A new year

As I think about all that I am leaving behind in 2010 and the possiblities of what awaits in 2011, I am thankful to have the choice to have faith in a greater plan and to reach out to better my communication with my Heavenly Father.
I sincerely hope that you may too! Happy New Year!

orange ricotta cookies

I spied this recipe the other day and have been craving to make it. Being that we are now in Sicily, land where fresh ricotta and citrus this time of year are in abundance I thought it the perfect time to put this orange ricotta cookie recipe to the test!
Let me tell you, they did not fail!!! These cake like cookies are the perfect mixture of orange, soft and delicate, dark chocolate to top it all off! YUMMY! If you like those chocolate oranges that often fill our stockings at Christmas time, you will LOVE these cookies!

(picture of Ragusa Ibla, the older part of the city)
We are going to be hanging out with our Sicilian family in Ragusa for another week or so before heading to the other side of the island, Palermo. I will have pictures and stories to post later, but as for now... find some time for the above mentioned cookies!

PS did you see this story???

Christmas by kids

Five

"Oh, the comfort-the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person. Having neither to weigh thoughts, Nor measure words--but pouring them All right out--just as they are--Chaff and grain together--Certain that a faithful hand will Take and sift them--Keep what is worth keeping--And with the breath of kindness Blow the rest away."
-Dinah Maria Mulock Craik (saw this on Speaking Spiritually Blog yesterday)

Gingerbread "houfe"

This year our little Lottie bug was much more involoved in the gingerbread house building night! Last year the kits that we bought were full of broken pieces that were difficult and time consuming to frost-glue together before we could build them, and since the candy we were using was already a year old (I bought too much last year) I did not want to be bothered with whipping up royal icing from scratch again this time around. So, we took the shortcut and hot glued everything together! It worked fast and perfect! You can see that Charlotte was very pleased with her HOUFE!
Do you have this tradition?? If you want to pick up a cheap kit we found ours at IKEA.