Colleen James

Tag: Christmas

  • Alfajores Marplatenses (an Argentine Cookie)

    Pictures of the alfajores!

    There was no Christmas cookie competition this year, which was a bit of a disappointment. At the same time, it was a relief to not have any restrictions placed upon me for my cookie inspiration this year.

    This time around, I opted to try to find a recipe online for a cookie that is undoubtedly my husband’s favorite. The cookie is known as an alfajor (al-fa-HOR), and it is a sandwich cookie consisting of two shortbread cookies and a dulce de leche filling. While there are several versions of this dessert, the one my husband loves most and that I set out to make this year was a chocolate version, which meant making chocolate shortbread cookies and then coating the entire dulce-de-leche-filled sandwich cookie in chocolate. Yum!

    After searching for recipes and finding an authentic one, I came to learn that this particular version is called an alfajor marplatense. I further came to learn, according to my husband, that this cookie comes from the coastal city Mar de Plata, Argentina. So, there’s your geography lesson for today! 😉

    My husband’s father was from Argentina, and JJ lived there for three years as a child, so this cookie is more than just a yummy treat for our family. It’s part of keeping JJ’s cultural heritage alive.

    The recipe I followed is a video of a woman from Argentina named Isabel Vermal making these cookies step by step. If you speak Spanish, I encourage you to follow along with her to make your own. Her accent is delightful and easy to understand, and she explains the process well. You can watch her video here: Alfajores Marplatenses with Isabel Vermal.

    Otherwise, I have translated the ingredients and instructions below. I also converted the ingredients from grams to cups, but I will include the measurements in grams for each ingredient below as well, for those of you who would prefer to follow those measurements with a food scale.

    Lastly, I made these cookies a little under half the size that the creator made hers, which yielded me a over 25 cookies to her 12. These cookies are so rich that I felt that a smaller size would be more suitable for my family and me. My cookies are roughly 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter to her 3 inches. Because of this, the baking time is less than what it would be for the bigger cookies. Also, because this recipe yielded more for me, I needed to compensate for the amount of dulce de leche and chocolate. I will include both the original amounts and baking time alongside my adjusted amounts and baking time.

    These cookies are a bit time consuming, but completely worth the hassle! With a hint of orange, creamy dulce de leche, and a rich chocolate coating, these cookies make for a great teacher’s gift, Christmas party dessert, or cookie for a Christmas cookie exchange!

    If you make them, let me know what you think! You may just find that your family is begging you to make these each Christmas, much like mine will be doing with me!

    Alfajores Marplatenses

    Ingredients:

    • 2/3 c unsalted butter, softened (150 g)
    • ¼ c granulated sugar (50 g)
    • 2 T c honey (50 g)
    • Zest of ½ lemon
    • Zest of ½ orange
    • 1 egg
    • 1 t vanilla
    • 2 ¼ c cake flour (250 g)
    • ½ c cornstarch (50 g)
    • 1 scant teaspoon baking powder (5 g)
    • ½ t baking soda (2 g)
    • 2 T cocoa powder (20 g)
    • 3 c dulce de leche*
    • 5 c semi-sweet chocolate chips*
    • 2/3 c edible cocoa butter*

    Instructions:

    1. Mix together the butter, sugar, honey, and zest of lemon and orange with a hand beater, then add the egg and vanilla and blend again.
    2. Sift the cake flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and cocoa powder into a separate mixing bowl, then stir until well combined.
    3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well.
    4. Roll out the dough on plastic wrap over a clean surface until a quarter inch thick. Cover the top with additional plastic wrap until the dough is completely covered, then place in the refrigerator for an hour (leaving the dough overnight may alter the dough’s taste).
    5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper.
    6. Remove the dough from the fridge and cut out into circles to place on the baking sheets.
    7. While cooling, whip the dulce de leche to make light and fluffy.
    8. Once the cookies are cooled, place a dollop of dulce de leche on the concave part of the cookie, then add another cookie on top (both flat parts should be facing outward). Set in the freezer while preparing the chocolate.
    9. To prepare the chocolate, place a heat-safe bowl or pot inside a pot of hot water over medium low heat. Add the chocolate chips to the pot and stir until melted.
    10. Add the edible cocoa butter and stir to combine. Remove from heat.
    11. Remove the cookies from the freezer and fill in any gaps of filling with extra dulce de leche so that the dulce de leche filling is even with the cookies’ edges.
    12. Dip the cookie into the chocolate and cover completely, then set on parchment paper to cool and harden completely. Enjoy!

