Homemade Holiday Cookie Mix For a Great Christmas Gift

 

By Parents
Dec. 20, 2009

 

Ingredients

• 2-1/2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2  teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4  teaspoon salt
• 1/2  cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4  cup granulated sugar
• 3/4  cup brownulated sugar
• 3/4  cup swirled chocolate chips

 

Directions

1. Have ready a clean 1-quart reusable plastic or glass canister.

 

2. In a medium-size bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Spoon 1 cup of the flour mixture into a second bowl and add cocoa powder and cinnamon. Whisk to mix thoroughly.

 

3. Begin packing jar for gift: Spoon about half the flour mixture into bottom of jar. Use a small spice jar to lightly compress. Spoon in half the cocoa mixture; compress. Spoon in remaining flour mixture and cocoa mixture, compressing each layer.

 

4. Top second cocoa layer with granulated sugar and brownulated sugar, compressing each slightly. Pour chips over sugar and seal jar.

 

5. Write baking instructions on a tag (or print out); secure to jar with ribbon.

 

Baking Instructions: In a large bowl, combine 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) melted and cooled unsalted butter with 3 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir in contents of jar.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto baking sheets. Bake at 350°F for 13 to 14 minutes. Cool on sheets for 1 minute; transfer to rack.

Note: Brownulated sugar can be found in your grocery store’s baking section.

 

Makes: 1 mix in a jar; about 3 dozen cookies

Prep: 15 minutes

 

Nutrition Facts

Servings Per Recipe 1 mix in a jar; about 3 dozen cookies

• Amount Per Serving
• Calories 130
• Total Fat (g) 6
• Saturated Fat (g) 3
• Cholesterol (mg) 28
• Sodium (mg) 53
• Carbohydrate (g) 19
• Fiber (g) 1
• Protein (g) 2

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie di

 

Source: Parents

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Receipt of the Week: Easy to Make Gingerbread Men

 

By Parents
Dec. 20, 2009

 

Ingredients

• 1/2  cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2  cup sugar
• 1  egg
• 1/4  cup light molasses
• 2-1/3  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  tablespoon cocoa powder
• 3/4  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  tablespoon ground ginger
• 1  teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1/2  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Royal Icing (see on parents.com)

 

Directions

1. Beat butter and sugar. Beat in egg and molasses. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, ginger, pepper and cinnamon in another bowl. Stir into butter mixture. Divide dough into 2 halves. Wrap; chill 2 hours.

 

2. Heat oven to 350°F. Roll half of dough on a floured surface to 1/8 inch thick. Cut shapes with a 3-inch cutter; transfer to ungreased baking sheets. Reroll scraps; cut. Repeat with remaining dough.

 

3. Bake at 350°F for 11 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks to cool. Decorate with Royal Icing; do not thin with extra water.

 

Makes: about 3-1/2 dozen

Prep: 15 minutes
Chill: 2 hours
Bake: 11 minutes

 

Nutrition Facts

Servings Per Recipe about 3-1/2 dozen

• Amount Per Serving
• Calories 77
• Total Fat (g) 2
• Saturated Fat (g) 1
• Carbohydrate (g) 13

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

 

Source: Parents

 

Editor’s Note: we would like to know your faviote ones with your kids. dan@youngchronicle.com

Take a Special Dance With God

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/GCC
Dec. 19, 2009

Do you know what “Joy logy” means? It is the study of caring, sharing, and listening and Sacrifice.

This was written by Mr. Jeineke in 1975

We would like to know what you think: dan@youngchronicle.com

What is a Joyologist? A joyologist then would be one who studies joy logy. Frankly our world could use a great many joyologists whose mission in life is to actively research the effects of discussing and sharing joy.

The research could branch out into how joy affects our careers, family lives, and friendships. The very act of doing the active research should spread jubilation throughout the world and bring about positive results. What a fun job!

All one needs to start with is to share the words joyism, joy logy, and joyologis with others. Use the words daily and make them a part of the world’s vocabulary.

