Merry Christmas!!

 

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." 

Luke 2:11

Gingerbread Pancakes

Last year on Christmas morning I tried out a recipe for gingerbread waffles and they turned out super yummy. You can find the recipe for the waffles at Annie's Eats. This year I wanted to try some gingerbread pancakes I found via The Judicial Peach. It's a wonderful recipe, too. What kinds of breakfasts foods do you like to make on Christmas morning? I would love to know. =)

Fun Winter Breakfast

 

We had a pretty big snowfall a few weeks ago here in Colorado and I thought it would be fun to have a 'winter' breakfast for the kids. I found the idea via Pretty Pink Tulips. They used chocolate chips for the eyes, nose and buttons but I used blueberries instead. The snowman was pretty simple to make. I just used a batter bottle and made the outline of the snowman on the hot griddle and then filled the rest of him in. I have a Martha Stewart batter bottle but you can also reuse an empty ketchup bottle for your pancake batter. I first saw that idea on Real Simple. 

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Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags

Tis the season for wrapping presents! I found a free printable sheet of gift tags via Skip to my Lou. They are simply adorable. If you're in need of some tags check these freebies out here.

Tebow Mic'd Up vs Bears 2011

When I was trying to think of blog names I just couldn't get away from 'Delightfully Random' because I do like to post random things. ;) So, from recipes to Tim Tebow, here we go. ha!
We just recently moved to Colorado a few months ago and believe me...people here LOVE the Broncos and Tim Tebow! I've even been thinking about getting my 2 1/2 year old son a number 15 football jersey. =) I came across an article and video on "Encouraging Words" a blog by Cary Schmidt that I really enjoyed. Here is what Pastor Cary says:

"This past Sunday evening, I watched in awe as ESPN commentators literally fall speechless. Then they resorted to words like “magical” and phrases like, “something much bigger at play here” to try to describe what happened in the Denver game vs. Chicago. The Broncos came back to win a game that anyone would have called unwin-able.

Now, I don’t believe that God really cares who wins an NFL football game. But I do believe that God honors those that honor Him—and this video reveals that Tim Tebow really does have a real relationship with Christ and a genuine compassion for others. There’s no doubt in my mind that God has given Tebow a platform to exalt Christ—and He’s only enlarging that platform for His own glory.

This clip is a collection of clips of Tebow on mic during the game. It’s amazing, convicting, and well worth watching. It’s a life-lesson on Christlikeness, leadership, and many other scriptural character traits. If every Christian had this kind of personal relationship with Christ—the world would be radically different.

Enjoy the clip!"

Old-Time Popcorn Balls

Are you looking for Christmas snack ideas, neighbor gifts, party foods or just a yummy recipe? These popcorn balls were super quick and easy to make. 

 Ingredients

2 quarts popped popcorn

1/2 cup molasses

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup water

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 tablespoon butter

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Directions 

Place popcorn in a large bowl and set aside. In a large heavy saucepan, combine the molasses, sugar, water, vinegar and butter. Cook, without stirring, over medium heat until the mixture reaches 235 degrees on a candy thermometer (soft-ball stage). Add baking soda and stir well. 

Remove from heat and immediately pour over popcorn, stirring gently with a wooden spoon until well coated. When cool enough to handle, quickly shape into 3-in. balls, dipping hands in cool water to prevent the syrup from sticking. Yield: 6-8 servings
Don't forget to wrap them up with some festive ribbon. ;)

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Rudolph the Red Nose...Cupcakes

 

These cupcakes are so easy to throw together and so fun to take to a Christmas party or just have for your family. I made these for a Christmas party for school-aged kids and they were a hit! The kids had a blast eating and playing around with them. ;) 

What you'll need:

• Unsalted pretzels 
• Nilla Wafers
• Brown M&Ms
• Red Hots
• White Frosting
• Your favorite chocolate frosting
• Your favorite cupcake recipe (or I just used a Betty Crocker cake mix to save time)
• A festive cupcake liner (I found these red and green ones at Walmart)

After you bake your cupcakes and frost them you can start the assembling. I put a little white frosting behind the eyes and behind the red nose to make them stand out. The hardest part of the decorating might be breaking the pretzels just right to make them look like antlers. They don't have to be perfect. Just have fun! 

