ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18TH, 2014
Sunrise: 7:49 am
Sunset: 5:00 pm
Life is a Special Occasion!
Hallmark
Today is Bake Cookies Day and it is a great excuse to bake some delicious cookies to help you get through the cold, winter days! Why not try some cinnamon flavored cookies like the snickerdoodle to get your kitchen smelling of winter festive? If you bake more than you can eat, good for you! Wrap up gift trays filled with cookies for friends and neighbors. Most cookies freeze well, too.
If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Cookies are made of butter and love.
Norwegian Proverb
Although the picture above is of everyone’s favorite cookie, chocolate chips, another cookie that is on my list to make this year is Pfeffernuess. They bring back memories of years ago when I worked at a bakery during my high school years.
3/4 cup light molasses
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 beaten eggs
4 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
dash of pepper
confectioners sugar
In sauce pan combine molasses and butter. Cook and stir till the butter melts. Cool to room temperature and stir in eggs. Combine the flour together with sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and pepper. Add the molasses mixture: mix well then chill in the refrigerator several hours or overnight.
Shape the chilled dough into one inch half moon shaped balls. Bake on greased cookie sheet in 375 degree oven for 12 minutes. Cool and roll in confectioners sugar. Makes about 4 1/2 dozen.
Note: I did get this mixed up to put in the fridge overnight and found the dough really crumbly. I added a couple of tablespoons of water to make it stick together. I think next time I will add more butter to the molasses mixture.
Of all the jobs I’ve had, other than being a mom, I probably enjoyed the years at the bakery the most. I didn’t bake anything, but was a clerk selling all the baked goods. It was a wonderful bakery and I made some good friends while working there. Of course it didn’t pay much but it was ideal for high school students.
Pfeffernuesse are tiny spice cookies, popular as a holiday treat in Germany, Denmark, and The Netherlands. There are a lot of things I’d never experience had I not worked those years at the bakery.
As Christmas approaches, the best way to calm down is to take time with our families to pray together. We can rest in awe, in wonder, at how our God entered our world and came to be with us. May we be instruments of God's love for our families and all we come into contact with this week.
I hope you all have a wonderful day ! Happy Thursday !
7 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS
A Candy Cane Reindeer makes a great craft project for school, scouts, church groups or Secret Santa gifts. Using candy canes, chenille stems and google eyes from the craft store, Candy Cane Reindeer make great stocking stuffers or add them to holiday gift wrap for a sweet touch!
For each reindeer, you'll need:
candy cane
small pompon for nose
two small ‘google' eyes
brown chenille stem for antlers
green chenille stem for bowtie
small jingle bell
nontoxic craft glue
Leave the wrapper on the candy cane. Wrap the brown chenille stem around the top of the candy cane and twist. Separate the ends and twist into antler shapes. Thread the jingle bell onto the green chenille stem. Twist the green chenille stem around the body of the candy cane with the bell in the center. Fold back the stem ends to resemble a bow or a bowtie.
COUNTING MY GIFTS
That’s the way the cookie crumbles…
Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for. There is always, always something to be thankful for.
2318. for warm memories of Christmas past
2319. for cookies, always a part of Christmas here at my house
2320. for candy canes too, a treat for all this time of year
Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!
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 !
ADVICE FOR TODAY
Think what a better world it would be if we all — the whole world — had cookies and milk about three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap.
Robert Fulghum
A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…
Love,
ma
2 comments:
I didn't know you worked once at a bakery, Ma; that would be a yummy smelling job. Every time I go in and get donuts, I always think it could be fun working in a donut shop.
I never heard of those cookies you mentioned here; might have to make them after we move; they sound delicious!
There is nothing better than a smell around the holidays of Christmas cookies baking!
betty
I have been awol this week, MA... and I'm sorry! I had my new cookie book I got for Christmas from my in laws out today, and marked three recipes to try tomorrow for our family party with my family on Saturday... I wish I had known it was cookie baking day!
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