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Monday, December 15, 2014

14 Coffee Cakes from Flo

There is close to 400 recipes here at Home Joys now. And they are badly in need of organization. Even I often can't quickly find the recipe I want.

So this winter, I'm going to try organizing the recipes here. I'm saying this out loud to give me some accountability to get it done. (I won't mention how many winters I have had this goal and never even started the project.) I began with the bread and sourdough recipes. You'll find the bread page and sourdough page have been recently updated. I hope this makes it easier to find a recipe. To cut this project into bite-sized pieces, I plan to choose one topic and make an index post about it. Then I can link to it on the Recipe Page.

I decided to start with Flo's Coffee Cakes. All year we have enjoyed her recipes. Here is a one-stop place to find links for them all. There is not a bad one in the bunch and the only trouble I have is in deciding which one to make for our Christmas brunch.

 
Sour Cream Pumpkin Coffee Cake


Apricot Sunshine Coffee Cake



Raspberry Streusel Coffee Cake


Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake



Peach Coffee Cake



Walnut Orange Coffee Cake

 
Pumpkin Pecan Braid



Apple Coffee Cake



Lemon Raspberry Steusel Coffee Cake



Blueberry Almond Coffee Cake



Banana Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake



Cream-filled Cinnamon Pecan Coffee Cake



Cherry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

 
Finnish Coffee Cake

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Cookbook Giveaway Winner

Thanks to all of you who entered the Good and Healthy Cooking giveaway. I wish I had a copy for all of you.

Random.org chose the two winners -

Lori from Texas who likes the Basics and More cookbook, Mennonite Country Style cookbook by Esther, and MeMa's Manna Recipes for the Busy Person by Mary Boll.

Linette - who is my friend in real life (I didn't rig this drawing, honest, but I am thrilled that Linette won since she recently bought a mill and started grinding her own wheat!) Linette also likes the Basics and More cookbook, and Mennonite Country Style cookbook and also the Bald Eagle cookbook.

Hope you ladies enjoy your copy of Good and Healthy Cooking!

And special thanks to the Stoltzfus family for allowing us the opportunity of this giveaway.

If you didn't win but want your own copy, visit the Good and Healthy Cooking website to place your order for a paper or ebook copy.

You still have a couple more days of free shipping for orders of two books.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Monday, December 1, 2014

Prepare - A Christmas Countdown - Week Eight


If you are like me, you have not yet caught your breath from last week. Our family was away for a few days, then helped with beef butchering on Saturday. Yesterday was a wonderful day of rest but today I worked up some of the beef into some freezer meals so I still am faced with lots of stacks of laundry.

But I'll get caught up eventually and I'm very excited about beginning December. Eight weeks ago when I started this series, I thought I'd be totally prepared for Christmas by now. I'm not. No where close. Between ordinary busy life, unexpected events, and interruptions of all sorts most of my plans that looked attainable on Monday fell apart by Friday.

But if I had not planned at all - I would not have anything done. And it is a good reminder that in all my preparation I should say "As the Lord wills."

Week Eight - Mailing Week - December 1-6

This week my goal is to finish addressing and mailing Christmas cards as well as a few packages. This should give them plenty of time to arrive on time.

I also plan to finish my holiday baking. The children and I had such fun on a baking day early last week and we are looking forward to another one.

My last task this week is to reserve some Christmas books at the library. We have a few favorites we like to read each year.

Preparation in Scripture

I was reading Ephesians 6 last week and noticed a mention of "Preparation."

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;" (Ephesians 6: 13-15)
This passage of Scripture is talking about preparing for warfare against the enemy of our souls. I like how the Amplified Bible interprets verse 15.

"And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace."  (Ephesians 6:15 Amplified)

Speaking of feet reminds me of Isaiah 52:7.

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" (Isaiah 52:7)

Our God reigns! That is news worth sharing.

Christmas is to be a time of giving. But too often our giving is to those who already have all they need. Or giving to those who will give back to us. Or giving because we feel under obligation.

Why not look for ways to give the best gift - the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ.

 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

If we are prepared to share this gift - then we are truly prepared for Christmas.

This is the last week on the Christmas Countdown. From now on you are on your own to finish your preparation and focus on service, worship, and celebration for the remainder of December.

Thanks for joining me the last eight weeks!

I'd love to hear how you plan to share the gospel of peace this month.

Giveaway Winner

Announcing the winner of Footprints on the Ceiling.

Carie - who describes herself as a "silent follower." 

So glad that you broke the silence this time, Carie!

The rest of you can get your own copy of Footprints on the Ceiling from Amazon (including a kindle version) or directly from Dorcas.  You can mail a check ($15 per book, postage included) to Dorcas Smucker, 31148 Substation Drive, Harrisburg, OR 97446.  US addresses only.  To send a copy to Canada or overseas, email Dorcas at dorcassmucker@gmail.com


Thanks to all who participated in the giveaway. I loved hearing how you met your husbands.


Look for another book giveaway this week!