Currently... Happy about December

December - it's my favorite month of the year (though summer is my favorite season.)  It's the annual deadline for all projects.  Time to start thinking of new goals.  Time to take an honest look at yourself.  Time for reflection of who you are and who you want to be as you improve.  And it's time for cookies and hot chocolate and celebration and festivities.  And it's Christmas! What else can you want in a month?

So I'm currently...

Setting up my new calendar date book.  It's my annual search, but I think I'm going with the same that I had last year, a customizable, add your own cover and pages option, M by Staples.  It worked for me. There was enough space in each date box for my variable schedule (I don't like the ones with the time printed already) and to scribble notes. There are blank pages (removable) for notes and lists.  I think I'm going to stick a clear pocket (from my scrapbook supply stash) on the inside cover for the cards, stamps, and receipts I collect between the pages.  This may be a record for having a datebook before Dec. 31.

Thinking about Christmas cards. Not that I've bought any, made any, or selected the requisite family photo.  Just thinking it would've been nice to have put them in the mail today.

Flipping through cookie cookbooks.  We have an annual cookie exchange and, although we host, I still get anxious about what we're going to share as our contribution.  Chocolate chip is off limits because another family always brings those (yummy!)  And we have to make enough for everyone to take some home so they can't be too complicated.  It's a lot of thought, so I need to start thinking, baking, and having the family vote on our favorite.

Thinking about decorations. I love Christmas decorations. The lights, the sparkles, the rich reds and earthy greens and royal purples, shimmery silver and gold.  Fluttery angels, shiny gift wrap. Snow covered everything.  The tall, pine-y smelling, decorated trees.  And if I had the budget, I would hire someone to come and beautifully decorate my house for the holidays, or at least, come and take it all down (I am the slackermomof4, after all.)  I will get my decorations up (hint: cookie exchange party is always a good motivator), but it may be Valentine's Day by the time they're all packed away.

Shopping for new poinsettias. I have a friend who has kept poinsettias year round. Inspired, I intended to do the same (despite my notorious black thumb.) I researched poinsettia care, moved them to a more temperate part of my house, rotated them through the house depending on the sunlight, watered them, pruned falling leaves.  And though a bit scraggly, my poinsettia lasted until... October. Then it died! What? What plant lasts 10 months and then just dries up and dies two months before it's grand showing? Ugh.  So, now, I need a new poinsettia. And might as well get a new Christmas cactus while I'm at it.


What are your December preparations?

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Our Holiday Party: Cookies & Hot Chocolate

If you’re a procrastinator who loves Christmas - how do you make sure your Christmas decorations get up before Dec. 24?  Host a holiday party.  For us, that means our annual cookie exchange.

As always, we ate way more cookies than any person – child or adult – should at one sitting.  Probably more than anyone should eat in a week.  But I’m pretty sure that calories consumed amongst friends are good for you.

Chocolate definitely was the – unintentional – theme this year. 

• chocolate chip - an annual favorite, one family always brings these and no-one else bothers to even try to make chocolate chip
• chocolate wafers – perfect to go with coffee, if there were any left
• chocolate covered marshmallows – okay, not really a “cookie” but who’s going to argue when “chocolate” and “marshmallow” are in the name
• cheesecake bars
• shortbread cookies with pecans, chocolate dipped and plain – these were our contribution
• brownies

Cookies packed up ready to share

Since it was freezing cold on the day of the party (I was actually nervous we’d have to cancel for snow), I made hot chocolate in the crockpot.  Of course, I saw the idea on Pinterest and thought “genius!”  Hot, unburned, creamy chocolate. 

Turn the crockpot on, let it heat a little bit. Pour in the can of condensed milk, sprinkle in the melting chocolate.  The kind I used was in little slivers.  Mix until melted together, it’ll be dark and thick. Add a teaspoon of vanilla.  Pour in milk, about a half gallon.  Mix.  Let heat.  Taste, adjust to your preferences.

