After all the baking and candy making, my mind is thinking about a plainer type cookie with some substance and this one comes to mind. I think that after all the busy holiday plans are over and done with, I will put a batch of these on the counter to go with glasses of cold milk.
Oatmeal Fruit & Nut Drops1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 stick butter, room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed golden brown sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup old-fashioned oats
½ cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup diced dates
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or use vegetable oil spray to grease.
Stir flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves in small bowl to blend. Set aside. Using electric mixer, beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large bowl until blended. Mix in egg and vanilla. Mix in flour mixture. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Drop tablespoonful of dough for each cookie onto prepared baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake until lightly golden, about 12 to 15 minutes. Cool cookies on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to cooling racks. Drizzle with lemon glaze.
Lemon Glaze1 cup powdered sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon lemon extract
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Enough fresh lemon juice to form a glaze
Saturday, December 24, 2011
". . . this Joy repairs."
O dying souls; behold your living spring!
O dazzled eyes! behold your Sun of grace!
Dull ears attend what word this Word doth bring!
Up, heavy hearts, with joy your Joy embrace!
From death, from dark, from deafness, from despairs,
This Life, this Light, this Word, this Joy repairs.
Bl. Robert Southwell: The Nativity of Christ. (16th Century)
O dazzled eyes! behold your Sun of grace!
Dull ears attend what word this Word doth bring!
Up, heavy hearts, with joy your Joy embrace!
From death, from dark, from deafness, from despairs,
This Life, this Light, this Word, this Joy repairs.
Bl. Robert Southwell: The Nativity of Christ. (16th Century)
Liberalism . . .
Liberalism in religion is the doctrine that there is no positive truth in religion, but that one creed is as good as another, and this is the teaching which is gaining substance and force daily. It is inconsistent with any recognition of any religion, as true. It teaches that all are to be tolerated, for all are matters of opinion.
Cardinal Newman: 'Biglietto Speech' on being raised to the Cardinate. (19th century)
Liberalism seems to be creeping more and more into our Catholic Faith. It is a sad commentary on our Faith that we would minimize it in order to fit it with everyone else. The stuff of martyrs was never a matter of compromise.
Cardinal Newman: 'Biglietto Speech' on being raised to the Cardinate. (19th century)
Liberalism seems to be creeping more and more into our Catholic Faith. It is a sad commentary on our Faith that we would minimize it in order to fit it with everyone else. The stuff of martyrs was never a matter of compromise.
Making Candy . . .
I didn't get to make all the candy recipes I was interested in doing but I got an assortment that made up pretty boxes for gift giving tomorrow after Mass. I've posted all the recipes you see here but if anyone can't find it or wonder about a particular one pictured, let me know. The favorite of my children is the chocolate-covered peanut butter balls. Personally, I really liked the fresh orange sections simmered in sugar water, dried a bit, and then sugared. I like orange slice jelly candies but this beats them! Peppermint bark turned out different this year as I tried another type of peppermint candy inclusion that was softer than the usual crushed candy canes. It made the bark have a swirl design that looked festive. The fudge turning out well is always a given as the recipe is easy and you don't need to use a candy thermometer to gauge the perfect time to take it off the heat. I also pictured one of the completed candy boxes.
In spite of the busy morning, one of my daughter and I got to spend an hour with friends when we delivered a box of homemade candy to them. My friend was waiting for two of her sons to return from the store so she could go on with her own baking and I was done for the day. A nice break to catch up on our lives.
Blessings on the Eve of Christmas . . .
The moment is upon us . . . Tomorrow is Christmas! It is time to thank God for our blessings and pray for those who have not been as fortunate in this quickly dwindling year. Next week, is the beginning of a new year . . . a scary thought as many of us have yet to come to terms with all that 2011 has brought us. The world doesn't seem to be getting any better yet God is still in and of the world and we need to pray that more people seek Him out and exhibit more Christian charity to family, friends, and neighbors.