    *The original recipe calls for 1 c (300 g) dulce de leche repostero (a thicker dulce de leche) and ½ c (150 g) original dulce de leche. If you have the option of buying both a lighter and thicker dulce de leche, then do so by all means! Otherwise, use whatever dulce de leche is available at your store.

    I also added more chocolate chips and cocoa butter as a result of needing more to cover my cookies completely. The original recipe calls for 3 ½ c (600 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1/3 c (60 g) edible cocoa butter. I bought my cocoa butter online. If you are unable to obtain cocoa butter, you can substitute coconut oil or butter.

    Lastly, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas! Praise God for the gift of His Son!

    For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

    Isaiah 9:6

  • A Collection of Christmas Cookies

    Pictures of the different cookies above

    I didn’t get around to entering the Christmas cookie bake off this year. Between working a part-time job this fall, taking Liam to soccer practices and games, helping him with his homework and Bible work and memory verses, and trying to keep up with the normal routine of cooking, cleaning, and trying to be a good wife and mom, I just didn’t have the energy or time to commit to such an endeavor.  I may be back at it next year, but this year I thought I’d share my collection of past cookies in one blogpost to make them easier to find.

    I have yet to make any cookies this Christmas season, so this listing will help me as well. So, without further ado, here are the Christmas cookies I’ve made throughout the years with a brief description of each:

    ALMOND CHERRY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

    These cookies combine the sweet, juicy taste of maraschino cherries with chocolate and a hint of almond extract. Soft and chewy, they make for a great party treat. These may very well be my husband’s favorite out of all the cookies I have made. Recipe below:

    http://anticipatingadventure.com/2020/12/02/almond-cherry-chocolate-chip-cookies/

    DOUBLE DECKER BUTTERSCOTCH BARS WITH EGGNOT CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

    This recipe is a bit complicated but completely worth the hassle! It consists of a chewy cookie bar covered in a creamy, rich butterscotch layer, which is then topped off with a fluffy eggnog frosting. It’s delicious, travels well for Christmas gatherings (when kept in its pan), and, if topped with some extra butterscotch pieces or nuts, looks quite elegant. Recipe Below:

    http://anticipatingadventure.com/2021/12/11/double-decker-butterscotch-bars-with-eggnog-cream-cheese-frosting/

    CHRISTMAS EVE COOKIES (MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE COOKIES)

    Made with Abuelita hot chocolate, these drop cookies are the perfect, chewy blend of chocolate and cinnamon, making them a great Christmas Eve treat! Recipe below:

    http://anticipatingadventure.com/2022/12/07/christmas-eve-cookies-mexican-hot-chocolate-cookies/

    CHRISTMAS PIE COOKIE CUPS

    The next two cookies I’m about to share are my favorite and were a big hit at my church family group last year. This first one is a sweet and tart combination of strawberry-cranberry filling with hints of cinnamon and clove in a chewy cinnamon cookie cup. They are so elegant looking and are only bite-sized, so there won’t be any guilt in indulging in these a little! Recipe below:

    http://anticipatingadventure.com/2023/12/10/christmas-pie-cookie-cups/

    SOFT GINGERBREAD COOKIES WITH NUTELLA BUTTERCREAM

    Creamy Nutella buttercream makes for a winning combination with this soft, gingerbread cookie! These can be made as whoopie cookies or kept as a single cookie with the frosting on top. Both are delicious! Recipe below:

    http://anticipatingadventure.com/2023/12/18/soft-gingerbread-cookies-with-nutella-buttercream/

    If you try any of these recipes, please send me a message and let me know how it turned out for you! I hope you enjoy this season, these cookies,  and everything this month has to offer as we remember the birth of our Savior. Merry Christmas!

  • Grandma’s Wassail

    Picture of my grandma’s wassail drink on a pretty cloth

    I don’t have many memories of going to my grandparents’ house for Christmas when I was young,  but I do succinctly remember what their house smelled like one Christmas that I did.

    As soon as my family and I walked through the front door one year, we were embraced by a warm citrus and cinnamon scent, and I instantly knew that that’s what Christmas should smell like.

    Soon we discovered that this wonderful scent was coming from Grandma’s stove, from a mixture of juices and other ingredients, which she called wassail. It was my first time to try such a delightful drink, but I quickly decided it couldn’t be my last! I wrote down the recipe over that visit and have been making it ever since living on my own.
    Ironically, I recently discovered I was making it wrong after talking to my aunt (my grandma’s only daughter) about it. I’m not sure how I was missing one of the main ingredients. All I can think of is that I was young when I copied the original. I’m glad I have the true one now.

