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Thursday, December 29, 2011

MIA--Up Dates

Sorry I haven't been on much been MIA my dad fell and broke his hip in two places and had a rod put in.. I've been crazy busy running back and forth..It's all good I would do anything for my dad.. He is in a Re-Hab right now not liking it.. Its like a nursing home he is the youngest one there..He and we are in hopes he will be home soon....

We had a very nice Christmas with family and friends.. I still lots to take care of but doesn't seem to be enough hours in a day..


At the present time we have no snow and very cold.. It is only 19 out today and very windy with the wind chill its -25.. Cold..The dogs and nobody else likes it..

We built a new play area for pumpkin yesterday and its a place where she can go out and play some with out us worry about fox or coyote or any other animals caring her off...

Well hope all my family and friends are having a good day and I miss all of ya... God Bless

Friday, December 23, 2011

Holiday treats.. Pictures...

Been very busy here at the farm.. I've been making fudge peanute butter and peppermint and cookings along with a snowman bread.... enjoy Good Bless..
This is the snowman bread not baked yet..
This is the bread now baked

snowman bread with cookies and fudge around it..

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Living Letters

Hold your relationships tightly not lightly.
God is very deliberate about the relationships He puts you in. You're going to relate to different people in different ways, but each contact you make with others has a purpose-for you and for them. Don't take your relationships lightly.
What you say--to your family in the morning, your coworkers at the office, the clerk at the grocery store, and the friend on the phone--is important. Your words speak who you are. But don't overemphasize your words at the expense of your life.The truth is that the people you meet are more likely to see Christ in your actions than in your words.
The apostle Paul did a lot of traveling, and he wrote a bunch of letters (they're called epistles) to the people he visited. He compared the life of a Christian to a "letter of recommendation," written in the hearts of others.
Your lives are a letter written in our hearts,
and everyone can read it and recognize
our good work among you.
2 CORINTHIANS 3:2

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Orange Frosted Cranberry Cookies

Orange Frosted Cranberry Cookies. Photo by Shelby Jo

Ingredients:

Serves: 24
Yield:

4
dozen
Units: US | Metric

FOR COOKIES

FOR FROSTING

Directions:

  1. 1
    Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. 2
    Spray several cookie sheets with cooking spray.
  3. 3
    FOR COOKIES:
  4. 4
    In large mixing bowl, beat granulated sugar, brown sugar, unsalted butter, orange zest, orange juice, and egg with an electric mixer on medium speed (or mix with a spoon).
  5. 5
    Stir in flour, baking soda and salt.
  6. 6
    Stir in cranberries and nuts.
  7. 7
    Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto cookie sheets.
  8. 8
    Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until edges and bottoms of cookies are light golden brown.
  9. 9
    Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
  10. 10
    Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
  11. 11
    FOR FROSTING:.
  12. 12
    In small bowl, stir powdered sugar, orange zest and orange juice together until smooth and spreadable.
  13. 13
    Frost cookies and enjoy!


Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/orange-frosted-cranberry-cookies-324752#ixzz1gp2aqiW4

Puppy Chow mix...

This is one of our favorites at the holiday times...God Bless
Puppy Chow Recipe

Prep Time:
5 Min
Cook Time:
5 Min
Ready In:
10 Min

Servings  (Help)

Calculate  
Original Recipe Yield 2 to 3 dozen

Ingredients

  • 9 cups crispy rice cereal squares
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

  1. In a saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate; add peanut butter and mix until smooth.
  2. Remove from heat, add cereal and stir until coated.
  3. Pour powdered sugar into large plastic bag, add coated cereal and shake until well coated. Store in airtight container.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 90 | Total Fat: 3.2g | Cholesterol: 0mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

royal icing recipe

Ingredients

  1. 2 large egg whites
  2. 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  3. Pinch of salt
  4. 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  5. 2 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
  1. In a bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar, salt and vanilla at low speed until foamy. Increase the speed to medium and gradually beat in the sugar. Continue beating until the icing is stiff. Use immediately.
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/royal-icing

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Basic sugar cookie dough recipe

I really enjoy sugar cookie and look at this basic recipe you can do so much more with it... God Bless...

