Becky Wade's Blog, page 139

Glad Tidings

Hi friends,

It’s two days until Christmas! I can hardly believe it’s been another year of sharing our love of books, stories, and life together. I hope you know how much I look forward to sharing this time with you every other Wednesday. Today, I thought I’d share a glimpse of our pre-Christmas fun, along with how the McKenna family from my Alaskan Courage series celebrates.

We’ve been busy trimming our trees, getting our winter exercising in, and lots of time with the kids (who are way too old to be called kids, but they’ll always be my girls) and grandkids!

A friend shared this delicious and highly addictive recipe with me years ago and we still make it as often as we can.

Speaking of recipes, here are a couple of the McKenna family favorites:

Gage loves all things peppermint so he’s especially excited at Christmas when peppermint comes out in spades. My daughters love it equally as well.

This is my favorite McKenna wintry drink. Brew up a cup, grab a good book and curl up by the fire.

Despite all that is going on in the world and in many of our homes, those in Christ have hope–always. He is our hope. Hold tight to Him.

I pray you all have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Reader Question: I’d love to hear how you’ve been preparing to celebrate Christmas and would absolutely love to see some pictures.

Merry Christmas!

~Dani

Regency-Era Baking: Mincemeat Pie

I recently took an online class taught by The Regency Cook in association with the Regency Town House in Brighton and Hove, England. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. If you have the opportunity, you may want to check out his other class offerings for yourself.

Paul Couchman, The Regency Cook

I have included mentions of mincemeat in two of my novels (The Silent Governess and An Ivy Hill Christmas) so I thought it was time I actually tried to make mincemeat for myself.

An Ivy Hill Christmas (photo credit: Mimi Noble)

If you are repelled by the thought of meat pie, don’t go to England. (Mostly kidding, but meat pies of various sorts are still popular there—pasties, anyone? And if you see a sign in a British bakery or café advertising “pie,” don’t start dreaming of cherry or apple. It will most likely be some sort a savory pie with meat and potatoes or turnips.)

Paul Couchman, The Regency Cook, showing us how it’s done.

Our instructor shared some interesting history of the mince pie before showing us how to make our own. In Medieval through Elizabethan times, mincemeat was made of shredded meat with dried fruits and spices like mace and cloves. Thankfully for modern palates including my own, mincemeat no longer includes meat. No one knows exactly when the transition took place but Mr. Couchman told us “…in the Georgian period, mince pies became ever sweeter as sugar became cheaper, and lost much of their meat. The process continued throughout the 1700s and 1800s.” He also pointed out that the mincemeat recipe in Eliza Acton’s Modern Cookery for Private Families (1845) includes ox tongue, while Mrs Beeton’s Household Management (1861) originally gave two recipes for mincemeat, one with and one without meat (although later editions would include only the latter).

Nowadays, the only trace of meat in mince pie is the suet (or lard) and even this can be replaced with vegetable shortening. The recipe our instructor chose for the class was a relatively simple one based on a handwritten recipe from the 1830s. It is for Lemon Mince Pies without meat. These were seen as a “lighter version suitable for refined tastes.” Even though this particular recipe doesn’t have the spices you might expect, it is still very flavorful.

1830’s recipe (photo credit: The Regency Cook)

Two of the main ingredients of mincemeat are difficult to find in the U.S.: suet and currants. Authentic currants are rare here so I ordered “Zante currants” (a type of mini raisin) online. I didn’t want to spend the time and money to import suet, and had read that lard or shortening were good substitutes. I chose lard, in a nod to the former meat in mincemeat. The recipe Mr. Couchman gave us was by weight but I attempted to figure equivalents in “cups” using an online calculator. I’ll include both in case you’d like to try the recipe. (He shares a larger yield version of this Lemon Mince Pie recipe on his website so I believe it’s all right to share with you here, full credit to Paul Couchman, with U.S. equivalents by me.)

1 lemon167 grams of currants (or 1 1/4 cups Zante currants)167 grams suet (or scant 3/4 cup lard or shortening)140 grams sugar (about 5/8 cup)1 tablespoon candied orange peel, chopped (I like it so increased it to about 1/4 cup)A few chopped almonds (I used a few tablespoons)

Squeeze the lemons, reserve the juice. Put the lemon halves in a saucepan filled with water. Bring to boil. Drain. Fill with water again and boil the lemon skins until butter soft. (May take an hour or so.) Drain again. Finely chop lemons. Put the lemon in a saucepan together with the sugar, currants, suet (lard or shortening), candied orange, reserved juice, and almonds. Heat gently until the suet is completely melted. Bring to a boil and stir frequently. Use immediately for mince pie filling or put without cooling into sterilized jars for later use.

boiling lemons, chopped orange peel, and Zante currants.

