And so this was Christmas . . .

Source: lovelyclusters.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

Oh but we did have a lovely Christmas this year. I was so glad that it all worked out fine and thatTodd was feeling ever so much better on the day than he had been for the few weeks prior to it!! My mother called first thing and I got to speak to her, which is always nice. It just would not seem like Christmas without having talked to my mum. It was also nice going to church in the morning. One of the bonus's of Christmas actually falling on a Sunday!

My Christmas Lunch turned out beautifully. I had done the Simple Turkey range from Piper's Farm and it was quite delicious, and true to their word it cooked in just 60 minutes! We had Doreen and Billy (remember them from our trip to Llandudno last summer?) come to lunch and the four of us enjoyed the feast together and some quality time with each other.

After they had gone, Todd and I watched the Queen's speech, which is another integral part of Christmas day you know! For as long as I can remember I have always watched the Queen's speech on the television on Christmas Day. I thought she gave a really nice one this year, but then . . . she always does!

I had a text from my eldest son to see if I was free and then we both went onto an MSN Video call and I got to see our Gabriel and Luke in their Christmas jim jams playing with some of their Christmas presents. That was really nice! I loved being a part of their Christmas Day. I am so glad that we live in a day and an age where technology allows this type of thing. What a blessing!

I called my father on the telephone after that and spoke to him for a time. He was pleased to get the call. He was all on his own this year. He lives in Quebec and they do something called Reveillion on Christmas Eve, which is midnight mass and an all night celebration. He just didn't feel up to all the festivities this year, what with just having been fitted with his pacemaker etc. and so he stayed home. He just wasn't up to it and says he tires easily. We were so happy to find out also that he didn't have cancer so double blessing and gift to us that we will have him around for a lot longer!

Then Todd and I spent a quiet evening on our own, just enjoying each other's company along with Mitzie and watching a few things on the telly. I am trying to remember now what they were, but alas . . . I can't! I must be getting old!



This is a picture of little Maryn on Christmas Day with her dad Tom. Doesn't she look sweet enough to eat? I thought so at any rate! It's amazing to me that she looks just like I did at the same age!



This is Jonathan and Joshua wearing the jim jams I sent to them! It is really nice to see my grandsons actually wearing something from me! I was very excited about that. All my grandchildren got matching pajamas and a book and some choccies from us. The boys all got exactly the same ones, printed with circus clowns and animals, and little Maryn got Beatrix Potter pink ones with Flopsie Bunny embroidered on the top and ruffles on the bottoms of the pantlegs. She got a board book as well (Goodnight Moon) along with a little pink sock monkey.



Here's Gabriel and Luke visiting Santa with their mom, Anne. Apparently Luke wasn't going to sit on Santa's lap without mom being there. My daughter in law is such a good sport. I love her to bits and Santa looks like he's enjoying her too!



We worked towards it for what seemed like forever . . . baking, planning, decorating . . . and then in just a few short days it was over. The best part of Christmas it seems happens in the planning and the run up to Christmas, or at least that is how it works for me. There is this huge build up, and not enough hours in the day . . . and then, like a sneeze, all of a sudden it is finished and all we're left with are a few Christmas goodies and some happy memories. It always makes me a bit sad when I have to take the decorations down and put them away. Kind of like saying goodbye to a few old friends, and the kitchen here in our cottage always seems a little bit empty for a few days . . . like something big is missing.



And then, all of a sudden, like a breath of fresh air, a forgotten gift arrives and it's Christmas all over again. A lovely brown paper bag decorated with Santa Claus's and full of little surprises, each one pretty and daintily wrapped and decorated, not the least of which was this beautiful little gold box tied up with a pretty pink ribbon.



Deep inside it's recesses, hidden under some pretty parchment paper folds lays a beautiful sweet Christmas surprise. What pretty colours these chocolates are . . . a wonder to behold and I am a child again . . . I don't want to eat them they are so lovely. I want to hoard them like the Easter Bunny I hid in the book case headboard of my bed for a whole day when I was eleven, only to discover the morning after, that my cousin's had been and eaten it when I wasn't looking. The only evidence of it's having been there a few telltale chocolate crumbs and some crumbled foil . . . Dare I take that chance again?



