Hot Christmas Punch

This past weekend seven friends and I got together for lunch and a game of scrabble in my home. I called this time together a "Scrabble Luncheon". I asked each friend to contribute a small part of the lunch menu and I provided the condiments and a hot beverage. This Christmas punch is delicious and makes the kitchen smell so welcoming.

We had deli meat and cheese on croissants, fruit, and cookies. So easy to do and so appreciated by each one of the ladies. This was a great time of fellowship, laughter, and just plain being lazy on a Saturday afternoon! I get great pleasure from opening my home to others in order to give them a break from the everyday work and stress of life. I think this is so important in this crazy world of ours. Blessings...

Hot Christmas Punch:

2-1/2 cups cranberry juice
1 cup orange juice
1 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
2 cinnamon sticks, broken
2 quartered orange slices
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons instant tea

In a 2 quart saucepan, combine the first 7 ingredients. Heat just to boiling; cover and reduce heat to simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in instant tea. Serve hot.

Yield: 6 servings

Tip: recipe can easily be doubled to serve 9-12 people.

The Gift of Welcome

"You can share your heart and life with others, even if the meal is simple and the setting is humble. The most important gift of welcome simply says I care, I love you, and I have prepared a place for you."

The Woman's Study Bible, Second Edition

Copyright 1995, 2006 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

New King James Version, Page 1636

Easy Chocolates

Oh, the joy of chocolate! These chocolates would be a great hostess gift to take if you were invited to someone's home for a meal or time of fellowship. Hostess gifts are a wonderful way of saying, "thank you for inviting us into your home". When we offer a little gift to the hostess for her thoughtfulness we are acknowledging all of her hard work and time in preparing for us. It is a very thoughtful thing to do. Blessings...

Recipe:

1 (12 oz.) package semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon almond extract, or other flavor of your choice

dash of salt

1/3 cup finely diced maraschino cherries

finely ground pecans to roll chocolates in, about 1 cup.

1. Place chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a microwave safe bowl; microwave on HIGH for 1 minute. Stir to combine and microwave for another 30 to 60 seconds, or until melted. Stir until the mixture is smooth. Be careful not to burn chocolate.

2. Add extract, salt and cherries and stir well. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes until mixture is firm enough to roll into balls.

3. Form mixture in 1" balls and roll in pecans. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Tip: You don't have to use cherries. If you choose to add extract only, you may want to roll the chocolate in coconut, or chocolate sprinkles, or something else.

Tip: Please don't refrigerate chocolate unless it is made with a dairy product such as cream cheese or whipping cream. The flavor of chocolate is greatly diminished by being chilled.