A Christmas Tradition

So I love Christmas. I love the magic. I love the extra reason to talk about Jesus Christ with my kids. I love the smells, the tastes and the memories of it all. I love Santa too. I love giving gifts...and is this terrible...but I love getting gifts too. And I love traditions.

For Christmas we do lots of the normal traditions...an advent calendar all month, leave Santa a note with milk, and share gifts Christmas Eve. Growing up, I recall drinking Orange Julius and eating waffles made by my mom Christmas morning after rummaging through all of the great stuff Santa left behind. My husband's family acts out the nativity on Christmas Eve and although I am not by any means good at role playing I look forward to dressing Kara up as Mary and Jared as Joseph or a shepherd in the coming years. My own little family adopted the tradition to do something special on December 8th. This was the day my husband and I exchanged gifts our first Christmas (before we were even engaged) and it happens to be the day that Christmas "starts" in Italy (my second home!) I have dreams of doing service or being more organized so as to enjoy the traditions more fully but alas I'll have to try again in 364 days.

My point? What are some of your Christmas traditions?

Mmmmm Turtles

These are a traditional Christmas treat in my family. It is my Great Grandma Beatrice's recipe. It is fabulous. One recipe made 3 cookie sheets worth of turtles.

Grease (very well) cookie sheets and place halved pecans about 1 and 1/2 inches apart. DO THAT PART FIRST.

Heat one stick butter, 1 cup white Karo Syrup, and 2 cups sugar, bring to a boil then add 1 12-oz can of evaporated milk. Cook to firm ball stage (244 degrees), I use a candy thermomater. It takes a while but you have to stir constantly.

Use a teaspoon ( I used a tablespoon, mmm more carmel) and poor over each pecan. Do this quickly because it sets up fast.

Then melt milk chocolate, chocolate chips and put 1/2 tsp, (I used 1/2 tablespoon) on top of carmel. The chocolate is like the turtles back. Eat and enjoy!! These are the best, I took some of these around to my Aunts and grandfather and they were happy to see Great Grandma's turtles. :)

Tuffies

This is our traditional Christmas morning food! My dad's grandma made these every year for them and now he makes them every year for all of us and when we have our own Christmases I will make them for my family. It's similar to a scone except better! I don't like scones that much and I love these!

Tuffies:
Heat some vegetable oil in a skillet
Take some bread dough (easiest way is Rhodes- thawed and risen)
Stretch and flatten into several 1 in x 2.5 in rectangles
Drop into hot oil until brown on underside, flip with tongs to brown the other side.
Smother in butter and honey or jam and eat!!

Not the best food for you but really yummy!
Merry Christmas!

Favorite Books

One of our favorite things to do at our house is to read to our little girl (we'd love to read to our baby too, but he mostly just wants to eat the books, so he gets to hear from far off). And, since we also like to give books at Christmas I thought I'd ask what some of your most-loved kid books are in your families. One of our rediscovered favorites is "Grandpa Bunny". It was one of my husband's favorite books when he was a kid and they just started republishing it so we got a copy from my in-laws. It is an adorable story and Rachel loves it already. Some of our other favorites are the Olivia Books by Falconer and of course any of the Dr. Seuss books (the little board books they make of these are fantastic!). I look forward to hearing what you and your kids love to read!

Gifts for Teachers

Any ideas on what to give a preschool teacher and aide for Christmas? I really don't want to go the gift card route.

Candy Cane Kisses

I'm with Bridget here, this isn't really a recipe, but I absolutely LOVE these little devils. They only come out around Christmas time, so last year I bought like 4 bags just to get my fix after Christmas... don't ask me how long they lasted, it is shameful. I didn't even share them with Scott, I kept them hidden! I'm terrible. Anyway, if you haven't tried these, you should, they are yummy. This year I also saw a whole bunch of other holiday kisses, hot cocoa, mint truffle (very good), and a toffee crunch. Looks like I'll have to do some major stocking stuffing so I can try them all!

Peppermint Icecream with Brownies

Okay, so this isn't really a "recipe", but one of my favorite things about Christmas is peppermint ice cream with chocolate sauce on top. I eat at least one bowl-full a day because it just screams Christmastime to me. And, to make it extra delicious, sometimes I make brownies to go underneath the ice cream. This is my mother-in-law's wonderful brownie recipe that is super versatile. You can add nuts or any kind of chip (chocolate, swirls, etc.) and they are great. Also, adding icing on top never hurt either! Enjoy the brownies and definitely grab a carton (or two in my case) of this ice cream the next time you're at the store. Merry Christmas!

Chewy Brownies
Blend well:
2 cups sugar
2 cups butter/margarine (2 cubes)
Add:
4 eggs
2 cups flour
1 t. salt
1/2 cup cocoa
1 t. vanilla
Optional Add-ins:
1 cup chips, nuts, or coconut

Bake at 350 for 22 minutes
(I usually put this in a medium-sized cookie sheet to cook).

