Feb 6

I have not been taking care of my blog like I should. I apologize about that. I hope to be much better at it this month. I usually end up taking the whole month of January off from all things Christmas most years.

 

 

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Stuffed Stockings
 
You know you've been good if Santa fills your stocking with these delicious raspberry and chocolate-filled Christmas treats.

 

Prep Time: 1 hour 40 min
Total Time: 3 hours 30 min
Makes: 3 dozen cookies

 

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup shortening
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
2 eggs
3 3/4 cups Gold Medal all-purpose flour
3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup raspberry jam
Favorite frosting, if desired

 

Mix sugar, butter, shortening, orange peel and eggs in large bowl. Stir in flour. Divide dough into thirds. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour but no longer than 24 hours.

 

Heat oven to 350F. Roll each third of dough into rectangle, 12x9 inches, on lightly floured surface. Cut each rectangle into twelve 3-inch squares. Mix chocolate chips and jam. Spread 1 teaspoon jam mixture down center of each square. Bring 2 opposite sides together over jam mixture; pinch to seal. Seal ends and roll gently into rope shape. Bend into a stocking shape. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

 

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Decorate with frosting.

 

Nutrition Information:
1 Serving: Calories 180 (Calories from Fat 90 ); Total Fat 10 g (Saturated Fat 3 g); Cholesterol 10 mg; Sodium 50 mg; Total Carbohydrate 21 g (Dietary Fiber 1 g); Protein 2 g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 4 %; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 0%; Iron 4 % Exchanges: 1 Starch; 1/2 Fruit; 1 1/2 Fat
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

 

Source: Betty Crocker 

 

 

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Learn a Christmas song on the guitar or piano

 

 

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Make a mix of these muffins! Keep a few jar recipes on hand to save time when you want to quickly whip up something  homemade.come with printable labels so they also make great gifts!

Cinnamon Spice Muffin Jar Mix

Simply mix together

2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

Place in one quart regular mouth canning jar. In small baggie place 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup flour. Place baggie in jar on top of the flour mixture.

Cinnamon Spice Muffin Jar Labels Download

Print the labels on 1-up sticker paper, available at Kinko's or OfficeMax. They will sell this sticker/label paper by the sheet. You can even email them the PDF and they can print for you. This will give the best quality label.

Gather some baking cups and twine or ribbon.

Place lid on jar. Stick instruction to top of lid. Place a stack of baking cups over lid, fasten with ribbon or twine.

Now you can treat your friends to yummy muffins with they need them with this jar mix!

 

 

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It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
Toys in ev'ry store,
But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door.

A pair of hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots
Is the wish of Barney and Ben;
Dolls that will talk and will go for a walk
Is the hope of Janice and Jen;
And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
There's a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,
The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas;
Soon the bells will start,
And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.

 

*****
If weather allows, now is the time to trim and
prune most deciduous shrubs and trees, if possible, while
they are still dormant. Consult local Master Gardeners on
the best methods of pruning for best plant growth.

 

 

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http://www.angiesrealm.com/christmas/crafts/

 

Clay Christmas Ornaments

1 cup cornstarch
2 cups baking soda
1 1/2 cups of water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Sift together the cornstarch and baking soda; gradually add the water.

Grease baking sheet with butter or margarine.

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture resembles smooth mashed potatoes.

Turn out on to a counter and knead until smooth.

Cut out designs using holiday-themed cookie cutters.

Using a pencil, pokes a hole in the top of each ornament.

Place in the oven for about 5 minutes to harden the clay.

Remove from oven. If desired, spray polyurethane on the ornaments to make them last longer. Set aside for 24 hours.

Paint the ornaments as desired.

Leave the ornaments for another 24 hours or until dried completely.

Tie a colored ribbon through the hole in the ornament and hang on the Christmas tree (can also use a metal ornament hanger).

These christmas crafts will last forever, write the year you made them on the back of the ornament for sentimental purposes.

 

 

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http://www.craftown.com/Angel-Cross-Stitch.html

 

 

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Billie C

 

Jan 31

 

Hello ...  We are still without water in the camper. Jerry didn't even look at it last night. He came home, I got in the van and we went to Mary's for dinner. We have always seen a lot of cars at Mary's. It's served cafatiera style and Jerry has never been a fan of cafatiera's. I had two pieces of fried chicken, mac an cheese (that I gave to Jerry when he finished his food) and a 1/2 order of Lima Beans. I like Lima Beans and Jerry not so much. I picked up a salad where Jerry picked up a dessert. Believe me after I had my salad I didn't want that Mac and Cheese. But we will not be eating there again.  As I said, Jerry is not a fan of Cafatirea's. We got back to the camper. set up our shower bags, and went and got showers. Well, I can say I got wet, turned off the water, soaped up, then rinsed off as quiickly as I could cause the water is still not very warm in the showers. We came back home and almost fell into bed. I don't know if Jerry will work on the water tonight or not. I just tried to call the office to ask if they know the water is not very warm in the showers and got the answering machine. I'll call again later. I know they are trying to conserve on their power bill so they may have shut of the power to the hot water system.

 

Outside my door ...  It's Sunny but cool and windy.  We got lots of rain last night and the ground is soaked. We needed the rain here and I hope we get more rain just not all at one time. 

 

The Dogs ... are sleeping. Barney in the kennel cause he would not stay out of trouble this morning. If he wasn't picking on Macon it was Rocky. when neither one would play with him he was getting into stuff. After three times of "talking" to him, I just put him in the kennel. He's just like having a toddler around. He can't tell me what he wants and wants to be in the middle of everything.

 

The Cats ... Tupelo is sleeping on my bed with Rocky. The other two are outside someplace.

 

From the kitchen... With no running water, I'm not cooking anything.

 

I am hearing... The TV and the heater fan. Wind in the trees every now and then. A jet once in a while.

 

I am wearing... Dark Gray Sweatpants and a dark blue top.

 

I am reading... Exodus 33. 
 

 

I am hoping...  That Jerry can fix our water problems soon.

 

I am creating... I worked on that skirt yesterday. A few minor mishaps but nothing I couldn't take care of quickly. I now that the bottom hemmed and the two tiers sewn together. Next is the waist band I think.  Once I get the skirt done, I need to get the dress done.

Billie C

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