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Pretzel Reindeers- Submitted by Sherry
Lay traditional (heart-shaped) curled pretzels on wax paper. Fill open areas with melted white chocolate. Put two matching (usually brown) M&M's in two largest filled areas (for eyes). Put one red M&M in smallest filled area (for "Rudolph's" nose). Break straight stick type pretzels in half and insert at a slant (broken and down) above eyes to form antlers.
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Rudolph Sandwiches- Submitted by Sherry
Take a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, cut it crossways for a triangle! Then decorate it for a reindeer! With two raisins for the eyes, five or six raisins for the mouth, broken pretzel bits for the horns, and a bright half a cherry for the nose!! Voilla, you have Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, ready to eat. *****
Dipped Marshmallows- Submitted by Sherry
1 bag large marshmallows,
250 ml (1 cup) milk chocolate chips,
10 ml (2 tsp) vegetable oil,
Assorted sprinkles, colored sugar, coconut, crushed nuts, etc.
Put sprinkles into various custard cups or small bowls. You will need lots. Melt chocolate chips and oil together over low heat (about 1 min. in microwave). Have child dip each marshmallow into the chocolate (so about half of it is covered), then dip and roll in the sprinkles. Place on a cookie sheet to harden. Give away as gifts (if you know anyone who actually might enjoy eating something like this!) or enjoy yourselves. *****
Cinnamon Snails- Submitted by Sherry
4 slices soft texture whole wheat or white bread,
Trim crusts from the bread slices,
1/4 cup soft cream cheese,
3 tablespoons sugar,
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon,
1/4 cup melted butter
Spread 1 tablespoon cream cheese on each slice of bread. Roll up bread slices with cream cheese on the inside. Cut each rollint thirds. Stir together sugar and cinnamon unti well mixed. Dip each cut roll into melted butter, then into the sugar/ cinnamon mixture. Do not dip the ends of the rolls. Place rolls, seam side down, on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 12 minutes, or unti light brown and crips. Serve warm or cool. Makes 12 *****
Jelly Relish- Submitted by Sherry
You need-a bowl of jelly, a cup of icecream, small fruit pieces, cherries, a loaf pan and knife. Put the jelly in the loaf pan and turn it into a plate so you get a shape. Cut it into small rectangles (not very small). Top each rectangle with a cherry and small pieces of fruit (if you wish). Freeze lighthly and serve. *****
Christmas Sandwiches- Submitted by Sherry
Take two slices of white bread and some red and green food coloring, a clean paint brush and some sandwich fillings. You pour a small amount or the food colorings into a small bowl, you may wish to dilute with a small amount of water. Then take your paintbrush and "paint" a christmas tree onto the bread, you can add colorful ornaments and even write "Merry Christmas". You can then paint the other slice of bread as well. Then you take the bread and toast them slightly in a toaster. Add the meats and cheeses, or peanut butter and jelly, and you have a great holiday sandwich. You can also have many variations on this idea to use in many ways! *****
Gingerbread Bowl- Submitted by Sherry
Use your favorite gingerbread cookie recipe.When dough is rolled out, shape it over a small stainless steel mixing bowl, shaping as needed to create a bowl shape. Cut small shapes out around rim of dough(which is still on the bowl). Put bowl (inverted) and dough, into a preheated 325 degree oven. Cook for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Remove bowl CAREFULLY and you now have a gingerbread bowl! You can use the remaining dough for cookies! The children will love all aspects of this! *****
Sugar Cone Christmas Trees- Submitted by Sherry
Sugar Cones,
Chocolate chips, white chocolate chips or candy melts,
Assorted candies for decorating* (especially gumdrops for the top),
Waxed Paper
Get all ingredients out. Spread out sheets of waxed paper to work on. Microwave chocolate or candy melts in shallow bowl just till starts to melt, stir till smooth. Roll cone in chocolate with two fingers inside cone (if possible) to hold. Lift cone out with two fingers inside cone. Place a gumdrop on top and press gently . Gumdrop should make it easier to stand cone up on waxed paper. Decorate with assorted candies. Let decorated "trees" stand until chocolate hardens. Store sealed in cool place.