With just a few easy tweaks, transform this easy simple recipe into five different Christmas cookies: Chocolate-Filled Stars, Pressed Flower Cookies, Cranberry, Pistachio, and Chocolate-Chunk Cookies, Red-and-White Marbled Cookies, and Linzer Tart Christmas Trees.

sugar cookie dough
Prep Time: 10 min

Ingredients
U.S.MetricConversion chart
  • 1 stick(s) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cup(s) confectioners' sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
  • 2 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour

Directions
  1. In a large bowl, beat together butter and confectioners' sugar using an electric mixer set on medium-high speed.
  2. Add eggs, vanilla, and salt, and beat until combined. Reduce mixer speed to low, add flour, and mix until dough is smooth.

Tips & Techniques
Note: Basic sugar-cookie dough can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months; thaw in refrigerator before using.


Read more: Basic Sugar-Cookie Dough Recipe - Country Living

Orange slices make fragrant & pretty Christmas ornaments

I have a small tree as you entry the house and I'm thinking about doing this and adding whole cloves in mine... Enjoy God Bless

http://www.diylife.com/2007/12/12/orange-slices-make-fragrant-and-pretty-christmas-ornaments/
It was love at first sight: a humbly-sized Christmas tree hung with dried orange slices. This encounter took place on Saturday night, when I attended my town's annual winter festival. The tree had been entered in a Christmas tree decorating competition for local school children. The "orange tree" sure got my vote. What a pretty sight it made with all the Christmas lights reflecting brightly off the glistening citrus slices!

Later, I resolved to try it out for myself. If you want to have a go, you will need the following:
  • three or four large oranges
  • a sharp carving knife
  • glitter and/or ground cinnamon (optional)
  • fishing line or ribbon
  • a needle or a pointy-tipped knife
Step 1) Slice the oranges crosswise in quarter-inch slices. Discard the ends.


Step 2) Lay slices flat on a baking sheet. Use paper towels to blot away excess juice.
Step 3) If you like, gently rub ground cinnamon into the slices. Cinnamon makes them smell amazing. On the other hand, they won't catch the light as well. I made some with and some without.
Step 4) Bake in a moderate oven until dried. I found some wonderful baking tips at the Create a Prim website. This writer recommends laying the slices directly on the oven rack instead of on a baking sheet. She also suggests an oven temperature of 275oF for the first hour, then 225oF for two additional hours. If you prefer to use a baking sheet instead, the site Moms Budget recommends spraying the slices with non-stick baking spray. (I ended up putting mine on a baking sheet, but next year I think I'll take Create a Prim's advice and put them on the oven rack.)
Step 5) If you like, decorate the slices with glitter once the slices have cooled. Then, thread each slice onto a length of fishing line or ribbon. Now they can be hung on the tree.

If you liked this idea, just remember: dried apple slices make pretty Christmas decorations, too!

Orange and apple slices not only look beautiful -- they smell delicious as well! Be creative in how you use them. In addition to their most common role as tree ornaments, they can also be strung onto garlands, tossed into holiday potpourri, fastened onto Christmas wreaths, and arranged artfully on the holiday dining table.

Using dried fruits as Christmas ornaments is an old-timey tradition that's coming back into fashion. Why? They are simple to make, inexpensive, and naturally beautiful. As you hang them on the tree, think of your citrus slices as an antidote to the expensive and stressful shop-stravaganza that the holiday season has become. Enjoy!


How to dry orange slices for Xmas ornaments(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Slice your orangesBlot orangesPrepare to bake!MmmmOranges on the tree

Keeping CHRIST in Christmas..

