Merry Christmas!

 

For unto us a child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government shall be upon His shoulder.

And His name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

 

 

 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 (NKJV)

 

 

Casting Crowns: While You Were Sleeping (Video)

One of our very favorite Christmas albums is Peace on Earth by Casting Crowns. I wanted to share our favorite song "While You Were Sleeping" with you tonight on Christmas Eve.

(If you are reading in an RSS feed or e-mail click here to see the video.)

 

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Romans 12:2

Grasshopper Pie Recipe

Grasshopper Pie

Crust:

• 16 finely crushed Oreo Cookies
• 1/2 stick of Butter
  
  

Filling:

• 3/4 cup Sugar
• 3 Tablespoons Cornstarch
• 1 3/4 cup Milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 Egg Yolks
• 1/2 teaspoon Mint Extract
• Green Food Coloring
• 1 cup Whipping Cream

To make the crust: Melt the butter and combine with the finely crushed oreos. Gently pat into a pie dish. Bake for 8 minutes at 375 degrees.
To make the filling: In a heavy sauce pan, combine the sugar cornstarch and salt. Stir in 1 1/4 cups milk and cook over medium heat stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Boil for 1 minute and then remove from heat. In a small bowl, beat together egg yolks and 1/2 cup milk. Slowly stir this into the hot custard. Return to heat and cook 2 minutes stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and add 1/2 teaspoon of mint extract and a few drops of green food coloring. Cover the custard with a lid or plastic wrap. Add cold water to a large bowl or sink and place the pan with the custard in the cold water to cool (do not let it cool too long or it will be lumpy).

In a bowl beat the whipping cream until fluffy.

 

Fold the whipped cream into the cooled custard mixture.

 

Pour the custard into the pie crust and chill for 2-4 hours.

 

 

Top the pie with whip cream and decorate with sprinkles or add crumbled cookies to the top.

 

This post is linked to:

• Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
• Tuesdays at the Table
• Tasty Tuesday
• Tuesday's Table

 

"The Gingerbread Man's Christmas" Puppet Show at the Puppetry Arts Institute

 

Come see "The Gingerbread Man's Christmas" puppet show at the Puppetry Arts Institute on Saturday 12/15/12 or Saturday 12/22/12.

Parasol Puppets adds a Holiday twist to a classic tale with this hand puppet show. When Mrs. Claus bakes a special cookie for Santa, the Gingerbread Man decides that he doesn’t want to get eaten! He hops off of the cookie sheet and begins his sing-a-long adventure. Unlike the original story, in this version everyone lives happily ever after. Admission includes a tour of the puppet museum. Finger puppets of characters from the show will be available at the front desk for $1.00 after the show.

 

The Puppetry Arts Institute is located at:

11025 E. Winner Road
Independence, MO 64052
(816) 833-9777

Showtimes: Saturday 12/15/12 at 11:00am & 2:00pm, Saturday 12/22/12 at 11:00am & 2:00pm

Cost of Admission: $5.00 per person (All ages. Includes show & admission to the museum.)

Please call (816) 833-9777 for reservations.

Dramamine Printable Coupon

Print a $1/1 coupon for any Dramamine product.

Frozen Pizza Printable Coupons

There are 2 new printable coupons available for frozen pizzas:

• $1/1 Large California Pizza Kitchen Frozen Pizza
• $.75/1 Jack's Frozen Pizza

$1 Dial Hello Kitty Body Wash Printable Coupon

There is a new $1/1 printable coupon available for Dial Hello Kitty Body Wash.  This would make a fun stocking stuffer!

$3 Hormel Party Tray Printable Coupon

There is a new $3/1 printable coupon available for Hormel Party Trays (28oz. or larger).

Scavenger Saturday for Families at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

This Saturday 12/15/12 from 10:00am - 3:00pm is Scavenger Saturday for Families at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.

Admission to the Museum & Parking are FREE!

The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is located at:
4420 Warwick Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816) 753-5784

From their website:

Hone your art detective skills and discover something new about contemporary art at the Kemper Museum. The third Saturday of each month is Scavenger Saturdays for families. Children with adults may pick up a self-guided activity at the Visitor Services Desk and follow the clues on this “ART-astic” adventure. When finished with the activity, children may pick up a take-home, art-making activity kit. No reservations are required.

Bath & Body Works Printable Coupon

Print a Bath & Body Works coupon for a FREE product with any $10 purchase.  This coupon expires 12/24/12.

Hobby Lobby Printable Coupon

Hobby Lobby has a printable coupon available this week for 40% off any one regular price item. This coupon expires 12/15/12.

Yankee Candle Printable Coupon

Print a Yankee Candle coupon for $20 off a $45 purchase.  This coupon expires 12/24/12.

