Yuletide Spirit: October 2019

Saturday, October 26, 2019

#Halloween at Christmas Spirit - Baked #Pumpkin Donuts #nationalpumpkinday

Baked Pumpkin Donuts

*You will need a donut pan for this (I need to get me one).

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup brown sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 eggs
2 tablespoon milk
¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla extract
cinnamon glaze (recipe below)

Cinnamon Glaze

1/2-3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray two 6-count donut pans with non-stick cooking spray (or alternatively spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray). Sift the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, nutmeg and cinnamon in a small bowl. In a stand mixer or medium sized bowl and hand mixer cream together the brown sugar, pumpkin, eggs, milk, butter and vanilla extract on medium speed until the butter is well incorporated.

2. With your mixer on medium low speed, slowly add the dry sifted ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix until just barely combined. Do not over-mix.

3. Scoop pumpkin batter into a large ziploc bag, pushing batter down towards one end of the bag. Snip the end of the bag with scissors and fill each donut mold with the batter. Be sure to wipe any excess batter that may have gotten around the edge of the mold or on the center "hole".

4. Bake for 6 – 8 minutes or until the exterior springs back when touched. Allow to cool completely and before dipping in cinnamon glaze.

Cinnamon Glaze

1. In a shallow bowl mix all ingredients with a spoon or spatula until smooth and creamy. You may need to add additional milk or sugar to get the right consistency. Dip donuts into glaze to coat. Donuts are best eaten the day they are glazed.

Recipe and images from Handle the Heat.

Always in spirit...

Friday, October 25, 2019

#RudolphDay - New #Holiday Music with Ken from the Sounds of #Christmas

Thanks so much for once again inviting me back to your blog, Michelle!

I am very excited about the upcoming season for the Sounds of Christmas (which starts on November 1, which is next Friday)!

We’re actually already on, playing Halloween music through the end of this month. For the last twelve Christmas seasons, I’ve played a huge variety of Christmas music, and I’ve worked hard to play thousands of songs, without repeating the same song and the same artist. This way, you won’t hear “Sleigh Ride” twice an hour, and you won’t hear Johnny Mathis over and over.

I have just always felt that there’s so much good Christmas music out there, and more and more coming every year, there’s no reason to play Bing’s “White Christmas” every other hour.

I’m doing the same kind of thing with Halloween music, spreading out different versions of “I Put A Spell On You” and others, as well as separating out the songs by the same artists. You won’t hear “Ghostbusters” over and over (and I have multiple versions of that in rotation, from all three of the different movies).

By the way, if there’s a spooky song you’d like to hear, you can certainly let me know and I’ll do my best to play it for you!

So what’s new in Christmas music this season?

Once again, there is a lot of terrific new music this year, much of which is already out! I’m sure I won’t be able to get to it all of it in this blog, and there are always surprise releases that show up as the season gets going!

First, there are previous releases that are being re-released with extra songs.

Most notable of these is Mariah Carey’s first Christmas album, which was simply called “Merry Christmas” (and the new one will be called “Merry Christmas Deluxe Anniversary Edition” or some variation on that). Brace yourselves. That original Christmas release came out 25 years ago! It’s due November 1, and includes the original recordings, along with remixes, live versions and some of her recent Christmas singles. While not technically a re-release, Pentatonix has a “Best of Pentatonix Christmas” set due today. It includes songs from their previous holiday releases, along with four new songs (one of which pairs them with Whitney Houston)! This isn’t really a re-release, either, but it’s closer to that than it is to an all-new recording. “Bing At Christmas” will feature some of Bing Crosby’s most well-known Christmas recordings, featuring new arrangements with the London Symphony Orchestra. It will also feature tracks that include “guest appearances” by Pentatonix, the Puppini Sisters and the Tenors. Another of the tracks will be a reworking of Bing’s duet with David Bowie. And if you didn’t pick up John Legend’s wonderful “Legendary Christmas” last year, you can grab it next month with four additional songs!

Meanwhile, stuff that’s “all-new” has been trickling out for the last couple of months!

Actress and vocalist Brynn Stanley released her first holiday set, “Classic Christmas” in September, led by the single “Santa Bring My Baby (Back To Me)”. I know it’s October, and Christmas singles aren’t really a thing, yet, but this is one I think you’ll be hearing a lot of. Another one from September comes from a different actress and vocalist, Renée Zellweger. She and Rufus Wainwright duet on “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” from the soundtrack to the Judy Garland biopic, “Judy”.

Also in September, saxophonist Dave Koz released his fifth Christmas collection, “Gifts Of The Season”. This one, as have many of his previous releases, features a bunch of guests, including Jonathan Butler and Melissa Manchester. For October, we’ve already had new stuff from Jonathan Butler, Los Lobos, Gerald Albright, Chicago, Ne-Yo, Black Hawk, Keb’ Mo’, Idina Menzel, Dionne Warwick and Judas Priest’s Rob Halford.

