Seeking God in simple ways this Advent season

 

 I so appreciate when Daily Grace Co. shares a seasonal graphic like this one on their Instagram.    It gives me a nice head start on a blog post.  This one is really great for the season of Advent.  These simple ways to seek the Lord in this season are easily within reach of all of us.

🎄Slowing down to reflect on the goodness of God.  This can be so simple.  Just maybe brewing a cup of Christmas tea and reflecting on God's goodness to us for the time it takes to finishing sipping that yummy beverage.  

 

Or it could be taking time to work on an Advent Bible study.  I'm doing Hope Has Come from Daily Grace this year and loving it!  I would have linked to it, but it seems it is no longer available. ( I received it as a gift last year.)  I did find this mug:

 
🎄 Finding ways to experience God's hope, peace, joy, and love.  The study Hope Has Come is giving me ideas for this.  Other ways might be to memorize verses that touch on these topics, or to sing songs, hymns, or carols that emphasize them.  Or simply ask the Lord to make you more aware of these wonderful gifts from Him.  You will be amazed at what He shows you.  A study like the one from Abby at Little Birdie Blessings (see example below) would also be helpful.

🎄 Displaying God's love through acts of service.  This could happen very naturally this time of year when we sing carols in our neighborhoods or at nursing homes, or in a number of other ways.  In our family we baked cookies and shared trays of them, often with a pretty Christmas booklet or card attached, with our neighbors and others who have served us through the year.  I have also taken large cookie trays to the staff at nursing homes or in the emergency department of our local hospital.

 
🎄 Singing Christmas hymns and carols.  Caroling with family, friends, or as a church family is wonderful, but how about also singing a carol as part of your quiet time each morning of advent?  Or read the words of a carol to yourself.  Some carols are based solidly on Scripture.  See how many Scripture quotes or concepts you can find in each one.

🎄Spending time in reflection and prayer for the new year.  This is an absolutely wonderful idea.  I try to do this every year, but am guilty of waiting until the last minute to do so.  Wouldn't it be even more meaningful to spend time reflecting and praying on what you'd like the new year to look like from a spiritual perspective, and to set a few goals to that end, ahead of time?

What a blessing it was to consider these simple ideas for seeking God in this Advent season!  I hope that these ideas were helpful to you, my readers, as well.

Another lovely Christmas poem: A Winter Day

 

 Regular readers know that I often feature Christmas poems from vintage magazines.  Here's one from a 1980 Christmas Ideals issue.

A WINTER DAY

'Tis Christmas again and once more as before
We  hang up the holly outside the front door.
The hills and valleys are covered with snow,
Brushed with crystals of ice that glow.
From towering trees, from shrubs, each tiny strand
Glistens in winter's fairyland.
The snow, like a veil, drawn across earth's face,
Falls from each branch like frothy lace
And the wind fingers lightly hill and plain,
Chanting a soft cathedral strain;
Through the windowed trees, the sun's clear, bright gaze
Cloaks the world in a golden haze;
Transforming this earthly vision of ice
To reflection of Paradise.
'Tis Christmas again and once more as before
We  hang up the holly outside the front door.

-- Margaret Phillips Succop

I've always enjoyed Christmas cards that feature front doors, often open, with seasonal greens adorning them.  That's what I thought of when I read this poem.  Hope you enjoyed it too.

Sunday Scripture

 

As mentioned last Sunday, I'm doing special Christmas related Sunday Scripture posts throughout December again this year.  Back in 2020 I had worked through Peace, Be Still: A 31-Day Christmas prayer journal, from Women Living Well.  Last year, I used some of my simple study from this book as Scripture posts for December.  I have decided to do so again this year, using different posts on each of my blogs to keep it interesting for all of my readers.  I will take two from each week's study to use one each on my blogs, and maybe next December use more of them.

Also -- note that this simple study does not use the SOAP method as my studies usually do.  This one includes a verse for the day, a thought for the day,  a reflection question for the day and space to write a prayer for each day.  I tended to look at the verse a little bit in depth, and I tended to answer the reflection question in the prayer, but of course you can use these any way you want to. I hope perhaps some of you will want to study out these verses in more depth for yourselves.