Oh look!!! A lovely Santa's hat and stocking, even a cute little snowman and a Christmas pudding . . . almost too cute to eat, but who am I to resist temptation. I must nibble . . . before someone else does . . . and we all know who that someone is!



Just another little painting I did yesterday afternoon. I got my Sunday talk all written and so I wanted to play for a bit and I had seen a photograph of two little girls posed just like this . . . it so tempted me to want to replicate it with some of my characters and so I did. As usual it is available as a print or a card. I need to post some of these newest creations in my Etsy shop I think!



After all the excesses of Christmas can I . . . dare I . . . tempt myself into eating just one more?? There is still a tin of Celebrations Chocolates on the counter that beckons to me, making it very hard to resist it's sweet treasures hidden inside. Whoever invented these was surely a genius, imagine all your favourite Chocolate bar temptations tucked into small packages, each one just a tiny bite . . . Mars . . . Maltesers . . . Bounty . . . Milky Way . . . they are too lovely to stay away from for very long. What could possibly be any better than these ???

Why Celebrations Brownies of course! This is a recipe adapted from the Green and Black's Chocolate cookbook, and yes . . . it was impossible to eat just one . . .




*Celebrations Brownies*
Makes 15
Printable Recipe

Imagine a brownie so rich and gooey that you can’t help gasping with pleasure when you sink your teeth into one . . . now add the hidden surprise of your favourite chocolate candy bar deep inside it’s decadently rich, chocolaty depth . . . Yes, you have died and gone to heaven.

7 ounces butter (13.8 TBS)
3 ½ ounces dark chocolate, broken into pieces (use really good quality, no less than 60% chocolate solids)
12 ounces dark soft brown sugar (1.69 cups)
4 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
8 ounces self raising flour (2 cups)
Pinch of salt
10 ¼ ounce box of Celebration** chocolates, or other chocolates of your choice (Imagine Maltesers dotting the middle or a lovely layer of thin chocolate After Eight mints)

Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Brush an 11 X 7 inch tin with melted butter and then life with greaseproof paper. Set aside.

Put the butter and the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering, but not boiling water, making sure the water does not touch the bottom of the top pan. Allow to melt, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. Stir in the chocolate, mixing it in well.

Beat the eggs together with the vanilla and the pinch of salt. Stir this into the chocolate mixture, mixing it in well. Sift the flour and stir in until well combined.

Un wrap the chocolates.

Pour half of the chocolate batter into the prepared tin. Lay the chocolates evenly spaced carefully over the top of the batter, making sure that there will be at least one in each portion that is cut. Pour the remaining batter over top, ensuring that all the chocolates are completely covered.

Bake in the heated oven for 15 to 30 minutes until the top is crispy and glazed looking but the insides are still soft. Remove from the oven and to a rack to cool. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.

**Celebration chocolates are a mixture we can get over here of small miniature chocolate bars such as Milky Way, Bounty, Mars, Snickers, etc. If you can’t get those use any favourite chocolate of yours. Malted milk balls sprinkled over the layer work quite well, as do thin chocolate mints. Chunks of caramel bar work equally as well. Let your decadent foodie imagination run free!



And over in The English Kitchen today, a genius and most delicious way to use up some of all those parsnips you got in for the holidays, scrummy Parsnip Patties with a Cranberry Mustard!

“Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely. ... He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken.”
― Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Do not be afraid . . .

"Do not be afraid . . . for I myself will help you," declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. ~Isaiah 41:14

The very nature of love is trust, even when that very trust is being betrayed. Trust is what brings us closer to the Lord. Fear, however, can drive a wedge between us and Him.

Being afraid is woven into the very fabric of our lives. It is something which we cannot control. If you look at the scriptures however, we are told again and again . . . "Do not fear!" We are constantly told not to be afraid by a loving God who knows that we almost always are . . . and for good reasons. I don't think it's our fear that concerns him, as much as it the things that fear can cause us to do.

I know that I am not the person I want to be when I sit, trembling in the dark, feeling afraid of what's to come . . . I'm not the person I want to be or can be when I am swirling out of control in a raging river of fear . . . my mind circling around and around . . . what if . . . what if . . . what if . . .

