wednesday, December 23, 2020
Christmas Greetings Recipes, stories and special Christmas songs on page 4
Festive and flavorful holiday snacks
Reindeer Pecan Brownies
Fun ideas for some delicious snacks with pecans to make this holiday season
T
he holidays are filled with delicious food — from indulgent breakfasts to decadent desserts — but snacks can get overlooked. Spice up this holiday season with festive snacks that are perfect for a quick on-the-go bite or a taste of your favorite holiday dessert. Although beloved in pie, pecans are a versatile nut that can be used beyond the pie shell - add them to a snack mix, incorporate them into granola or munch on them straight from the bag. Delicious and nutritious, 1 ounce of pecans offers 3 grams of plant-based protein and 3 grams of fiber, plus 12
grams of “good” monounsaturated fats and only 2 grams of saturated fat — perfect to power you through long days of holiday shopping. This holiday season, nosh on a handful of these spiced Gingerbread Pecans for a sweet and savory snack while decorating the house or wrapping presents late at night, or set out a bowl for the family to enjoy. You can also make snack-sized versions of your favorite holiday desserts to have on-hand when you’re craving a quick and tasty treat. Chopped pecans add a flavorful and nutrientdense crunch to these
paleo-friendly No-Bake canola oil Pumpkin Pecan Pie Bites, 1 cup, plus 2 tablespoons, while pecan halves pro- granulated sugar vide a festive touch to 2 large eggs these Reindeer Pecan 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Brownies. 1/2 cup all-purpose flour Discover more nutritious, 1/2 cup cocoa powder delicious and festive reci1 teaspoon espresso pes at AmericanPecan.com. powder (optional) 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 20 raw pecan halves, cut in half 40 candy eyeballs 20 red chocolate candies 1/4 cup chocolate chips Prep time: 20 minutes Preheat oven to 350° F. Cook time: 15 minutes Spray mini muffin tin with Yield: 20 brownies nonstick cooking spray. In large bowl, whisk Nonstick cooking spray 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted melted butter, oil and sugar butter, melted until well combined. Add 1 tablespoon pecan or eggs and vanilla extract;
Reindeer Pecan Brownies
beat until mixture is thick and pale in color, about 1 minute. Sift in flour and cocoa powder. Add espresso powder, if desired, and salt. Using rubber spatula, fold dry ingredients into butter mixture until just combined. Batter should be thick. Using 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, transfer batter to prepared mini muffin tin. Bake 13-15 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out mostly clean, with some lingering crumbs. Add chocolate chips to heat-proof bowl; microwave until smooth and melted. Pour melted chocolate
into sandwich bag and cut off small portion of one corner to use as tip. Use melted chocolate to “glue” on pecan antlers, candy eyeballs and red candy noses to brownies. Allow chocolate to set before transferring brownies to airtight container. Note: Brownies will stay fresh for up to three days.
Gingerbread Pecans
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Thank you for continuing to choose us as your source for both local news and for advertising your business. 2020 has been a a challenging year for everyone. Despite the hardships, we will continue to work hard to create a paper that caters to the community as a whole while also meeting each of your individual needs. Our whole team wishes you a wonderful holiday season, filled with laughter, love and special moments as well as a healthy and prosperous new year. Merry Christmas!
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Prep time: 5 minute Cook time: 40 minues Yield: 2 cups (6 servings) See SNACKS, Page 2
Page 2 | Christmas greetings | wednesday, December 23, 2020
No-Bake Pumpkin Pecan Pie Bites
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Gingerbread Pecans 1 large egg white, beaten 2 cups raw pecan halves 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 tablespoons light brown sugar 2 teaspoons gingerbread spice blend 1 pinch salt Preheat oven to 300° F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. In large bowl, use fork to whisk beaten egg until frothy. Add pecans and
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stir until coated. Sprinkle pecans with granulated sugar, brown sugar, gingerbread spice and salt. Stir to coat evenly. Spread pecans in even layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake pecans 40 minutes, stirring halfway through. Allow pecans to cool completely. Note: Pecans can be stored in airtight container for up to four days.
if desired. Whisk until smooth. Line cupcake tin and evenly distribute crust mixture, about 1 1/2 tablespoons in each cupcake opening. Use fingers to press crust into even layer. Evenly disperse pumpkin pie filling among openings until tins are about half full. Top each with one pecan half and place in freezer at least one hour.
