December 23, 2011

• Christmas Baking

  I am actually not really in the mood to do this post (not sure why), but if I don’t do it now, it will be totally out of season by the time I post it.

  Not that there is anything wrong with that!

  But…one of the things I have been thinking about that  I really want to get across to our children at Christmas time (and throughout the year, really) is the spirit of giving.  I want to teach them the concept that it is better to give than to receive.  I don’t want them just thinking of Christmas as “What can I get?” and being all greedy about it.

  I had a couple of ideas of things to do this year to intentionally help that process along, and one of them was to make cookie/candy plates for our neighbors and have the whole family go and deliver them.

  I did the baking last weekend (Friday and Saturday). It took me a long time.  I got tired of it. I don’t know if I will do it again, but maybe it is kind of like childbirth.  You forgot the details after some time rolls around and then you’re ready to do it again!

  We delivered the plates on Sunday afternoon and it was really fun.  We got to meet all of our neighbors (we gave plates to everyone who lives on our dirt road — about 12 households) and to see their smiles when they received the cookies and treats. It was a really good feeling. And, I have to say, first time I have ever done this. I should probably be ashamed to admit that!

  Anyway, here are some pictures I snapped. This way, too, I will have record for next year of what I made this year.

  

  These I had seen on Pinterest.  They were pretty complicated and involved a multi-step process, but I thought they turned out really cute and added some much needed color to the plate.  But…the taste? I would only give them about a 3.5 on the 1 to 10 scale.

  

  Just boughten sugar cookie dough with Christmas tree shaped mini M & M’s.

  

  Reese’s blossoms or whatever you call them.

  

  Oreo stuffed chocolate chip cookies. Yeah! You heard right!! They are super yummy!  And the cookies turn out to be HUGE!

  

  I posted these on Facebook once before. This time I did part of them with peppermint kisses. I would say we all probably still prefered the good old chocolate kisses.

  

  Buckeyes. Jeremy’s Mom always makes these, but I think this was the first time I tried. They certainly weren’t perfect, but they tasted great!

  

  Fudge. Some with walnuts and some without.

  

  One of the plates.

  

  Assembling plates.

  

  The finished product.

  Like I said…Fun, but a lot of work.  The good news…we got to keep the leftovers!

   

  And…in other Christmas related news, last Friday night we drove up to Duluth and went to Bentleyville. It is this huge village of Christmas lights.  Very cool!  They have a place to roast marshmellows, they give out free cookies and hot chocolate, you can visit Santa, they have over 3 million lights, and we really enjoyed it.

  Its kind of magical.  And…admission is free. Can you believe that?

  

  The entrance.

  

  OK. This is Derrick roasting marshmellows. I guess it got just a “tad” blurry!

  

  The whole family…bundled up!  Our eyes look crazy, don’t they?  PS – Under my normal looking clothing is my “bunny suit.”  And no, you will never see a picture of me in it, so quit asking. But it did keep me pretty toasty!

  Merry Christmas to all!  Excitement is running high around here. Presents are to be opened tomorrow evening!

  • 4:31 pm
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