Here goes with the study for Week 1, Day 6!  I chose to look at two verses from Isaiah 30 rather than just the one.

Verses for the day:

"And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto thee, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you; for the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all they that wait for Him!
"... And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."  (Isaiah 30:18, 21)

My study: 

It's so encouraging to know that God will give us specific guidance as we yield to His leading in our lives.  He is gracious and merciful; He desires for us to exalt Him with our lives.  To do that, we must be yielding to Him and following His lead.

At this point in history, Judah and Jerusalem were described by God as "a rebellious people, lying children ... who will not hear the law of the LORD (verse 9)."

Warren Wiersbe explains:

"Their only hope was to repent, return to the Lord, and by faith rest only in Him, but they would not listen and obey."

Isaiah told the people, "Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you ... He rises to show you compassion" (v. 19, quoted by Wiersbe from the NIV).  Isaiah described then a future day when Israel would be restored to her land to enjoy the blessings of the kingdom.  They would listen to God's Word then and be guided by it.

Reflection question:

In what ways are you yielding to God's hand on your life today?

My prayer:

"Dear God, I thank and praise You so much for the truths of Your Word.  I'm thankful this morning for the writings of Isaiah, who himself yielded to Your lead as he prophesied to Judah and Jerusalem.   I thank You for these meaningful accounts from Your Word that have such profound application in our own time.  I pray that You will help me be sensitive to Your leading in my life every day, and that I will yield to that leading.   I thank You for all You'll do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

That's the Sunday Scripture for the day.  Hope it was a blessing to you!

Put your slow cooker to work for you in this busy season

 

 I don't ordinarily do the same post on each blog during December -- and this one isn't the same as the one on my Kitchen Table blog; you will find different recipes on each of them.  Seems I just have to write a post about this every few years!   I apologize if it sounds familiar, but I think you will thank me for the reminder.   I rely on my slow cooker during any busy season, but I find it invaluable in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  I can put supper in the cooker on any busy day, even if I plan to be home all day.  I can then spend my day crafting, cleaning, decorating, or whatever happens to be on my agenda, while supper cooks all by itself.

I tend to use recipes that are one-dish meals, to keep things as simple as possible.  But if sides are needed, I might -- depending upon what the main course is --  use a bagged salad mix, scrub and pierce a few potatoes or sweet potatoes and bake them,  or quickly cook a bag of frozen vegetables in the microwave.  If you have a bread machine, which I no longer do, it's a simple matter to have bread baking at the same time soup is simmering in the crock.

Here are a few recipe links you might find helpful.  

Forgotten Jambalaya. So good if you enjoy Cajun flavors and pretty much a meal in a bowl.

Fiesta Sweet Potato Soup.   This is unusual but scrumptious.  Most people I have served it to have really enjoyed it.  You could serve it very simply with tortilla chips, or bake a quick pan of cornbread.

Burgundy Beef.  As I looked over this recipe, I found it called for very little burgundy (a quarter cup) and also noted that beef broth could be substituted.  Usually when a recipe calls for red wine, I use cranberry juice instead, so that's what I decided to do.  I didn't have any mushrooms on hand, but decided to substitute sliced onions.  I also didn't want to serve the dish over noodles, so I peeled and quartered 5 or 6 small potatoes and added them to the cooker with everything else.  This turned out really well and the gravy had fantastic flavor. 

Sunday Chicken Supper.    This is a true meal in one.

If you need further inspiration for slow cooker recipes, please do click the "slow cookers" link in the label cloud at right for a few more.  Over on my Kitchen Table blog, click the "slow cooker recipes" label, where you will find pages of good ideas.  You could also visit my Slow Cooker Inspiration Pinterest board for more good ideas!  There are loads of yummy-looking recipes there, and elsewhere on Pinterest. 

And I truly do hope that you will get out your slow cooker and put it to work for you in this busy, festive season.  It really will make life easier in this busy month of December! 

