December 5
Scripture:
Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Deuteronomy 6:3
Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.
Carol: Angels We Have Heard on High
Thoughts:
Everybody enjoys the sweet. We look forward to Christmas treats, special desserts, and the candies that accompany the Christmas holiday. Like honey on the tongue, promises sound sweet to our ears… we like to hear the promises, but sometimes the costs of them are bitter. Included in many of the carols are a hint of the bitter cost that bought us the joy we experience with the angel song and shepherd’s wonder.
You are invited this season to taste the goodness of the Lord. To take him at His word, to seek to know the peace and blessings offered you, and to come home to a place that will nourish your whole being : the Kingdom of God.
As I child I was often admonished about a food that I hadn’t yet tried: “Taste it, you won’t know if it is good unless you taste it”. Of course, that also meant I risked a flavor I wouldn’t at all like! But God let’s you know ahead of time that life with Him is sweet like honey, and wholesome as fresh milk. That makes me think of one of my favorite Christmas recipes. Chestnut Rice Pudding with Raspberry sauce!
Recipe:
3/4 cup long grain rice
3/4tsp. salt
6 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
3 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1 16 oz. can of chestnuts
1 1/2tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup heavy cream
softened frozen red rasberries
(1) Heat rice, salt, and 3 cups milk to boiling in 4 QT. pan. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 30 minutes.
(2) Beat sugar, eggs, and 3 cups milk with whisk in 3 QT. pan. Sprinkle gelatin over egg mix. Let stand 1 minute. Cook over medium heat until dissolved and mix thickens to coat spoon. ( 20 minutes) Stir frequently, don’t boil.
Remove from heat.
(3) Chop chestnuts, stir nuts, vanilla and egg mix into rice and blend. cover and refrigerate until mix mounds slightly. ( 1 hour). Stir occasionally.
(4) Whip the cream, fold into rice mixture, and spoon into 2 1/2 QT mold.
Cover and refrigerate ( at least 4 hours)
(5) Unmold, and garnish with raspberries
Make a Honey Pot centerpiece:Pooh’s Honey Pot
Create a life-sized honey pot (or multiple honey pots) as vases for floral decorations or table centerpieces:
1. Buy a large spherical pot as well as brown, yellow and white paint.
2. Paint the entire pot brown and allow to dry completely.
3. Drip the yellow paint around the rim of the pot to create a “dripping honey” look. Allow to dry completely.
4. Use the white paint to paint on the word “HUNNY” on the pot. Either place flowers inside the pot, or use it as a centerpiece for the food table. -By Yelena Johnson
