She's been shopping for months. She's been planning special family outings. She's been volunteering to help with her kids' class parties. She's thoughtfully decked the halls of her home. She's baked enough to feed a small army. She's enjoyed quiet evenings by the fire with candles burning and the uplifting sounds of Christmas music wafting through the air. She's noticed the magic that catches under the wings of all those around her, and finds it rejuvenating, refreshing, comforting... one purpose that binds us, everyone. But now, 3 days post Christmas it has all come to a screeching halt. Everyone has forgotten Christmas cheer. The radio station is back to playing easy listening muzac. The stores are filling up with Valentine's candy. The neighbors are taking down their lights and dumping their Christmas trees out by the curb.
She pauses in front of the nativity scene on display in her home. She thinks of ways to carry on the spirit of Christmas throughout the year, because this kind of joy can be found outside of gifts and lights and frosted sugar cookies. It should resonate in our hearts every day of the year. We can make more time to gather around and read from Luke. We can gather more often at the dinner table and enjoy a bounteous meal. Our homes can always be a made to feel warm and inviting. And there certainly needs to be no reason for giving to others.
As she contemplates where to begin, which ornaments or Christmas tree to pack up first, her heart feels lighter now. She thinks of the New Year and the possibilities it holds for more dedicated family time, service to others, and meditation on her many blessings...
28 December 2009
24 December 2009
23 December 2009
Butcher, baker, candlestick maker...
Okay, so maybe I have only done the latter 2, but I've been a baking fool today. 11 loaves of bread kneaded and baked with my own 2 hands.
I cannot help but think of my mother when I bake. It's not even that I remember her baking a ton, it's that baking - especially bread - reminds me that I come from a long line of women that provided for their family in the graceful way that only a woman can do. And amongst all the domestic things I do, baking is the most empowering and enjoyable. I feel more like a "domestic goddess" when I bake than say, do laundry. And not because I am trying to achieve some "Stepford Wife" status but because the goods that come out of the oven are truly appreciated, and they are truly a sign of my affection for my family (and friends) and my devotion to being a nurturer.
So here are 2 recipes that might help you define yourself as more of a domestic goddess.
Oatmeal Bread
2T + 1t yeast
1c warm water
2t sugar
Combine and let stand for 10 minutes.
Add 4 eggs and mix for 5 minutes on medium speed with beater.
In separate bowl with a dough hook, combine:
3 c hot water
2 c rolled oats
1 c molasses
1 c minus 1T shortening
2T salt
*Of about 12 1/2 c flour - add enough to make a thin, smooth batter.
Let rest 10 minutes.
Again using dough hook, combine yeast mixture with oatmeal mixture.
Add remaining flour in small amounts until dough is no longer too sticky to handle, and smooth. I need by hand for at least 10 minutes, you can also use a mixer if you have one that is large enough.
Let dough rise until double in bulk (1 - 1 1/2 hrs.)
Portion into 5 loaves and place in prepared greased pans. Cut slits on each loaf, brush with vegetable oil and sprinkle with some oats. Let rise again until double in bulk.
Bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes or until evenly browned.
I make 2 large loaves and 6 small for giving away. For the small loaves: 15-17 minutes. For the large loaves: 28 minutes.
My mother-in-law's Cinnamon Bread
1c milk
1/4c shortening
1/4c sugar
1t salt
1T yeast
1/4c warm water
1 egg beaten lightly
3 1/2 - 4c flour
This is a small recipe, it makes 1 large loaf. If you want to make many loaves I suggest doing 4 times the recipe, which yields 6 medium sized loaves. But only use 3T yeast, not 4.
Activate the yeast in a large bowl with the warm water. Over stove, scald your milk. This is necessary in helping your dough rise. Add shortening and let melt over low heat. Add sugar and salt and let dissolve. Cool. Add beaten egg, and let cool some more... just enough that it won't kill your yeast. Add to yeast. Transfer to a bowl, unless you have a dutch oven sized pan you can scald you milk in. Add flour until you can handle the dough, about 5 minutes. Grease a large bowl or transfer to a greased bowl and let rise until double in bulk, 1- 1/2 hours.
Punch down. Let rest for 10 minutes.
Roll out into a rectangle about 14-16 inches long and about the width of a bread pan (obviously you will need to divide the dough first if you are making more than 1 loaf). Brush with milk and a mixture of :
1/4c sugar
1 1/2t cinnamon
Roll up jelly roll style lengthwise. Put into a well greased large bread pan and let rise another hour. Brush top with cooled, melted butter and sprinkle with more sugar/cinnamon mixture.
