Holiday ideas

Today's post is more a hodge-podge of items I hope you enjoy.

I like to give and receive holiday cards.  But I still like to make my cards when time allows.  In this digital, e-book, email card era receiving an old school card in the mail is even more special.  If you enjoy giving cards, consider buying a few extra, write some encouragement, and delivering them to the hospital or a nursing home.  I remember being a child in the hospital over Christmas day and it can be rather sad.  The elderly can always use some extra cheering up as well.

If you enjoy baking, you might like this great idea called "Drop In And Decorate" (click here for website).  I shared about this in 2011, but I think it is worth mentioning again.  You pick a charity that is "serving basic human needs (food or shelter) in your community, without discrimination," enlist cookie bakers, invite friends over to decorate the cookies and then donate them to the charity.  If the shelter or food pantry can't take home made food, then sell those decorated cookies and give the proceeds. I thought this was a fantastic idea that even children can join in on the fun and it spreads the holiday giving theme and encourages a holiday tradition that brings people together.   The website provides a "How to Host," food safety, and even decorating guidelines.  Here is a short video about the Drop In & Decorate idea featuring three different events across America.

While we are on the topic of  cookies, remember making holiday cookies with grandma when you were young? You probably used Aunt Chick's cookie cutters. Aunt Chick's was the Martha Stewart of her time and her cutters were enjoyed by everyone from Prince Charles to housewives across America. Find out more at www.GrammasCutters.com.  Here is a short video that gives a history of these unique three-dimensional cookie cutters

Now to make your holidays even more decadent, here is a rich recipe :-)  This dessert pie, layered with chocolate, coconut, and pecans, tastes like a million dollars!

Millionaire's Pie (from Recipe.com)

2/3  cup dark-colored corn syrup
1/2  cup sugar
1/2  cup butter or margarine
4  eggs
1/4  cup all-purpose flour
1   teaspoon vanilla
1   Pastry for Single-Crust Pie
1  6  ounce package (or 1 cup) semsiweet chocolate pieces
1 1/3  cups flaked coconut
1   cup pecan pieces (about 4 ounces)

Directions

1.  In a small saucepan, stir together corn syrup and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is melted and mixture boils; remove from heat. Stir in butter until melted; set aside to cool slightly (about 10 minutes).
2.  Meanwhile, on a lightly floured surface, roll Pastry for Single-Crust Pie to form a 12-inch circle. Ease into a 9-inch pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry. Trim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under extra pastry. Crimp edge. Set aside.
3.  In a large bowl, beat eggs, flour, and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until mixture is blended and smooth. Add corn syrup mixture in a slow, steady stream, beating constantly.
4.  In pastry shell, layer coconut, semisweet chocolate pieces, and pecan pieces. Pour egg mixture over all, spreading evenly. Cover edge of pastry shell with foil.
5.  Bake in a 325 degree F oven for 1 hour. Remove foil; bake for 20 minutes more or until filling is set in center and slightly puffed. Cool completely on a wire rack. Serve with whipped cream, if you like. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Throw a Cookie Swap Party

There were not enough submissions of book reviews to have a blog carnival this month.  Submissions will be held over for next month though.  

Take a fun break from the hectic shopping, decorating, and wrapping to spend some quality time with friends around the idea of sharing cookies.  This could be a new tradition that brings many memories to your holiday without adding to the stress level.

The idea is each person should have various cookies plus some new recipes for their own cookbook.

Part of the fun of a cookie swap is seeing what types of cookies people make and why.  Consider asking guests to share their story behind their exchange recipes. Have they been making this recipe for years?  Is it a family recipe?  It can be just as fun to hear the meaning behind the different cookies as it is to gather and devour them.

From Bon Appetit website, here is "How to Throw a Holiday Cookie Swap Party:"

1. Determine the Guest List. Choose a group of 10-20 friends who you think would be interested in sharing their holiday workload (and baked goods!) with you. In the invitation, ask each guest or family to bring 6 dozen of his or her favorite holiday cookies, and to send you the recipe ahead of time. Obviously, this kind of invitation is best directed at your most  gifted baking buddies, but you may also choose to invite a few non-bakers, like your single uncle Maury with the sweet-tooth. After all, ’tis the season to be big-hearted.

