Ruth Anne Benziger's Blog, page 43

2 Countdown to Christmas

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Recipes



French Toast

(with Banana or pineapple or sweet potato or pumpkin or carrot or butternut squash)

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4 large eggs

2 tablespoons of desired puree from above list

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

4 slices whole-wheat bread

Nonstick cooking spray

2 teaspoons trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread

Pure maple syrup, confectioners’ sugar, or fresh fruit, for serving

Flaxseed meal (optional)

In a shallow bowl, whisk eggs, puree, and cinnamon. Add the bread slices and turn them in the mixture to soak for 30 seconds to 1 minute (any longer and the bread will get soggy)

Coat a nonstick griddle or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set it over medium-high-heat. When the pan is hot, add the margarine. When the margarine sizzles, add the soaked bread slices (sprinkle with flaxseed if you like) and cook until golden brown on the outside, 2 or 3 minutes per side. Serve warm with syrup, confectioners’ sugar, or fruit.

Serves: 4

Coffee Cake

(With Butternut Squash)

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BATTER

Nonstick cooking spray

1 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar

4 tablespoons trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread

1 1/4 cups lowfat (1%) buttermilk or nonfat (skim) milk

1 cup reduced-fat sour cream

1 large egg

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 cups whole-wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup butternut squash puree

1/2 cup mini-marshmallows

TOPPING

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1/4 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Coat a 9-inch cake pan or 8×8-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar and margarine until creamy. Beat in 1 cup of the buttermilk or milk, the sour cream, egg, and vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt, and mix until completely incorporated.

Pour half of the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Spread the squash puree over the batter and sprinkle with marshmallows. Stir the remaining 1/4 cup milk into the rest of the batter and spread evenly over the squash filling.

Mix together the topping ingredients and sprinkle evenly over the batter. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cake, 55 to 60 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on a rack before cutting into wedges or squares.

Serves: 10

Macaroni and Cheese

(With butternut squash or cauliflower)

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1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni

Nonstick cooking spray

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/2 cup nonfat (skim) milk

1/2 cup butternut squash or cauliflower puree

1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar Cheese (about 8 ounces)

4 ounces (almost 1/4 cup) reduced-fat or nonfat cream cheese

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni, and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander.

While the macaroni is cooking, coat a large saucepan with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the oil, then the flour, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture resembles a tick paste but has not browned, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the milk and cook, stirring every now and then, until the mixture begins to thicken, 3 or 4 minutes. Add the vegetable puree, Cheddar, cream cheese, and seasonings, and stir until the cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Stir in the macaroni and serve warm.

Serves: 4

Chocolate Chip Cookies

(With Chickpeas)

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Nonstick cooking spray

1 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar

3/4 cup trans-fat free soft tub margarine spread

2 large egg whites

2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a large bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar and margarine with a wooden spoon or on medium spreed until smooth. Beat in the egg whites and vanilla, then the chickpeas and chocolate chips. Add the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt, and mix on low speed until a thick dough forms.

Drop the dough by the tablespoonful onto the baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart. Press gently with a fork to flatten. Bake until the cookies are golden brown and just set, 11 to 13 minutes; do not overbake. Transfer to a rack to cool.

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Serves: 2 dozen

Christmas Movies

A Charlie Brown Christmas

The Christmas Wish

Arthur Christmas

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The Holiday

Smoky Mountain Christmas

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Christmas Memories



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Merry Christmas!

3 Countdown to Christmas

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Some of us struggle during the holiday season with wanting to taste all the delicious treats and wanting to keep our waist lines in tact. Well, I’m providing some really good dessert options today that will give you that sweet taste and not let the weight topple over you. I hope you’ll enjoy these recipes. Don’t be alarmed by the ingredients because some of them sound disgusting, but I promise you they are quite delicious.

Recipes



Gingerbread Spice Cake

(With Broccoli and Carrot)

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Nonstick cooking spray

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar

1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil

1 cup broccoli puree

1/2 cup carrot puree

1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1/4 cup molasses

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon grated orange zest

Preheat oven to 375 F. Coat a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

In a bowl or zipper-lock bag, mix the flours with the baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and salt; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar, oil, egg until smooth. Beat in vegetable purees, yogurt, molasses, vanilla, and orange zest. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth.

Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Bake until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cake, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool 5 minutes in the pan before turning the cake out onto a rack to cool completely.

Add powdered sugar if desired.

Serves: 8-10

Hot Cocoa

(With Sweet Potato)

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1 1/4 cups nonfat (skim) milk

1/2 cup sweet potato puree

2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (optional)

Marshmallows, for serving

Combine milk, puree, syrup, salt, and spice in a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Pour into mugs and top with marshmallows.

