November 2008

As I was passing the beautiful Autumn trees in my city this week I couldn’t help but to think about the article Sister Angie wrote a month ago about the leaves changing.

I have pondered this article many times over this past month and as Miss Monica June and I passed yet another gorgeous tree, the thought sprang up again. We talked about those leaves and how Sister Angie described the changes that take place. During this month we have been studying the election process and observing the times of this election in comparison to the Bible.

I explained to Monica about the darkness and cooler temperatures, as Sister Angie described. When Christians go through a time of darkness we see their true colors. If a Christian is true to their faith, then their colors will be more vibrant, showing the contrast between the darkness and the Spirit that shines His Light to show the true colors of those people.

So when the dark times come, what will you look like? Will your life shine bright vibrant colors or will your leaves simply wilt? This election has caused concern among many people both in our nation and abroad. I don’t know if we are entering a dark time in this nation or not, but if we do, are your true colors ready to be seen? You can begin now by committing yourself to pray. However, I want to admonish you to not cease praying once the election is over, but continue therein. This month's theme is that of gentleness. May we show gentleness in all we do and say. (And blog about) ;O)

We pray that our November issue will inspire and encourage you as you study God’s Word with us. Have a blessed Thanksgiving season.


Editor-in-Chief
Growing in Grace Magazine

To view the entire magazine in one post

*Have you ever thought about contributing to Growing in Grace Magazine? Do you have a gift for writing and a desire to please the Saviour in what you write? Come read this very special announcement about how YOU might be a part of our team.

We welcome Miss Jessica to our team of contributors!

If you're a business who'd link to partner with GGM and donate something for a giveaway, please contact Miss Jocelyn at ggmads@gmail.com.

Featured Articles:

GGM Interview: Lady Rachel, A Gentle Heart After God
by Lady Olivia

Serving Veterans
by Miss Monica June

Aviation History Month and Interview
by Lady Olivia

Taking Care of the Temple God Gave You
by Miss Jessica *New Contributor*

Columns:

Fact of the Matter:
Are You Comfortable With Persecution?
by Sisterlisa

Remote Control: Video Games
by Lady Jess

The Faith Factor: Tips to Sharing Your Faith
by Miss Monica June

Fun Articles:


Thanksgiving Joy
by Miss Kaitlyn

A Thankful Heart
by Miss Virginia

Saving Daylight
by Lady Jess

Australia: For That I'm Thankful
by Miss Jessica

Graphics coordinated by designer G's
Some photos from iStockphoto
and sxc.hu Stock Exchange


Editor-in-Chief: Sisterlisa




Special thanks to:
The Wash Basin
Rachel Lees
Times Tales
This month's layout created with Village Square in Autumn from
PCCrafter.com and Laurie Furnell
Layout Coordinator: Sisterlisa at designer G's

Serving Veterans

by Miss Monica June

Every year my church hosts a dinner for Veterans Sunday. All the Veterans in our area are invited to come to our church and we sing songs that glorify God and honour our nation, America. We show videos that honor those who served on 9/11 and we play some videos have to do with soldiers fighting to make America a free country. After our church is over, the veterans and their families dine in our small building used for our teen classes. A special teen group gets to help serve them and fellowship with them. This year I get to be in that group and that is a great honour getting to serve those that made our country be free. These following verses have to do with serving others.

Matthew 15:34
And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

Matthew 15:36
And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

Mark 6:38
He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

Mark 6:41
And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

Mark 6:43
And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

Mark 8:7
And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

In these verses when Jesus took the little boy's food to feed it to the multitude, I didn't see the little boy get anything out of it. But Jesus fed many people with the boy's food. So, when I go to serve the veterans on Sunday I don't need to whine or complain why I didn't get anything out of it, because like I said it is an honour to serve those who serve and have served our country. Remember when you do something and you don't get anything out of it, it is because it is good to serve others that have served you.


