New Year's Eve Appetizer

Wow-I can't believe tomorrow is New Year's Eve already! How can that be!? If you're looking for a quick and easy dish to make for a gathering-here's one that's pretty tasty (and somewhat healthy too!)

Spinach Balls

20 oz. chopped, frozen spinach (or 3 c. cooked and drained) (I like the 16 oz frozen bags from Trader Joes)

6 eggs, beaten

3/4 c. melted butter

2 1/2 c. bread crumbs

1 c. parmesan cheese

1 c. mozzarella or other cheese blend

1 c. chopped onion

1 t. garlic salt

½ t. thyme

½ t. pepper

1 T parsley

1 t. oregano

Optional: about 5-8 strips cooked bacon, cut into small bits (mmm makes them very tasty! I've also used sausage) you can add chopped mushrooms and or chopped peppers too!

Directions: Mix ingredients. Shape into balls (I use my cookie dough baller) and place on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Serve warm with dipping sauce-I love them with ranch!

Happy Merry Christmas Day!

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

written by Charles Wesly

Zechariah's Song

I've come across this passage a couple of times this past week and wanted to share it. It really gives me a picture of the overwhelming joy and relief Zechariah must have felt as God answered his promise and prayers through the birth of the long awaited Messiah. And this much anticipated babe came to redeem us too today, thousands of years later! Praise God!

Luke 1:67-79

⁶⁷His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

⁶⁸"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come and has redeemed his people.
⁶⁹He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
⁷⁰(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
⁷¹salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
⁷²to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
⁷³the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
⁷⁴to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
⁷⁶And you, my child, (John) will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
⁷⁷to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
⁷⁸because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
⁷⁹to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace." (love that!)

Christmas Cookies

Part of our family's Christmas tradition is baking rolled out sugar cookies. Last year I shared a recipe, but since then (for other holidays and major events:) I've been using a different one that uses cream cheese and almond flavoring. It's my new favorite! I still ice and decorate with butter cream icing.

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup white sugar

1 cup butter, softened

3 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg yolk

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, butter, cream cheese, salt, almond and vanilla extracts, and egg yolk. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour until well blended. Chill the dough for 8 hours, or overnight.

2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

3. On a floured surface, roll out the dough 1/3 at a time to 1/8 inch thickness, refrigerating remaining dough until ready to use. (It gets very sticky! I have to use lots of flour!) Cut into desired shapes with lightly floured cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Leave cookies plain for frosting, or brush with slightly beaten egg white and sprinkle with candy sprinkles or colored sugar.

4. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until light and golden brown. Cool cookies completely before frosting.

ButterCream Frosting

1/3 c. butter, softened

3 c. sifter powdered sugar

2 tbs milk

1 ½ t. vanilla

Sift flour and blend into other ingredients.

So Thankful!

We're so thankful for our spunky and energetic bundle of boy and all the love and joy he adds to our life. What a sweet gift from our Heavenly Father!

B & his Mimi

B and his "Mina" (a.k.a Grandma!) I now understand why so many Grandparents go by other names! "Grand-ma" is too complex! :)

He loved loved loved playing, crunching, and running in all the beautiful leaves. We had such incredible weather this fall too-what a gorgeous time of year!

"Bye Bye!"