A few Christmas recipes

I LOVE these Christmas recipes!

I will point out that I stole this one from my sister's blog.

Popcorn Balls

1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup dark corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp. salt
16 cups popped popcorn

Heat all ingredients except popcorn to simmering in Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Add popcorn. Cook, stirring constantly, until popcorn is well-coated, about 2 minutes. Place on wax paper. Cool slightly. Dip hands into ice water; shape mixture into 2-inch balls. Cool completely. Store in plastic bags or Tupperware container. Also make good Christmas tree decorations if covered in plastic wrap.



Chocolate Mint Dreams

3/4 c butter
1 c confectioner's sugar
2 squares chocolate, melted
1/4 t peppermint extract
1 1/2 c flour
1 c mini chocolate chips


Icing:
2 T butter
1 c confectioner's sugar
1 T milk
1/4 t peppermint extract
1-2 drops green food coloring

Drizzle(melted together):
1/4 c chocolate chips
1/2 t shortening



Cream butter and sugar; Add chocolate and mint flavor; add flour and stir in chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonful onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake 375 degrees for 6-8 mi. Spread icing and let set before using drizzle.



Sweet party mix

4 c corn chex cereal
4 c rice chex cereal
4 c pretzels
2 c sliced almonds
3/4 c brown sugar
6 T butter
3 T light corn syrup
1/4 t baking powder
2 c dried cranberries and/or blueberries, and/or cherries

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine dry ingredients in large roasting pan. In medium saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup:melt. Boil and continue boiling steadily 5 min. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda. Pour over cereal mix, stir to coat. Bake in oven for 15 min. Stir and bake 5 min. more. Remove from oven. Stir in dried fruit. Spread in greased foil to cool. Break into pieces and store(or eat!).

Yeilds twelve cups

Black Bottom Cupcakes

Line muffin tins with cupcake papers.

Blend for filling:
8 oz. cream cheese(room temperature)
1 egg
1/3 c sugar
1/8 t salt

Fold in:
1 c semisweet mini chocolate chips

Then set aside.

In separate bowl, mix:
1 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 c sugar
1/4 c cocoa
1 T white vinegar
1 t vanilla
1/2 t salt
1 c water
1/3 c vegetable oil


Fill muffin tins about 3/4 full with batter, then drop a heaping Tbs of cream cheese mixture into the center of each cupcake.

Bake 375 degrees for 20 min (mini cupcakes)
40 min (large cupcakes)


Apple and Pomegranate Cider

6 whole cloves
2 (3 in) cinnamon sticks
1 (3 in) strip lemon rind
1 (3 in) strip orange rind
8 c unfiltered apple cider
1 c pomegranate juice
3/4 c fresh orange juice
1/4 c sugar
1/4 c lemon juice


Place first four ingredients on a double layer of cheesecloth(or teaball). Gather edges together; tie securely. Combine cheesecloth bag, apple cider, and remaining ingr. in a dutch oven; bring to a simmer. Cook 30 min. Discard cheesecloth bag.

Serves 10

This one isn't exactly Christmas, but my sister made it at Thanksgiving and I LOVED it!

Cranberry, Sour Cherry, and Grapefruit chutney

1 bag (12 ounces) fresh or frozen cranberries
1/4 c unrefined cane sugar or brown sugar
2 T apple cider vinegar
3/4 tsp ground cardamom
Pinch of ground cloves
pinch of sea salt
1/3 c dried sour cherries
2 Ruby red grapefruits, pith and peel removed, separated into segments

1. In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, vinegar, cardamom, cloves, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until cranberries just begin to burst and soften. (About 5 minutes.)
2. Turn off heat; stir in cherries, and transfer to a bowl. Let cool completely. Then gently fold in grapefruit. Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days.

At the risk of regretting it in the morning...

I'm going to write about my life again. This is supposed to be a profound post. =P

Today has been horrible, as I mentioned earlier. I can't go riding on Friday...I'm trying to plan a surprise birthday party for my Mom, but nothing is really working...I didn't feel like doing school...I need to make a decision about college sometime...I gotta send out Christmas gifts...I gotta send out Christmas letters...I gotta make cookies...I gotta exercise..I gotta keep secrets...I gotta not be disappointed if I don't get anything for Christmas...I gotta be helpful...I gotta be friendly...I gotta be a good example...I gotta serve others...I gotta finish shopping...I gotta talk to so-and-so...I gotta finish this...I gotta finish that...(you get the picture)...