Note: Decorations: M&M's large and mini sizes, gumdrops, marshmallows, cinnamon decors, silver ball decors, sprinkles, colored sugars, decorator icing (see below).
Decorator Icing: Mix confectioners sugar with just enough milk (just the tiniest bit) and food color to make a thick icing. It should be thick, but still able to pipe through a decorator's tip. Too thick: add more milk (a little at a time). Too thin: add more confectioners sugar. Pipe either with a decorators bag and tips or put in the corner of a freezer bag* & twist shut; snip off tiniest bit of corner and squeeze bag gently to pipe frosting out. * Make sure freezer bag has nice square corners and not pleated ones. *****
Reindeer Cravings, Wormy apples- Submitted by Sherry
1 apple, gummy worms, peanut butter
Cut apple in 6 pieces, remove core, spread pb on apple slice, wrap 1 or 2 gummy worms around apple *****
Jingle Bell Bug- Submitted by Sherry
large strawberries, thin pretzel sticks, 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon of butter, miniature chocolate chips
Wash strawberries and remove stems, cut strawberries in half from stem to tip, melt 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and butter in skillet. Place four pretzels on serving plate side by side, just touching. Dip cut side of strawberries in chocolate, put on top of pretzels. Dip mini choc chips in melted chocolate, stick on strawberry for eyes. *****
Christmas Candle- Submitted by Sherry
1 pineapple slice, 1/2 banana, 2 maraschino cherries, 1 candy mint leaf, 1 leaf of lettuce
Place lettuce on plate, put pineapple slice on lettuce, put the cut end of the banana in hole of pineapple, top with cherry. Place mint leaf on side with another cherry *****
Snowman Soup- Submitted by Barb
The Soup:
1 Pkg. Hot Chocolate Mix,
3 Hershey Kisses,
15 Marshmallows (More If Needed),
1 candy cane
"Put items in colored plastic wrap"
The Poem:
Put on paper and give with items in a mug
Was told you've been real good this year *****
Gel Jars- Submitted by Barb
jelly canning jars with lids, 2 cups distilled water, 4 pkgs knox unflavored gelatin,
50 drops poupourri oil,
food coloring
Heat 1 cup of water in pan. Add desired coloring.
Remove from heat add other one cup of water and the gelatin, stirring to dissolve.
Put oil into jars.
Add gelatin mixture.
Put in icebox for 2 hours. Place flat lid on jar.
Add doiley, fabric, or colored wrap. Screw on ring.
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Christmas Pinecones- Submitted by Lisa in VA
soak pinecones in any of the following solutions. When the pinecones are thrown into your fireplace fire, they will burn different colors!
1/2 pound soda to 1/2 gallon water
After soaking pinecones in any of the above solutions overnight, remove from solution and place in mesh bags to dry thoroughly.
From: Old Fashioned Country Christmas Gooseberry Patch book
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"Gift Idea: Muffin Mixes in a Bag"- Submitted by Lisa in VA
One of my favorite quick and easy gifts to give is a
cooking mix that is presented in a bag. Below you will
find three of my favorite muffin mixes that are sure to
please just about anyone on your gift list. I usually
prepare the mix as described, and then place it in a
plastic zipper syle bag. Once the mix is in the bag, you
can just tie the baggie with a pretty bow, or you can do
a little more like make a fabric bag to cover the plastic
bag. These mixes would also be fantastic placed in one
of the newer disposible food storage containers (such as
GladWare), decorated with ribbon and bows. No matter
how you dress up this gift, it will be sure to make someone
very happy! *****
"Banana Bran Muffin Mix in a Bag"
Mix together the following and place in zipper syle bag:
1 cup all-purpose flour,
3 tablespoons sugar,
2 1/2 teaspoon baking powder,
1/2 teaspoon salt,
1 cup whole bran
Attach the following instructions:
To make your "Banana Bran Muffins",
place this mix in
a bowl, and add the following:
Stir just until the flour mixture is moistened. Fill greased
or paper lined muffin pans 2/3 full with mixture. Bake in
400 degree F oven for about 20-25 minutes or until done.
