The Thirteenth Day Christmas Celebration

Most people are a little sad or let down after Christmas Day is actually over.  For me it isn't just the actual day that makes the season great but all the little things you can enjoy as a prelude to that special day.  That's why these little daily Christmas celebrations are just right for me.  I love and enjoy all the little things that happen each and every day during the season.  Like tonight is the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting.  I wish I was still back in NYC for that.  (My friend Lynette and I had planned to go back there this year, but then I moved and our plans never went through, but someday) I have never actually seen it lit in person but I still enjoy the music and the celebration that goes along with it.  As I sit and watch it tonight I am going to wrap gifts and write my Christmas cards.  Now I know that not everyone has time to do all these things, but there must be something about today that will bring the Christmas spirit into your home and into your heart.  Whatever that is enjoy it.  Relish it. 

One of my favorite Christmas time sayings is that "Wise men still seek Him."  I love to look for the Savior's hand in my life.  I need to do this better.  I know I miss much of what He really does for me.  This verse of a Christmas hymn reminds me to look for Him more.

"And our eyes at last shall see him, Through His own redeeming love; For that child so dear and gentle, Is our Lord in heav'n above.  And He leads his children on, to the place where He is gone." Once in Royal David's city.

The treat of the day is CRANBERRY MACADAMIA BARS (very good)
1 pouch of Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
1/3 cup melted butter
1 egg
Mix together with a spoon and press into a 9x9 greased pan.  Cook in oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes
1/3 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
Place these ingredients in a pan on the stove and stir over med heat until it comes to a boil.  Spoon it over the cookie crust base.
1 cup chopped macadamia nuts
Sprinkle the nuts over the cranberry mix.  Bake the bars another 10 minutes until golden brown.  Let it cool completely.
1/2 cup whilte chocolate baking chips
1 teaspoon oil
Combine these two ingredients in a freezer plastic bag and place in the microwave on high for 30 to 45 sec., squeexing the bag every 15 sec. until chips are melted and smooth.  Snip a small hole in the corner of the bag and drizzle this white chocolate mixture over the bars.  Then serve.

The Twelfth Day Christmas Celebration

The Radio City Rockettes is a favorite of mine at the holidays.  When they are in town I can't not go to see them.  It is a must.  I asked my niece Annie if she wanted to do something fun and then I surprized her with this little show.  The Rockettes are amazing to me.  I love how they are so in tune with each other that they can perform so precisely.  Like thier toy soldier routine is incredible.  And at the end of thier performance they read from the bible and enact the nativity.  At Radio City Music hall in NYC they actually use live animale and have camels walking across the stage.  In SLC they didn't but it was still a beautiful way to end the night. 

The Eleventh Day Christmas Celebration

Sunday was one of those days where it is snowing outside and you want to just curl up with a good book, wrap yourself in blankets (or in my houses, quite a few blankets), sip your cup of hot cocoa, and watch the snow fall.  But there were things to do.  I spoke in Church today and needed to finish my talk.  I thought I had it pretty well prepared and just needed to go over it once again.  I was given the opportunity to choose my topic to speak on and I felt to speak about testimony.  I felt good about it.  I tried to speak with the spirit and really wanted it to be inspirational to those that were listening. 

Afterwards, and I don’t know why I do this, but I critique myself and then proceed to feel badly that I forgot to mention certain things or that I didn’t speak as clearly as I thought I should, etc.  Why, why do I do that?  I hope people just remember what they felt from the spirit and not my words.  There were a few people who came up after and thanked me for the things I said.  That was nice.  It is always good to hear those kinds of things and I am thankful for the people who take time to do that. 

One of them that came and shook my hand was Elder M. Russell Ballard.  He had been sitting on the stand that day and took the time to come over and comment on my talk.  I thought of how merciful our Heavenly Father is and that we are so hard on ourselves sometimes and yet He is more merciful than we can imagine.  Although, having Elder Ballard on the stand behind me made me nervous, it was still quite an experience.  It was funny to be using a quote from him in my talk and yet he was right there.  I doubt I will ever have that experience again.  What kind men the Apostles are.      