Relatives in our family who have served in our nation's military:
My dad served in the Navy.
My two great grandfathers on my dad's side served in the Army.
My grandfather, my mother's dad, served in the Navy.
My mother's Uncle Doug was in the Air Force.
My mother's cousin, Todd and his wife Maria were both in the Army which is how they met while serving in Germany. They've had eleven children and currently live in Illinois. Cousin Todd now serves as a firefighter.
My mother's grandfather on her mother's side served in the Marines as did his father before him.
My mother's Uncle Randy served in the Marines .
My mother's Step-Dad, my Grandpa Kerry, served in the Air Force.

A very special thank you to my family who served this nation well so that I can live in a free country. (((hugs))) To all of you!

Aviation History Month

This is a picture of my daddy's helicopter. He is a commercial pilot. He used to be a firefighter for twenty years, but he always wanted to be able to fly.

If it wasn't for the Wright Brothers, he probably would not be able to do his dream. This month is Aviation History Month. In 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright built an airplane. They learned to build their airplane by staying in their shop and working with bicycles, printing presses, motors, and other machines. Figuring how to build it, how it would work, and how they would use it were all the challenges they had in the process. It is amazing how just two people can brainstorm to come up with such an awesome creation.

Today, there are more than just airplanes. There are helicopters, gliders, blimps, hot air balloons, biplanes, and jets. Because of the Wright Brothers' work, we can now go into space with rockets.

Here is a little interview with my dad I want to share with you...

Lady Olivia: What made you want to become a helicopter pilot?

Dad: The idea of being able to go anywhere and do anything in an aircraft (that is, stop, go backwards, go sideways) was what interested me. I have always had a general interest in aviation.

Lady Olivia: What do you have to do to become a pilot?

Dad: You have to obtain a "rating" by going to flight school and ground school. It requires many hours and classroom study done at your own pace. It takes a lot of hard work studying aerodynamics, weather, mechanics, and performance of your aircraft.

Lady Olivia: How is it different to fly an airplane or a helicopter?

Dad: An airplane needs a runway, but a helicopter can take off and land from a single point. Airplanes are faster, but helicopters are more maneuverable. An airplane is much easier to fly than a helicopter.

Lady Olivia: What is it like flying a helicopter?

Dad: It is like standing on a beachball and juggling because you must control four controls at one time without thinking about any one in particular.

Lady Olivia: Is it hard remembering all the controls?

Dad: It is at first, but then it becomes second nature.

Lady Olivia: Do you enjoy your job and do you ever get nervous about flying?

Dad: I enjoy my job because I love to fly. I don't get nervous because my skill level allows me to control the aircraft, but above all, I trust in the Lord for my safety and protection.

I hope you enjoyed learning about aviation and my interview with my father.

"Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest." Psalm 55:6

Taking Care of the Temple God Gave You

In light of it being national Diabetics and Epilepsy month, I have been considering why it is important to look after our body. Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 20, "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

When we look after our bodies by keeping them in good shape, we are ultimately honouring God, because we acknowledge that God made us "fearfully and wonderfully" (Psalm 139:14). When our bodies are how God wants them to be, we are available to fulfill his unique and personal calling to which you alone were designed for. God has a plan for each and every person who has walked the planet, and every plan works into Gods' mysterious purpose. One question now remains, is your body up for it?

God has given you an amazing body – just look at yourself! Have you ever learned just how detailed your eye is? Recently I learned about cells, and how there never seems to be an end to the detail of the cell and how small it is. Quarks are the smallest part of an atom we know, and we have gazillions of gazillions of them in our body.

God is so creative it blows my mind away! Just imagine – God created every person who has lived and will live, with different personalities and looks; with a unique fingerprint design; our own strengths and weaknesses. Our body is far more complex than we can imagine, and yet he knows every hair on your head. And He longs for you to be a part of His plan. Isn't that something?

By keeping our body fit, strong and healthy, we will be ready when He shows us his plan.

Miss Jessica is a contributor at GGM and regularly blogs here.

*There are different forms of diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to change sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

*Epilepsy is a condition that affects the nervous system. Epilepsy is also known as a seizure disorder. It is usually diagnosed after a person has had at least two seizures that were not caused by some known medical condition like alcohol withdrawal or extremely low blood sugar.

Are You Comfortable With Persecution?

Note: This month's article is on the serious issues of persecution. Please know that I have worked diligently at not writing graphic details of the events that took place at Columbine High School, but I have included links to news articles and factual information about that day. Please have your parent's permission before reading.



