Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Once Upon A Time Recipes



There is always that special recipe that brings back wonderful memories of gatherings of family and friends and grand times spent together.  Christmas is one of those times when memories flood back for me.  What about yours?





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Today's recipe reminds me of the gift of  a friend gave me and all the wonderful recipes and stories it has to tell.  The book is The Twelve Blessings of Christmas by T.J Mills and how that gift brings joy to to family and friends.  It also brings back memories of one of those traditions my family had at Christmas and the breakfast pastry on Christmas Day.

It was a treat each Christmas to have this fruit-filled stollen warm and tasty with our eggs and bacon after early Christmas Mass.  The recipe I have been using is not as complicated and takes very little time to prepare.  And so I offer it from the pages of this delightful book!

Christmas Stollen

1 1/2 cups warm water
2 packages yeast
1 package yellow cake mix
4 1/2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 can cherry pie filling

Mix together water, yeast, cake mix, flour and salt.  Place in a greased bowl and let rise until double.  Divide in half and roll to a 12 x 8 oval.  Spread 1/2 can of pie fill on one side of dough and fold over half of the dough on top.  Repeat with remaining dough.  Place on a greased cookie sheet and let rise until double in bulk.  Bake in a 350  degree oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool completely and drizzle powdered sugar frosting.

(I place the loaves on baking sheet covered with parchment paper.  I also used cream cheese icing on the loaves.)

Baking this stollen each year also allows me the opportunity to thank God for Lisa who gave me this book in the first place.  She is on of those treasures for which I say,

"Thanks be to God!"


If you have a recipe your family enjoys traditionally every year, please link below so we can all share in the the excitement and try your recipe this year!!

Sunday, December 05, 2010

~~Mosaic/Macro Monday~~

The tree is decorated and the lights are aglow.  
Still savoring the wonder of this Holy Season.


It seems like a long time ago now but every time I hang this and other ornaments that Ron and I have made out of porcelain I recall the joy I had in making them. They were gifts to family and friends.  To me they are still treasures of the wonderful Christmases past!  They instill in me the hope of Christmases to come.

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Thanks be to God!


Now visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.


Again this Wednesday please
join me in offering Once Upon a Time 
Recipes, a story and recipe you
have as tradition at your house.


Saturday, December 04, 2010

The Littlest Angel


When I was 7 years old my Aunt Rosemary gave me these records.  And every year thereafter there was that anticipation of hearing them again.  You know even now there is something so tender about this beautiful tale that I want all children to hear it.  For me today this was a treasure found again, and all because I happened upon it at YouTube. It still brings tears to my eyes and allows me to hope that I will find myself walking or even skipping down the streets of heaven.  I too want to balance myself on the edge of a cloud...Oh, heavenly!  Hoping you have the time to linger here and listen to it.






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Thanks be to God!

Friday, December 03, 2010

~~Bad Haiku Friday and Haiku My Heart~~



Don't want to hurry
Want to savor the moment
Decorating fun

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Thanks be to God!

Please visit Laura at Catholic Teacher Musings the sponsor of Bad Haiku Friday.  Visit also Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. 


Bad Haiku Friday

Haiku My Heart

Thursday, December 02, 2010

--Tea Talk~~


Cookies are made of butter and love.  
~Norwegian Proverb

Tea Talk today serves two purposes.  First to share my morning with you and also to clarify an error in yesterday's post "Once Upon A Time Recipes." 


So let's begin.


I'm having...Celestial Seasoning Cool Raspberry Black Tea  though I brewed it with hot water instead of cool water...It really is a tasty tea.

My teacup is...my favorite Christmas mug.



I'm feeling...Embarrassed because I didn't proofread the Candy Cane Recipe better yesterday.  I glad however that I decided to make a batch of cookies for Ron as a surprise.  Because of that surprise I found my "surprise."  But I think and I hope I caught it in time before anyone started to make them.


On my mind...The Candy Cane Cookie Caper and solving the mystery of too little flour in the batter.
If you have already printed the recipe just make sure you change the amount of flour to 2 1/2 cups.


The batter is easy to work with...

I use my Pampered Chef Pizza stone to roll them out on...

Lay them on the cookie sheet carefully...

I baked them for 15 minutes instead of  9 inures because
I made them larger than suggested...

Ron was surprised and so was I because though they
aren't the fanciest candy canes I ever made they really
do taste good!


Wishing you all a wonderful Tea Talk Thursday and come back next Wednesday and I'll try to proofread my Once Upon A Time Recipe post a little better.  Hoping you will stop by and share your recipes!!
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Thanks be to God!!!


Now won't you join me and visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house?  Share a cup of tea or a cool refreshing drink with us.