Category: HOLIDAYS

This is one of those categories that should be easy, but it’s a bit complicated for us. We always had a REAL tree. Until we didn’t.

In 2003 hubby’s National Guard unit was put on alert in September and by Thanksgiving they were shipping out to IRAQ. They left sunny southern California and headed to Washington to be integrated into the Army, which for hubby was easy because he had already served in the Army and then joined the National Guard so it was like going home for him. I was lucky because in the end he was named the Rear Detachment Commander and sent home to man the Armory and remaining guys.

But, I digress. While he was gone I needed to put up the tree and just couldn’t talk myself into doing a real tree by myself so I purchased a really nice artificial one. I put it up and decorated it that year and the next while he was still deployed. The following year we went back to a real tree. The year after that we moved to the north woods and REALLY enjoyed live trees again for a couple years.

During that time the artificial tree stayed boxed up. When we were in Texas live trees were exorbitantly priced so we used the artificial tree again for several years. When we came back to Oregon we went back to live trees until last year – the year of the COVID pandemic and the local tree farm closed early leaving us live treeLESS so we pulled out the artificial tree again.

LOL this is my long winded way of asking you if you can tell the difference between the trees below?  😀 Live or artificial doesn’t matter to us – being decorated with all the sentimental ornaments is what makes either tree special.

A LIVE tree smells good, but honestly a nice artificial tree is easier and a whole lot less mess. We did buy a LIVE spray for inside and a couple wreaths for outside!

Remembering back to being a kid always seems the same to me.  Dad would buy all sorts of nuts by the pound during the holidays and of course bring out the nutcrackers. There was always a box (or 2 OR 3) of See’s candies (I just loved the milk chocolate Bordeauxs and since there were only 1 or 2 to the box I always tried to be the first to find them) and there would be tins and tins of butter cookies, snickerdoodles, peanut butter fudge, chocolate fudge as well as the sugar cookies that us kids iced and decorated.

Here are a couple links to some favorites and a few recipes for even more favorites!

• BUTTERFINGERS
• SIMPLE LEBKUCHEN
  
• BOURBON EGGNOG COOKIES

One of our new favorites though for Christmas are GOOEY CARAMEL TOPPED GINGERSNAPS.

Whether you use homemade or store bought these cookies turn out swoon worthy of ANY holiday goodie platter. They are sooooo simple, but look and taste sooooo decadent.

GOOEY CARAMEL TOPPED GINGERSNAPS
42 gingersnap cookies, (homemade or store bought)
14 ounces KRAFT caramels
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup + 1/4 cup finely chopped honey roasted peanuts
12 ounces combination of white and dark chocolate
Sprinkles of choice (I like chocolate for the holidays)

• Arrange cookies on cooling rack line baking sheet.**
• In a microwave melt the caramels with the heavy cream, stirring until smooth.
• Stir in peanuts.
• Spoon about a teaspoon over each cookie.
• Refrigerate until set.
• Alternately melt white and dark chocolates.
• Coat each cookie halfway with one of the chocolates, return to the rack allowing the excess to drip off.
• Sprinkle with sprinkles and/or crushed peanuts.
• Refrigerate until set.

NOTE** Wax paper or parchment paper works well also.

GINGERSNAPS
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup CRISCO
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup molasses
4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ginger
1 teaspoons ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
sugar for rolling

• Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, ginger, nutmeg and ground cloves. Set aside.
• Cream butter and crisco together until smooth.
• Add sugar and molasses, blending until smooth.
• Add flour mixture gradually until well blended.
• Chill dough for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375°.
• Roll dough into small balls
• Roll balls in sugar and place on cookie sheet.
• Bake 8 minutes for soft chewy cookies and 12 minutes for crisp cookies.

Then there are the tried and true favorites of the past!

PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE DROPS
2/3 cup HOT water
10 ounces Land of Lakes cocoa mix
2 cups JIF creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup light corn syrup
3 cups C&H powdered sugar, divided 2cups + 1 cup
2 cups crushed vanilla wafers
2 cups crushed ginger snaps
72 Hershey Kisses (I like the cherry cordials)

• Whisk together the hot water and cocoa mix until smooth.
• Add peanut butter and corn syrup. Blend until smooth.
• Add 2 cups powdered sugar and stir until well blended.
• Stir in cookie crumbs until well blended.
• Spray wax paper with PURE (these will be sticky so don’t forget this step).
• Drop heaping teaspoonfuls of dough onto the wax paper.
• Place the remaining 1 cup of powdered sugar in a shallow bowl.
• Roll each piece of dough into a ball and dredge in powdered sugar.
• Press your thumb into the center and fill with a Hershey’s kiss.

The category is cookies, but cookies come in many forms as far as I’m concerned 😀 These are some of my favorite Christmas “non-cookie” recipes.

My great aunt’s corn flake wreaths are not technically cookies, but they are a treat that I try to make at Christmas time. My great aunt who I only got to see a couple times a year used to make these every year, special just for me.  My cousins and I would wait out on the front steps for her arrive just to see them, the wreaths that is. She always made them soooooooooo pretty and perfect!  Aunt Louise was just plain crazy it seemed to me.  I can’t pinpoint any one thing that made me think that, but as the years wore she continually proved it.  Let’s just say if the made a movie of her life, Shirley MacLaine would play her part.  Aunt Louise reminds me of Shirley’s character Ouiser Boudreaux in Steel Magnolias.

CRAZY AUNT LOUISE’S HOLIDAY WREATHS  (these are better when they are made a few days ahead)
30 LARGE marshmallows (or 1 jar marshmallow cream)
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoon green food color
3 1/2 cups cornflakes
Red Hots

• Combine marshmallows, butter, vanilla and food color in top of double boiler. Heat and stir frequently until well blended.
• Gradually stir in cornflakes until well blended.
• Drop onto wax paper and arrange into wreath shapes. I plop them onto the wax paper and then push out from the center to form the wreaths.
• Decorate with red hots.
• Let cool.
• If your house is warm – chill in refrigerator until set.

Another fun recipe that can be dressed up with colored sanding sugar are SEA SALT & CARAMEL RICE KRISPY TREATS.

SEA SALT & CARAMEL RICE KRISPY TREATS
8 cups Rice Krispies
50 Kraft caramels
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup + 1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 bag mini marshmallows
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 teaspoons sea salt flakes

• In a medium sauce pan over  a low-medium heat stir together the sweetened condensed milk, the caramels and 1/4 cup unsalted butter until smooth.
• Remove from heat.
• Line a 9×13 baking dish with foil, extending over the edge.
• Spray with non-stick PURE or PAM.
• Melt butter in large sauce pan.
• Add marshmallows and stir  until just melted.
• Add vanilla, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 cup of caramel sauce and stir until smooth.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in rice krispies until evenly coated.
• Press into pan**.
• Cool completely.
• Pour remaining caramel over rice kripy treats and spread even with a spatula.
• Sprinkle remaining sea salt over top.
• Enjoy!
• Store in an airtight container.

NOTES:  **I use a stainless steel spatula that has been sprayed with PURE to keep it from sticking.  It helps to press down firmly to get an even level.

CINNAMON BUN CUPCAKES
CUPCAKES
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 LARGE eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons PURE vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream

• Pre-heat oven to 350°.
• Line cupcake tins with papers.
• Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together. Set aside.
• Whisk eggs for about 1 minute. They will become frothy and lightened in color.
• Add oil and whisk again until combined.
• Add sugar and whisk for about 1 minute.
• Add vanilla extract.
• Add sour cream to the batter, whisking until combined
• Now add the sifted dry ingredients to the bowl and whisk gently. Whisk batter until JUST until combined. DO NOT OVERMIX!

CINNAMON SWIRL
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons white sugar

• Make the Cinnamon Swirl: mix 1 1/2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of white sugar. Set aside.