So I think it's all to much. I think my brain is overloading and rejecting all the things that I need to do. I might mention that I haven't been able to get up early enough to do my Bible time. I've been trying to pray throughout the day as the need comes or before I go to sleep or before I start the day. But I think I'm crazy busy. Not literally. Just in my brain. Between Christmas and friends and horses and dogs and housing and presents and family and sleep and promises and secrets and all the info that's overloading my brain, I've had too much.

I need to slow down and take some time with God. I need to pray. But even through my mind's busyness, I can hear His quiet whispers. He's been reminding me of His unchanging, unfailing love and how life is never hopeless with Him.

On Sunday, the message was absolutely wonderful. It seemed like it was pointed right at me. It seemed like it pointed to all my problems and showed me the answers. The message was from Psalm 107.

Psalm 107
1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3 And gathered out of the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south.

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way;
They found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty,
Their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He delivered them out of their distresses.
7 And He led them forth by the right way,
That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

10 Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
Bound in affliction and irons—
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God,
And despised the counsel of the Most High,
12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor;
They fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
And broke their chains in pieces.
15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For He has broken the gates of bronze,
And cut the bars of iron in two.

17 Fools, because of their transgression,
And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food,
And they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
20 He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And declare His works with rejoicing.

23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters,
24 They see the works of the LORD,
And His wonders in the deep.
25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind,
Which lifts up the waves of the sea.
26 They mount up to the heavens,
They go down again to the depths;
Their soul melts because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,
And are at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He brings them out of their distresses.
29 He calms the storm,
So that its waves are still.
30 Then they are glad because they are quiet;
So He guides them to their desired haven.
31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,
And praise Him in the company of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a wilderness,
And the watersprings into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into barrenness,
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He turns a wilderness into pools of water,
And dry land into watersprings.
36 There He makes the hungry dwell,
That they may establish a city for a dwelling place,
37 And sow fields and plant vineyards,
That they may yield a fruitful harvest.
38 He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly;
And He does not let their cattle decrease.

39 When they are diminished and brought low
Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow,
40 He pours contempt on princes,
And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;
41 Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction,
And makes their families like a flock.
42 The righteous see it and rejoice,
And all iniquity stops its mouth.

43 Whoever is wise will observe these things,
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.




Notice how the phrase "Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses" is repeated several times. I was reminded of how I need to look to the Lord when I need help and not so much to anyone or anything else. I was reminded that God loves me and that He's there, even when I don't make time to spend with Him. The pastor also told several stories about songwriters lives and how they came to God and why they wrote the songs they wrote. This one song in particular really got my attention because the writer wrote this at a time when his wife left him because she couldn't stand being an evangelist's wife any more. It's not the same, but it still hurts a lot when friends just don't talk to you anymore. Or even tell you why. And lately, I've been feeling a little upset that I pray for people who don't even notice my existence. I guess I've just been wondering why I even care when they don't even know I exist. Or they try to pretend I don't and ignore me. But I keep praying for them anyway. Because it's the right thing to do, I guess. Or maybe it's because I honestly do care for these people, even though the don't care about me. So God used this song to remind me that even though no one else may care, Jesus still cares.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus
Written by Charles Frederick Weigle

CHORUS
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There's no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me.
O how much He cared for me!

I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus
Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true;
I would tell you how He changed my life completely,
He did something that no other friend could do.

CHORUS
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There's no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me.
O how much He cared for me!

All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me;
All my heart was full of misery and woe;
Jesus placed His strong and loving arms around me,
And He led me in the way I ought to go.

CHORUS
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There's no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me.
O how much He cared for me!

Ev'ry day He comes to me with new assurance,
More and more I understand His words of love;
But I'll never know just why He came to save me,
Till some day I see His blessed face above.

CHORUS
No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There's no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me.
O how much He cared for me!

You can check out the full story about Charles Weigle(or look further on google or something) here.