Many years ago on April 20th, 1999 we heard of the fatal massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado.

You may have heard about Miss Rachel Scott, the young Christian girl who was shot multiple times, then killed after she was asked by the gun man ,"Do you believe in God?" to which she replied, "You know I do."

Most Christians don’t think of America as a place that suffers persecution, yet on that fateful day we saw it unfold before our very eyes. After Miss Rachel’s parents heard the tapes of the gunmen speaking about their daughter, they were convinced that she was targeted for her faith in Christ.

After Miss Rachel’s death her parents began to read her journals and found that their daughter seemed to have a sort of premonition about her death one day being over her faith. Millions of Christians realized that we do indeed suffer from persecution right here in the United States.

Something that we desperately need to understand is that those two young men who attacked Columbine High School that day had a thought life of death for quite some time before they committed their crime.

Maybe you have never felt ‘persecuted’ for your faith such as Miss Rachel did, but perhaps you’ve had ‘friends’ who have shunned you for your Christians standards to avoid sin. Miss Rachel certainly suffered from social persecution long before she died for her faith. Miss Rachel believed in being kind to others and had a goal to end prejudice in her community. Miss Rachel wrote an essay on her thoughts and desires to make a difference in her community. Friends and relatives began 'Rachel’s Challenge' in what I believe to be an attempt to bring honor to their daughter’s desires to change her nation. You can join Miss Rachel’s Challenge here.

Perhaps you don’t attend a public school and are living comfortably in a Christian School or in the safety of your own home, being educated by those who love you the most, yet that doesn’t change the fact that there are Christian teens that need your prayers.

Your generation IS the next generation of this world. Should the Lord tarry His coming, you will be an adult living in this world with the teens that are your age right now. What kind of future do you want to have for yourself and for your family? Do you understand the importance of making an impact on your generation NOW? Do you currently pray for your generation?

I believe that if Miss Rachel had a chance to grow up that she would’ve become a phenomenal lady. What she wrote in her journal shows the intensity of her love for our Saviour and she had a fervent spirit of fulfilling her relationship with Christ by sharing about His Word and salvation message to those around her.

Do you pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ who are currently suffering persecution in other countries? Miss Amanda shares an inspiring interview between her and a gentleman from VOM, Voice of the Martyrs, in her article in The Daily Newsroom. When was the last time you shared the Gospel with someone and saw them trust Christ as their savior? Miss Monica June shares some important tips on sharing the Gospel at her column The Faith Factor.

Let’s not be comfortable in our faith. Jesus did not sit in the comfort of a home simply enjoying life, He taught daily to everyone he came in contact with. Certainly there are safety measures that a teen needs to follow when sharing their faith with others, yet we must educate ourselves on how to share our faith. Most of us live in countries where we DO have the freedom of speech and we should be taking advantage of that while we still can.

We have brothers and sisters in the faith who are daily persecuted for spreading the news of Christ’s salvation and yet we sit in the comfort of our homes and rarely speak to those standing in line at the store. I’m thankful that someone spoke to me about Jesus’s death on the cross and how much he loves me. I am glad to know that the woman who shared the Gospel with me didn’t cower under the fear of bringing it up. We have nothing to fear when sharing the salvation message with those around us. Although the Scott Family misses their sweet Miss Rachel very much, they are proud of her for being bold in her faith and the impact her life and death brought to Americans has grown to reach many for the cause of Christ. I pray your life is one that reaches beyond boundaries in order to save a lost soul.

Faith Factor Tips

Most people want to be wise. Even I do! In this following verse it teaches you a way you can be wise.

~Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
(emphasis mine)

You can win souls to be wise and we need to obey the Bible. I love to go out to tell people about Jesus, because one day when we all go to Heaven that person will be happy that I told them about Jesus. It should be a blessing to go out soul winning and telling people about Jesus. Here are some tips on how to be bold when sharing your faith.




TIPS:

1. Understand what it means to lead someone to trust in Jesus and study up!

2. Pray that God will cross your path with someone who is ready to receive Christ as their Saviour.

3. You could go to a Christian book store and purchase tracts to carry with you hand out through out the day.
. Hand out at grocery store

. At the book store

. And wherever you are like when you are out and about.