And today is a big release day! We’re getting new Christmas music from 92 Keys, Jim Brickman, Celtic Woman, Elizabeth Chan, Orla Fallon, Ana Gasteyer, Danny Gokey, Lea Michele and the Oak Ridge Boys!

November has plenty more in store, including new Christmas albums from Sara Groves, the MonaLisa Twins, Johnny Reid, Wade Bowen, Lincoln Brewster, Jim Brickman (again), Wynton Marsalis, the Sidewalk Prophets, Keith Harkin, Judy Collins, Rick Wakeman and Robbie Williams.

The biggest surprise this year, at least to me, is that some of the biggest names that have teased new Christmas music have suddenly gone quiet with no indication of that new Christmas music actually showing up. This includes rumored Christmas albums from the Backstreet Boys, Cher, Dolly Parton, DMX and Smashing Pumpkins. I am sure I’ve missed some, and I apologize if I skipped one of your favorites. Hundreds of new releases come across my desk (and into my email) every year, and I try to get to as many as I can. Unfortunately, every year, I come across truly wonderful songs that I don’t actually discover until January.

The Sounds of Christmas shifts to Christmas music on November 1. I know not everyone is ready for it that early, but we’re here for those who are. And we’re very excited to have Brynn Stanley on board as a new sponsor this season, alongside our returning friends – Kenny Davies, Engelbert Humperdinck and Rick Lang!

Hope you’re able to spend at least some of your holiday season with us!

And may you always believe in Santa Claus!

Ken

http://www.SoundsofChristmas.com

A big thank you to Ken for once again spreading the Christmas music cheer with us at Christmas Spirit. Be sure to tune in to Sounds of Christmas on November 1st, and all season long. I have a link to the Sounds of Christmas in the right sidebar so you can listen while you're online. Look for the Sounds of Christmas Christmas tree, click the image and you'll be taken to the site where you can listen. Also, Sounds of Christmas has an app on Google Play so you can listen on the go...and it's free! You can find it in the Play Store here.

Man, do I love that Robbie Williams cover!

Always in spirit...

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

#Halloween at Christmas Spirit - How to Carve the Best Pumpkin/Pumpkin Seed Necklace

Here are an expert’s secrets for carving a better-than-average jack-o-lantern:

Pick an oddly shaped pumpkin. Everyone, it seems, looks for the most perfectly formed pumpkin for their jack-o’-lantern. The better choice is actually one that is slightly misshapen—a little long, a little wide, a little bumpy. The peculiarities will give your pumpkin character.
Figure out the face. Before making any cuts, outline your ideas for a face on the pumpkin with a water-based marker. Draw a line establishing the middle of the face and draw the features on both sides to match—or not. Then trace these lines with a permanent marker.
Hollow with care. How will you display your jack-o’-lantern? If you’re going to light the pumpkin, hollow it from the top; this will allow the escape of heat from a lamp or smoke from a flame (if you are using a candle). If the jack-o’-lantern will not be lit, you can hollow it out from a hole in the back so that the look of the face is not affected.
Amplify your ideas. Exaggerate the facial features and carve the entire pumpkin, not just one side.

DIY: Pumpkin Seed Necklace

Making a necklace from the seeds you dig out of your pumpkin is as easy as 1, 2, 3 . . . 4, 5! 1.

Separate the seeds from the pulp and rinse them well in warm water.
Spread the seeds out on paper towels to dry completely.
When the seeds are dry, color them with felt-tip markers, leaving some uncolored if you wish.
Make holes near the center of each seed, using a big needle or an awl and a block of wood.
String the seeds with a large-eye needle and fine elastic, using 125 to 130 seeds for a necklace and far fewer for a matching bracelet. (Measure around your neck or wrist before cutting the elastic, allowing a little extra to tie the finishing knot.)

Tips and ideas from Old Farmer's Almanac.

Always in spirit...

Friday, October 11, 2019

#Halloween at Christmas Spirit - Cornflake Pumpkins

Cornflake Pumpkins

Ingredients

30 large marshmallows
½ cup butter or margarine
2 tsp orange food coloring
1 tsp vanilla
3½ cups cornflakes
1 bag wilton green candy melts

Instructions

Place the marshmallows and butter in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for about 1 minute.
Stir the puffed up marshmallows and butter together until it's one big gooey mess.
Add the vanilla and orange food coloring and mix well.
Then, add the cornflakes.
Mix until all the cornflakes are coated well.
Drop by large tablespoonfuls onto a greased piece of waxed paper.
Place ½ cup of the wilton candy melts in a microwave safe bowl and melt as per directions on the package.
Scoop the melted candy into a ziploc bag.
Cut off the tip of one corner of the ziploc bag and decorate your pumpkins with stems and leaves!

