grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Christmas 2015, so far.

By

Christmas 2015 isn’t quite over. Today marks the 6th day of Christmas—the six geese a laying day. There are no geese laying eggs around our house but there are two schnauzers warming my feet, and that’s a good thing because, baby, it’s cold outside.

So how’s your Christmas going? Do you declare it over after the gifts are opened? I’m celebrating through Epiphany. No matter your tradition, I hope your Christmas (so far) has been filled with whatever makes it perfect for you. The best part of mine is getting together with family. It’s all about family.

Christmas 2015

And the coconut cream pie from Del Frisco’s Grill was pretty wonderful, I gotta say. Continue Reading

Merry Christmas from St. Patrick’s Cathedral

By

Merry Christmas to all my reader friends! I thought I’d share a few pictures I took a couple of weeks ago at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Christmas in New York is gorgeous and visiting St. Patrick’s was a definite highlight for me. In the midst of such traffic and congestion and holiday hustle and bustle, directly across from the madness of Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral provides a place of peaceful sanctuary.

The building is beyond stunning. Incredibly, it was built entirely from donations from poor immigrants and $1,000 pledges from 103 prominent residents.The cornerstone was laid in 1858, construction was stalled for five years during the Civil War, and the doors opened in 1869.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

According to cathedral history, Archbishop Hughes’ original construction proposal was ridiculed. The site was considered to be in a “near-wilderness” area too far outside the city. Archbishop Hughes persisted in his vision of building the most beautiful Gothic Cathedral in the New World in what he believed would one day be the heart of the city. Neither the bloodshed of the Civil War nor the resultant lack of manpower or funds would derail the ultimate fulfillment of Hughes’ dream. Continue Reading

Chocolate Crinkles: the most magical cookie of all!

By

Chocolate Crinkles

Chocolate Crinkles are everyone’s favorite, especially at Christmastime. This throwback recipe is from Betty Crocker herself. I haven’t changed a thing because why trifle with chocolate perfection? My mother made these when I was a kid, and I remember thinking they were magical because in the end, there’s a powdered sugar design on top. Like a snowflake, no two are alike.

These were Santa’s favorite, too. We always left a few on a plate near the fireplace, with a glass of milk. Santa needed lots of strength for traveling around the globe on Christmas Eve.

And the reindeer always got carrots.Continue Reading

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!