The holiday season is my favorite time of year. As far as I'm concerned, the season begins with preparing for
Thanksgiving and ends sometime after New Year's day. It's certainly a busy time but I love the sights, the sounds, and especially the smells of the holidays. I begin using lots of spices,
especially cinnamon, to create those delicious fragrances. Ever notice how cinnamon smells so much better
at this time of year than it does at any other time?
And remember..."Christmas is not a date, it's a state of mind."
~~Mary Ellen Chase - American writer (1887-1973)
I guess my favorite holiday tradition revolves around the candle-light service at church. It's usually on Christmas eve. But it's the time for me to relax, to be quiet for a time and to return to the true meaning of Christmas. The soft flicker of candlelight, illuminating the manger and the Christ-child, soft music, a soloist singing (my favorite Christmas song) "O Holy Night", the Christmas story read to a refreshed and renewed congregation. This is the time that I need, that I crave. My soul and spirit are renewed after all the rush, the hustle and bustle to get everything ready and perfect for Christmas day. I hope you too have a time for a renewal before the Holidays are over and done with.
The following poem is an original, written by my brother for a poetry assignment in school. He ain't no Longfellow or Keats, but we loved it and it remains a part of the Holidays for my family. :-)
There are cakes and pies,
and good things to eat.
But the best of them all
is the turkey meat!!
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1 1/2 cups melted butter
4 cups flour In a bowl, mix together the mashed bananas and coffee. In a separate bowl, mix the butter and sugar. Then add the eggs one at a time. Then add in the vanilla and almond extract and the salt and baking soda. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, and orange rind. Then add flour mixture and banana mixture (including all the coffee) alternately to butter mixture. Mix gently. Then add nuts and raisins. Grease two loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.
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1 can crescent rolls Remove rolls from can as directed. Fill with apple and cinnamon, dot with small amount of butter. Roll into crescents then bake according to directions on can. Bake until golden brown. Remove from oven and sprinkle with sugar. **For a golden crust, brush lightly with egg white. |
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3/4 cup powdered non-dairy creamer Combine milk powder, cocoa powder, creamer and cinnamon. Mix thoroughly. Store in an airtight container. Makes 8 1/2 cups of mix. Before serving: For one serving, combine 1/3 cup mix with cup boiling water in a cup or mug. Stir to dissolve mixture. ENJOY!!!
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A delicious hot treat on a cold morning. Convenient to prepare ahead of time.
2 cups oatmeal
Topping Preheat oven to 325o F.In a large bowl combine the oatmeal, baking powder and salt. Mix in milk, eggs, applesauce, brown sugar. Stir and pour into a greased casserole dish. Bake at 325 for 45 minutes. Serve hot, topping each with vanilla yogurt. Serves four.
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Try this terrific dinner bread with the subtle taste of pumpkin, pineapple, and raisins.
4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour Combine 2 cups of the flour, the yeast, ginger, nutmeg and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add milk and melted butter, beating well. Stir in pumpkin, sugar, Kroger Glace pineapple, Kroger Glace diced orange peel, and raisins. Mix in enough remaining flour for dough to hold together. Knead dough on floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place dough in bowl and cover; let rise in warm place until double in size, about 45 minutes. Punch dough down. Divide dough into 2 equal parts. Form dough into oval loaves and place in 2 greased loaf pans, 8 1/4 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches. Let rise, covered, in warm place until loaves are double in size, about 30 minutes. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven until loaves are a deep golden color and sound hollow when tapped, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack. Makes 2 loaves.
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Gifts For You - Feel Free to Pass them On
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These Southern Holiday Traditions by our Sister: Southern Elegance (MJ) |
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