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!

Delicious Lemon Bread

I finally perfected the icing! (Inspired by Starbucks Lemon Loaf  icing that I LOVE!) And since it is that time of year, get ready for lots of new recipes!

LEMON BREAD:

* 1 3/4 c flour

* 3/4 c sugar

* 2 tsp baking powder

* 1/4 tsp salt

* 1 egg

* 1 c. milk

* 1/4 c. cooking oil

* 2 tsp fine lemon peel shredded

* 1 T lemon juice

1. Grease 8x4x2 bread pan. Set aside. In medium bowl stir flour, sugar, baking poweder and salt.

2. In another medium bowl (or kitchenaid mixer) combine egg, milk, oil, lemon peel and juice. Either add to flour mix or add flour mix to kitchenaid mixer on low speed. Stir/mix until moist but still slightly lumpy. Pour into pan.

3. Bake 350* for 50-55 min. Let cool in pan on wire rack 10 min, then on wire rack. **Let cool completely before adding icing.\

ICING:

1c. & 1T powdered suger

2 T milk

1/2 tsp lemon extract (or 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice)