ENJOY GIVING YOURSELF AWAY!

I have loved this little book for years! Have you heard of it?

It's a cheerful book full of great ideas that will bring you and

those around you happiness, and help to make your world a

happier place to live in.

He teaches us to always obey those warm hearted impulses

when they come into our hearts. And tells us that if what we

have to give may be just warmth of heart, that is enough. If

we think of our heart rather than our purse as the reservoir

of our giving, we shall find it full all the time!

He teaches that it takes bigness of spirit to praise the great

and the successful, instead of envying them. And he quotes

George Matthew Adams who said; "He who praises another

enriches himself far more than he does the one praised. To

praise is an investment in happiness...The poorest human

being has something to give that the richest could not buy."

He says that more than anything else, the world needs the
healing influence of a great surge of simple thoughtfulness
and kindheartedness. Such a surge is beyond the power of
the world's rulers. It must start with US, as individuals.
One thing is for certain: When we set out to give ourselves
away, fully and freely. our hearts make direct connection
with that great central source of light and power, God, the
giver of all good things.
~~~~

I hope you can get your hands on this little book and take it
into your heart, it has changed my heart and it fits hand in
hand with the scriptures that teach us the same thing.


I am making candy today...the easiest candy there is!

MICROWAVE FUDGE

Stir together:

1 (lb.) box of powdered sugar
1/2 cup of baking cocoa
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup of milk
1 T. vanilla

Stir together in a 1 quart dish,
Top with 1/2 cup butter.

Microwave 2 min. Stir til smooth
Blend in 1 cup chopped nuts
Pour onto wax paper lined 8x8 pan
chill

Delicious and it could not be easier!

MICROWAVE CARAMELS

In a micro-safe bowl combine:

1 cup butter
2 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 (14oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

Cover loosely with parchment or wax paper.
Microwave for 4 to 5 min. or until butter starts
to melt. Now, whisk to combine. Microwave for
4 to 5 min. more. Whisk well. Now do it again for
4-5 min. then whisk again.

Now add the Vanilla.
Also at this point you can add:
nuts, I added 1 c. sliced cashews.

Our caramel into a pan that has been buttered.
Chill for 1 1/2 hours or til just firm. Use a buttered
knife to cut into 1 " squares.

You can wrap each piece in waxed paper squares
or place in candy cups to give or serve. Store at
room temp. for up to 2 weeks. Makes about
50-60 pieces. SO GOOD!

Caramels are definitely my favorite candy!

These are fleece scarves all wrapped up to be given for Christmas.

I have been making these scarves...9 of them...for all my

daughters and DIL's for Christmas. They were so easy!

Just cut two 4" pieces of fleece from a 64" wide
piece of material, sew them together at one end.
Then sew a regular stitch, right up the middle of that
long strip, pushing the fleece forward. It will sew gathered,
if you want more gather, sew up the strip again, doing the
same thing. It gets twisty as you do this. So easy and so cute!

I got this great idea from a friend who is so very creative!

From the blog..Just Another Hang Up...She is such an

inspiration to me.

Last post I told about this bundt cake that I make every year

for all my neighbors..20 of them...And several of you wanted

the recipe so here it is! It makes a lovely neighbor gift, I do 3

at a time in my oven...they are SO GOOD. Have fun making it!

HEAVEN'S CHOCOLATE CAKE

1 chocolate cake mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup of baking cocoa
1 cup water
1 small pkg. instant
chocolate pudding.

Mix all of this together,
for 4 minutes. Pour into
a well greased and floured
Bundt pan. (I just use Pam
spray to grease pan)
Bake for 45 minutes in a
350' oven. Take out and
cool for 15 minutes in bundt
pan, then tip out onto a nice
plate if giving as a gift or serving.
Cool for 30- 45 minutes

GLAZE
(Glaze when the cake is still
slightly warm.)
1 cup powdered sugar
2 T. soft butter
1 to 1 1/2 T. Milk,
(or lemon or orange if you
prefer a flavored glaze)
Mix together and pour over cake.

You can also decorate cake
with seasonal sprinkles, nuts, or
crushed candy canes etc.
Sometimes I fill the center hole of
the bundt cake with candy etc. before
I wrap them up. I get the cellophane wrap
at Walmart.

Have fun my friends! This might be my last post until after Christmas,
So I just wanted to again, send each of you all my love and THANK YOU
for your friendship and sweet kindness given to me this past year. It has
meant so much to me! Love you all...MERRY CHRISTMAS! :D