Gingerbread Trifle, a favorite Christmas recipe! ~A Kitchen Post

Sometimes I share recipes on my blog & this will be one of those times!
This Gingerbread Trifle recipe is from Kathy Farrell-Kingsley & comes from the December/January 2011 Family Fun magazine.

It is a gingerbread, custard & raspberry dessert.

I have made this recipe several times.  Almost always at Christmas, (although raspberries are in season in the summer, so I think once I made it then), and I think always for a Foster family gathering.  It makes a huge & pretty dessert and feels like a 'rich' dessert, but really is not overly sweet.

(FYI- The picture of the trifle I made tonight doesn't show the fresh whipped cream & raspberries on it, so it's not quite the finished product.  I'll have to add those parts tomorrow just before serving.)

Gingerbread:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup dark molasses
2 large eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup buttermilk

    Heat the oven to 350 degrees.  Generously grease & flour a 9-inch round pan.  In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and salt.
    In a large bowl with an electric mixer set on medium-high speed, beat the butter until it's soft and creamy, about 1 minute.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the sugar & molasses & beat again until the mixture is well blended and fluffy, about 2 minutes more.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating 30 seconds after each addition.  Slowly pour in the buttermilk & beat well.  Reduce the mixer's speed to low & slowly add half the flour mixture to the bowl and beat until blended.  Repeat with the rest of the flour mixture.
    Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 45 minutes.  Let the cake completely on a wire rack, then cover it tightly with plastic wrap until ready to use.  It can be stored in the pan at room temperature for up to two days.

Vanilla Custard:
9 large eggs, (just using the yolks)
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
3 cups whole milk
1 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

I love these bright yellow farm fresh eggs of mine!

    Divide the egg yolks and whites.  Place the yolks in a mixing bowl and on medium-high speed beat the yolks and sugar until the mixture is pale yellow and thick, about 2-3 minutes.  Reduce the speed to low and beat in the flour.
    In a medium saucepan, bring the milk to a boil.  Slowly pour half the milk into the egg mixture and beat until blended, then pour the mixture into the remaining milk in the pan.  Over medium heat, bring the ingredients to a boil while whisking constantly.  Allow the custard to boil for 1 minute as you continue to whisk.  Remove the pan from the heat & stir in the vanilla.

'homemade' vanilla extract!

We just LOVE custard!

Raspberry Filling & Garnish:
3 (12 ounce) packages frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed and drained
3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup chilled heavy cream
2 teaspoons powdered sugar
1/2 pint fresh raspberries

Assemble the trifle:

   In a medium bowl toss the raspberries and the sugar.  Remove the gingerbread from the pan and use a serrated knife to slice it into four equal wedges.  Turn each wedge on its side and slice it into three equal pieces, (for three layers).  (Then the recipe says something I don't do, but it may depend on your size dish.  I don't own a trifle dish, so I use a wider, shorter dish.  It says:  Stack them, slice the pile in half, and cut off 1 1/2 inches from the tips, reserving the pieces.  The part of this that I do 'do' is to 'slice the pile in half', therefore making 8 wedges per circle instead of 4.)
    Arrange a layer of six cake wedges over the bottom of a 2 1/2 quart bowl or a trifle dish.  Fill the center with a few of the trimmings.  Spoon and spread 3/4 cup of the raspberry mixture over the cake, then top the fruit with 1 cup of custard.  Repeat the layering.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 3 hours to let the flavors meld, (the dessert can be stored overnight.)
   Before serving, make the whipped cream.  In a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed, whip the cream with the powdered sugar until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes.   Use a spatula to spread the whipped cream on top of the trifle, and garnish is with the fresh raspberries.

*********************

Before having this dessert I don't believe I had ever had gingerbread & raspberry together.  I now know that those flavors go very well together.  In fact, since then I have sometimes made gingerbread cookies & a homemade raspberry frosting, (a basic frosting & adding raspberry jam, fresh raspberries & imitation raspberry extract).

Enjoy & Merry Christmas!