I cooked my turducken today.  The fat from the duck stuffed inside the chicken with a little cornbread stuffing and then stuffed inside of the turkey makes everything really tender and not dry at all.  It was not so easy to put together but I don’t do it that often.  Then I also made these maple cookies.  They had a frosting on them like you find on maple bars (those doughnuts).  Not too much maple, but just enough to make you want more.  They are really good.  Here is the recipe below. 

Soft Maple Cookies
1/2 cup butter softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour
maple icing
Combine shortening and butter and mix for 30 seconds.  Add sugars, maple syrup, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt.  Beat to combine.  Beat in egg yolks and vanilla next.  Beat in flour and stir till completely combines.  You might want to use a wooden spoon for this.  Shape into balls 1 inch in size.  Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 12-14 minutes at 300 degrees.  Cool on cookie sheet.  The middle of the cookie will dip as cookies cool. Frost with maple Icing. 
Maple Icing - stir 1/4 cup whipping cream, 1/4 cup melted butter, 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup into a bowl.  Add 3-4 cups of powdered sugar to make icing a drizzling consistency.

The Tenth day Christmas Celebration

Don't ya love sweets at the holidays!  I think they are given at the holidays to help us remember how sweet life really is.  So I made these hersey kiss cookies to day.  They are not your typical peanut butter chocolate cookies. (But I do love those, they are some of my favorite)  These are called orange dark chocolate blossoms.  They are low in sugar and really good.  I will post the receipe below.  It uses orange peel and dark chocolate kisses.  You should give these a try.  Especially if you are trying to cut back on sugar.  Tomorrow I am going to make Turducken (a duck stuffed inside a chicken, stuffed inside a turkey with corn bread stuffing)  and also these maple cookies.  I didn't have the traditional turkey meal while I was in NYC.  I had to eat all my favorite NYC food instead.  But this should be fun.
Orange Dark Chocolate Blossoms
3/4 cup butter softened
2/3 cup sugar or sugar substitute (splenda) or a blend of both
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg white
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange peel
dark chocolate kisses
Cream butter and sugar together.  Mix in baking powder and salt.  Beat until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg white.  Then mix in the flour and orange peel.  It will be a dry mixture.  Form into 1 inch balls.  (if the mix won't stick together add a little juice from the orange)  Place on cookie sheet and cook in oven at 350 degrees for 7-9 minutes.  I like them soft so 7 minutes is good for me.  When they start getting brown they get to crunchy.  Remove from oven and immediately press a dark chocolate kiss into each cookie.  Let them cool on wire rack.  Makes about 30- 40 cookies depending on size.

The Ninth Day Christmas Celebration

“True happiness comes only by making others happy—the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service.
“It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to which will bring ‘peace on earth,’ because it means—good will toward all men” (David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals, 1953, 551).

Give the gift of yourself to your family and loved ones. Spend the day doing kind things for your parents and siblings. You could cook breakfast for your family, clean up, prepare a gift using your talents or help to prepare dinner. 

My mom asked me the other day for my “Christmas list” so to speak.  As I thought about that, don’t we all really have so much already?  I couldn’t think of anything to tell her but I told her that the gifts I have loved the most are the ones she has made for me.  I still have a set of pillow cases that she embroidered for me and I keep them on the pillows on my bed at all times.  Then I remembered a crocheted afgan that my sister made for me and I use it constantly every winter.  I have CD’s that other family members have made for me of songs they loved and I still play them,  There are so many more that I cherish from years past.  So today I am celebrating by thinking of all the personal gifts people have made for me and that I cherish to this day. 

            I remember as a little kid, that my mom and dad encouraged us to make things to give as gifts.  My mom made cookies and chocolates, my dad built things, we used to wrap metal hangers in yarn or stick cloves in oranges to hang on the trees as gifts.  These are the kinds of things I remember and I have loved making gifts for my family as well.  When they are made rather than purchased, it sometimes means even more because it is a part of yourself.  That is the best gift of all.

The Eight Day Christmas Celebration

New York for Thanksgiving is the best.  I arrived early this morning and got downtown just in time to go to Starbucks for some steamed milk and then find a place to stand for the parade.  Yes, they stand, about 10 people deep for the parade.  But I finally found a good spot and actually had a good view of it all. 

It was good weather as well, about 40 degrees.  It didn’t start to rain until after the parade, but I wouldn’t have cared.  As I was walking around after it was over, I saw this sign posted in the window and I thought, that is what I am really trying to do with my holiday, make it my own. 

We all have different things that make us happy or help us enjoy life.  Finding ways we love to celebrate Christmas is what it is all about.  Traditions are good but sometimes, just doing them for the sake of doing them, isn’t as fulfilling.  I think taking time to evaluate traditions and determining if it is really the way you want to spend your efforts to celebrate should be the determining factor.  To me, sometimes holiday’s lose their meaning if we are just going through the motions because it is just what we have always done.  Then the holidays just become more haggard and less joyful. 

“The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people and things. To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, we need only to drop the last syllable and it becomes the Spirit of Christ” (Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Dec. 1995, 2).

So I am going to sing Silent Night today, not only because it is tradition, but because I enjoy the message of that song.  I am also going to go see the Radio City Rockettes.  I saw them on my trip to NYC, but I can’t miss the opportunity to see them here in SLC.  Merry Christmas.

The Seventh Day Christmas Celebration

I decorated my trees already.  It has been a work in progress.  I have four total in my home.  I love seeing the lights on the trees.  I have been noticing more and more lights going up as I drive around.  The lights at Christmas are always one of my favorite things.  Even though in AZ we didn't have snow, people really did it up with lights.  Those on temple square, both in AZ and here in downtown SLC are incredible.  Have you ever noticed that Christmas really shines with light--on trees, houses, city streets, and in people's eyes.  As I look at all these things, can't help but think about the star over bethlehem and the source of all light.  D&C 88:6-13  May we all enjoy the true LIGHT and all the little lights that remind us to shine our light for others.  Going to go make my treat now.  Cinnamon rolled cookies.  Will let you know how they turn out.

The Sixth Day Christmas Celebration

Have I mentioned how much I like the snow?  I love it.  Last night we had a blizzard.  It started blowing and snowing in the early evening and then continued till about 11:30pm.  I spent that time baking Raspberry, blueberry, chocolate bars and then I cuddled up on the couch with my great view of the storm out the big windows of my balcony.  The snow coming down is such a thrill for me.  It also got down to about 9 degrees last night.  But I love the cold too, so I kept with tradition and slept with my sliding glass door open there in my bedroom.  I just piled on the covers and enjoyed the cold.  I slept so well.  People think I am crazy, and I probably am, but this is so new to me (after 12 years in the AZ heat it would be).  Anyway.  I never turned on my heat in AZ during the winter.  I would even open the windows and let my house get as cold as it would get in AZ.  I decided that I am going to keep that tradition and not turn on my heat here in UT this winter either.  I even made a small wager with an AZ friend that I would go the whole winter without it on. So far so good.  I just bundle up in my big robe and pink fuzzy slippers and enjoy it.  I make myself a cup of warm milk, throw on a blanket and read a good book.  It makes me happy to the point of giddiness.  So I guess I am crazy.  Cause that is just weird.

I am spending Thanksgiving in NYC.  I love the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.  I can’t wait to be there for this holiday.  What fun.  I swear that I am just drawn to that city.  I bet I live there in a couple of years. 

Anyway, I was thinking about Thanksgiving and I thought that maybe the greatest blessings aren’t those things we GET, but the things we get to BECOME.  I mean, we all know that we don’t get to take anything with us when we die.  We only really take with us what we have become.  And, What an amazing thing to be able to become something better than we are currently.  Each day we have chances presented to us to help us become a better people, if we choose to do so.  And I know it is only though the power of Jesus Christ that we can become anything good at all.  So with all the blessing we get, let us focus on the way those things can help us improve and become more like the Savior Jesus Christ, for in the end that is what will really bring the greatest blessings of all.