I really enjoy this blog... So if you have time stop over and check it out... God Bless..
http://www.latter-dayhomeschooling.com/2011/12/our-family-christmas-traditionskeeping.html

December 13, 2011


Our Family Christmas Traditions–Keeping CHRIST in Christmas

Keeping Christ in Christmas in this highly commercialized world can sometimes be a challenge.  The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season can bring about feelings of stress, dread, financial woes, etc..  Making it at times quite difficult to feel the TRUE meaning of Christmas and it’s spirit.
I wanted to share with you some things that we do as a family to turn down the stress associated with the wonderful holiday season, and to increase it’s TRUE meaning and PURPOSE.  Here are a few of our traditions that we look forward to every year!
SIMPLE DECORATIONS
Now for many, decorating for Christmas is an enjoyable thing, but for me, it’s stressful!   So we keep decorating simple.  We have a few strands of lights hung outside, a simple tree with kid safe ornaments, several kid safe nativity sets, a not-kid safe one HIGH on a shelf, a basket of Christmas books and some Christmas Beanie Babies, and 2 wreaths on the our front doors.  The kids are involved in our decorating, and the nativity sets that are kid safe are a great reminder to them of what we are celebrating!
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SIMPLE GIFT GIVINGMy husband and I both come from large families, and they just keep growing.  So gift giving to family members can be a financial strain.   When we were first married, we started giving each family a Christmas Ornament of some significance, typically something related to our year, or a family event.  Theses are small, inexpensive ornaments that I typically purchase in packs of 12 for about $15.  We love decorating our tree each year and remembering the meaning of the ornaments, who gave them, etc… and we hope that our family has found the same joy in the simple gifts we have given them each year.
Another way to limit spending (therefore relieving financial burdens often associated with Christmas) is to limit the gifts you give.  In our home our children receive 3 gifts each, and a stocking.  Jesus Christ received 3 gifts (one from each wise man), therefore that is what my children receive (from us).  It’s also a great way to bring Christmas back to the TRUE meaning. 
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MINIMIZE SANTAWe do not do ‘Santa’ in our home.  This was a choice that my husband felt strongly about before we had children, and I’ll admit this is the first year that it’s actually been hard to follow through with (now that my oldest son is 5).  There is nothing wrong with doing Santa, if you choose to practice this tradition in your home.  BUT try to maintain an emphasis on the TRUE meaning, it is far to easy for kids to get wrapped up in Christmas being about SANTA.  Trying to explain to our children about Santa has proved slightly difficult, but I did find a great book that we read each year, which outlines the tradition of Santa, where it came from, why people do it and what the REAL meaning of Christmas is.
ADVENTWe do advent in a variety of ways.  You may have seen my post on the Wooden Advent Tree I made, we fill it with some candy and a scripture to read each night. 

For school we are doing DISCOVER CHIRSTMAS, we aren’t doing everything in the book, but we are at least doing the daily readings.
051
THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BOOKSThis is a new countdown we are just starting this year, this idea was branched off of a lesson given by our Bishop’s wonderful wife, her family does it for 25days.  We will be doing a 12 days of Christmas BOOK countdown.  Twelve Christmas books will be wrapped, and attached on the outside of each one will be a scripture verse and activity from the New Era Article “Advent Calendar:  Prophecies of Christ’s Coming” from the Dec 2008 issue.  (I had previously stocked up with Christmas themed books last year from Deseret Books after Christmas sales).  Not all the books are spiritual themed, but most are.

PCC 035

SERVICEWe have always baked cookies to deliver to our neighbors, pulled an angel from a Christmas tree, donated to Toys for Tots and/or pulled a gift from the ward tree.  In years past we have given anonymous donations to families we felt had a need.  This year, some friends have asked us to go in on a 12 days of Christmas gifts program with them…and we are really excited!  No matter how big or small; nothing says CHRISTmas like giving Christ-like service to others!  I loved this idea that I found on Pinterest, and hope to maybe incorporate something similar next year (Advent and Service in ONE)!
CHRISTMAS EVEWe always watch Mr. Kruger’s Christmas and The Nativity on Christmas Eve, this year we are blessed for PBS Hawaii to broadcast The Mormon Tabernacle Choir with David Archuleta on Christmas Eve! 

OTHER TRADITIONS (not necessarily spiritual, but still meaningful!)