The upcoming year is going to challenge us all. Here is something we need to think, this is from an unknown reader. It is called: Take a Special dance With God

 

 By Unknown

When I meditated on the word GUIDANCE, I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word.  I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing.  When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.  The movement doesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.  When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.  It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word GUIDANCE.

When I saw “G,” I thought of God, followed by “u” and “i.” “God, “u” and “i” dance.  God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God’s blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life. This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached. If God has done anything for you in your life, please share this message with someone else, for prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards; so let’s continue to pray for one another.

AND I HOPE YOU DANCE !

Source: Joyolgy

Kids Top Money Questions

By Dave Ramsey
Dec. 19, 2009

The lessons you teach your kids as they earn money and learn to spend, save and give will lay an influential foundation for their lives.

Find out how Dave answers the most common questions about kids and money.

 

 Let parents bequeath to their children not riches, but the spirit of reverence. —Plato

 

Plato said it well. Parents are not just responsible for providing food, clothing, and shelter for their kids. They are also responsible for teaching their kids about life—and life includes handling money.

 

When it comes to kids and money, the three most common questions I get are:

• When should I start teaching my kids about money?
• Should I give my kids an allowance?
• When should my kids go to work?

 

Teach kids about money as young as pre-school age and no later than third grade. Just think about it: if your kids can grasp this money stuff early on, they’ll avoid many of the pitfalls later. After all, its better for little Billy to make a $10 mistake than a $10,000 mistake!

 

1. Start paying them a commission for chores they do around the house.

Typically, one dollar per completed chore is sufficient with a list of five or six chores each week. Remember that each child is going to respond differently. Just keep evaluating your child’s maturity level and make sure their chores are age-appropriate.

 

2.      Do not give them an allowance.

After all, what are you making an allowance for? You don’t want to have the kind of kids who think money grows on trees, do you? Don’t set them up for frustration and unrealistic expectations. And don’t miss out on the teachable moments that come when you give them a commission instead of an allowance.

 

3.      Send them off to work.

Child abuse is letting a kid sit in front of a TV all day playing video games and eating junk food. Kids need to understand what a little dirt under the fingernails means. Delivering newspapers, mowing lawns, or working at a concession stand are some appropriate jobs they can handle.

 

Guiding your children in the choices they make with money is HUGE! The lessons you teach them as they earn money and learn to spend, save and give will lay an influential foundation for their lives. Remember, if you don’t teach your kids how to handle money, someone else will.

Get Financial Peace Jr. now  to help your kids learn solid money principles.

 

Source: Dave Ramsey 

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Kitties Singing Joy-Joy-Joy!

Dogs Singing Christmas Song

A doggy Christmas surprise – Karácsonyi kutyás meglepetés

Safety Tip – Christmas Shopping

By:NMB PD/PIO
Dec. 17, 2009

‘Tis the season to be jolly, but it is also the season to be wary of burglars, thieves, pickpockets, and other holiday grinches.

Nothing can ruin the Christmas spirit faster than becoming the victim of a crime.

Remember, whether you are leaving the house to go shopping or out for an evening of Christmas parties, lock your doors and windows! Don’t leave the drapes open with your presents in plain view.

Christmas presents displayed around your tree can be a pretty sight, but can also be quite tempting to burglars.

It’s better to scatter the gifts around the house, in closets or cupboards, where they can’t be so easily seen.

If you are leaving town for the holidays, make sure your home appears occupied. Leave inside and outside lights on timers and have your neighbors pick up newspapers, mail, and take flyers off your door.

Ask neighbors to park in your driveway. Put a timer on a talk radio station for several hours a day.

If you choose to have a live Christmas tree, make sure it is always properly watered. Never leave tree lights on when no one is at home. Remember, ornaments can also burn.

After Christmas, don’t put out empty boxes advertising your new purchases (VCR’s, microwaves, etc.). Break the boxes down and deposit them in your trash, recycle bin or dumpster away from your home.

When you’re shopping, use the trunk of your car to keep your packages out of sight. Keep your car locked at all times.

