The Prudent Pantry

Apple Tree Christmas

2024-08-23T20:40:00.000-04:00

The Ansterburg family lives in a barn.

"Someday Papa would build them a real house. But for now living in the barn with the soft animal sounds and sweet smell of hay was just right."

The nearby apple tree is not only a source of food for the family, it also provides for the children a place to play and to dream.

When a ferocious blizzard comes to the area shortly before Christmas, the family must work together. First, to prepare for the storm, and then to keep warm during the three-day ordeal.

The ice storm destroys the beloved apple tree and the Ansterburg children are devastated. They have lost their favorite place to play and dream.

But father has a Christmas surprise.

Apple Tree Christmas is a sweet story of simpler times. It is a story of overcoming hardship and disappointment, of family closeness, and of selfless gift-giving.

First published in 1984, Apple Tree Christmas returned in 2005 as is published by Sleeping Bear Press.

The story is a beautiful example of family love and will become a cherished holiday tradition.

Christmas in Art: Sister Wendy on the Art of Christmas

2019-12-06T18:27:00.000-05:00

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Image Credit,

Detail from a fresco in the Cataomb of Priscilla, Rome

A new addition to our Christmas book collection, Sister Wendy on the Art of Christmas is a tour through fourteen works of art that reflect the spirit of the season. Sister Wendy's insightful narrative guides the reader from Advent through the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

From Sister Wendy on the Art of Christmas:

For centuries --for millennia--the whole world was in a state of advent: it was waiting. Until the Lord revealed himself to Abraham, our ancestors did not know for what or for whom they were waiting. But every thinking being knew (and still does) that our present state is not right. Injustice, violence, misery: This is not how it is meant to be, and all our instincts cry out against it.

This is a perfect way to spend some time reflecting on the season while learning about the technique and meaning behind these beautiful works of art.

Blessed are you who believed - Printable coloring page

2019-12-04T21:38:00.000-05:00

One of the most poignant phrases in all of Scripture and one which applies not only to Mary but to each of us.

Perfect for advent reflection and contemplation, print the free PDF coloring page here.

Enjoy!

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Advent Companions: Three Favorites and New This Year

2019-12-02T12:28:00.001-05:00

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This beautiful advent devotional by Ann Voskamp is a treasure. The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas invites you to celebrate the lineage and majesty of Jesus through the Advent tradition of the Jesse Tree.

Beginning with Jesse, the father of David, the book retraces the lineage of humankind from Adam to the Messiah. Each day of advent has a reading, prayer, and reflection. This is a book you will want to revisit year after year.

Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas includes daily readings from the last week of November through the first week in January. This book helps my heart to prepare a way for the Lord during advent.

Includes writings by Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, Sylvia Plath, J. B. Phillips, Friedrich Wilhelm Foerster, Henri Nouwen, Bernard of Clairvaux, Kathleen Norris, Meister Eckhart, St. Thomas Aquinas, Karl Rahner, Isaac Penington, Madeleine L’Engle, Alfred Delp, Loretta Ross-Gotta, William Stringfellow, J. Heinrich Arnold, Edith Stein, Philip Britts, Jane Kenyon, John Howard Yoder, Emmy Arnold, Karl Barth, Oscar Romero, William Willimon, Johann Christoph Arnold, Gail Godwin, Leonardo Boff, G. M. Hopkins, Evelyn Underhill, Dorothy Day, Brennan Manning, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Romano Guardini, Annie Dillard, Martin Luther, St. John Chrysostom, Giovanni Papini, Dorothee Soelle, C. S. Lewis, Gustavo Gutiérrez, Philip Yancey, J. T. Clement, Thomas Merton, Eberhard Arnold, Ernesto Cardenal, T. S. Eliot, John Donne, Gian Carlo Menotti and Jürgen Moltmann.

Treasured Stories of Christmas has been a favorite for many years and it seems that each year I find a new favorite holiday tale. This is not a book of children's stories, rather a collection of classic short stories that embody the essence of the season.