I once read somewhere that "Courage is fear that has said it's prayers." and so . . . I pray daily for the strength to conquer mine. I believe that when I do so . . . when I ask God to look over my loved ones . . . when I ask God to guide my steps, to give me answers . . . to calm my fears . . . and then . . . I trust that He, in all of His infinite wisdom . . . will do so, then I am choosing faith over fear.



"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber." -Psalm 121:1-2

I know that Lura is feeling very afraid today. She has come through so much already and is doing so much better . . . but now faces another hurdle she needs to jump over. This morning, I just want to reassure her that her Heavenly Father loves and cares for her so very much, and that He will not drop her now. He has not brought her this far, through what he has brought her through, to abandon her at the doorway to whatever may lay ahead.



Today, Lura, as always . . . and tomorrow and every day that follows . . . your friends and family are upholding you in our prayers . . . prayers for strength, for the courage to face whatever may be, and for the healing that will come afterwards . . .

We love you.




(Picture from Martha Stewart)

*Crock Pot Brownies*
Makes 14
Printable Recipe

I've never heard of this before and am intrigued. I have not made them, but am seriously going to. They look fabulous and it won't heat up your kitchen baking them either! You will need a 5 quart crock pot. The finished product looks fudgy and delicious!

Nonstick cooking spray
1 1/4 cups flour, spooned and leveled
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate,chopped
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup walnut halves, coarsely chopped
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Spray your crock pot with cooking spray. Line the bottom of the ceramic insert with parchment paper. Spray the paper with cooking spray. Set aside.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and salt. Set aside.

Place the butter and chocolate into a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high, in 30 second increments, until melted. Stir in the sugar. Beat in the eggs. Add the flour mixture, walnuts and chocolate chips, stirring only to combine. Don't overmix.

Spread this mixture into the crock pot insert, smoothing the top. Place the insert into the crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 3 1/2 hours. Uncover and cook for 30 minutes longer. Remove insert from the crock pot. Run a knife around the edges of the brownie to loosen. Place the insert onto a wire rack to cool completely. Turn out onto work surface once cooled and cut into squares. Store finished brownies in an airtight container.



If Brownies aren't your cup of tea, perhaps Poached Vanilla Apricots are. Showing today on The English Kitchen.

Sometimes I get really crafty!

I have a thing about red and white polka dotted toadstools. I have loved them since I was a little girl. It's a bit of an obsession I'm afraid.



When I was a child my family had these lovely little Christmas ornaments that my parents had picked up in Germany. Little red and white toadstools, gathered into a small bunch and nestled into a small silver patty pan with a sprig of greenery. Oh how I loved those sweet little things. I could hardly wait each year for them to appear, and when they did I am afraid I made a bit of a nuisance of myself . . . always touching them and such.



When my own children were growing up I made some for our homemade tree, out of patty pans and some greenery and little toadstools I managed to buy at a Craft store. Unfortunately in the divorce, my ex husband's new wife inherited all my handmade ornaments and such . . . heartbreaking I know, but not much I can do about. I have looked and looked to no avail over here in the UK, searching high and low for some bunches of the little red and white craft toadstools. There are none to be found.



I have come across several blown glass ones this year in the shops. One I picked up as a gift for a friend and then the others I only admired as they were £5 a piece and I thought that a bit steep . . . so I left them . . . only to go back later and find them gone. boo hoo I wished so much that I had picked them up when I could. It would have been £5 well spent in retrospect.

Last night I was sitting here after having spent a lovely afternoon with my friend Jo. She had driven up all the way from Broadstairs and we had "done" lunch, something I never ever get to do. It was so much fun and we had such a lovely time together. We "did" Italian, which was a real treat as Todd doesn't like Italian and so I very rarely ever cook anything Italian here at home. Anyways, I was sitting here and decided to fashion myself a little toadstool to hang on my Christmas tree.



I got out some white warm and natural batting that I had brought with me from Canada, and my red craft felt, needles and thread and some little white buttons.

I cut out two 4 inch circles. One in the red felt and one in the warm and natural. Then I cut out a strip of warm and natural, about 12 inches long and 3 inches deep. I also cut out a piece of cardboard 2 inches in diameter. I gathered some red thread and some white thread and some tiny white buttons that I have been hoarding.



