Some favorite recipes for Christmas

I am happy to be participating with my friends from the Schoolhouse Review Crew in sharing some favorite Christmas recipes!

When I asked my children what we should include in this post, the resounding cry was "share our Christmas cookies!"  So, some of our favorite Christmas cookie recipes are below.  :-)

My favorite recipe is one that came from my grandmother and from many generations before her. It is for Italian Pizzelles.

Italian Pizzelles

12 eggs
27 tablespoons shortening (melt it before hand and let it cool)
30 tablespoons sugar
30 drops of anise oil (use a dropper) (anise oil can be purchased at any Italian market or online)
4 cups flour

Beat eggs, sugar and anise oil first, then add the melted shortening, beat again.
Add flour, one handful at a time
When dough sarts riding up beaters, stop and use a wooden spoon to finish mixing

Put some shortening on paper towel to grease the pizzelle iron on both sides.  Turn iron on.  Once hot, put small teaspoon of dough on each side and close for about 30 seconds.  Repeat. (over and over again, lol!)  :-)

Another favorite in our house is my Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Lisa's Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/4 cup shortening

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla (I increase it to two)

1 egg

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3/4 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup coconut (optional)

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Cream shortening, butter and sugars.  Mix in egg and vanilla.  Mix well.  Stir in dry ingredients, then oatmeal, then coconut and chips.  Place teaspoon size balls on greased baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Another delicious cookie choice for Christmastime is my Glazed Apple cookies.

Lisa's Glazed Apple Cookies

1/2 cup shortening
1 1/3 cups packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup + of apples (peeled, cored, and finely diced)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

Glaze ingredients
1/3 cup softened butter or margarine
3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons milk

Beat shortening and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and blend thoroughly.  Stir together flour, soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Stir 1/2 of the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture.  Stir in apples, then stir in remaining 1/2 of the dry ingredients and milk.  Mix well.  Drop from tablespoon 1 1/2 inches apart on lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake in 400 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.  Remove cookies to rack and while still warm, spread with glaze.  :-)

My daughter's Peanut Butter Oaties are another big hit in our house.

Peanut Butter Oaties

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and oats; set aside. 

In a small saucepan (Kiddo did it in the microwave instead), melt the butter over low heat; add the peanut butter and heat, stirring, until smooth.  In another large bowl, combine the sugars, eggs and vanilla; add the peanut butter mixture and blend thoroughly. 

Gradually add the flour mixture, blending well by hand.   Drop by tablespoonful onto cookie sheets.  Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden.  Remove from cookie sheets and cool.

We have many other favorite recipes.  Feel free to click on the recipes tab above to see many more.  For those of you who follow my blog know, there is always much baking going on in my house!  :-)

Hope your Advent is wonderful and blessed!

Don't forget there are 2 great giveaways going on right now.  Just click on them below to enter!  :-)

$250 Gift Certificate to Timberdoodle

Giveaway a Day from December 1-12.

To see what recipes other members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew are sharing for Christmas, click here (after 9am on 12/4)


Linking up with the Gathering Spot, Kids in the Kitchen, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows,Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday,NOBH, Judy H-J's Thoughts, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things, Modest Mom, Full Plate Thursday and Melt in your Mouth Monday and Show Off Friday and Tuesday's Table and Look What We Did and Titus 2sday,  Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Crafty Spices, Better Mom,Create with Joy, Thursday's Treasures, Tasty Thursdays and Wonderful Food Wednesday and Mondays with Countrified Hicks and Tuesday How to Party and the Tried and True Recipe Party and Kids and Mom in the Kitchen and Family Fun Friday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop andAll My Bloggy Friends and Hearts for Home Blog Hop and Foodie Friends Friday and Family Fun Friday and TGIF Linky Party and Food on Friday andHip Homeschool Moms, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home andGood Tastes Tuesday and Thriving Thursday and Friday Flash Blog Hop 

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O Christmas Tree Linkup!

A few other FUN bloggers and I decided to come together and share all of our Oh Christmas Tree ideas with you all. We would absolutely be tickled if you would add a link to the link up. No rules except the post must be in some way related to a Christmas Tree. Have FUN!


I am sharing a special Christmas tree blessing that we always use in our home.

Feel free to make changes as you feel appropriate for your family.  :-)

Family Christmas Tree Blessing

When the tree has been prepared, the household gathers around it.  All make the sign of the cross.

The leader begins:
Blessed be the name of the Lord.

All respond:
Now and forever.

The leader may use these or similar words to introduce the blessing:
This tree is a blessing to our home.  It reminds us of all that is beautiful, all that is filled with the gentleness the promise of God.  It stands in our midst as a tree of light that we might promise such beauty to one another and to our world.  It stands like that tree of paradise that God made into the tree of life, the cross of Jesus.