No-Bake Pumpkin Pecan Easy Tiramisu Dip Pie Bites Prep time: 15 minutes Chill time: 1 hour Yield: 12 bites (6 servings) Crust: 1 1/2 cups raw pecan pieces 3/4 cup pitted medjool dates (about 7 dates), soaked in hot water 10 minutes 1 pinch pink salt Filling: 1/3 cup pumpkin puree 1/3 cup full fat coconut milk 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice 1/4 cup maple syrup 1 pinch pink salt 1 scoop collagen peptides (optional) 12 raw pecan halves, for topping To make crust: In food processor, process pecan pieces, drained dates and salt until combined and “dough” starts to form into ball. To make filling: In bowl, combine pumpkin puree, coconut milk, pumpkin spice, maple syrup, pink salt and collagen peptides,
Servings: 4
1 cup heavy whipping cream 1 tablespoon espresso powder 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 8 ounces Mascarpone cheese 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 teaspoons cocoa powder wafers or fruit, for dipping
In medium bowl, whisk heavy whipping cream and espresso powder until blended. In large bowl, use hand mixer to beat cream cheese until smooth. Add Mascarpone cheese and beat until combined. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating after each addition. Add vanilla extract; beat mixture. Add espresso mixture; beat until soft peaks form. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Spoon mixture into serving bowl. Sprinkle with cocoa powder. Serve with wafers or fruit.
At this joyous season and always, may you be blessed with peace, happiness and love. Easy Tiramisu Dip
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Christmas greetings | wednesday, December 23, 2020 | Page 3
Lessons learned from a December evening in 1952 By Bev Jackson Cotter
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps. “Dear editor: I am 8 years old. “Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. “Papa says, ‘If you see it in The Sun it’s so.’ “Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? “VIRGINIA O’HANLON. “115 WEST NINETYFIFTH STREET.” “Virginia O’Hanlon, “115 West Ninety-fifth Street.” Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be
no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, 10 times 10 thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
It was a beautiful December evening in 1952. Several inches of snow on the ground sparkled from the glow of street lights. Seven girls from the south side of Albert Lea were riding in the back of the Arneson Hardware pick up truck, all bundled up with caps and scarves and mittens and boots and snuggled together under blankets. For several years, Sandy’s mom, Mrs. Arneson, had hauled us around in the back of the pickup when our excursions took us beyond town, and it had become a tradition for us in December to ride up and down Broadway singing Christmas carols. Mrs. Arneson patiently drove us back and forth, back and forth as we sang to the people who were on the streets shopping. That was before the malls were built on the outskirts of town, and for a couple of weeks before Christmas, the downtown stores stayed open evenings to accommodate the shoppers. They would smile and wave to us, and we would wave back and keep on singing. We had been friends since grade school and now that we were in junior high, we did everything together. We walked the two miles to school every day, oftentimes stopping at the Big Dipper hamburger shop after school for a coke. In the summertime we walked to the beach and car hopped at the A&W root beer stand. Most of us sang in the Lutheran church choir and the high school chorus, and we even sang sometimes for a group or organization’s meeting. We agreed on almost everything. When Sandy’s mother died unexpectedly, we thought our pickup caroling days were over, but Sandy’s older brothers were talked into hauling us seven giggling girls back and forth on Broadway. They were patient as long as they could be, and after making the trip several times, they pulled over to the curb. Gary leaned his head out of the window and said, “Hey, we dare you to sing your carols at the Simms sisters.” We all looked at each other and then back at him. And we said, “Yes!”