First I took the red circle and I ran a gathering stitch all around about 1/4 inch inside the outside edge and pulled it together leaving about an inch and a half opening. Into that I stuffed a good bunch of polyester polyfill so that it was sort of puffy and then I topped it with the cardboard circle to give it substance, pulled the felt tight around it and then anchored it off with a few back stitches.



With the warm and natural I also ran a gathering stitch around the outside as before and then I pulled it tight making a quilters yo yo, but leaving an opening in the centre about 3/4 inch in diameter. I flattened it, and then sewed it to the bottom of the red puffy big, covering over the cardboard.



Then I took the strip of warm and natural and folded it in half lengthwise and then rolled it up tightly to make a stem. I stitched it tightly closed all along the ending overlap.



I took some tiny white buttons and I sewed them onto the red puffy part here and there and then I glued the stem end inside the opening I had left on the yo yo at the bottom of the toadstool.



Don't you think it is adorable?? All I have to do now is to fashion a hanging loop and it will be living quite happily on my Christmas Tree!! Not quite blown glass, or the toadstools of my childhood . . . but I love it just the same.



Know what??? Next year if I see some blown glass ones, I'm going to snuffle them up for my tree. I may never get the chance again . . .



Look what was waiting for me this morning when I opened my eyes!! Yes, it's snow. A week early, but snow nonetheless. It probably won't be still here come Christmas, but nevermind. I did get my wish! (Not a great picture I know, but it's still dark out and it's still snowing!!)

This is a recipe I had posted on here several years ago. I didn't get much cooking done yesterday really and I thought it would be good to re-post it in a printable format. I hope you don't mind! I have a lot of new readers out there who wouldn't have seen these, and the oldies, well . . . some things just bear repeating don't they! From the Green and Black's Chocolate Cookbook, it's Celebration's Brownies. These are sooooo yummy!! You will not be able to resist!



*Celebration Brownies*
Makes 15
Printable Recipe

Imagine a brownie so rich and gooey that you can’t help gasping with pleasure when you sink your teeth into one . . . now add the hidden surprise of your favourite chocolate candy bar deep inside it’s decadently rich, chocolaty depth . . . Yes, you have died and gone to heaven.

7 ounces butter
3 ½ ounces dark chocolate, broken into pieces (use really good quality, no less than 60% chocolate solids)
12 ounces dark soft brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
8 ounces self raising flour
Pinch of salt
10 ¼ ounce box of Celebration** chocolates, or other chocolates of your choice (Imagine Maltesers dotting the middle or a lovely layer of thin chocolate After Eight mints)

Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Brush an 11 X 7 inch tin with melted butter and then life with greaseproof paper. Set aside.

Put the butter and the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering, but not boiling water, making sure the water does not touch the bottom of the top pan. Allow to melt, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. Stir in the chocolate, mixing it in well.

Beat the eggs together with the vanilla and the pinch of salt. Stir this into the chocolate mixture, mixing it in well. Sift the flour and stir in until well combined.

Un wrap the chocolates.

Pour half of the chocolate batter into the prepared tin. Lay the chocolates evenly spaced carefully over the top of the batter, making sure that there will be at least one in each portion that is cut. Pour the remaining batter over top, ensuring that all the chocolates are completely covered.

Bake in the heated oven for 15 to 30 minutes until the top is crispy and glazed looking but the insides are still soft. Remove from the oven and to a rack to cool. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.

**Celebration chocolates are a mixture we can get over here of small miniature chocolate bars such as Milky Way, Bounty, Mars, Snickers, etc. If you can’t get those use any favourite chocolate of yours. Malted milk balls sprinkled over the layer work quite well, as do thin chocolate mints. Chunks of caramel bar work equally as well. Let your decadent foodie imagination run free!



Over on The English Kitchen today, dinner from when we had the sister missionaries over several nights back . . . tasty Sage and Cheese Crumb Breaded Pork Chops with a tasty homemade Cranberry Chutney!

Saturday Thoughts . . .

Two pans do not make a cook
Two words do not make a book,
But . . . it's a start.

Two planks do not make a boat,
Two sleeves do not make a coat,
But . . . it's a start.

Two notes do not make a song,
Two shorts do not make a long,
But . . . it's a start.

Two steps do not make a walk,
Two hands do not make a clock,
But . . . it's a start.