The Fifth Day Christmas Celebration

They have been predicting a storm for the area tomorrow.  We will see what really happens but it is nice to try and be prepared for it.  People on the news are giving suggestions about how to deal with it.  There are road signs warning drivers and people all over seem to be talking about it.  It made me think about the storms we have in our lives—storms of fear, regret, anger, endurance, disappointment, sorrow—storms at home, at school, at work, etc.  But think about the ability and willingness of the Master to clam the storms in our lives.  He has provided warning systems, and given us direction about how to prepare for them, and then He is there to help us get through them.  He is the strength that is always there, the peace that can calm anything, the one who can help us do more than we thought possible, the saving grace when we feel that all may be lost.

HE has helped me make it through every single struggle of my life.  He has always been there for me and I know He always will be.  So when you think, “Master the Tempest is Raging” know that there is “Peace on earth” and it is available to you.

The Heavenly Chocolate Mousse bars I baked today were just that, heavenly.  You have got to try these.  Besides they are really easy.  Check it out.

1 pouch Betty crocker sugar cookie mix

Mix cookie dough as directed.  Spread in the bottom of an ungreased 13x9 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 min. until light brown.  Cool

Microwave 1 cup of chocolate chips until melted. (check regularly so as not to burn them)  In a bowl, beat 1 8 oz. pkg of cream cheese until smooth.  Add melted chocolate to cream cheese and blend.  In another bowl, beat 1 cup whipping cream (don’t add anything to it). Fold whipped cream into chocolate cream cheese mixture. Spread over cooled cookie base. Cover and refrigerate for one hour.

Microwave 1 cup chocolate chips until melted.  Stir in ½ cup whipping cream and mix until smooth.  Spoon this warm mixture over mousse cookie base and spread evenly.  Refrigerate until set (30 min.)

The Fourth Day Christmas Celebration

On Sunday when I woke up it was snowing.  It had started the night before but was still coming down in the morning and everything was covered in white. Have you ever notice how quiet it becomes when it is softly snowing, and how much lighter everything seems.  Even when you wake in the middle of the night, if is snowing or has snowed, the whiteness seems to make even the night brighter.  That is so enjoyable to me.  It reminds me of my favorite Christmas song.  I think it is sung by Vince Gill and his son.  It says, "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.  Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.  With God as our Father, brother's all are we.... Let there be peace on earth, let this be my solemn vow."  It goes on.  But I the message is so meaningful.  Peace should begin with me.  I feel so blessed to have peace in my life.  Peace that comes from living in this country, peace with my family, peace in my heart because of the love of God, and the peace that the Spirit brings because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  What a blessing.

The Third Day Christmas Celebration

Christmas is a time of forgiving and proclaiming peace.  Thinking about those you come in contact with every day; is there someone who needs forgiveness or peace that you may help to provide.  I get concerned sometimes that I have offended people when I never meant to.  I hate finding out that I have caused someone to be hurt.  And I pray that they will find it in thier hearts to forgive me.  I never mean to make people feel less than loved. 


“Have a joyous time in celebrating Christmas—for despite discouragement and disheartening conditions throughout the world, it is the happiest season of the whole year. But let us ever keep in mind that people are most blessed whose daily conduct most nearly comports with the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, at whose birth was proclaimed: Peace on earth. Good will toward men” (David O. McKay, in Christ’s Ideals for Living, 17).


Christmas time seems to make people even better than they are.  The Spirit of Christ is amazing that way.  So today I had to make something extraordinary.  Try these brownies


UBER-DOOBER PB BROWNIES
Preheat oven: 350 degrees             line 9x9 pan with foil and grease the foil.


4 oz bitter sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup PB creamy
melt them together in a sauce pan over low heat, then let it cool
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
stir these ingredients one by one into the cooled chocolate mixture
2/3 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
stir these ingredients into chocolate mixture until smooth.
1 cup chopped peanut butter cups
stir these into chocolate mix just before placing in the oven.  Cook 30 min. or until set.
Cool
1/2 cup PB creamy
1/2 cup soften butter
1 Tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
mix together in small bowl
gradually beat in 2 cups of flour.  Makes a stif frosting
spread frosting over brownies.
Lift brownies out of pan using foil edges.  Cut into bars and enjoy. 