ASSEMBLY

• Now start by pouring about 1 heaping tablespoon of the batter on the bottom of each cupcake tin.
• Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of the Cinnamon Swirl mixture.
• Top with another heaping tablespoon of batter.
• Now, sprinkle another 1/2 teaspoon of Cinnamon Swirl mixture over batter.
• Top with another heaping tablespoon of batter.
• Using a toothpick, swirl the batter a few times to create a swirl effect.
• Top already swirled cupcakes with one final 1/2 teaspoon of the Cinnamon Swirl mixture.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, checking halfway to rotate pans.
• Remove from the oven once cupcakes are lightly golden brown and puffed.
• Cool 10 minutes.

GLAZE
+/- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
+/- 2 tablespoons milk

• Mix powdered sugar and milk together.

NOTES:  There are many factors that will affect your glaze consistency.  The brand of sugar you use, whether you use a scale or a measuring cup…  If your glaze is too thin and runny, add more sifted powdered sugar and test for consistency again.  If the glaze is too thick and not spreading, add a very, very small amount (1 teaspoon) of milk at a time, until you achieve your desired consistency.

GRASSHOPPER BROWNIES
11 ounce package dark chocolate pieces
1/2 cup butter
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
Creme-de-Menthe Filling (BELOW)
Dark Chocolate Ganache (BELOW)

• In a medium saucepan, melt and stir 4 ounces (3/4 cup) of the dark chocolate pieces, butter, and the unsweetened chocolate over low heat.
• Remove from heat; cool.
• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with foil, extending the foil over the edges of the pan. Grease foil; set aside.
• Stir sugar into the cooled chocolate mixture in saucepan.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating with a wooden spoon JUST until combined.
• Stir in vanilla.
• In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
• Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture, stirring just until combined.
• Stir in the remaining 7 ounces (1-1/2 cups) dark chocolate pieces. Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
• Spread Creme-de-Menthe Filling over cooled brownies.
• Place uncut brownies in the refrigerator while preparing the Dark Chocolate Ganache.
• Spread slightly cooled Dark Chocolate Ganache over Creme de Menthe Filling, spreading to the edges with a spatula.
• Cover and chill about 1 hour or until set. Using the edges of the foil, lift the uncut brownies out of the pan. Cut into bars.
• Place brownies in a single layer in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

CREME-DE-MENTHE FILLING
3 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons GREEN creme de menthe
Milk (optional)

• In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and butter.
• Beat on medium speed with an electric mixer for 30 seconds.
• Gradually beat in 1 cup of the powdered sugar.
• Beat in creme-de-menthe.
• Gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar. If necessary beat in 1 tablespoon of additional milk to make the filling slightly thicker than a frosting

CHOCOLATE GANACHE
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 11 ounce package dark chocolate pieces

• In a medium saucepan, bring whipping cream JUST to boiling over medium-high heat.
• Remove from heat.
• Add dark chocolate pieces (do not stir).
• Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth.
• Cool for 15 minutes.
• Pour over brownies and QUICKLY spread evenly.

NOTE: You can substitute 2 tablespoons milk, 1/2 teaspoon mint extract, and several drops of green food coloring for the GREEN Creme-de-menthe.

BIG CHRISTMAS? QUIET CHRISTMAS? TRAVEL PLANS? Which of these applies to you this year? Is it the same most years? Has the pandemic altered your plans at all?

We’ve always been pretty much homebodies during the holidays. Then again we always lived fairly close to family so traveling was only short distances.

Personally I cannot fathom traveling through a airport or train station with BIG crowds even before the pandemic. The one time we did travel over the holidays, we made a trip out of it leaving well before the holiday and going home long after it.

When I was a kid one of my favorite traditions was that we did a BIG family get together with a buffet of food and opening our family presents on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, after my dad passed, this tradition fell by the wayside.

This year again we will be having a quiet Christmas with just the two of us. There are several Christmas events leading up to Christmas we will be participating in with friends though.  We are also hoping some friends will be able to join us for New Years, but there are no plans set in stone yet.

So what are your plans?

What are your favorite Christmas songs? Do you have a regular playlist?

I’m all over the place with Christmas music – it really depends on the day, the occasion, my mood, what food we’re eating – there are just sooooooooo many factors!

BUT, I do like to wait until at least the day after Thanksgiving!

