Scherenschnitte, the German Art of Paper Cutting
Living Nativity, Live Production with 13 Walk-through scenes from Creation to Jesus’ Ascension
Pizzelles
Chocolate Covered Dried Apricots
Gingerbread Cookies
. These two seemed to be making eyes at one another |
The Most Wonderful Gingerbread Cookies
Source: Food.com
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (optional)
Directions
Add molasses, vanilla, and lemon zest and continue to mix until well blended.
Gradually stir in dry ingredients until blended and smooth.
Divide dough in half and wrap each half in plastic and let stand at room temperature for at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours.
(Dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, but in this case it should be refrigerated. Return to room temp before using.) Preheat oven to 375°.
Grease or line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Place 1 portion of the dough on a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle flour over dough and rolling pin. Roll dough to a scant 1/4-inch thick. Use additional flour to avoid sticking.
Cut out cookies with desired cutter– the ginger bread man is our favorite of course. Space cookies 1 1/2-inches apart.
Bake 1 sheet at a time for 7-10 minutes (the lower time will give you softer cookies).
Remove cookie sheet from oven and allow the cookies to stand until the cookies are firm enough to move to a wire rack.
After cookies are cool you may decorate them any way you like.
I usually brush them with a powdered sugar glaze when I am in a hurry, but they look wonderful decorated with Royal icing.
Sugar Cookie Icing
Dipping German Stars in Wax
Christmas Eve with the Munchkins
A Savior Has Been Born
Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace
Isaiah 9:6
~*~
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”
~*~
{this white Nativity is one of my most cherished Christmas items and is placed every year on the table in my foyer that I might not forget, in all of my busyness, why I celebrate this day}
Joining Cindy @ My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday.
ssshh… Gifts for the guys DIY Personalized Tile Coasters
The Sweet Shoppe
My Baby Girl, Abbey, Making Christmas Cookies
How Should A King Come? Even a child knows the answer of course.
Listen here to this BEAUTIFUL song.
Even a child knows the answer of course,
In a coach of gold with a pure white horse.
In the beautiful city in the prime of the day,
And the trumpets should cry and the crowds make way.
And the flags fly high in the morning sun,
And the people all cheer for the sovereign one.
And everyone knows that’s the way that it’s done.
That’s the way that a King should come.
How should a King come.
Even a commoner understands,
He should come for His treasures,
And His houses and lands.
He should dine upon summer strawberries and milk,
And sleep upon bedclothes of satin and silk.
And high on a hill His castle should glow,
With the lights of the city like jewels below.
And everyone knows that’s the way that it’s done,
That’s the way that a King should come.
How should a King come.
On a star filled night into Bethlehem,
Rode a weary woman and a worried man.
And the only sound in the cobblestone street,
Was the shuffle and the ring of their donkey’s feet.
And a King lay hid in a virgin’s womb,
And there were no crowds to see Him come.
At last in a barn in a manger of hay,
He came and God incarnate lay.
And the angels cried “glory glory to God”.
Earth was silent so heaven rang!
“Glory glory to God.”
Men were dumb so the angels sang,
“Glory glory to God,
Peace on earth good will to men,
Glory glory to God”.
(Carol and Jimmy Owens)
Words by Carol Owens, music by Jimmy Owens / arr. Tom Fettke, orch. Michael Lawrence. Choral Octavo. SAB. A majestic Christmas march! Tom Fettke has arranged Jimmy and Carol Owens’ powerful chorus with solid choral writing and colorful sequencing keys that respond to the magical poetry of the text: King Jesus will come, not in splendor, but in a humble manger in Bethlehem. A timeless masterpiece, certain to become a seasonal favorite!
Watercolor Christmas Church
Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop’s Workshop
♥ LOVE ♥
is not in short supply
so…
It’s gonna be a homespun Christmas!
Church Christmas Living Nativity “I Know That Wiseman!”
Our family has greatly enjoyed helping in many capacities from baking cookies (up to 50,000 are served each year), including running a projector, being a guide, a greeter, a “mingler”, helping to set-up/take-down, helping in costumes and being a cast member.
For many years my husband was a wiseman. In this scene, the three Magi enter from the right to inquire of Herod “where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him”.
After leaving Herod, the wisemen circle around the back of the scene and re-enter on the left where they knock on the door of a carpenter and his wife. The curtain is drawn aside and the toddler Jesus emerges with his mother, Mary.