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Saturday, December 12, 2020

Peppermint Eggnog #recipe



  •  6 large eggs
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 Tbsp more sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pure peppermint extract
  • 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 12 peppermint candy canes, broken into pieces
  • 3 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • Peppermint sticks, for garnish


1.  Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Whisk together eggs, egg yolks, sugar, salt, and the extracts in large saucepan over medium-low heat until combined. Pour in milk slowly, whisking until fully incorporated. Raise heat to medium. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture registers 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 30 to 35 minutes.

2.  Pour milk mixture through a fine sieve into a medium bowl. Set bowl in ice-water bath; let mixture cool completely. Transfer custard to an airtight container, and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

3.  Pulse candy canes in a food processor until finely crushed. Sift in a strainer to discard dust. Transfer to a shallow dish.

4.  Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Let cool 5 minutes. Dip rim of each cup into melted chocolate, then crushed peppermint. Refrigerate until set, about 5 minutes.

5.  Remove custard from refrigerator; set aside. Put 1/2 c. cream into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; mix on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Fold into cold custard until combined. Fill cups with eggnog. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint, and garnish with peppermint sticks; serve and enjoy!

Source: Martha Stewart

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The Little Drummer Boy


 


Edward Hagar has went down in history as the Drummer Boy of Shiloh. Hagar was just a young lad when he saw the troops march down the main street of Whitehall. After watching the troops he promptly went home and packed his bags and joined up at a nearby camp in Carrolton Illinois. Perhaps had I not been from the area where he once lived I may not have known the story so well. 


This time of year one of my favorite songs is the Drummer Boy song. 



The Little Drummer Boy is a popular Christmas son. The song has become an American classical music and was first composed by Katherine K Davis in 1941. The Trapp Family Singers recorded the song in 1953. 




I hope you enjoy the music and have a learned a bit of history as well. If you enjoyed this post please leave me a comment

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Thursday, December 10, 2020

The Christmas Star

 

There are many symbols of Christmas maybe none more special than the star. The Christmas star symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem that guided the three kings or wise men to the baby Jesus. The star is also a symbol of prophecy fulfilled many years ago and the shining hope it offers to humanity. 





Side Note: 

While the light of the star offers the symbolism of Jesus and the light he brought into the world December 10th was a very special anniversary that celebrated human rights as well. In 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations met and adopted as well as proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document has been shared around the world and has been expressed in over 500 languages. 


The bright and morning star as many Christians call Jesus it is the star that first offered light that led the seekers to Bethlehem and that stable so many years ago. The star placed at the very top of the Christmas tree helps to remind us of that star that was seen by the three wise men in the East when Jesus was born. 




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Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Is Your Tree Up

Do you have your Christmas tree up??? Some will start before Thanksgiving.. which I think is rushing it and then there others that may put the tree up the night before Christmas which I think is personally a bit late. The Christmas tree to me is something that goes up December 1st and stays up til December 27th or later always down by new years. When do you put your tree up??



Christmas trees are normally always some type of evergreen tree. Whether it be pine or a fir is up to the individual picking out the tree. Another choice is whether the tree one brings home is fresh cut, potted still alive or artificial. When the tree is home it is time to trim it with lights and ornaments While the Christmas tree has meaning with in its branches todays world forgets the meaning



Most homes will host a Christmas tree where all the gifts are kept Ancient Egyptians, Chinese and Hebrew customs all reflect on evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands symbolize eternal life. Prior to Christian conversion around the world pagans would worship trees in Europeans While many changes occurred after the conversion the Christmas tree is one thing that stayed. However, Scandinavian customs were a bit different in that decorating the house and property with evergreens helped to scare away the Devil In addition Germany had its own custom of placing a tree near the door or inside the house during the midwinter holiday 

West Germany who originated the modern Christmas tree after it appeared in a popular medieval play about Adam and Eve and the "paradise tree" It was a fir tree that was in the play to represent the garden of Eden. On December 24th Germans would set up a tree of Paradise to celebrate the religious feast day of Adam and Eve. The tree would be decorated with wafer cookies, candles to represent the Light of Christ. 


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Candy Cane Brownies

With the holiday season at hand and Christmas only a bit over 2 weeks away I must say that brownies fits right in the mixture of sweets that are abound this season. Brownies were the original idea of the Palmer House Hotel back in 1893. They were to be a treat for the ladies attending the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition. The request was for a cake like treat that could also be packed in a lunch box. Thus the beginning of the brownie.

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 48 to 60 Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses, unwrapped & frozen

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line mini muffin pans with paper liners, or generously spray with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and cocoa; set aside. In a large pot set over low heat, melt butter. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and the vanilla. Temper the eggs (slowly bring up their temperature so that they don't scramble) by stirring a spoonful of the butter mixture into the eggs. Then use a wooden spoon to stir the egg mixture and flour mixture into the butter mixture until well incorporated.

Scoop batter into lined mini muffin pans, filling each cup ⅔ full. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until just set, taking care not to overcook. After removing pans from the oven, immediately and gently press a Candy Cane Kiss onto the top of each brownie bite. Allow brownies to cool completely in pans set on a wire cooling rack until Kisses are completely hardened. Remove brownies from pans and store in an airtight container. Yields 60 brownie bites.

Depending on the size of your mini muffin pans, you will probably get anywhere from 48 to 60 brownie bites. I got about 55.

Using paper liners in your mini muffin pans is recommended. However, if not, use a thin knife to loosen each cooled brownie bite before attempting to remove it from the pan.

Freezing the Kisses ahead of time will help them hold their shape as the brownie bites cool. Also be sure to have them unwrapped before your brownies come out of the oven, because you will have to work quickly getting them placed on your hot brownies!

Feel free to change up the flavors of your Kisses...Mint Truffle, Cherry Cordial, and even Caramel would also be delicious! Just beware that some varieties of Kisses have softer centers than others, and you'll need to be very gentle working with those so that they don't collapse.

recipe resource


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