2. Set the Date and Time. Choose a date that works best for you and your guests’ work and travel schedules. You will want to have the party close enough to the holidays so the cookies will last, but not so late that you get caught up in the last-minute rush–usually about a week to ten days in advance works well. A cookie swap party can be any time of day, depending on what works best for your schedule. Try to send invitations at least a few weeks in advance to allow people to plan. “I need you to bake six dozen cookies” isn’t the sort of thing you should spring on a friend at the last minute.

 3. Set the Rules. Be sure to include a list of clear instructions in the invitations. Let your guests know how many cookies to bring, when they should RSVP, and when to send in their recipes. Warn them to be flexible–you may have to ask a friend to make something different if you are sent six variations on chocolate chip cookies. Our suggested set of rules:

    a. Cookies should be homemade and seasonally appropriate
    b. Cookies should be imperishable enough to last several days after baking
    c. Cookies should be made from scratch by an adult
    d. No burnt cookies, please

4. Get Set. To prepare for the party, set your largest table with enough festive bowls and platters to hold each guest’s contributions. Mixing in a few footed cake stands will help maximize table space and visual appeal. You will also need enough tongs for each platter, so party guests can make their selections without touching the cookies with their hands. Once you receive the name of each participant’s selected cookie, print or write it on place cards and set them in front of the platters for easy identification and selection. Ask each guest to bring recipe cards for the other guests (or, for bonus points, gather all of the recipes in a computer file and print copies of them for each guest to take home). Provide inexpensive paper bakery boxes and festive twine for guests to package and take home their cookies–several smaller boxes per guest are better than one large one, as different cookies types should be kept separate to best retain their flavor. (Alternatively, for a greener spin on things, you can ask each guest to bring his or her own plastic containers or cookie tins).

5. Provide Snacks and Refreshments. While the cookies at a cookie swap are mostly meant to be taken home, of course, there is bound to be plenty of sampling during the party. Be sure to offset all those sweet treats with savory foods, like an egg casserole for a brunch-time party, or dips, cheeses and olives for an afternoon soiree (see our some one-bite appetizers here). You will also want to serve beverages that compliment the foods, like hot tea and coffee in the morning, or a festive punch and sparkling wine at cocktail hour. And a glass of either cold milk or hot chocolate is a cookie’s best friend at any time of day.

6. For the Kids. If you are planning to invite children to your party, a few special preparations, like a cookie-decorating station, will keep them happily entertained (and allow the grown-ups to talk without being terrorized by sugar-crazed youngsters). Set up a low table with undecorated sugar cookies in festive shapes and an assortment of icings, candies, and sprinkles. Provide the children with disposable paper aprons and chef’s hats and allow them to decorate the cookies as they choose.

Follow these steps and you’ll have a party with friends, food, festive cheer, and enough baked goods to last you the rest of the season. Sweet.


Party Supply Checklist
* 10-20 friends who bake
* Invitations with clear instructions
* Enough serving platters and tongs for each type of cookie
* Placecards to label cookies
* Festive decorations
* Disposable napkins, plates, cups and cutlery
* Savory party foods and beverages
* Cookie packaging
* 6 dozen of your own favorite holiday cookies
* Sugar cookies and cookie-decorating supplies

Now swap ‘til you drop!

I hope this idea adds to the enjoyment of your holidays!  Enjoy.

Holiday Cookies for Charity

The holidays mean different things to different people and there are scores of holiday traditions.  For many, baking is a cherished memory associated with this time of year.  Cookies seem to be high on the list for a baking tradition.  Also part of this time of year is to remember those less fortunate than ourselves.  How about combining baking cookies tradition and helping others!

I found this great idea called "Drop In And Decorate" (click here for website).  You pick a charity that is "serving basic human needs (food or shelter) in your community, without discrimination," enlist cookie bakers, invite friends over to decorate the cookies and then donate them to the charity.  If the shelter or food pantry can't take home made food, then sell those decorated cookies and give the proceeds. I thought this was a fantastic idea that even children can join in on the fun and it spreads the holiday giving theme and encourages a holiday tradition that brings people together. 

The website has free offers to aid you and provides a "How to Host," food safety, and even decorating guidelines.  Here is a short video about the Drop In & Decorate idea featuring three different events across America.

If you want to send the something to service members actively serving then check out this informative site to find out how, but they specify letters or postcards now rather than care packages.  (click here for website.)  Or consider the Fisher House Project which provides housing for families of wounded service-members at VA facilities (click here for website.)   You could pick a Fisher House and send a care package to a family with a wounded soldier receiving treatment.

Here is a great video about the first cookie cutters I came across and wanted to share.  Whatever your holiday traditions, enjoy.