Warming the Heart

It is January... a month that brings to mind  warm fireplaces, afghans and sweaters. But sometimes warming our bodies is not enough, our hearts feel a chill and nothing warms the heart like sentimental thoughts.

I am perhaps more sentimental than most - and the sentimental attachment I have to many of the things in my home  keep me from 'decluttering'.

One of my recent additions to my sentimental 'heart warmers'  is the above gift from my dear friend, Judy.  She came over one afternoon so I could do her a sewing favor.  Knowing monetary thanks would be refused she found a way to reciprocate. She brought  me a gift. A beautifully wrapped box of  herbal tea and a unique tea cup set.  I love  the curves of this delicate cup and tray and of course it is in my favorite colors.  When I need a heart warming, I can make myself a cup of tea and sit for a few moments reliving the  happy memory of the afternoon Judy and I shared.

The Sunshine Muffins, pictured above, were  warm out of the oven and the coffee freshly made when my friend came.   The recipe is a long time favorite of mine that I have adapted to be gluten free. I love them because they are so quick and easy to make - don't take long to eat either !
.
Sunshine Muffins

• 1 whole orange (cut into quarters) 
• 1/4 cup water 
• 1/4 cup milk 
• 1 lg egg 
• 1/4 cup oil 
• 3/4 cup sugar 
• 1 1/2 cup Julie's Flour mix 
• 1/2 tsp xanthan gum 
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 1 tsp baking soda 
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

1. Put orange, water and milk into blender and pulse until perfectly smooth
2. Add egg and oil and sugar, blend well 
3. Mix dry ingredients and add to liquids and mix until smooth. 
4. Fill muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 or 25 minutes 

****************************************
Note -  Sentimental is defined as "expressive of or appealing to sentiment, especially the tender emotions and feelings of love, pity, or nostalgia"  
and then I thought this definition for 'sentiment' interesting - "The thought or feeling intended to be conveyed by words, acts, or gestures as distinguished from the words, acts, or gestures themselves." ***************************************

How sentimental are you ? What stirs your sentimental feelings?

Share this post