Raspberry Shortbread Cookies

I love these cookies. Make sure you get seedless jam. Raspberry –Almond Thumbprint Shortbread (makes 7 dozen cookies)

2 cups (1 pound) butter
1 1/3 c sugar
1 tsp. almond extract
4 cups flour
1 cup seedless raspberry jam

Cream butter, add sugar and extract. Blend in flour.

Roll into 1 inch balls. Make a thumb indentation in each. Fill with ¼ tsp jam.

Bake 14-18 minutes on cookie sheet at 350 degrees until edges are light brown. Cool on cookie sheet one minute before removing to racks. Drizzle with glaze while cookies are still warm.

For glaze combine in a small bowl:
2 cups powdered sugar
3 tsp almond extract
6-8 tsp water

Note: I found this on a Land O’ Lakes butter box years ago.

Mary Kelly
http://www.ProductiveLeaders.com

Black Friday and the Free Market – 30 Days of Gratitude

Black Friday

I love Black Friday, the day when retailers’ books go from red to black because of the profits they make on the day after Thanksgiving. It is a dance, of sorts, between the retailers, trying to woo customers into spending as much as possible, and the consumers who are trying to buy products at the lowest possible prices. Thanks to advanced advertisements and internet specials, die-hard Black Friday shoppers comparison pre-shop days before Thanksgiving, and have a plan for exactly where they will be at 4 in the morning on Friday.

Some stores opened at midnight Thanksgiving night so that shoppers could shop all night. (This is a little too New Moon for me, but it is very helpful for shift workers.)

The frenzy that now comprises the Black Friday shopping madness makes some wonder whether or not the lower prices are worth the lines, crowds, and fatigue. I go out every year because I find it entertaining to watch, and because nothing else is quite like the hunt for a great deal. What I saw were some retailers being smarter about sale items – instead of advertising low priced items in the stores, those items were marked with the same tags as non-sale prices, making it more difficult for the non-prepared to find the loss leaders. This was a good idea on the part of retailers, because customers had to be both smart and motivated to get the great deals. In many cases the great deals were sold out at 6:05 when the store only opened at 6:00 am.

Black Friday is a perfect example of pure market competition. Buyers know the prices throughout the selling market, and sellers hope to make up in volume what loss leaders cost them.
I saw people with ads from several stores, simultaneously checking print ads with online specials. Buyers were being smart, which delighted me. Stores had plenty of personnel, lots of inventory, and steady sales, who also pleased me. This is how a market is supposed to work: Buyers and Sellers coming together in an exchange of goods and services, at price and quantity equilibriums that satisfy both.

According to early numbers, Black Friday was good for both buyers and sellers. That is the way the free market is supposed to work – both sides are supposed to gain and feel as though they benefitted by the transaction.

Mary Kelly
http://www.ProductiveLeaders.com
http://www.Organize-You.com

Chocolate Kahlua Pie

Frozen Kahlua Chocolate Pie

This is a different, light dessert.

1 graham cracker crust
1 small can evaporated milk
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds
12 oz Cool Whip
1/3 cup Kahlua

Heat milk over low heat and add chocolate chips. Stir until chips are melted. Stir in marshmallows and stir until melted. Refrigerate to cool. Combine Kahlua with Cool Whip and almonds, add to chocolate mixture. Spoon into pie shell. Freeze 4 hours or overnight. Top with additional toasted almonds and shaved chocolate if handy.

Mary Kelly
http://www.ProductiveLeaders.com

Mary’s Cranberry Sauce – 30 Days of Gratitude

Mary’s Cranberry Sauce/Relish

One of my friends asked about a cranberry relish/sauce.

I use this for everything – Emily’s Layered Cranberry Ring, and Cranberry Bread. Just dump it into a cranberry bread recipe or a mix. It is also great with turkey or ham as well.

1 package cranberries ( fresh, in the produce section)
2 oranges
½ – 2/3 cup sugar
¼ cup water

Rinse and sort cranberries in a colander. Throw out rocks, leaves, and smashed cranberries.

Dump in a 3 quart saucepan with water and sugar. While that starts to cook over low-medium heat, juice the 2 oranges and add juice and a little pulp to the saucepan. With the smallest setting on the cheese grater, grate the outside, oranges part of the washed oranges to get about 1 full teaspoon. Add to saucepan and stir. When the berries start to pop, you are close. Mixture will start to thicken and be delicious. You can add more sugar if desired.

Mary Kelly
http://www.ProductiveLeaders.com

Emily’s Cranberry Ring

My friends Emily used to make this every Thanksgiving. It takes a bit of effort, with the thickening of the jello, but it is worth it. Emily passed away 4 years ago, and I remian profoundly thankful for her.

Layered Cranberry Ring

1 package raspberry gelatin
1 cup hot water
1 14 oz can crushed pineapple
1 cup Cool Whip
1 ¼ cups boiling water
2 cups miniature marshmallows
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup cranberry relish
1 package lemon gelatin

Spray Pam in a large ring mold, or use a pretty glass dish.

First layer:
Dissolve raspberry gelatin in one-cup hot water. Add cranberry relish. Pour into mold. Chill until formed.

