For Unto Us a Gift Is Given . . .

God sent the little Christ Child
So men might understand
That a little child shall lead them
To that unknown Promised Land.
For God in His great wisdom
Knew that men would rise to power
And forget His holy precepts
In their great triumphal hour.
He knew that they would question
And doubt the Holy Birth
And turn their time and talents
To the pleasures of the earth.
But every new discovery
Is an open avenue
To more and greater mysteries,
And man's search is never through.
For man can never fathom
The mysteries of the Lord
Or understand His promise
Of a heavenly reward.
For no one but a little Child
With simple faith and love
Can lead man's straying footsteps
To higher realms above!

~Helen Steiner Rice

May you day today be blessed beyond measure and may you have the peace that comes from remembering and experiencing the true meaning of Christmas. Happy Christmas to you all.

We had the missionaries here at the cottage as dinner guests last night. They called in the afternoon and asked if it would be OK if they brought another person with them. I said absolutely! The more the merrier. I always cook enough for an army anyways! What a wonderful evening we had together. The missionaries always bring a special spirit with them and I cannot think of a more wonderful way to usher in Christmas than to have them in my home. Their surprise dinner guest was a delight as well. A wonderful man from Switzerland. We thoroughly enjoyed all their company, and Todd got to practice his German. We feasted on Roast Ham, and scalloped potatoes, with baked beans, green bean casserole, roasted sweet potatoes, salad, cheese scones and sticky topped gingerbread for dessert. Yummo!!! (I didn't get a good picture of the ham though, all I got was one of it before I sliced it up, and that one's not great!!)



*Pineapple Honey Glazed Ham*
Serves 12 to 16

I could exactly do this as the recipe calls for as we do not get spiral hams over here. We get gammon, which is completely raw and has to be cooked first. I put the gammon in a large pot and then poured in a bottle of ginger ale, and then topped that off with water so that the gammon was covered. I then added one small onion, peeled, a large cinnamon stick and a few cloves. I brought that to the boil, then reduced the heat to a simmer and covered it. I allowed it to simmer for about 2 hours before I removed it from the simmering water to a roasting pan and proceeded as follows. It was delicious!

Glaze:
one 8 ounce tin of crushed pineapple
1/2 cup set honey
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp ground cloves

Pre-heat the oven to 160*C/325*F. Place the ham flat side down in a shallow roasting pan.

Stir all the glaze ingredients together in a small bowl.

Spread half of the glaze over the ham. Bake for about 45 minutes, spooning the remaining glaze over top, every 15 minutes or so. After 45 minutes, increase the oven temperature to 205*C/425*F. Spoon the last bits of glaze over all and then bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the glaze is set and the internal temperature of the ham is 60*C/140*F. Place on a carving board or platter to serve.

My Christmas Gift To You . . .

Christmas is a season
For gifts of every kind,
All the glittering, pretty things
That Christmas shoppers find,
Baubles, beads, and bangles
Of silver and of gold -
Anything and everything
That can be bought or sold
Is given at this season
To place beneath the tree
For Christmas is a special time
For giving lavishly,
But there's one rare and priceless gift
That can't be sold or bought,
It's something poor or rich can give
For it's a loving thought -
And loving thoughts are something
For which no one can pay
And only loving hearts can give
This priceless gift away.

~Helen Steiner Rice

This is my Christmas Gift to each of you. My loving thoughts for each of you to have a wonderful Christmas holiday. May all your lives be enriched beyond your wildest dreams with the things in life that really count . . . faith, love, friendship, family. . . For those of you who are spending it with loved ones dear, may the love that is shared be that little bit sweeter, that little bit more blessed. For those of you who may be on your own and a bit down, may the love of our Heavenly Father touch your hearts so that you can know that you are never truly alone, that there is always someone who cares. For those who are ill or hurting, may your lives be touched with special healing from above and may you know that God does see the little sparrow fall and as much as He loves the little things, He loves you even more.

Know too, that I love you, all my invisible friends . . . those ones of you who make yourselves known to me, and those of you who pop in for a quick read, and then just as quickly melt away without letting me know that you've been here. I Love you all and I wish you, each and every one of you, a very Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart.

