Santa Was in the Mood for Singing

I ran into Santa when running errands the other day.

He was in a singing mood.

Seems like his arthritis is kicking in as I could hear the creaky noise as he swayed back and forth to the music.

Nonetheless, he is such a reliable old man, always there whenever Christmas rolls around. I wanted you to enjoy his singing and captured it on video...but I couldn't upload them before I left for my Christmas visit with family. As I left, Santa told me to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas as he is going to be rather busy over the next while.

"HO, HO, HO, Merry Christmas!"

Recipes for Christmas

When I was a young girl my mother would make something called dream bars. They were delicious. She got the recipe from the back of a Robin Hood Flour bag. I could not find the recipe any longer in the Robin Hood recipe archives on line but I have inherited the back of the flour bag with the recipe printed on it. I made several batches of these bars this week. One for eating and two for taking to Christmas eve and Christmas Day gatherings.

I have to admit that my version is not as tasty as my mother's. Mom was such a wonderful cook. I find that my base is not as melt in your mouth as her version was but it is still very good, I must hasten to add, lol. My guess is that mom used more butter than called for as she had an intuitive sense for what made a recipe better and she was well known for her fabulous cakes, pies and other goodies.

The other recipe I've provided here is for a type of yeast bread. I like this recipe because it is made in one bowl and doesn't seem to require as much rising time as other breads. I always look for easy recipes whenever I decide to cook or bake.

The bread recipe is from a cookbook entitled "Talk About Good!" which was published by the Junior League of Lafayette, Inc. in Louisiana (copyright 1969). I picked it up in a bookstore as I like the old timey recipes. I found the bread quite delicious in my taste test. It is slightly sweet and I think it will be a delicious addition to the Christmas dinner.  I'm sharing both recipes here as I think you will like them. Let me know if you try them yourself. Happy Baking!

Dream Bars  
Base:
1 1/2 cups of flour
1/4 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup soft butter

Measure flour into bowl. Add icing sugar and stir well to blend. Blend in butter with fingertips until mixture is mealy. Pat firmly into bottom of lightly greased 7" x 11" oblong pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes. Remove from oven.

Topping:

2 eggs
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Beat eggs well. Then add brown sugar and beat until well mixed. Stir in coconut, walnuts and vanilla. Spread mixture evenly over partially baked base.

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes or until golden. Cut into bars when cool.


One Bowl Bread


2/3 cup lukewarm water
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1 1/2 cup water or milk
1/2 cup cooking oil
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup sugar
4 to 5 cups flour

Dissolve yeast in a large bowl with water and let stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Add water or milk, cooking oil, salt, baking power and sugar. Stir until dissolved. Then add 1/2 cup flour at a time, stirring until a soft dough is formed and all the flour is blended. Stir dough with hands from side to center for about 3 minutes. Let rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes.

Slightly grease a 14 x 10 inch baking pan. Oil hands and pinch enough dough to make rolls or loaves kneading slightly with hands. Let rise again, approximately 45 minutes and place in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes. Grease top of rolls or loaves and continue cooking in 250 degree oven 30 minutes until bread is done.

Enjoy!

Christmas in Kericho

My friend Pastor Jonah of the Missions of Hope has been very busy leading up to Christmas.

This past week there was ministry to the children, hospital patients and prisoners, giving out food and drinks to those that cannot afford such things. It really warms my heart.

Here are a few photos

At the Rehabilitation Centre School.

At the hospital.
At the prison.
This weekend his church is having it's annual gathering to celebrate the birth of Christ with Christmas pageantry and music. Then early in the week he will be in leadership meetings before getting to celebrate Christmas with the villagers and his family. I am hoping they get to have a community gathering to share some food and give clothing to some of the neediest children and orphans. I wish I was there to celebrate this part with them as the needs of orphans and widows is very close to my heart.

Wishing you the joys of the season and much love and peace.

Christmas for IDPs in Kenya

Hi friends, my friend Pastor Jonah and other leaders are visiting the Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) this week in Kenya. They are trying to show love and provide some food to the people before Christmas. They have been doing what they can for the IDPs throughout the year whenever they can. At this time of seasonal cheer and loving others, let us try to keep our hearts open to those in need around the globe. Please read on. I'm sure your heart will be as touched as mine is. Blessings.

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We are going to visit the internally displaced people this week. God willing, we are gathering food from the villages and towns to feed these people who are living in makeshift camps.

These folks are living in deplorable conditions and need our help. We do hope to distribute what we got, and hope the government will come and help them somehow.

These are trying moments for our country, and we do hope to make some changes in their lives.

Please pray for these people. If you can, give to help these people. Otherwise many blessings over the blessed Christmas season. Pastor Jonah

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If you can help at all, please go here

What a Difference a Day Makes!

Rain, rain go away
Rain, rain go away
Come again another day
Little Johnny wants to play
Little Johnny wants to play

Do you ever remember singing this song as a child? Or perhaps you are a mother now and you sing these songs to your little ones. In case you've never heard it before, here is a link to the nursery song.

I was out and about taking pictures of the rain. It was such a sudden change that I wanted it to go away and let the snow fall for a few days more but it wasn't to be. One good thing about the rain though is that it brings warmer temperatures.