Bake a 350 for about 40 minutes. Remove from pan immediately.
ENJOY!!!
I cannot help but think of my mother when I bake. It's not even that I remember her baking a ton, it's that baking - especially bread - reminds me that I come from a long line of women that provided for their family in the graceful way that only a woman can do. And amongst all the domestic things I do, baking is the most empowering and enjoyable. I feel more like a "domestic goddess" when I bake than say, do laundry. And not because I am trying to achieve some "Stepford Wife" status but because the goods that come out of the oven are truly appreciated, and they are truly a sign of my affection for my family (and friends) and my devotion to being a nurturer.
So here are 2 recipes that might help you define yourself as more of a domestic goddess.
Oatmeal Bread
2T + 1t yeast
1c warm water
2t sugar
Combine and let stand for 10 minutes.
Add 4 eggs and mix for 5 minutes on medium speed with beater.
In separate bowl with a dough hook, combine:
3 c hot water
2 c rolled oats
1 c molasses
1 c minus 1T shortening
2T salt
*Of about 12 1/2 c flour - add enough to make a thin, smooth batter.
Let rest 10 minutes.
Again using dough hook, combine yeast mixture with oatmeal mixture.
Add remaining flour in small amounts until dough is no longer too sticky to handle, and smooth. I need by hand for at least 10 minutes, you can also use a mixer if you have one that is large enough.
Let dough rise until double in bulk (1 - 1 1/2 hrs.)
Portion into 5 loaves and place in prepared greased pans. Cut slits on each loaf, brush with vegetable oil and sprinkle with some oats. Let rise again until double in bulk.
Bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes or until evenly browned.
I make 2 large loaves and 6 small for giving away. For the small loaves: 15-17 minutes. For the large loaves: 28 minutes.
My mother-in-law's Cinnamon Bread
1c milk
1/4c shortening
1/4c sugar
1t salt
1T yeast
1/4c warm water
1 egg beaten lightly
3 1/2 - 4c flour
This is a small recipe, it makes 1 large loaf. If you want to make many loaves I suggest doing 4 times the recipe, which yields 6 medium sized loaves. But only use 3T yeast, not 4.
Activate the yeast in a large bowl with the warm water. Over stove, scald your milk. This is necessary in helping your dough rise. Add shortening and let melt over low heat. Add sugar and salt and let dissolve. Cool. Add beaten egg, and let cool some more... just enough that it won't kill your yeast. Add to yeast. Transfer to a bowl, unless you have a dutch oven sized pan you can scald you milk in. Add flour until you can handle the dough, about 5 minutes. Grease a large bowl or transfer to a greased bowl and let rise until double in bulk, 1- 1/2 hours.
Punch down. Let rest for 10 minutes.
Roll out into a rectangle about 14-16 inches long and about the width of a bread pan (obviously you will need to divide the dough first if you are making more than 1 loaf). Brush with milk and a mixture of :
1/4c sugar
1 1/2t cinnamon
Roll up jelly roll style lengthwise. Put into a well greased large bread pan and let rise another hour. Brush top with cooled, melted butter and sprinkle with more sugar/cinnamon mixture.
Bake a 350 for about 40 minutes. Remove from pan immediately.
ENJOY!!!
Like drinking liquid chocolate...
This is the hard stuff. ;)
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup whole milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
5 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
PREPARATION:
Simmer the milk, cream and sugar together until just boiling. Stir in the chocolate until melted. Don't let it boil.
Warning - very rich. I've used coconut milk in the place of the heavy cream, it's less fattening but everything is relative when you are talking about drinking chocolate like it's water. Lol. I also dilute half a mug with 1%milk, so ratio milk:hot chocolate is 1:1.
YUM!
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup whole milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
5 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
PREPARATION:
Simmer the milk, cream and sugar together until just boiling. Stir in the chocolate until melted. Don't let it boil.
Warning - very rich. I've used coconut milk in the place of the heavy cream, it's less fattening but everything is relative when you are talking about drinking chocolate like it's water. Lol. I also dilute half a mug with 1%milk, so ratio milk:hot chocolate is 1:1.
YUM!
20 December 2009
In keeping with tradition...
I will repost my years old recording of Gesu Bambino. Got to play it again in church today... always puts me in the Christmas mood! Enjoy. :)
Gesu Bambino
Gesu Bambino
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