May we ring in truth, justice and peace in Christ's name!  I love this poem:

 

Ring Out, Wild Bells by G. K. Chesterton


Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

I just tried some new goodie recipes.  I used the shortbread recipe from Fine Cooking magazine and really liked the cardamom variation.

We subscribe to the magazine but here is the weblink:  http://www.finecooking.com/item/36970/how-to-make-shortbread-cookies

I also tried this Chocolate Nutella fudge from Two Peas and their Pod and Cookin' Canuck and will definitely make it again!
http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2011/12/chocolate-nutella-sea-salt-fudge/

We are now moved into our new home, and so I can continue updating my cooking knowledge.  I've tried a few new things in the meantime.  Today I'm going to try brining some pork chops before cooking them and have some applesauce as a side, adding some allspice, cider vinegar and a bay leaf to simmer for a bit on the stove.  I added some buttermilk to my mashed potatoes and really enjoyed the flavour difference there.

The pork chops were marinated in buttermilk and salt, then breaded in toasted stale bread crumbs, mixed with pressed garlic, crumbled dried rosemary and dried thyme.  I think I'll add some salt and pepper next go round, but they were yummy.  I like the applesauce, but would like to ramp up the flavour there a little, too.  I may try adding some onions next time.