Several of you have asked about my birthday post, in particular the third photo, so I thought an explanation was due. No, Mrs. Choi, the script was not written on skin (though that’s my favorite guess and perhaps the grossest guess, too). We found the date scrawled on the ceiling of our hallway after my brother and a friend tore down some very old, very gold, very crusty wallpaper. I don’t know what happened on December 6, 1940, that warranted the notation on the plaster ceiling but I love imagining what Lincoln, and the rest of the world, may have been like during that time. The day that will live in infamy occurred only one year and one day later and forever changed the makeup of our society. Whose initials are recorded in our hallway? We don’t know. But the date is a familiar one, to some degree. Thirty-seven years later I was born in a very different part of the country. And 61 years and two days later, Jeremy and I moved our first home.

In case you were wondering, our house was built in 1915. The Prairie Box is elderly and beautiful.

Livia and Madeleine, cousins.

Cinnamon Chip Applesauce Coffeecake

1 C (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1/2 t vanilla
3/4 C applesauce
2 1/2 C flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 pkg (10oz) Hershey’s Cinnamon Chips
1 C chopped pecans (opt)
Sugar glaze or powdered sugar

Heat oven to 350. Lightly grease 9×13″ pan. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl on med speed until well blended. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Mix in applesauce. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in cinnamon chips and pecans, if desired. Spread into prepared pan. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until done. Cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or drizzle with sugar glaze. (Sugar glaze: Stir together 3/4 C powdered sugar and 1-2 T of warm water to desired consistency.)

**Recipe from back of the cinnamon chip bag, courtesy of Hershey’s Kitchens. This is a fabulous recipe, found by way of one Mrs. Karen Choi and dutifully passed on to many other Zion women. I’m posting it here for easy reference (and just in case Hershey’s no longer prints this recipe on the chip bag).

1 lb pork sausage
1 pkg (8oz) crescent rolls
8 eggs, beaten
2 C mozzerella
2 C cheddar
1 t dried oregano

Heat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9×13″ pan. Unroll crescents and place on bottom of pan, bake for 5 minutes or so, then remove from oven. Brown sausage, drain, and place evenly over crescent rolls. In a large bowl, mix beaten eggs, cheeses and oregano; pour over sausage and rolls. Bake 25-30 minutes or until the center is set.

**I found this very simple, very tasty breakfast casserole recipe from Allrecipes.com some time ago. It’s no longer there or else it has been adapted recently. I’ve used a variety of cheeses and meats in this one — it’s hard to go wrong with this versatile recipe.

Me: [calling downstairs] Livia, what are you doing?

Liv: I’m in the box.

Me: You’re still in the box?

Liv: Yeah.

Me: Are you doing alright?

Liv: Yeah.

Me: [shrugging] Okay.

I might post an explanation of my birthday pics later in the day. But for now I’m off to enjoy December 6 to its fullest!

Today I stopped by the Wittmanns’ to help snap a shot or two for their Christmas letter and first wandered in to their new home for a brief tour. Before I knew what was going on, Elsie’s mama was gasping and cooing at her little girl, so I turned and watched the cherubic child walk for the first time. How very cool is that?! So, congrats to Miss Elsie (to the left of Livia in the photo) on this amazing milestone. And another shout out goes to Peter (right) who turns 3 on December 7. I think Livia would enjoy visiting the Wittmann household again soon; she told Pete that she loved him very much. [grin]

This is Mary’s Christmas Kitchen and, boy, was it productive yesterday! From left to right, the magical cooking elves and their magical leader: Alison, Brook, Mary, Renae and Trish. Missing are the creators of the Twisted Tiger, Yawning Kitten and Barking Spider, Mr. Talsma and yours truly. This was my first year in Brook’s mom’s kitchen and I am duly impressed with Mrs. Talsma’s organization and candy-making skills. I am also very grateful that at the moment all created sweets are still at Brook’s house… There would be no hope for anything chocolate-covered or pepperminty if such an array found itself in my home.

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

The list of DPP participants grows larger. This is fun! The more, the merrier.