Serves: 2

Marshmallow Crispy Treats

(With Brown Rice)

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Nonstick cooking spray

1 tablespoon trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread

1 (10-ounce) package marshmallows

6 cups crisp brown rice cereal

1/4 cup flaxseed meal

Coat an 8×8-inch pan with cooking spray.

Melt the margarine in a large pot over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove pan from the heat.

Add the rice cereal and flaxseed, and stir until the rice is well coated with the marshmallow. Press the mixture into a baking dish and let cool before cutting into squares.

Serves: 8 large squares

NOTE: All these recipes were taken out of, Deceptively Delicious, Simple secrets to get your kids eating good food, by Jessica Seinfeld

Movies I love to watch with my kids and family

Polar Express

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It’s a Wonderful Life

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Miracle on 34th Street

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Prancer

One Magic Christmas

The Spirit of Christmas

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A Hobo’s Christmas

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Bible Verses For Christmas Time



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Book Review: Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War I by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

Description:

New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor has joined with Heather Webb to create this unforgettably romantic novel of the Great War.

August 1914. England is at war. As Evie Elliott watches her brother, Will, and his best friend, Thomas Harding, depart for the front, she believes—as everyone does—that it will be over by Christmas, when the trio plan to celebrate the holiday among the romantic cafes of Paris.

But as history tells us, it all happened so differently…

Evie and Thomas experience a very different war. Frustrated by life as a privileged young lady, Evie longs to play a greater part in the conflict—but how?—and as Thomas struggles with the unimaginable realities of war he also faces personal battles back home where War Office regulations on press reporting cause trouble at his father’s newspaper business. Through their letters, Evie and Thomas share their greatest hopes and fears—and grow ever fonder from afar. Can love flourish amid the horror of the First World War, or will fate intervene?

Christmas 1968. With failing health, Thomas returns to Paris—a cherished packet of letters in hand—determined to lay to rest the ghosts of his past. But one final letter is waiting for him…

Characters

Tom Harding, Will Elliot, Evelyn Elliot, Alice Cutherby

My Thoughts:

Five stars for Last Christmas in Paris!

As the war begins, Tom Harding and his friend Will Elliot are called to the front and exchange letters with Will’s sister Evelyn.

First, I love the idea of most of this book consisting of letters. I first had some reservations on whether I would be able to get all perspectives and ideas of what would happen, but I read on, I found that it was all there. Letters of fear, courage, war, disdain, hope, and torment. Dripping from the pages in letters that kept soldiers alive.

Friendships develop in the form of letter, information is exchanged, columns are written, battles are had, deaths put strain on people, and still they endure because they have to.

I felt the emotional turmoil, the fear, the anger, the confusion, the hope, and the love. You can’t help but get invested in the characters and feel what you feel.

High praise for including such talent within the pages. A twisting of history, war, friendship, and love is sure to leave you with a story that you will carry with you. A lovely read that leaves my soul touched and deeply moved. And needless to say, I cried like a baby while I read certain passages of this book.

Book Review: The Obsession by Nora Roberts

Description:

“She stood in the deep, dark woods, breath shallow and cold prickling over her skin despite the hot, heavy air. She took a step back, then two, as the urge to run fell over her.”

Naomi Bowes lost her innocence the night she followed her father into the woods. In freeing the girl trapped in the root cellar, Naomi revealed the horrible extent of her father’s crimes and made him infamous. No matter how close she gets to happiness, she can’t outrun the sins of Thomas David Bowes.

Now a successful photographer living under the name Naomi Carson, she has found a place that calls to her, a rambling old house in need of repair, thousands of miles away from everything she’s ever known. Naomi wants to embrace the solitude, but the kindly residents of Sunrise Cove keep forcing her to open up—especially the determined Xander Keaton.

Naomi can feel her defenses failing, and knows that the connection her new life offers is something she’s always secretly craved. But the sins of her father can become an obsession, and, as she’s learned time and again, her past is never more than a nightmare away.

Characters:

Naomi Carson, Xander Keaton

Awards

Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Romance (2016)

My Thoughts:

Naomi Bowes is a typical little girl on the eve of her birthday. Thinking her father was hiding a present for her, she follows him into the woods thinking he might go for a swim in the blistering hot night. Only, as she moves through the woods and hears her father down in a root cellar, things aren’t what she’d thought. When he comes out, his face is wrong. Hiding in terror, she waits for him to leave. Opening the cellar, she hopes it’s the bike she’s wanted. But, when she descends the stairs, the sights and smells she finds, changes her life forever. A woman tied to a bed naked, alone, afraid greets her. Naomi, helps that woman out of the root cellar and treks across miles to get her to the sheriff and to safety. That night, she finds her father isn’t who she thought he was.

After the revelation of her father’s crimes, her uncles take her and her little brother in, along with their mother. Changing her name from Bowes to Carson, she wants desperately to avoid being in the press. Events in her childhood, family trauma and grief, and her inability to trust, have Naomi moving around unsettled.