    My grandma is still around but hasn’t made this drink for years. She’s here in body, but her memory has been gone for quite some time, so having her recipe is extra special to me. It’s one of many ways that her memory will live on for me of days when she had her memory and made Christmas and every visit so special for us. I can’t help but think of her when I make it, and I hope to pass this recipe onto my boys when they get older and tell them about her too. She was a devout Christian that served as a role model to my dad and his siblings of what it meant to live a godly life, and I’m so grateful to her for that. She left them a spiritual legacy which has been passed down to me and many of her other grandchildren, and it’s the best gift she could have ever given anyone. Making this recipe is just a way of remembering her impact with a grateful heart. It’s a way of honoring her and the legacy she has left behind. She may not be earth-bound much longer, but the ways she made an eternal impact will last forever, so I’ll make this drink every Christmas and remember her and pray that God will allow that legacy to continue to the following generations until the day He returns.

    GRANDMA’S WASSAIL

    Ingredients:

    • 2 quarts (8 cups) water
    • Black tea (3 tea bags or 3 teaspoons instant. I used decaf)
    • 2 c sugar (see NOTES)
    • 1 c water (see NOTES)
    • 2 quarts apple juice or cider
    • 2 c grapefruit juice
    • 2 c pineapple juice
    • 2 c orange juice
    • 1 c lemon juice
    • 3 t ground cloves
    • 2 to 3 cinnamon sticks
    • Optional garnish: fresh cranberries, cloves, and/or grapefruit, orange, or lemon slices.

    Instructions:

    Bring water to boil over the stove, then add the tea and let steep for five to ten minutes. Add sugar and additional water and stir until dissolved, then add the apple juice (or cider) grapefruit juice, pineapple juice, orange juice, and lemon juice. Simmer for three hours, adding the cloves and cinnamon sticks within the last hour. Garnish with fresh cranberries, cloves, and/or grapefruit, orange, or lemon slices.

    NOTES: I do not personally add two cups of sugar to my wassail, as that is an exorbitant amount. I did want to include this recipe as close to how my grandma made it in her honor, however. So, here it is. Please feel free to add less sugar according to your own taste. The last time I made this, I used only a quarter cup. The amount of water added should roughly be half of the amount of sugar. Also, all the juices used here are either from the bottle or a can.

    On a separate note, this will most likely be my last post before Christmas, so I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! May Jesus be celebrated most of all this season!

    For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

    Isaiah 9:6

  • Soft Gingerbread Cookies with Nutella Buttercream

    The gingerbread cookies with Nutella buttercream

    Recipe number three is very similar to the last recipe I posted, but in cookie form! This recipe actually came about before the gingerbread loaf did, mainly because I had a Christmas cookie competition to enter and needed some good cookie creations to do so!

    This cookie is soft and chewy, combining the warm flavors of gingerbread with rich, creamy Nutella. Good as a simple cookie with frosting or made as whoopie cookies, these are sure to become a Christmas family favorite in the years to come! Here’s the recipe:

    The three images are different angles of the gingerbread cookies with Nutella buttercream

    SOFT GINGERBREAD COOKIES WITH NUTELLA BUTTERCREAM

    Ingredients

    For the cookie:

    • 1 c salted butter, softened
    • 1 c light brown sugar
    • 1 egg
    • 1/3 c molasses
    • 2 1/3 c all-purpose flour
    • 2 t baking soda
    • 2 t ground cinnamon
    • 1 t ginger
    • ½ t cloves
    • ½ c granulated sugar (for coating)

    For the filling:

    • ½ c butter, softened
    • ½ c Nutella
    • 1 ½ c powdered sugar
    • 1 T milk

    In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar with an electric hand mixer. Add the egg and molasses and beat together.

    In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Once combined, add the dry ingredients to the wet ones and thoroughly mix together. Refrigerate the dough for two hours.

    Once chilled, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then form the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and coat each ball with the granulated sugar. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

    Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet.

    In the meantime, make the buttercream by beating together the butter and Nutella, then add the powdered sugar and milk and continue to beat with the electric mixer until all ingredients are well incorporated. Frost the tops of the cookies or frost the bottom of one cookie and stick it together with another cookie to form the whoopie cookie. Makes 36 individual cookies.

    Wanting more Christmas cookie inspiration? Be sure to check out these recipes from years past!

  • Mini Nutella Swirl Gingerbread Loaves with Nutella Buttercream

    Warm and spicy flavors of gingerbread mingle with rich, creamy Nutella in every bite. Perfect to give away as gifts this Christmas season, to share at a holiday party, or to simply enjoy with loved ones at home. Picture of four mini loaves

    Recipe #2 for this Christmas season is Nutella swirl gingerbread loaf with Nutella buttercream frosting. But before we get to the recipe, let me tell you the back story to this creation.