Setting off is half the fight,
And if you know it to be right,
Make a start!
~Maurice Fleming.



It seems all around us there is much flu and sickness. Last night's Christmas Scripture Study get-together was cancelled due to our host's coming down with flu and then our trip to visit Todd's brother today was also canned due to Todd's niece coming down with flu. I do hope that all those affected feel better soon and are not laid up too long because of it, and that by the time Christmas morning rolls around they are in tip top shape!



I am so behind on all my holiday preparations! I have not even got a tree up yet, nor any decorations at all! My Christmas cake is waiting to be iced and decorated. I wanted to bake Christmas gingerbread cookies to hang at the windows with ribbon and have not yet started on them. I have two casseroles to bake for our Christmas party at church tonight and also goodies to bake for the Bishop's Youth Council tomorrow. I have gotten all my Christmas Cards addressed and ready to post. I overslept this morning . . . a leftover from having been up all night earlier in the week I imagine. To top it off I dreamt all night that I was married to Gordon Ramsay, a chef I detest and who reminds me totally of my ex husband, which is probably partially why I detest him! (His last name is even spelt the same way that ours was.)



Anyways, I am sitting here this morning and thinking about all that I have to do and then I saw this poem. I thought . . . yes, the only way to begin is to make a start. One small step at a time, will soon turn into chores accomplished and we will be well on our way! I think it is quite easy for us to feel a bit overwhelmed at this time of year with all the things that we need to do, and all the things that we'd planned to do . . . but, let's be honest . . . the world won't end if some don't get done, and Rome wasn't built in a day.



The important thing is that we remember what this holiday is really all about . It's about the love of a Heavenly Father for his children and how He sent His only begotten Son in the flesh down to earth to help us. That magical story of redemption which starts here . . . the greatest gift ever given. Everything else pales in significance, and I am so very grateful . . . for a heart that knows and that loves, for my family, for my friends, for my health, for my many blessings of home, and hearth and a full belly and warmth . . . for the Saviour. Christmas is in your heart. The rest is just the icing on the cake.

Speaking of icing on a cake, I made these delicious brownies yesterday afternoon to take to the BYC tomorrow. Oh my but they are pretty wonderful. A bit hard to cut, but a wet knife worked quite well in the end. Of course Todd and I had to sample one and let me tell you.

These little babies are the "Piece de Resistance!"





*S'More Brownies*
Makes 16
Printable Recipe

These are fabulous, absolutely fabulous. I guess they are called s'mores because you want s'more!

Base:
1 cup finely crushed chocolate wafer cookies
3 TBS firmly packed soft light brown sugar
2 ounces butter, melted

Brownie Layer:
2 ounces butter
2 ounces good quality dark semi sweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup white sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup flour
pinch of salt

For the top layer:
1 cup finely crushed graham cracker crumbs
2 ounces butter, melted

To top:
2 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup coarsely chopped milk chocolate bars



Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Butter a 7 inch square baking pan, then line with parchment paper, leaving a bit of an overhang in order to be able to lift the brownies out easily. Butter the parchment paper as well.

Make the bottom layer by mixing together the crumbs and brown sugar. Stir in the butter and press this mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Place in the refrigerator to chill while you make the brownie layer.

Melt the butter for the brownie layer, along with the chopped chocolate over low heat, stirring until the chocolate is all melted. Stir in the sugar and set aside to cool. Once cooled to lukewarm, beat in the eggs, one at a time. Stir in the vanilla, flour and salt. Spread this mixture over top of the chilled biscuit crust. Set aside.

Make the top layer by stirring the crumbs and melted butter together. Sprinkle this evenly over top of the brownie batter. Place the pan on top of a baking sheet and then place into the heated oven. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the brownies are completely set and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. (There should be no jiggle) REmove from the oven and scatter the marshmallow over top. Place under a heated grill until the marshmallows begin to brown, some 20 to 60 seconds. Remove from the grill and scatter the chocolate bits on top. Place back into the oven until the chocolate begins to melt. Remove from the oven. Smear the melted chocolate over if desired or leave as is. Let cool on a wire rack to room temperature and then chill for at least half an hour before cutting. Delicious!



Just for your nibbling enjoyment, over on The English Kitchen today . . . Stilton and Walnut Shortbreads with an Indian Twist!! Yummo!!