As an adult, she’s a professional photographer who uses her work as an excuse to not settle in one place for long. However, in Washington State, she buys a house, hires a crew to fix it up, and gives settling a try. As she gets comfortable in the town, she starts to form attachments (like to Xander, a mechanic and band member) she didn’t intend on. Falling in love with the town, its inhabitants, and her view, she feels maybe it is time to put down some roots.

Nightmares don’t always go away and when those nightmares change, life gets harder to accept.

Roberts book is full of suspense, great characters, small town charm, plenty of renovations, and dynamic story that brings Naomi’s story to life. Her storytelling brings you through the struggles of overcoming trauma, trying to connect to others when you’ve never before, and accepting what is. A riveting, at the edge of you seat, and beautifully written tale will take you on a ride. Better hold on tight.

4 Countdown to Christmas

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Recipes



Pinecone-Shaped Spread



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Recipe was taken out of Country Women Christmas 1998.

Recipe is by Lisa Pointer, Leadore, Idaho.

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup mayonnaise

5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

1 tablespoon finely chopped green onion

1/2 teaspoon dill weed

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1-1/4 cups whole unblanched almonds, toasted

Fresh rosemary sprigs, original

Assorted crackers or raw vegetables

In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, bacon, onion, dill, and pepper; chill. Form into two pine cone shapes on a serving platter. Beginning at the narrow end of each shape, arrange almonds in overlapping rows. Garnish with rosemary if desired. Serve with crackers or vegetables.

Serves: 1-1/2 cups

Holiday Wreath



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Recipe taken from Country Women Christmas 1998

Recipe by Denise Glisson, Kinghill, U.S. Virgin Islands

30 large marshmallows

1/2 cup butter (no substitutes)

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

20 to 22 drops green food coloring

3-1/2 cup cornflakes

Red-hot candies

Red shoestring licorice and one red Dot candy, optional

In heavy saucepan, combine marshmallows, butter, vanilla, and food coloring; cook and stir over low heat until smooth. Remove from the heat; add cornflakes and mix well. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased foil, forming a 9-in. wreath. Decorate with red-hots. If desired, form a bow with licorice and place on wreath; add Dot on top of bow.

Serves: 10-12

Movies I love

Frosty the snowman

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Borrowed Hearts

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Santa Claus is Coming to Town

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Books I love

A Christmas Carol

The Nutcracker

All I want For Christmas

Musical Playlist

5 Countdown to Christmas

As we enter the days leading up to Christmas, I’m taking the time to Update once a day until Christmas day. I’ll be posting about recipes, books, music, movies, traditions, and a few short stories that I’ve written.

I hope you’ll enjoy this blogmas, as it were, for your enjoyment.

5 Days to

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Presents are bought (for most of us) and are ready to be wrapped and placed under the Christmas tree. Kids are excited about shaking presents to guess what the perfect gift will be. Plans for dinner, desserts, and treats are being finalized. As the days come to the few, we go out and look at Christmas lights and take pictures with Santa.

Houses are being cleaned and organized in preparation for that holiday meal. Decorations are on the tree, in the window, and lights twinkle. Toys dance and sing with a mixture of childish giggles. I love to hear the excitement from my own children. The closer we get, the excitement only grows.

Christmas cards arrive to your door and you read the good tidings. Messages from family and friends who live far away. We add our cards in a box to keep, and make a note to send a new one next year. Santa letters have been received letting us know that he will be coming soon.

This time of year is my favorite because not only do families come together to enjoy the holiday, but we are reminded of what this holiday is all about. We remember Christ was born on this day. In our family, we make him a cake, blow out the candles, and thank him for all that he does.

I love going to look at decorated houses and see the mangers set in the center. The lights with fun characters my children know. I love the smells of cinnamon, spice, apples, chestnuts, and sugar. The turkey in the oven or the pie in the night. It’s the best time of year, when you think about that.

Cocoa by the fire on a cold winter’s night, while the children dream of pleasures bright. Angels watch from heavens gate, we’re blessed to share these warm nights. Wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, and bags. One more time we come to bring the holiday delights.

I’m sharing with you, my dearest wish, I hope you find these things within. I hope your family hold tightly to you, hug you tight, and wish you a blessing goodnight. Soon we’ll bring in the new year, and more things will come when the time is near.

So, I hope you’ll enjoy these blog posts that I share. For the funnest times during this time of year. I hope you have food and company. Music to brighten, movies to entertain. I hope you’ll have something to open that day.

If you are without family or food or gifts, remember there is one who is always near. God is looking out for you, hold that thought closely when you fear. Pray to him and wish for a new path, because it’s never too late to change. It’s never too late to take the steps.

Countdown to Christmas starts today.