Homemade cranberry sauce with cherries, ginger and lime

 

I recently came upon this recipe in the November 2008 issue of Cook & Tell, a delightful recipe newsletter I subscribed to for years.  It's no longer being published, alas.  But I have all of my old issues and peruse them when I can.  I especially love the December issues, but a few days before Thanksgiving I browsed through a couple of November ones -- and spotted this recipe.  There was no need to make cranberry sauce for the Thanksgiving feast, as my daughter was making the whole berry kind, and the kids prefer jellied.  So I filed this away in my memory bank in case turkey or chicken make it onto the Christmas menu with our crowd.  Now I'm sharing it here so I can't forget where I put it!

CRANBERRY-CHERRY SAUCE WITH LIME AND GINGER

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup dried tart cherries
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 Tblsp. crystallized ginger, chopped
Pinch of salt
3/4 cup water
1 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries

Place the sugar, cherries, lime juice, ginger, salt, and water in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring till the sugar dissolves.  Add the cranberries and simmer till the berries burst and the sauce thickens, about 8 minutes.  Chill at least 2 hours before serving.  Makes about 2 1/2 cups.  

Doesn't that sound delectable?  And easy?

Book review -- I'll Be Home for Christmas Cookbook

 

I can't even tell you have many Christmas cookbooks from Gooseberry Patch I own.  I've acquired them in various ways, probably most of them by way of having a recipe, craft idea or memory published. But one of my newer favorites is this I'll Be Home for Christmas cookbook, published in 2020.  You might also be able to find it on Thriftbooks here.  And likely on Amazon as well.

Here's a rundown of the chapters: Coming Home for Christmas is first and it includes many wonderful  heartwarming memories shared by various folks from around the country.  

Festive Holiday Brunch is a chapter filled with breakfast and brunch recipes -- everything from egg bakes to muffins to fruit salad, hot cocoa and much more. I think the only recipe I've tried here is the Christmas Jam, but there are many I want to try.   The Honey-Glazed Ham Biscuit Sliders sound fantastic.  They are like the sliders one often sees made with Hawaiian rolls, but these are made with buttermilk biscuits, which would make them a little healthier and also less expensive.  Carolyn's Candied Bacon sounds amazing.  Many more yummy breakfast recipes may be found in this chapter.

Christmas Open House is all about appetizers, snacks and festive beverages.  I'd love to try the Nutty Cheddar Cheese Log, but I'm not sure my family and friends would want me to try any other cheese log recipe than our traditional Festive Cheese Log.   I've also tried, and liked, the Christmas Tortilla Roll-ups and the Spicy Mini Sausage Sandwiches.  I made these little open face sandwiches for many years after finding the recipe in one of my first Gooseberry cookbooks.  Recently I have not been able to find the cocktail rye bread.  But thankfully I saw some this week in a local supermarket, and scooped up two loaves.  They were not inexpensive, but I stashed them in the freezer for later use.  This chapter is packed with recipes.  You're sure to find a new and different appetizer to welcome friends and family to your home!

Come In & Warm Up  features soup, chowder and chili recipes to warm up your family and guests.  Pepper Jack Potato Soup sounds wonderful, as does the Hearty Lasagna Soup.  There are a half dozen or so recipes for breads to accompany the soups -- Easy Garlic Knots sounds particularly yummy -- and a couple of cracker recipes as well.

As you might guess, Seasonal Salads & Sides is loaded with all manner of side dishes and salads.  I've yet to try any of these recipes but there are so many that sound good -- Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Hazelnuts, Ridiculously Good Scalloped Potatoes, and more.  Granny Smith Apple Salad and the Artichoke Rice Salad are both want-to-trys for me. 

Gathering with Family & Friends is filled with main dishes of all types for the holiday meals.   Several that I really want to try are the Christmas Shepherd's Pie, the Easy-Peasy Fancy Ziti, and the Kielbasa & Potato Bake.  Lots of main-dish inspiration here for easy everyday December meals as well as fancier ones for Christmas dinner. 

