I received an early Christmas gift from the ladies of our church in late November. It has to be the the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever received. If you belong to a church other than Boones Creek and you’re wondering what to give your pastor’s wife, please read on!

Sunday night as we were singing our Christmas cantata, I sang with our choir the words, “Fear thou not, fear thou not.” Those were the words spoken to both Mary and the group of shepherds by the angel (Luke 1 and 2). As I sang those words I thought, “How many times has the Lord comforted my heart with those very same words…’Fear not’?” Over and over again. Who but the Lord could calm my fears?

I was reminded recently in a message that the opposite of fear is not courage, it is love. God could tell Mary, the shepherds and you and me not to fear because He demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son to die for our sins. His sacrifice, death and resurrection makes everything right. We don’t have to be afraid of sickness, death, financial woes, or other trials because His love for us is constant and life-changing. His love makes me not be afraid because I know that His love causes Him to do what’s best for me; I can trust my God with my life.

If there were no Christmas there would only be fear, but because Jesus came to demonstrate His great love for us, we can “Fear not!”

My husband was happy to help clean out the scraps in the pan! That’s okay with me – he also washed up my dirty dishes. (I love a man with dishpan hands!)

This next recipe makes four Cream Cheese Coffee Cakes. They’re more breads than they are cakes, but that’s what they’re called. People will think you fussed a bunch, but because you make the dough the night before and let it sit overnight in the fridge it splits up the process. Then next day you take the dough out, knead it, divide it, fill it with the cream cheese mixture and let it rise. After it bakes you drizzle the confectionery sugar glaze and almonds on it. It’s very good and makes lots – something I like in a recipe.

I’m also making Sour Dough Bread as a gift for a group of people. My recipe makes up two loaves at a time. If you’ve never used a sour dough starter you’re missing out on the easiest way to make homemade bread! It can be hard to get your own starter going…I got mine from a friend over 20 years ago! It’s easy to maintain and makes delicious bread and cinnamon rolls. I won’t share that recipe today, but if you’re interested leave me a note and I’ll be happy to post it.

The last thing that I baked in my kitchen were these Chocolate cake rolls with Cream Roulade and a Chocolate Mint Sauce. It sounds very fancy and difficult, but I’m telling you this recipe is very simple and looks elegant and tastes even better! You use a cake mix to make the rolls and it makes two! I took one to our choir dinner on Saturday and will serve the other one at our Sunday school’s class party. The cake is light, the filling is creamy and the chocolate sauce is heavenly!

What’s baking in your kitchen this week? I’d love to hear!

Today’s post is another entry from my friend, Vickie Stykes. Here she’ll share a great gift idea, as well as something that will make your own home smell like Christmas!

I love the smells of Christmas. The smell of freshly baked “holiday sweet treats”, homemade bread, cinnamon, fruits, scented candles, a clean house, fresh sheets made ready for guests and the air after a new snowfall. Even though we have many potpourri options in the stores, this homemade potpourri brings back the old-fashioned days of Christmas. Simmering on top your kitchen stove or wood burning stove or on a side burner this blend of fruits and spices will bring a special holiday aroma to your home. May your home be filled with holiday guests, days of family times with fun and laughter and making memories for the years to come. –Vickie Stykes

Christmas Fragrance Simmering Potpourri

Directions:
Combine all ingredients and place in a simmer stove pot or in a crock pot. Cover with hot water, turn on high to bubbly, then on low to enjoy simmering scent. May be placed in refrigerator and reused several times. Just add more ingredients if scent loses aroma.

Have a great weekend. See you in church Sunday! –Denise

I love, love, love all kinds of baking. At Christmastime I enjoy the recipes that take patience, like sugar cookies and jam shortbreads. The sugar cookie dough has to be placed in the fridge for an hour before rolling them out. Then there’s the time it takes to cut them out, sprinkle them with the colored sugars, bake them, and then perhaps even finish with confectionery icing. However, after a couple of recipes like that that are long and tedious, I’m tired. The kitchen is hot, and I begin looking for a delicious cookie or candy that’s a snap to make.