Makes 1 dozen.
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"Mini Pumpkin Muffin Mix in a Bag"
Mix together the following and place in zipper syle bag:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour,
2 teaspoons baking powder,
3/4 teaspoon salt,
1/2 cup sugar,
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon,
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg,
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
Attach the following instructions:
To make your "Mini Pumpkin Muffins", place this mix in
a bowl, and cut in the following until fine:
1/4 cup shortening,
1 egg, beaten, 1/2 cup pumpkin,
1/2 cup milk
Mix until flour mixture is moistened. Fill greased or
paper line mini muffin pans 2/3 full. Bake in 400
degree F oven for 15 - 20 minutes, or until done. Makes
1-3 dozen muffins depending on size.
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"Peanut Butter Muffin Mix in a Bag"
Mix together the following and place in zipper syle bag:
2 cups all-purpose flour,
1/2 cup sugar,
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder,
1/2 teaspoon salt
Attach the following instructions:
To make your "Peanut Butter Muffins", place this mix
in a bowl, and cut in the following until coarse crumbs
form:
1/2 cup crunchy-style peanut butter,
2 tablespoons butter
Now add the following to the mixture:
3/4 cup milk,
2 eggs, beaten
Stir until moistened. Fill greased or paper lined muffin
tins 2/3 full. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 - 17 minutes.
Makes 1 1/2 - 2 dozen muffins. *****
Christmas Trees- Submitted by Becce and Lisa in VA
Make Christmas trees with upside down ice cream cones, green
frosting and small candies to decorate. Decorations can include red hots and mm's as the ornaments, licorice lace for the garland, chocolate star for the top and fruit roll-ups for the tree skirt. If you need to, you can
slightly water down the icing with a tiny amount of water so they can put their fingers in the open end of the cone (pointed down) and let it run off. However, this dries a lot faster. The kids can also use their fingers to apply a small amount of the green icing on the back of the ornament to "glue" it in place as they went along.
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Christmas 1, 2, 3 Cookies- Submitted by Christi
1 package out of a box of Nabisco graham crackers
(not the whole box!),
1 can sweetened condensed milk,
1 cup chocolate chips,
1 cup holiday M&Ms
Break the graham crackers into crumbs. Add the sweetned
condensed milk, the chocolate chips and the M&Ms. Pour
mixture into a buttered 9x9-inch baking pan. Bake for about 30
minutes at 350 degrees F.
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Grandma's Cinnamon Cookies- Submitted by Christi
2 3/4 cup flour,
2 teaspoons cream of tartar,
1/4 teaspoon salt,
1 teaspoon baking soda,
1 cup shortening,
1 1/2 cups sugar,
2 eggs,
2 teaspoons vanilla,
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Cream the shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla together. Combine all the dry in a separate bowl. Slowly at the dry to the wet ingredients. Chill the dough one hour. Roll the dough into
balls, then into a mixture of 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon
cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees F for 9 to 11 minutes.
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Christmas Cookbook- Submitted by Christi
This activity is more than worth it's time in laughs. I have done it
two years in a row and everyone laughs. Take the children aside one by one and ask them, "What is your favorite Christmas food?" Then ask them "How do you make that?" Write down word for word their responses. You may find it helpful to video tape the responses so you can get it all down. Then compile all of the responses in your classroom recipe book. You may make copies for the parents to take home or make one copy so that the parents may enjoy it. If you do the video, you may want to just show the video at a Christmas party for the parents.
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Hot Cocoa Mix- Submitted by Christi
8 Qt Box Powdered Milk (6 2/3 cups),
2 lb Instant Cocoa (Like Quik),
2 lb bag Powdered Sugar,
22 oz Coffee Creamer,
For Richer Taste add 3 or more tablespoons Baking Cocoa.
Fill Jelly Jars (with Lids) with this yummy mixture!
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Snowman Soup- Submitted by Christi
1 Pkg. Hot Chocolate Mix,
3 Hershey Kisses,
15 Marshmallows (More If Needed),
1 candy cane
Put items in colored plastic wrap.
