Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Love came down at Christmas,

Love all lovely, Love Divine;

Love was born at Christmas;

Star and angels gave the sign.

~Christina Rossetti

First off, Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus! This Christmas means so much more to me than years past. Each Christmas my love for Christ becomes stronger (since becoming a Christian) but this year is different. Maybe because we are having a baby and I have a new understanding of how I cant even begin to fathom God's love for us. There is no one on earth I love enough to sacrifice my daughter, yet that is exactly what God did for us. He gave us the most unbelievable gift on this special day. May we always have Christ in our hearts and praise God for this glorious day!



 30 weeks & 1 day - 12.24.10

So excited to be on the downhill stretch! 10 or so weeks left to go before we get to meet our little girl.

 My Christmas puppies - Reagan & Riley

Our last Christmas just us two.

Crinkle-top Chocolate Cookies

These cookies are moist and fudgy. Super simple to make and absolutely delicious! I have to limit Steve and freeze most to last until my Christmas gift baskets.

* 2 c (12 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
* 2 T softened butter
* 1 c sugar
* 2 egg whites
* 1.5 tsp vanilla
*1.5 c flour
*1.5 tsp baking powder
* 1/4 tsp salt
* 1/4 c water
* 1/2 c powdered sugar

1. Microwave 1 c of chocolate chips until melted. Stir until smooth, set aside. In med bowl, beat butter and sugar until lumpy. Add egg whites and vanilla, beat well. Add melted choclate.
2. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add to butter mix, alternating with water. Stir in remaining 1 c chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
3. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in powdered sugar. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 350* for 10-12 min. Let cool on wire racks.

*** I recently recieved a "Tast of Home - Best Loved Cookies and Candies 2010" cooking magazine, which is where I found this recipe. Thought I would give a shoutout since this isnt an original recipe. :) Many more to come!

Today I Made: Candycane Kiss Sugar Cookies

I was planning to bake sugar cookies tonight, and while waiting for the dentist, I had the idea of adding smashed candycanes to the dough and a candycane kiss on top. Who would have thought the dentist would give me such a sweet idea!

Hershey Candycane Kisses (1 bag)

6 smashed candycanes

2/3 c. butter

3/4 c. sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg

1 TBS milk

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. flour

1. Smash candycanes - I double bagged 6 canes and had my hubby smash in garage with hammer. :) You want them like fine flakes. Not too mush powder and not chunky.

2. In a large mixing bowl beat butter on med. speed for 30 seconds.

3. Add sugar, baking powder and salt. Beat until blended.

4. Add egg, milk and vanilla. Beat until blended.

5. Beat in candycane until blended.

6. Beat in flour. If it becomes hard to beat use wooden spoon for rest.

7. Chill dough for at least 30 min.

8. Preheat oven to 375*. Roll dough into 1/5" balls. (use flour on your palms!)

9. Bake for 9-11 mins, or until very bottom edges are brown. Unwrap kisses while baking.

10. Let sit on tray for 1 min. Press Kiss into center of cookie. Remove immediately and let cool on wire wracks.