Note:

If you don't have orange food coloring (which I don't), mix red and yellow until you get the desired orange color
Instead of using the melted candy for the stems and leaves, I'm going to use the Betty Crocker decorator icing you can buy in the cake and cookie decorating section of the baking aisle at the grocery store.

Recipe and images credit

Always in spirit...

I have always loved the holidays, which for me is Yuletide and Halloween (I love Thanksgiving too). I try to keep the spirit going year-round, with Christmas in July in the middle of summer. What I love the most about Christmas and Yuletide are the feelings of good will and peace, and the traditions, which are the message of the season. Keeping the spirit and celebrating Yuletide all year long is the goal. Oh, and don't forget Halloween. Click the Halloween button below to check out our page. I intend to share more Halloween elements going forward. I hope you enjoy your time here! I also blog at my main blog, True Book Addict. Just click the button below the Halloween button to visit.

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.

Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them, for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happens on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed; and that was quite enough for him.

He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterward; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!

from A CHRISTMAS CAROL BY CHARLES DICKENS, 1812-1870

Christmas Morning

Jo was the first to wake in the gray dawn of Christmas morning. No stockings hung at the fireplace, and for a moment she felt as much disappointed as she did long ago, when her little sock fell down because it was so crammed with goodies. Then she remembered her mother's promise, and slipping her hand under her pillow, drew out a little crimson-covered book. She knew it very well, for it was that beautiful old story of the best life ever lived, and Jo felt that it was a true guide-book for any pilgrim going the long journey. She woke Meg with a "Merry Christmas," and bade her see what was under her pillow. A green-covered book appeared, with the same picture inside, and a few words written by their mother, which made their one present very precious in their eyes. Presently Beth and Amy woke, to rummage and find their little books also,--one dove-colored, the other blue; and all sat looking at and talking about them, while the east grew rosy with the coming day.
..
from LITTLE WOMEN BY Louisa May Alcott, 1832-1888

The Magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the wisest. Everywhere they are the wisest. They are the Magi.
..
from THE GIFT OF THE MAGI BY O. Henry

Home for Christmas

This is meeting time again. Home is the magnet. The winter land roars and hums with the eager speed of return journeys. The dark is noisy and bright with late-night arrivals--doors thrown open, running shadows on snow, open arms, kisses, voices and laughter, laughter at everything and nothing. Inarticulate, giddying and confused are those original minutes of being back again. The very familiarity of everything acts like shock. Contentment has to be drawn in slowly, steadyingly, in deep breaths--there is so much of it. We rely on home not to change, and it does not, wherefore we give thanks. Again Christmas: abiding point of return. Set apart by its mystery, mood and magic, the season seems in a way to stand outside time. All that is dear, that is lasting, renews its hold on us: we are home again....

from HOME FOR CHRISTMAS BY Elizabeth Bowen, 1899-1973

Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no! We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here! We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny f***ing Kaye! And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse!

Clark W. Griswold in "CHRISTMAS VACATION"

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspision love actually is all around.

~Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) IN "LOVE ACTUALLY"

Christmas began being celebrated on December 25 in 336 A.D. In 350, Pope Julius I declared December 25 the official date, and, in 529, Emperor Justinian declared Christmas a civic holiday. The biblical Jesus was not actually born on December 25. His birth probably took place in the summer months because shepherds and their flocks (the Nativity story portrays that they were present at the birth) would not have been roaming the hills at night in the winter. The reason the Pope chose December 25 as the official date was an attempt to incorporate the winter solstice festivals important to the cultures of pre-Christian Europe and Asia. Christian leaders believed that the best way to get the pagans to accept Christianity was to include their most deep rooted traditions in to Christian worship and celebration. Here are some popular pagan traditions that still survive today:

The Yule Log--this tradition has very deep pagan roots. The massive logs were burned in winter ceremonies in celebration of the sun. The selection of the log was crucial and included much ceremony because the log started the celebration fires and would last for the duration of the winter festival. To justify this pagan ritual, the Christian church gave it a new significance, that the fire signified the light that came from Heaven when Christ was born. The log was lit on Christmas Eve and left burning throughout the twelve days of Christmas (see below for the tradition behind the twelve days of Xmas).

Greenery--evergreens were revered by pagan people because they could stay alive during the cold dark winters. Considered magical, greenery decorated the inside and outside of houses during the winter solstice festivals. Church officials again justified the continued use of greenery by saying it symbolized Christ, who in his triumph over death gave the gift of everlasting life to the world. The most common Christmas greenery in use today: holly, ivy, mistletoe, and, of course, the most revered Christmas tree.

