Real Enjoyment From Christmas Should Come From Families, Not Gifts

So Christmas is over! Most of us are exhausted by now. In fact, most are probably still asleep as I write this blog entry.

Yes, my daughter is still sound asleep. Our Christmas was a little different this year because my husband is not working. However, that being said we made the best of it, and had a wonderful Christmas despite a lot of disappointments we have faced over the last 9 months.

We are all healthy and though that's said a lot, it truly is the thing we should be most thankful for.

This Christmas I had a little more time to reflect, especially on what is important in my life --which is my family. We are close and we are strong.

The other day, I listened to a little audio cassette tape recorded on my grandmother's birthday back in the late '60s. I heard my dad's voice and that of many of the others in my family who have passed on. My dad, grandparents, and two uncles are all deceased, but they live on in this tape. All of us kids were quite small, but as I listened to this tape I realized where my family values came from.

My family values came from many generations of people who did without many monetary things. What was important to them and what should be important to everyone today is a strong family. It's not what is under the tree, but who is around the tree.


My husband Greg and daughter Nicole on Christmas Day


Gifts come and go. Toys break. Clothes you receive wear out. However, a strong family will always endure. They may be beaten down at times, but if you stay united and strong nothing can destroy that.


Who's the REAL reindeer?

So even though we didn't receive many monetary gifts this year, the best gift I received yesterday was my family's laughter. We were together and happy. No amount of presents or money can replace that feeling.

Patch enjoying his Christmas as only he can!

So I thank my parents and grandparents who lived through the Great Depression. They had nothing monetarily, but they had love and family.

My mom, Nicole, and me

My family is what gets me through life. My family is what keeps me going. All our families should be the most important people in our lives.

It's not the things we have in our lives, but the people we have in our lives. This extends to many friends who are not only friends, but an extension of my family. We all need each other to talk to and get thru the tough times.

I don't want to get too religious, but I believe that is the message Jesus came to Earth with. It was for peace on Earth, and that all begins with your family. Peace begins at home and that peace will be passed along to others.

So let's all be thankful for the people in our lives -- not the gifts we received. Because the gifts will fade, but family is always there.

May 2008 bring peace and happiness to your family!

Rolled Sugar Cookies Can Be Made During Any Holiday Time

I love simple cookie recipes, and this is truly one of the simplest I make by far.

This next recipe is a basic sugar cookie. What's also great about it is it's a rolled cookie so you can make fun shapes with Christmas cookie cutters. Actually this cookie recipe can be used for any holiday by simply changing the cookie cutters for that particular holiday.

ROLLED SUGAR COOKIES



2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/3 cup shortening
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Additional sugar (colored decors, etc.)

Oven 375 degrees

Stir together flour, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Beat butter and shortening for 30 seconds; add sugar and beat till fluffy. Add egg, milk, and vanilla, beat well.

Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture, beating till well combined.

Cover and chill at least 3 hours.

Working with 1/2 of the dough at a time, on a lightly floured surface roll to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with additional sugar or decorate.

Bake in 375 degree oven for 8 minutes or till done.

Makes 36-48 cookies.

This is a great cookie recipe to get the whole family involved with. You can sit and talk while you decorate cookies. What fun!

Making cookies is a great way to keep a family close during the busiest holiday season of the year. It also gets everyone into the Christmas spirit.

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Cookie Week Continues: Cream Cheese Cutouts

What's more fun than baking cookies with your kids? Especially this time of year with the snow on the ground.

Baking Christmas cookies with your kids will keep them entertained and away from the TV and video games.

Christmas is a time for family and togetherness. With all the hustle and bustle that December brings we can forget to spend quality time with our kids. Making cookies is one way to be together and just have fun!

Here is a delicious cookie that is sure to make fun memories for you and your kids. So get out the cookie cutters!

CREAM CHEESE CUTOUT COOKIES



1 cup butter, softened
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 1/2 cps all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Almond Frosting (recipe follows)
Assorted candies for decoration

In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until well combined. Add sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla and almond extract; beat well.

In a small bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Add dry ingredients to cream cheeese mixture; beat until well mixed. Divide dough in half. Wrap each portion in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll out dough, half at a time, to 1/8-inch thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut out with cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Frost cookies with Almond Frosting; decorate with assorted candies, nuts, etc.


ALMOND FROSTING

In a small bowl, beat 2 cups sifted powdered sugar,2 tablespoons softened butter and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract until smooth.

For piping consistency, beat in 4 or 5 teaspoons milk.

For spreading consistency, add a little more milk. If desired, tint with food coloring.

* Make sure to always use a completely cooled cookie sheet before you go onto the next batch of cookies. If the cookie sheet is warm they will not bake as evenly.


This cookie recipe is fun because after the cookies are baked and cooled everyone can decorate them together.

So put on the Christmas music and get into the real spirit of Christmas, which is home, family, and being thankful to God for both.

Have fun and make time for your family, especially during the holiday season!

Cookies, Other Baked Goods Make Wonderful Holiday Gifts

Yes, this is surely the busiest time of the year. For me that usually means a whole bunch of cooking and baking on top of Christmas shopping.

I am always happy to share my recipes. Especially ones I have had much success with. So look for a new cookie recipe each day! It's my little way to say Merry Christmas!!

My daughter Nicole and I love to bake Christmas cookies. We really don't eat many of them, but we do love to bake them.

Cookies are a great gift to give, and, I might add, a very tasty one. I love all the little festive bags you can buy to put your baked goods in. What also make a nice presentation are the cute little Chrismas plates you can purchase at the dollar stores. Wrap with some colorful cling wrap, fasten with a piece of ribbon and add a little bow. PERFECT!!


Holiday gift bags

Cookies are fantastic to give that special neighbor, friend, or teacher. It's something special from you and it will mean more than a store bought gift.

With the economy being so bad, and money being so tight, why not a special bag or plate of baked goods to show you are thinking of them?

What's wrong with an old fashioned Christmas? Why does everything have to be store bought?

Here is one of the Eno Family's favorite cookie recipes. They are called Snowballs and are absolutely delicious:

SNOWBALLS

1/2 Cup Confectioners 10-X Sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup pecans
Additional Confectioners 10-X Sugar

In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar. salt and butter; mix well. Add vanilla. Gradually stir in flour. Work nuts into dough. Cover and chill until firm.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Form dough into 1-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until set, but not brown. Roll in additional sugar immediately. Cool on wire racks. Roll in sugar again. Store in airtight container.

Makes about 5 dozen cookies

What can be more special than a plate or bag of homemade baked goods sent with love?

Give it a try! I guarantee it will mean more than a store bought gift.

MERRY BAKING!!!!