    Over the summer, Liam begged me to make gingerbread cookies, and I kept resisting the idea because it’s such a seasonal, Christmas treat. But he kept asking, and then we ended up attending a Christmas in July event in town, so I figured, why not?

    I bought the few ingredients lacking to make the cookies, and Liam and I quickly whipped up a batch of cut-out cookies just a few days later, pulling out the sprinkles and other cookie decorations while they baked. But then I realized my grave error—I hadn’t bought frosting or ingredients to make any! Fortunately, I vaguely remembered having a tub of frosting in a cupboard, so I scrummaged around for the only thing I had—store-bought strawberry frosting. The combination was definitely not ideal, but Liam was happy, so I was too. As we went about spreading pink frosting over the gingerbread, it dawned on me that I had also bought a container of Nutella months earlier, so I got that out and began to spread it over one of the cookies and then promptly ate it.

    I might as well preface this story right now by telling you that I am not a big fan of gingerbread (although I do like to decorate gingerbread houses!). Or better put, I wasn’t until then. The Nutella gingerbread combination was so, so good! I easily ate three cookies in a row and had to fight off the temptation to eat another!

    Ever since unintentionally pairing those two flavors together, I’ve been obsessed with the idea of creating a recipe involving the two and was determined to make it a bread recipe with a Nutella swirl. Well, this combination was definitely easier said than done! But after a lot of persistence and many failed, albeit delicious attempts, I stumbled upon a Nutella banana bread recipe that led me in the right direction to come to the recipe I am presenting to you all today. So without further ado, here is the recipe:

    Ingredients:

    • ½ c butter, softened
    • ½ c brown sugar
    • ½ c granulated sugar
    • ½ c apple sauce
    • ½ c molasses
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 c flour
    • 2 t cinnamon
    • 2 t ginger
    • ½ t cloves
    • 1 t salt
    • 1 t baking soda
    • 1 t baking powder
    • ¾ c Nutella

    For the Buttercream:

    • ½ c Nutella
    • ½ c butter, softened
    • 1 ½ c powdered sugar
    • 1 T milk

    Instructions:

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease 4 mini loaf pans.

    In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter and both sugars with an electric mixer, then add the apple sauce, molasses, and eggs and mix thoroughly.

     In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, salt, baking soda, and baking powder, then mix the dry ingredients in with the wet. For the Nutella mixture, mix together 1 cup of the bread batter with the ¾ c Nutella in a separate mixing bowl.

    Alternate between the gingerbread and Nutella mixture, adding both batters by the spoonful to each bread loaf (the spoonful of gingerbread batter should be slightly larger than the Nutella one).  Continue to do so until each loaf pan is filled halfway full. Gently shake down to get rid of any air bubbles, then smooth out the top of each loaf with a butter knife. Place the mini loaf pans on a baking sheet in the middle rack of the oven and bake around 20 minutes or until the loaves have risen and look firm when looking in through the oven door. Do NOT open the oven to check, as this may cause the bread to fall. Once baked, turn off the oven and keep the mini loaves inside to continue to bake and then slightly cool. The loaves can be transferred out of the oven after about fifteen minutes and set aside to continue to cool.

    For the Nutella buttercream, beat together the Nutella and butter, then add the powdered sugar and milk and beat until smooth. Once the mini loaves are completely cooled, they can be removed from the loaf pan and frosted with the buttercream according to taste (I had leftover buttercream once I finished frosting mine). Or, if giving as a gift, place in disposable loaf pans and frost. Makes four mini loaves.

  • An Unexpected Christmas (Readapted)

    Image of a nativity set

    I wrote this last year but thought it was so pertinent to this year as I re-read it, so I readapted it slightly in order to share it again this Christmas season. Merry Christmas! May God’s joy fill your hearts.

    Last year, I found myself reflecting over how many details of Jesus’ birth were unexpected after putting on a cartoon for my son about the first Christmas.

    For Mary, the angel Gabriel’s appearance and message to her were a complete surprise. She did not expect to be told that she’d be expecting as a young virgin woman, much less to the Savior of the world. She couldn’t she have imagined that her much-older, barren cousin Elizabeth would be pregnant at the same time as her either, especially since Elizabeth was past the age of child-bearing. When Mary went to visit Elizabeth soon after Gabriel gave her the news, she could not have expected for Elizabeth to bless her and recognize her as the mother of her Savior, even before Mary had told Elizabeth all that had transpired. The exchange between them led to Mary exalting God as she perhaps understood more fully the special task that God had called her to.