Then the Scripture is read:
Listen to the words of the apostle Paul to Titus:

But when the kindness and generous love of
God our Savior appeared,
not because of any righteous deeds we had done
but because of His mercy,
He saved us through the bath of rebirth
and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
whom He richly poured out on us
through Jesus Christ, our Savior,
so that we might be justified by His grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life.
                           --Titus 3:4-7

(The family's Bible may be used for an alternate reading such as Psalm 96:11-13)

The reader concludes:
The Word of the Lord.

All respond:
Thanks be to God.

After a time of silence, all join in prayers of intercession and in the Lord's Prayer.  Then the leader invites:

Let us now pray for God's blessing upon all who gather around this tree.

After a short silence, the leader prays:
A.      Lord, our God,
we praise You for the light of creation:
the sun, the moon, and the stars of the night.
We praise You for the light of Israel:
the Law, the prophets, and the wisdom of
the Scriptures.
We praise You for Jesus Christ, Your Son:
He is Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Prince of Peace,
Who fills us with the wonder of Your love.


Lord, God,
let Your blessing come upon us
as we illuminate this tree.
May the light and cheer it gives
be a sign of the joy that fills our hearts.
May all who delight in this tree
come to the knowledge and joy of salvation.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

All:
Amen.

OR:

B.  God of all creation,
we praise You for this tree
which brings beauty and memories and the
promise of life to our home.
May Your blessing be upon all who gather
around this tree,
all who keep the Christmas festival by its lights.
We wait for the coming of the Christ,
the days of everlasting justice and peace.
You are our God, living and reigning, for ever
and ever.

All:
Amen.

The lights of the tree are then illuminated.

The leader says:
Let us bless the Lord.

All respond making the sign of the cross:
Thanks be to God.

The blessing concludes with a verse from 
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel:"

O Come, thou dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Dispense the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadow put to flight,
Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O, Israel.

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Keep Christ in Christmas

I’m participating in the KEEP CHRIST in CHRISTMAS Blog Link-Up 2013, 
hosted by

Monica at www.equippingCatholicfamilies.com

Erika at http://raisinglittlesaints.blogspot.ca/

Tina at http://trulyrichmom.com/

Laura at http://daybydayinourworld.com/

Sarah at http://onthewayhome2.com

Allison at http://totustuusfamily.blogspot.ca/

Chris at http://campfiresandcleats.blogspot.ca/

Birgit at http://designsbybirgit.blogspot.ca/

 We'll be sharing different ways, tips, stories and real-life experiences that will help us focus our Advent and Christmas on JESUS!

Please scroll down to the end of the post to see the list of link-up entries.  It is open to Christians of all denominations who observe Advent.

How do we keep Christ in Christmas?

We start in Advent.  Our entire school focus changes.  We decorate a Jesse Tree and learn all about the genealogy of Jesus.

We read many special books that keep our focus on the coming of Christ.

We do special crafts and activities

We memorize portions of the magnificat (Mary's prayer that she proclaims when visiting Elizabeth) as well as parts of the birth narratives of Jesus.  The children recite these on Christmas day.

We bake special treats

We listen to music

and we always light our Advent wreath and have special readings/prayers to go along with it.

And we never forget our Advent chain that helps us count down the days until Christmas!  :-)

What special traditions do you have to keep Christ in Christmas?  The posts below are the ones that have been linked up so far.  :-)

Equipping Catholic Families: Keep Christ in Christmas

Simply Homeschool  Living Advent Series 12/1 - 12/25

Fifth of Five     Keeping Christ in Christmas - Blog Link-up 2013

Coffee Moments with Sam     The Light of Hope

Hand-Maid With Love: CHRISTmas Presence: Keep Christ in Christmas 2013 Edition

Open Window Making hay while the Advent wreath shines

Faith Filled Freebies: Keep Christ in Christmas

Written by the Finger of God: Not Christmas as Usual

On the Way Home:  Keep Christ in Christmas

Sue Elvis Writes: Bring Christ to Others

Mommy Bares All       Why Celebrate Christmas Even After #YolandaPH

Canadian Catholic Mom         Keeping The Little Ones Focused: An Advent Link-Up

Mountain of Grace Homeschooling   Keep Christ in Christmas

Em’s Estuary: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Happy Little Homemaker: December Devotion: Immaculate Conception 

Adoro Ergo Sum:  How We Keep Christ in Christmas

JoyAlive.net: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Home to 4 Kiddos        Keep Christ in Christmas

Embedded Faith          Boldly Be the Christ in Christmas

City Girl, Country Home         Emmanuel Is With Us. Are we WITH HIM?