I LOVE so many of the old standards, but I also love country Christmas and Mannheim Steamroller. I LOVE Christmas carolers, not that you see many these days. I was even part of the hand bell choir at church for Christmas programs many years ago.

As for some of MY favorite songs I have a few that top the list:

• It’s Beginning to Look A Lot like Christmas
• Silent Night
• White Christmas
• Jingle Bell Rock
• Last Christmas 
• Born on Christmas Day
• Winter Wonderland
• Frosty the Snowman
• Little Drummer Boy the version with Bing Crosby and David Bowie
  
• The Twelve Days of Christmas
• Deck the Halls
• Baby It’s Cold Outside
• Hard Candy Christmas
• Come All Ye Faithful
• It Came upon a Midnight Clear
• We three Kings of Orient
• Joy to the World
• Rudolph the Reindeer
• Do You Hear What I Hear
• The Most Wonderful Time of Year
• It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas
• Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

Today’s category has ALWAYS been an easy one for me. It’s also one that really doesn’t change much from year to year either. I start taping Christmas movies on Lifetime, Hallmark and INSP as soon as they air so I can watch them ALL year long. I’m a sucker for a happy ending and let’s face it, Christmas movies ALWAYS have happy endings.

So this list could be reallllllllllly long, but I will just keep it to the top 10 (used to be 5) MUST watch each and every year movies.

Now Home Alone is just silly, as is Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase but, they never fail to make me laugh! A new favorite is the Christmas Chronicles with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn.

Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby, Marjorie Reynolds and Fred Astaire and is also a wonderful nostalgic oldie.

Little Women (whether you watch the 1933 with Katharine Hepburn, the 1949 with June Allyson and Peter Lawford, the 1994 with Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder and Kirsten Dunst or the 2019 version with Emma Watson) is also a fun movie for Christmas as is A Christmas Story.

And for my “11th” choice DIE HARD with Bruce Willis and Bonnie Bedelia is always good. I know there is A LOT of controversy as to whether it is a Christmas movie or not, but I like it – I’m diverse like that 😀

This is day 1 of BLOGMAS 2021. We’ve all had ANOTHER stressful year and need some fun. I want this year especially to be relaxing and stress free. I’m STILL not going to do a linky. Just comment on my post and let me know you’re playing along and I’ll be sure to visit and comment on your post. Here is a list of the prompts.
I didn’t forget LOL 😀 But, I did get caught up in today’s topic so I’m running a bit late! So the question is when do you start decorating for Christmas?

I’m always raring to go before Thanksgiving, but restrain myself to wait until after dinner is at least cleaned up!

Our local (mom and pop – family run) Christmas tree farm opened today and we were there when they opened. Last year they sold out in 3 weeks flat and we missed out on a live tree, though we did get our traditional wreath. We used our tried and trued artificial tree and despite being there when they opened this morning decided on the artificial tree again this year because of the newly cleaned carpets and only went with wreaths and a spray for indoors for the tree scent.

This is my favorite wreath for today. I just love the buffalo plaid and little ice skates. Wreaths symbolize that loves comes full circle – especially at this time of year.

We had a few errands to run after the tree farm and then had lunch at a favorite haunt that was actually FULL of people who had just come from the tree farm. It was fun to see all the cars and trucks with their trees in the beds or tied to the top. 😀

I topped the day off with my appointment for the Family and Friends holiday open house. It’s a small boutique store so they are still doing the open house by appointment to meet the COVID requirements. I arrived a few minutes early for my appointment time and was rewarded with having the store to myself! 😀

Obviously I start as soon as I can to decorate, but it takes a few days and I take the time to enjoy it instead of turning it into a chore. We did get the tree up today, but will wait until tomorrow afternoon to do the lights and garland as well as maybe the ornaments depending on time. I’m starting tomorrow off with the REDISCOVER DOWNTOWN SHOP SMALL event and hopefully will finish off my Christmas shopping. But, if I don’t I will also be going to the annual Christmas Fair at the fairgrounds on Friday. I believe I have done my part for shop local with mom and pops.

So, when do you decorate?