Monday, December 4, 2017

From Me to You for Christmas

December already. Christmas loons. I really want to give my lovely readers something. I’ve run out of gold bars and the grandkids have claimed all the cookies. I could blibber blabber on and on about the true meaning of Christmas but the little kid in me just whapped me upside the head and said, “Um - no”. So I’ll listen to her and offer something light as a kind of respite should you need it. Here it is - my Christmas gift to you. 



A Christmas Carol – I found the whole movie on Youtube and watched it the other day. This one is from 1984 and stars George C. Scott as Scrooge. Two scenes moved me in particular. Marley’s ghost shows up early on and is horrifying. One gets the feeling that his message about the chain we forge in life is true. Made me shiver. And then at the crux of the story, Scrooge, having received his spectral visitors on a cold Christmas Eve, gets it. When George C wakes, his joy at his own salvation is awesome to behold. It made me want to sing and shout. Here’s the link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI5UWo7NCdY

“Mary Did You Know” – I think she did at the end. And here’s 

John Rutter: Oh, my stars. No wonder the queen knighted him. I love all of his Christmas offerings but one of the newest “All Bells in Paradise” touches the heart in a stunning way. The sentiments expressed here are most certainly true. They just have to be.


For a bit of fun I direct your full attention to these.

1.    “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey.
2.    Christmas Vacation the movie. Really
3.    A Charlie Brown Christmas.
4.    “Baby It’s Cold Outside” This version is a hoot.



What Christmas is not.

Magical – Save that for Disney movies
A Time for Family – Please  have that more than once a year.
A Time for Giving – Actually, it’s a time to think of what we were given. Jesus belongs to all of us.
(Okay - the whapping little kid didn't Totally dissuade me)

Next,a real treat. My Mom’s date nut bread recipe. It fills the house with “essence of Mom” every time I make it. I miss her. 

Christmas Date Nut Bread

1 package whole pitted dates
1 cup very hot water
¼ cup soft shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 2/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teasspoon salt
½ cup chopped walnuts

Chop the dates finely. Place in bowl and cover with hot water. Set aside.
Combine shortening, sugar, egg, and vanilla. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Add alternately to date mixture then add nuts.

Bake at 350 in greased and floured loaf pan for about an hour or until inserted paring knife comes out clean. (Mom used a paring knife instead of a toothpick - I can't explain it)

I’ll be back in January. I hope you enjoy my gift to you. I apologize if you were counting on a gold bar or a box of awesome cookies. Maybe next year? 

Merry Christmas!

Know the Reason
To love the season