Christmas-time Mornings

 

Good Morning, my dear Friends!

Here's how I like to wake up these days....

 

Sitting by twinkle lights shimmering on our tree full of memories.

 

With a thankful heart to my Lord, I find my quiet house a peaceful safe-haven to talk to Him before my days gets going.

 

I read a story from this delightful book by Guidepost Mom gave me for my birthday. Christmas to Warm the Heart.  It's full of real Christmas miracles and stories of God's goodness.  I love this little book!

 

 

There's a toasty fire in the fireplace and perhaps a sugar cookie candle lit in the kitchen next to my coffee "station" as I am ready to pour that perfect first cup. Oh how I love the first cup! 

 

This morning is a dreary and rainy one.  It's a special one too, because my niece has

stayed the night with us and we're going to Christmas shop today with her mom!!

 

It's a very busy time of year for us, but everything is exciting!  Even on the most bustling days, I keep that quiet Christmas joy in my heart that I feel every morning when I wake up and sit by the tree.

 

Jesus Christ is the true meaning of this joyous season!  

Luke 2:1-22

 

 

 

Coca Cola Birthday Cake

 

 Sunday was Mr. Cozy's birthday, and that means I got to make a cake!  Every year I ask him what kind of birthday cake he wants me to make, and it's usually something chocolate.  A few years ago I started a new birthday cake tradition for him with the Double Chocolate Christmas Cake with Ganache and Pecan Praline Frosting.  That one is an irresistible tasting that also looks pretty impressive.   So now it's on the "rotation" of Heath's favorite cakes (and mine, too)! 

 

This year I made one of his long-time favorite cakes, and maybe the first cake I ever made being married.  This is one his Mom has made for years and one that we both LOVE! ...Coca Cola Cake! 

 

 

 I've posted on Coca Cola cake before, but last year when I made it I turned it into a layer cake and used a different cola frosting that this one.  This frosting is the original family recipe that goes along with this cake.  It's a cooked frosting that also has cola in it.  You actually cook it over the stove before adding the sugar, and then spread it over the hot cake just out of the oven!  Once it cools, it's really rich and reminds me of fudge!  It's perfect on the cake which is incredibly moist and tender from the buttermilk and melted marshmallows in the batter! 

 

 

This year I added a salted caramel layer by melting caramels with a little cream and salt.  I poked holes in the cake and poured it over right from the oven before I frosted.  I thought the caramel addition sounded really good, but when I put the frosting on top it wouldn't spread very well over the caramel.  I decided to stop fight fighting the frosting and just kind of swirled in the caramel to make a chocolate caramel frosting.  It was good, but we both agreed the cake was already sweet enough before the caramel.  I probably won't do that again unless I drizzle a little over the top.

 

The birthday boy still loved it, and that's all that matters to me!!!

 

 Yes, he's 9 yrs. old. ;)

 

My husband and I have now celebrated 12 birthdays together as a couple, and each one we try to make really special for one another!  It's not all about the gifts we give, but the extra attention and love we show.  The small things like making one of his favorite meals--African peanut soup this year--and us doing whatever he wants to do that day!  I like to wake him up with a special breakfast treat like fresh chocolate croissants.  Also, I'm reminded to be more mindful of really listening to everything he says and stop to look him in the eye when he talks to me.  His kind blue eyes still melt me! 

 

These are things I should always be very mindful of. 

 

 

 Mr. Cozy was thrilled to see I made him Coca Cola cake and enjoyed every luscious chocolate-pecan bite! A piece of this requires a huge glass of milk or fresh coffee to counter the sugary-sweetness!  It was a really great day for the both of us, and the fact that we went to church together, spent time in our Christmas adorned house, and celebrated with a couple friends really was the "icing on the cake"!

 

 

 

Coca Cola Cake

Original recipe without caramel 

 

Cake

2 c. All-Purpose Flour

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Salt

3 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder

2 c. Sugar

1/2 c. Butter

1 1/2 c. Small Marshmallows

1/2 c. Oil

 1 c. Coke

1/2 c. Buttermilk

2 Eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

 

Sift dry ingredients together and set aside. 

 

Melt the butter, marshmallows, oil and Coke and bring to a boil. 

 

 

Pour over dry ingredients. 

 

 Add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla.  Beat well.  Pour in a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish.

 

  Bake for 45-50 minutes.  Take out when a toothpick comes out of the center clean.  Pour frosting over the cake once out of the oven. 

 

 Frosting

 

1/2 c. Butter

6 Tbsp. Coke

3/4. Pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped

3 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder

1 Box Powdered Sugar

 

Combine butter, cocoa, and Coke in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil.  Take off the heat. Add powdered sugar and beat in sugar with a mixer.  Stir in 1/2 c. pecans.  Spread over the hot cake, and sprinkle with remaining chopped pecans.

 

 

I think everything tastes a little better sitting by the sparkly Christmas tree. :)

 

 

(Our kitty Roosevelt London, aka. "Rolo" loves to nap by the tree, but who wouldn't!?!)

 

 

 

 

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*Best Loved* Derby Pie

 

Dear Ones, this pie is amazing!!!