Holiday Desserts for Sharing is just that; a sampling of festive desserts from cakes to cookies to pies to fudge.  I've made similar cookie recipes to the Chocolate Chip Snowballs and the Russian Teacakes.  I have not tried any of the dessert recipes, but the Apple Pie in a Goblet sounds like a good one to begin with.  You simmer a chunky sauce with real apples, sugar and spices, then layer it with vanilla ice cream and crushed shortbread cookies and top with whipped cream.  The Vermont Maple Pumpkin Pie sounds scrumptious, but I have my own never-fail Pumpkin Pie recipe that I just love, so probably I won't try this one.

Of course, with any Gooseberry Patch book, there are delightful extras.  In addition to the gorgeous illustrations, you will find sprinkled throughout the chapters quotes, craft and decorating ideas, and so on.  Every page has a little added treat of some sort.  Here's a fun idea:  "Use favorite cookie cutters for all kinds of holiday fun.  Trace around them onto colorful paper for placecards and package tags ... add glitter for sparkle.  Cookie cutters can even trim a wreath or serve as napkin rings ... clever!"

I also liked this idea:  "If your extended family finds it a challenge to get together on Christmas Day, why not enjoy a brunch together one weekend?  Relax with each other over coffee and fruit juice, baskets of warm muffins and a yummy breakfast casserole.  You'll be glad you did!"

Hmmm, wonder if I could talk my hubby's siblings into this.  Sounds like a great idea.

I highly recommend this book!  If it sounds good to you, why not head on over to  Gooseberry Patch, Amazon or Thriftbooks and find your own copy?

Just a nifty vintage Christmas card!

 
Here's a very nifty Christmas card which I just found in my vintage stash of cards to sell.   I decided I needed to list it right away.   This gorgeous pre-owned Christmas card by Hawthorne Sommerfield was likely sent in the 1970s but may possibly be from the 1960s. The card front features a wintry alpine scene with a couple of scrubby bushes (one with pine cones) in the foreground. Five skiers are speeding down a snow-covered slope, while snowy alps loom in the background. An alpine village -- several houses and a church -- is tucked into the base of the mountain. Smoke streams from the chimneys of the houses.

 The beautiful painting used on this card is signed by artist John E. Bradley.   I searched but was unable to learn much about him, although I did find a few more of his paintings.  He seemed to specialize in outdoor scenes and paintings of wildlife.

One of the most rewarding things about having an Etsy shop is seeing how treasures like these find new homes with folks who truly love and appreciate them! 

Now for the tentative 2023 kitchen gift list!

 

 And now, here is my last list for homemade Christmas treats.  You will notice there is plenty of room to add items to it.  

There are a few people on our list who love certain varieties of Christmas cookies so much that they receive them for a gift.  I usually purchase a pretty Christmas plate or tin that the recipient can reuse, then use it to contain their gift of cookies.  We have one person that always gets Eggnog Logs, another who always receives Sacher Tortes, and a whole family that loves the Chocolate Mint Crisps so much that the family receives one container and the teenage son gets a canister of cookies all his own!

Usually I buy the plates or tins on clearance after Christmas and save them until the next season.  But I've also found that our local, very well organized thrift store has some great options as well.

Pretty tin from Joann Fabrics

These cookie bags, which include a simple cardboard tray, come from Dollar Tree.

Cookie container from Walmart

Christmas doilies make any plate look festive.

This is an actual ceramic plate; I found this either at Walmart or our supermarket

I usually make Christmas Granola for our son-in-law and place it in a festive tin canister.  It's just my regular granola recipe with pistachio kernels and dried cranberries added to give it a Christmasy touch.

Apricot Cake is a huge favorite with my walking partner, so she will receive some little wrapped loaves of it for Christmas.

The freshly baked apricot cakes

And the apricot cakes all wrapped up for Christmas gifting

And it was in 2022 that I decided to try out some festive muffin recipes as potential Christmas kitchen  gifts.  I will be making some of those for gifts this year, but haven't yet decided which ones.