For the crust, our instructor made pastry using 125 grams (1/2 cup) butter, 250 grams (1 3/4 cup) flour, a pinch of salt, and a few tables of water. I struggled to get the consistency right, even after allowing it to chill. Let’s just say I won’t be winning the Great British Bake Off any time soon.

I didn’t have his special patty tins, so I used muffin tins and baked at 350° F (180° C) for 25-30 minutes. Thick pastry notwithstanding, the mince tarts were very tasty. My husband even liked them and he detests raisins. (I referred to them only as currants. Please don’t rat me out. :))

My attempt at Lemon Mince Pie filling and star-topped tarts.

This time, he witnessed a scene very different than the grumbling of the night before. There sat Jamie, cutting out stars of dough to top the small mince tarts the cook was making. Mrs. Nettleton stood at his shoulder, clucking her approval. “I use plenty of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg in my mince pies,” she said. “They represent the gifts the magi gave to the Christ child.””

—An Ivy Hill Christmas by Julie Klassen

What about you—have you done any historic cooking? Would you try (or have you tried) mincemeat pie? Either way, I wish you a happy and blessed Christmas!

Merry (Quarantined) Christmas

The first time I traveled to Israel and visited Bethlehem, I expected to feel a sense of the beauty and simplicity of the much-loved Christmas story: a crude stable, the holy family, shepherds, wise men, and the Son of God in the manger.  I was sadly disappointed. The traditional site of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem is inside the Church of the Nativity—a truly ancient church built in 565 AD.  It has survived enemy invasions, the Crusaders, restorations, renovations, a fire and an earthquake, but it looks like . . . well, a church.  A beautifully decorated and ornamented church, with all the sacred clutter that has accumulated over the centuries, but it bore no resemblance to my image of what Jesus’ birthplace was like.

But wait—the real site was down a set of stairs and inside a natural cave that has been venerated as the place of His birth since 160 AD. But even this simple cave was so gilded and bedecked with artwork and tapestries and lamps and incense burners that I still couldn’t get a sense of what it might have looked like on that first holy night. In the center of the floor was a silver-encrusted star with a hole in the middle. By putting my hand inside, I could touch the place where Jesus was born more than 2,000 years ago.  I tried it, but I left Bethlehem feeling empty, unable to make the sacred connection I had so longed for.

And isn’t that how so many of our Christmases in the past ended up feeling? In spite of all the tinsel and glitter and sparkle, all the money we spent and the stress we endured as we tried to create the perfect Hallmark Christmas, we were often left with the same let-down feeling I had inside that church in Bethlehem. We’ve lost the simple beauty of the story, that precious connection with Jesus that is the true miracle of Bethlehem. 

But this year—surprise! Many of the Christmas traditions we have come to love—like family gatherings and parties and Christmas concerts and church programs—have been stripped away, leaving the holiday a mere shadow of itself. Christmas is starting to resemble the classic Dr. Seuss book, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” as Covid-19 slithered into our homes and communities and stole so many of the festivities we’ve long enjoyed.

But do you remember how the Dr. Seuss story ended? After the Grinch had taken everything away, Christmas morning still dawned. The startled Grinch could hear people singing and celebrating and rejoicing. We can do the same. The cookies and lights and parties aren’t what Christmas is about. Jesus is. His birth in Bethlehem is still worth celebrating, whether we’re alone, far from our families, or in a packed church sanctuary singing Handel’s “Halleluiah Chorus.”

Maybe this will be the year that we’ll recapture the simplicity of Christ’s incarnation. Maybe the clutter and glitz that have draped themselves over our past celebrations are like the religious trappings that have collected inside the Church of the Nativity over the centuries. Whether we gather with our loved ones in person or around our computer screens, we can still feel the holy wonder of Christmas—Emmanuel, God with us! I pray that your celebrations, no matter how small, will be filled with joy this Christmas season.

Inspired by Scripture

This Sunday feature is brought to you by ClashEntertainment.com. You may sign up to receive a beautiful photo with scripture in your inbox each morning or view the verse each day online.

How to Beat the “I-can’t-do-this” Mindset

Recently a reader by the name of Joanne sent me an email and said: “My dream is to be an author someday . . . Every time I sit down to write, fear rears its head and screams at me, “you can’t do this,” “what makes you think you have anything worth writing?” or more recently, “you won’t stick this out so why even try?” So in the end, all I have is an empty page of fears. I wish I could push past this and just write, but I don’t know how. Would you mind sharing how you overcame this mindset?”

Oh my, yes. I can relate! Insecurity with a capital ‘I’ is a part of every author’s life, no matter how far along we are in the writing journey.

