Twas' the Weeks Before Christmas...

Traditional Sugar Cookies... We used regular cookie cutters and tinby play dough cutters for really small cookies.
And for a twist: Norwegian Sugar Cookies2cups butter softened; 1 cup light or dark brown sugar; 1/4 tsp salt; 4 cups flour; 1/4 tsp ground cardamom; 1/4 tsp vanilla
- Preheat oven to 300F and cream butter in a mixer.
- Beat in brown sugar gradually. Add salt & flour 1 cup at a time. Add vanilla & Cardamom; mix well.
- Turn dough onto a well foured board. Pat or roll to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. cut with cookie cutter.
- place on ungreased sheet. Bake ~20 minutes.

Caroline & Halina spend evenings dancing before bed.

A visit with Santa Claus at the Capital Trolley Museum... no lines... no rush... Halina was the first kid to greet Santa and discussed how she likes to give her Dad hugs and all the animals that she gets to see on hikes. She didn't ask for any specific presents, just blew Santa a kiss goodbye as we left. Halina has been taking Ballet at the Maryland School of Youth Ballet in Silver Springs. The 8 classes were pricy, but worth it. The teacher, Teres, is great with 2/3 year olds. Parents are required to stay and participate. Today was Halina's 4th class and she did a little better than normal. Usually a bookstore visit and snacks are motivation to behave through class. Now we jsut have to get off the waiting list for the next set of classes... Halina's first haircut was a success. It may have simply because we didn't make a big deal of it and she had TV to watch. But I'm relived that it was a "good" experience for her.
Again this year we got our tree from the end of our street. We walked there and Michal carried our tree home. Decorating was a week long project. I still haven't figured out the outdoor lighting situation...

Match Night festivities - Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake - amazing, and easy!
12 OREO Cookies, finely crushed (about 1 cup)
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
3 squares BAKER'S White Chocolate, divided - I used Girradelli’s
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened I used 1/3 less fat free
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1/4 cup red raspberry preserves
HEAT oven to 350ºF.
MIX cookie crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 8- or 9-inch square pan. Melt 2 chocolate squares as directed on package.
BEAT cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Add melted chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
BAKE 25 to 28 min. or until center is almost set. Cool 5 min.; spread with preserves. Melt remaining chocolate square; drizzle over cheesecake. Cool cheesecake completely. Refrigerate 4 hours.
Save 60 calories and 7 grams of fat per serving by preparing with Reduced Fat OREO Cookies, PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese and egg whites.
How to Double Recipe
This recipe can be easily doubled. Just prepare as directed, doubling all ingredients and baking in 13x9-inch pan. Makes 18 servings.