January Preview, December Cap

1        Circumcision and Name of Jesus
2        J.K. Wilhelm Loehe
6        Epiphany of Our Lord
8        Baptism of Our Lord
10      Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa
18      Confession of St. Peter
20      Sarah
24      St. Timothy
25      Conversion of St. Paul
26      St. Titus
27      John Chrysostom

(Commemorations are italicized.)

Merry Christmas!  And Happy St. Stephen's Day (26th), St. John's Day (27th), and Feast of the Holy Innocents (28th).

We have feasting every night this week.  Last night's 3rd annual St. Stephen's Day Carolfest was a success.  If you've never sung Good King Wenceslas responsively, do it!  Men sing the Wenceslas parts, women sing the page's parts, and everyone sings the narrative.  My favorite line: "When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even."

Tonight my husband's aunt is hosting a traditional standing rib roast and Yorkshire pudding supper.  Wednesday night my sisters and their significant others are coming over for Game Night.  More food at our house Thursday night with out-of-town relatives.  Friday night another Game Night with other good folks.  Saturday night Italian take-out, vasilopita, and a Jim Brickman concert.

Sunday we thank God for the Name of Jesus, into which we were baptized, and at which every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

O Antiphons

From Pr. Weedon's blog, last year:

The Great O Antiphons, used to frame the Magnificat in Vespers in the days before Christmas, begin [this] evening with O Wisdom.  The Treasury [of Daily Prayer] includes them in the daily propers section.  As each of these Old Testament names for God is prayed, and Christ is invoked to come to us, the clarity of whom the Blessed Mother bore is driven home in an unmistakable way, climaxing in the confession that He is Emmanuel, God with us.  The Latin titles read backwards announce:  ERO CRAS - I'll be [here] tomorrow, which is very fitting as the O Antiphons conclude upon December 23.

If you don't have the Treasury of Daily Prayer, you can find an explanation of each Antiphon here, along with appropriate Scripture and a meditation.  Sing the appropriate verse from LSB 357.  A sermon series based on the antiphons is at steadfastlutherans.org.

YUM!

Here are the cookies I'm making this year:

Γιαγιά Georgia's Koulouria

Great Grandma Quinn's Sour Cream Cookies
2 c. granulated sugar

1 c. butter, room temperature
3 eggs, well beaten
1 c. sour cream
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. flavoring extract of your choice
1 1/2 to 2 c. flour or sufficient to make a dough that can be rolled
Cream together sugar and butter. Mix eggs and beat well until light and fluffy. Stir baking soda into the sour cream and add this, along with the eggs, to the creamed butter mixture. Flavor to taste.
Roll out then and bake in a 350°F preheated oven 10 to 12 minutes or until done.

Buttery Spritz (my kids like the "cookie gun")
1 c. butter, softened
1 1/4 c. confectioner's sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla extract
1/2 t. almond extract
2 1/2 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
food coloring, optional
Cream cutter and sugar.  Beat in egg and extracts.  Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.  Tint, if desired.  Using a cookie press, press two inches apart on greased sheet.  Top with sprinkles. Bake 375F 6-8 minutes (don't brown).

Shortbread Squares 
1 lb. butter
1 c. sifted confectioner's sugar
3 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. cornstarch
Cream butter and sugar.  Combine flour and cornstarch; gradually combine.  Press into a 15"x10"x1" ungreased pan.  Pierce with fork.  Bake at 325F 40-45 minutes.  Cut while warm.

Almond Butter Cutouts (all-time favorite.  If I only had time and means for one batch of Christmas cookies, I'd make these)
1 c. butter, soft
1 c. sugar
2 egg yolks
1 t. almond extract
2 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. baking powder
1 c. ground almonds
Cream butter and sugar.  Beat in egg yolk and extract.  Combine flour, salt,and baking powder.  Gradually combine with creamy mixture.  Stir in ground almonds.  Cover and chill at least 2 hours.  Roll out 3/8".  Cut into shapes. Place on ungreased sheets and sprinkle if you desire. Bake 375F 10-13 minutes.

Molasses Crinkles
3/4 c. shortening
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 c. molasses
2 1/4 c. flour
2 t. soda
1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. cloves
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. ginger
sugar
Blend shortening and sugar, then add molasses.  Mix dry ingredients and combine.  Chill.  Preheat oven to 375F.  Roll dough into balls. Dip the tops in sugar. Place 3" on greased sheet. Sprinkle with water and bake 10-12 minutes.

German Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. sugar
2 T. whipping cream
1/4 c. flour
1/4 t. ground cloves
1/4 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. salt
2/3 c. quick-cooking rolled oats
Melt butter.  Ad sugar and cream.  Stir until boiling.  Remove and stir in flour, cloves, ginger, salt and oats.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a butter, floured sheet 4 portions each sheet.  350F 3-4 minutes

Dark Chocolate Brownies
1/2 c. butter
3 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
11/3 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
Stir butter and chocolate over heat until melted and smooth.  Remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour and walnuts.  Spread into buttered and floured 8" square pan.  350F 25-30 minutes.  Top with chocolate glaze:  1/3 c. whipping cream, 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips heated until smooth and melted. Add 1 t. vanilla.  Cool slightly and spread over warm brownies.

I am trying to track down the recipes for cookies sold at a nearby Italian deli.  They are really expensive (about $5 for 7 little cookies), but soooooooo good.  I think one may be Ricciarelli, and another has a strong anise flavor.  Any Italians out there who want to spread the love?

We also might make chocolate chip cookies, but everyone has their favorite recipe already. What is your favorite or unusual Christmas cookie recipe?  How about homemade fudge or candy?

I should invest in butter (did you here about the shortage in Norway?!)