Joyeux Noèl . . . Froehliche Weihnachten . . . Buon Natale . . . God Jul . . . Maligayang Pasko . . . Vrolijk Kerstfeest . . . Feliz Navidad . . . Wesolych Swiat . . . Kala Christouyenna . . . Shub Naya Bara . . . Nadolig Llawen . . . Nollaig Shona Dhuit . . . Nollaig Chridheil . . . Glædelig Jul . . . Veselé Vánoce . . . Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kuthu Olsun . . . Srozhdestvom Kristovym . . .

Merry Christmas one and all!!

Here's the Stuffing recipe from my make me Bake Challenge last week. I hope you all enjoy!



*Herb and Sausagemeat Stuffing*
Makes enough for 10 to 12 people

I had never really tried a stuffing made with meat before I came over here to the UK. My mom always made a bread and potato stuffing. I have come to love them both and they'll both be served with my holiday turkey tomorrow. You can use this to stuff the bird, shape into balls or press into a love tin and serve it in slices.

2 ounces of butter
2 onions, peeled and chopped
8 rashers of streaky bacon, chopped (if rinded, remove the rind)
12 ounces good quality sausage meat
9 ounces fresh soft white bread crumbs
a good handful of chopped parsley
2 TBS chopped fresh sage, or 2 tsp dried
3 TBS chopped fresh thyme, or 2 tsp dried
1 egg, beaten
1 bay leaf (optional)
salt and freshly ground black pepper to season



Melt the butter in a skillet. Add the onions and the bacon and cook for about 8 minutes until they are softened and golden brown. Set aside.

Put the sausage meat into a bowl with the breadcrumbs, the herbs (except the bay leaf if using) and the egg. Season well. Add the onion and bacon mixture. Mix it in well, then leave to cool completely.

To stuff the turkey, push half into the neck end, then shape the remainder into balls. half an hour before the end of the turkey cooking time, put the balls into the tin around the turkey, or cook them in a separate tin which has been greased. Alternatively, lay a pay leave in the bottom of a 2 pound loaf tin. Press the stuffing well in over top, turn out onto a lightly oiled baking sheet, then cook with the turkey for 30 minutes. Or you can just do like me and leave it to cook in the loaf tin and then cut in slices like a meatloaf to serve. Anyways you do it, it's delicious!



PS - I had a lovely card in the mail from my oldest daughter yesterday and I also spoke to her on the telephone and we received a little package from my oldest son, along with a lovely little note card. I am going to call them all at their dad's on Christmas day anyways, even if it is a bit uncomfortable at first. You've all given me the courage to just do it. I thank you all!

A New Obsession . . .

I really didn't think I was going to be able to get around to making this week's Tuesdays With Dorie Challenge, Real Butterscotch Pudding on page 386 , as chosen by Donna of Spatulas, Corkscrews & Suitcases . This is a busy week for me, well, for everyone really. I had decided to brave the shops yesterday afternoon instead of cooking. Over here braving the shops at Christmas is a real chore. I think everyone waits til the last minute to do any kind of food shopping. One can hardly blame them, as it's nice to have really fresh veg and stuff for Christmas. I don't ever remember it being as bad as it is here, back in Canada. Todd had gone into town earlier in the day yesterday to put some money into the bank, and when he came home he told me . . . "They're queueing up to get into the Waitrose parking lot all the way down the main street." That's when I decided that shopping would have to wait . . . and I'd have enough time to do the pudding. I may be nuts, but I'm not crazy . . .



I have always loved butterscotch anything. My dad used to keep a little tub of butterscotch wafers in his top dresser drawer. Every once in a while I used to like to go into my parents room when nobody was looking or paying attention. I'd stand there and I'd slowly pull the drawer open, quietly as I could, and I would just crack the lid of these butterscotch wafers open and sniff for a few minutes, and sniff and sniff and sniff. I was very good . . . though . . . I never took one . . . well, shhh . . . hardly ever anyways . . .



Dorie, Dorie, Dorie . . . you have to stop doing this to me!!! Every single recipe that I have baked out of your lovely book, Baking, from my home to yours, has been totally and decadently delicious. I have loved each one thus far, and this lovely pudding was no exception. In fact, I have found a new obsession . . . but we'll get to that later!!!



