Category: Christmas

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Honey Cake or Lebkuchen

For everyone looking for “Grampa’s” gingerbread house recipe–this is as close as we’ve been able to come and it works beautifully. The minced fruit and candied peel aren’t in here–but it was nasty anyway. So, your honey cake will probably NOT last until the Millennium…sorry. But dad also added things like powdered ammonia to some of his stuff and who even KNOWS what that was about? I can just hear him laughing his head off at us right now.

“Now, dear…it’s not gingerbread—it’s HONEYCAKE!”

I miss you, daddy. And all the secrets you took with you.  😀

Lebkuchen–Honey Cake

Ingredients:

3 cups sifted flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 cup corn syrup
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tsp grated lemon rind (optional)
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon water

Stir together first 6 ingredients. In 1-quart saucepan, bring corn syrup and sugar to a boil. Cool.

In a large bowl stir together corn syrup mixture, egg, and lemon juice. Gradually stir in flour mixture until well blended. Cover; chill 1 hour or until easy to handle.

Roll out dough 1/4 at a time to 1/4″ thickness onto a well greased cookie sheet.  Bake in 400°F oven 6-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheet immediately and place on rack. Cut into cookies or house pieces while it’s still warm.

If cutting into cookies, mix confectioners’ sugar and water. While still warm, brush with glaze.  Cool.

May be stored in tightly covered container for a dang long time.

Makes about 4 dozen.

Lebkuchen
 
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Ingredients
  • 3 cups sifted flour
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp ground allspice
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup corn syrup
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tsp grated lemon rind (optional)
  • ½ cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
  1. Stir together first 6 ingredients.
  2. In 1-quart saucepan, bring corn syrup and sugar to a boil. Cool.
  3. In a large bowl stir together corn syrup mixture, egg, and lemon juice.
  4. Gradually stir in flour mixture until well blended.
  5. Cover; chill 1 hour or until easy to handle.
  6. Roll out dough ¼ at a time to ¼" thickness onto a well greased cookie sheet.
  7. Bake in 400°F oven 6-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
  8. Remove from cookie sheet immediately and place on rack.
  9. Cut into cookies or house pieces while it's still warm.
  10. If cutting into cookies, mix confectioners' sugar and water.
  11. While still warm, brush with glaze. Cool.
  12. May be stored in tightly covered container for a dang long time.

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Chex Candy

Whips up quick–and makes a ton…

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Chex Candy

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups corn syrup

1-1/2 cups sugar

1 cup butter

1-1/2 tsp vanilla

1 box Chex cereal–Rice or Corn or both (1lb. 7 oz)

Cook first three ingredients together to full boil. Boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour over Chex and mix to coat all pieces. Spread on wax paper to cool.

I’ve heard of people adding dry roasted peanuts, or M&M’s, but we like it in it’s plain, unadulterated form. Call us purists.

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Serves a million and makes them very happy.


Chex Candy
 
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Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 cups corn syrup
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1-1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 box Chex cereal (1lb. 7 oz)
Instructions
  1. Cook first three ingredients together to full boil.
  2. Boil 2 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat and add vanilla.
  4. Pour over Chex and mix to coat all pieces.
  5. Spread on wax paper to cool.

 

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{ The Christmas Spirit }

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“Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God. During His earthly ministry, He taught men the higher law. His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world. He blessed the sick. He caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear. He even raised the dead to life. To us He has said, ‘Come, follow me.’

“As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him, we shall have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion always. We shall learn to forget ourselves. We shall turn our thoughts to the greater benefit of others”

Thomas S. Monson

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12 Days of Christmas

Years ago, I read an article called “Merry Christmas, The Symbols of the Season.”  It was very interesting. Don’t be afraid…I’ll paraphrase.

According to this article, there is a perfectly good reason why the song The 12 Days of Christmas doesn’t make any sense. It was actually being elusive on purpose.