    Joseph couldn’t have imagined the situation in which he would find himself when he discovered that his betrothed was pregnant. Although he decided to divorce her quietly, he once again experienced the unexpected when an angel appeared to him in a dream and told him to instead marry Mary. As a result of his obedience to God, he would have the enormous privilege of doing something beyond his wildest dreams. He would help Mary to raise the very Son of God.

    Both Mary and Joseph could not have imagined the trip they would have to take to Bethlehem in Mary’s advanced stages of pregnancy in order to participate in a mandatory census. They neither could have imagined that there would be no room for them in the inn and that Jesus would be born under those circumstances, his first makeshift crib a lowly manger.

    The shepherds watching their flock that evening could not have expected to experience such a momentous night. Not only did an angel announce the Savior’s birth, but they witnessed a whole host of angels praising the Lord. Little did they know that they’d be meeting the Messiah that evening, nor could they have realized that He would be the Great Shepherd and ultimate Sacrificial Lamb.

    The wise men probably never expected to follow a star to Bethlehem to find a specific child and worship Him. No one else could have imagined the reverence and honor that they would show the child either, nor could anyone have imagined the precious gifts with which they would present Him.

    The first Christmas happened in such an unexpected way, but it was through the unexpected events and details that God became flesh and dwelt among us. And because these different individuals were willing to surrender to God’s will through the unexpected events of their lives, they were given the privilege of being a part of a greater story that would surpass their lifetimes and be told and celebrated worldwide for the many years to come.

    Perhaps this Christmas season was not what you were expecting. Perhaps it has been laced with confusion, disappointment, frustration, or heartache. If that has been your experience this year, then I pray that God would use the unexpected events and details of your life to birth a deeper sense of His presence in you.

    The One who came as a little baby and lived the human experience was not impervious to pain or grief.  The sin that affects this world and our lives so greatly today is the sin that led Him to suffer and die on a cross. He understands pain and suffering. He knows what it feels like to be abandoned and forsaken. And He understands what it means to mourn. After all, He wept too.

    He who became fully human for our sakes understands each intimate detail of our lives today, and He is full of deep compassion for us. Perhaps the unexpected details of our lives are the very areas where He would cause something beautiful to be born. Perhaps it is through them in which He would allow us to see a greater display of His power and glory. Whatever you may be facing today, I pray that God would allow to you to sense Him at work in your life and that He would overflow your heart with joy, peace, and a deep sense of hope.

    Perhaps, through surrendering to God’s will in the unexpected events of our lives, we will be given the privilege of being part of a greater story that will surpass our lifetimes—one that will have an eternal impact and that we can tell to our children and their children for the years to come.

    Image of the nativity set looking at it head on

  • The Greater Gift

    Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com of wrapping paper and ribbons

    A few weeks ago, I was reminded of an anecdote about a father and son that I heard during a chapel service years ago. In the story, the father bought a blue, Schwinn bicycle for his son’s upcoming birthday, which he hid away in their barn. He then proceeded to ask his son what he would like for his birthday the following morning over breakfast. The son wasn’t sure, so the father suggested how nice it would be if his son had a bike to ride along the dirt roads and explore more of their farmland.

    A few days later, as the son began to want a bike, the father commented on how neat it would be for him to have a blue bike—his favorite color. A few days later, the father talked about what a good, reliable brand the Schwinn bikes were, and how amazing it would be if his son could have a blue, Schwinn bicycle. Soon, all the son could think about was owning such a bike.

    The day of the boy’s birthday arrived, and when the father finally pulled the blue, Schwinn bicycle out of the barn, the son was ecstatic. The father had succeeded in giving his son a desire to own such a bike, and then he fulfilled that desire by giving him the gift that he had already set aside for him before the son had ever dreamed about owning such a gift.

    The chapel speaker that day went on to explain how God does the same thing for us as the father in the story did for his son. When we delight in Him, He gives us the desires of our heart (He places desires within us), and then He gives us the desires of our heart (He fulfills those desires). Psalm 37 states it best:

    Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desire of your heart.”

    Psalm 37:4

    Ironically, as encouraging as the chapel service was that day, I walked around the campus the next few days feeling pensive as I fought back tears. That simple story shared in chapel had penetrated a tender area of my heart that I had boxed up and packed away years ago, and now I was forced to face its fragile contents and to recognize that perhaps I had wrongly stored them away. Could it be that God had really placed the things that I desired in my heart? And if so, how and when would He fulfill them? Did He really have good gifts already set aside for me?

