Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Wishing you and yours all the best during the holiday season!
Thank you as always for reading and for all your continued support. Posting will be a bit slower over the next few days as I take time to enjoy the holidays & the last few days of 2012. I hope that you will be doing the same!
Baking Christmas cookies has to be one of my favorite holiday traditions. It always brings back wonderful memories while simultaneously creating amazing new ones. Below are some of my favorite treats (not pictured- Vienna Bars & Candy Cane Cookies), most of which are family recipes. What are your favorite holiday cookies and traditions?
{Toffee}
{Thin Mint Squares}
{Spiced Nuts}
{Rum Balls}
{Pizzelles}
{Angel Wings}
I’m always a big advocate for helping those in need and have been for almost as long as I can remember. The holidays, especially, are a time to remember those less fortunate, not only by volunteering, but also through what we give. The below sites I have found not only have incredible and well-made products, but each does their part in giving back in a big way. I myself bought a few presents through some of the sites (though I can’t say what as they are for people who will read this) and I hope that you will too.
True story- every good party is only made better with a great beverage (aka alcohol). Although really, alcoholic beverages can make about any situation better…not that I would know anything about that or anything…..Anyways, getting back to the story….
One of my favorite beverages for the holidays (with or without alcohol) is Egg-Nog. While it is far from healthy (like everything else at this time of year), it is worth every bit of the indulgence (also like everything else at this time of year). While making your own requires a small dairy farm, it is very easy to do (find my recipe here). Regardless if you make your own or buy it, these are some ways to make it extra special for the holidays-
*Add some a lot of dark rum, bourbon or even a splash of Cointreau.
*Add a dollop of flavored cream (like maple or orange) on top (because obviously there wasn’t already enough cream in the drink).
*Rim the glasses with a dip in cream then cinnamon.
*Use a cinnamon stick as a finishing touch.
Another great option, is a hot chocolate bar (this is perfect for a party with both kids and adults).
Hot chocolate options to serve are limitless, however I would start with a basic hot chocolate (try this recipe)and a white hot chocolate (I like this recipe). To save you from lots of stirring (unless you’re trying to spend your party getting an arm workout) and to keep things evenly heated, have the beverages in crock-pots. Instead of serving in mugs, get a variety of vintage teacups. For stirring use vintage teaspoons, chocolate coated spoons, candy canes, cinnamon sticks, or cookie sticks.
Have a selection of add-ins in little bowls and trays. Good options are-nutella, coconut oil, caramel sauce, mint leaves, mint extract, orange flavoring, toffee syrup and hazelnut syrup (and for the adults-peppermint schnapps, Baileys, Cointreau, creme de mint, creme de cocoa, Goldschlager, whipped Vodka or marshmallow vodka). To top off make sure to have lots of whipped cream and marshmallows, as well as chopped nuts, toffee pieces, coconut flakes, cocoa powder and broken up candy canes.
Other fun and simple ways to make your holiday drinks more festive-
* Serve drinks on old silver trays.
*Instead of ice-cubes, use frozen cranberries. (Adding them to pink sparkling wine makes for a super easy yet very pretty cocktail).
*Switch up the serving glasses (i.e. use mason jars, wine glasses or, like I used for the eggnog, margarita glasses)
*Add a mini wreath of greens around the base of wine glasses.
*Add a “fresh” element to your drinks. For example, if you are serving a blood orange beverage, add a slice of blood orange to the rim or if you are serving something made with pomegranate juice, stir in some pomegranate seeds.
What’s your favorite holiday cocktail?
A party’s not a party without some good jams, just like a romantic night isn’t really romantic unless you have Buble serenading you in the background (although if Buble happens to be a little booked up {I can’t imagine why}, I suppose a recording will do…). Regardless, of the event, music (or lack thereof) can make or break it and it is a detail not to be overlooked.
These are some of my favorite holiday songs that help to set a festive mood-
If your short on time, find a pre-made playlist or Christmas station to play DJ for you. My favorite go-to place is “I Heart Radio” (bonus, you can now listen to & share “I Heart Radio” stations through Lockerz and earn yourself some points when you do).
What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?