But anyway, God just spoke to me through this song and message. It was such a wonderful feeling. And I didn't really want to go to church that morning. But He knew I needed to be there. I can't express how much I needed to hear this. I was so glad that God can still speak through even little things. I haven't really wanted to go to church for the past six months or so because we haven't had a church that was doing me any good. I haven't heard a good message since probably 2007 when I was at The Wilds. So I've just tried to do what's right and go anyway. Not because I really wanted to, but because Mom and Dad were going and they thought it was the right thing to do. But I think can honestly say that for probably the first time in six months, I am at least looking forward a little to this Sunday. I can't really begin to write what God is doing in my heart. I have so many things that I have been struggling with and so many things that I have had so much trouble with.

Wait, trust, and hope are the three main things that I've had trouble really doing. In my heart, I want to. But to be honest, I think fear has something to do with it. Fear that my dreams will never be realized. Fear that God will not provide. Fear that God wants something for my life that I will hate. Fear that I will never have a horse. Oh, I know in my heart that these things are not true. But I just struggle with the whole concept of me wanting what God wants for my life. Maybe that's it. And maybe I'm just incoherent, like my sister said she was. It is midnight, after all. I have an excuse. =D But anyway, I hope someone actually reads this and will maybe comment on it.

Cream cheese walnut muffins and more

As I drink my second mug of wassail, I will tell you about today.

Today started out kinda slow. We got breakfast and finally made a decision about where to get a Christmas tree. We decided to get one here. (Blogger did it again. So click on the pictures, please)

Christmas tree hunting...




I wanted to put this one in my room. Oh, well.






We finally picked out a tree and tied it to the car. After we brought it home, I started the wassail, and decided to start some cream cheese walnut muffins and we got the tree in the house.

Cream Cheese walnut muffins
Beat together-

1 c soft margarine
8 oz. cream cheese

Add-
1/4 tsp. salt

Work in by hand-
2 c sifted flour


Roll into ball and refrigerate overnight or at least 3 hours

Roll out dough cut to fit mini muffin tins

Filling(may have to make double)-
1 1/2 c brown sugar
2 T melted margarine
2 eggs
1 1/4 c chopped walnuts
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt


Bake 350 degrees for 20 min.

Let cool in pan a few mins. before removing. (May have to use butter knife to remove from pans)





But anyway, after starting the dough, I ended up going out again to get some things an hour away. When we left, it had been snowing a litte, but I didn't think much of it since it usually doesn't do much here. So, when we came out of Walmart, it was really snowing. We drove the hour home through the snow and when we got home I went out with the dogs to get a few pictures of the half-inch of snow for my blog.

Then I turned the wassail back on(which I had never finished making) and we got some turkey soup for dinner. After dinner, I finished the filling on the cream cheese walnut muffins. By this time, it was probably about nine or so. I finally got started on decorating the tree. There is not much else(excluding riding of course) more satisfying or fun than decorating the Christmas tree in your pjs when you have Christmas music playing and wassail to drink and cream cheese walnut muffins to eat.



This was not a set up shot. She was just there. I got inspired and tried to get the other dogs set up, but the pictures just didn't turn out except the bottom one. =( But Lexi is sooooo cute! She looks just like a little present.

After decorating a I came up here. I'm going to redo my blog picture tomorrow. I think God sent the snow just for me today. =)

Also, I would appreciate prayer that it wouldn't be too cold or wet on the 13th as I am going riding with a friend. I am praying really hard, and I'm sure she is, too, as she hasn't had a chance to go since before last Christmas. So please pray.

OH, oh, oh!

We're going Christmas tree hunting today! I'm going to have such a blast. I LOVE Christmas tree hunting. We might be going to Floyd county to find a tree. But we might buy from the place that we got if from last time in town. I'd rather get it here, because that leaves more time for decorating and my all time favorite tradition.

Wassail!!!



By the way...those of you who read my blog, and even those who don't(hee-hee)...
I will be posting many, many recipes this month, so keep watching for them!

I have to post our cream cheese walnut muffin recipe later. These are my favorite Christmas cookies!


And...I have a HUGE(well, actually it's pretty small) surprise for my Mom for Christmas or possibly her birthday. I will post about it after I give it to her, just in case she were to read this. =D