Dorie likes to make her cornstarch puddings by using a combination of her food processor and stove top heat. I have a beautiful new food processor, my old one having given up the ghost, and I don't have a problem with using it or making dirty dishes. I have a 70 year old dish washer that does a fantastic job of clearing up dishes, well, just so long as he gets to eat what I have cooked, and he always does! I love the silkiness of the pudding having been blended in the food processor, but I know a lot of the gals just used their hand mixers and or immersion blenders, which worked out just fine for them too . . . now on to my new obsession . . .

I didn't use the scotch called for in the recipe. It's just not something we have in the house, us being Mormon's and all . . . but I did use a bit of extra vanilla to make up for it, but that's not my new obsession . . . I've already been obsessed with vanilla for a long time anyways . . .



OBSESSION = two words = BUTTERED PECANS!!!

When I was a kid my mom used to buy us butter pecan ice cream once in a while, but it never really twigged with me that you could actually make buttered pecans. I am not sure where I thought the buttered pecan flavour in the ice cream came from. Perhaps I thought it was magic or just a name. I have now experienced the reality of BUTTERED PECANS and I am in love . . . sigh . . .



Who knew that a knob of butter, a hot skillet and some nuts could create something so wonderfully and deliciously exciting and moreish???? I can tell you who knew . . . Dorie knew!!! My life will never be the same!!! If you make this pudding, and I really hope that you will, make the buttered pecans for on top. just DO IT! You won't be regretting it. I promise!!!


If you would like the recipe for this lovely pudding dash on over to Donna's page, where she is sure to have it posted. In the meantime do be sure to check out the Tuesday's With Dorie Blog Roll to see what the other members have been up to . . . duckie, I hear there's pie!! Next week's recipe will be Tall and Creamy Cheesecake on pages 235-237, as chosen by Anne of AnneStrawberry . Oh goodie!!! Just in time for New Years Eve!!!



Psst . . . you know you really should buy this book. It's fabulous, not a dud in the bunch. Baking, From My Home To Yours by Dorie Greenspan. Well worth it's weight in gold, and let me tell you now, it's a very heavy book!!!

Tommorrow . . . Herb and Sausagemeat Stuffing, just in time for Christmas. (You will need, soft breadcrumbs, a good quality sausagemeat, fresh sage, thyme, onions and streaky bacon)

The Simple Woman's Day Book . . .

FOR TODAY, December 22, 2008 ...

Outside My Window...
It's dark and silent. The winter solstice was yesterday so the days will be getting longer now and the nights shorter, although it will be a good long while before we begin to notice anything as it's only by a few minutes a day!!! Right now it is getting dark around 4 pm and the sun doesn't begin to peek above the horizon much before 8 am. That makes for one long night. I am glad however that it is not as bad as it is much further north where they have night for several months and day for several more! I'm not sure I could sleep in daylight, but I expect I'd be so exhausted after a time, I'd get used to it . . .

I am thinking...
and dreading that I still have to go out and do my Christmas Grocery Shop . . . It's crazy out there in the grocery stores these last few days before Christmas. The cart queues will go almost to the back of the store and the shelves will be emptying faster than they can fill them up. I hate it, I really do. Each year I say I am going to book myself a delivery slot online, so that I can have them delivered to my home, and each year . . . I forget until it is far too late and all the delivery slots are booked up. This year is no different. Thank goodness I ordered my turkey and my ham from the butchers already! (There'll be a long queue there and all!!!)

I am thankful for...
Our Christmas Service that was held in our church yesterday and the Carol Service last evening. Both were very beautiful and inspiring, filled to the brim and overflowing with the spirit. That is what Christmas is for me and where it truly begins. The special songs that are sung, the special thoughts that are shared . . . the bible readings that tell us of the story of Christ's birth. They all touch my heart in a beautiful way and I am so happy that I "get" it and that I have and know my purpose in life. I am so very grateful for this most gracious and precious gift from a Heavenly Father that knows and loves . . . "ME," and for a Saviour who cared enough, and was brave and strong enough to help Him deliver it . . .