The collection includes time-honored classics by Charles Dickens, Washington Irving, and O. Henry and little known tales by Stephen Crane, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Bret Harte. There are stories for children by Louisa May Alcott, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Lucy Maud Montgomery as well as surprising stories from Cleveland Amory, Pearl Buck and many others.

New this year:

These are the books I am reading for the first time this advent season.

Joy to the World: How Christ's Coming Changed Everything (and still does) by Scott Hahn

The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander

A Cozy Christmas Tradition: The Holiday Jigsaw Puzzle

2019-11-17T19:21:00.001-05:00

(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

A holiday tradition that actually helps you relax? You need this in your life.

Each year, my family selects and completes a holiday-themed jigsaw puzzle. As family members come and go throughout the season, the puzzle is available at the puzzle table for anyone wishing to find a few matching pieces.

Here are some great reasons to give this tradition a try:

Jigsaw puzzles get you in the holiday spirit

Focusing on a holiday scene for an extended period helps to get in the holiday spirit. You can't feel like the holiday caught you by surprise if you have been staring at a manger scene for days.

Jigsaw puzzles are relaxing

Sitting down at the puzzle table is a great way to unwind and get your mind off of the holiday craziness. It requires your full attention so it actually gives your mind a break from other worries and activities. It's a great excuse to spend some time in front of your Christmas tree or near a window on a snowy day. Plus, it keeps everyone unplugged from technology for a time.

Jigsaw puzzles are great alone or great as a group

A puzzle works as a great solitary activity or a fun group project. Anyone can participate. Everyone may not be interested in sledding, but everyone can do a puzzle.

Ready to give it a try?

Jigsaw puzzles vary in terms of difficulty so consider the ability level of your puzzlers as well as how much time you would like to spend on the project. If you are unsure, a 500-piece puzzle is usually a good place to start. If you have younger children, or want a quick sit-down activity, try a puzzle with fewer pieces.

It can be difficult to locate Christmas-themed puzzles, particularly religious ones. Here are some we have found.

Stained Glass Nativity Puzzle, 1000 pieces

More 1000-piece puzzles here

Barnyard Nativity 500-piece puzzle

More 500-piece puzzles here

Joyous Night 100-piece puzzle

More 100 to 499-piece puzzles

Less than 100-piece puzzles here

Pumpkin Pie for Everyone {a simple vegan and gluten-free recipe perfect for food sensitivities}

2019-11-15T14:14:00.002-05:00

With more and more people developing food sensitivities or allergies, preparing a meal for a group has become a challenge. Here is a take on traditional pumpkin pie that is free of eight major food allergens including gluten, dairy, egg, and soy.

Not only is it a breeze to prepare, it is arguably one of the best pumpkin pie recipes my family has tasted. Everyone, whether they have dietary restrictions or not, loves this easy dessert.

One caveat, you will need to plan ahead for proper refrigeration time. The canned coconut milk will need to be refrigerated overnight before preparation and the baked pie should be refrigerated at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight to set. So put the canned coconut milk in the refrigerator at least two days before you plan to serve the pie.

It starts with the simplest of pie crusts. We love the store-bought MI-DEL graham cracker crust. It's gluten free as well as being free of eight common food allergens. Plus, a graham cracker crust is the perfect compliment to the pie filling. While it is possible to make your own crust, once we found this one we all agreed, there is no need. Keep is simple. The crust is readily available at many grocers, or may be purchased here.

A note on the filling:

I use coconut cream in this recipe although you could also use unsweetened plain almond milk. To make coconut cream, place canned coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight, or about 12 hours. You will have cream develop sooner than this, but to get the most cream from your can, refrigerate at least 12 hours.

As the coconut milk chills, the thick cream will rise to the top of the can. Simply scoop the thick white cream off the top and save the remaining watery liquid for another use (like soup, curry, or use when making rice). Tip: if you flip the can upside down before chilling, the cream will be on the bottom of the can and you can just pour the watery liquid off.

You will need approximately 1/3 cup of cream for this recipe. Use what you have, a little more or less won't be a problem. I generally refrigerate two cans of coconut milk at a time to be certain that I will have enough cream if you're a little short, no problem.

Ingredients

MI-DEL Gluten Free Graham Style pie crust

Filling:

2 3/4 cups pumpkin puree (one and a half 15 ounce cans)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup coconut cream (from refrigerated canned coconut milk, see note)
1 tablespoon coconut oil
2 1/2 tablespoon arrowroot powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place all filling ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth, scraping down the sides if necessary.

Pour filing into pie crust and bake for 60-65 minutes. Cool completely, then cover and transfer to the refrigerator to set, preferably overnight.

Serve with coconut whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

We like Reddi-Wip non-dairy make with coconut milk (keeping it as simple as possible).

(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Coloring Inspiration and an October Coloring Page

2018-10-08T11:28:00.000-04:00

Coloring is, just as it was when you were a child, a fun and relaxing activity. Experts as far back as Carl Jung have prescribed coloring to their patients as a relaxation technique.

Most adult coloring pages, however, are filled with images that, to me at least, are not calming nor relaxing.

I appreciate a project I can complete in one sitting (or two, at most). I need the page to be visually calming, little clutter, lots of white space. And I prefer the project itself to have a purpose, a quote, words of encouragement, a picture of a place perhaps?

Today I have two pages, one for inspiration and one just because October is such a great month.

Print them both, they're in PDF format.

Grab some markers or colored pencils and a few moments for yourself.

Download this free PDF of this coloring page with a message to inspire right here:

Don't be pushed by your problems

The PDF for this one is right here:

I'm so glad I live in a world with Octobers.

Enjoy!

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Christmas Stories & Golden Milk

2017-12-04T18:29:00.001-05:00

This is one of my favorite collections of Christmas stories, Treasured Stories of Christmas, edited by Sarah Anne Stuart.

The collection includes many of the world's best writers: Louisa May Alcott, Pearl S. Buck, Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, O. Henry, L.M. Montgomery, Beatrix Potter, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and many more!

I whipped up a mug of healthy golden milk to sip while enjoying a story tonight. It's made with turmeric and coconut milk and is so simple to heat up once you have the paste made and stored in the refrigerator. Grab the recipe here.

It's best to purchase turmeric in bulk for this recipe. It's much less expensive that way.

(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Day 1: The Greatest Gift Scripture Coloring Page

2017-12-01T15:35:00.001-05:00

The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment.

Frederick Buechner

Welcome to Advent and Day 1 of our coloring pages based on scripture used in Ann Voskamp's wonderful book, The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas.

Celebrate the lineage and majesty of God's greatest gift to us with this timeless treasure and follow along in the days ahead for a coloring page of each day's scripture. It's a wonderful way to spend some quiet time during Advent.

Download the printable coloring pages here:

Day 1 Scripture

Day 2 Scripture

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Holiday Puzzles: A Relaxing Tradition

2017-11-30T09:21:00.003-05:00

I've had this puzzle since my children were young and I'm so glad I kept it. It's a quick 100-piece puzzle that I complete at least once a year around the holidays.

I have heard many people say that they are able to think better when their hands are busy and I have found that this is certainly true for me. I love to take a relaxing break to complete a puzzle in solitude or with family. Either way, it's a relaxing tradition and a great way to take a break during the hectic holiday season.

We have a small collection of holiday puzzles that appear under the tree just as soon as it goes up, for all to enjoy.

For a longer project, or for a larger group, we always have a more complicated puzzle going. This is the NYC Christmas Puzzle (in process) that the extended family completed a few years ago.

Here are some more great choices:

Stained Glass Nativity Jigsaw Puzzle

More 1000-piece puzzles here

Barnyard Nativity 500 pc Puzzle

More 500-piece Puzzles Here

Joyous Night 100 pc Puzzle

More 100-piece Puzzles Here

Less than 100-pieces Here

(I love the convenience of shopping online and I think you will too. The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)