…and so it begins!

24 days till Christmas!

The announcements ring out through every media outlet possible, telling us all how many days we have left to shop…

For the ones we love…

For the celebrations to come…

For the perfect gift.

But….

Once upon a time, a much different announcement took place. An announcement of a birth…proclaimed from the lips of an Angel, from a star, and from the pages of prophesy. Has the proclamation been drowned out today by the clanging lyrics of the media?

Shop, Shop, Shop!

May I encourage you to stop this season and consider that proclamation of old? Remember who came to this earth – for you – and why. Make this season about Him, and not about the amount of gifts that are under the tree.

Jesus is the perfect gift

….and His birth was proclaimed for all to hear. Let us be a resounding voice, proclaiming this truth to all that will listen. Step out. Do something different. Fill a need. Reach out a hand. Love an unlovable.

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t give gifts…Jesus gave gifts. Definitely love on your family, and friends, and those around you. But maybe try to do something different. Make a gift. Give a piece of yourself this season, even if it is simply to let them know that you love them. Find a way to make a bold statement about the love of God…for when we give love to others in extraordinary ways, we show them how God loves them.

I know it is easy to be sucked in by the media proclamations.

I also tend to be sucked in this time of year.  Not so much by the stores call to action, but more so by the need to bake. My family LOVES this time of year, the time when smells of freshly baked cookies fill the house and treats abundantly flow. …and I love to do it for them!

This year at a beautiful life - during the month of December will be giving you the gift of a month of cookies! Each day the posting contributor will be including their favorite cookie recipe for you to download. A pdf link with the recipe on a pretty Christmas page will be included for printing ease.  At the end of December, you will have 22 recipes along with a cover and back page to assemble into a cookie book. We hope that you enjoy each of the recipes that have blessed our homes with years of tradition – old and new.

We will start off the Month with a Sugar-Free Thumbprint cookie. Yes, I know – sugar free….it doesn’t sound like something you would really want to eat for the holidays. But there is a story to this cookie. A few years back, my mother was diagnosed with diabetes. And she hates it.  Imagine all of the things you used to love, no longer on your “able to eat” list. Christmas is particularly hard as she always loved to sample each and every cookie that was displayed at our Christmas celebration.

This sugar-free version of the ever loved thumbprint cookie, is buttery and has just the right amount of sweetness from the spreadable fruit that is included (I choose a no added sugar variety). It is sure to be a hit with those who are unable to indulge in the multitude of baked goods available for whatever reason, and make them feel like they are truly special.

Enjoy!

Lisa

Download the Cover for your book here: cover

And here is the pdf of the recipe: dec 1

 

Sugar Free Thumbprint Cookies

Serves: 24 (makes 2 dozen)
Ingredients
-  6 tablespoons stick butter
-  cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*
-  1 egg
-  2 tablespoons 2% milk
-  1 teaspoon vanilla
-  1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
-  1/4 teaspoon baking powder
-  1/4 teaspoon baking soda
-  1/4 teaspoon salt
-  3/4 cup spreadable fruit of choice

* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Beat butter and Equal until well combined. Mix in egg,
milk and vanilla until blended. Gradually beat in
combined flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Shape dough by teaspoonful into balls. Place on sprayed
baking sheets. Press thumb deeply into dough to form a
“thumbprint” indentation. Bake in preheated 350F oven
11 to 13 minutes or until firm to the touch. Remove
from baking sheet and cool completely on wire rack.
Store in airtight containers at room temperature.

Fill each cookie with about 1/2 teaspoon
spreadable fruit just before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving
Calories: 58; Protein: 1 g ; Fat: 3 g ; Sodium: 46 mg;
Cholesterol: 16 mg ; Carbohydrates: 8 g
Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1/2 fat

 

 

 

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