My blog posts from early in my career lament my fears and doubts. I always naively imagined that when I made bestseller lists and won some awards, I’d finally feel more confident and my writerly insecurities would fade away. But after completing 30-plus books, I still battle doubts.

Why?

Why are so many writers plagued with insecurities? Why do we believe our story to be a bestseller one day and the next day want to use it to line the cat litter box?

I’m not sure writers will ever be able to shake off the insecurity and doubts. They seem to be inherently woven into the job description of being a writer.

The fact is, baring our soul for the whole world to see in our stories is daunting. The criticism is tough. Art is subjective. The competition is stiff. The industry is volatile. Book sales are unstable. The rewards are illusive. 

Altogether, the insecurities surround us and bombard us on a daily basis from within and outside ourselves—no matter where we’re at in the journey. It’s precisely because of the insecurities that we need to be writing for a reason that transcends publication, fortune, and fame.

When we’re writing for a bigger purpose, deeper motives, and out of love of the creative process, then we’re able to toss those insecurities aside and say, “Who cares. I’m gonna keep on doing what I love no matter what happens around me.”

Ultimately as a lover of books and fiction, I’ve adapted the attitude that I’m writing stories that I WANT to read first and foremost for my own enjoyment and pleasure. I can go into each new book with the mindset that even if my writing career tanks, I’m still doing what I love—creating entertaining stories that bring me immense satisfaction.

If I write simply for the joy of telling a story, I’m able to shove away all the other pressures and voices. At least until editing time  . . . when those voices come back out yelling and screaming! But, then again, when I reach the point of wanting other people to enjoy my stories with me, then it’s time to accept the feedback.

So my advice to Joanne (and all of us insecure writers!)? Be your best fan and favorite reader during the first draft. Worry about other readers later.

What advice do you have for Joanne and others like her who are paralyzed by “I can’t do this” thoughts?

Digital Stocking Stuffers

COVID has changed the way we do a lot of things this year, including giving gifts. Instead of baking goodies and mailing out packages, I find that I’m giving a lot of digital gifts this year. If you’re in the same boat, how about giving a digital book? All you need is an email address to gift an e-book to a friend or family member. And there just happen to be some great sales going on right now.

My first Christmas novella collection, The Christmas Heirloom, is on sale for only $1.99. This is a fun collection that follows a family heirloom passed down from mothers to daughters (or other chosen female relative) through the generations. The stories move from regency England, to Victorian-era Texas, to 1950’s Appalachia, to modern-day Washington. Fellow Inspired by Life & Fiction blogger, Becky Wade, is included in the collection.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook

All the the individual stories from this collection are also offered as stand alone novella purchases for just $0.99 each – A Legacy of Love by Kristi Ann Hunter, A Shot at Love, by Sarah Loudin Thomas, and Becky’s Because of You. My novella, Gift of the Heart, is packaged in a 2-in-1 collection that includes the conclusion to my Archer brother series, An Archer Family Christmas.

It’s Christmas Eve, 1893, and the entire Archer family has gathered to celebrate the holiday. While the men are off chopping down the perfect Christmas tree, an unexpected request for help leaves Cassandra Archer directly in the path of a dangerous outlaw. Desperate to protect the woman he loves, Jim Archer races to the rescue, only to find that Cassie’s life is not the only one in peril. It will take a Christmas miracle—and the entire Archer clan— to keep a second Archer Christmas from ending in disaster.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook

But there are more than just my books on sale. I found these other great deals on the Bethany House e-book deals page:

Some great Christmas reads along with some non-holiday books for readers of every taste. Did you notice two more IBLF authors? Julie Klassen and Jody Hedlund are here, too!

(Sale price on all books above good through December 31, 2020 except for A Reluctant Bride,
which ends on 12/20/2020.)

Has COVID changed your gift-giving strategy this year?

Are you hoping to get a book in your stocking or under your tree? Which books are on your Christmas list?

Forging Our New Path part 2

Joshua and Quinten from All My Sons Moving did a great job for us!

I promised you a peek at the inside of our cute new house! It’s been 10 days of non-stop work, but the house is (mostly) put away and organized. At least enough for the kids to arrive! Our daughter gets here on Friday!

As you will see, there is little yet in the form of Christmas decor. And no tree! I got rid of so much when I downsized, and by the time I ran out to find some decorations most everything was gone. So I’ll start earlier next year. And hopefully we’ll get the tree in the next day or two!

So without further ado:

I am thrilled to pieces with our dining room—especially with the incredible deal I got on this Ethan Allen table with a leaf and 8 chairs! It is by far the nicest dining table we’ve owned in our 33 years of marriage!

Isn’t the kitchen darling? It isn’t huge, but it’s perfect for us. I love all the bead board and unusual cabinets.

