Master Chef by Susan L.

It's chocolate truffle time. All the ingedients have been gathered together to make what has become a Christmas tradition over the last few years. They are easy and require minimal effort. Gone are the days of baking cookies by the dozen: shortbreads, pinwheels, sugar cookies, squares and pies. Now I don't have the need. Whew! It was just another stresser in the busy days before Christmas. I am going to make some mincemeat tarts though. I made green tomato mincemeat at the end of the garden season. The spices should be nice and mellow by now. It's yummy stuff and a great way to use up those unripened tomatoes. Usually the apples needed are gleaned from the side of the road but there weren't any this year. The pioneer breeds of apples add a special taste of their own. Do I miss the days of baking? No but I sometimes miss the days of eating! What I like the most is that now there is more time to think about the real meaning of Christmas. God was busy in His kitchen, too as He gathered together and blended all the ingedients that would lead to those far and wide to gather in a stable to worship His Son. Mary's conception, Joseph's acceptance, the trip to Bethlehem, the star, the three kings, angels, shepherds, and even everyone who filled all the inns in town all fullfilled the part they needed to play to create the greatest story ever told. "Behold the virgin shall be with child,and bear a Son, and they shall call His name, Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Mat 1:23