Journey to Wisdom: Trusting in your Awkward Fiats

Joy of Nine9    Waiting in Joyful Expectation Like a Child

Splendor in the Home Ideas For Keeping Advent and Christmas Holy

Training Happy Hearts            10 Ways to Celebrate the New Liturgical Year

A Catholic Life Advent: The Beginning of the Liturgical Year & Source of Rich Meditations

Designs by Birgit: Elf on a Shelf and Santa Claus

Catholic Inspired: Faith-Centered Family Christmas

A Slice of Smith Life: How we keep Christ in Christmas

Catholic All Year: Three Reasons I love Advent

Mary the Defender: Christmas The Battle Begins

Truly Rich Mom: Keep Christ in Christmas

Day By Day in Our World: 40 Days Seeking Him and Keeping Christ in Christmas

Diapers and Drivel: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Raising Soldiers 4 Christ: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Rosary Mom   Keep Christ In Christmas With A Teenager

Tercets:           Keeping Christ in Christmas: Join Church Ministries

Campfires and Cleats How We Keep Christ in Christmas

Life Unabridged: Celebrating the Fullness of the Advent and Christmas Season

Homeschooling With Joy        Keeping Christ in Christmas

Mrs Domestic Bliss     Gingerbread Nativity

The Chic Traveller      Keeping Christ in Christmas

California to Korea     Keeping Christ in Christmas

Dominique's Desk       Keeping Christ in Christmas
Journey Living: Anno Domini

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Happy Thanksgiving!

I received in my email today George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1789.  I would like to share it with you.  May you and your families have a happy and blessed holiday with your family.

Thanksgiving Proclamation
President George Washington
City of New York, October 3, 1789
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.





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Lots of Great Deals Going On

(affiliate links included)

There are many great deals going on right now and I wanted to share some of them with you.

Of course don't forget our great $250 Timberdoodle Gift Certificate giveaway.  You can enter by clicking here.

A+ Interactive Math is having a huge special.  You can get 60% off of their already sale prices. If you are looking for a quality math program for your children, this is for you.  By using my affiliate link (clicking on the image below), you can purcahse a FULL year of online Interactive Math for just $40.00, 3 months for $16.00, or 1 month for only $6.40.  

See the Light is having a 20% off sale on all of their award winning Art programs and other curricula!  Their programs are incredible.  Check them out!  Click here to go to their website and then click on "Black Friday thru Cyber Monday" on the top of their home page.

Friends and Heroes is offering my readers two specials:

                        

                             1) 20% off  Friends and Heroes Homeschool Unit Study #1

                             2) Free Activity and Coloring Book with a new DVD club subscription

Click here to see for yourself!  :-)

Last, but not least, is an awesome giveaway, actually GIVEAWAYS.  There will be winners drawn from December 1-12.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Try a New Recipe Tuesday- November 26

We are away for Thanksgiving, so there are no features this week.  I will include this week's features next week, I promise!  :-)  I hope you have a wonderful and blessed holiday with your family!

My children made Homemade Fudge with their 4H group.  It was SO amazing!  I am linking it up in the first spot below.  :-)

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$250 Timberdoodle Giveaway!

As your holiday celebrations begin in earnest, how would you like to win $250 in gift certificates from Timberdoodle Co.? Our very own Bow of Bronze Launch Team has teamed up to bring you this very special giveaway to help celebrate the launch of Homeschool Encouragement. Timberdoodle Co. has long been a standing favorite in the Homeschool community, and with good reason! You can surely finish your Christmas shopping through Timberdoodle with this prize money, or you could use it for much needed Homeschool curriculum.

   

 This giveaway has not been sponsored by the Timberdoodle Co in any way - rather this lovely team of bloggers has come together and each contributed towards the prize. We are so pleased to have the support of our amazing readers, and this is one way we can bless you in return. 

 Amy at Homeschool Encouragement Lisa at Home to 4 Kiddos Lisa at Tales of a Homeschool Family Laurie at Our Abundant Blessings Jennifer at Thou Shall Not Whine Becca at C Family of Six Cynthia at Cynce's Place Lisa at Golden Grasses Tara at This Sweet Life of Mine Michele at Family, Faith and Fridays Marcy at Ben and Me Gena at I Choose Joy Ellen at Grace Tells Another Story Lisa at Our Simple Kinda Life Kim at Natural Beach Living Heather at Marine Corp Nomads Monique at Living Life and Learning Penny at Knee Deep in Grace Kristi at The Potter's Hand Academy Amy at Are We There Yet? Miranda at The Pebble Pond a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!  Have a wonderful week and a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving with your family!

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