From the kitchen...
Not a lot going on right now, but I have a heck of a lot to do this week!!! We are having the missionaries for Christmas Eve and I was thinking I might make a gingerbread trifle. I am kind of making it up in my head. A gingerbread trifle with spiced pears in it. It does sound good!!! Then Christmas day we are sharing our day with another couple that are in the same boat as us. I'm really looking forward to both days. I have ordered a Turkey crown from my butchers, which I will stuff. I was thinking of a Chorizo stuffing, but then I am afraid I love traditional things so much that I will probably go with what I know and do sage and onion . . . Did you know that when you buy a turkey crown from your butcher you pay for the whole turkey anyways? Make sure you ask for your legs to be included, even if you have to stick them into the freezer to use another time. You are paying for them, you might as well have them! Just think of the delicious turkey stew you can make or even soup!

I am wearing...
a pretty blue nightie. Oh and my clunky black mules. Yes . . . did you expect anything else??

I am creating...
A special Christmas Card for you. Yes, just for you. I did the sketch yesterday afternoon and God willing I will get it painted in time!!! I also have a talk to write for next Sunday! I sure hope that I get it done! I HAVE to get it done. It's about finding a heart like Jesus. Wonderful topic. I just love to talk about the Saviour.

I am going...
grrr . . . to the shops. Oh but tommorrow afternoon it will be the fun thing!! Each year Todd and I take £10 each and go to the charity shops to see what we can find for each other. That is our Christmas gift to each other. You can get some really nice things in the charity shops. They do say that one man's junk is another man's treasure, and I find that to be so true. The charity shops in our area have some really good stuff coz there's a lot of rich people that live around here and every once in a while they get rid of some booty! I like old glass myself and little serving dishes, the older the better. Even though I don't drink tea, I love tea cups and tea pots, and tea accessories, like tea balls etc. I especially like pink glass and blue and white china.

I am reading...
I am still reading, "The Heretics Daughter", by Kathleen Kent. I haven't gotten much further than I was in it last week, only a few pages. I have been falling in to bed each night so tired that I only get a few pages read and I am beginning to fall asleep, reading the same words again and again . . .

I am hoping...
that I will hear from my children this Christmas. Most years I do not. I know they are busy and have a lot on their minds with their own little families. They will be at my ex husbands on Christmas day and I would love to call and to talk to them, but I hate calling his house. It always makes me feel uggy inside. Invariably either he or his wife answer and they just have a way of speaking to me that makes me feel bad. I can't explain it, or put words to the feeling. I guess the word "bereft" is the closest I can come to it. I have not had a Christmas with my children in 10 years. I like to think that, had the situation been reversed, I would have been much kinder to him than he has been to me . . . but I will never know for sure . . .

I am hearing...
the clock is ticking, Jess is breathing and a bit of a wind is blowing through the hedges around our cottage. It feels good to be here tucked all up inside and cosy. All is indeed right with my little world.

Around the house...
Over in the corner the lights are twinkling on the Christmas Tree. We are so lazy. We just leave them on from one year to the next . . . not plugged in, just on the tree. When we are done with it, I take off all the ornaments and pack them up carefully and then we just pull a big black garbage bag down over the tree and then tuck it away in a closet. My dad always did the Christmas lights every year. I can remember sitting on the couch while he pulled them out and then tested them before putting them onto the tree. They were the big old fashioned coloured ones and invariably one would be burnt out which made the whole string not work and so he would have to test each one before he would find the little blighter, and they would begin to work. I can remember feeling so very excited . . . the smell of pine in the air and my father's frustration with getting them all untangled and sorted . . . and how very beautiful it would all look when he was done. Then would begin the job of putting on all the ornaments and the tinsel, which, in those days, was actually made of lead. All the pretty blown glass balls and ornaments that my parents had gotten in Germany when we lived there. Inside the Christmas box was a little box that we loved to see each year. It contained a kind of a joke thing which had a little porcelain pee pot in it and a porcelain toilet with a lid that actually worked and a little verse about the olden days. I loved it because it was so tiny . . . just the right size for a fairy. There was also a little porcelain girl in German dress squatting down with her bare bottom in view and her skirts pulled up. There was a hole you know where and these little pellets you could insert . . . when a match was put to it, she would take a number two and you know what kids are like . . . we thought that was so funny . . . disgusting, but funny. I wonder if my mom still has those things.

