Billie's Christmas Corner: October 16

Holiday Babka with Rum Glaze

1 teaspoon salt
14 egg yolks
3 yeast cakes
1
cup
lukewarm milk
5 1/2 to 6 cups flour, divided
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon almond extract or rum extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cups fine bread crumbs
Citron bits

Rum Glaze:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons light rum

Put salt into the egg yolks and beat until lemon colored. Add yeast, milk
and half the flour. Mix well and let stand until double in bulk. (Stand in
warm
room, free of drafts.) Let alone to rise.

Knead thoroughly. Then let it rise; punch down and then let rise again.

Butter a 10-inch tube
pan
; sprinkle with bread crumbs and fill with dough, 1/3 full. Let rise one
hour.

Decorate with citron bits, then bake for 40 minutes in a 350 degree F oven.

After removing from oven and while warm, spread with Rum Glaze.

Rum Glaze: Combine sugar with water and rum in a
saucepan.
Bring to a boil and boil briskly for 1 minute. Enjoy.

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HOLIDAY AROMA

Ingredients:
3 cinnamon sticks
3 bay leaves
1/2 cup lemon juice or 1 lemon (cut in pieces)
1/4 cup whole cloves
Peel of 1 orange
1 qt. water
Directions: Mix together, bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat.

*note - I usually don't remember to put in the bay leaves and think it smells fine without*

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http://christmas-projects.com/html/glass_cling_angel.html

"Window Cling Angel Craft"

This gorgeous angel in gold and white will add a special touch to your windows during the holidays. This project is easy enough also for kids to craft.

Christmas Craft - Glass Cling Angel 330

Time required: about 1 1/2 hours to make (because of in-between drying time) and about 24 hours for the final drying period

Difficulty Level: Easy

Material List:

- gold window cling outliner paint
- window cling paints in the following colors: white, gold, skin color and crystal clear
- iridescent glitter
- stable acetate foil
- needle for making hole
- nylon string for hanging

Instructions:

1. Print out the pattern. Place the acetate foil over the pattern and trace over the outlines with the gold outliner paint. Let the paint dry approximately 1 hour. When dry, it feels firm.
2. Fill in the areas with the appropriate colors. You can add iridescent glitter to the white and clear areas (while they are still wet) for extra sparkle.
3. Let the paint dry 24 hours or overnight in a warm room.
4. Cut out the angel and make a small hole in the top for the hanging loop.

Free Angel Pattern

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Things to do at Christmas time, Play a Christmas CD. I try to pick up Christmas CD's all year though at yard sales or church sales.

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