Country Inn Cinnamon Bread Recipe

 

Country Inn Cinnamon Bread

Ingredients:

• 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 4 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cloves
• 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1/4 Brown Sugar
• 2 Eggs (beaten)
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla
• 1/3 cup Canola Oil
• 1 cup Buttermilk (go here for substitution)

Topping:

• 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 Tablespoon Butter (in pieces)
• Dash of Nutmeg

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine first five ingredients in a bowl. Set aside. In a second larger bowl combine remaining ingredients in order given. Gradually stir dry mixture into liquid mixture. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan. Sprinkle topping over loaf. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Serve hot with butter.



This post is linked to:

• Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
• Tuesdays at the Table
• Tasty Tuesday
• Tuesday's Table

The Green Refrigerator Machine by Ozonator Product Review

Our family made a change in the way we eat this year.  We have been transitioning to eating more whole foods.  This has been a great change for us healthwise but it has not been a great change with the grocery budget.  The amount I spend on groceries has definitely gone up!  I still shop sales and there are some coupons available for healthy, whole and/or organic products but there is still a significant increase in the amount I spend on groceries each week. 

One of the most frustrating things about whole foods is they spoil a lot quicker than processed foods so I was very excited to try out the Green Refrigerator Machine by Ozonator.

The Green Refrigerator Machine by Ozonator:

• Eliminates odors in your refrigerator. 
• Keeps food fresher longer. 
• Promotes a Clean Environment in your refrigerator. 

There is more information available on the Green Refrigerator Machine Facebook page.

After having the Green Refrigerator Machine in my refrigerator for 24 hours, I immediately noticed that the odors were gone!  We went on vacation last Wedndesday and I left some grapes in the refrigerator that were purchased one week earlier and they were still fresh when we arrived home on Saturday.  I am really excited to see if the Green Refrigerator Machine will help us save money on the grocery budget by keeping foods fresher longer.


The Green Refrigerator Machine by Ozonator would make a perfect Christmas gift!  The regular retail price is $49.95 but right now you can purcahse a Green Refrigerator Machine for only $39.95.

 

 

Disclosure: I received a Green Refrigerator Machine by Ozonator through Mom Select  to review on my blog.   The opinions in this post are my own and were not influenced in any way.  I receive a small comission for each Ozonator that is sold from the link in this post.

Grandma Morgan's Molasses Cookie Recipe

Grandma Morgan's Molasses Cookies

 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Sugar
• 1/4 cup Molasses
• 3/4 cup Shortening (I prefer the butter flavor shortening.)
• 1 Egg
• 2 cups Flour
• 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon All Spice
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt

Mix together in a bowl the sugar, molasses, shortening & egg. Slowly add in the flour, baking soda, salt & all spice. Shape the dough into a large ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours (or freezer for 15-20 minutes).

Form dough into balls and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. This recipe makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.

White Cloud Meringue Cookie Recipe

This is my absolute favorite Christmas Cookie recipe. My grandmother made them for me almost every Christmas.

White Cloud Meringue Cookies

 

Ingredients:

• 5 Egg Whites
• 1 2/3 cups Sugar
• 1 1/4 teaspoons Vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
• 3/4 package Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whip egg whites until frothy. Add sugar slowly and whip until stiff.   This can be done by hand (warning:  your arms will be tired!) or with a mixer (Love my Kitchen Aid!) Whip in vanilla & cream of tartar. 

Fold in the chocolate chips. 

Place spoonfuls of meringue on a foil lined cookie sheet.

Place cookie sheet in the preheated oven. Turn off the oven and leave cookies in the oven until completely cooled or overnight. DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DOOR until the cookies have completely cooled or they will be ruined!!! No peeking.

I like to make these at night and then leave them in the oven overnight. If you do this, make sure and leave a note on the oven door so that you don't forget there are white cloud cookies in the oven and accidentally turn on the oven and create a blackened, smoking, burned cookie mess! Don't ask me how I know this ; )

This post is linked to:

• Ultimate Recipe Swap

$100 Stanley Steemer Gift Certificate Give Away!

Have you entered my give away for a chance to win a $100 Stanley Steemer Gift Certificate? There are 4 very easy ways to enter to win!

(This give away ends at midnight CST 12/8/12 & is open to US residents only.)

Thomas Jefferson's Favorite Coconut Macaroon Cookies Recipe

Thomas Jefferson's Favorite Coconut Macaroons

Ingredients:

• 4 cups Sweetened Flake Coconut (14oz. package)
• 1 cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 teaspoon Almond Extract
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Drop from a teaspoon onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Shape the cookies into rounds with your fingers.

Bake 9-12 minutes in a 350 degree oven until tops and bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on parchment paper. Makes 2-3 dozen macaroons depending on size.

This recipe is from one of my favorite cookbooks Presidential Cookies by Bev Young.

FREE Essence of Beauty Hand Cream at CVS (Facebook)

"Like" the CVS Minute Clinic Facebook page and receive a coupon by e-mail for a FREE Essence of Beauty Hand Cream.  Choose from Sunflower, Japanese Garden or Citrus Coconut scents.

$1.50 Starbucks K-Cups Printable Coupon

Print a $1.50/1 coupon for any pack of Starbucks K-Cups (10ct. or larger).