Happy Hobbit Christmas

The kids & I have been having monthly 'celebrations'  this school year.  We choose a theme and...well...celebrate.
In September we had a maze theme & we went to the corn maze & we did mazes & we went to see The Mazerunner, a book series Noelle read this year.
In October we had a C.S. Lewis theme.  Micah had just finished the Chronicles of Narnia series.   The children received new notebooks & pens & we drank tea & ate turkish delight, although we still haven't gone to Tea Maineia.
In November we had a Thanksgiving theme & we ~of course, ate Thanksgiving food & made Thanksgiving crafts & watched the Disney movie, 'The Thanksgiving Promise.'
For December the kids decided they wanted a Hobbit Christmas theme!!!  My food budget for the month is spent & the past 24 hours were a whirl, but it was very much worth it!

Noelle was the first to read The Hobbit.  Then, 2+ years ago, when Micah was 9 years old, he read it for the first time.  The Hobbit is the only chapter book that Micah has read multiple times!  He loves it!!  (Much like Uncle Marvin loved it, even before it was the 'cool' thing to love!)  I have suggested to Micah that he should read the LOTR.  I know he would like it!  However, he is very stuck on the idea that when he is an 'old man' he will have nothing else to do but read LOTR and he will read it then!

"If more of us valued food & cheer & song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." 

-J.R.R. Tolkien

Did hobbits celebrate Christmas?

(If at this point in the reading you feel a need to point out that hobbits are not real~ take a pause so that you can give your imagination & sense of wonder some time to brush the dust & cobwebs off.)

Well, no.  Hobbits would have lived before Jesus came to earth as a man.  So:  No Christmas existed. However, a 'Hobbit Christmas' is what was requested!!  

Would hobbits have celebrated Christmas?

We believe the answer is, "absolutely!"  

(disclaimer:  My words on this are a combination of my own thoughts & recent reading I've done on this topic.)

Christmas emphasizes the 'peaceful pursuits' of hobbits:  gift giving, the spirit of sharing & creating community.  Hobbits would have loved Christmas!  The feasting, The Feasting!  And the gift giving!   

"Light descends on Middle Earth

All is calm in the softness of the snow

Hobbits dancing by the fire

And the lanterns are all-a-glow!"

Hobbits did, however, celebrate Yuletide!  The timing of our Hobbit Party coincides, according to the calendar, with when the hobbits would have celebrated Yuletide.  Like Yuletide, we have a decorated tree set up in our home (!) and we also have a 'sacred plant', (real mistletoe!)  'Yule' means 'renewal, rebirth', which seems very appropriate for Christmas, actually!  It may a pagan holiday, but it's very meaning reminds me of the Christ child, come to give us new life!

As this party idea developed, we decided to invite Micah's friends, J.B. & K.B., to The Shire and Bag End so that they could celebrate with us!

'Mathoms'~ Hobbit holes are full of things, things, things that may have no use but things that hobbits were unwilling to throw away.  Mathoms are also 're-gifts!'  Old, useless objects that were given as presents.  

We certainly could not, could NOT have a Hobbit party without food.  (More on that later.)  But we also could not have a Hobbit Christmas Party without gifts!!  

I found some items & I consider them to be fairly clever!  

K.B. received his first copy of Tolkien's 'The Hobbit.'

Noelle received a super cool Hobbit journal with neat sketches of the characters.  (Pre-movie.  Which kinda makes it the best!

Micah received a neat book that truly has a little of this & a little of that.

The boys received Hobbit Legos!  (Seriously.  Christmas, you know!  Plus, it's a good way to give away my 1/14th of the Lonely Mountain treasure!)

Noelle received a hobbit ornament!

(Nice blending of 'Hobbit' & 'Christmas' there!)

I looked for how to bring ideas together & which ideas to bring together.  

I read an article about how when the One Ring of Power is destroyed, the Realm of Sauron is ended forever, (LOTR)~ How that is such a great picture of the moment when God Himself became incarnate as man.  Light replaces shadows.  Hope replaces doubts.  (Happy Hobbit Christmas!)

I thought about how The Hobbit is basically a Journey.  

Although when I asked Micah he said it's not a journey, it's about war!  

This led my thoughts nearly immediately to one of the greatest books every written about a journey:  (besides The Bible & our journey through life!):  Pilgrim's Progress!!

Which immediately made me think of one of my favorite books:  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.  

“Go then, my little Book, and show to all

That entertain, and bid thee welcome shall,

What thou dost keep close shut up in thy breast;

And wish what thou dost show them may be blest

To them for good, may make them choose to be

Pilgrims better, by far, than thee or me.

