Christmas Baking (non-baking) At Our House

I thought I would share some of my holiday recipes.
I have a few things I bake every Christmas because my family would be disappointed if I didn't make them.
For me, I love to try new recipes. 
So, I make a few of the tried and true ones...and then I choose a couple new ones each year to try.


The first recipe, I have been making for the last 13 years.  It's definately a favorite of friends and family.

These truffles are the real deal.  Very smooth, rich and creamy.  If you like mint, you will love these!





This will be my 4th year now making this next recipe.  Oreo Cookie Truffles.  You've probably made them yourself.  So easy, only three ingredients and they make a ton.  Too bad they aren't fat free!  Brady has already been asking when we are making these.  I have to package these up quickly for otheres before we eat them all!  Last year I found little clear paint cans (added a bow) and put 5 or 6 cookie truffles in each....that way I could give more out!  Very easy.

Here's what you'll need:

1 pkg. Oreo Cookies

1 pkg. (8oz) cream cheese

2 pkg. semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted

Put cookies in a food processor and mix until they are fine crumbs.

Place crumbs in a big bowl.

Add cream cheese and mix until well blended.

The last step burned enough calories for at least 2 cookie truffles....

Roll cookie mixture into 1 inch in diameter balls.

Freeze balls for about 10 minutes.

Dip balls in chocolate & place on wax paper.

Refrigerate until firm.

Cover & store leftovers in fridge.

Makes about 42 balls.

This last recipe is a super easy one.  Another non baking one.  I'm noticing a pattern here!

These have a light orange flavor and are really tasty...I love them!

.





Orange balls really aren't that messy to make...I promise!





I just realized that not only are these recipes non bake...but they are all balls.
My husband will think this is funny.  It's like he's still in middle school.
He will probably count how many times I said balls in my post!
Sorry about that...back to a little more maturity here....

I'm linking up with Jen over at Denton Sanitarium.
Go check out what everyone's baking!

Magical Reindeer Dust



When Brady was 3 and in preschool his teacher gave everyone in the class magical reindeer dust. 

We had never heard of it before.... it's such a cute idea.  The magical dust helps the reindeer find our house, and also gives them a little something to eat!

 Every year since, Brady has looked forward to sprinkling

 the magical reindeer dust right before he goes to bed on Christmas Eve.

All you have to do is:

mix together oats and glitter.



Last year Brady had to put something in his classmates stockings at school, so we put

together these bags for everyone. 



Sorry the poem is hard to read from my picture.  I wish I knew how to make it a "printable" for everyone...maybe I will learn how to do that in the coming year!  If you would like a copy, send me your email and I will send it to you!

It's Cute...Even If It's Not!



We had a family fun night at Brady's school last Friday night.
I helped out with the hot chocolate bar.
I made tons of chocolate spoons for the hot chocolate.

This got me thinking that we should have our own hot chocolate goodies out on the counter while it's cold outside!
Brady and I especially have been drinking our share of  hot chocolate.
Having it out on the counter definately makes you want it more often!
And, I wonder why my pants are tight?  But I don't care!
I have plenty of time to deal with that after the holidays...for now, I'm going to enjoy the season!

Anyway, shortly after I put the goodies out on the counter...I walked into the kitchen and saw this:

Brady put his own stamp...or should I say "sign" on it!



He was excited for me to see what he had done...and very proud of himself.

I'm serious when I say proud.  We have to just laugh because he has zero artistic capabilities!

He tore a piece of paper out of a tablet and used a pencil for pete's sake!

So, the hot choclet sign is staying put.

Not the look I was going for...but cute nonetheless!

And, it makes me smile everytime I walk into the kitchen.

Have a great weekend!

I Love Shutterfly!



I received my Shutterfly photo book  in the mail the other day.   I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out.  I made this book for Brady for Christmas and I can't wait for him to open it.   I filled the book with pictures of our family spending time at my in-laws cabin.   A little over a year ago, Grandma and Grandpa sold their cabin.  Brady loved going there...and our last trip up was an emotional one.    He has asked me several times if I would make him a cabin book so that he will always remember our fun times there.  I know he is going to love this book.