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Felt Ball Garland

 My daughter has a mini Christmas tree for her room. Every year we try to do something different to it. I found the cutest felt ball garland via Oh Happy Day . It is absolutely adorable. I found a package of about 20 felt balls (2cm sized) on Etsy . At Hobby Lobby I bought some dmc black coton perle thread and a needle big and fat enough for pushing through a felt ball (I used a yarn needle). Check back soon to see some other handmade ornaments we are going to add to her little tree.

 

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Teacher Gift

We just finished up a ladies bible study at my church and I wanted to give a little something to the two teachers we had. I found a free gift tag printable via Tip Junkie. She has gift tags, thank you cards and much more you can print off for free. I got the "You're so Berry Sweet" tag and tied it to a little package with some Sweet Pea lotion and wash and chocolate, of course. ;) There are a million teacher gift ideas on Pinterest as well.

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Comfort food

My daughter loves this cold snowy weather

So, this last week here in Loveland, CO its pretty much stayed in the 20's and 30's and dipped into the teens at night. I think Tuesday night it got down to -4. Ouch. So, needless to say I've been busy searching for warm supper ideas on Pinterest. Here are some of my favorite recipes I've tried in the last week. Definitely repeating each of these.

White Bean Soup with Bacon

Slow cooker Mac and Cheese

Potato and corn chowder

It's almost Christmas...

I'm a little behind with my posting but better late than never. =) We've been busy decorating the house, going to Christmas parties, baking cookies and enjoying this time of year! It sure helps living in Colorado and having snow on the ground to put you in the Christmas spirit. This year we ventured out and got a real Christmas tree. The kids loved picking the 'perfect one' and its been less upkeep than I expected.

 

I found a really neat website that has step by step instructions on how to take glowing pictures of your tree. You can check it out here.

In this rental home there is no fireplace and mantel (which I really miss) but we made a temporary mantel with some pieces purchased at Ikea totaling $16.

You can have this printable too! A friend found it on Pinterest and I just love this verse! It's available in blue tones or red tones like the one below, here.

I love filling vases with different seasonal items. For Christmas I like using faux snow and glittery pine cones along with some cranberries.

I tried to add more white accents to our tree and absolutely love the Smith & Hawken ornaments that Target is carrying this year. Here are some of my new favorite ornaments.

I'll finish off this post with some more decor around our home. I hope you all have enjoyed putting up your Christmas decorations as we have. I love this time of year!

 

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The Nester

 

Perfect Pumpkin Pie

This is by far the best recipe for pumpkin pie, ever! Cooks Illustrated has it right with this one. We tried it out for the first time last Thanksgiving and this year we knew just what recipe to use again. It has just the right balance of flavors. It's not too spicy like many and it's so creamy. I use a different recipe for the crust though. The Cooks use vodka in their crust because it makes it more flaky and there is no way I'm buying vodka for a pie crust or at any time. ha! I used Aunt Alora's Pie crust from LeAnn over at The Modest Homestead.

That recipe called for a cup of shortening and a cup of butter for the crust but I didn't have shortening on hand so I just used 2 cups of butter and it turned out delicious.
I also used a mini pumpkin pie crust cutter from Williams Sonoma to adorn the edge of the pie. WS sells a set with a pumpkin, leaf, acorn and turkey in their cookie cutter set here.

COOK'S ILLUSTRATED Pumpkin Pie

Filling

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup whole milk

3 large eggs plus 2 large yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree

1 cup drained candied yams from 15-ounce can 

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup maple syrup

2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon table salt

Instructions

While pie shell is baking, whisk cream, milk, eggs, yolks, and vanilla together in medium bowl. Combine pumpkin puree, yams, sugar, maple syrup, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in large heavy-bottomed saucepan; bring to sputtering simmer over medium heat, 5 to 7 minutes. Continue to simmer pumpkin mixture, stirring constantly and mashing yams against sides of pot, until thick and shiny, 10 to 15 minutes. 

Remove pan from heat and whisk in cream mixture until fully incorporated. Strain mixture through fine-mesh strainer set over medium bowl, using back of ladle or spatula to press solids through strainer. Re-whisk mixture and transfer to warm pre-baked pie shell. Return pie plate with baking sheet to oven and bake pie for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 300 degrees and continue baking until edges of pie are set (instant-read thermometer inserted in center registers 175 degrees), 20 to 35 minutes longer. Transfer pie to wire rack and cool to room temperature, 2 to 3 hours. Cut into wedges and serve.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

If you are going to be one of the many cooks in the kitchen today...remember not to get stressed and Happy Thanksgiving!