I wrote about this recipe 3 years ago when I first started this blog, but it's well worth sharing again!  This derby pie is not only a family favorite on my hubby's side, but has become a personal favorite pie of my own! 

 

As you may know, derby pie is a Kentucky favorite that originated in Louisville, Ky.  I've seen recipes of derby pie that seems more like a pecan pie with a custard-like texture and others with the addition of bourbon, but I still think this recipe is the best! 

 

 

If you love chocolate chip cookies at all, you will go crazy over this!  It's full of pecans and chocolate chips and is a little gooey and very rich!  I used refrigerated pie crust that I fluted or "ruffled" and gave a milk bath followed by a sugar shower.  Yes, it's worth the fuss, for this pie is serious business around here!  I adopted this recipe from my mother-in-love, where we usually have it at her Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.  I've had other's children ask me to make this for their birthday, and adults want to pay me to make this derby pie for them!  It is reeeally good!  (And it's super easy to make...ssshhh! ;)

 

If you want a slice of what Kentucky homes taste like at the holiday season, make this delicious pie!  Please enjoy every day of this beautiful Christmas season the Lord has given us, because I know it will slip away quickly into winter solace.  After just putting our tree up, I'm sitting by it now and taking in the moment! 

 

 

*Best Loved* Derby Pie

 

1 c. Sugar

1/2 c. (1 stick) Butter, softened

1 Egg

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1/2 c. Flour

1 c. Chocolate Chips

1 c. Pecans, chopped

 

1 Refrigerated Pie Crust

Half & Half or Cream

1 Tbsp. Sugar

 

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

 

Get the crust out of the fridge and allow to set 20 minutes before using.  Unroll, arrange crust in a pie pan, and flute the edges.  Set aside.

 

Mix all of the pie ingredients together and pour in the pie crust.  Spread out evenly.

 

 

With a pastry brush brush the half and half or cream all around the fluted edge of the pie.  Next sprinkle sugar on top of the crust to give it a gorgeous sheen and sparkle!

 

 

Bake for 35-38 minutes.

Let cool for 30 minutes-- if you can--before slicing and serving!

 

 

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Beautiful Cranberry Sauce

 

I want to share with you the deliciously sweet and tangy cranberry sauce I made for Thanksgiving dinner!  It has a beautiful combination of fresh cranberries, orange zest, dried cherries and toasted pecans.  The one apple in this recipe adds a little texture, but also adds natural pectin to slightly thicken the ruby sauce. This dish is actually really easy to make and can even be made the day before, only it might not make it to the dinner table that way! ;)

 

I like a cranberry dish on the Thanksgiving and Christmas table, not just because I think you should always have cranberries in a holiday meal, but it seems to accompany whatever you serve.  Whether it be roast turkey or pork, glazed ham or rack of lamb, the cranberry's bright flavor will add that zing you want on your plate.  Cranberries are like the pretty little jewels that dress up your dinner with their deep red hue!

 

My family loved this cranberry sauce so much that I put the leftovers in little jam jars and sent one with everybody on their way. (In this house you never leave empty handed!)  If you're a cranberry lover like I am, I hope you'll find room for this recipe at your next festive dinner! 

 

 Cranberry Sauce

 

12-14 oz. Fresh Cranberries

1 c. Brown Sugar

1/2 c. Maple Sugar

1 Granny Smith Apple, peeled and chopped

Zest of 2 Oranges

Juice of 1 Orange

1/3 c. Dried Cherries

3/4 c. Pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped

 

Cook cranberries, sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan over low heat for 5 minutes or until skins pop.  Add apple, zest and juice and cook for 15-20 more minutes until berries burst and mixture thickens.  Remove from heat and add dried cherries and pecans.  Let cool and serve chilled.

 

This recipe is slightly adapted from an Ina Garten recipe--love her!--that I changed enough  I actually  just shared with you exactly what I did instead.  I used maple sugar because Papa just gave me some as a gift, but if you don't have that don't worry, just use white sugar!!  :)  Omit the pecans if you're not a nut lover.

 

 

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What A Wonderful Weekend

What a wonderful weekend I had!  If Thanksgiving wasn't enough excitement, Saturday was my birthday!  I was actually born on Thanksgiving day, and my parents called me a turkey-baby.  Mom says after she delivered me she immediately wanted some turkey and dressing, because she could smell it cooking in the hospital the whole time she was in labor!  To this day that's one of my favorite things to eat! 

 

This is my last year in my 20's, and I find it hard to believe!  Where is time going so fast?  Just when I want it slow down for me to savor, it seems to be speeding up!  Anyways, I feel so blessed to see my 29th birthday and have my loving husband, family and friends to share it with.  I celebrated with my hubby being off work and doing some Christmas shopping followed by a delicious dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.  It was a beautiful cold day that was perfect for me to wear my festive red coat and warm boots! 

 

I feel as though my birthday continues....

