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!!

~~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.

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!

~~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

--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.

Once Upon A Time Recipes

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

The recipe I offer today is one that Ron's family has shared since they were small children.  And so it was on that special "cookie baking Sunday" that we all did our part to make these fun cookies.

Wes, Laura, David and Ron

having a wonderful time baking  together.

Burlingame, CA, 1973

Candy Cane Cookies

1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup shortening
1 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
Crushed peppermint candy (optional)

Cream margarine and shortening.  Add sugar and egg.  Add dry ingredients.  Divide dough in half, color half with red food coloring.

Use 1/2 teaspoon of each color, roll and twist colored and uncolored dough then lay the cookie on an ungreased baking sheet, shape like candy cane.  Top with crushed peppermint candy if desired.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake 9 minutes or until set and very light brown.  Makes 4 dozen.

If you wish you can also use green food coloring and twist the dough into wreaths.

 It was such fun baking and watching the little ones eye as they watched the cookies come off the cookie sheet.  They were so careful not to break the Candy Cane.

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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!!

--Mosaic Monday~~Macro Monday~~

My what a grand time we all had!!!!

And then there is the hope and reminder of Spring!

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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.

Instead of taking an Adventure Tour this
week I thought it would be fun if you would
share holiday recipes you have that have
a history. So this Wednesday please
join me in offering Once Upon a Time 
Recipes, a story and recipe you
have as tradition at your house.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Will be enjoying family that begins arriving tomorrow, and so it is that I will be away until after Thanksgiving Day.  I am grateful for so many things, but one of the things I find I am very grateful for is the friendships I have developed over the last 3 years.  It's been a wonderful adventure.  One in which I find the anticipation of visits from you all and the thrills of visiting with you at your "homes"  just grand!    My very best wishes to you all!  Happy Thanksgiving!!!

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Thanks be to God!!

~~Mosaic/Macro Monday~~Month of Thanksgiving~~

   

Saint Mary-of-the Woods



ON HOLY GROUND

View from the foothills in Colorado

June, 2010

The words escape me today.  I have just returned from the dedication of a new church.  St. Clements.  It  has a history of 130 years and now it has a new place of worship.  Participating in the celebration of this members of this church I was in awe of the two thousand years of tradition that was extended through the people of God at St. Clements. 

As the bishop blessed the water I was reminded of my baptism.  As he poured the chrism oil on the altar to anoint it, I was reminded that it becomes a symbol of Christ.  He anointed the walls that the church building would be given over entirely and forever to Christian worship.  And again I was reminded of my anointing, first at Baptism and then at  Confirmation, and my call to be a temple of the Holy Spirit.  And oh, the wonderful aroma of incense reminded me that sacrifices offered in this holy space ascends to God in heaven.  It is also a sign that our prayers rise up pleasing and acceptable to God in the sincerity of our praise and worship. 

With guest priests gathered around this newly anointed alter the bishop offered Mass for the first time.   The choir sang in exaltation and I thought, "Heaven!"  Believing that I am part of a glorious tradition with a legacy that transcends time and space,  I am so grateful to have had the privilege of witnessing this event.  To the People of St. Clements I say congratulation and well done.  

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Thanks be to God! 

And, oh, the words didn't escape me for long...I also thought I'd share with you other places  today I see as Holy Ground.

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.

If you would be kind enough to stop by Tamara's to offer your reason for thanks at Branch of Wisdom. She is hosting A Month of Thanksgiving I'm sure you will find some delightful and wonderful words of wisdom, praise and gratitude.

~~Bad Haiku Friday and Haiku My Heart~~Month of Thanksgiving~~

Duchess, Sam the Cat, and Cocoa

Knowing your own space

Important to discover

There's no conflict here

A lot can be learned from animals.  Certainly there might be conflict but soon they'll find their spot, relax and enjoy.  And it is important, too, learn to that you can be in a group and no one has to say anything.  Just sit and enjoy the quiet!

Thankful today for those quiet times with family and friends.

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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.  Tamara at Branch of Wisdom  is hosting A Month of Thanksgiving and I'm sure you will find some delightful and wonderful words of wisdom, praise and gratitude.  And when you have finished  just have the most wonderful Fall weekend wherever you are!

Bad Haiku Friday

Haiku My Heart

A Month of Thanksgiving