4. Give the person a tract and if they are interested and not in a hurry you can share your relationship with the Lord. You can see some verses that I have used before here: “The Plan of Salvation”

5. Read books and resources about sharing your faith with others. Two that we have found helpful are:
'Soulwinning: The Heart of God' by Pastor Michael Ray This book explains about heaven and hell and the heart condition of the person.
The Way of the Master with Kirk Cameron This ministry equips others to effectively share their faith with others.

I'll share more tips next month.

Video Games

Well, this time I am writing about video games. The other day I was in a store with my family and I saw some of the scariest images I have ever seen on some of those games. Movies and music get much of the blame when it comes to violence such as the Columbine shooting, but video games are also sometimes involved.

You may ask what video games have to do with violence in the real world. Well, a lot. We are naturally born to want to win. If a video game relates violence with winning, it's no wonder kids think that in order to win in the world, you have to have a little violence. Which is not true.

The Bible says in Psalm 101:3 "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me."

If it is violent and scary, I don't think that it is of the Lord. Which means that it is of the devil, it is wickedness. God wants us to "abstain from all appearances of evil". Why would we want to seem wicked when we are a child of the King? It is not that we WANT to be wicked, but nonetheless, it is still wicked. Let' s be a shining example to those in the world. Let's show others that we are set apart and something is different about us. That something is God.

There is so much more that you could be doing with your time. Clean up, learn something new, share the gospel, write something for Him, or go read The Good Book.

Thanksgiving Joy

by Miss Kaitlyn

The best thing about thanksgiving
is the joy shown all around,
Hearts full of happiness and love,
And there are many, many things,
in which thankfulness is found,
Not a one is not provided from above.
Kindred spirits join together and share
a joyful time,
Singing and having a wondrous day.
God makes our hearts thankful in ones such as mine, and
Is changing our lives every day.
Vast are all the things that I am thankful for,
I could never even list them all.
Never will being thankful seem like a chore.
God will always hear us when we call.

A Thankful Heart

by Miss Virginia

I am thankful for my family. I'm thankful that my mom and dad are still married. My sister Jessica makes me pancakes. My sister Monica plays baby dolls with me, even though she is older now. She sometimes fixes my hair for me too. Timmy plays with me and he's fun to be around.

I'm thankful for my mom and dad reading with me at night. I am glad my family is close, even though sometimes we don't always get along, we still love each other. I like it when we have family parties. We get a fun movie, have home made popcorn, and get pizza. I like to go to the park with my family too. I really like it when my daddy goes for walks with me and holds my hand. Going for family walks after dinner is always special. I have friends at church, but I know my family is my best friends.

Saving Daylight

by Lady Jess

The History of Daylight Savings Time

Benjamin Franklin first came up with the idea of Daylight Saving Time in his humorous essay "An Economical Project." Then British man named William Willett (1865-1915) decided people were wasting daylight and got the idea of adding eighty minutes to the clock. Robert Pearce introduced a Bill in the British House of Commons that required people to change their clocks. However, the bill was widely rejected, especially by farmers, who wanted more daylight in the morning. Willett died before he was able to see his idea become a reality.

On May 17, 1916, Willett’s idea was accepted as a means to save fuel and an Act was passed in the United States that required people to change their clocks ahead. People didn’t respond well to this; there was a lot of confusion, and many states refused to observe a "Daylight Saving Time." In 1917, Congress passed an Act that said U.S. time should move ahead one hour on the last Sunday in March and be put back one hour on the last Sunday in October. This was later repealed, but during World War I, nearly every country in Europe adopted the idea of putting the clock forward one hour in order to save fuel for lighting and heating. The United States only began to recognize these benefits during the World War II, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt established a year-round Daylight Saving Time called "War Time." From 1945 to 1966, there was no federal law about Daylight Saving Time and states were free to choose whether they wanted to observe it as well as when they wanted it to begin and end.

In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Uniform Time Act into law, and there was unity across the United States as to when clocks changed. The Act said that Daylight Saving Time would start on the last Sunday of April and end on the last Sunday in October. However, any state that wanted to remain on standard time year round could pass a state law to that effect.