This morning when I got on blogger to check all of the fabulous blogs I follow, I noticed that I won a giveaway at A Delightsome Life!!!!  I won the new book Miss Mustard Seed's Inspired You, Letting God Breathe New Life into Your Heart and Home.  I'm so anxious to curl up by the fire and read this for some fresh insight and inspiration into nesting my home.  I feel like God gave me a little extra-special birthday gift through A Delightsome Life. 

 

 (This picture and the next one show you just a small bit of the Christmas explosion that begins to happen before everything finds a home!!  I love sorting through it all!)
 

Today, I'm in the exciting bustle around the house of Christmas decorating!  The festive music is on, and the twinkle lights are around the house as I'm putting all of my favorite things.  The tree will be the last thing and probably will go up by the end of the week.  It starts off looking like a cluttered mess with all the little Christmas pretties here and there while I decide to put them in the new house, but the end result will be my own Christmas wonderland!

 

 

This is one of my favorite things to do, for Christmas is definitely my favorite time of year!!! (Next will be changing my blog over to Christmas!)

 

I'll leave you with a cozy little peek of my finished decor.  God bless!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Thanksgiving Dinner!

 

Mr. Cozy took this picture about an hour before everyone arrived.  I think he did a good job of capturing the essence of the moment.....

 

 

It was a perfect November day with clear blue skies and brisk cool air.  The Japanese maple just outside the dining room window is fiery red and radiant!  It welcomes family as they come up the walk to the front door.

 

 

The candles lit, the table set and my wedding china placed, for this is Thanksgiving dinner! 

 I was so excited to fill up the antique table with 7 place settings for my family!  My sister's hubby is a new addition, and that makes the table as full as it's ever been at our house!  Here's a table about to be overflowing in the tradition and love that my family brings!

 

 

I really love my china, though I don't get to use it too often. (That's going to change!)

It's Noritake "White Palace".  The hubs and I both thought the gold trim on it was different and pretty.  There is also lots of raised ivory detail around the edges.  I find it dainty and beautiful!

 

 

I used gold chargers for a bit of fancy flair and the ends were flanked with cranberry red ones. The table cloth is filled with rich autumn colors, perfect for Thanksgiving. That was a gift from Mom for us hosting the dinner!

 

I topped the plates with neatly folded cloth napkins--that I also received at a wedding shower--and each person had their own baby pumpkin! When we took a seat for prayer before filling our plates everybody put their little pumpkin above their plate, and it decorated the table! 

 

 

I don't have real silver flatware, so I used out everyday forks and knives.  The stemware are crystal goblets my parents gave us the Christmas after we married.  We drank some delicious "House of Grace" or "9th Street House" fruit tea, which is special to us.  It was also served at our wedding.

 

The table isn't large enough to have a big centerpiece, but I thought the crystal candlesticks that were Mr. Cozy's great-grandmother's would be perfect for the occasion!  I think they should always be candles lit on the table to set a nice ambiance! Between them was a new leaf-patterned platter, I bought at Home Goods, that held the warm rosemary rolls!

 

 

Here's a small side table that was passed down to us that we just began to paint and refinish it last week!  (I'm not completely finished with the top.)  It had a dark wood finish, and I wanted to give it a French inspired antiqued look!  Mr. Cozy was a huge help with this!! 

 

This was where everyone could come and get a drink of hot spiced apple cider in their glasses where I already had cinnamon sticks in.  The white pumpkin held the delicious maple spiced nuts to munch on while Mom and I finished dinner!

Note: When I took this picture, I had yet to put the cider in or the cinnamon stick....I tried to take a few of these photos earlier that afternoon before things got busy!

 

 

The desserts were scrumptious!!!  Mom made her frosty famous lemon cake with lemon drizzle that's always so moist it fall apart on the fork!  We so look forward to it every Thanksgiving.  Faith brought a delicious pumpkin pie that was so cute with a couple of pumpkin shaped pieces of crust on the top.  This was yummy with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon!  I made some easy chocolates that were kind of like a rocky road candy with marshmallows, but also had toasted pecans and coconut.  Yum!  We enjoyed these after dinner while watching The Christmas Carol. :)

 

 

I'm sorry I didn't take pictures of much of the food! I was way too busy and hungry to. Our delicious dinner menu consisted of our favorites: herb roasted turkey and creamy gravy, sage dressing, green bean casserole, cooked down Italian green beans, sweet potato casserole with streusal topping, homemade mashed potatoes, baked macaroni and cheese with butter-crumb topping, delicious cranberry sauce with pecans, rosemary rolls with garlic butter and honey butter with House of Grace tea to drink.

 

Mom and I made the food, and I have to say that it was mouth-watering!  Doesn't Thanksgiving food always taste the best??

 

 

I love this cute pilgrim couple standing proudly on the mantle!  I thought they were fun!

 

 

 

As the sun went down, dinner was ready and we were about to eat in the glow of candle light. 

 

 

Mom was oh so sweet to say that being there reminded her of what it would be like at Fred's house (From the Christmas Carol!) for one of his cheery Christmas parties! That made my night!  ....I've always wanted us to have a house with that kind warmth and character that's filled with laughter and love when you come over!

 

 

 God has been so good to us!  We have each other!

 

 

The night was a magical one to remember....

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!

 

 

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