My guest is Beth Bergren. She shares her story of decorating the Christmas tree with her family. It is funny the things we remember about growing up and about the Christmas fun. Welcome back, Beth!

Be sure to see Beth’s slow cooker recipes below too. A great way to save time in the kitchen this holiday season. You can find Beth’s slow cooker stuffing recipe that she shared with us for Thanksgiving.

CHRISTMAS – The Significance of a Tree

By Beth Bergren

At Mom’s Table Homemaking Mentoring Ministry

My parent’s most memorable arguments happened while putting up the Christmas tree.

I remember one Christmas we went out and purchased a tree as a family.  When attempting to put the tree in the metal stand my mother kept telling my dad that it needed to be shorter.  After 4 or 5 attempts to make it to her liking, in and out of the stand – he cut off the top of the tree and replied in an irritated, questioning voice,

“Is that short enough?”

Needless to say we piled in the car to go and get another tree.

My mom was very meticulous when decorating the tree.  Every colored light needed to be spaced just right and the silvery sparkling tinsel needed to be precariously strung strand by strand.  You don’t want to know the argument that ensued one year because of tinsel. Her attention to detail made those trees exquisite.

When the tree was finally decorated we would lounge on the couch and chairs around the tree at night with just the lights on and listen to Perry Como’s Christmas album as he sang and told the Bible story of the First Christmas in his rich, deep, and soothing voice.

YouTube: Listen to Perry Como

 

What could be the spiritual significance of a tree? [Click to Tweet]

The star represents the light that led the Wise men to the baby boy born that first Christmas morn (Matthew 2:1-12) and the Light of the World (Jesus) who came to save the world from the darkness of sin. (John 8:12)

The core or center of the Christmas tree represents the cross on which Jesus died. (I Peter 2:24)

The branches are His arms stretched wide on that cross welcoming all of us to believe in Him as He covered our sins with His blood. (I John 1:7)

The gifts beneath the Christmas tree represent the gift of the Christ Child born that day so long ago in Bethlehem and the free gift of eternal life He gives to those who believe on His name. (Romans 6:23)

This Christmas as you bask in the glow of the light from a radiant tree – think for a moment what Christ did for you? Replace the stresses of life with the truth of God’s love.

My prayer is that you will experience the joy of Jesus this Christmas and HE becomes precious to you all year long.

Merry Christmas,

Beth Bergren

 

Beth shares two slow cooker recipes to enjoy during your Christmas celebrations:

Two slow cooker recipes to enjoy during your Christmas celebrations [Click to Tweet]

 

Christmas Morning Sausage Breakfast Casserole

1 pound Jimmy Dean bulk pork sausage – mild or regular

1 teaspoon mustard powder

½ teaspoon salt

6 eggs, beaten

1 can cream of mushroom soup (undiluted)

2 cups milk

6 to 8 slices of bread, toasted and cut into cubes

8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

OPTIONAL: ¼ cup finely diced onion and/or ¼ cup finely diced celery to the sausage mix while browning

ASSEMBLE and CHILL OVERNIGHT:

Crumble sausage into a skillet. Cook over medium heat until evenly browned. Drain.

In a medium bowl mix together mustard powder, salt, cream of mushroom soup and 2 cups of milk. Toss in bread cubes and shredded cheese to coat mix thoroughly. Pour mixture into a greased 9×13 baking dish. COVER. Chill overnight.

CHRISTMAS MORNING:

Pre-heat oven to 350° cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45-60 minutes. Reduce heat to 325° and uncover and bake for an additional 30 minutes (this will set the eggs).

OPTIONAL: Cover the bottom of the baking dish with aluminum foil and spray the foil with cooking spray before adding egg mixture. This helps keep the egg dish moist, cook evenly and makes clean up easier.

 

This recipe is from Beth’s SLOW COOKER HEAVEN cook-booklet

Check out Beth’s website: www.bethbergren.com to order the best kept secret in slow cooking! Makes a great little gift for a teacher, hostess or a cook looking for simple but tasty meal ideas! 

MAKE AHEAD MASHED POTATOES

 “serves many”

4 to 5 pounds of red potatoes

1 (8 oz.) package of softened cream cheese

1 cup sour cream

½ cup chicken broth

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 Tablespoon dried parsley

½ cup of water, reserved from boiling potatoes

2 Tablespoons melted butter to brush on top of potatoes in the slow cooker

Wash and peel the potatoes. Cut in quarters. Put the pieces into a large 5 to 7 quart slow cooker and cover completely with water. If preparing the night before, cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or until potatoes are fork-tender. If doing the day you want to serve, cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours.

Drain the potatoes well and place in a large glass mixing bowl. Add softened (room temperature) cream cheese to the hot potatoes. Add sour cream. Pour in chicken broth. Add the parsley and garlic powder. Mash with a potato masher, wire whisk or hand mixer. (Do NOT over mash!) Place mashed potato mixture into a greased 4 to 7 quart crock. Cook on LOW for 4 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent burning on the bottom. 

TIP: Left over mashed potatoes? Place a LARGE scoop of mashed potatoes on a cookie sheet and place in freezer for 30 to 60 minutes. When partially frozen remove from freezer. Using a spatula remove scoops of potatoes and place in a Ziploc bag. Remove as many scoops as you need for future servings of pre-cooked ready-to-go mashed potatoes!

 

 

Beth Bergren is an accomplished speaker/teacher/writer guiding busy women in learning practical living (homemaking skills) and intentional life (Biblical womanhood) topics.  Having taught over 450 cooking classes and leading women’s Bible studies she shares her passion and expertise through workshops, cook-books and blog writing.  Check out her website at www.bethbergren.com and her blog at www.bethbergren.blogspot.com

Beth welcomes the opportunity to speak to your women’s group.  Her passion is to equip women to love the Lord and love their life!

 

Images are courtesy of Morguefile.com