Our Table…Christmas Cookies

One of the best parts of the holidays are the desserts, and our family enjoys a plethora of cakes and cookies. Here are our family’s favorite Christmas cookies (Santa loves these too). We would love to hear from you..share your favorite recipes with us.

PECAN TASSIE COOKIES

Cookie Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Flour
• 2 3oz Packages Cream Cheese (softened)
• 1 Cup Butter (softened)
• 6 Tablespoons Confectioner Sugar

Filling Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• 1 Egg
• 3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1 Cup Chopped Nuts (preferred pecans)

Directions:

• Preheat Oven to 350F
• Cream Together Butter and Cream Cheese
• Add Sugar and Flour – Blend Well
• Shape Dough into Walnut Size Balls (easier if you lightly flour your hands)
• Press into Pan (mini muffin pans)
• Mix the Filling Ingredients and Fill Cookies
• Bake 17-20 Minutes
• Sprinkle with Confectioner Sugar

PEANUT BLOSSOMS

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 Cup Flour (sifted)
• 1 Teaspoon  Baking Soda
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 Cup Butter
• 1/3 Cup Peanut Butter
• 1/2 Cup Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Directions:

1. Sift flour then stir in baking soda and salt. Set aside.
2. Cream together butter and peanut butter until smooth.
3. Add sugar and brown sugar until blended.
4. Add egg and vanilla extract to cream to mixture.
5. Slowly add dry ingredients to cream mixture and stir until well blended.
6. Shape into balls and roll in granulated sugar.
7. Bake on greased cookie sheet for 8 minutes.
8. Remove from oven, press Hershey kiss into the center of each cookies then return to oven for 2 more minutes.
9. Cool.

CHRISTMAS CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons Cornstarch
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
• 3/4 Cup Butter (melted)
• 3/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 Large Egg and 1 Egg Yolk
• 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1/2 Cup Christmas M&Ms

Directions:

1. Whisk the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until no sugar lumps remain. Whisk in the egg, then the egg egg yolk, followed by the vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together with a large spoon or rubber spatula. Fold in the chocolate chips and M&Ms. Cover the dough and chill for at least 2 hours (or up to 3 days).
3. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and allow to soften slightly at room temperature for 10 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
5. Roll the dough into balls, about 3 tablespoons of dough per cookie. If the dough is crumbly, the warmth of your hands will help it come together in a ball. Roll the cookie dough balls to be taller rather than wide. Place 8 balls of dough 3 inches apart onto each cookie sheet.
6. Bake each batch for 11-12 minutes. The cookies will look very soft and underbaked. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely. 

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Holiday and Winter Activities in Rye

Breakfast with Santa
Location: Doral Arrowwood at 975 Anderson Hill Road in Rye Brook
Date: Sunday, December 16th
Times: 11:15am and 1:30pm
Click HERE for more information and to register.

Pancakes with Santa
Location: Damiano Recreation Center in Rye
Date: Saturday, December 15th
Time: 10:00am
Ages: 2-7
Cost: $20 per resident
Click HERE for more information and to register.

Wainwright House Annual Holiday Party
Location: Wainwright House at 260 Stuyvesant Avenue in Rye
Date: Friday, December 14th
Time: 7:00-10:00pm
Cost: $65 Members and $75 Non-Members
Cocktails | Dinner | Silent Auction | Music
Click HERE for more information and to purchase tickets.

Winter Wonderland
Location: Kensico Dam at 1 Bronx River Parkway in Valhalla
Dates and Times: Various (Through December 31st)
Ice Skating | The Santa Experience | Circus Shows | Rides | Light Show
For more information click HERE.

Schools in Rye are closed from December 24th thru January 1st. Looking for some activities to entertain the children? Check out the camps and programs available at both Rye YMCA and Rye Recreation:

Rye Recreation Winter Break
Click HERE for program descriptions and to register.