In 1972, the federal law was revised so that states that had more than one time zone could exempt part of the state in one time zone while the other part would observe Daylight Saving Time. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation stating that Daylight Saving Time should begin on the first Sunday in April instead of the last, in order to save even more energy.

About 70 countries observe Daylight Saving Time in at least a part of their country. If you would like to find out more about the countries that observe Daylight Saving Time and when, see http://webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/g.html.

The next time you're changing your clocks for Daylight Saving Time, just remember that it's not just trying to mess up your schedule -- its purpose is to save energy; and make sure your family checks out those smoke detectors at the same time!

Each year, Daylight Saving Time begins for most of the United States in the middle of the night -- at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March. The clocks go back to standard time at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday in November. The time of the changeover was chosen because most people are home at that hour and because it prevents any confusion that might arise if midnight were time of the change. In the spring, clocks "spring forward" from 1:59 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. In the fall, they "fall back" from 1:59 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. When the clocks change back to standard time, many bars and restaurants choose to stay open and serve customers for an extra hour.

Some states and territories in the U.S. do not observe Daylight Saving Time. They are Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the state of Arizona (except for the Navajo Indian Reservation). It is also widely observed in Europe, though it often does not begin or end on the same day there as in the U.S.

Daylight Saving is also called "Summer Time" in many places in the world. It was created to make better use of daylight by changing our clocks during the summer months so that we get an extra hour of daylight in the evening. Some countries, especially those near the equator, do not usually change their clocks. This is because day and night there are about the same length (12 hours). Just about everywhere else on Earth, there is more daylight in the summer.

Another benefit of Daylight Saving Time is that it saves energy. It "makes" the sun "set" one hour later, causing people to use less electricity for lighting and appliances during the evening hours. As a result, we cut back on the amount of energy we use each day.

In the United States, the start and end of Daylight Saving Time are also times when firefighters encourage people to check and change the battery in their smoke detectors. It is easier to remember to do this by associating it with this time of year.

Here is a chart that tells you when to spring or fall in the next few years.

2008 March 9 November 2
2009 March 8 November 1
2010 March 14 November 7
2011 March 13 November 6
2012 March 11 November 4
2013 March 10 November 3
2014 March 9 November 2
2015 March 8 November 1

Here's a fun trivia question for you. Prior to the invention of the clock, how did people observe time at night?

The Bible says in Colossians 4:5, "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."

We need to make the most of the daylight hours we have. Now that we're going into winter, we need to redeem the time and do all we can for the Lord during these months.

One funny things our pastor does when we 'fall back' is that he doesn't have the church call to remind them of the time change like he usually does when we 'spring forward'. It's comical to see people show up for Sunday School that don't usually come and for those who always arrive late, to be early. ;O)

Australia: For that I’m Thankful

by Miss Jessica

Saying “thank you” is a simple but extraordinarily powerful thing to do.
– Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia

I am aware that in America, people celebrate the settler’s first years in America and all they were thankful for. In Australia, we have a new yet similar tradition in May each year: National Day of Thanksgiving. We don’t eat the turkey and cranberries on a frosty fall evening with all the family, true; but, once a year during the month of May, we encourage all Australians, no matter what culture or belief, to gather together and simply say thank you to somebody. Whether it be our Mum or Dad, brother or sister; people who look after our communities’ welfare (spiritual, mental or physical) or the government and ministries who pour so much energy into making our lives better. Saying thank you is like giving others a taste of God’s love – the most powerful thing on earth.

I am thankful for Australia. I’m thankful for Australia’s Christian Heritage. Many of our ancestors were convicts, but significant leaders and explorers had a relationship with Jesus Christ; such as Captain James Cook and Charles Sturt. It was those men, along with many others, who established our country. And for that I’m thankful.

Because National Day of Thanksgiving is still something new in Australia, traditions haven’t really sunk in; however, barbeques is always a winner in Australia.

Candy Corn Day

You may or may not know about the colorful chewy candy called candy corn. It is most commonly seen around fall time because it is shaped like little kernels of corn. This candy is one of my MOST FAVORITE candies!!! These candies, the traditional yellow, orange and white striped candy corn are supposed to represent Indian corn, during the time when the pilgrims came to America.