    The idea that any of this could be true was like a soothing balm to my tattered heart, yet I found fear competing for my thoughts regarding all of this. Nonetheless, I knew that fear must not win.

    I ultimately asked God to help me unpack the dusty box of desires that had been sitting in the attic of my heart for all these years. I needed Him to help me sort through each item. I needed to know which desires had been given to me by Him so that I could display them in my mind as a masterpiece—a painted picture of a promise that would someday come true. Each God-given desire might not come to pass when I expected it to, and it might not even look like what I had imagined, but one thing was for certain—if God had placed a desire in my heart, then He would fulfill that desire in His timing and in His way. After all,

    God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”

    Numbers 23:19

    Thinking of the story recently from chapel made me recall another story I heard many years ago at a campus meeting. The speaker that evening shared about a little girl whose father owned a silver dollar. He often times would take it out of his pocket in the evening to admire its shine, and his own daughter’s fondness for the coin grew each time he did. Soon, she was asking her father for a silver dollar of her own.

    This man worked a humble job, so he knew he couldn’t afford to buy such a gift for his daughter. He knew how much his little girl wanted a similar coin, however, so he decided to make her a deal one evening. If she could grab the coin out of his clenched fist, it would be hers.

    The little girl excitedly jumped into her daddy’s lap at the offer, giggling and bantering with him as she tried to wrestle the coin away. Twenty minutes later, however, her enthusiasm waned as the object remained in his hand. Just as she was ready to retreat to her room in disappointment, he opened his hand and willingly offered her the gift, much to her surprise and glee. As she took the silver dollar, she thanked him with a kiss on his cheek, then she hopped off his lap, giggling as she skipped to her bedroom to further admire her new treasure.

    Much like the chapel speaker, the campus speaker related this father to God. The truth is, the girl’s dad didn’t have to keep the coin from her for a time since he knew he’d offer it to her anyway. Nonetheless, he withheld it momentarily because he loved how her desire for the coin drew her closer to him.

    Perhaps it is no different with God. Any desire God has given us will be fulfilled in due time. But as we wait, our heavenly Father is offering us a greater gift. He is developing a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him as we cry out to Him from the depths of our yearning hearts. He is drawing us to Him as we wrestle with these unfulfilled longings, teaching us to trust Him in the waiting and producing patience, perseverance, and hope within us, which alone are good gifts from the Lord.

    As we yearn for any unmet desire, let’s ask God to help us desire Him most. Let’s ask Him to help us see the good gift He is offering us now—a deeper sense of His presence in our lives. Furthermore, let’s especially remember how this was made possible this Christmas season—because Jesus came to the earth as a baby so that He could ultimately die for our sins. He is the best gift that we could ever receive, so let’s celebrate Him and trust Him with all other longings.

    Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
    born to set thy people free;
    from our fears and sins release us,
    let us find our rest in thee.
    Israel’s strength and consolation,
    hope of all the earth thou art;
    dear Desire of ev’ry nation,
    joy of ev’ry longing heart.
    Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus by Charles Wesley

  • An Unexpected Christmas

    I put on a cartoon about the first Christmas for my son over a week ago, and I’ve been reflecting on how unexpected the details of Jesus’ birth were ever since.

    For Mary, the angel Gabriel’s appearance and message to her was a complete surprise. She did not expect to be told that she’d be expecting as a young virgin woman, much less to the Savior of the world. She couldn’t have imagined that her much-older, barren cousin Elizabeth would be pregnant at the same time as her either, especially since Elizabeth was past the age of child-bearing. When Mary went to visit Elizabeth soon after Gabriel gave her the news, she could not have expected for Elizabeth to bless her and recognize her as the mother of her Savior, even before Mary had told Elizabeth all that had transpired. The exchange between them led to Mary exalting God as she perhaps understood more fully the special task that God had called her to.

    Joseph couldn’t have imagined the situation in which he would find himself when he discovered that his betrothed was pregnant. Although he decided to divorce her quietly, he once again experienced the unexpected when an angel appeared to him in a dream and told him to instead marry Mary. As a result of his obedience to God, he would have the enormous privilege of doing something beyond his wildest dreams. He would help Mary to raise the very Son of God.

    Both Mary and Joseph could not have imagined the trip they would have to take to Bethlehem in Mary’s advanced stages of pregnancy in order to participate in a mandatory census. They neither could have imagined that there would be no room for them in the inn and that Jesus would be born under those circumstances, his first makeshift crib a lowly manger.

    The shepherds watching their flock that evening could not have expected to experience such a momentous night. Not only did an angel announce the Savior’s birth, but they witnessed a whole host of angels praising the Lord. Little did they know that they’d be meeting the Messiah that evening, nor could they have realized that He would be the Great Shepherd and ultimate Sacrificial Lamb.