The Poem:
put on paper and give with items in a mug
Was told you've been real good this year *****
Chocolate Clay- Submitted by Christi
4 (1 oz.) squares semisweet chocolate, melted slowly in a double boiler.
1 T. light corn syrup.
Place ingredients in small bowl and stir well.
Pour into a flat pan lined with foil. Chill 15 to 20 minutes until firm. Knead dough until smooth and pliable. Shape into desired shapes or cut with cookie cutters. "Hair" can be made with a garlic press if you're making people. This clay makes pretty roses and leaves. The finished product is edible and fun to place on top of cupcakes, cakes or cookies.
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Easy Graham Cracker Gingerbread House- Submitted by Sherry To make an easy Graham Cracker gingerbread house, you'll need 5 graham crackers per house and either store-bought frosting in a tube or the following ornamental frosting. (Caution: if the frosting you buy in a tube is intended for cakes, IT WILL NOT HARDEN. You can decorate your graham cracker house with it, but intend on eating your house soon, because it cannot be moved very easily.)
Ornamental Frosting
1/4 c butter or margarine,
4 c sifted powdered sugar,
2 unbeaten egg whites,
1 tsp vanilla,
1/4 tsp cream of tartar,
1 to 2 tsp light cream
With pastry blender, cut butter into powdered sugar until its the consistence of cornmeal. (If you don't have a hand pastry blender, a food processor -- or even a fork can work well for cutting.) Add egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar. Beat thoroughly. Stir in a little light cream till the frosting is juts a bit stiffer than spreading consistency. Tint frosting with a few drops of liquid food coloring, if desired. Place in pastry tube and squeeze onto graham crackers to make decorations.
Decorate the walls and roof of your gingerbread house, either let dry or be VERY careful with your walls. Later, set your graham crackers up like a house of cards, pipe frosting onto the joints to hold the house together.
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Rudolph's Antlers- Submitted by Sherry
1 c Semi-sweet chocolate chips,
1/2 c Butterscotch chips,
3 oz Can chow mein noodles,
12 Maraschino cherries, halved
Melt chocolate and butterscotch chips together in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from heat. Stir in chow mein noodles.
Using two teaspoons, on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet, shape about 1 Tb of the mixture in a V-shaped cookie about 2" wide to resemble antlers.
Press a cherry half securely in the center of each.
Repeat for remaining cookies.
Chill cookies on the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours or till cookies are firm. Store the antlers in the refrigerator in a covered container up to 5 days.
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Brown Sugar Refrigerator Cookies- Submitted by Sherry
Dough keeps up to 10 days in the refrigerator. Wrap well in waxed paper.
For 6 dozen cookies you will need:
2 cups light or dark brown sugar- packed,
1 cup butter or margarine,
2 eggs, slightly beaten,
3 teaspoons vanilla,
3-1/2 cups unsifted all-purpose flour,
1 teaspoon baking soda,
1/2 teaspoon salt,
1 cup finely chopped walnuts, optional
In a mixing bowl, cream together sugar and butter untill light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down sides of bowl as necessary. Combine flour, soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Stir in nuts, if used. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a log 2 inches in diameter in waxed paper. Twist ends to shut. Refrigerate until firm, at least overnight.
Cut rolls into 1/4" thick slides. Set slices 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden. Serve hot or remove while hot onto rack to cool.
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Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe- Submitted by Sherry
cake mix (white for sugar cookies I guess),
1/3 cup oil,
2 eggs,
sugar
preheat oven to 350°. Place cake mix, oil and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Mix with an electric mixer. Place a small amount of sugar in a small bowl. Shape dough into 1" balls. Roll in sugar. Place 2" apart on sprayed baking sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Cool 3 minutes on baking sheet. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Makes 3 dozen cookies.