5 more days until our special day.

Recipes for Christmas Time

Apple-Cinnamon Breakfast Sandwiches



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1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon butter or margarine, divided

8 slices whole wheat bread

3/4 cup applesauce, divided

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup milk

2 to 4 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Butter each slice of bread on one side with 1/2 teaspoon butter. Spread 3 tablespoons applesauce evenly on buttered side of 4 slices of bread; sprinkle each side with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Top with remaining slices of bread, buttered side down.

Combine egg and milk, beating well; dip each sandwich in egg mixture, coating both sides.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large skillet. Add 2 sandwiches, and cook over medium heat 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. Turn sandwiches, and continue cooking until golden brown on other side.

Combine sifted powdered sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over sandwiches. Serve immediately.

Serves: 4

Gingerbread Men Cookies



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1/3 cup water

1/2 cup shortening

1/4 cup butter or margarine

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Pinch of salt

1 1/2 cups molasses

Raisins

Combine water, shortening, and butter in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until shortening melts.

Combine flour, soda, ginger, cinnamon, and salt in a mixing bowl; add shortening mixture, stirring well. Stir in molasses; mix well. Chill overnight.

Divide dough in half; store one portion in refrigerator. Roll half of dough to 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut with a 4-inch gingerbread man cutter, and place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Press raisins into dough for eyes, nose, and mouth.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Cool cookies 2 minutes on cookie sheets; remove to wire racks, and allow to cool completely. Repeat for remaining dough.

Serves: 3 dozen.

Note: Cookies will be soft. Store in an airtight container.

Popovers



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2 eggs

1 cup milk

1 cup sifted all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 425 F

Thoroughly butter 6 large custard cups or iron popover pans. Place in oven and heat while preparing batter.

Beat eggs slightly. Beat in milk. Add flour and salt. Beat vigorously with an electric beater or rotary beater for 2 minutes.

Fill heated custard cups two-thirds full.

Bake about 40 minutes or until browned and well puffed. Do not open oven door during first 30 minutes of baking time.

Remove popovers and serve at once.

Serves: 6

Movies I love

Home Alone

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Elf

A Christmas Story

Books I love

Gabriel’s Angel and Home for Christmas by Nora Roberts

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The Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. (A new one for me)

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T’was the Night Before Christmas

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Enjoy your holiday season!

Christmas Traditions

Sharing my post from last year!

Ruth Anne Garcia

There are many things that I do during the holiday season. I live in Las Cruces, NM. So, I thought I’d show you some of the traditions we celebrate. I’ll even throw in some of my family traditions and what we like to do during the Christmas season.

First, living in New Mexico, we get to celebrate with food. A favorite staple of mine is Tacos! Of course, we love our tacos with lime. Don’t forget the lime. Add some Spanish rice and refried beans and you’re golden.

Second, we like to decorate our tree.  My kids love to decorate the tree and add all sorts of things to spice it up. Here is our tree this year. Look at their smiling faces.

Next, we move on to pictures with Santa! Each year, we got to several events around town. First, we are a part of the New Mexico State…

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Jolly to a Brave New Year

©2019 Ruth Anne Garcia

As we come to a close of the year

Another set of goals in near

To make a pact for what we hold dear

All the missteps fall to the rear

Hopes and dreams and accomplished bliss

Leads us to the hope for nothing to miss

If tough times come we can only dismiss

And hide them under a sweet kiss

We’ll bring in the new year like a boss

Moving forward while we ignore the chaos

Drenched in the hard work like green of moss

Soon the year will hold great promise, and you’ll never feel the loss

I hope you’ll have a great start my dear

And keep what you wish will soon appear

All we can do is move on the current without a fear

Let’s touch are glasses for a brave new year!

End of the Year Gallery

This year has had many pits and many falls, but it has also had some amazing highs. I’m proud of the progress I’ve made in my personal life, in my career, and my writing accomplishments.

To celebrate these, I’m attaching an extensive gallery of things happening this year. Enjoy!

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Yearly Reading Goals

Every year, I set a reading goal on Goodreads. For the last two years, I set a goal to read 100 books. I succeeded last year and I just skated over that line this year. I feel that we all read things that we don’t track. For instance, I don’t add the Bible on my list, yet I read it almost daily. I also read to my children all the time and I’m sure it would raise my number to over 150 books.

But I counted the books where I read them in their entirety. I also have left reviews on most of them. I’ve been posting trilogy reviews because I feel that it only comes together for me in my review after reading the entire story. I’ve done a couple and I might do those again.

I like going back in time and seeing the books I read, the reviews I left, and the connections I’ve made with other readers and writers. Here are my last two years of books.

My 2018 year in books:

https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2018/50998963

My 2019 year in books:

https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2019/50998963

Do you like going back and seeing your years? How many books did you read this year?

Happy Reading!