I added 55 pages to the book.  You can't tell by my pictures because of the glare, but the quality is so awesome and the pictures are really clear.  Here are some of the pages:

It's a 12x12 hardback book...this is the front cover.













This is the back cover.



****************************

Shutterfly is always running specials.  I saved 30% on this book when I ordered it.  I love getting a good deal, and that's why I'm really excited about Shutterfly's current blog offer.  They are offering bloggers 50 free holiday cards.  If you're interested, you can get the details here. 


I still haven't picked out my Christmas cards yet.  There are so many great ones to choose from.

#1 This card is different than one I would normally pick.

 Brady has a black and red sweater that I could get some pictures of him in.



#2  I think black and white pics would look great in this card.

I love the color of this card too.

#3  I thought this might be fun...especially since I have never sent a Christmas letter. Ever.

It would be much easier to decide on a card if I could just decide on what picture I was going to use!

I better get a move on it...time is running out!

Which card would you pick?

Christmas Tree Farm

(When I took this picture, I thought it was going to turn out really great...but it didn't.

So, I played around with it in Picasa.)



We went to a different tree farm this year to get our tree.  Every couple of years we find a new place to try.

This place was really nice...but I must admit that we probably would have enjoyed it more if it weren't for the fact that it was FREEZING out there!





















It never fails...every year after it's all said and done and we spend the entire day picking out a tree and decorating it, I suggest we buy a discounted artificial tree at the end of the season.  When I think of all the money we have spent the last fourteen years cutting down trees, we could have bought a beautiful tree with a whole lot less work!  Brady instantly said "no way...we have to cut down our tree".  I guess that's what happens when you start something!

It was a good day...no tears were shed this year over the saw.  We came home and decorated the tree, had hot chocolate and finished the evening watching "Elf". 

 

Christmas Traditions



The special moments that are remembered

by families tend to be those

created as a tradition.

I love having traditions.  I think as Moms, we all want our children to look back someday and remember wonderful family times together.  Maybe our children will even want to continue some of those favorite holiday traditions with their families someday.   I think having traditions help make the holidays even more special. 

I am really enjoying reading about eveyone's Christmas traditons.  It's so neat to get a glimpse of what makes Christmas special in everyone else's home.  With that being said, I have to remind myself that having too many traditions can also lose it's "specialness" too.  We have a handful of our own traditions...some that were started on purpose and a few that happened by accident.  Some of our traditions will have to change as Brady gets older I'm sure...but for now, we're still good to go! 

I decided to add something new this year that I saw on Cherie and Melissa's blog.  It's called a "Countdown to Christmas" with books.  You wrap 24 Christmas books and read one every night starting on December 1st through to Christmas Eve.   I LOVE this idea and Brady has so many Christmas books that we often forget about.   So, I wrapped 22 books ( I still need to find 2 more) and suprised Brady yesterday with the basket.

I wrapped  fun Christmas books along with books that will
 remind us of the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

I found this book at a re-uzit store for 50 cents.

If you don't have 25 books, you can always do the 12 days before Christmas.

Brady was so excited about this countdown!   And like Melissa says, it's also an extra incentive at bedtime to get pajamas on and teeth brushed to open a present!  And we need all the help we can get around here at bedtime!

Who knows if this will become a tradition in our house or not...but I already have a feeling Brady is not going to let me forget about this book countdown next year! 

How about you?  Have you done something NEW this year because of

something you've seen out there in blog land?

Please tell me I'm not the only one!

~Kerri

A New Ornament

When I was pregnant with Brady, we started the tradition of buying him one new ornament each Christmas. 

We try to find an ornament that will signify something from that year that was important or special to him.

When we're decorating our Christmas tree we give him his new ornament.

I'm really excited about the one I found this year.

It came in the mail the other day....it's so cute!
I think he's going to like it!

Someday I will package up all his ornaments...

to give to him when he leaves home.

Hopefully there will be around 25-30 of them!

(You get what I'm saying, right?!)

Have a great day!
~Kerri