Handmade Christmas: Day 6

I love yarning (knitting or crocheting) around Christmas... snuggling up on the couch with my yarn and two needles (or one hook) is just wonderful! It keeps me warm, it can travel with me, and it grows from just a few tiny stitches to a big blob.... this a going to be a French Market Bag for my beautiful friend Jennifer. It just needs to be felted and then it will look better!

Handmade Christmas: Day 5

Cut Out Sugar Cookies are a must around here every December!

My parents came out to watch the kids and they cut out the cookies together.

I frosted them with the kids 3 days later.

They still taste great!

Don't forget to wash your hands!

Here is our action plan:
1) I pipe out thick butter cream frosting to outline the cookies. Let is harden at least 4hours.

2) We mix a little confectioners sugar with a tiny bit of milk. Add desired food coloring.

3) Each kid chooses what they want to decorate... all the bells, trees, snowmen etc.

4) They fill it in with a spoon and spread with the backside of the spoon. It is like painting or coloring for them and they love it! Even Cora can help!

5) Last but not least..... lick the frosting bowls!

Handmade Christmas: Day 4

Hurry! You still have time to make this one for

the post-man (or post-woman in our case)

Peppermint Bark-

1 bag of dark chocolate/ bittersweet chips
1 bag of white chocolate chips
peppermint extract
4 candy canes

Melt dark chocolate chips over double boiler (don't burn your hands when lifting up the bowl like I always do). Pour chocolate onto cookie sheet (not too big, mine was too big) and place in the fridge. Wash bowl (or use you dishwasher/ hubby like me!). Melt the white chocolate in the same fashion. Crush candy cane while melting white chocolate in zip lock bag with a rolling pin. Add peppermint extract to your liking (I used an estimated 1tsp). Make sure you start off with a little and add to taste! Pour white chocolate over dark chocolate on baking sheet... use an off-set spatula to smooth the best you can. Add the crushed candy cane to the top. press into chocolate the best you can. Refrigerate for 1 hour and break up. You can package in a cellophane bag with a bow or if you are lucky like me and score these vintage mason jars just throw them in there! Add a label and send off to your neighbor, friends, or post-woman!

P.S. The extra little bites are perfect for adding to a Christmas flavored coffee, whip cream on hot chocolate, or on ice cream. Have I mentioned my Christmas Spirit is "Eating really good stuff!" (per Carter)

Handmade Christmas Day 3

Trim Your Tree!

As newly weds(2002-2005) we used to have an all blue, silver and white tree but things have changed..........

I have loosened up!

We have had three kids... moved to new homes.

In our condo when Daisy was starting to stand we only had our little tree on a table (2007)...

When we moved here(2008) to our old farmhouse that we love I wanted to add a little red to our tree. Cranberry garland and a few red ornaments we placed in front to kinda match the style of our home!

Last year (2009) we added birds thanks to Carter's love of watching the birds in our yard... we also started the hand made kid ornaments.... Kevin and I also broke the star that had been on top of our tree for 6 years in a row....

This year we have turned to a little more of an organic feel with a turkey feather and dried hydrangeas that I used in a fall arrangement and din't want to throw out! I also found some vintage bulbs at the Holden recycle center for free (YES FOR FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! more about this tomorrow!)... We also bought our tree at a local church where the proceeds go to fight hunger locally! One place they give to is a soup kitchen I worked at with my youth group when I was middle school age (love it when life comes full circle!). This was a better solution than cutting one down in a field and paying a ton of money for it! I also have a certain elf that LOVES to "keep" the tree! He loves to turn it on in the morning, fix and ornaments that move, and remind us to water it! He really is so helpful to have around... glad I can enjoy this time of year with him!

What is your tree like and how has it changed?

Handmade Christmas Day 2

It is this time of year that we chose to make homemade treats! Here is why I chose to do this:

1) They taste so much better than store bought treats! I think it is b/c they are fresher and not wrapped in plastic for months!
2) I can employ those in my family that love these treats to help me (like Kevin making hummus for my annual cookie party! Look at this huge clove of garlic.... yum-o!)
3) It helps me portion control when I know how much butter, eggs, cream, sugar, etc. go into every dish!

Here are a couple things we love making:
Artichoke Dip
Hummus
"Life of the Party" Cereal mix (a secret recipe I just got from a friend)
Curried Chutney Dip
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Peanut Butter Balls
Rum Balls
Candy Cane Cookies
Sour Cream Twist
Christmas Tree Press Cookies
Pecan Praline Bars
Christmas Tree Bread
Christmas Stollen
Butternut Lasagne
Homemade Canneloni


That is just the start of the list! There are more things but I'll spare you the stress of them all!
Here is that secret recipe:

Life of the Party Cereal Mix
This appeared on the box of Life cereal when my friend at work was in high school (the 70s). It is sort of a lost recipe because you definitely canon find it on-line! I looked for over and hour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10 oz Life Cereal
3 1/2 oz French onions
3 oz Chinese Noodles
7 oz peanuts
7 1/2 oz stick pretzels
3/4 cup of butter
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp Tabasco Sauce

Mix snack and cereal ingredients in a large bowl. Combine sauce ingredients and pour over cereal. Put in large roasting pan and heat in 250 degree oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15min. Enjoy!

Handmade Christmas Day 1

I thought I would help celebrate this Christmas season by posting 12 Days of a handmade Christmas.

Day 1:

Shutter Display

I saw this approximately 8 years age (I remember it from our early years of marriage) and have been wanting to find and old shutter so I could put it into action! After bartering at Brimfield Antique market multiple times and no luck I kinda gave up till I told my Aunt about it this October... she then introduced me to a pile of shutters that were old and crusty and had no home! After testing if for lead paint and cleaning it up I put hooks on the back of it and anchored it to the wall! It was perfect timing to display our Christmas card and mementos. I plan to leave it all year long so we can enjoy all those bulky things that fall off my fridge all the time! Thanks Aunt Barb for making this tiny 8 year long dream a reality!