Second layer:
Dissolve lemon gelatin in 1-¼ cups boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved. Add marshmallows and stir until melted. Add juice from canned pineapple. Refrigerate until mixture begins to thicken.

In a separate bowl combine cream cheese, and drained pineapple. Add to mixture and combine well. Fold in Cool Whip. Pour over the fist layer.

Refrigerate overnight. If using mold, place the ring in hot water to loosen, and invert onto serving plate.

Mary’s Apple Cake – 30 Days of Gratitude

Mary’s Apple Cake

Spray Pam in a 9 x 13 inch pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1 cup oil
½ cup applesauce
2 cups sugar
3 eggs

Cream together. Add:

3 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt

Stir in:

1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
4 cups chopped apples

Mixture will be VERY thick.

Bake 50-60 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Dust top with powdered sugar.

Great for breakfast or dessert.

30 Days of Gratitude – National Speakers Association Fall Conference 2009 Phoenix, AZ

I am returning from a National Speakers Association (NSA) conference in Phoenix, Arizona. (I know, who listens at Speakers Conferences? It begs the question.)

What struck me was how many people, and I mean literally, every single person I spoke to, was willing to share their best practices on marketing, platform skills, book publishing, creating clever stories, and all parts of operating a speaking business.

People shared their good, bad and ugly aspects with a transparency that was both honest and inspiring. People actively look for others who are maybe not as far along as they are in the speaking world and they mentor them. It reminds me of a quote that states something like “Wherever you are, there is someone behind you. Maybe they are 2 steps, 7 steps, or a mile behind you. Wherever you are, wherever you might be, you’re in a position to reach behind you, grab someone else, and push them forward.”

What I find so motivational is that it appeared to me that everyone at NSA was actively looking to find people they could push forward. Wow. We would create opportunities for each other. If everyone in business pushed each other forward, we really would make a bigger economic pie.

Have a great Thanksgiving week!
Mary Kelly
http://www.ProductivLeaders.com
Mary@ProductiveLeaders.com

30 Days of Gratitude – The Elevator Speech

As I got into the elevator at the airport, I was struck with how fabulously happy and grateful I felt that moment.

A friend dropped me off at the airport, other friends called to make sure I was going to the National Speakers Association conference, and still more friends called to see when I was returning. What fabulous friends! As I stood in the elevator I was just overcome by how wonderful to is to feel completely cared for by many wonderful, kind, caring people. How thankful I am for the people in my life who bless me on a daily basis.

Then I walked out of the elevator, and a little boy running toward the elevator tripped, tossing his coke all over me and my clothes.

But I laughed because I had 4 layers of clothing on, because it was 20 degrees when I left my house. And I was full of gratitude because I abundantly own 4 layers to wear.
Mary Kelly
http://www.ProductiveLeaders.com

30 Days of Gratitude – Weekend Edition

I consider myself a fairly organized person, although those closest to me might disagree. My business files are always maintained extremely well, but my office is not picture perfect. It is neat, and I can generally find anything I want quickly, but apparently I have my problems stem from areas that cannot be seen. Such as the inside of my desk.
So I decided to clean out my office desk drawer and provide my loyal reads with an accounting of the inventory tucked inside. It seems like a prelude to a Christmas song. The Twelve Days of Desk Drawers:
1 pair of scissors
2 Starbucks cards
3 paint can openers (those key looking things)
4 nail files
5 rolls of tape
6 lonely bullets (no idea, afraid to ask myself)
7 lost buttons
8 books of stamps (I always have stamps – when I was in my teens a wise lady once told me that responsible people always have stamps, which also may be why I get a trifle bit annoyed at people to drive to the post office and then stand in line just to buy one stamp. One stamp people! Buy a book! Carry it around with you! But I digress from my desk),
9 single earrings (I don’t have a place on my body for single earrings, just to clear that up)
10 batteries
11 post-it note pads
12 pens without caps on them.

And yes, I do feel lucky. And grateful because to me, these things are signs of wealth. I talked with my friend Chris in Kenya, and when I say he has nothing, he literally has nothing. So yes, I am filled with gratitude. And my desk drawer is cleaner!

Once Upon a Pancake – 30 Days of Gratitude

Once Upon a Pancake

I love the idea that we get to eat cake for breakfast. Same ingredients, syrup instead of frosting, but cake for breakfast. Since I seldom eat dessert after dinner (I am usually way too full), I think it is helpful to occasionally celebrate the of the day with cake. Okay, I realize that nutritionally this could be improved with fruit and egg whites and maybe some spinach, but I like the idea that we get to enjoy good things first.

I was looking at my “good dishes” yesterday and realized that I had not used them for years. They are gorgeous, with a rim of sterling silver setting off a white plate. They are elegant and beautiful. They were also expensive and I live in fear that I will break one.

How silly is that? To not use the “good china” because I am worried about losing one, when I am essentially losing all of them by not using them.

Then I thought, how many of my friends are a little dusty (metaphorically) because I have not seen them in a while? I have great friends and I miss them, even the ones I have not spoken to in a long while.

So I think I will apply my pancake idea to the rest of my life. I am going to wash off my good china and reconnect with some old friends.

Mary Kelly
http://www.ProductiveLeaders.com
Mary@ProductiveLeaders.com