God's promises

A gift from my best friend who knows me and my God so well.

I love rainbows. They remind me of God's promise to never forget his covenant. They remind me that he is always faithful. God still comes through on stuff, even when we doubt, even when we are impatient, even when he think he has forgotten us and the cries of our hearts.

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 

(Genesis 9:12-14 ESV)

It's Go Time

This is the last evening that I am guaranteed to have at home, for sure, until December 30. December 30th! Last night at home! My brain is about to explode. I have lists written in at least four different places. To do lists. Baking lists. Packing lists. Don't forget to take this to Mom's house lists. Wrap this. Clean that. So much to do. So little time.

But, first things first. It's time to make Grammy's Cheese Dip for our work pot-luck lunch tomorrow. Last year Kraft was in the number one spot on my naughty list. They discontinued one of the major ingredients in Grammy's recipe - the bleu cheese. It was like they had canceled Christmas. Luckily, all those calls to their customer service department to politely inform them of their major mistake paid off. Kraft bleu cheese jars were back on the shelves this year!

Grammy's Cheese Dip

2 jars Kraft Old English
1 jar Kraft Roka Bleu
1 8oz package cream cheese
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 (hefty) dash garlic powder







Mix soft cheeses together (best done with a wooden spoon - it's not worth getting out the mixer). Mix in Worcestershire sauce (I almost always add a little extra) and garlic powder.  Mix until everything is well mixed and it's a creamy solid color.

Refrigerate until serving. Serve with crackers and celery sticks. (No one eats the celery, but you'll feel better having a veggie on the table.)

Christmas Monday

Did you go to work today? I did. Did it feel like any other Monday? Nope? Mine either!

I love Christmas and I am in full count down mode. I didn't make a paper chain this year, but I'm really wishing I had. Nothing is more satisfactory than tearing off those red and green construction paper links at the end of a day and knowing that you are that much closer to Christmas. Family. Delicious food. Warm fires. Vacation!

Three more mornings waking up to the alarm clock.
Two more days of work.
One free night left to shop, wrap and pack.
Oh my!

Easy Coconut Macaroons

If you've been around the blog for a while you may have guessed that I have a soft spot in my heart for sweet treats - especially around Christmastime. This year is no exception. I've been baking up a storm. I ran my dishwasher twice today alone.

This Coconut Macaroon recipe came from my friend Angie last year. She brought them to a party and they were gone within minutes. Since then, they've become a staple in my kitchen. This is an easy recipe to have on hand. The ingredients can live in your pantry for ages and be ready for any last minute occasion and, at the same time, are festive enough to belong to your Christmas treat oeuvre.

Coconut Macaroons

1 bag shredded coconut (don't buy the cheap stuff, it's worth the extra 30 cents to get the real deal)

1 can sweetened condensed milk (I bought mine at Aldi's)













And...um...that's all.

Mix sweetened condensed milk and coconut together in a large bowl. (Sometimes I try to use a spoon, but I always end up mixing with my hands. Tip: Start the water in your sink ahead of time so you can wash your hands without touching anything, your hands will be very sticky.)

Roll the mixture into small bowls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake about 10 minutes at 300 degrees or until the tops start to brown.
Then, eat. YUM!