A few other traditions we have is sending a yearly Christmas Letter, I won’t lie, this is mostly for us, we keep them each year with our Christmas Card picture; it makes a great little family history!  The Christmas Card is another tradition, we have sent one every year, with a picture since we got married!  These traditions go back to my Grandpa Hilsinger, after he passed I received copies of all his Christmas Letters past, it was such an amazing thing to read!
Personalized ornaments for the kids each year in their stockings!  I have a handful of ornaments from my growing up that I brought with me, and I want my kids to be able to do the same!   Their first Christmas they get 2, a brass one and another one, and they always have their name and the year. 

Gingerdoole cookies....

Gingerdoodle Cookies

Now these would make a wonderful gift to put in some home made wrapping..
Gingerdoodles Final 3{Let’s make some cookies! Start out by creaming butter, sugar and brown sugar all together.
Gingerdoodles 1
Mix in an egg,
Gingerdoodles 2
vanilla,
Gingerdoodles 3
and molasses.
Gingerdoodles 4
Let the mixer whip the ingredients a minute or two until it lightens in color.
Gingerdoodles 5
Now we’ll add in the flour,
Gingerdoodles 6
baking soda,
Gingerdoodles 7
and spices.
Spices-cookies
Mix the dough together just until all the dry ingredients are incorporated.
Gingerdoodles 8
Now taste test it to make sure it’s good. I won’t tell. :)
Gingerdoodles 9
Spoon out a heaping tablespoon,
Gingerdoodles 10
roll it into a ball
Gingerdoodles 11
and roll it in sugar.
Gingerdoodles 12
Place in on a Silpat mat, greased cookie sheet or parchment paper.
Gingerdoodles 13
Bake these off at 350 for 7 minutes or so. You want the outside to look sort of dry…like not shiny. Does that make sense. You might see the middle look a little squishy or ooey gooey, but that’s a good sign! Cool the cookies on the baking sheet about 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Gingerdoodles 14
These are pretty fabulous warm, but just as chewy and delicious cool. Add some nog and you got yourself a very festive treat!
Gingerdoodles Final 2
Gingerdoodles
yield: 3 dozen
Print This Recipe Print This Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup molasses
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup granulated sugar, for rolling
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Stir in egg, vanilla and molasses. Whip 1-2 minutes or until it turns a light brown color. Stir in remaining ingredients and mix until dry ingredients are just combined.
Roll a heaping tablespoon of dough into a ball and coat in granulated sugar. Place on silicone baking mat, lightly greased cookie sheet or parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
Bake 7-9 minutes or until outside looks cooked but inside is still soft and gooey. Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheet before transferring to cooling rack.
Serve warm or at room temperature. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve
http://www.laurenslatest.com/gingerdoodle-cookies/

A true friend

A true friend can multiply your joy and divide our sorrow.
In your lifetime you will have thousands of acquaintances, hundreds of colleague's, and dozens of neighbors. But you will have only a few friends. That's not to say that you won't have lots of friendships. Some people make friends easily. You might be the kind of person who never met a stranger.
Don't confuse a casual friendships with a true friend. Even the friendliest person has only a few true friends, defined by honesty, loyalty, and sacrifice. A true friend possesses these qualities, whereas fair- weather friends disappear when you experience setbacks or don't give them what they need.
With that in mind, we're going to tell you the name of your best friend. You already know as well. His name is Jesus. He will never leave you, He will never forsake you, and He has already made the supreme sacrifice for you.
"I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants.
Now you are my friends,
since I have told you everything the Father told me,"
JOHN 15:15