Hot chocolate fixin's

For a bit of added fun, we had a fix-ins tray for the hot chocolate: marshmallows, mint chocolate chips, chocolate chips.  Kahlua and peppermint schnapps was an adult option.   

As you know, when hosting an event at your home, there’s a lot of prep from getting the food on the table to  putting clean towels in the bathroom.  Usually, when we have a family party, I call out tasks as a kid happens to wander through the kitchen. Not such an efficient plan. This year, I wrote the tasks that needed to be done on cards - clean the bathroom, make table cards for cookies, set out cookie trays, put candy in bowls, set-up plates & silverware.  The kids then picked out their cards and went about getting their tasks done. They seemed to not only like being useful, but took some ownership in their jobs.

My daughter used scrapbookbook paper to make blank table cards for the cookies (guests filled them in when they arrived).  The kids taped together 3 candy canes to make the card holders.

As the children have grown (we’ve lost count how many years we’ve been doing this but there were some kids who didn’t even exist when we started), it’s been harder to find a date that fits perfectly for everyone. We usually have families rolling in before or after a basketball tournament, soccer game, chorus performance, birthday party, or something.  This year, to make it easier, I decided that we would just order food, cooking a few sides, so that we could concentrate our kitchen time on the star of the party. It also made transport of food easier in a busy schedule.

As always, we had a great time.  But with cookies and friends, how could you go wrong?

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Cookies Cookies Cookies!

I've gained about 10 pounds since Friday.  That's just an estimate since I'm scared to actually step onto the scale.  Where did this extra poundage come from?  Cookies!  Cookies with nuts, cookies with chocolate chips, cookies with lemon, cookies dipped in chocolate.  Lots of cookies.

 

We held our annual Cookie Exchange party this past Friday.  We started the tradition a few years ago (I've lost count how many years) as an alternative to exchanging gifts with all of our children's friends, especially when the number of children in our core playgroup began to grow each year.  Now, each December, we gather our families together for a fun evening of fellowship and dinner, and at the end of the evening, everyone goes home with enough cookies to last until Christmas (hopefully, they will last that long).

 

Here's our simple recipe for a fun evening.

• Everyone bring cookies to share for the evening and a batch per family to take home.  Feel free to define "batch" as needed based on your time available, amount of butter and sugar you have, and number of families attending.
• Label cookies that have nuts for those who are allergic or don't like nuts.
• Bring an easy potluck dish for dinner. 

And what's cookies without milk?  This year, I served a tasty Brandy Milk Punch to go along with our dessert.  I've had this in it's hometown of New Orleans for brunch and figured it would be just as perfect in the evening.  It's similar to eggnog, but lighter and depending on the recipe, does not have an egg.  And although its called "brandy" milk punch, my recipe called for bourbon.  (Are they the same?  I don't know, but it was delicious anyway).  I couldn't find the one I used online, but here's Emeril's version.

• Emeril's Brandy Milk Punch (from FoodNetwork.com)
• 2 ounces brandy
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon powdered sugar
• 3 ice cubes
• Cracked ice
• Freshly grated nutmeg

Directions

In a cocktail shaker, combine the brandy, milk, and sugar with 3 ice cubes, and shake until frothy, about 1 minute. Strain into a double-old fashioned glass with cracked ice. Sprinkle with the nutmeg and serve.

The sweetness of family and friends!

In our hectic world, it's a pleasure to gather with friends for a joyous occasion.  As our kids have grown and moved to different schools, the kids don't get to hang out as much.  During our holiday exchange, the kid's get a chance to catch up, be amazed at how tall their friend's have grown, talk about school and sports, and of course, eat cookies.

 

During this holiday season, be sure to take a break from the busyness of gift buying, decorating, cleaning, sending cards, being frazzled with it all, and enjoy the spirit of your celebration, the love of family, and the preciousness of your loved ones.  God bless us all.

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