Kitchen Tip Tuesday

Holiday Baking Tips

1. ALWAYS wear an apron or clothes you don't care about. Inevitably, you will probably get something on you that will stain your clothes. I have several outfits I now have to wear for baking/cooking because I stained them previously while cooking/baking.
2. Use parchment paper. I realize this may not be frugal, but you CAN reuse the same pieces over and over. It makes it much easier. You don't have to spray your cookie sheets with cooking spray or butter them! You also don't get that left over cookie film to scrape off all the time.
3. Let your cookies sit for a couple of minutes before trying to move them to a cooling rack or waxed paper to cool.
4. Start baking early. The holiday season is hectic enough. Almost all goodies--fudge, cookies, peanut clusters, candy can be frozen and will thaw nicely.
5. Think ahead to what you will need goodies for, make a list and then divide up your goodies appropriately before you freeze them and then mark the container.
6. If you like to give away goodies as Christmas gifts, keep your eye out during the year for nice containers for cheap to give them away in. I like to buy china or tins at second hand stores. This year I was able to pick up a 4 place setting of Christmas dishes for $2.50 at a garage sale. I've put goodies on them and given them away as gifts.
7. Another cheap way to package goodies is in a ziploc bag placed inside a decorative lunch sack. They have them at Christmas time for a quarter, or better yet, you can buy lunch bags, decorate them yourself, punch holes for a ribbon and have just as pretty a container!
8. Listen to something you enjoy. My kids were gone while I was doing some of my baking, so I listened to Anne of Avonlea on my phone. It was more fun to bake "with Anne".
9. For more great kitchen tips, visit: www.tammysrecipes.com/node/3066

Weekend Recap

Had a nice relaxing weekend. Baked 20 dozen cookies, which sounds like a lot, but when I realize how many places they need to go, they suddenly don't seem like so many! Also made another batch of peanut clusters and a batch of fudge. I managed most of this while listening to Anne of Avonlea and then Anne of the Island. I stayed up late last night and finally got Gilbert and Anne together. I couldn't start the week with them still not together!!! Managed to take a short nap yesterday while listening to Anne of the Island and even painted my nails. :o) Haven't had a chance to just relax in awhile. I probably really didn't have the time yesterday, but decided to do it anyway and ignore all the things calling my name for a little while. :o)

Have a great week, everyone.

I know I posted this last year, but still get a chuckle from it, so had to post it again. :o)

The wife was on my case to get the Christmas lights up for a couple of weeks. They're up now, and for some reason she won't talk to me...

Philippians 4:8--Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.

As the Christmas season approaches, I thought I would focus on a few names of Christ.

Emmanuel

Matthew 1:23--Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

It is so great to have a God who is with us and helping us throughout our life!

Only Begotten

John 1:14--And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

It amazes me that God would leave a perfect place in Heaven and come to the imperfect earth to be despised, rejected and then beaten and crucified for me so that someone as imperfect as I could go to Heaven.

Recap

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a nice quiet Thanksgiving with our family. On Friday we braved Walmart about 11am and it wasn't too bad. Got a lot of Christmas baking done and got the house decorated for Christmas. Also finished 5 gifts that I was making, only have about 5 more to go. :o) On Saturday, I had some friends over to make Christmas cards. We had a nice afternoon and evening.

Just a FYI, I can no longer access my e-mail at work, so if anyone e-mails me during the day, I won't be able to post the comment until I return home. I used to check my e-mail when I was on hold or during my break, but we are not longer allowed to do that. We ARE supposed to find another way to take breaks, so this could be fun. :o) Cot is at the top of my list right now. The mall is also across the street, maybe I could learn to shop in fast forward. I also thought about seeing if I could save up my breaks and leave early on Fridays. :o)

Think on These Things Thursday

Philippians 4:8--Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.

Thanksgiving Thoughts--Part Two

When should we give thanks?
In every circumstance. (God does not tell us to be thankful for everything, but to have a thankful spirit in every circumstance, including mountain tops and valleys! It is easy to forget to be thankful and take things for granted on mountain tops. It is easy to complain and whine in the valley. We should have a thankful spirit in every circumstance!)

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God

During our prayer time.

Psalms 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving...

Continually; habitually.

Hebrews 13:15--By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

For what should we give thanks?

For His goodness and mercy (forgiveness).

1 Chronicles 16:34-35 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.

For His protection.

2 Samuel 22:49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

For the wonders of creation and life.

Psalms 139:14 I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are thy works...
For food, drink and other provisions.

The secret of maintaining a grateful heart is contentment.

Thank him daily.

Psalms 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits...
Thank him no matter what happens.
Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

1 Timothy 6:6, 8 But godliness with contentment is great gain.... And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee...

Kids...

Last night "T", "E" and I went to the grocery store. I love to take at least two kids shopping with me--one to push the cart and one to hold the used coupons. When I go by myself, I feel like I need a couple more pairs of hands!!! So nice of the kids to provide them for me, along with great conversation. :o)

We completed our shopping, learning along the way that coupons don't always save you money, though it was very disappointing not to use the syrup coupon. (They also think it is silly that we have to buy syrup when homemade tastes so much better, but the master of the house doesn't care for homemade because it is too thin).

When we went to put the groceries in the trunk of the car, which my husband has mainly been driving for work, there was a Wal-Mart bag with three boxes of Little Debbies in it. Horror of Horrors!!! The kids were appalled that Daddy would buy such junk! (No, I am not making this up, they have apparently been well taught along the way. :o) I think they were also appalled that he would buy such junk and then NOT SHARE!!!! We had quite the conversation on the way home. They were plotting ways to hide it, etc. "E" suggested hiding it in the basement to rot, then "T" pointed out that that would be wasting Dad's money, to which "E" replied, "He already did!" When we got home they confronted Dad with the evidence, and reminded of how unhealthy they were. To which he replied, "Those are for my lunches, I also bought water, that's good for me." Interestingly, the Little Debbies are open, the 24 bottles of water packaging is not. Hmmmmm.