Those who are interested in any of these recipes may find them by simply doing a search here on the blog.  Hope my simple list of kitchen gifts has inspired you!

Making the tentative candy list

 

Today we'll talk candy lists!  It seems that I always start out with a rather skimpy tentative list and it seems to grow longer by the day as I remember old favorites or see new recipes I want to try.

Heavenly Delight needs to go on the top of any candy list that I make.  It's a wonderful  Double Decker Fudge, with chocolate and peanut butter layers.  Two batches of that have already been made, in November!

Chocolate-Dipped Orange Slices are simply orange slice candies, the kind that are sort of like gumdrops, dipped in melted dark chocolate.  If you enjoy those chocolate oranges, the kind shaped like a real orange, you will love these.

Special Holiday Fudge is a dark chocolate fudge filled with walnuts and raisins.  It tastes like a Chunky candy bar and is a real favorite with some people.

Arlene's Easy Fudge  is super easy and stirs up in a jiffy -- and has a fantastic flavor!  It's one we always like to make with the grandkids.

We tried  Easy Salted Caramel Fudge for the first time last year.  Another super easy recipe that was a hit at our candy-making session with the grands!

And of course it never fails that I find at least one new recipe that I want to try.  As I was paging through an old December issue of Taste of Home, I spotted this Chocolate Caramel Candy recipe.  

 

This candy is said to taste very much like a Snickers bar.  So now my hubby wants to make a batch for his former boss, who loves Snickers.  We will see!

Sunday Scripture

 

Again this year I want to share Scripture Sunday posts as part of December Daily.  Back in 2020 I used Peace, Be Still: A 31-Day Christmas prayer journal, from Women Living Well.  In 2022 I decided to use some of my simple study from this book as Scripture Sunday posts for December, using different posts on each of my blogs to keep it interesting for all of my readers.  So once again I will take two from each week's study to use one each on my blogs, and maybe next December do the same.  I have 31 entire days to choose from and so these should last us quite awhile.

Just a note that this simple study does not use the SOAP method as my studies usually do.  This one includes a verse for the day, a thought for the day,  a reflection question for the day and space to write a prayer for each day.  I tended to look at the verse a little bit in depth, and I tended to answer the reflection question in the prayer, but of course you can use these components any way you choose.  Here goes with the study for Week 1, Day 4!

Verse for the day:

"For the prophecy came not at any time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."  (2 Peter 1:21) 

My study:

If we look back to verse 19, we see that will do well to take heed to this "sure word of prophecy" -- in other words, to pay attention to God's word.  

We can only pay attention to God's Word, the Bible, if we are listening to it.  So we must make sure we are spending time in the Bible every day.  If we are listening to God's Word only on Sundays, we are missing out.  Time in the Bible is essential for us each and every day.

I love what C.I. Scofield wrote about these verses:

"Scripture predictions of future events were uttered so long before the events took place that no mere human sagacity or foresight could have anticipated them, and these predictions are so detailed, minute, and specific as to exclude the possibility that they were fortunate guesses ... it is certain, therefore, that the Scriptures which contain them are inspired."

Reflection question:

Do you need more guidance from the Lord?  Seek Him today ... get into His Word, talk to a godly friend, listen to an online sermon or spend time in worship.  Reflect on your daily life.  In what ways do you need to work on listening to God more?

My prayer:

"Dear God, I am so very thankful for Your Word.  Just thinking about the accuracy of prophecies  fulfilled, even the ones that quickly come to mind in a few minutes, is such a great confirmation that all of Scripture is inspired by You and is completely accurate.  Truly, we will do well to take heed to that "sure word".  I pray that You will help me to pay close attention to Your Word each day and to have an obedient heart to what it teaches me.  I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

That's the Sunday Scripture for today!  Hope it was a blessing to someone!