Tell them of Mercy; she is one

Who early hath her pilgrimage begun.

Yea, let young damsels learn of her to prize

The world which is to come, and so be wise;

For little tripping maids may follow God

Along the ways which saintly feet have trod.”

Adapted from JOHN BUNYAN.

(You shall have to re-read Little Women if you want to remember the ways that Pilgrim's Progress came up in it!)

So I sought an abridged audio version of Pilgrim's Progress.  I have never read the unabridged one & it's a bit daunting to me at this point!  

With this idea of a journey, I purchased the audio version for our family to listen to together.

Lastly, for gifts, I found a wonderful devotional, Walking with Bilbo by Sarah Arthur.  I bought two, one for Micah & one for Noelle & I have enjoyed reading and perusing it.  We read the first chapter at [first] breakfast for our family devotional.  

"I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone."  -Gandalf  

Gandalf marked Bilbo's door, indicating that he was the burglar.  We have been marked for something special too!  Bilbo had a potential that only Gandalf could see!  Gandalf knew that Bilbo had something good to do for Middle Earth.  "The Creator of the universe is also the Creator of every human life, including yours, and all that he does has a purpose.  God made you for a reason and has a plan for your life!  [You have been marked for something special!] He's calling you to fulfill a purpose within a story that is larger than you could ever dream or imagine:  an adventure beyond all adventures!"....."God has Gandalf-like tendencies that are really quite alarming.  

'Follow me,' he says.

'Take nothing for your journey.  Go the extra mile.  Why do you worry about what you will eat or what you will wear?  Seek first God's kingdom.'

These are not safe words.  At the very least, they could 'make you late for dinner.'  In fact, they might mean you don't get any dinner at all.  But Jesus also says to his disciples, 'You didn't choose me.  I chose you.'  (John 15:16)."-Arthur.

But...on to the food!  

We know how important that is for hobbits!

I had fun researching that as well.  It is amazing the volume of information out there on all-things-Tolkien!  

Hobbits eat filling, simple foods, ones that could have been grown or produced on a farm.  Interestingly enough, foods that have an English theme.  Their pantries & larders are full.  (They would have to be, if you are going to eat 6 meals a day!)  

Now... in a 24-hour swirl I was able to fit in as many hobbit meals as possible, although not as many as hobbits would have liked!  I only had to drop out one dish today because I decided I didn't have the time or energy to make it!

We typically are a water & milk & sometimes juice kind-of family.  But we went all out in our quest for ale & beer -like drinks!  (Although my recent interest in kombucha may have actually been closer!)

[First] Breakfast:  

Second Breakfast:

Elevenses:

Kevin joined us for elevenses.  Moose-meat, mushroom & onion pies & soup.  Hearty!  A customer came during elevenses & when Kevin told him that he had been just having 'elevenses' the customer knew right away what that meant!

I encouraged the kids to not stuff themselves until they were full or they would end up feeling pretty sick by the end of the day!  

We had some cake last night & today we had some 'treats' out at each meal.  They could have two treats per meal, if they wished.  And usually they did!

Luncheon:

Luncheon was Micah's favorite meal.  He is perfectly happy with a ploughman's lunch!

Long before this time of the day, it is abundantly clear what a hobbit woman spends her entire day doing!!!  Also by this time of the day, time is really getting away from me.  We needed to leave at 2:25ish in order to meet K.B. & J.B.'s mom at the theater & be on time to see The Hobbit:  Battle of the Five Armies (woot!).  I already knew that the 'dinner' meal wasn't going to happen.  I had hoped to squeeze in 'afternoon tea', (usually at 4:00ish).  However, in reality, I did put 'afternoon tea' on the table, but we only had moments before we had to leave!  Bellies were full anyway, so it really didn't matter!

Afternoon Tea:

I had more ideas for this Hobbit Christmas Party than I had time for!  

Storytelling, music & games.

Hobbit personality quizzes, Hobbit origami, Hunt for the Ring game, (Who's got the button?)...

We did read some riddles.  Of course, Micah knew each one!

Alive without breath,

As cold as death;

Never thirsty, ever drinking,

All in mail never clinking.

As mentioned, we read some of our new hobbit devotional.  We prayed.  We laughed!  