Each one is approximately the size of a kernel of corn. Even though Thanksgiving is a couple of months away you could save the following poem and project from craftsayings.com to share with loved ones this year as a memento of God’s provision even in the hard times. What a tasty tribute to our Early American History!

Five Kernels

© 2000 by shirleyt@craftsayings.com
The first winter in Plymouth was very cold
And hunger abounded as the year unrolled.
Some days each only had five kernels of corn.
Their lives were becoming sad and forlorn.

But then spring came and their harvest grew.
The pilgrims began to thrive and their spirits did too.
But they never forgot the bleak times after they did abate
So on Thanksgiving they'd put five kernels on each plate.

The first kernel reminded them of the autumn beauty.
The second one of the freedom that they held dearly.
The third reminded of their love and care for each other
And the fourth was for dear friends like the Indian brother.

The fifth kernel reminded of God's love and care for all.
So as you prepare and celebrate Thanksgiving this fall,
Remember to put five little kernels on each dinner plate
To honor the pilgrims and give thanks for our good fate.

Place Setting Marker:

Put five kernels of corn or candy corn in cellophane and tie closed with a fall-colored ribbon. Large field corn kernels looks great, but popcorn kernels can be used also. Kids love it with candy corn!
Print Poem. Trim edges.
Fold a piece of construction paper in half to make a tent sign. Center poem on it and glue down with a glue stick. Trim edges.
Glue the corn in upper left corner.
Write name across the top with a silver or gold glitter pen and put on or near plate as a place marker.

Cards:

Fold construction paper or cardstock in half and in half again so that it is quarter sheet size. Follow instructions above.
Or just print the poem on cardstock and attach corn.

Believe it or not, these candies are not only used during the fall, but also around Valentine's Day, Christmas, and Easter depending on the colors. Green and red are used for Christmas, and so on. Candy corn was originally created by the Wunderlee Candy Company around the 1880’s. Later, in 1990 it was produced by Goelitz Company, which is now the Jelly Belly company.

Candy Corn is not the healthiest, like most candy. Candy corn is made mostly of sugar corn syrup, honey, and carnauba wax. It contains fatty acids, hydrocarbons, and cinnamac acids.. Surprisingly, candy corn didn’t used to be composed of the ingredients it is composed of now. Candy corn originally consisted of: sugar, corn syrup, fondant, and marshmallow!

Do you know what carnauba wax is? If you know then it may have spoiled your appetite for candy corn. If you don’t know then it may spoil your appetite for candy corn, and if you don’t want it spoiled then, WARNING: DO NOT READ THE FOLLOWING!!!!!

Carnauba wax is usually used as a gloss on cars! And is in shoe polishes! Can you say EWWW? This wax is also found in dental floss, tic-tack, frosting, chewing gum, Altoids, and in other foods! Isn’t that just sick and wrong? It almost makes me not crave candy corn…almost.

There are lots of fun ways to eat candy corn and many cool recipes you can find that include candy corn.


This recipe for Candy Corn Bark can be found at: http://candy.about.com/od/specialoccasions/r/candycorn.htm . This is obviously 100 % NOT nutritious, but it is a fun, special treat!

· 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
· 1 cup white chocolate chips
· 1 cup candy corn


Preparation:

1.Prepare a cookie sheet by lining it with aluminum foil.

2. In separate bowls, melt the chocolates in the microwave or over a double boiler.

3. Stir ½ cup candy corn into the dark chocolate, and pour the chocolate onto the foiled pan. Using a spoon or spatula, smooth the chocolate out in an even layer. It does not have to cover the whole pan.

4. Take a spoon and scoop small amounts of white chocolate over the dark chocolate in a random pattern. Use a toothpick or the tip of a knife to swirl the two chocolates together. Don’t swirl too much, you want to be able to see the distinct chocolates in the end.

5. Place the remaining ½ cup candy corn over the wet chocolates, sprinkling randomly and pressing them gently into the chocolate until they adhere.