One of my favorite things...
is being able to sit here quietly with my thoughts each morning. I never know what I am going to say or to write. My thoughts begin to gather as I crawl out of bed and hop into the shower. I usually just sit down and let the words fall out as they come. It still amazes me that you want to read them. It is my favourite part of my day, this quiet time spent with you . . .

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
well, this is the biggie isn't it! Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and then on boxing day we are invited to the home of some friends. I am looking forward to it all. Saturday is our Ward Temple Day and I am looking foward to travelling up to the Temple on that day. I just love the Temple. I hope one day I can go on a Temple Mission so that I can spend all day every day in it. what a blessing that would be!


Here is picture thought I am sharing...



I just love snowmen. Their happy faces with the carrot noses and coal black eyes. One of my favourite songs as a child was Frosty the Snowman and I also loved to watch the Frosty cartoon that would be shown each Christmas, with the song being sung by Jimmy Durante. It always made my heart sing with joy. The idea of a snowman actually coming to life was so magical. I doubt we will have any snow for Christmas as it has gotten a bit warmer this past week. Back home it always snows on Christmas Eve . . . those big fat white fluffy flakes just full of all the promise and love of the season. Christmas Eve snow has always been my absolute favourite snow of the year . . . Can you believe I have never seen, nor read "The Snowman" by Raymond Briggs??? Neither can I, but I do so love to listen to the song . . .

And there you have it, my daybook for this week, the 22nd of December, 2008! Make sure you check out some of the other Day Book entries on The Simple Woman . You just might find a new friend!

The recipe I am going to share with you today is not really a recipe. In fact I am almost embarassed to share it with you, but I'm going to do it anyways! Everyone always loves my carrots when they come here to dinner. I have a special way of cooking them, that is so simple and yet . . . so very delicious! Even carrot haters find themselves liking these!




*Marie's Simple Carrots*
Serves 4

This is more of a technique than a recipe, but what the heck! Your family will really love these!! I could eat a bowl of these and nothing else, but then . . . I do love carrots!

6 medium carrots
a knob of butter
a healthy pinch of sugar
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
freshly grated nutmeg to taste



Peel your carrots and then cut them into rounds, about 1/2 inch thick. Place them into a saucepan and cover them with slightly salted water. Bring them to the boil and then cook them for 5 to 8 minutes (depending on the size of your carrots) until just crispy tender. Drain them right away and then bang them back into the hot saucepan. Place back on the heat of the burner to help evaporate any remaining water and then stir in the butter, sugar, seasonings and grated nutmeg. Serve. You will find these to be delicious. The nutmeg brings out and enhances the lovely natural sweetness of the carrots.

Happy Monday Everyone!!!

Marie's Sunday Six Smile Makers

Here it is Sunday again. The weeks just seem to fly by! Time again for my Sunday Six Smile Makers. (Thanks Lura!!) Just saying that makes me smile. It's a wonderful thing to be able to go back over your week just gone, and think about small blessings and special things that have brought a smile to your face over the past few days. There's ever so many more than just six, but these are special ones that stand out in my heart.



1. Earlier this week we delivered a little letter from Santa through the post box next door for the little boy that lives there. I've told you about our Zac before. He's a real little treasure to us. I'm sure that his parents would agree, although probably not all the time! (The nice thing about borrowing children is you get to hand them back when they get annoying!!!) This week, I made up a little letter to him from Santa. We filled it full of Christmas confetti and attached 2 candy canes to the outside and slid it through their letter box and then waited. He was some surprised when he got home later in the day and found it. When he came over later on to tell us, I could hardly contain my own excitement over the excitement he expressed to us! Of course I had to tell him about the streak of red that we had seen through the hedge earlier in the day and the bells I heard tinkle as it passed . . . there won't be too many more years we will be able to get away with this, he's 8 now!



