Easy Christmas Cookies: One Dough, Three Ways

First of all, let me begin by saying these are not healthy Christmas cookies.  If you will be disappointed that this healthy foodie mama is about to share a sugary cookie recipe, then please hide your eyes!  I do not wish to offend :)  But.... it's Christmas!  There's just something special about sugar cookies at Christmas time, don't you think?

We decided to hand deliver them to each of the neighbors this year.  It was sweet watching Gentry walk up to each door, ring the bell, wait patiently, and then wish each neighbor a merry Christmas as he offered them a small box of these little tasty treats.  It warmed this mama's heart right through. 

And so we baked cookies, about 100 of them, and thought it would be nice to share our little recipe with you.

One Dough, Three Ways

for the dough:

1 1/2 c butter
1 1/2 c sugar
3 eggs
2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4 1/2 c all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Cream together the butter, sugar, and eggs, then stir in the vanilla, flour, baking soda, and salt.

Roll out on a lightly floured board; I roll mine to about 1/4 inch height.  Cut into any shape.  I used the mouth of a stage 1 baby food jar for the small circle shapes.

Bake at 375 for exactly 8 minutes.

for the toppings:

Coconut cookies - In a measuring cup, measure one cup of powdered sugar.  Add one teaspoon coconut extract and four teaspoons milk.  Stir well, frost cookies, and top with toasted coconut before the frosting dries. (After I pull the last batch of cookies from the oven, I add a handful of coconut onto the baking sheet and set it under the broiler for a minute to toast.)

Sprinkle cookies - Prepare frosting as above, but eliminate coconut extract and add 4 -5 drops of red food coloring instead.  Top with sprinkles.

Chocolate almond cookies - Pour one cup of chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl, and microwave for 30 seconds.  Stir, and then microwave for another 30 seconds.  Stir again until all chips have lost their shape and you have a bowl of melted chocolate.  Dip cookies one by one into the chocolate and then into finely chopped almonds.

What are your favorite Christmas cookies to bake?  I'd love to know!  And, if you have the time, join me for a Parade of Christmas!

            Warmly,

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Shared at Raising Homemakers, Making Your Home Sing, and also at:

10 DIY Christmas Gifts for $5 or Less

[photo credit]

Whether you're on a strict budget or just have a large family and many friends, you should be able to find a few Christmas gift ideas you'll enjoy making - and giving - in this list.  Don't forget about the chai tea kit idea I shared last week!

1.  The gift of food is always appreciated.  Perhaps the most frugal of all food gifts is a beautiful, crusty loaf of homemade bread, wrapped halfway in brown paper and tied with a bow.  Add a sprig of evergreen for ornamentation. Might I suggest a loaf of authentic German pretzel bread or bagels made from scratch?  If bread is not your preference, then homemade maple granola or candied pecans presented in a large glass jar are unique and easy alternatives.

2.  For the bookworms in your life, consider homemade bookmarks.  If you are skilled at crocheting, consider crocheting a bookmark, including a few beautiful beads near the top so they may drape from the top of a cherished book.  If you are not skilled at crochet, you can make lovely bookmarks with an assortment of ribbon and then sew beads or a pretty button onto the top. 

3.  Have you been making jams throughout Autumn?  An assortment of homemade jams is a gift an entire family would be sure to enjoy.  My blueberry jam recipe is a yummy, easy option.

4.  If you have accumulated many pins and broaches over the years, consider turning them into elegant magnets by removing the pin segment from the back and hot gluing on a strong magnet in its place for display on a refrigerator.

5.  For the movie buff family, consider putting together a frugal movie basket; include popcorn, a box or two of candy, and a Redbox movie code or two (there are often free movie codes going around).  Or, if you are technologically savvy, include a video of the family from years past.

6.  For children, consider giving a homemade craft box.  Using a fun school box or wood box, fill it up with scraps of card stock, fabric, ribbon, buttons, etc.

7.  Has your family recently experienced the loss of a loved one?  Ask others to contribute a favorite story or memory and then compile a dvd or journal recounting each one.  Interview and record each contributor on video, if you like. This gift would be treasured for many years!

8.  Several years ago we made a wind chime as a family, and right now it's a fun addition to my son's room.  Using an assortment of wire (even old wire hangers twisted into long spirals will work!), hang fun ornaments, art pieces, or collectible items from each ending.  We used three-inch clear glass circles (look for these at a craft store) and painted various designs on them.  The circles had holes at the top that made for easy hanging.

9.  If you have a green thumb, a plant cutting in a beautiful small pot would make an elegant, simple gift, especially if you have a unique or especially beautiful plant to share.

10.  For the homemaker or busy mom, consider putting together a homemaking binder or recipe binder and customize it to their activities and needs.  Be sure to use a durable, appealing design.

Hopefully, you've found an idea or two in this list that would work for you, or at least you've been inspired to think more creatively about your frugal gift-giving this year. 

In an upcoming post, we'll discuss Christmas decor ideas.  If you're visiting here and are not a subscriber yet, now's a good time to get free updates via email and follow along via Facebook.

What are some of your frugal gift ideas?  What have you done in years past? 


           Warmly,



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Holiday Haven, Raising Homemakers, Works for Me Wednesday

Do-It-Yourself Gift Idea: An Elegant Chai Tea Kit

Wouldn't a homemade chai tea kit make a warm, cozy Christmas gift?

I'm envisioning a kit that is elegant, but useful, much like the one here:


[photo credit]

 It would be easy to do, and should cost you less than $5 each if you plan to make four kits and purchase some of your spices and containers in bulk.  For great containers (glass, plastic, or tin) you can shop around your local craft store, or order them very inexpensively from American Science & Surplus.  They have pretty little glass bottles, some in a 20 packs for only $2 or $3, and corks as well.  One 20 pack should make four gifts if you use five bottles or vials per gift.

Fill your little containers with:

Cinnamon sticks
Ground or dried ginger
Whole cloves
Ground or whole cardamom pods
Ground or whole nutmeg
Black tea or tea bags

And include a card, perhaps printed in a calligraphy font, with these directions:

In a saucepan, bring two cups of water to a simmer. Add three black tea bags. Season with one cinnamon stick, four cloves, 1/4 teaspoon of cardamom, 1/4 teaspoon of ginger, and a pinch of nutmeg. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, slightly covered. Pour in two cups of milk, and return to a gentle simmer. Remove from heat, and strain through a fine sieve.  Add honey to sweeten if desired.

Arrange the items in a simple box or basket, and you have a beautiful, inexpensive gift!

I can often find the spices that are listed above near the international or Hispanic section of my supermarket.  They are sold in larger bags, and cost much less than the spices you may traditionally buy in the small containers.  For example, San Miguel Mexican Products sells 5" whole cinnamon sticks in an 8 oz bag for only $3 or so.  This would be enough to use in at least four kits.

I'll be sharing more inexpensive, do-it-yourself gift ideas in upcoming posts.  Now would be a good time to subscribe if you haven't already!

Do you have any favorite frugal gift ideas?  Share them in the comment section.  I'd love to hear about them!



            Warmly,




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{Shared at Nourishing Gourmet}