The kids and I have just begun reading Tolkien's Letters from Father Christmas.  That seems to fit in with the theme.  I have found them to be whimsical & wonderful.  Can you imagine Tolkien was your dad & storyteller?  He illustrated these letters as well.  They have been a real treat.  

(In fact, it warms my heart that as I write this & announce 'bedtime!', Micah says, 'Aren't we going to read a letter from Father Christmas!?')

In between me presenting meals, I was wicked busy in the kitchen.  The boys played some games of their own.  Archery, which certainly keeps with our theme).  Monopoly.  The wii.  A bit of Legos.  (I could stretch the connections, and say that 'legos' sounds like 'Legolas', but that may be taking things a bit too far!)

I can nearly always count on Noelle to 'enter in' to my celebrations!  She is truly festive & will dress & play the part for me!  (Thanks for that, Noelle!)  She actually has a hobbit costume that she wore two years ago to the first Hobbit movie.  She wasn't quite up for that, but she did put together an amazing costume & cheerfully joined in on the celebrating!

So we scooted out the door 2.5 seconds after 'afternoon' tea was placed on the table & tea was had been quickly taken!  On the way to the theater we played hobbit-themed Pictionary.  

We watched the movie & it was glorious.  I could personally do without the fighting, but then there wouldn't exactly be much of a story line!!!  Micah drank it in & Noelle did too & we both cried when... you know...

We ate some lembas bread on the way home.  Pretty much only ate it because that is what we had & we were hungry!  Plus it is for travelers!  

It's been a good day.  

Like a hobbit, I sometimes have an excessive need for comfort & safety.  (well, and a tendency toward chubbiness, but anyway!!...)  

"Even though the journey's long 

and I know the road is hard

Well, the One who's gone before me

He will help me carry on

After all that I've been through

Now I realize the truth

That I must go through the valley

to stand upon the mountain of God."  -Third Day

There's a scene in this third movie at the end of the battles when a shocked, weary & grief-stricken Bilbo is sitting next to Gandalf.  There have been times these past few years when I have felt kinda like that.  

"He was now weary of his adventure.  He was aching in his bones for the homeward journey."  -Tolkien

"All I know is I'm not home yet.

This is not where I belong.

Take this world & give me Jesus.

This is not where I belong." -Building 429

"But until that day, heaven is the Last Homely House that we long for as Christians.  Eventually we realize that we're never really at home anywhere in this life- and we had better not get too comfortable here, either... If we ever feel at home on earth, it's because we're getting a small taste of what our true home in heave will be like."-Arthur

Bilbo gained his 1/14th of the treasure.  But really, through the action of helping to save those around him, he himself is saved.  From a life bounded & surrounded by a need for predictability, safety & comfort.  The treasure he brings home is the kind that will never rust & cannot be stolen by thieves.  

"Surely your goodness & unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever."  -Psalm 23:6

"In the meantime, we have work to do.  We have an adventure to go on, a role to play in this great story that we've 'fallen into' with Jesus.  Our existence will not be safe, comfortable, or predictable for a good long while- at least not until all the tales have been written and all the old songs and stories have come true.  Then someday, when our adventures are over, like Bilbo, we'll be able to say, 'Our back is to legends and we are coming home.'  -Arthur

We've been marked for a special purpose.  May be learn it and live it.  

We've lived to fight another day...  

Christmas Giving

“Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?” 
― John Wesley

If we live in America~ No matter how 'poor' we may feel, we're pretty rich.
I love that Thanksgiving & Christmas provide us with a time to consider extra giving.
I have been a recipient of some extra giving myself these past months.  Bless those givers!  They filled some needs and some wants but they also provided much-needed encouragement through their gifts.

I love to give.
Sometimes I hit the nail on the head & sometimes only my good intentions can be taken away & sometimes I'm not even sure that happens!!  I give because God wants me to be generous.  I give because it takes my eyes off my situation.  I give because I care about people.  I give because God prompts me to.  Some gifts go abroad and are truly for the 'very poor'.  Some gifts advance the Kingdom.  Some help local people in need.  Some provide encouragement to people we know & love.

