ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
DECEMBER 8th, 2011
It's THURSDAY!
WINTER FLOWERS DAY
It's Winter Flowers Day! Celebrate the beauty of nature in the Winter season. Send beautiful Winter flowers to those that make you bloom with happiness. Flowers alway make every thing look festive and although the flowers I'm sending are in my e-mail today. I wish you all a beautiful day!
The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.
Gertrude S. Wister
NEW IN THE KITCHEN
NATIONAL BROWNIE DAY
Celebrate Brownie Day by making a batch of your favorite variety -- try adding nuts or marshmallows -- and enjoying the treats with a glass of milk.2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup strong brewed coffee
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup chopped candy-coated chocolate bits such as Smarties, M&Ms
Frosting:2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1/4 cup milk
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and sugar. In a heavy saucepan, combine butter, shortening, coffee or water and cocoa. Stir and heat to boiling. Pour boiling mixture over the flour and sugar in the bowl.
Add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, vanilla and nuts. Mix well, using a wooden spoon or high speed on electric mixer.
Pour into baking pan and bake at 350F for 20 minutes.
Remove from oven; sprinkle marshmallows and chocolate candies over top of batter. Return to oven and bake an additional 10 minutes, or until marshmallows are lightly brown and puffy, and brownies test done in the center.
Prepare Frosting, if desired. In a saucepan, combine butter, cocoa and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Mix in powdered sugar and vanilla until frosting is smooth. Drizzle over marshmallow topping on warm brownies.
PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS
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
The Christmas rose, also called the Snow or Winter Rose, is traditionally regarded as a true Christmas flower. It blooms in the depths of winter in the mountains of Central Europe.
There is a nice legend associated with it. Legend links it with the birth of Christ and a little shepherdess named Madelon.
As Madelon tented her sheep one cold and wintry night, wise men and other shepherds passed by the snow covered field where she was with their gifts for the Chris Child. The wise men carried the rich gifts of gold myrrh and frankincense and the shepherds, fruits, honey and doves. Poor Madelon began to weep at the thought of having nothing, not even a simpleflower for the Newborn King. An angel, seeing her tears, brushed away the snow revealing a most beautiful white flower tipped with pink - the Christmas rose.
Also in central and northern Europe it is the custom to break off a branch of a cherry tree at the beginning of the Advent and keep it in water in a warm room; the flowers should burst into bloom at Christmas time.
Today take time to smell the roses!
COUNTING THE DAYS
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
15th Centry Carol
14 DAYS UNTIL WINTER
17 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS
Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.
A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…
Love,
ma
2 comments:
Hi Pam, I am making brownies today. My hubby loves them!!
Have a great day. It is almost cold here. Loving it!
Barb ♥
Very interesting story about the Christmas Rose.
That recipe sounds delicious but alas I am a diabetic.
The rose pictured is beautiful. I can almost smell it LOL. Helen
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