Except for preparing for Mass, tomorrow, and all my usual mom stuff re. fixing dinner, etc., I am pretty much ready for Christmas. I dreamed about a dinner I wanted to make and was shocked and pleased to find the protein ingredient on sale at the store! An extra Christmas gift for me - getting to try a new recipe for Christmas dinner.
Finally, going to make some fudge, peppermint bark . . . and who knows what else today. It's my 'third' dessert for our Christmas party the day after Christmas.
Lots of cleaning to do as I want to greet the feast day with a clean heart and house . . . or, at least, get a clean starting place for the litter of Christmas morning!
We are blessed to have children all in various stages of college but I miss the shopping at the toy store for them. Can you believe it? Not a one of them wanted a teddy bear or a jump rope this year! Go figure on that one!
I see that I have exceeded my computer time and the chores await. I hope and pray that everyone has the most blessed of feast days and that 2012 will be happy, productive, and blessed for each and everyone of us.
Except for preparing for Mass, tomorrow, and all my usual mom stuff re. fixing dinner, etc., I am pretty much ready for Christmas. I dreamed about a dinner I wanted to make and was shocked and pleased to find the protein ingredient on sale at the store! An extra Christmas gift for me - getting to try a new recipe for Christmas dinner.
Finally, going to make some fudge, peppermint bark . . . and who knows what else today. It's my 'third' dessert for our Christmas party the day after Christmas.
Lots of cleaning to do as I want to greet the feast day with a clean heart and house . . . or, at least, get a clean starting place for the litter of Christmas morning!
We are blessed to have children all in various stages of college but I miss the shopping at the toy store for them. Can you believe it? Not a one of them wanted a teddy bear or a jump rope this year! Go figure on that one!
I see that I have exceeded my computer time and the chores await. I hope and pray that everyone has the most blessed of feast days and that 2012 will be happy, productive, and blessed for each and everyone of us.
The Canticle of Zechariah . . .
Blessed be the Lord,
The God of Israel;
He has come to His people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
Born of the house of His servant David.
Through His holy prophets He promised of old
That He would save us from our enemies,
From the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
And to remember His holy Covenant.
This was the oath He swore to our father Abraham:
To set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship Him without fear,
Holy and righteous in His sight
All the days of our life.
You, My child shall be called
The prophet of the Most High,
For you will go before the Lord to prepare His way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our Lord
The dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
And the shadow of death,
And to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning.
is now, and will be forever.
Amen.
~Canticle of Zechariah
The God of Israel;
He has come to His people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
Born of the house of His servant David.
Through His holy prophets He promised of old
That He would save us from our enemies,
From the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
And to remember His holy Covenant.
This was the oath He swore to our father Abraham:
To set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship Him without fear,
Holy and righteous in His sight
All the days of our life.
You, My child shall be called
The prophet of the Most High,
For you will go before the Lord to prepare His way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our Lord
The dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
And the shadow of death,
And to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning.
is now, and will be forever.
Amen.
~Canticle of Zechariah
Tis Christmas night!
'Tis Christmas night! the snowA flock unnumbered lies;
The old Judean stars aglow
Keep watch within the skies.
An icy stillness holds
The pulses of the night;
A deeper mystery enfolds
The wondering hosts of light.
Till lo, with reverence pale
That dims each diadem,
The lordliest, earthward bending, hail
The Light of Bethlehem.
J. B. Tabb: The Light of Bethlehem (19th century)
Christmas Eve!
Fears and hopes, and hopes and fears,
Tears and smiles, and smiles and tears,
Cheers and sighs, and sighs and cheers,
Sweet and bitter, bitter, sweet,
Bright and dark, and dark and bright
All these mingle, all these meet
In this great and solemn night.
Abram Ryan: A Christmas Chant (19th century)
Tears and smiles, and smiles and tears,
Cheers and sighs, and sighs and cheers,
Sweet and bitter, bitter, sweet,
Bright and dark, and dark and bright
All these mingle, all these meet
In this great and solemn night.
Abram Ryan: A Christmas Chant (19th century)
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