Angel Balls
Ingredients
1/4 c. granulated sugar
1/2 lb. (two sticks) butter, softened but not melted
2 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. vanilla extract (be generous)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. pecans, chopped fine in a blender
1 boatload of powdered sugar
I use an electric hand mixer to blend the butter and sugar well. Add flour, vanilla, salt, and pecans and mix well. Roll dough into small balls and place on air-bake cookie sheets (prevents burning), and bake 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven. While cooking, prepare a rimmed cookie sheet with cooling racks over it and get your sifter ready. (you could use a fine mesh colander).
Immediately remove cookies from baking sheet and put them on the cooling racks. Sprinkle GENEROUSLY with powdered sugar. When cool, move cooling racks off rimmed baking sheet. Before transferring cookies to a storage container, dip them in the remaining powdered sugar in the rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle more powdered sugar over the cookies every chance you get. The dough is not sweet...the cookies get all their sweetness from the powdered sugar.
Store in airtight container. Cookies are very delicate. Also, don't inhale when you take a bite, or you'll choke on powdered sugar.
And now for the ornament.
Our Stephen Ministry group handed out our annual "Blue Christmas" ornaments. Many churches honor those who are not jolly during the holidays, either because they are grieving, have lost jobs, are burdened by stress or caregiving or illness. Here's this year's ornament and the presentation that was read at each of our church's three services.
The verse on the back of the ornament is 2 Corinthians 12:9, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"
Here's the speech:
Did
you know that in Scandinavia, holly is called Christ thorn? In fact, many
Christians believe that the prickly leaves of holly represent the crown of
thorns Jesus wore at his crucifixion, and the red berries symbolize the drops
of blood shed from those thorns. We deck our halls with boughs of holly for a
jolly Christmas to celebrate Christ’s birth. What an appropriate reminder that
we owe our hope, peace, joy, and love to a Savior who gave His very life for
us.
For
the past four years during Advent, Stephen Ministers have given away ornaments
as a reminder that Christmas isn’t holly jolly for everyone, and that’s why
this year’s ornaments have holly on them. For some, this holiday season is a
time of worry or frustration, or a painful reminder of the loss of a loved one,
a job, a marriage, health, independence, or even faith.
If
you know someone who is grieving or in crisis this Christmas, we encourage you
to reach out to them, listen to them, and encourage them. You might also tell
them about Stephen Ministry and how a Stephen Minister can meet with them once
a week to listen to and encourage them for as long as they need. Ask
their permission to give their name and telephone number to a Stephen Leader,
and pass it along to Pastor Amy, Zandra Woody, or Susan Raihala.
God’s
amazing grace is sufficient for each one of us, and His power is made perfect
in our weakness. When someone is feeling weak and hurting, that’s just when
Christians are called to step in and be agents of God’s amazing grace. God can work
through each of us to heal the hurting, and Stephen Ministers are especially
well equipped through training, through faith, and through love of Christ to
serve those who are suffering.
Wouldn’t
it be a wonderful Christmas present to connect someone who is hurting with
Christ’s saving grace? Perhaps that person is you. Stephen Ministers are here
to help.
Stephen
Ministers will be standing at each exit after service to give one ornament to
each family. If you would like an extra ornament to give to a hurting friend or
family member, just ask.
We
wish you a very Holly Christmas!
To each one of you reading this, if you are hurting this Christmas, know that there are people of faith ready to help you. Reach out. Talk to a pastor. Talk to a friend. If you don't know of a Stephen Ministry group in your area and might be interested, email me and I will try to find one for you.
If you know someone who's hurting this Christmas, reach out to them. Listen. Don't try to fix their problems or tell them what to do. Cry with them, listen, be there.
I'll get off my soapbox now and wish you all hope, peace, comfort, and love this season and always.
Supplies
stamps: Papertrey
ink: Archival leaf, red geranium
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: corner rounder, red 1/8" satin ribbon, circle punch, Avery label sticker (for verse on back)
Thank you! Always looking for new cookie recipes!
ReplyDeleteA pure and simple beauty Susan!
ReplyDeleteMy mother made these in a small cylinder shape and called them "cocoons". My favorite cookie ever, though very labor intensive. We always let ours cool just a bit before the first dose of powdered sugar so it wouldn't melt. Amazingly addictive. My mother sent me a package of them to college one year. Somehow I made myself share with my roommates. After one, they were like "meh", but after the second, they were cramming them in and the whole box was gone in five minutes.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your work through the Stephen Ministry. God bless you and the people you help.
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe directions--more powdered sugar! MORE! No, really, you need more. Add some more.
ReplyDelete