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Crackles Cookies- Submitted by Sherry
1 lemon, orange, cherry, or strawberry cake mix,
1 egg,
2 cups thawed cool whip,
1 cup powdered sugar
preheat oven to 350°. Mix first 3 ingredients in a large bowl. Dough will be very sticky. Place powdered sugar in a shallow dish (and put some on your
fingertips) Take rounded teaspoons of dough and shape into balls. Roll in powdered sugar and coat very well. Place 2" apart on sprayed baking sheets.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Cool 3 minutes on baking sheet then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
Frost with purchased frosting (in matching flavor) if desired.
Makes 3 to 4 dozen cookies
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Crispy Bells- Submitted by Cheryl
3 TBS. margarine, 1 package (about 40) regular marshmallows, 6 cups rice krispies cereal, cooking spray, 1 pretzel stick per child and 1 gumdrop per child.
I'm sure you recognize the famous rice krispie squares recipe! Just make as usual, and allow to cool slightly, but not harden. Spray the inside of small plastic cups with the cooking spray. Also spray your hands! Fill the cups with the mixture. Add a gumdrop to the top. (This is the bell's "clapper). After about 10 minutes carefully take the mixture out of the cup. Insert the pretzel into the top of the bell to resemble the handle. Very cute---& the kids love making them & eating them!!
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Cookie Pops- Submitted by Sherry
If you are looking for a fun and easy recipe to do with the kids, try these deliciously simple Winter Cookie Pops. The kids will smile and giggle while making these treats, and will have something fun to give to family and friends!
20 vanilla wafer cookies,
1/2 cup peanut butter,
1 6-ounce bag white chocolate chips,
colored candy sprinkles, red & green combo and red,
pull apart licorice whips, cut into 1-1/2" lengths,
M&M candies,
M&M mini candies,
fruit roll ups, cut into 4" lengths,
Cake decorating writer gel in green, black, and orange,
tube of white cake decorator frosting with flower tip,
ice cream sticks,
wax paper or paper plates
Spread peanut butter onto the flat side of the cookies. Place an ice cream stick into the peanut butter on half the cookies. Top with another cookie so the stick is sandwiched between the two cookies.
Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, one minute, then in 20 second increments, stirring until smooth.
Dip cookie pops in the melted chips, covering completely. Roll pops in red and green sprinkles and lay or stand on waxed paper or paper plates. Place in refrigerator to chill.
Fun Variations
Snowmen
Santa
Holly
Note: You can tint the melted chocolate with food coloring, or leave the chocolate white and use different colored sprinkles. Decorate with any other candies you wish, or leave some plain. Another variation is to use vanilla or chocolate frosting instead of peanut butter for the filling.
These can also be made without sticks. use one stick to be able to dip the cookies in chocolate and roll in sprinkles, then remove the stick and put on wax paper or paper plates, then chill.
This recipe was adapted from Penny Warner's Cookie Pops available in the Kid's Party Cookbook.
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Baby Jesus Haystacks- Submitted by Cheryl
Make haystacks to represent baby Jesus lying in the hay in the manger.This is really easy. No oven involved, just the microwave.
1 package choc chips, ½ cup peanut butter, 4 cups chow mein noodles, and
mini marshmallows.
Melt choc chips and peanut butter together for 1 min in microwave, stir and microwave for additional 1 ½ min until melted. Add chow mein noodles and stir with 2 spoons/forks as tossing a salad. Drop onto waxed paper. Add a marshmallow to represent baby Jesus. Cute & the kids love them!
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Easy Gingerbread People- Submitted by Christi
1 package (6-serving size) butterscotch pudding and pie filling, 3/4 cup butter,
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar,
1 egg,
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour,
1 t. baking soda,
1 T. ground ginger,
1 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
Cream pudding and pie filling mix with butter and sugar. Add egg and
blend well. Combine flour, baking soda, ginger, and cinnamon. Blend into pudding
mixture. Chill dough until firm, about 1 hour. Roll dough on a floured board to about 1/4 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutter.
Place on greased baking sheets; use a straw to make a hole in the top
of the cookie for hanging on the tree if desired.
Bake at 350 degree F for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on
wire rack. Decorate if desired.
Yields: 16 to 18 gingerbread cookies.
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