I’m so excited to have this living room space! Should be a great place for watching Christmas movies, opening presents, and generally spending time together and having fun.

My favorite thing about my new bedroom is that I finally have a chair in my room again! It’s my “morning coffee & spend time with Jesus” chair.

My office/workout room/extra guest room is the most undone room so far. I keep waiting for a desk to get things organized, but I can’t decide what I want. (Looking for a deal on Facebook marketplace!)

Finally, you know my favorite place would be the library! (Yes, it used to be the formal dining room. Hence the chandelier, which will be changed out at some point!) You can see there are still a few book boxes to empty, but those mostly will go up to the office. The coolest thing is that our “library wall” of bookshelves fit these two walls exactly. Here’s proof:

Still looking for my reading chair, but hubby got his. (It reclines.)

We truly view this place as a gift from God. And we can’t wait to celebrate the greater gift of Jesus in our own house with all our kids this year.

Merry Christmas, y’all!

December celebrations—keeping it in the family

36 years ago today, Joe and I got married. And a little over a week ago, on December 6th, our son and his wife Kellie were married!

CONGRATULATIONS to Kurt and Kellie (Fuselier) Alexander, our son and his beautiful new bride who we absolutely adore.

WHAT a fabulous weekend of celebration it was! First, a few more pics from the wedding…

The bride and bridesmaids



The groom and groomsmen hiding in a hallway



Me (the MOG) and Kelsey (our daughter)



CLICK TO VIEW MORE PICS from the rehearsal dinner and wedding #OversharingAlert

At the rehearsal dinner, a group of family members hijacked the song “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey and made up lyrics especially for Kellie & Kurt. So funny! (I’ll post the video of it later today, if I can get it load.)

I’m still smiling and giving thanks to God for all the blessings he’s poured out on the Alexander and Fuselier families!

And as I said at the start . . .

Joe and I celebrate 36 years of marriage TODAY! Here we are earlier this week on the beach in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Gorgeous weather . . .

And here are some glimpses from December 15, 1984 . . .

All four of our parents are safely home with Jesus now, but were definitely with us in the Spirit at Kurt and Kellie’s wedding



Our wedding party (with lots of candles!!)

Happy Anniversary, Joe! I’m so grateful for you and for our life together. God has blessed us so richly—and the best is yet to come!

Lastly, if you’ve been waiting for Colors of Truth in audio, here you go! Finally, you might be saying (and I’d echo that). It took a while. But oh what a fabulous job narrator Kate Rudd does with the Irish accents. If you have a minute, click the link below and listen . . .

LISTEN TO COLORS OF TRUTH (narrator Kate Rudd does a fabulous job with the Irish accents)

Thanks for letting me share some of the blessings God has poured into our family in recent days (and years!).

What’s a blessing you’re especially grateful for today?

With a full heart,

Tammy

FAVORITE THINGS GIVEAWAY

I love sharing favorite items with you, and 7 eUpdate friends drawn at random on January 2, 2021 will receive one of my favorite things pictured below—

1) The Illuminated Scripture Journal set for the entire New Testament ($85 value)
2) Set of kitchen ramekins ($15 value)
3) Handheld juicer ($12 value)
4) Flexible cutting boards ($10 value)
5) Silicone spatulas ($10 value)
6) Frother ($15 value)
7) Mr. Pen underlining pens ($8 value)

ENTER TO WIN TODAY!

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas at our house

I always drag my heels a little when it’s time to put up the Christmas decorations at our house, but once I get started, I enjoy it a lot. And once it’s finished, I LOVE it! There’s just something about twinkly lights and candles and Christmas music and everything else that goes with our traditional celebrations of the most wonderful event in the history of the world. The birth of Jesus…the Reason for the season.

We don’t go all out at our house for Christmas, and in fact, there’ve been some years that I wouldn’t even have put the tree up if not for our kids’ insistence. It’s really not that I’m a Scrooge, but sometimes keeping it simple just seems…well, simpler.

One year my office got a little book-ish Christmas tree. I took it down before our grandkids arrived since we had a whole bunch of crawlers and toddlers that year, but I sure enjoyed it while it lasted.

Our tree gained a new ornament just last night, a gift sent from my writer friend, Steph, who knows how much I love globes. (I think this ornament will stay up year round somewhere in my house!)

Do you have your decorations up? How long do they stay up at your house? (They come down early at ours…usually the day after Christmas, but since our Christmas with our kids is the week between Christmas and New Years this year, I’ll leave them up until 2021.

Inspired by Scripture

This Sunday feature is brought to you by ClashEntertainment.com. You may sign up to receive a beautiful photo with scripture in your inbox each morning or view the verse each day online.