 

 

The 2023 tentative Christmas cookie list

 

 Here is my tentative Christmas cookie list for this year.  My lists are always tentative as we begin the season, because I never know when a new cookie recipe is going to cross my radar, or when an old favorite may come to my mind.  Mr. T (who now does almost all of the cookie baking) has expressed the thought that he would like to add one or two new recipes to the mix this year.  So I've added on my old favorite Pepparkakor, but I will be baking those since they are cut-out cookies, which he has never tackled.  I think he can handle the Double-Drizzled Pecan Cookies, the Peppermint Snowballs, the Gingerbread Brownies (all recipes I've made in the past) and the Chocolate-Dipped Maple Logs which have been on my want-to-try list for years.  And if another cookie recipe presents itself to him, he is likely to try that as well!

However, he has already made a good beginning on the Christmas baking list.  By Thanksgiving, he had made two batches of Heavenly Delight fudge already, along with a batch each of Secret Spice Cookies,   Sacher Torte Cookies,  Chocolate Spritz, and Chocolate Mint Crisps, plus a large batch of Whipped Shortbread.

Have you made a cookie list yet?  There is no time like the present -- and remember, this is a tentative list -- so the sky is the limit!  You can fine-tune the cookie list throughout the season as you go along.

Welcome to my Christmas kitchen!!

 

Come on in!  

The photo above is a scene from my real-life Christmas kitchen, back in 2008.  It's my kitchen island, all decked out with a baking theme.  That's a vintage-y (1990s) Christmas bandanna underneath it all, with two lovely Gooseberry Patch Christmas cookbooks and a dollar store lantern at the back.  Then there's a large Mitford Christmas teacup filled with cookie cutters, along with a cut-out cookie recipe from a dear friend.  The recipe's contained in a Christmas recipe holder given me by a little granddaughter, years ago.  Then there's a box of "ribbon candy" at far right, made from actual ribbon by my daughter Joanna, and in the center of the photo is a box of vintage Christmas light bulbs.

Alas, my island has become laden with things over time (like a breadbox, for example) and so I don't decorate it seasonally as I once did.  If you were to visit today, you wouldn't see this; hopefully you would enjoy some of my other Christmas kitchen decor instead.

I'm glad you're here, though, and for today I just want to encourage you that, if you haven't already done so, it's prime time to begin making those Christmas kitchen lists.  Lists for things like cookie baking, candy making, kitchen gifts, and baking ingredients.  

Here are a few of my lists from years gone by.  Starting tomorrow, I'll be sharing my tentative lists for 2023.

A cookie list

A kitchen gift list

 A candy list

And really, it's also a good idea to make a list of all the extra ingredients you'll need in your kitchen this time of year.  You can read about my list here: Check that pantry!

So start thinking about your lists, if you haven't already.  I'll see you tomorrow in the Christmas kitchen!

Swinging open the door to the Christmas kitchen for December 2023!

 

Yes, again this year I'll be posting daily here in the Christmas kitchen!  There should be everything from lists and recipes to gift ideas, handmade ornaments, traditions, and even just happenings and baking in my real-life Christmas kitchen. 

I'm brushing down the cobwebs today and the door swings open early tomorrow morning.  Bring a cup of coffee and meet me here, won't you?

Thanks for visiting my Christmas kitchen!

 

 I think I'll end this month as I began it -- with a Christmas card adapted by my grandmother for use as a Christmas kitchen gift tag.  What's especially fun is that since that earlier post, I've come across the actual card, so I can show you the inscription in her very own elegant handwriting.

And I had thought this was only the card front -- but no, it was the entire complete Christmas card, so I'm guessing perhaps she used this same card design for her tag more than one Christmastime.  I'm so glad to have found the complete card, for I love the message inside it:

Isn't that a sweet sentiment?  "Well-seasoned wishes"!  I love it!  

I hope you've enjoyed Christmas in July here in my kitchen.  It's been fun for me -- and it's also been very nice to think of snow and cold during what has been a hot, humid July here in New Hampshire.

I hope to post more regularly in the coming months, so I'll see you all again soon!

One more poem: "A Christmas Song"

 

Here is one last poem as Christmas in July begins to draw to a close.  This is another that I found in a vintage Christmas Ideals magazine, and is by a favorite poet, Mildred L. Jarrell.

