Holiday Baking: an update

We survived!  And I even got a few pictures.  Here are some gingersnaps getting ready to go into the oven:

Here are some of those cute little pretzel treats, ready to go into the oven.  Things did turn out, I promise.  I just forgot to take after pictures.  I only have befores:

And last, but not least, here's a little one all tuckered out from the baking.  The older kids helped my husband hand out treats at work while I waited with the younger ones.

Holiday Baking

Tomorrow I'm planning on doing some baking for my husband to take to his office.  I thought I'd share what I'm planning.  These are simple, no-fuss recipes.  Easy peasy.


So, in case you're wondering - because I know y'all are - is she going to do all this holiday baking with five children under 6 years old?  Or maybe you weren't wondering.  Maybe you do it all the time and it's just me who gets in a tizzy about these things.  Kudos to you.  Tell me how you do it.  But I was sitting here thinking about my plan for tomorrow and I had a brief thought of . . . "Really?  Is this possible?"  


So I'm saying now what I have to say to prepare myself before I do any sort of cooking/baking with the children.  It won't be picture perfect.  And it won't go as planned.  I'm always lowering my expectations around here.  Because baking with children can be enjoyable and fun for everyone (you too!) if your expectations are lowered a bit.  Oh, and I don't know about your kids, but my kids are really only helping so that they can have tastes of everything.  So if you want to stay sane, hand out tastes (and liberally).  


Don't expect pictures.  Or maybe I'll surprise myself and get some good ones.  


Okay, here's what I'm planning . . . Don't look, Danneca.  Nothing is healthy about any of these.  :-) 


Peanut-Butter Kisses.  Everyone calls them something different.  Here's a recipe. 


Gingersnaps.  I use a recipe that makes soft gingersnaps, which I guess wouldn't make them "snaps" but I'm not changing the name.  


Oatmeal Scotchies.  I found it on the back of the butterscotch chips bag.  I might put chocolate chips in them too.  


These.  Aren't they cute?  This will be the kids' favorite thing to make and I'm mostly making this for them.  


Later this week I'm making my Grandma's Candy for a party.  I will post the recipe to this because it is divine and so easy to make. 

Delicious Christmas Beverages

I simply love to make special drinks during the Christmas Season.  It's no-mess, pretty quick, yet still delicious, nutritious and heart-warming.  Here are some of my favorites:

Hot Apple Cider

1 part unsweetened cranberry juice to 2 parts apple juice; add a cinnamon stick, an orange, whole cloves or allspice, simmer an hour or so on med-low, strain, add honey to taste and keep warm.  OR, buy spiced cider packets (unsweetened) and add to the juices.  OR, buy Knudsen's Spiced cider and mix w/ cranberry juice. 

Hot Cocoa

Follow the directions on the cocoa container, using non-homogenized milk and substituting the sugar with honey, agave nectar or maple syrup.  Top with whipped cream, lightly sweetened with one of the above sweeteners.

Egg Nog

Folllow your favorite egg nog recipe, substituting the sugar with honey, agave nectar or maple syrup.  You won't notice a difference!  It's so yummy!  Love it with rum too, of course.

Candy Cane Green/Black Tea

Use bulk herbs for this.  As you know, we love the herbs from these folks: bulkherbstore.com.  Pour 1c. boiling water over 1tsp. peppermint leaves and 1tsp. green or black tea.  Steep for 3 min.  Less if you don't like it fairly strong.  Sweeten with honey to taste.  Also a great gift for your tea-drinking friends - give them the bulk herbs already mixed, with directions for brewing. 

This is one way to bless my family without too much hassle and guilt.  Enjoy!


posted by Danneca

a picture of the advent calendar

Here's a quick picture of the advent calendar I made after seeing it in a catalog.  I'm very happy with the way it turned out.  I couldn't get a nice looking picture, so sorry about that.  And I took it on the side where you can't really see the numbers, but they're there, on the other side.  See that first one on the far left, all askew?  That's after I got it all made and pretty looking and a certain child clipped the ribbon really really short.  Lovely.  So I had to make do.