Seasoned Nut Gift Idea

This Christmas I wanted to go beyond cookies and give something different to my Visiting Teaching sisters. I found this cute idea in an old issue of Martha Stewart Kids Magazine (yes I keep crafty magazines too!). The recipes are really good, I can't keep my hands out of the sweet pecans! The recipes are easy enough to make with your kids and would be good to have as a snack at your holiday celebrations too. I am going to bring some to Idaho with me this year.

Spicy Almonds
makes 2 cups

2 C whole blanched almonds
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
1 Tablespoon unsulfured molasses
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 350*. Spread almonds on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast until fragrant, 7-8 min. Set aside.
2. Whisk together salt, sugar, and spices in a large bowl; set aside.
3. Bring butter, molasses, and vinegar to a boil in a large skillet over med heat. Add toasted nuts, and stir to evenly coat. Add nut mixture to spice mixture; toss to coast. transfer to a rimmed baking sheet, and spread in a single layer.
4. Return to oven, and toast 4 minutes. Let cool completely on baking sheet. Almonds can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

Sweet Pecans
makes 2 cups

2 Cups pecan halves (7.5 oz)
1/4 Cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
2 Tablespoons maple syrup

1. Preheat oven 350*. Spread pecans on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
2. Whisk sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg in a large bowl; set aside.
3. Bring butter and maple syrup to a boil in a large skillet over med heat. Add toasted nuts; stir to coat evenly. Add nut mixture to sugar mixture; toss to coat. transfer to a rimmed baking sheet, and spread in a single layer; let cool completely. Pecans can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

I'm a huge fudge fan, especially over the holidays. And I just found this recipe. I haven't tried it out yet but if it works it's gotta be the easiest fudge recipe I've ever seen!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge:
12oz chocolate chips
12oz (1 1/2 c) peanut butter
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk

Place chocolate chips and peanut butter in a microwavable bowl and microwave on high for 1 min or until chips are melted. Stir in milk. Pour into 8x8in pan and refrigerate until set (maybe 2 hours). Cut into small squares.

howdy

I've been invited to join you guys, I'm excited. For those who don't know me, my name is Molly Archibald, and I am Christine's sister-in-law. I was in the New Brighton ward up until Sept. 2007 when we moved up to Lindstrom (blink and you'll miss it) so we're in the North Branch ward.

My husband's name is Geoff, and we have a 21 month old daughter named Quinn. She and Christine's boy Ian are best buddies, and are always a hoot to see when they are together. Currently, Quinn's chief occupations are torturing our cat Boo, naming objects in her immediate proximity at the top of her little lungs, and dropping play-dough on the floor.

I'm somewhat new to the blogosphere but we do have a family blog that we sporadically update. I'll try and contribute often here, though. Right now I'm going to hunt for this famous shredded chicken recipe my sister in law keeps telling me about! More later--Molly

Fasting Prevents Heart Disease?

Thought this was an interesting article on msnbc.com.

Jam Thumbpints

I make these cookies every year for a cookie exchange party and they're a big hit.

Ingredients:

3 sticks butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten with 1 tbsp water
7 ounces sweetened coconut

1. Cream together butter and sugar. Add vanilla and blend. Add flour and salt and mix. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes.
2. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and dip in egg wash, then coconut. Make a small impression in each ball. Place balls on greased cookie sheet. Fill impressions with a small amount of jam.
3. Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or till lightly browned and done inside.
4. Cool on racks.

Makes 4 dozen

Picky Eater!

My son Ian is 22 months old and is becoming the pickiest eater on the planet! He used to eat many things and had a great appetite, not any longer. The only things he seems to eat these days are...
Kraft Mac n Cheese
Clementine Oranges
Mandarin Oranges
String Cheese
Strawberries
Bologna
and the list keeps shrinking. I try giving him new things all of the time and he either won't even let it get near his mouth or he spits it out when he tastes it. Trying to sneak things into his mouth or disguise them doesn't work either. He is starving! He brings us food from the pantry and when we open it to feed it to him he refuses it! I feel like we waste so much food at our house. I think he is too young still to say "this is what is for dinner and you either eat it or go to bed hungry". I am getting the Deceptively Delicious cookbook for Christmas but I fear that he won't even try those recipes, maybe the mac n cheese one.
So my experienced mommy friends I need some help, suggestions and encouragement! Are your kids picky? What are sure fire recipes/ foods that your kids eat, hopefully ones with some nutrition. I am loosing patience and am just plain worried about Ian's nutrition.

Parade of Elves

My sister found this site and I thought it was so cute! My kids were cracking up when they saw their faces on ours, so I thought it would be fun to do some for the Mommy blog!
Can you find your little elf??

Little elves 1: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1202565667

Little elves 2: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1203030778

Little elves 3: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1203346448

Enjoy! :)

Tortellini Soup

Here's my favorite pasta soup recipe. My kids even eat the tomatoes and spinach (usually), so that should speak for itself! It's also my sneaky way to introduce you to another favorite site, Domestication in Progress. It was started by an LDS girl, and it's all recipes with photos. YUM!