It was exciting to make these sweet crunchy Christmas sweets with my sons. They enjoy trying different foods and want to learn to cook. They love watching Food Networks. It made me happy to pass my traditions and reminded me of my childhood doing the same with my family a week before Christmas. All the excitement, fun of going caroling home to home around our parish, making home cribs, decorating the Christmas trees, participating in singing competitions and going for Christmas Dances. Christmas was a day spent in exchanging Christmas sweets with family, friends and close neighbors.
This recipe of Kulkuls and Carambolas( Kormolas) is a 2-in-1. Kulkuls are shaped just like the Italian gnocchi, which are shaped on the back of a fork. Carambolas are made by rolling the dough thinly and then cutting them into 2″ inch squares and pinching the opposite ends together to form into a conch shell. The dough is made with just 6 basic ingredients and has no eggs. Flour, coconut milk, butter/ghee, sugar, cream of wheat( rava, for crunch), pinch of salt and then deep-fried golden brown.
Variations in this recipe.
1) Egg is added to the dough.
2) After being deep-fried sugar is sprinkled or it is dipped in sugar syrup.
3) Cardamom powder is added to the dough.
Serving Size: 8-10
Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1.5 cups approx of coconut milk
5 tbsp of medium cream of wheat / rava
6 tbsp of fine sugar
3 tbsp of melted butter or ghee
pinch of salt
Directions:
Mix the flour and cream of wheat then add the melted butter and mix it well into the flour.
Next add the sugar and salt, mix well it into the dry flour mixture.
Finally knead the flour with coconut milk to form a moist dough. Cover with a moist kitchen towel and let set for about 10-15 minutes.
Divide the dough into 2 equal portions.
To make carambolas roll the dough thin and then with a pizza cutter cut to make approx 2″ squares.
Pinch the opposite ends to together as shown in the above image.
Place on parchment paper and cover with a moist kitchen towel till all the dough is used.
To make kulkuls make small dough balls the size of a dime and roll on the back of the fork.
Continue the above step till all the dough is used.
Heat oil in a deep-frying pan and deep fry the shaped dough till golden brown.
Drain on paper towel. Let cool totally and then store in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks.
Enjoy for Christmas celebration’s or with a nice cup of hot tea or coffee.
Hi Nandini, Thank you for the “New England Maple Season” like! Looking forward to visiting some Maple Sugar Shacks in March. – Jackie
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You are so welcome Jackie. Have a wonderful trip 🙂
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Hi Nandini,
Thanks for the “Memorable Breakfast” like, much appreciated. That Boston trip with my Mom was quite special to my family.
Enjoy reading your recipes – so glad I signed on to follow!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Jackie
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Thank You so much Jackie. Wishing you too a very wonderful weekend.
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Thank you for following me and I love how creative you are and the wonderful posts. I’ll be back to read more of it!!
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Thank You Kally for your kind words 🙂
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Wow these look heavenly. I think I have found my next kitchen project.
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Thank You much and that is awesome to know. Will look forward to hearing back 🙂
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Everyone loved them at Christmas! I dusted some icing sugar on a batch too, to try that out, and they taste lovely this way too! thanks…:)
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Thank You so much Bridget for taking the time to write me a feedback. I am so happy to know your family enjoyed this recipe. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
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You are welcome, thanks again. Enjoy your Sunday too :).
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lovely sweets, looks just like Russian sweets, My grandmother was making them for me years ago
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Thank You Lara so much. It is so nice to know your GrandMa made something similar 🙂
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Hi Nandini, Appreciate the like on “When I Danced for My Dinner in Downtown Hartford”. Glad to welcome the New Year and sending best wishes to you for 2016! – Jackie
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You are so welcome Jackie and Thank you for your note. Also wishing you the Very Best New Years 2016.
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Nandini, wow these transported me back in time! Our Goan neighbor used to make these and that was several several moons ago when I was just a little kid! How wonderful to see these again. I so want to make these and bookmarking the recipe! I remember helping our neighbor with making these as she used to distribute her christmas sweets in the neighborhood and needed to make a ton of these! 🙂
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Thank You Indu. It make me happy to know that it bought back memories. It used to be the same when we were growing up as well. Tons of Christmas sweets all around.
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Looking forwards to trying these!
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Thank You so much 🙂
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Thank you Nandini for the “Christmas Brownies” like! – Jackie
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You are very welcome Jackie. Hope you had a lovely Christmas.
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Hi Nandini, Thank you for the “Dreaming of a White Christmas?” like! Hope you have a wonderful holiday. – Jackie
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Thank you Jackie wishing you too a wonderful holidays 🙂
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Any excuse to drink coffee is a welcome one. We’ll be tryting these for sure. Thanks for sharing. Your blog was a lovely find! – Jennifer
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Thank you for stopping by Jennifer and for your kind words 🙂
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Oh my! These look awesome!
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Thank You so much 🙂
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These look great – how sweet are they?
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Thank You Sarah so much. They are not overly sweet as it is just 6 tbsp of sugar for 3 cups of flour.
