New Windows

When we were newly married, we could afford old and big or new and small.  With trying to blend 5 children into a new family, we opted for old and big, that way everyone could take a different corner if we needed to have some space.  One of the headaches joys of an old house, is there is always something that needs to be fixed, updated, repaired, replaced or brought up to code.  So for the last 12 years we have been doing just that.

At first it was very little things, as we could afford them.  Then, as the list dwindled down, we got to the more expensive things.  This fall we are tackling the windows.

The old windows, after the trim was removed.

Putting in the new windows.

New windows before the trim was installed.

These windows are original to the house, about 1967 or so.  The are drafty, they leak, and you would have to break them to get out in an emergency.  After looking into selling our house last spring, the windows were one thing both the realtor and the appraiser said we needed to fix.  So here we are, fixing them.

I do love the look of the new windows and I am hoping the rooms are a little warmer with the newer technology that goes along with them.  I also know the baby boy and his chick will be able to escape if they need to.

Kitchen window before...

Kitchen window after...

So, in celebration of the new windows I made an old childhood favorite.  Stained glass window cookies.  I loved these as a kid.  I always dreamed of having a Christmas tree decorated with nothing but these cookies and twinkling lights...it has never happened, but there is still time.  If I don't eat them all, this could be the start for my tree this year!  Don't plan on it.

Stained Glass Window Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 tsp. salt
2 1/2 cups flour
hard candies, jolly ranchers or lifesavers, colors separated and candies crushed

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, add egg, vanilla, and salt mix completely.  Add flour in three batches, mixing until combined.  Do not over beat.  Divide dough into two balls, place on plastic wrap and flatten into disks, wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.

Preheat oven to 375 F.  Cover cookie sheets with aluminum foil and lightly spray with cooking spray.  Remove one disk of cookie dough.  Roll dough between two sheets of wax paper that has been lightly floured.  Remove top sheet of wax paper and cut dough into desired shapes.  Move shapes to prepared cookie sheets, spaced about 1 inch apart.

Cut center out of shape with a smaller cookie cutter or knife.  (Remove center shapes to a separate cookie sheet for baking.)  Fill centers of cut-outs with crushed candies.  Bake until cookies are light brown and crushed candies are melted about 6-10 minutes.  Let cool on cookies sheets about 5 minutes, carefully peel cookies from aluminum foil and cool completely on cooling rack.  Makes about 3 dozen.

November 13, 2013  Daylight 6 hrs.  27 min.  41 sec.   Temp. H 33/ L 17°F