    The wise men probably never expected to follow a star to Bethlehem to find a specific child and worship Him. No one else could have imagined the reverence and honor that they would show the child either, nor could anyone have imagined the precious gifts with which they would present Him.

    The first Christmas happened in such an unexpected way, but it was through the unexpected events and details that God became flesh and dwelt among us. And because these different individuals were willing to surrender to God’s will through the unexpected events of their lives, they were given the privilege of being a part of a greater story that would surpass their lifetimes and be told and celebrated worldwide for the many years to come.

    Perhaps this Christmas was not what you were expecting. Perhaps it was laced with confusion, disappointment, frustration, or heartache. If that was your experience this year, then I pray that God would use the unexpected events and details of your life to birth a deeper sense of His presence in you.

    The One who came as a little baby and lived the human experience was not impervious to pain or grief.  The sin that effects this world and our lives so greatly today is the sin that led Him to suffer and die on a cross. He understands pain and suffering. He knows what it feels like to be abandoned and forsaken. And He understands what it means to mourn. After all, He wept too.

    He who became fully human for our sakes understands each intimate detail of our lives today, and He is full of deep compassion for us. Perhaps the unexpected details of our lives are the very areas where He would cause something beautiful to be born. Perhaps it is through them in which He would allow us to see a greater display of His power and glory. Whatever you may be facing today, I pray that God would allow to you to sense Him at work in your life and that He would overflow your heart with joy, peace, and a deep sense of hope.

    Perhaps, through surrendering to God’s will in the unexpected events of our lives, we will be given the privilege of being part of a greater story that will surpass our lifetimes—one that will have an eternal impact and that we can tell to our children and their children for the years to come.

  • Star of Wonder

    A Hallmark card sent by a friend
    Oh, star of wonder, star of night
    Star with royal beauty bright
    Westward leading, still proceeding
    Guide us to thy perfect light

    -We Three Kings

    These lyrics have been running through my head as of late, all thanks to a special “star” that I read about in an article recently. The “star” is actually the alignment of the planets Jupiter and Saturn1, which can be seen today through December 26th during the evening.2 According to one article, the alignment of these two planets is very rare, having happened the last time over more than half a century ago.3 We truly have the chance to see a wonder this week worldwide. I’m praying that the skies will be clear enough here to catch a glimpse of this beautiful sight.

    As I have thought about this phenomenon, I have been reminded of several passages throughout the Scriptures. The first one has been from a passage found in 1 Kings 19 in which the word of the LORD comes to Elijah in a cave and asks him what he is doing there. Elijah responds out of discouragement, explaining that he has fled the wicked Queen Jezebel, who has sworn to have him killed. According to his limited (and faulty) knowledge, all the other true prophets have been put to death, and he is the last one remaining.

    After Elijah expresses these complaints to God, he is commanded to stand before the LORD on the mount, and the following events occur:

    And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.”

    1 Kings 19:11b-12

    When Elijah hears the low whisper, he wraps his face in his cloak and goes to stand at the entrance of the cave, implying that Elijah understood that the LORD was in the whisper. After the devastation of the wind, earthquake, and fire, Elijah was reminded that God was as near to him as a whisper. He had not abandoned Elijah, nor would He.

    This year, the world has experienced the same tragic events that Elijah experienced in that moment before the LORD. There have been winds (both tornados and hurricanes), earthquakes, and fires in addition to a plague and the political and social unrest that has ensued, and it has been difficult to sense God’s presence in any of these things. But after a year filled with tragedy, we are left with the reminder that God is still near to us through something so reminiscent of the first Christmas long ago, and with it we remember that Jesus entered this sin-filled world to ultimately become the sacrifice for our sins. As believers, He is our Emmanuel—God with us. He has not abandoned us, nor will He.

    The second passage that has come to mind as I think about this special “star” is the following:

    Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.”

    Isaiah 55:6

    When I think about the special “Christmas star”4 of this year, I can’t help but think of the wise men that followed the star so many years ago that ultimately led them to Jesus. As a result of their willingness to follow, they were given the privilege of worshipping the King of Kings and offering precious gifts to the One who would ultimately offer us the greatest gift of all.

    The “star” of 2020 is a vivid reminder that mankind can still seek Jesus today, just as the wise men did so long ago. God can still be found, and He not only longs for us to seek Him but gives us opportunities to do so. He has, in fact, placed each of us in the optimal setting to do just that.

    And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for“‘In him we live and move and have our being’.”