They are extreme.  I loved them.  So I hope you enjoy as well.

The Second Day Christmas Celebration

“Christmas means ‘giving,’ and the gift without the giver is bare. Give of yourselves; give of your substance; give of your heart and mind. …
“Christmas means ‘compassion and love’ and, most of all ‘forgiveness’ … How poor indeed would be our lives without the influence of His teachings and His matchless example. …
“He whose birth we commemorate this season is more than the symbol of a holiday. He is the Son of God, … the Redeemer of mankind, the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace” (Gordon B. Hinckley, BYU Speeches, 14 Dec. 1960, 3–6).

This quote reminds me of one reason I love this season.  I love it because people are so much more concerned with others than with themselves.  People want to give and to share most often with no thought for themselves. I know people who do secret things for others in thier neighborhood during this time of year, like giving poinsettas to those who would be alone for the holidays.  No one really notices these types of acts but it has a profound effect on both the receiver and the giver.  My life has been blessed by occassionaly being privy to these secret acts of service and it inspires me to be a better individual.  I am thankful for givers.  Most of all I am thankful to a Heavenly Father who gave His Son and who gives to me more than I deserve.

"How silently, how silently, The wonderous gift is giv'n! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heav'n. No ear may hear his coming; but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in."

I tried to make peanut butter cups today but they turned out to not be a creamy as I wished they were.  I'll get it next time.

The First Day Christmas Celebration

As I was listening to Christmas music today I heard the song that says, "and we need a little Christmas, right this very minute, need a little Christmas....." As I thought about that, I decided that we don't need a LITTLE Christmas, we need A LOT of Christmas.  Doesn't the world need a bit more peace, and love, and cheer, that this Holiday brings?  Couldn't we use a lot more giving and sharing, and loving.  Don't we need a lot more focus on Christ?  I sure think so.  So I think we need a lot of Christmas.  Like the Christmas hymn that says "Shepherds, why this jubilee?  Why your joyous strains prolong?  What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heav'nly song?"  The shepherds and the angels were joyful at the news of Christ's coming and we should be too.  He came and He will come again.  So, let's really celebrate this news with A LOT of Christmas. 

I made some caramel turtle cookies today.  They turned out ok.  I haven't been eating sugar for the past month and a half so it was a little strange to have such a sweet cookie.  But they were fun to make that is for certain.  I like having things I can share with friends.  It was fun to take them to work the next day and pass them out.  But the thing I loved most was just the fun it was to have Christmas music in the background, the wonderful smell of baking all through my home and the thoughts of how my mom used to bake like this at the holidays.  What a tradition.  Merry Christmas.

the 50 days of Christmas Celebration is starting

I have really decided to Celebrate Christmas with gusto this year and I want to invite you to join in.  This time of year just makes me happy and brings joy and peace to my heart.  I know that it is because of the season and the wonderful hoildays we celebrate at this time, both Thanksgiving and Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ.  I am by no means excluding Thanksgiving or skipping over it, so not to worry.  But I feel that the spirit of Thanksgiving and the spirit of Christ that are so profound in these holidays are really bound together in harmony and intertwined in all that this season is about.  So I am celebrating them in harmony with each other. 

Hence, I decided to Celebrate 50 glorious days of Christmas and it will start here in a day or two and will continue to the 6th of Jan.  And I am going to celebrate with good music, beautiful scripture, sweet treats, family and loved ones.  I want to make a new treat every day.  To me, this just sounds like fun, (both the baking and the eating) but I will defintely share the really good treat recipes here on my blog.  And I can't wait for my home to be filled with holiday baking smells and oodles of food to eat and to sharre.  So Happy Thanksgiving to all and Merry Christmas. May you find wonderful and new ways to celebrate all that is good and wonderful this time of year.