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

"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.

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

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.

Cherry Mash Bar Recipe

Cherry Mash Bars

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Minature Marshmallows
• 2/3 cup Evaporated Milk
• 1/2 cup Butter
• 2 cups Sugar
• 10 oz. package Cherry Chips
• 12oz. package Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 3/4 cup Peanut Butter
• 12oz. Crushed Salted Peanuts

Add butter to a sauce pan and melt on low. Once melted, add marshmallows, evaporated milk & sugar. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in cherry chips until completely melted.

Line a 9x13 pan with wax paper. Pour cherry mixture into the pan and spread out evenly.

Melt chocolate chips and peanut butter in a double boiler or in the microwave. Mix in crushed peanuts. Pour on top of cherry mixture. Let the bars cool and then refrigerate overnight or 4-6 hours.

Once chilled, lift the wax paper to remove from the pan. Cut into bars & enjoy!


This post is linked to:

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

Seven Layer Cookie Bars Recipe

This is one of those recipes that is so easy to make & they are delicious! My grandmother used to call them Hello Dollies but most people know them as 7 Layer Cookie Bars.

Seven Layer Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 Stick of Butter
• 10 Graham Crackers (crushed into crumbs)
• 1 cup Coconut
• 1 cup Pecans or Walnuts
• 1 cup Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1 cup Butterscotch Chips
• 1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the stick of butter in a 9x9 baking pan and put in the oven until the butter is completely melted. Once the butter is melted, remove the pan from the oven and evenly sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs in the pan. Next add a layer of coconut, then a layer of nuts. Mix together the butterscotch & semi-sweet chocolate chips and then evenly sprinkle them on top. Finally, evenly pour the can of sweetened condensed milk on top. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting.

Sugar Cookies from Mrs. Eisenhower's Recipe Files

This week is Christmas Cookie Week and so each day I will be sharing a recipe (or two) for some of our favorite Christmas Cookies.  I am starting off the week with my favorite recipe for Sugar Cookies.  This recipe is from  Presidential Cookies by Bev Young.

Sugar Cookies from Mrs. Eisenhower's White House Recipe Files

(makes 2-3 dozen cookies depending on size of cookie cutter)

 

 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Butter (1 stick)
• 1 cup Sugar
• 2 Egg Yolks (well beaten)
• 1 tablespoon Cream
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1 1/2 cups Flour

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter, adding sugar slowly. Mix until fluffy.
4. Stir in well-beaten egg yolks and vanilla.
5. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with the cream.
6. Chill cookie dough for one hour. Roll out on a floured surface and cut in any desired shape.
7. Sprinkle with sugar before baking. Place cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet.
8. Bake 10 to 12 minutes.

Christmas Cookie Week 11/26-11/30

Next week is Christmas Cookie Week!  Each day I will be sharing a favorite Christmas Cookie Recipe. 

Thomas & Friends Christmas DVDs Printable Coupon

There is a new $2/1 printable coupon available for Thomas & Friends Christmas DVDs:  A Very Thomas Christmas, Merry Christmas Thomas or Merry Winter Wish.

Christmas is Coming, Are You Ready?? (Part 3)

In addition to the expense of Christmas gifts, another big expense at the Holidays can be food.   Especially if the family is coming to your house this year!  Even if you are going to other people's homes, the cost of food can add up if you bring a dish to each gathering.

In September, I begin to budget for Holiday food.  I set aside some money each week and then watch the grocery store ads.  There are a lot of food items that will be at rock bottom prices or even FREE (with coupons) in October, November & December.  Purchasing these items early, when they are on sale, is key to saving money.  DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE WEEK OF OR DAY BEFORE A HOLIDAY.  At this point the stores know you are desperate and very few items will be on sale.

I also take advantage of these rock bottom prices to stock-up on some items for the year.  Items like cake mixes, stuffing, turkeys (Last year I purchased 6 turkeys for the freezer at $.66/lb.!), hams, cool whip, canned & frozen vegetables, Jello, etc. will be at the lowest price of the year so stock-up if it is in your budget!

By having a plan and budget in advance, the cost of Holiday meals does not have to be expensive.

Christmas is Coming, Are You Ready?? (Part 2)

A great way to save money on Christmas gifts is to give homemade gifts.  This requires some planning so if you want to give homemade gifts then start planning now.  Search for craft ideas and recipes (Pinterest is perfect for this!) and start to purchase supplies (look for sales, coupons & clearance items).  If you have a plan, you will save both time & money.

If you like to give portraits as Christmas gifts, you can also start planning for that now.  There is plenty of time to purchase outfits (sales, clearance, consignment shops/sales, garage sales & thrift stores) and decide if you want to take the picture yourself or have a professional photographer take the picture. 

Christmas is Coming, Are You Ready?? (Part 1)

 

Did you know it is only 99 days (as of 9/17/12) until Christmas? Have you started planning or budgeting for Christmas yet?

Two years ago we made a big change in the way we plan for Christmas. Instead of waiting until the last minute and using credit cards, we started planning for Christmas on December 26th and spreading the cost of Christmas over the entire year.

If you have not started planning & budgeting for Christmas, it is not too late. This week I will be sharing some tips and ideas to keep Christmas from being a stressful budget-buster so here is tip #1:

Plan a budget for Christmas now.  Right now.  Not next week, next month or in December.  Plan a budget right now.  Knowing exactly how much money you have to spend will make it much easier to decide on gifts.

After you have your budget make a list of all the people you will need to buy gifts and decide on an amount to spend for each person.  This doesn't have to be exact, it can be a range. 

Now that you have a budget and a list, you can start buying gifts.  Since you are not waiting until the last minute, you have plenty of time to look for items on sale and clearance so you will save money! 

Don't you already feel better now that you have a plan?  Come back tomorrow for more Money Saving Christmas Tips!

Countdown to Christmas!

Can you believe that there are only 100 days (as of 9/16/12) until Christmas??!!  This week I will be sharing some tips to help you prepare for Christmas now.  A little Christmas planning now can save you a lot of stress and budget-busting later! 

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

Remember What Christmas is Really About.....

 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

  Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,  to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.  So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
 
  Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”  
 
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  
       “ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

  So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Luke 2: 1-20

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)

Christmas Traditions: A Birthday Party for Jesus

One of our Christmas Eve Traditions is to have a Birthday party for Jesus. This is a great way to help young children understand the true meaning of Christmas. We do not open or exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, we celebrate Jesus' Birthday!

This post is linked to:

• Frugal Friday

Magic Reindeer Food

 

Every year we make Magic Reindeer Food to sprinkle on the front lawn on Christmas Eve. The recipe calls for oats but I have made many substitutions over the years including cheerios & crushed Ritz crackers. Just make sure that all the ingredients are safe for reindeers and other wildlife. Do not use glitter in this recipe, it is very dangerous for reindeer and birds : )

Magic Reindeer Food

• Oats
• Sugar
• Red and/or Green Sugar Sprinkles (or any Christmas Sprinkles)

Reindeer Poem:

Sprinkle on the lawn on Christmas Eve night.
The moon will make it sparkle bright.
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam,
This will guide them to your home.

 

This can be made in layers in a baby food jar and makes a fun gift or you can just mix it up in a ziploc bag (or bowl) for your family.

 

This is a great activity for the little ones too!

This post is linked to:

• Frugal Friday