Mistletoe--this Christmas greenery was actually worshiped in pagan times. Druids and Romans thought it sacred, for healing and as a charm against evil. It was considered a symbol of peace; warring soldiers who found themselves under mistletoe quickly put down weapons and made a temporary truce. Ancient Britons hung mistletoe in their doorways to keep evil away. Whoever entered the house safely were given a welcome kiss--thus the custom of kissing under the mistletoe!

Sitting under the mistletoe
(Pale green, fairy mistletoe)
One last candle burning low,
All the sleepy dancers gone,
Just one candle burning on,
Shadows lurking everywhere:
Someone came and kissed me there.

Tired I was; my head would go
Nodding under the mistletoe
(Pale green, fairy mistletoe)
No footsteps came, no voice, but only,
Just as I sat there, sleepy, lonely,
Stooped in the still and shadowy air,
Lips unseen--and kissed me there.

~Walter De La Mare, 1873-1956

The Origins of Santa Claus (St. Nicholas)--as a young man, became Bishop of Myra while still a teen, earned him the nickname of Boy Bishop. Bishop Nicholas, through courage and generosity, touched the lives of many people, saving many from famine and despair. He founded an orphanage and became known for his love of and wonderful relationship with children. He was imprisoned by the Roman Empire during a time of religious persecution. He was finally reprieved by Emperor Constantine who was developing a softer attitude toward Christianity. Nicholas died on December 6 in approximately 343 A.D. (This day is still celebrated as St. Nicholas's Day in many European countries) Nicholas was very popular throughout Christendom and he was named the patron saint of children, sailors, thieves, hobos, pawnbrokers, and bankers--and also Russia, Greece, and Sicily.

A Poem Suitable for the Season

The merry halls may jingle in the good, old-fashioned way; In merriment we mingle, with the music holding sway. The "Gloria in Excelsis" is sounding everywhere, But, really, 'tisn't Christmas, if Mother isn't there. She hangs a newer halo round the mistletoe on high; A spirit of bravado drew away the weary sigh-- For sorrow is no mistress, and life lets go its fear Amid the joys of Christmas, when Mother, dear, is here. The fire upon the hearthstone lights up with ruddier glow; The laughter is more mirthsome, bubbling forth in frolic flow; The Christ Child truly comes to us, in all His heavenly cheer, If the advent of old Christmas finds mother, also, here.

~William Hopkins ..

Item: Those Inconsiderate Last-Minute Shoppers

Way of women at Christmas puzzles a woman

Why not start list now (December 5) and do your Christmas giving sensibly, with regard to feelings of others, as well as for time, strength, and money? Leaving everything until last minute makes season harder for clerks and spoils holiday!

(Headline of an article in the December 5, 1926 Providence Journal urging procrastinating wives to show a little more thought during the holiday season. The article is accompanied by an illustration of an unnamed acquaintance of the author's who "used to dread Christmas and spent the whole holiday in bed, utterly spent, and with ice-bags at her head and feet.") ..

Item: Pearl Harbor brings a different kind of Christmas

While preparations are going on here, in a mild way to be sure, due to wartime conditions, our little British cousins across the seas have not been overlooked. Old Santa, that kindly bewhiskered man, will pay them a visit through the thoughtfulness of the relief agencies here...Of the many thousands (of) toys of various types and descriptions sent across the seas by Bundles for Britain, most of them are soft dolls and animals made from scraps of materials in the sewing looms...

(The New York Times, December 21, 1941)

Item: The Choice

If Western civilization dies in a rain of nuclear explosions, it will be written in a later day that the tragedy of our century was the inability of man to apply to the problems of peace the genius that loosed a most fearful Armageddon. "Peace on earth," the angels sang 2,000 years ago, but peace today is as tremulous as thin fog at dawn along the shore...Today is a day for happiness...but we shall end by trading that happiness for horror if we cannot recapture the humility, the simplicity, the understanding, the faith, the affection, and the lack of fear that marked the shepherds who saw His tiny fists wave in the lamplight of a stable at Bethlehem.

(From an editorial in the Providence Journal, December 25, 1957)

Item: The Immigrant's Puzzlement

Understanding Santa is troublesome for Laotians on their first American Yule

Khamehanh Chantharangsy was preparing about a dozen of his fellow Laotians for their first American Christmas...They had never heard of Santa Claus...Now that the refugees are in America, he said, "We try to do everything like American...." Khamchanh interpreted [for his friend Xiong Tong]: "He says it is quite strange, quite interesting but quite impossible for this man to penetrate the roof of his house with such a large sack of toys."

(From the Providence Journal, December 24, 1976)