For Sunday, April 22nd, 2012

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

APRIL 22ND,  2012

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

It's SUNDAY!  

National Jelly Bean Day is a time to enjoy gobs and gobs of jelly beans. Anyone who loves jelly beans, knows they are not just for Easter. Sure, they are very popular at Easter. But, they are also enjoyed year round. The flavors are limited only by the imagination of candy makers. If you've never enjoyed the multitude of flavors in a box of gourmet jelly beans, the we suggest you head right out to the store and buy some.

Jelly beans date back to at least the 1860's. Advertisements promoted sending jelly beans to Union troops fighting in the Civil War. The original candy maker is unknown.

NEWS FROM HOME

Here at my house I have lots and lots of Jelly Beans.  When shopping before Easter I spied a nice big jug of them at a really good price so went ahead and bought it thinking I'd used them for filling plastic Easter eggs. Well I did fill them and gave them away for Easter but I still have a  lot of jelly beans leftover. 

 I even made rice crispy treats shaped like a little nest and put jelly beans in the middle to make it look like a nest with eggs.  I still have a lot of jelly beans...

I googled something to do with jelly beans and thought I share the results with you today

.

JELLY BEAN BISCOTTI

Biscotti is an Italian cookie .  The name means twice-baked/cooked.This one of my favorite type of cookie. Please read through instructions completely before starting and have all your ingredients ready,  it mixes up very quickly!

13 oz. bag of jelly beans, can be more or less
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup sanding sugar, can be more or less or left out completely
Parchment paper, optional but makes it much easier to remove cookies and clean up is easy! 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl or electric mixer bowl  add the butter and sugar and cream them together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about two minutes. Add one egg and beat to incorporate, add second egg and incorporate then add third egg and incorporate. The fourth egg is used later.

Beat in the vanilla then add the baking powder, salt and flour, beating on low speed until fully incorporated, you do not want to mix too long. Notice that the dough is very soft and sticky.

Using a spatula, scrape the dough out of the bowl onto a floured surface. Put flour on your hands and sprinkle flour on top of the dough. Then cut the dough in half. I use my hand like a karate chop down the center. Next take one half and roll lightly back and forth making a rope - pick it up and place it on a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Don't be worried if the dough is so soft it bends when you pick it up. Once you place it on the parchment paper you can shape it a little more. Do the same with the second half.

Flatten them out on top a little with your palm. Next beat one egg in a bowl and using a brush, brush them all over to coat them evenly.

Now sprinkle with sanding sugar, optional.  Then place in your preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until they are slightly golden brown.

When done - remove them from the oven. Let them cool for about 10 to 20 minutes or until they are cool enough for you to handle.Place them on a breadboard and slice them crosswise on the diagonal into about 3/4 inch slices.

Put them back on the cookie sheet, inside up, and bake for another 10 to12 minutes until the edges are turning slightly brown. Remove from the oven and transfer to wire rack to cool. Enjoy!

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!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

A bag full of jelly beans is yummy to eat

It's a picture, a promise, a special treat

To help us remember Jesus' work complete

Gives up hope beyond any earthly sweet.

COUNTING THE DAYS

Wouldn't it be nice

if we looked at people

and jellybeans and liked them all

and didn't just pick out 

the pretty and smart people

or the red and black jelly beans

but loved them all for what they are.

Author Unknown

59 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER

Celebrate the happiness
that friends are always giving,
make every day a holiday,
and celebrate just living!

Amanda Bradley

 

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma