Grant Us Peace

 In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song:

Our city is strong!
    We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation.
2 Open the gates to all who are righteous;
    allow the faithful to enter.
3 You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in you,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
4 Trust in the Lord always,
    for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
5 He humbles the proud
    and brings down the arrogant city.
    He brings it down to the dust.
6 The poor and oppressed trample it underfoot,
    and the needy walk all over it.

7 But for those who are righteous,
    the way is not steep and rough.
You are a God who does what is right,
    and you smooth out the path ahead of them.
8 Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws;
    our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.
9 In the night I search for you;
    in the morning[a] I earnestly seek you.
For only when you come to judge the earth
    will people learn what is right.
10 Your kindness to the wicked
    does not make them do good.
Although others do right, the wicked keep doing wrong
    and take no notice of the Lord’s majesty.
11 O Lord, they pay no attention to your upraised fist.
    Show them your eagerness to defend your people.
Then they will be ashamed.
    Let your fire consume your enemies.

12 Lord, you will grant us peace;
    all we have accomplished is really from you.
13 O Lord our God, others have ruled us,
    but you alone are the one we worship.
14 Those we served before are dead and gone.
    Their departed spirits will never return!
You attacked them and destroyed them,
    and they are long forgotten.
15 O Lord, you have made our nation great;
    yes, you have made us great.
You have extended our borders,
    and we give you the glory!

16 Lord, in distress we searched for you.
    We prayed beneath the burden of your discipline.
17 Just as a pregnant woman
    writhes and cries out in pain as she gives birth,
    so were we in your presence, Lord.
18 We, too, writhe in agony,
    but nothing comes of our suffering.
We have not given salvation to the earth,
    nor brought life into the world.
19 But those who die in the Lord will live;
    their bodies will rise again!
Those who sleep in the earth
    will rise up and sing for joy!
For your life-giving light will fall like dew
    on your people in the place of the dead!

Restoration for Israel

20 Go home, my people,
    and lock your doors!
Hide yourselves for a little while
    until the Lord’s anger has passed.
21 Look! The Lord is coming from heaven
    to punish the people of the earth for their sins.
The earth will no longer hide those who have been killed.
    They will be brought out for all to see.
Isaiah 26

All glory and honor to my Lord Jesus Christ,
Sherry

I will be linking up with these parties:
Modest Monday at The Modest Mom

The Homemaking Party at Classical Homemaking

Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound

Thursdays Favorite Things at Shoe String Elegance

Home Sweet Home #309

Hello and welcome to Home Sweet Home!  This week I shared this post, True Love.
There are so many wonderful posts each week, here are a few that I enjoyed.

Valentine's Day Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookies by Satori Design for Living.

Valentine's Day Ideas by Little Treasures.  Picture credit: LaMia Casa

Homemade Strawberry Marshmallows by Somewhat Simple. 

Sherry

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*New* Would you please share anything related to your home in the spirit of Proverbs 31 (such as recipes, Christian encouragement, DIY's, gardening, home decoration, sewing, crafts, etc.)
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Home Sweet Home #301

Hello and welcome to Home Sweet Home!  This week I shared a Festive Tea.

Then I made Sour Cream Gingerbread Cookies with sour cream icing.  

Theer are so many great post here at Home Sweet Home! Here are a few that caught my eye!

8 Eggnog Treats for the Holidays by One-Thousand Oaks.

Welcome to Our Christmas Home Tour at Faeries and Fauna Craft Co.  

Customized Inspiration Jars (gift idea) at Our Gilded Abode. 

Scenes From a Blessed Life by A Collection of Days.   Dayle linked to this post as a refrence with this quote which sums up this picture well.
Philippians 4:8 says: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things...and the God of peace will be with you."

Thank you for joining me each week. It is truly your participation that makes this party a testament toHome SweetHome! 

Sherry

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Sour Cream Gingerbread Cookies

Every year I get the request to make gingerbread cookies. This year I thought I would try a chewy soft cookie instead of the traditional gingerbread cookie.  I was looking to incorporate sour cream for that sweet, chewy, and tangy mix that really puts this recipe in your greatest hits file.  This recipe was the winner and got raves from the children about the taste and the smell of the kitchen!

You can make this cookie also iced.  The icing has sour cream in it too for that extra sweet and tangy taste.  They are even better than the plain gingerbread cookie with that sweet and salty taste that lingers.  Do refrigerate any left over cookies that are iced due to the sour cream.

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon sour cream
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup turbinado sugar

In a large mixing bowl sift together dry ingredients: flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.  
Cream butter and sugar in a stand mixer with paddle attachment.  Then add egg and beat until well mixed.  Scraping down sides as needed.  
Add sour cream and molasses until combined.
Add dry ingredients to wet until just combined.
Refrigerate the dough 2-3 hours.
Preheat oven to 350° F. 
Take the batter and make 1 heaping tablespoon balls and roll in turbinado sugar until coated.  Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Flatten the balls to 3/4 thick with the bottom of a smooth glass.
Bake for 9-11 minutes.  They will be soft and pliable.  Lift the parchment paper off of the baking sheet when finished baking and move it to a counter surface or wire rack to cool. When the cookies cool they will have firmed up so you can handle them.  Ice if desired.
Serves: 36

Sour Cream Icing
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons sour cream
food coloring if desired (4 drops)

Mix all in a large mixing bowl with a handheld mixer until smooth and creamy.  Room temperature icing spreads great. All leftover icing and iced cookies will have to be refrigerated. It will store in fridge for 2-3 days.
Serves: 36 cookies
Recipe adapted from: Dinner, Then Dessert

Enjoy!

Sherry

Pumpkin Pie Shortbread Bars

Are you a pumpkin pie lover but sorta of meh on the crust. Then this might be a great solution for your pumpkin pie craving. Each year when I make pumpkin pie, I notice, as I am clearing the dishes, that the soggy crust of the pie doesn't get eaten. When I found this recipe, I thought it might be a nice solution to the problem. It has the traditional pumpkin pie custard but a buttery shortbread crust that pairs nicely with the custard.  

Shortbread Crust:
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
pinch of salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter, chopped into chunks

Custard filling:
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
3/4 cup evaporated milk

Maple Cinnamon Whipped Cream:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon maple syrup

Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a 8" x 8" baking pan with baking spray.  Put flour, sugar, salt in a medium bowl and mix.  Add chunks of butter, and cut into with pastry blender till coarse crumbs.  Press into baking dish to create a flat bottom.  Bake for 20 minutes until lightly browned.  

Make pumpkin pie filling. In a small bowl whisk together sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and cloves.  In a large bowl whisk together egg, pumpkin, and the sugar mixture.  Whisk in the evaporated milk.  Pour over the prepared shortbread crust.  Bake at 350° F. for 32-35 minutes. Cool completely. (Can put in fridge for 30 minutes.)  While bars are cooling make the maple cinnamon whipped topping. 

Mix whipped cream with a hand held mixer till has body then add sugar, cinnamon, and maple syrup and continue whipping till you get stiff peaks.  To serve place whip cream in a icing bag topped with desired piping tip and put a decorative dollop of whip cream onto of each dessert square.  
Serves:9-16

*Note:  This is richer than pumpkin pie due to the shortbread crust so, you can serve these as 1-inch squares to get 16 servings.  But, that is a really small dessert.  So you can get more like 9 out of the 8" square pan.  In the picture of the ones I made they are about 1 1/2 inch-squares.  
recipe adapted from: Willow Bird Baking

Enjoy!

Sherry

Home Sweet Home #294

Hello and welcome to the Home Sweet Home party!  This week I got artistic with my tea in the October Tea/Garden Journal.

Then I baked one of my favorite cookies in Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies.
There are so many great posts at Home Sweet Home each week!  Here are a few that caught my eye. 

Fall Home In the Kitchen and Dining Room 2016 by While I Linger.

Sista's Fabulous Kitchen Reno from Preppy Empty Nester. This looks like a Nancy Meyers movie set!  Lots of ideas here for kitchens! 

50 Fall Mantel Inspirations by LollyJane.  If your needing ideas for Thanksgiving, this post has you covered! Photo:  Lillian Hope Designs 

A Quite Room in Fall by Cabin & Cottage. Peaceful and reflective isn't it?

I am really lucky to have all of your amazing posts because it is you who make the Home Sweet Home party so special! Thank you to everyone who joins me at Home Sweet Home! It is wonderful to have you here. 

Sherry

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Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies

Just in time for the holidays, I thought I would share one of my favorite cookie recipes.  These are cream cheese thumbprint cookies.  They are sweet, tangy, and chewy.  Such a winner of a recipe given to me by my great-aunt.  She created this recipe, so I don't think you will find it anywhere else.  I have made it a dozen times, and it is always delicious!  

Ingredients:

1 cup of butter, softened to room temp (don't use any low-fat substitute) 

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temp

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg yolk (save the white)

2 1/4 cup flour

1 cup of crushed nuts (optional)

Icing:

1 1/2 ounces of cream cheese, softened 

about 1 cup of powdered sugar to mix well
milk

2 or 3 drops of vanilla
food coloring to tint (optional)

Heat oven to 375° F.  Mix butter, sugar, cream cheese, salt, vanilla, and egg with a paddle attachment in an electric mixer. Scraping down the sides as necessary. Refrigerate dough at least 30 minutes.  Roll into 1-inch balls. Beat the egg white until frothy.  Roll the balls in the egg white and then roll in the crushed nuts to coat.  Bake the cookies 5 minutes on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Take them out at 5 minutes and using a 1/4 teaspoon make a "thumbprint" in each cookie and cook for 4 minutes longer.  
For icing: Take powdered sugar, cream cheese, vanilla, and enough milk to make the icing consistency desired.  May tint it with food color.  For ease of filling, use a pastry tip and bag and squeeze icing into cookie.  Let them set and store in an airtight container. 
Yields: 30-36 cookies    

This is a favorite cookie of mine.  I usually make them every Christmas.  Here I have rolled them in walnuts and pecans.  I filled the nut cookies with cream cheese icing and I filled the plain cookies with a Christmas jam (Amish strawberry cranberry jam). Any way you make them they are fantastic! 

Enjoy!

Sherry