Be sure and make several trips to your car to deposit packages in the trunk. Don’t allow yourself to become so burdened down with packages that you become a tempting target.

When walking through parking lots, be sure that you are aware of your surroundings. Walk with authority. Don’t look like a victim!

If you have a garage door opener, do not leave the control openly displayed in your car.

Keep the door leading from your house to your garage locked. Try not to leave your garage door open at any time.

Be aware that thieves and pickpockets also do some of their biggest business during the holiday season. Ladies, don’t dangle your handbag from your shoulder. You are creating a perfect setup for a purse snatcher.

Instead, keep your purse tucked tightly under your arm. Better yet, don’t even carry a purse. Place your checkbook, cash, or credit cards in your front pockets.

Avoid carrying your checkbook, cash, and credit cards all together in one wallet, because if a thief gets the whole package together, they can cash checks with your identification and run up a large credit card bill in a short amount of time.

Never give your credit card number over the telephone to anyone when you did not initiate the call. And be sure that you are dealing with a reputable company when ordering merchandise over the telephone.

Don’t “flash” large rolls of money in public. You never know who’s watching! Also, spread your money around in different pockets.

That way a pickpocket can’t clean you out in one fell swoop.

If you go to an automatic teller machine, try to go during the daylight hours. If you must go at night, pick a machine that is well lighted and visible to passing traffic.

If anyone is lurking near the machine, pass it up and find another.

When dining out valet parking is nice, but don’t be too lax. Don’t leave valuables in your vehicle and never leave your house key with the attendant.

Just by using a little planning and some good common sense, most holiday crimes can be avoided.

  

Source: North Miami Beach Police Department  

 

 

Editor’s Note; We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchroicle.com

A Third Grader in New Jersey Told to Put Bible Away

By Fox News
Dec. 17, 2009 

A third grader was told by a teacher at her New Jersey elementary school that the Bible was not appropriate reading material for quiet time, MyFoxNY.com reported.

The teacher at Madison Park Elementary School in Old Bridge, N.J., ordered the girl, Mariah, to put away her Bible.

Michelle Jordat, Mariah’s mother, said her daughter was upset and confused by the incident, MyFoxNY.com reported.

“This was injustice,” Jordat said, according to MyFoxNY.com.

“No other child has to go through this again.”

The school’s principal apologized for the incident, saying school policy does in fact allow students to read the Bible during quiet time and that the teacher had simply made a mistake, MyFoxNY.com reported.

Jordat said she accepts the apology but also wants to see something in writing. She plans to talk to an attorney about the issue, according to the site.

The town’s board of education met with parents Tuesday evening to address concerns in the community.

 

Click here for more from MyFoxNY.com

 

Source: Fox News 

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Heart Grows Three Sizes

by Jim Liebelt
Dec. 16, 2009

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will
remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of
flesh. –Ezekiel 36:26

In Dr. Seuss’ classic Christmas tale, “How the Grinch Stole
Christmas,” the Grinch suffers from having a small heart. The
source of his heart problem is his lack of understanding the
meaning of Christmas.

As the story goes, the Grinch tries to put a stop to Christmas, but in the end, he comes to understand what Christmas is all about and his heart grows three sizes!

This heart change makes a big difference in his life.

I’m not sure what Dr. Seuss’ intentions were when he wrote the
story back in 1957, but it certainly comes across as a Christian
parable to me that parallels the change that takes place in a
person’s life when he or she comes to understand the true meaning
of Christmas: the birth of Jesus, God’s Son, who was born to save
His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

When the light of the Good News of Jesus dawns upon the heart of a person, God replaces the old heart of stone, with a new, fleshy heart – and a new
person emerges.

As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

 

“Welcome Christmas – While we stand – Heart to heart – And hand
in hand.”1

It might just make all the difference in the world.

O Holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in;
be born in us today!
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
    (From O Little Town of Bethlehem)

We celebrate Christmas because of the power Jesus brought to
change our hearts.

Source: Home Word

 

Editor’s Note: You can contact Jim Liebelt   contactus@homeword.com.

We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

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