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Looks so delicious… 🙂
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Thank You Much 🙂
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Never heard about these before but they look absolutely delicious!
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Thank You so much 🙂
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Reblogged this on Kaza's creations and commented:
May have to have a go, these look delicious! 😋
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Thank You so much for the re-blog Kaza 🙂
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The sweets look delicious. The story was special – thanks for sharing.
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Thank You so much Darryl and for reading about my culture. Wishing you and your family Happy and Safe Holidays 🙂
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So unique, Nandini! Wonderful!
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Thank you so much Lana. That is very kind of you to say 🙂
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Ahh another Goan favorite Nandini. I remember all these sweets so fondly. I think Freda is also posting some of the Goan sweets. Alas, I can only look at both your posts and pretend :). The Christmas spirit now is not what I grew up with either. In Kenya, the main focus was on midnight mass, new dresses and shoes and making the Goan sweets and exchanging them with neighbors. I don’t believe we even thought of gifts – we just visited each other, there were parties, dances and the like. I miss those days! Too much emphasis these days is placed on consumerism, it’s sad really!
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Thank You so much Loretta. Freda got me motivated to make the fruit cake so I am going to give it a shot this year 🙂 The good old days. I miss Goa more during celebrations and the Dances. We used to be happy with just one gift that we found next day by our pillow side. My mom the secret Santa 🙂
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These look so delicious 🙂 🙂
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Sabitha, Thank You so much 🙂
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I like it! Looks delicious!)
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Thank You Catherine that is kind of you to say 🙂
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Reblogged this on wwwpalfitness.
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Thank You so much for the re-blog 🙂
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You’re welcome:)
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Oh, these look so good! I wonder, do they keep well or best hot from the fryer? -Kat
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Thank You Kat so much. They do keep well for a week or more. Just cool them completely and then store them in an air-tight container or even ziploc blags.
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These look so delicious, Nandini! 🙂
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Thank You Anna so much they are indeed 🙂
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Boy, do they look good. Good shots!
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Thank You Dan. Appreciate it much 🙂
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Really unique treats Nandini – no doubt you’ll have to make another batch before Xmas though (guessing they go quickly)?
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Yes Laura, I was out of it in 3 days. My kids thought they were like potato chips and loaded them in their snack bowls and finished them all 🙂
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Ha ha – I bet the kids can’t wait for the next batch!
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Yeah, my oldest has been asking me to make more. Wise me will wait till next week just before Christmas or I will be making more 🙂 Have a lovely weekend Laura
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Thanks Nandini – you too….
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Delightful treats! Nandini, do you know the origination of kulkuls, by any chance?
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Unfortunately no Freda. Let me ask my mom But guessing by the ingredient in the dough I think it must be a mix of Portuguese specially the shaping of Kulkuls which has a Italian origin and I think the coconut milk is a Goan spin.
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Thanks for the info Nandini! If you do get to know some more from your mom, would be really nice! Thanks a tonne 🙂
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These look delicious. Christmas is such a magical time, especially when you have children to share all your traditions with.
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Thank You so much. It is a special time indeed 🙂
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Great ideas for the grand kids.My wife makes almost the same sweets with walnut and almond.Have a joyous season of holidays.
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Oh wow! I am sure the grand kids must have a lot of fun and memories making them. Jalal wishing you and your family too a Very Joyous Season.
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Thank you dear friend.
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They sound good and look great!
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Thank You so much Jackie 🙂
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Looking good! I bet these are delicious!
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Thank You Cynthia so much. They really are 🙂
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Hey Nandini!
I have got a question, Are KULKULS AND CARAMBOLAS one and the same? I am a bit CONFUSED. Please explain? THANK YOU for sharing this PHENOMENAL recipe with Us. It really takes Me/Us back in time. Me MUM,GRAN & SISTERS, used to prepare CARAMBOLAS & NEUROES a week before christmas. I VIVIDLY remember My late Gran would do the deep frying. I recall, She used to make a cross of the dough, And the first thing She deep fried was the CROSS. Followed by the CARAMBOLAS and the NEUROES. And mind You all these were deep fried in special utensils,which normally lived in the LOFT. They only saw the light of day, once a year at (CHRISTMAS). My brother and I were helpers, running around the house trying to be USEFUL. And I remember Me mum distributing the finished products to the neighbours (Hindus & catholics). And the catholic neighbours did LIKEWISE. I was not a very big fan of neuroes. That left a lot of neuroes for My brother, He loves neuroes to bits. My spouse makes carambolas and neuroes here in the U.K. I have been told that people in Goa these days buy christmas sweets( ready made) from shops. I think that takes half the spirit out of Christmas. Perhaps it is lack of time and maybe a lack of man power that drives Them to the shops. I feel ECSTATIC about Our Goan traditions and the years that have slipped by. I am REMINISCING about the GOOD TIMES in Goa. AND FINALLY,NANDINI THANKS FOR MAKING US FEEL NOSTALGIC WITH YOUR MAGIC.
BON APPETIT!
