Heap on more wood! The wind is chill: But let it whistle as it will, We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.
~Sir Walter Scott

My father, Armand Mattia, built this faux fireplace for me out of scrap wood and gingerbread trim. ( He is a man of many talents, he worked with a team of engineers to design and develop the Tomahawk Heat Seeking Missile used in the war, and he can build cute things! How cool is that!)
I love the way it brightens the corner with a wonderful warm glow. The people who bought our house in California before we moved to Missouri wanted to keep it. I don’t blame them! It warms the hallway to my bedroom now, so I get to enjoy it as I walk by it everyday. Thanks Dad!

Let the trees in the woods sing for joy before the Lord.

~ 1 Chronicles 16:33

Jesus is the reason for this glorious season!
Frosted windowpanes…candles gleaming inside….This adorable antique little girl is my husband’s Grandmother. Her name… little Miss Naomi Agatha Madsen. What a dreamy picture of pure sweetness! Oh Honey!!

(If you don’t know me yet, this is what I say when I see something so stinkin’ cute!)
She grew up to be the prayer warrior of the family. She fell asleep every night with an open Bible and prayers for her children and grandchildren fresh on her lips. What a legacy and a priceless gift, to blanket loved ones with warm prayers of goodness, mercy and grace. Oh, that we would do the same, with fervency! If we don’t pray for our loved ones, who will?

“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16B

Well, little miss “NoNo” as she was endearingly called, was the baker of many delectable, made-from-scratch, sweet and golden confections. One of which was her spicy, sugared, Gingersnap Cookies. A must-have on our holiday table. I would like to honor her this Christmas season by sharing this heirloom recipe ( which she would be thrilled and humbled that you would want it.).

Grandma’s Gingersnaps

3/4 cup butter (softened, not melted)
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg

Mix together above ingredients until well blended, then add:

2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. ground ginger

Beat all ingredients well. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator at least an hour. Then roll into small balls (large marble size). Dip balls into a bowl of white sugar, and place on a cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 preheated oven for 8 minutes (not a minute more, you want the cookies to be crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside.)
Just wait until the buttery-spice aroma of these cookies meander it’s way through each room of your home, it’s so heavenly…you’ll wonder if Angels may have fluttered by.

And how about something to warm your tummy when the wind is whirling with a shivering chill. This delicious hot orange spice tea promises to warm you from your sassy hair-do, down to your cute little red painted toes! It is so scrumptious that it would be a great little gift to give.

Just mix and pour into canning jars, add a fabric square, a tag, and maybe a little ornament, like this frosted snowflake from Wallmart.

As you can see there are “Red Hots” (cinnamon candies) mixed in. It really adds a festive touch as well as extra flavor.

Here is the recipe:

2 cups instant dry tea
2 cups orange Tang
4 cups sugar
1 cup lemonade mix
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 cup cinnamon candies

Mix together in a large bowl and ladle into glass jars. The serving instructions on the tag should read: Stir 2 heaping teaspoons into a mug of steaming hot water. Enjoy with a good book in front of a warm fire!

In the November issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, Reese Witherspoon talked about a similar recipe. She says it is southern. So, I would like to hear from you southern gals, are you familiar with this cozy tea?

“For somehow, not only at Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.”

~John Greenleaf Whittier

Stay warm and sweet!

Thanks for stopping by for pie!

Ruthann

P.S. I will be sharing my peach pie and pie crust recipe in a future post, thanks for asking!

Comments 37 Comments   Add a Comment Add a Comment