• Mad Science Workshop
• Open Skate and Gym
• Dribble, Dish and Swish Contest
• Mad Science Show
• Ice Cream Social

December Vacation Clubs (Rye YMCA)
Click HERE for program descriptions and to register.

• Fun Club
• Basketball
• STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math)
• Gymnastics
• Teen Fitness

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Weekly Market Update: December 13th

Weekly Real Estate Update (12/7/18 – 12/13/18)

RYE CITY SCHOOLS (10580)

• Active Single Family Homes – 70
• SF Homes in Contract – 24
• Average Listing Price – $3,147,489
• Average LP Per SF – $698.94
• Average DOM – 121 Days
• Median Listing Price – $2,597,000
• Sales YTD: 2018 – 140 | 2017 – 163

1 New Single Family Listings in Rye:

• 2 Westbank Road – $3,195,000 New Construction
• 272 Locust Avenue – $6,495,000

0 Price Reductions in Rye

3 Public Open House in Rye This Weekend

RYE NECK SCHOOLS (10580)

• Active Single Family Homes – 11
• SF Homes in Contract – 2
• Average Listing Price – $2,744,091
• Average LP per SF – $511.86
• Average DOM – 166 Days
• Median Listing Price – $2,250,000
• Sales YTD: 2018 – 22 | 2017 – 18

0 New Single Family Listings in Rye Neck 10580

0 Price Reductions in Rye Neck 10580

1 Public Open House in Rye Neck (10580) This Weekend

HARRISON SCHOOLS (10577, 10580, 10528)

• Active Single Family Homes – 103
• SF Homes in Contract – 20
• Average Listing Price – $2,555,432
• Average LP per SF – $422.82
• Average DOM – 195 Days
• Median Listing Price – $2,195,000
• Sales YTD: 2018 – 135 | 2017 – 120

3 New Single Family Listings in Harrison:

• 89 Grove Street (10528) – $900,000
  
• 819 West Street (10528) – $1,125,000
• 621 West Street (10528) – $1,549,000

3 Price Reductions in Harrison

• 248 Woodlands Road (10528) – $1,600,000 to $1,400,000
• 205 Polly Park Road (10580) – $1,700,000 to $1,632,000
• 32 Polly Park Road (10580) – $1,950,000 to $1,650,000

8 Public Open Houses in Harrison (10580,10528,10577) This Weekend

For more information on any of the above properties or the current real estate market please contact me at jomeara@houlihanlawrence.com.

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Local Business: MOD by Everett Designs

Move – Organize – Design

White Glove Move, Organization and Design (MOD). Twenty-five years ago Michele Rivera worked for Barney’s New York as an Interior Design project manager, her role was to make sure Barneys New York stores all over the country were kept current, modern and chic. At Everett Designs, she designs and decorates homes keeping true to her project manager and design style, helping her clients achieve the same. Using her skills as a designer and project manager she created a TEAM of specialists in moving, organization and design.

Moving Team assesses your home and puts a plan in place to move you efficiently and effortlessly.

Organization Team creates the master project list and timelines incorporating contractors, painters, audiovisual needs, home editing and interior design projects.

Design Team works with you to fulfill your wish list of must have and must do before and after move in day.

Their goal is to make your move and design of your new home effortless.

To find out more or to set up a consultation please contact:
MOD by Everett Designs Michele Rivera
Michele Rivera
michele@everettdesignsllc.com
914.484.1738

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Our Table…Salmon Rillettes

I feel like I am always looking for a lighter (read…no cheese) appetizer to serve and this one fits that bill nicely.