92 year old knits more than 800 helment liners for troops overseas

 ARTHUR MOURATIDIS/For the Missoulian/ Dorothy Adams, 92, has knit approximately 838 wool helmet liners for members of the U.S. military after being inspired by memories of her late husband Kenneth and his experience with harsh weather while serving in Europe during World War II.
Dorothy Adams, 92, has an idea of the number of helmet liners she plans to knit.
“A thousand sounds good, doesn’t it?” she said.
Adams may reach that goal before Christmas at the rate her fingers are flying. The part-time Missoula resident started knitting helmet liners for members of the military almost three years ago to help keep soldiers serving overseas warm. As of Sunday, her “score,” as she calls it, is 838 knitted helmet liners.
“As long as my hands hold up and they want them, why stop?” she said at an interview at her Missoula home.
Adams is a member of the state chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which announced in one of its bulletins that it was seeking knitters interested in making helmet liners for soldiers to wear under their helmets to stay warm.
Adams, a retired teacher, has been knitting since she was 9. In the 1930s, when she was in high school, Adams knitted her own sweaters. She’s made afghan blankets, hats and baby mittens.
The women’s organization sent Adams directions for how to knit the helmet liners, and she had to submit a sample to prove that she could make one according to their specifications.
The one-size-fits-all helmet liners require certain size needles and specific yarn. Only 100 percent soft wool yarn is acceptable as it is inherently nonflammable and stays warm even when wet.
The military is only interested in ones that are tan, brown, black or charcoal. The Marines prefer desert tan, according to the instructions Adams received.
This was December 2008. Adams was approaching her 90th birthday, so upon receiving a green light from DAR, she decided to start off by knitting 90 helmet liners by her August birthday. But by June, she had already reached her goal.
That’s when her grandson challenged Adams to knit 90 more by her birthday.
“I just kept going,” she said.
Now, Adams has surpassed 800.
u u u
Adams thinks about all the cold nights her late husband, Kenneth, experienced while serving overseas during World War II. He served as a records keeper in the U.S. Army Air Corps, now known as the U.S. Air Force. Kenneth passed away in 2005 at the age of 88, but he left behind a little red journal, which details his years at war. The couple was married 65 years, but the two were separated for three years at the beginning of their marriage while Kenneth served in the military. Adams has read the journal, in which Kenneth describes sleeping in mud and the bugs in North Africa.
“I’m doing this in memory of him,” Adams said. “I know how cold he was and how cold some of those people (currently serving overseas) must be.”
Everywhere Adams goes her sewing goes along. She knits at the movies, at lunch, while running errands or when she can’t sleep at night.
“She’ll wake up knitting,” said her daughter, Nancy Adams.
“Well, it’s easy to knit because your fingers know what they’re doing,” Adams replied.
Each hat takes 12 hours to make. If the design was challenging at first, Adams can’t remember.
“It’s as easy as pie now,” she said.
Adams estimates that she has spent several thousand dollars purchasing wool over the years, and she’s happy to do it. She’s gotten it down to a science. Eight balls of yarn — at $6 a piece — makes nine hats, she said.
“I do it happily,” she said. “But I do like to get a bargain.”


Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/year-old-knits-more-than-helmet-liners-for-troops-overseas/article_f60ab5d3-c942-5100-a5f1-8d91aa48c27a.html#ixzz1gQz4zvq9

Sunday, December 11, 2011

curried lentil soup

This will make a great gift for the holidays.. God Bless
Nutritional Information
(per serving)
Calories220
Total Fat1g
Saturated Fat--
Cholesterol--
Sodium445mg
Total Carbohydrate39g
Dietary Fiber14g
Sugars--
Protein16g
Calcium--
curried lentil soup Kate Mathis
Yields: 2 jars soup mix
Total Time: 5 min
Ingredients
U.S.MetricConversion chart
  • 2  ( 1 quart) jars with tight-fitting lids
  • 1 pound(s) red lentils
  • Salt
  • 6 tablespoon(s) minced dried onion
  • 2 tablespoon(s) curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon(s) garlic powder
  • 1 pound(s) green lentils
  • 1/2 package(s) (5-ounce) dried apple rings, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoon(s) dried parsley leaves

Directions
  1. In bottom of each glass jar, place 8 ounces red lentils; top with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 3 tablespoons dried onion, 1 tablespoon curry powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 8 ounces green lentils, 1/2 cup apple pieces, and 1 tablespoon parsley, in that order. Seal jars and store at room temperature up to 1 month.
  2. Prepare labels with cooking instructions; attach to jars. Add these cooking directions to each label before giving as a gift: Place lentil soup mix in 3-quart saucepan with 7 cups water. Heat to boiling on high. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Makes 8 cups soup.


Read more: Curried Lentil Soup - Holiday Gifts - Recipes - Good Housekeeping