2. Christmas Post. Christmas Post makes me smile. Each day this week lovely cards and greetings poured in through our own letter box, each one a gift of love from a faraway friend. We have them strung up by string around our kitchen and every time I look at them I smile. It's so wonderful to be loved like this, and to hear from much loved friends. Christmas love is one of my favourite kinds of love!




3. Unexpected kindnesses. Not only have cards been pouring through the door but other little surprises as well. One day this past week I received a lovely little note from a friend, thanking me for the card I had sent to her. It brought tears to my eyes to think that my Christmas Card to her had meant as much as it had. I'm so glad she let me know. Then another day, I went in to work and the Daughter of my boss had left a little gift for me on the countertop in the kitchen as a thank you, two lovely cookbooks. They are just wonderful, (Leith's Bakery Bible and Nigella's Christmas) and amazingly enough, I didn't already have them, but what meant the most was knowing that my efforts were appreciated in a special way. Yesterday the postman dropped a small package off, and tucked inside were two lovely mementos from a friend in America . . . a lovely little beaded spider decoration for my tree and a wonderfully fragrant lavender tussie for my dresser drawer. Thanks so much Ginger! I could go on and on, but unexpected kindnesses followed me around all week, not all of them tangible things I could touch with my hands . . . but all of them things that touched my heart . . . comments left, words said . . . they are all special to me, and very much treasured.



4. It is not often that you have a shopping experience these days when you come away feeling like somebody out there in the retail world actually cares! Earlier this week, we had occasion to shop in Curry's for something, and the young man that waited on us was wonderful!! He was attentive, polite and very helpful and made our shopping experience into a pleasant experience instead of a nightmare, which is more often than not the case. As soon as we arrived back home again, I made a point of telephoning their head office and letting them know what a gem they have in this young man. We are all too often eager to complain about something when it disappoints or goes wrong. I think it's nice to give credit where credit is due and recognize when something good happens as well!



5. I got a little Sprintime Easter Painting done. I know . . . it's Christmas and Easter is probably the furthest thing from our minds, but I like to be on top of things. I really loved painting this.




I'd done the sketch several weeks ago and I could hardly wait to bring it to life. The colours are cheery and bright and it looks so springlike! What do you think? (Of course it is available as a print or a card, just say the word!)



6. The works Christmas Party earlier this week, the Seminary Breakfast Supper we held on Thursday for our students, the delivering of our Gingerbread Houses with the Youth on Thursday evening, my visit to the Christmas Farm Market in the next village on Friday morning, our Scripture Study Group get-together last evening at our good friend Hazel's . . . all things this week that did my heart good, and brought a smile to my face. This is such a busy time of year for each of us I know . . . but it is good to stop for a few moments and reflect on some of these little pleasures experienced. I have placed them in my heart and in the dark, bleak and cold days of January and February I will take them out and visit them once more and I just know they will bring a smile to my face and a song to my heart again!

We knew we would not be home for supper last night so I cooked Todd his dinner early in the day yesterday. He'd had a very busy morning of putting together six bookcases that we had purchases earlier this week for the library and you know how that goes. Self assembly is never easy, no matter how simple you think it's going to be!!! I grilled a couple of steaks that I had in the freezer, a bonus from an earlier shop where I found some steaks marked down half price, banged a few chips into the oven and cooked some green beans. With this lovely Bearnaise butter gilding it's top, it was a real treat!



*Grilled Steaks with Bearnaise Butter*
Serves 4

This butter is so easy and so quick to make, and adds a wonderful flavour and touch to a simple grilled steak.

3 TBS butter, softened
2 tsp finely chopped tarragon leaves
You can use 1 tsp dried if you wish)
2 tsp minced shallots
1/2 tsp of fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp freshly grated lemon zest
a healthy pinch of salt
4 steaks of your choice
a knob of butter, cracked black pepper and sea salt for grilling

Place the butter, tarragon, shallots, lemon juice, lemon zest and salt together in a small bowl. Mix well. Set aside.

Season the steaks with some salt and black pepper. Melt the knob of butter in a heated skillet until it begins to foam. Add your steaks and grill on each side until nicely browned and as done as you wish them to be. Remove to heated plates and top each with a dollop of the herb butter. Serve immediately.