6. Put the chocolate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to harden.

7. When the bark is firm, remove it from the foil and break it into pieces.

Ingredients
8 cups popped light butter microwave popcorn (about 1 [3-ounce] bag)
1 cup candy corn
1/4 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (10-ounce) bag marshmallows
Cooking spray
Preparation

Combine popcorn and candy corn in a large bowl.

Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and (10-ounce) bag marshmallows. Reduce heat to low; cook for 7 minutes or until the marshmallows melt and the mixture is smooth, stirring frequently.

Pour marshmallow mixture over popcorn mixture, stirring to coat well. Lightly coat hands with cooking spray; shape popcorn mixture into 20 (2-inch) balls.

Note: Children should be sure marshmallow mixture is cool enough to handle before touching to prevent burns!

From: http://www.MyRecipes.com





And of course, if you would not like car wax to be in your candy corn, I found an awesome recipe for home-made candy corn on:
http://kids-cooking.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_make_homemade_candy_corn
Still not the healthiest choice, but it is healthier than the store bought kind.


Ingredients
· 2-1/2 cups of powdered sugar
· 1/3 cup nonfat powdered milk
· 1 cup regular sugar
· 2/3 cup corn syrup
· 1/4 teaspoon of salt
· 5 tablespoons of salted butter
· 1 teaspoon of vanilla
· Yellow and red food coloring

Directions

1. Bring the regular sugar, corn syrup and butter to a boil over medium high heat in a large heavy saucepan. Reduce the heat to medium and continue boiling for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat.

2. While boiling the above, put the powdered sugar, powdered milk and salt in a large bowl and set it aside.

3. Add the vanilla and powdered mixture into the hot mixture in the saucepan. Be sure and mix it well. Then let the mixture sit for about 20 minutes or so until the mixture is slightly warm.

4. Divide the dough into 3 equal parts and put one in each of a small mixing bowl. Add orange (mix red and yellow together) food coloring to one part and yellow food coloring to another. Knead the dough until the color is well blended. Also knead the white dough until smooth. You may want to put on plastic gloves or a zip-loc bag to protect your hands from the food coloring.

5. Roll each piece into a thin rope of equal length. Press the three ropes together to make a long rectangle. Using a sharp knife, cut the ropes into triangles and shape with your fingers. You will have some with white tips and some yellow tips.

6. It is best to store between layers of waxed paper so they do not stick together.



Ah ha! I found an organic recipe from the same website! This one is a BIT healthier than the others, but it is still supposed to be a treat.


Ingredients

· 1 cup of sugar

· 2/3 cup of organic or low fructose corn syrup

· 5 tablespoons of vegan butter (like Earth Balance)

· 1 teaspoon of vanilla

· 2-1/2 cups of powdered sugar

· 1/3 cup of powdered soy milk

· just a pinch of sea salt

· Red and yellow food coloring

Directions

1. Bring the regular sugar, corn syrup, vanilla and butter to a boil over medium high heat in a large heavy saucepan. Reduce the heat to medium and continue boiling for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat.

2. Mix the powdered sugar, powdered milk and salt together in a bowl, and then add this to the hot mixture. Stir well. Let it all stand for about 20 minutes to cool down to just warm.

3. Divide the dough into 3 equal parts and put one in each of a small mixing bowl. Add orange (mix red and yellow together) food coloring to one part and yellow food coloring to another. Knead the dough until the color is well blended. Knead the white dough until smooth. You may want to put on plastic gloves or a zip-loc bag to protect your hands from the food coloring.

4. Roll each piece into a thin rope. Press the three ropes together to make a long rectangle. Using a sharp knife, cut the ropes into triangles and shape with your fingers. You will have some with white tips and some with yellow tips.

All these candy corns will be larger than what you get in the store. It would take forever to make them that small. Enjoy these homemade candy corns and don’t forget to share

There are now new flavors such as Caramel Apple Candy Corn and new Hershey’s kiss candy corn! Our family tried the caramel flavor just the other day and those of us who like caramel really liked it. We also saw Indian Corn Candy Corn made with real cocoa, but I think the traditional white, yellow and orange is still my favorite!


Leave a comment with your favorite candy corn or candy corn recipe and you will be entered to win this candy corn prize -->
We will pick a winner next Saturday.