Christmas talk

[bk1]

Any and all things Christmas!

[bk1]

Does anyone have special cookie/baking recipes for Christmas they love? I want to try something new and not sure what.


I'm planning on having my nieces over sometime to do some baking and I want to do something different with them. They are 10 and 8. Last year they came and decorated sugar cookies. I was thinking maybe getting gingerbread house kits this year and have them help me make something else as well. Maybe get stuff to make some ornaments too? 

[katespade]

We made chocolate chip-less cookies on Saturday, and sugar cookies and banana bread yesterday.

This morning, H said, "We aren't doing very well with our no sugar diet, are we?" I told him it's the holidays, so the sugar doesn't count. As I ate sugar cookies for breakfast.

[katespade]

Dec 11, 2017 13:09:11 GMT -5 bk1 said:

Does anyone have special cookie/baking recipes for Christmas they love? I want to try something new and not sure what.


I'm planning on having my nieces over sometime to do some baking and I want to do something different with them. They are 10 and 8. Last year they came and decorated sugar cookies. I was thinking maybe getting gingerbread house kits this year and have them help me make something else as well. Maybe get stuff to make some ornaments too? 

When I was a kid, we used to make "gingerbread" houses out of graham crackers instead of gingerbread. It's way cheaper than buying kits, way easier than baking gingerbread yourself, and felt like a more creative process. We got to design what we wanted our houses to look like. Sometimes we made small houses like the gingerbread kids, but sometimes we made big houses with no roofs that had rooms in them and did decorations inside and out. Plus, graham crackers are delicious. lol.

[bk1]

Dec 11, 2017 13:28:54 GMT -5 katespade said:

Dec 11, 2017 13:09:11 GMT -5 bk1 said:

Does anyone have special cookie/baking recipes for Christmas they love? I want to try something new and not sure what.


I'm planning on having my nieces over sometime to do some baking and I want to do something different with them. They are 10 and 8. Last year they came and decorated sugar cookies. I was thinking maybe getting gingerbread house kits this year and have them help me make something else as well. Maybe get stuff to make some ornaments too? 

When I was a kid, we used to make "gingerbread" houses out of graham crackers instead of gingerbread. It's way cheaper than buying kits, way easier than baking gingerbread yourself, and felt like a more creative process. We got to design what we wanted our houses to look like. Sometimes we made small houses like the gingerbread kids, but sometimes we made big houses with no roofs that had rooms in them and did decorations inside and out. Plus, graham crackers are delicious. lol.

I thought about this because we did this in college at my dorm. Lol

[katespade]

Dec 11, 2017 13:39:09 GMT -5 bk1 said:

Dec 11, 2017 13:28:54 GMT -5 katespade said:

When I was a kid, we used to make "gingerbread" houses out of graham crackers instead of gingerbread. It's way cheaper than buying kits, way easier than baking gingerbread yourself, and felt like a more creative process. We got to design what we wanted our houses to look like. Sometimes we made small houses like the gingerbread kids, but sometimes we made big houses with no roofs that had rooms in them and did decorations inside and out. Plus, graham crackers are delicious. lol.

I thought about this because we did this in college at my dorm. Lol

I didn't make my first gingerbread house with actual gingerbread until I was in my mid-twenties. It was always graham crackers! lol.

[bk1]

Dec 11, 2017 13:45:29 GMT -5 katespade said:

Dec 11, 2017 13:39:09 GMT -5 bk1 said:

I thought about this because we did this in college at my dorm. Lol

I didn't make my first gingerbread house with actual gingerbread until I was in my mid-twenties. It was always graham crackers! lol.

Haha I didn't make one until a couple years ago, and it was helping my younger niece. I've never made one alone. I think that's why I want to do it.

[estrellita]

We did a little Christmas shopping today. I'm not done yet though. I need a couple more things for my sister, at least one more thing for my parents (either separate or joint gift), and stuff for the kids. Lol. I'm having a hard time with them because they are/will be so spoiled that I don't even want to get them toys. E already has SO MUCH and we just don't have room for a million more! I think we're going to try the 4 things - a want, a need, a wear, a read or however it goes. Hopefully that will work!

[amaranth]

I've still never made a real gingerbread house. Always graham crackers in our family too.

bk1 Somewhere I have a recipe for Cranberry Tassies. It's like sugar/butter cookies with an indention that you fill with a cranberry/nut/sugar mix. It's absolutely delectable. That said, they're a lot of work so I haven't made them in a few years. If you want I can find the recipe and message you a picture of it.

[wineandcheese]

I’ve never done a ginger bread house. Maybe I’ll pick up a kit.

I have barely shopped at all. I had plans to go this weekend but H threw a wrench in that plan. I’m hoping we can hit a few local shops on the way home from Kentucky to find some unique gifts.

I’m hosting Christmas Day dinner. I was planning a pretty simple appetizer and dinner menu but my mom has made it into a big production, as any holiday I host.

Oh and after months of asking, DH finally gave me a present idea!

bk1 I made biscotti one year that was a big hit. I’ll try to find the recipe if you want it. I did the craft kits with my niece’s when they were younger. They were under $3 usually at a craft store. They loved that.

[christy082]

I have made these biscotti for years and years- www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/holiday-biscotti-recipe2-1944762

I give them as gifts every year and they're always highly anticipated.

[bk1]

amaranth I looked up a recipe and that does sound good. I'm not sure if I'll get those made but I want to add it to my list to try sometime!

wineandcheese I've always wanted to make biscotti so thanks for the idea! And it made me think of you christy082 because I remember you make it every year. Thanks for linking the recipe. I want to try it for sure! 


I've decided I do want to get stuff for graham cracker houses now. I got it set up with SIL for them to come over on Saturday. I'm super looking forward to it. Now I need to get my kitchen cleaned back up and go to the store for a few more items. 

[rockinrobyn]

Confession: I have never made a gingerbread or a graham cracker house. Am I missing out on anything special?

I have no Christmas spirit this year. I didn’t put up a tree, decorate the house, or put up our outdoor lights. Mostly because I usually do all of that plus tear down on my own and just don’t want to do all the work this year. Plus I seem to be the only one who appreciates it, so if no one else cares, then it is going to stay in the attic. 😊

[krystee]

We are doing a gingerbread house this weekend! A lot (ETA: a kit, not a lot), because it was on sale for $5 and I'm lazy. I grew up with the graham cracker method and liked that better than the pre-fab ones.

For those of you who love to bake and have more cookies than you need, consider calling your local nursing home/senior center/assisted living and seeing if you can drop some off. Last year we dressed in silly festive wear and dropped off trays of cookies on Christmas Eve and visited with the residents, and it was really awesome. I hope to do it again this year, but I have to get on the ball with baking!

[amaranth]

krystee that's a great idea. Thank you!