ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
DECEMBER 16th, 2010
If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side
It's THURSDAY!
POSADAS begins today in Mexico, a 9 day annual celebration when pilgrims knock at doors asking for pasada (shelter), commemorating the search by Joseph and Mary for shelter where the baby Jesus might be born. Pilgrims are invited in to celebrate and break a pinata filled with gifts and goodies. Pasadas concludes on December 24th.
THINKING
Now we play the waiting game… ahh, the waiting game stinks. Lets play Hungry Hungry Hippos!
Homer Simpson
Today: play a game with family or friends
I remember playing the game of LIFE with my children. Each person had a car that traveled down a road and each car would hold a family. Just like them, we are all travelers. We are pilgrims in a world that offers not lasting peace or rest . While there in only one eternity, we travel between eternity past and eternity future, waiting for promises of a home and a hope that will last forever and promises yet to be fulfilled.
NEW IN THE KITCHEN
National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
Chocolate covered cherries are a common small gift item during the Holidays. But there are also recipes for chocolate covered pretzels, potato chips, and even candy bars! And for an amazing sweet and savory treat, there is even a recipe for chocolate covered bacon!
One of my favorites is Chocolate Covered Turtles
4 tablespoons butter, cut up, plus more for pans
3/4 pound pecan halves, toasted
1 cup evaporated milk, divided
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 pound semisweet chocolate, chopped, divided use
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
Generously butter 2 baking sheets. On the baking sheets, arrange the pecan halves in snowflake-shaped clusters of 5 pecans each, overlapping the nuts in the center, leaving 2" of space between each.
In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of the evaporated milk, the corn syrup, and sugar and bring to a boil. Add the remaining 1/2 cup evaporated milk and the measured butter, and cook, stirring constantly, until it reaches the soft ball stage, 240 degrees F. Stir in the vanilla and remove from the heat. Let cool to 200 degrees F.
Using a tablespoon, spoon caramel on top of each nut cluster and let harden. If the caramel becomes too stiff to pour, return to low heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until it returns to the proper consistency.
To make the chocolate coating, in the top of a double boiler or in a metal bowl set over barely simmering water, combine 6 ounces of the chocolate and the shortening. Melt over low heat, stirring, until it reaches 116 to 118 degrees F, or feels fairly warm but not hot to the touch.
Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 ounces of chocolate. Continue stirring until the chocolate reaches 80 degrees F or feels cool to the touch. Return to low heat and cook, stirring, until the temperature rises to 85 to 87 degrees F, or feels barely cool. Remove from the heat.
Drizzle 1 tablespoon of tempered chocolate over each cluster. Set aside in a cool place to harden.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
PRAYERS
God help us to make the most of what's precious and special in each of our lives, May Your wondrous good news of unshakable love for os leave us comforted and at peace.
Amen
Please pray for God's protection of
our troops and HIS wisdom for their
commanders.
Lord, hold our troops in
your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the
selfless acts they perform for us
in our time of need. I ask this in the
name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters
and Paramedics and EMT's
GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
AROUND HOME
Yesterday I had a fun day once again with Mr. Wonderful. He was a little fussy in the morning as he does have a cold, but he seemed his usual smiling self by afternoon.
After he left I finished up my Christmas shopping as there was a few things I still needed to get and now I'll be wrapping it all up. Hopefully I'll be able to mail out what needs to by Monday next week. After that I really need to get my cards in the mail.
Weekend after this coming one is Christmas you know.
COUNTING THE DAYS
May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility
Mary Anne Radmacher
5 DAYS UNTIL WINTER!
9 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS
123 DAYS UNTIL CAMPING SEASON BEGINS
Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.
A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…
Love,
ma
1 comment:
Hope you get every thing done in time sure you will. Don't like wrapping much it seems such a waste of time to get all ripped open. Love Joan
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