look at him for days or weeks. He just didn't understand my artistic feelings. How could he be an art teacher and not "get" what I was drawing and dreaming. I must not have ever really gotten over it because it is still so fresh in my mind...or maybe it was the first time I ever got an F, or maybe I didn't follow directions, or maybe it was just that HE was having a bad day.

Whatever it was...I still remember my sunset paradise! And, I love this dreamy time of day when I can start winding down and enjoy a cool breeze or two with my family.

Christ in Christmas

I wanted to post this earlier, but in the rush of activities, visitors and other plans, I didn't even have a chance to sit at the computer since last Wednesday.

Living in a very religious country, the Nativity scene is still so very popular in many cities, plazas, malls, homes, stores, or just about anywhere. You can buy the ceramic figurines and little straw stables on the street corners the whole month of December.

In the past couple of years, Santa Claus, presents, and the Christmas tree have become more popular, but it's still comforting to see Christ still in Christmas here in Paraguay...even though He may not be around in the cities, plazas, malls, homes and stores the REST of the year.

And...good thing He's in OUR HOUSE all year long!!!

Christmas decorations

I promised my aunt I would take a picture of my boxwood wreath...just like she taught me!
It's so cool! I wish I would have thought of this years ago!
It's on my front door bringing Christmas cheer to all of us!
I have so many things to write about and such little time. Pictures will have to do for now. I have Oscar's family (cousins) with us for Christmas. I am preparing - already!
Our parties start tomorrow and the family meal is on the 24th. Everyone bakes, cooks, and grills double so you don't have to work on Christmas day. Plus, traditionally, you have to share a plateful of your Christmas meal with your neighbors and they also give you a plateful of their goodies. We planning on going to La Quinta with Oscar's family. Have a great Christmas!

Weddings, weddings, weddings!

We had many weddings this weekend. This is the season for weddings! Nice hot weather for late night weddings! One wedding was a court wedding to get paper work started for the international couple...
Jason y Katy

Tomás y Loida

Nestor y Emilia

PJ and Edson

We have some friends here from the states. Our house has been a "home" for several young kids through out the years. Vivi, Amy, Emilia, Ben, Jason, and so many more on a shorter term stay...weeks, weekends, days, etc. Well, we have had proposals in our home, love-calls, emails and now even skype for the travellers (in love).

My story revolves around PJ who ended up marrying Amy and they are now visiting Paraguay for Emilia's wedding.

PJ has a wonderful gift of bonding with little kids. He bonded many years ago with Brandon and Gaby when they were little and now he and Edson have a special kind of friendship. Three years ago, Edson (and PJ) were so content to be together. Edson was a sleepy little 2 month old while PJ held him (at another wedding). PJ is so patient and will listen to a Spanish/English slur by a 3 year old in such a comprehensive way. Edson knows he is listening and can trust PJ with his stories. PJ pulls Edson up on his lap and of course, Edson knows that he's won a friend! Yes, we are thankful for PJ!

Well the funny thing is...Edson can't say PJ. He says "Pinche". Pinche means several things in Spanish. When I looked it up in the Larousse dictionary I was amazed at the different meanings. Each country has its own translations of this word and how it's used. Here in Paraguay, it could be a tack, a thistle or a pinch.

So whenever Edson calls for "Pinche" we all kind of laugh a little. But we know they both have a special bond!

Sights of Christmas

Christmas Decorations At the Mariscal Lopez Mall