We have done our shoeboxes this year.  In years past we've done the Toys for Tots, the Angel Tree as well buying gifts for Manna.  (Not a 'brag post'.  There is JOY in the giving!  What better way to express our love for our Savior, who gave His all for us, than to show the Love that Christians are supposed to be characterized by~ than by giving?)

I want to share a few Giving Ideas, a few directions that our giving has gone this year.  And I would love to hear your ideas!  We can all give something extra this year.  Children can & should be encouraged to do so.  Adults with little money can.  We all can.

1.  Local Charity Giving
For the 2nd year in a row we are giving some requested gifts to the Shepherd Godparent Home, here in Bangor, Maine.  They are a great ministry & it's wonderful to give to something that you really believe in.  The Home is affiliated with our church.  A Christmas tree is set up in the lobby.  Tags with requested gifts written on them are hung all over the tree.  One thing I really like about this is that many of the gifts are very small & inexpensive items, such as batteries.  This year I chose two tags and had fun picking out the items.  They are wrapped with prayer for the recipients.  Every town, every city, every area has a local organization through which you can channel your giving.  It's a blessing.

2.  Choose a family or individual you know
This is a fun one!  Sometimes it's fun to do this anonymously.  A good time to do this is at the end of the summer.  Choose a student in your child's class at school and buy the supply list for your child and for that student as well.  We have done that but we have also purchased a 'back to school' bag for a homeschooling mom & her two kids, one who needed some encouragement.

This year I felt led to encourage a family we know.  Put together a Christmas Love Box for them.  The kids helped me with picking some things out.  We bought a small gift for the girl & a small gift for the boy.  (Who knew that my kids had never heard of Erector sets!?  Needless to say, they were horrified  by the name!!!  It provided some laughs, I guess!)  We bought a family game they can play together, as well as holiday Hershey kisses & m&ms & Jelly Bellies.  (Things families can enjoy together!!)  We bought socks for the Dad & socks for the Mom & socks for the Boy & a sweet sweater for the Girl.  An advent calendar & a gingerbread house to bring Christmas cheer.  We will be adding a box of clementines & a small box of moose meat as well.

Are they poor?  No.  However, I do know that they pinch their pennies.  I know that I appreciate what I know about how they live life.  They have great kids.  My own experiences have taught me that we all need encouragement.  Sometimes we need the gift given & sometimes it's an extra but every single one of us wants to know that we are thought of & that we matter & that someone thinks enough of us to give us something.  Secondly, I have learned to not question what God prompts.  It has been a JOY.

3.  Re-Gift!!
Much like the rest of y'all, our funds are limited.  I can't give to everyone I would love to give to.  However... a loop hole sometimes presents itself!  (Hopefully my friend will not be offended by this!!)  My friend gave me a very pretty Christmas wreath.  My intention was to hang it on my front door or porch.  I know the joy that just having purple-painted doors has given me.  A little, fresh beauty goes a long way!  However, as yesterday progressed I started to realize that even though I would enjoy the wreath, I have an elderly, lonely neighbor who might enjoy it more.  So today, when Kevin gets back from checking his trap line, we will take a jaunt to the neighbor's house with a fresh wreath & some farm-fresh eggs & a few minutes to talk & hopefully her day will be brighter for it.

4. Help a Child Make or Buy Gifts 
~This is not something we did this year, but another great idea that involves an investment of time & money is to take a child shopping, letting them pick out presents for their siblings & parents, whatever is applicable.  Or provide a craft for the child to make for a loved one.  Spend time with them, creating.  Maybe purchase a dress or an outfit to be worn at the 'Winter Concert' that the child needs to attend for school.  I think this is especially important if this is a child of a single parent.  You will bless the child and you will bless the parent and most likely you will be the most blessed of all!

5.  Acts of Service
It probably goes without saying.  I enjoy purchasing physical items for people.  However, Thanksgiving & Christmas time provide an excuse for us to step up acts of service.  Offer to babysit for a couple so that they can go Christmas shopping or so that they can have a date night during a time period that is so chaotic and busy.  If you really like doing gingerbread houses, (that would be me!) offer to do them with kids who may not regularly have that tradition.

These are just a few, simple, simple, simple very do-able ideas.  You can do grand-er or you can do smaller.  Out of the outpouring of our hearts.  We can give all year round.  But I love that Christmas is a time to GIVE.

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” 
― Charles Dickens