9 – 10 cups of your favorite potato (peeled and cubed)
1 large, sweet orange pepper (sliced)
1 large sweet red pepper (sliced)
1 large onion (chopped)
3 – 4 cloves garlic (minced or pressed)
1 – 2 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon paprika
¾ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon thyme
½ teaspoon pepper
1 – 24-ounce package little smokies sausage links
In a large bowl mix all ingredients making sure everything is coated with the olive oil and the seasoning is mixed in evenly. Spread on a large jellyroll baking pan cover with aluminum foil and bake at 400 degrees for 30 -45 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
Note if you choose to use red potatoes they take a little longer to cook than other varieties.
Air pop the popcorn into a bowl and then measure it out making sure to not get any un-popped kernels. Spread the popcorn on a 13×17 jellyroll pan lined with parchment paper.
Melt whatever type of chocolate you prefer. I just used what I had on hand. Ghirardelli white melting chips and semisweet chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon shortening added.
Drizzle the chocolate over the popcorn sparingly or generously whatever your preference is.
Let the chocolate set for about 1 hour and that is all there is to it.
(options)
Add 1 tablespoon of shortening for every 1 cup of chocolate to help prevent a chocolate bloom. (when chocolate gets white spots or film on it from the fat separating and crystalizing on the surface.) the chocolate is still fine to eat, it just does not look as pretty. Keep in mind that when you add the shortening the chocolate does not harden as much as it does without it.
It is also possible to add flavoring to the chocolate if you wish.
Chocolate can be flavored with alcohol-based extracts, or flavored oils sometimes called “candy flavoring” or “chocolate flavoring,” this can be added directly to melted chocolate without causing it to seize. Never add water-based flavorings.
In the bowl of a bread mixer (or in a large mixing bowl if making by hand), combine the water, yeast, molasses, cocoa powder, oil, honey, salt, gluten, and mix. Then start adding the flour. Begin with the 2 cups of rye flour. Mix until combined.
With the mixer running, slowly start adding the white flour gradually until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. It might take more or less of the white flour. The amount of flour will change depending on humidity in the air and the flour you are using etc. Knead for 5-7 minutes (about 10-15 if kneading by hand). The dough should be soft and should not stick to your fingers. Be careful not to use too much flour though or your bread will not turn out as light and fluffy.
Place the dough into a large bowl lightly sprayed with cooking spray, also spray the top of the dough, and cover with plastic wrap, and let rise until doubled in size, about 1-2 hours.
Punch down the dough and divide into two equal pieces. Form into tight oval loaves and place on parchment-lined or lightly greased baking sheets. Spray the top of the loaves again with cooking spray, then cover with plastic wrap or a light towel and let rise until doubled in size. Right before baking, using a very sharp razor, knife or bread-slashing lame cut two or three deep slashes in the top of each loaf.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake the loaves for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and lightly brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with the oats and bake for another 5-7 minutes.
I hope as you listen to this story of how Henry Wadsworth Longfellow found peace and hope for a happy life again after years of tragic losses that left him devastated and in despair.
As he heard the Christmas bells, that reminded him of our Dear Savior Jesus Christ’s birth. The greatest gift ever given, come to earth to save us all. These are the words that filled his mind and renewed his sole.
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; The wrong shall fail, The right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men”
I pray that we will all draw near to our Savior Jesus Christ. Not just at Christmas but always!
In a large saucepan melt the butter and remove from heat.
Stir in the powdered sugar and two tablespoons of the cream.
Stir in the coconut, flavoring, and food coloring.
Take enough of the mixture to make the size tree you want and make a ball. Squeeze in the top of the ball to form the top of the tree and press the bottom on the counter to make it flat. It should now be in the shape of a pine tree. Place your trees on a foil or parchment lined baking sheet and refrigerate your trees for about 2-3 hours.
In a small saucepan heat ¼ cup cream on low heat just until it begins to boil. Remove from heat and add the white melting chips stirring until smooth.
Place a small amount of the chocolate mixture on the bottom of the tree to attach the mini peanut butter cup.
Dip the top of the tree in the chocolate and let it go down the sides of the tree to look like snow and decorate with the mini M&M’s.
Refrigerate until ready to serve and store any extra trees in the refrigerator.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
This is one of my favorite scriptures ! If you picture in your mind an oxen yoke you would envision a huge cumbersome wooden beam. At first glance you might think that this would be an extra burden for the oxen to carry this giant heavy beam. In reality the yoke makes it easier for the oxen to pull their load, because it forces the Pair to pull at the same time enabling them to each pull only half the load making their burden lighter.
For most of my life as I have read this scripture I took it to mean that the Savior would be there to help me literally carry my burdens by lifting me spiritually, if I would but yoke myself to him. I am sure that this is one of it’s meanings, but one day while reading this scripture another possible meaning came into my mind.
I thought about physically Yoking myself with my Savior Jesus Christ, in addition to spiritually yoking myself with Him. By doing this I would be doing what the Savior would be doing because by being yoked to Him I would have to go where He goes and do what He does and live like He lived. This scripture suddenly took on a whole new meaning for me. By living my life as my Savior lived His, giving, loving, serving and relying on guidance from Heaven. I would live in a way that would make my burdens light and my life rich and full of all the things that truly bring joy, peace and happiness.
Christmas is a wonderful time to implement this practice in our lives. Even with our current situation needing to keep ourselves, our families and others safe we can still serve. Lifting others with phone calls, letters, uplifting messages on social media, shoveling some ones driveway or bringing in their garbage cans. For those that are able, financial contributions to family members, charities, friends and neighbors. These are only a few examples of ways to serve and still keep safe through social distancing. I am sure you can think of many more that are perfect for your individual situations in life. I hope that this beautiful song lifts you as it has me and helps you know that Heavenly Father is always there and that He does listen to your prayers.
I also hope that you will take advantage of the many other sources offered to yoke yourself with our Savior Jesus Christ as we celebrate his humble birth, his life of service and His atoning sacrifice, lovingly offered for each one of us.
My Own Little Corner 