Wedding Song - God Knew That I Needed You

Thursday, November 16, 2017

TRADITIONAL SUGAR COOKIES

Tonight I started holiday cooking – shaped Thanksgiving themed cookies. These cookies are a holiday tradition in our family; I started making them when our daughter was a year old and I’ve made them every year after that: a total of 42 years ;-)

These sugar cookies are THE BEST! And they will hold about 2 weeks in a tightly closed container in the ‘fridge.

For a variation, you can also put fruit filling between 2 unbaked cookies, crimp the edges, and bake for a filled sugar cookie: YUMMY!

The recipe says the dough makes 4 dozen cookies … but I use large cookie cutters and I get about 24 cookies total, so the count will depend on the size of cutter you use.

Traditional Sugar Cookies


¾ cup Shortening (may also half with Butter) – 1 cup Granulated Sugar – 2 Eggs – 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract (or ½ tsp. Lemon extract) – 2-1/2 cups all-purpose Flour -  1 teaspoon Baking Powder – 1 teaspoon Salt

Mix thoroughly the shortening, sugar, eggs, and flavoring. Blend in flour, baking powder and salt.


Cover & chill 1 hour.


Heat oven to 400-degrees.

Roll dough 1/8” thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes and place on an ungreased cookie sheet (I use parchment paper on my sheet because I am a lazy cook).


Bake cookies for 6-8 minutes – or until lightly browned. Remove sheet from oven and cool cookies on a cookie rack.


Enjoy!

THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY


THE GOSPEL ACCORDNG TO MATTHEW

Chapter 5: When Yeshua (Jesus) saw the crowds, He went up on a mountain and sat down, and His disciples came to Him. Then He talked to them and taught them thus:


“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see Elohei (God). Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of Elohei. Blessed are those who endure persecution on account of doing right, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are you when men scoff at you and persecute you, and keep on telling lies about you on My account. Be glad! Rejoice greatly, for your reward in heaven will also be great. It was this way, too, when they persecuted the prophets in days gone by.”

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, how can it become salty again? Then it is good for nothing but to be thrown away and trampled under foot.”

“You are the light of the world. A city on a mountain cannot be hidden. Men do not light a lamp and put it under a bushel basket, but on a table, and then it gives light to everyone in the house. Just so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Heavenly Father.”

“You must not think that I have come to do away with Torah (The Law) or the prophets. I have come not to abolish, but to fulfill. And I tell you for a fact that until heaven and earth shall be no more, not the smallest letter – nor even a part of a letter, shall be dropped from Torah until it is all fulfilled. So, if anyone breaks one of the least of its commands and teaches others to do likewise, he will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but anyone who obeys Torah and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. And I say that unless you are far more upright than the scribes and Pharisees, you will not get into the kingdom of heaven at all.”

“You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘you shall not murder’. But I say unto you that whosoever is angry with his brother shall have to answer in court, and whosoever speaks to his brother in words of contempt shall have to answer in the highest court: and whosoever shall call him a fool shall be liable to the fires of hell. If, when you are about to offer your gift at the altar, you then remember that your brother has something against you – stop! Leave your gift there before the altar; then go and first make peace with your brother, after which you may come back and present your gift.”

“When you are on the way to court with an opponent at law, hasten to come to terms with him, lest he shall turn you over to the judge and the judge turn you over to the officer, and you land in jail. I tell you truly that you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

“You have heard it said to the men of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery’. But I say to you that anyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So, if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one member of your body than to have your whole body cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one member of your body than to have your whole body cast into hell.”

“It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a letter of divorce.’ But I say to you that whosoever divorces his wife for any reason other than adultery causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries the woman who has been divorced, commits adultery.”

 “Again, you have heard it said to the men of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but you shall fulfill your sacred promises as before Adonai (the Lord). But I tell you, don’t swear at all, either by heaven – for it is Elohei’s throne, nor by the earth – for it is His footstool. Nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor swear by your own head, for you cannot make a single hair either white or black. When you speak, let it be enough to say plainly, ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Anything beyond that is evil.”

“You have heard it said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth’. But I tell you not to get into a fight with anyone who injures you. Rather, if one hits you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone wants to sue you to get your coat, give him also your overcoat. And if anyone should compel you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to him who begs from you, and don’t turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”

“You have heard it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say that you must love your enemies and pray for your persecutors. In that way you will be sons of your heavenly Father, for He makes His sun rise on both bad and good people, and makes the rain fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous alike. For if you love only those who love you, what will you gain by that? Don’t even the tax collectors do as much? And if you greet no one except your own people, does that give you any special distinction? Don’t the heathen do the same? You must become spiritually mature, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”