    Acts 17:28-28

    The “Christmas star” of this month is yet another tangible expression of God’s active part in this world, and I pray that this rare, beautiful sight will inspire individuals to remember the first Christmas and to seek and find Jesus as a result*. I also pray that it will renew the hope of many and that it will provide comfort to those who mourn that God is near. He has not abandoned us this year.

    If nothing else, the “Christmas star” is a good reminder to look up. So while the year draws to an end, let’s look up as we look forward to a new year.

    *If you want to seek Jesus and don’t know where to start, the following website is a good place to begin: The Four Spiritual Laws-English-knowing God Personally (4laws.com).

    1. Rare “Christmas Star” of December 2020 Brings Hope (crosswalk.com)
    2. Christmas Star: How To See ‘Double Planet,’ First In 800 Years | The Daily Wire
    3. Rare “Christmas Star” of December 2020 Brings Hope (crosswalk.com)
    4. Ibid

  • Argentina-Style Empanadas

    Crispy, savory pastry meets seasoned, slightly sweet beef in this dish, with extra bursts of sweetness from the raisins throughout, and a surprise bite of hard-boiled egg and a tangy green olive.

    Several months after JJ and I got married, we had the opportunity to visit his parents in the hometown where he grew up. Other than wanting to spend quality time with his immediate and extended family, we didn’t have a lot of expectations for our visit. We did have one main goal, however—to learn how to make empanadas from JJ’s father.

    JJ and I had very distinct reasons as to why we wanted to learn, although equally as strong desires. For JJ, it was a beloved dish reminiscent of special moments throughout his childhood. I wanted to learn, on the other hand, because making authentic empanadas from my Argentine father-in-law was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

    Although JJ’s father was not too excited about the long, laborious process of teaching us how to make this main course, he conceded to our request, and we were soon learning how to make this tasty dish.

    The empanadas that JJ and I formed that day were nothing near lovely, but they were delicious. Enough so, in fact, that JJ and I decided to try our hand at them again for our first Christmas together as a married couple several months later. JJ pulled up the short clips he had recorded from our empanada-making session with his dad, and I got out my notes with rough estimates of each ingredient used.

     It was quite the process for us to form and fry the empanadas, but several hours later, we had a heaping bowl full of these tasty, golden treats, and our tradition of making empanadas during the Christmas season began.

    Since learning how to make empanadas, I have noticed that there are other Argentine empanada recipes online. Some are similar to the ones that we make with a few additional ingredients, and some are different altogether. Nonetheless, the recipe below is what JJ’s father taught us, and it is the one that we love and that we will pass on to our son as he grows. We hope it will stay in the family for many generations to come.

    If you make these empanadas, please let me know how they turn out. I hope you like them as much as my family and I do. Who knows? Perhaps they will even become a new family tradition of your own.

    ARGENTINA-STYLE EMPANADAS

    Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 ½ t paprika
1 t crushed red pepper 
1½ T taco seasoning mix
1 to 1 ½ T sugar, according to desired sweetness
1/3 c raisins
2 hard-boiled eggs, cut into small cubes (around 12-15 pieces per egg)
Small jar green olives (one green olive per empanada)
2 packages Discos Goya*(thawed in refrigerator overnight)
Oil for frying

    Instructions:

    Brown the beef and drain its grease.  Return to low heat and add the paprika, crushed red pepper, taco seasoning mix, and sugar and mix well. Stir in the raisins and remove from heat. Place a couple of tablespoons of the meat mixture into the middle of the disco Goya. Add a piece of hard-boiled egg and one olive to each, then fold the dough in half. Make a crease along the opened end, then pinch the dough along the crease line to ensure complete closure of the empanada.

    Heat up enough oil in a frying pan for the empanadas to float above the bottom of the pan. Flip each empanada after 30-60 seconds, or once the side submerged in oil is golden. Fry the other side until golden, then place on a plate lined with a paper towel to allow to cool slightly. Makes 20 empanadas.

    NOTES: If you are not familiar with discos Goya, I recommend searching for them in the frozen section of ethnic food at your local Walmart. If you do not have a local Walmart and/or simply do not have access to discos Goya where you live, the following website provides a fairly simple recipe for making them: https://www.laylita.com/recipes/how-to-make-empanada-dough/. Please keep in mind, however, that I cannot attest to the taste of these discos nor their similarity to discos Goya since I have always been fortunate enough to find discos Goya at the store.

    To make a healthier version of this dish, use lean ground beef, lightly brush the dough with oil, and bake until golden.

    AIR FRYER OPTION:

    Lightly brush each empanada with oil, then bake in the air fryer in segments at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes, flipping over when halfway through.