“When we sang ‘Jingle Bells’ and then turned to leave, the ladies applauded. They told us how lovely our voices were and how beautiful our songs, and that our music brought tears to their eyes.” How do you ignore a big brother’s dare? Everybody knew that the Simms sisters were really different. They lived on Park Avenue, one of the loveliest streets in town, a neighborhood of elegant old turn-of-thecentury Victorian homes. But this house was unusual. It needed paint, the porch roof was sagging, the yard and flower gardens were overgrown and unkempt, and there were stories of junk stacked inside the house and lots of cats. They didn’t even have electricity. Everybody got the picture when you mentioned “the Simms sisters.” We were all nervous about the dare and giggly about our bravery. Sandy’s brother drove the pickup north to the elegant Park Avenue neighborhood, past the beautiful homes, decorated with pine boughs and wreaths and lights, and then stopped in front of the house that was dark and scary looking. Gary and Ivan looked at us through the rear window of the pickup cab. It was as if they were saying, “OK, here you are. Are you going to chicken out?” Seven girls looked at each other, took a deep breath and climbed out of the pickup. We hesitantly walked up the narrow path shoveled to the porch. The weeds sticking up through the snow caused long, eerie shadows. The big oak trees in the yard blocked the glow from the streetlights and made the yard look even gloomier. Single file we slowly made our way towards the house and stopped near the porch. Then we started to sing, “Silent Night, Holy Night…” Young, sweet voices singing age-old carols. Then, “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear…” Slowly the front door opened and three elderly ladies stepped out on to the porch. They were bundled in sweaters and shawls,
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and they just stood there listening. We continued singing, “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful, joyful and triumphant…” Their appearance on the porch was not what we had expected. We did not know the Simms sisters. Almost everyone in town considered them unusual, and we never thought to ask about their lives. We did not know that their father James E. Simms had attended college in Wisconsin and had moved to Freeborn County when Albert Lea was a brand new community. He had taught school, worked in the county auditor’s office and served as justice of the peace. His bride, Josephine Crandall, had also attended college, very unusual for a young woman in the 19th century. The music store he opened became famous for the quality of its pianos, instruments and even the newly invented disk phonograph. James and Josephine had four children, all talented and interested in music. Elwyn eventually moved to Ohio, where he operated a business involved with the new movie industry, creating equipment for showing silent movies and the new talkies. Jessie and Hattie both continued their music training in Boston and New York, performing with opera and theater companies and Chautauquas, and Jessie even sang in Carnegie Hall. Mildred stayed in Albert Lea working in her father’s music store, giving piano and voice lessons and playing the organ at the Broadway Theater for silent movies. She was much in demand as the pianist for many organizations in town. The Simms were well known for their support of the cultural activities in the community. In fact, the night James Simms died, he had just returned home from a recital at the
Presbyterian Church. On that beautiful December evening in 1952, we did not know that the three ladies on the porch were Jessie of Carnegie Hall fame, Mildred, talented pianist, and their maid, Margaret. When we sang “Jingle Bells” and then turned to leave, the ladies applauded. They told us how lovely our voices were and how beautiful our songs, and that our music brought tears to their eyes. We did not know what to do. We shyly told them, “Thank you, and Merry Christmas” and then began walking single file down that narrow shoveled path. After we had climbed into the back of the pickup, Joie, who had been the last one in line, said in a whisper, “She wanted to give me a hug … but I kept right on walking.” When Gary stuck his head out the window and said rather conspiratorially, “We saw the old ladies. What did they say?” we quietly responded, “We’re ready to go to the Big Dipper for cocoa. We don’t want to sing anymore tonight.” We did not know that five years later there would be a fire in the house. The two sisters, Jessie, 82 years old, and Mildred, 72, were living alone now. Jessie was going to prepare dinner one evening, and when she struck a match to light their gas stove, she accidentally dropped it into a stack of old newspapers. A fire started and while trying to put it out, her dress caught on fire. Mildred, hearing her screams, attempted to squelch the flames and then frantically called the fire department. They arrived within minutes, but could not save her sister. Mildred was badly burned and hospitalized. She never returned to that home. For several years she lived in apartments over the main street businesses in downtown Albert Lea, moving whenever the rent was raised. She died in a nursing home in 1966. After the fire the house was razed, and for years people talked about the poverty in that tumble down home owned by the Simms sisters, the 20 cats that shared their lives, and the faded, unkempt Victorian parlor with the beautiful grand piano.
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Page B4 | Christmas greetings | wednesday, December 23, 2020
May Jesus our Savior be the
center of your Christmas and the center of your life throughout the year.
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Christmas Songs White Christmas I’m dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones I used to know Where the treetops glisten, and children listen To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas With every Christmas card I write May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmases be white I’m dreaming of a white Christmas With every Christmas card I write May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmases be white
Let It Snow
Oh the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful, And since we’ve no place to go, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! It doesn’t show signs of stopping, And I’ve bought some corn for popping, The lights are turned way down low, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! When we finally kiss goodnight, How I’ll hate going out in the storm! But if you’ll really hold me tight, All the way home I’ll be warm. The fire is slowly dying, And, my dear, we’re still good-bying, But as long as you love me so, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!