GERMAN CHRISTMAS BREAD

GERMAN CHRISTMAS BREAD

1/2 c. diced citron
1/2 c. raisins
1/4 c. diced orange peel
1/4 c. brandy or rum
1 pkg. yeast
1/4 c. warm water
1/2 c. lukewarm milk, scalded then cooled
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
3 eggs
4 to 4 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. chopped almonds
1 tbsp. shredded lemon peel
2 tbsp. butter, melted
Powdered sugar

Mix citron, raisins, orange peel, and brandy; let stand 1 hour.

Drain; reserve liquid.

Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl.

Stir in reserved brandy, milk, 1/2 cup butter, sugar, salt, nutmeg, eggs and 2 cups flour.

Beat until smooth.

Stir in brandied fruit mixture, almonds, lemon peel, and enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.

Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead until smooth, about 5 minutes.

Place in greased bowl, turn greased side up.

Cover; let rise until double, about 1 1/2 hours.

Punch down dough; divide into halves.

Press 1 half into an oval, about 10 x 7 inches.

Brush with melted butter.

Fold lengthwise in half; press folded edge firmly.

Place stollen on greased cookie sheet.

Repeat with remaining dough.

Cover both and let rise until double, about 45-60 minutes.

Brush with melted butter.

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes.

Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Makes 2 stollens.

Fiction Prompt For Friday June 21, 2019

Friday June 21, 2019

FICTION PROMPT

“This is a novel. All facts are true, but I have imagined feelings, thoughts, and dialogue. I used intuition and deduction rather than actual invention…. When I read about him, something happened. He started to live in my head like a character in a novel,” writes Catherine Cusset in the prologue to her latest book, Life of David Hockney: A Novel (Other Press, 2019), translated from the French by Teresa Fagan, which offers a portrait of the famous painter through a blend of biography and fiction. Think of an artist whose work you admire, whose character or life circumstances resonate with you in a personal way. Research some basic facts about this artist’s life, and then write a short story that focuses on emotional truth, using your intuition to imagine feelings and thoughts.

Prayer Journal For Friday November 19, 2021

Friday November 19, 2021

Dear God,

I really want a closer relationship with my family. I want my cousins to include me in emails. I want my cousins to call me to say hello. I want to be able to hang out with my only cousin who lives in Vancouver. I want my cousins to make time to spend time with me. I am really sad that my cousins don’t really talk to me. I want my cousins to know I am really sorry for what I wrote in 2008. I give it all to you to deal with. It’s in your hands. Please listen to my prayer.

To God For Friday November 19, 2021

Friday November 19, 2021

Dear God,

Why do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving in November & people in Canada celebrate in October? Why is there such a difference in when Thanksgiving in celebrated? Why can’t Americans celebrated Thanksgiving in October like decent people? Why is there a Black Friday? What is the point & purpose of Black Friday? When, where & how did Black Friday start & happen? Why is there so much consumerism just to buy stuff for a holiday that people neither need, want nor use? Whatever happened to just spending time with family?