A CHRISTMAS SONG

Joyfully upon the air
There comes a sweet refrain,
For carols bring the message
That it's Christmastime again.

Music ringing round the town
Proclaims the Savior's birth,
Filling hearts with hope anew
Of peace to men on earth.

Harken to the angels' song;
Let earth receive her King;
Filled with spirit, loud and strong,
Lift up your voice and sing.

Keep in your heart a Christmas song,
And let the words convey
The message of the carols
To all men this Christmas day.

-- Mildred L. Jarrell

This just conjures up images from vintage Christmas carol books, don't you think? The one at top seems to fit particularly well here.

Holiday Desserts -- a festive 1993 cookbooklet

 

Yes, surprising as it may seem, 1993 is now vintage.  Here is another booklet I came across in a kitchen drawer at the old homestead.  This one is in mint condition and will soon be offered for sale in my Etsy shop.  It has a glitzy, elegant look that makes it most attractive.  I've seen a number of these recipes singly in Christmas magazines over the years, but it's so handy to have them all together.

Here's the blurb from the inside front cover:

"Now Baker's, Diamond Walnuts, and Jell-O are making it easier than ever to create luscious holiday desserts at home.  We've selected our favorite holiday recipes -- fudgy brownies, nutty cookies, tempting pies and cakes, and brought them together for you in this booklet -- all quick, all easy, all very festive.  Perfect for family get-togethers and great as gifts, these treats will add a delicious touch of sweetness to your holiday season."

Recipes include One-Bowl Brownies, Cream Cheese Brownies, and Walnut Crunch Brownies,

Thumbprints, Super Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Delectabites, Chocolate Walnut Bars, 

Double Layer Pumpkin Pie, No Bake Mini Cheesecakes, 

One Bowl Chocolate Fudge (with four variations),  Triple Dipped Treats,

German Sweet Chocolate Pie, Caribbean Fudge Pie, Praline Dream Pie, 

Spiced Cranberry Orange Mold, Holiday Poke Cake,

Coconut Candy Bar Cake, Coconut Snowballs, and Baker's Best Macaroons.

This certainly puts me in the baking mood!  What about you?

The Christmas Bazaar

 

What do handmade aprons,

festive crocheted hot mats,

delicate spritz cookies,

star shaped dishcloths,

decorations crafted from old Christmas cards,

 seasonal pot holders,

and fudge have in common?  These are all things one might find at a Christmas bazaar.

 Back in the day many funds were raised for good or charitable causes by way of Christmas bazaars.  One of the definitions for the noun "bazaar" in my dictionary is " a fundraising sale of goods, typically for charity".

Nowadays, bazaars are often called craft fairs or Christmas fairs (in fact, my childhood memories are of a church Christmas fair, rather than a bazaar). These events are often held in October or November with the idea that shoppers can find Christmas gifts or decorations to purchase.  I'm sure the one I remember was held in December, and people would often buy fudge, cookies, etc. to serve their holiday guests.

What got me thinking about this again was an article by Leathea Marie Jones in Decorating & Craft Ideas September 1978 featuring ideas for simple crafts one could sell at a Christmas bazaar.  It began, “Everyone loves a bazaar and half the fun of planning or attending is browsing for ideas.  So, browse away in our Christmas Bazaar to find those ‘just right’ gifts for  friends and family and take note of fund-raising items for your own bazaar.”  

This brought a memory back to me of how I always made one or more homemade ornaments for my aunt Dot for her December birthday — and how she often borrowed my ideas for her and her friends to make for their church Christmas bazaar the following year. I have a few thank-you notes from her in which she thanked me for sharing craft ideas and patterns with her.   It was all such fun — and one time, that I remember, my mother and I, and maybe one or both of my daughters, ventured up to that bazaar, about an hour away from us.  We had such a good time.

All of this prompted an idea for me for my Christmas blog, maybe a monthly or a month-long feature of bazaar type ideas.  I could feature small sewed or crochet items, along with recipes for fudge and cookies and other salable baked goods.

Who knows if I will go anywhere with this idea, but it sounds fun to me.  We will see!