christmasgoodies.info

Want to leave a unique sweet treat for Santa this year? This video shows how to make a yummy but different holiday treat, complete with a glowing “reindeer nose” on top.

Most of us have seen the movie A Christmas Carol, during the holidays it’s usually played over and over again in our house. This has become a favorite amongst every member of our family. The homes of the less fortunate were equipped with open fireplaces for cooking and heating but they did not have ovens. Many families like the Cratchits took their goose to the bakers shop. Normally bakers were not allowed to open on Holidays or Sundays but would open on these days for the poor and bake their Christmas dinners for a very small fee. Ever since I seen this movie I always wondered what a Christmas Goose would actually taste like. I decided to test out my cooking skills and fix one for the first time last Christmas. Everyone of my guest enjoyed it as it was different from the ordinary Christmas dinner with turkey and ham. Try it for yourself by following this Christmas Goose recipe and check out the Dinner Parties Blog for more ideas on how to plan a Christmas dinner.

What comes to mind when you start to think of Christmas tradition? Is it the Christmas Ornaments, songs or Christmas carols we sing? For me it’s the memories of Christmas dinner and the desserts that follow. One of my favorite is Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls. They are quite easy to make and are perfect for taking to any Christmas party or gathering. Try them for yourself by following this simple recipe, and visit the Christmas Tradition Blog for other ways to add the perfect Christmas tradition to your Holidays.

1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
16 ounces of creamy peanut butter
1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate

In a large bowl, combine peanut butter, powdered sugar and butter. Mix on medium speed until smooth. Scoop out spoonfuls and roll into 1-inch balls. Arrange on baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Line another baking sheet with waxed paper. Place chocolate chips in top of double boiler. Melt stirring until smooth. Using wooden picks, dip peanut butter balls into chocolate, letting excess drip back into pan. Set peanut butter balls on prepared waxed sheet, store in refrigerator.

Makes 50 pieces

From “The Nutcracker” to “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” sugarplums have long been associated with the holiday season. But what exactly is a sugarplum? Most recipes claim it is a candy or confection made from dried fruit covered in a sweet, sugary coating.

These sweet treats are perfect for holiday gatherings, office parties, or traditional Christmas dinners. They are fairly simple to make and are quite portable in an airtight container. To try your hand at making sugarplums, follow this simple recipe:

1/3 cup of toasted slivered almonds
10 dried figs (about 4 ounces)
2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon orange zest
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

In a food processor, pulse together figs, cocoa, cinnamon, and almonds. Add orange zest, honey, and almond extract and pulse several more times until it is thoroughly mixed. Use your hands to roll the dough into 1-inch sized balls, and then roll the balls in a bowl of the sugar to coat them. Yields two-dozen sugarplums.

The savory taste of wassail is a holiday tradition for many American families, whether they choose to make it with alcohol or without. It’s a great hot drink to enjoy on a cold day, and a refreshing change from the normal coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. To watch a demonstration on how to make homemade wassail, check out this video:

In today’s world, more and more people are choosing to become vegetarian, either for health or moral reasons (or both). Most of the time, it’s relatively easy for them to find foods that fit their diet, either at the grocery store or in restaurants. But traditional family dinners can be entirely another story, as they usually focus around one or two traditional meats, such as ham and turkey, and are surrounded by side dishes that are made with meat-based products.

When vegetarian guests are attending a holiday dinner party, it’s important to make them feel accommodated without making them feel as if they stand out or require special treatment. The best way to do this is to work vegetarian touches throughout the Christmas meal. For some vegetarian Christmas dinner ideas, check out this week’s article at the Christmas Dinner Parties blog.

Share some of the Christmas spirit with your own family or those who are less fortunate than you, and create some lasting holiday memories at the same time. Christmas traditions are a special part of the holidays, whether they involve spending time with your family or helping others. You can create new Christmas traditions for your own family with a little creativity or by visiting the Christmas Traditions Blog.

When you need a cute craft idea or an awesome recipe, Martha Stewart is the go-to gal. It seems like she makes everything by hand, and makes it all look so effortless. While we may not be able to pull it off in as smooth a fashion as Martha, her craft and decorative ideas and her recipes are excellent for getting you into the “holiday mood.” Martha’s Christmas site has gift-wrapping ideas, recipes, handmade decor items, and everything else you’d expect from America’s most popular “homemaker.” Go and be inspired!

When you’re doing all of your cooking and baking for Christmas, it’s easy to take a sample here and a sample there, then sit down to a huge plate full of high-fat, high-calorie foods at your traditional meal. It’s a recipe for disaster for many, leading to 5-10 pounds of weight gain during the holidays alone. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are some simple strategies and substitutions you can follow to cut calories from your Thanksgiving and Christmas intake. Check out ChristmasStress.info for some help with keeping those pesky extra pounds away.

Cutting back on the food budget should be an important part of trimming your Christmas budget. (And it’s especially important at Thanksgiving, where the food is front and center.) Most of us probably buy and prepare far more food than our families can eat for holiday meals, leading to waste and expanded waistlines. You don’t need to have enough food on hand to allow everyone to stuff themselves to the point of near-explosion for the next two or three days. All you need is enough for your family to eat for the one holiday meal. For some great tips to keep your holiday food budget under control, check out this article on Frugal Feasts from Organized Christmas.