More Baking

 

Thumbprints, rolled in pecans and filled with jam,

 Gingerbread cookies shaped like cupcakes (I had to try out a set of cupcake-shaped cookie cutters that I bought) then dipped in white candy coating,

Pecan Tassies, little miniature pecan pies baked in mini muffin pans.

Dedicated to the 20 Children Lost

 I don't know it wrote this but I had to share it:

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT....

This Is Super Yummy!

If you are looking for a quick bread to make for the holidays, something that people will rave about and beg you for the recipe, then this is it! Cranberry Sweet Potato Bread.

CRANBERRY SWEET POTATO BREAD

Makes 12 -16 slices
• 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 cup cooked and mashed sweet potatoes, canned or fresh
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup chopped cranberries (fresh or dried)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Coat a 9-inch-by-5-inch-by-3-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and dust with flour.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, sugar, oil, sweet potatoes and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, allspice and baking soda.

Make a well in the center. Pour yam mixture into well.

Mix just until moistened.

Stir in cranberries.

Spoon batter into prepared loaf pan.

Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

My Baking Angel

 

This is my baking angel that I received as a hostess gift at my Christmas open house.. She has been keeping a watchful eye over my kitchen while inspiring me to create Christmas goodies.

Hand piped butter cookies with a cherry center,

Shortbread stockings and gingerbread cupcake cookies,

M & M candy bark (chocolate candy coating with M & Ms sprinkled over the top), Oreo bark (YUMMY!!! I used white candy coating or almond bark in place of the white chocolate chips, then drizzled melted white coating over the top of the finished bark),

and last BUT not least, Doggie Paw print Pumpkin Cookies!

  More goodies to come!

Devoted Kids

My hubby emailed me this photo that he took of me a few nights ago. There I am sound asleep, on the couch with my 'kids'. Bubba has the blue sweater on, Mandy has her leg across my legs and Princess looks like she is sliding down a hill! They really look like they are devoted to their 'mom. Ha! Yeah, right! Only when they're asleep!

 

Reassessing My Diet and Health

Dear Readers,
  I am 57 years old and in good health. I feel great, have more energy than most people I know  and don't take any medications to stay healthy. I take supplements only if I know that I don't or can't get them through proper eating (which I am only only fair in doing so, especially during the holiday season). The thing of the matter is...I want to and plan to stay that way. So when I find out that certain foods have been been recommended to avoid or to eat organic in limited quantities, and I hear or read that, time after time again through the years, I start to take heed to the matter.
  So, therefore, when I read the article by Dr. Mercola (a doctor whose advise has proven true too many times to count)  Why I Do Not Recommend Pork - Nearly 70 Percent Contaminated with Dangerous Pathogens. 
I decided to start weaning pork out of my diet. I trust Dr. Mercola's  advice. He has been on Dr. Oz's show countless times, one of Dr. Oz's most popular guests. So much that I have learned on Dr. Mercola's site, has turned up in the news as newly discovered information months after I already learned about it! 
  I have been concerned about my magnesium intake lately and how I can get more of it through the food I eat.  I just read this article  Importance of Magnesium is Far Greater than Previously Imagined. 
  I asked Santa for a treadmill for Christmas since I have a hard time doing my regular walking routine during the winter. With the days shorter, the rain and the cold, I tend to lack motivation to venture outdoors often. A treadmill will take up a good portion of the room where I plan to put it, but my health is more important. I just read this article Stimulate Your Fitness IQ By Walking Backward. I wonder if I can walk backwards on a treadmill? Now that sounds like a challenge! 
  My kitchen is calling me-time to make more Christmas Goodies! 
  Bye for now!

A Christmas Prayer

This is a Christmas prayer, written by Max Lucado, after the horrible shooting in Connecticut yesterday.

Dear Jesus,

It's a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.
These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.
The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?
Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.
Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.
Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.
This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.
Hopefully,
Your Children

© 2012 Max Lucado

The Decorating Diva

Gotta love those retro tinsel trees!

Here's my tinsel tree, decorated with cookie cutters and Santa Claus goose eggs!

 One of my kitchen windows, decorated with my mom's collection of blue glassware and snowmen.

Here's my double decker village scene, in the window above my sink.

The Candyland Express train arrives each evening, bring each day to a sweet ending.

 

Surprise Visitor

   You never know who's going to drop in for the holidays! Frosty made a surprise appearance at our Christmas Open House. He's a real laid back sort of guy, snow guy, that is.

 

The Grinch was caught red handed, trying to steal our Christmas tree.

Santa stopped by, with his gang of midget snowmen, and

an entourage of nutcrackers. I always thought Santa hung out with nuts, now, I'm sure of it!
  It was an open house that our guests will be talking about for a long time to come.

The Holiday Season Has Arrived!

The holiday season has definately arrived! It's been go-go-go!

Our church had its annual Lady's Christmas Tea on December 2nd.