It seems that in England, from 1558 until 1829 Roman Catholics were not allowed to practice their faith publicly and their religious symbols were banned. Someone in that era wrote a song to help their young children remember what they could not openly preach.  Although I, myself am not Catholic, and therefore don’t completely understand some of the terms, I think since we sing the song, and we love the song–we should also understand the song, and be respectful of it’s origin. I found it fascinating.

It breaks down like this…

“On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…” The “true love” referred to is God himself. The “me” is the church member who receives the gifts.

partridge1by John Coulter

1 Partridge in a Pear Tree    =   Jesus Christ-

Jesus is represented as a mother partridge because she would pretend to be injured to decoy a predator away from her nestlings. She was even willing to die for them.

 

2-trutle-doves
Artist Unknown

2 Turtle Doves    =   Old and New Testaments

three-french-hens

3 French Hens   =   Faith, Hope and Charity

4-calling-birdsBy Sarah Tyson

4 Calling Birds = Four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

5-gold-rings

by Judith Kall

5 Golden Rings   =   The First Five Books of the Old Testament

six-geese-a-laying

by Karmen

6 Geese a Laying   =   The 6 days of Creation

seven-swansby Bill Ewart Jr.

7 Swans a Swimming =   The Sevenfold Gifts of the Spirit-

wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.

 

tt_28306_eight-maids-a-milkingby Yvonne Earber

8 Maid a Milking   =   The Eight Beatitudes

nine-ladiesby bkinternet

9 Ladies Dancing =   Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit-

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control

 

10-lords-a-leapingby Brooks

10 Lords a Leaping   =   The Ten Commandments

11-pipers-piping-hetreauby The Plate Lady

11 Pipers Piping   =   Eleven Faithful Apostles

12-drummersImage found here

12 Drummers Drumming =   12 Beliefs in the Apostles Creed-

belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, made man, crucified, died and arose on the third day, that he sits at the right hand of the father and will come again, the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting.

Now then…don’t you feel smart?

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Books to Christmas By

Because I think I know so much, I’d like to show you some fabulous Christmas books that are big favorites around these parts. Now, because I’m terrifically old, some of these books may take some focus to find. But if you’re interested…I’ll try to help.

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1. “Silver Packages” by Cynthia Rylant

Daney-boy’s favorite. An Appalachian story of how kindness can change lives.

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2. “The Bird’s Christmas Carol”

Really old and really worth the search. It’s one of those stories about taking care of each other that they just don’t write anymore.

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3. “Dance in the Desert” by Madeleine L’engle

A mother, a husband, and a young son join a caravan to help them cross the desert to Egypt. If this book had no words–the illustrations are worth the read.

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4. This is the Star by Joyce Dunbar

Along the lines of the “House That Jack Built” in composition. But the illustrations by Gary Blythe (Whale’s Song) are frame worthy. Seriously.

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5. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski

Mine came with an audio CD which is fun, but I would miss the illustrations. Very moving, healing book.

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6. The Santa Claus Book

All I know is that my grown-up kids still love to read and laugh at this one. We’ve nearly worn our copy out. You’ll have to get this one from the library–or borrow mine. It has gone into the mysterious realm of “collectibles.”

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7.  “One Wintry Night” by Ruth Bell Graham

Written by Billy Graham’s wife.  Take a few evenings to enjoy this one. They even made Christmas cards out of some of these. She begins the Christmas story from the creation of the world. Wonderful, perfect approach.

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8. Countdown to Christmas by Bill Peet

Just silly enough to be a yearly family favorite. How can you beat a timeless line like, “A cool Christmas to all and a groovy New Year!” The library should have it.

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9. The Christmas Carol by Lewis Carol

This is a great way to get your kids hooked on a classic. The illustrations–again–are worth the price. Just read it.

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10. Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

We still love this one—couldn’t stand the movie–but the book remains one of our top favorites.

As you can see–I personally have a severe possession problem. But all you healthy people can most likely check these out at the library. That should keep your bedtimes busy until just about Christmas Eve. Woohoo!

Praying for snow…