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND
With My every blessing
Stan the Man
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Thank You so much Mr Stan. I forgot to mention about the cross. Thank You for reminding me I did make one and we fried it last since I make it with the leftover bits. I will edit my post. Thanks to you 🙂 Carambolas and kulkuls are not the same they are called based on the shapes. Kulkuls are made on the back of the fork and carambolas are shaped like shells. I think more mom’s are working mom’s now then compared to years ago in Goa and so people are buying them ready made as time is a challenge. Wishing You and Mrs Stan a lovely weekend 🙂
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Hi Nandini!
Thanks for educating Me about the difference between KULKULS & CARAMBOLAS. Much appreciated,
Farewell
Stan
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Nandini, these look so lovely and different 🙂 . I probably would have to make a double batch though as they would not last long in my house 🙂
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Thank You Lynne so much. You are so right they just disappear while you are still frying the rest. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
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Hmmm! I would love to maintain these with children. I will pass the recipe to Gloria as she works in a school.
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Thank You Harry. Will look forward to hearing Gloria’s feedback 🙂
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Nandini you have brought back a sweet childhood memory when my nanny Flora made these cuties for me! It’s time I made them myself. Thanks so much and wish you Happy Holidays. Love Khush 🙂
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Thank You so much Khush. I am so happy to hear that. Memories are the most precious gifts. I will look forward to hearing from you when you make them. Happy Holidays and a lovely weekend 🙂
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My God 😍😍😍
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Thanks 🙂
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Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
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Thank You so much 🙂
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Thank you, and wishing you a wonderfully joyous Holiday Season
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Wishing you too a Very Joyous Holiday Season 🙂
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Happy Holidays.
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Just as well these computers aren’t equipped with “Smell O’Vision” because the photo’s alone have caused enough drooling you could call me Homer…..!
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Lol!! I sure will take it as a complement 🙂 Thank You!
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Absolutely do!
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I wish I could make some of these for my kids….
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They are very easy to make just a little time consuming. I am sure your kids will enjoy it since they are sweet and crunchy 🙂
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Hey 🙂 lovely… I made these too last week.. Turned out great! Do check mine http://myculinarysaga.com/2015/12/01/kulkuls/ ! Have missed your comment there 😘
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I just checked it out. Sorry to have missed them since last week was Thanksgiving I took a chill-pill with blogging. Guess great minds think alike 🙂
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No prob dear 🙂 hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving too! And I agree for sure 🙂 great minds 😘😘
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They look so yummm! Just like their names! :)))
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Thank You so much 🙂
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Making family recipes for the Holidays is a lovely and time honored tradition that just makes the Holidays… a Holiday.
I think I would love these sweet treats. I hope they serve something special this Holiday at my favorite Indian Restaurant. I was just thinking about going there tomorrow for lunch since we haven’t been in several weeks, and I’m craving the warm, savory, spicy dishes since it’s been cold, grey, and rainy here. I always finish my meal with the coconut rice pudding with a dollop of chutney at the bottom of the bowl, and two fried cottage cheese balls in sweet syrup. Psst! I never, evah, would have thought cottage cheese could be so, very deliciously sweet and for dessert!! 🙂
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It sure is so special. My sons enjoyed helping that they want me to make more 🙂 I hope that you will find some special dessert at the restaurant Deborah. You have a lovely weekend 🙂
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I love these!!! We make them too for every Christmas!! LOvely recipe:)
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That is so awesome Lina. Thank You so much 🙂
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These look delicious. I would definitely eat too many.
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Thank You so much George. That is exactly what we did and finished it in 2 days 🙂
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Wow very special yumm
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Thank You so much Lynn. It sure was, we got done with it in 3 days 🙂
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Really lovely recipe!
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Thank You 🙂
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🙂
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These look so crispy and tasty! 🙂
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Thank You Ronit. That is very sweet of you to say. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
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Oh my Nandini I believe I would love these treats! Happy and Safe Holidays! Cheryl
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Thank You Cheryl so much. Wishing you too a very safe and Happy Holidays my Dear Friend. The last shooting that happened was very close to home about 30 miles. It’s very sad and a bit nerve wrecking to go out and about.
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I am so besides myself over that terrible incident Nandini, my heart just aches for these innocent lives! I am so glad you are safe and the family too! We never know do we? My dear friend, be well Hugs to you! Cheryl
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Thank You Cheryl. Only solution is to pray for God’s protection every time we step out of our homes for ourselves and all those around us. I have been teaching my kids to pray now a days every time we step out. Hugs to you too!
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We should not be afraid in America but are we? We must be strong and go forward in our daily lives, be vigilant and protective of our loved ones. I feel as you clear across our Coasts! xo Cheryl
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Yes we have to go on with our daily life’s and show our resilience.
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Know that Florida residents are as upset as those right there in California! This time of year we all want peace, love and goodwill! Try to have a good weekend. Cheryl xo
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Ohh these look delicious!! 🙂
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Thank you so much 🙂
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You are welcome!
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yum!!!
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Thank You Jim. Hope you have a lovely weekend 🙂
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