Salmon Rillettes and Dorie Greenspan

Ingredients:

• 1 lemon, for a strip of zest, a few teaspoons of grated zest, and the juice…this lemon will multi-task
• 1 small red chile pepper
• ½ cup dry white wine or vermouth
• ½ cup water
• 1 bay leaf
• 5 white peppercorns
• 5 coriander seeds (I used a pinch of ground coriander)
• 2 small spring onions, finely chopped (reserve tops) or 1 shallot finely chopped
• Salt
• ½ pound salmon filet cut into small cubes (½ inch)
• 4-6 ounces smoked salmon, cut into small bits (¼ inch)
• Freshly ground white pepper
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ¼ teaspoon pink peppercorns
• Bread, crackers, or toast for serving

Instructions:

1. Cut a small slice of lemon zest with a knife or a vegetable peeler. Put it in a medium saucepan with the wine, water, bay leaf, peppercorn, coriander, ½ teaspoon salt, and the tops of the spring onions if you are using them. Cut off a small piece of the chile pepper and add it to the pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower the heat, cover and simmer the liquid for 5 minutes. Then, drop the fresh salmon into the liquid and let it poach for one minute. Pour it all through a strainer and remove the pieces of salmon to another bowl. Discard the rest.
2. Meanwhile, zest the remaining lemon peel. Remove and discard the seeds from the the chile and chop the pepper finely. Allow the salmon to cool a bit.
3. Now for the fun part. With the back of a fork, mash up the poached salmon. Add the smoked salmon bits, the lemon zest, the chopped chile, and the onion or shallot. Season with salt and white pepper and stir. Add the butter and mash it in until it is well incorporated and you have a thick spread. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon into the mix and stir it in well. Taste, and add salt, crushed pink pepper and lemon juice as needed.
4. Pack the salmon into ramekins or jars and place plastic wrap against the surface of the salmon. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

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Family Event: Xmas Tree Lighting

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Weekly Market Update: December 6th

Weekly Real Estate Update (11/30/18 – 12/6/18)

RYE CITY SCHOOLS (10580)

• Active Single Family Homes – 73
• SF Homes in Contract – 22
• Average Listing Price – $3,010,524
• Average LP Per SF – $690.05
• Average DOM – 122 Days
• Median Listing Price – $2,495,000
• Sales YTD: 2018 – 140 | 2017 – 160

5 New Single Family Listings in Rye:

• 3 Red Oak Drive – $1,249,000 HL
• 4 Gypsy Place – $1,499,000
• 95 Sonn Drive – $2,495,000 New Construction
• 99 Sonn Drive – $2,779,000 New Construction
• 272 Locust Avenue – $6,495,000

4 Price Reductions in Rye

• 125 Wappanocca Avenue – $900,000 to $899,000
• 9 Thorne Place – $1,299,000 to $1,249,000
• 4 Oakwood Avenue – $1,650,000 to $1,625,000
• 57 Osborn Road – $2,300,000 to $2,095,000

10 Public Open House in Rye This Weekend

RYE NECK SCHOOLS (10580)

• Active Single Family Homes – 13
• SF Homes in Contract – 2
• Average Listing Price – $2,551,923
• Average LP per SF – $509.35
• Average DOM – 156 Days
• Median Listing Price – $2,195,000
• Sales YTD: 2018 – 22| 2017 – 18

0 New Single Family Listings in Rye Neck 10580

0 Price Reductions in Rye Neck 10580

2 Public Open House in Rye Neck (10580) This Weekend

HARRISON SCHOOLS (10577, 10580, 10528)

• Active Single Family Homes – 102
• SF Homes in Contract – 24
• Average Listing Price – $2,582,965
• Average LP per SF – $427.66
• Average DOM – 192 Days
• Median Listing Price – $2,222,000
• Sales YTD: 2018 – 131 | 2017 – 119

5 New Single Family Listings in Harrison:

• 25 Ellsworth Avenue (10528) – $789,000
  
• 32 Old Lyme Road (10577) – $999,000
• 1 Gray Rock Drive (10528) – $1,545,000 New Construction
• 3700 Purchase Street (10577) -$4,499,999
• 73 Bellevue Avenue (10580) – $7,995,000 HL

0 Price Reductions in Harrison

8 Public Open Houses in Harrison (10580,10528,10577) This Weekend

For more information on any of the above properties or the current real estate market please contact me at jomeara@houlihanlawrence.com.

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