Christmas Cookies

Marble Chocolate Cookie Bark by Lara

I LoVe these Marble cookies because they are super fast to make and a great way to use your leftover almond bark and oreos!  Put them in a clear container and it makes a pretty gift too! ~Lara

2 Tbsp. peanut butter

1 pkg. (6 squares) White Almond Bark, melted

10 OREO Cookies, crumbled, divided

1 pkg. (6 squares) Chocolate Almond Bark, melted

ADD peanut butter to white chocolate; stir until well blended. Stir 1/2 the cookies into each bowl of chocolate.

DROP spoonfuls of the chocolate mixtures onto waxed paper-covered baking sheet, alternating colors of chocolates. Swirl with knife.

REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces.

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{CHECKERBOARD COOKIES} by Robynn

I really think these cookies are FuN and they taste yummy-licious as well!

You can either use your favorite Sugar Cookie Cutout recipe or the following one I use (from the red and white checkered Better Homes And Gardens Cookbook).

Sugar Cookie Cutouts

  • 2/3 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

In a large mixing bowl beat batter with an electric mixer on medium to high-speed for 30 seconds.  Add granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.  Beat in egg, milk and vanilla until combined.  Beat in as much of the flour as you can with mixer.  Stir in remaining flour.

Make two batches of the above sugar cookies in separate bowls.  To one batch add 1/2 cup melted milk-chocolate chips.

Press each batch of cookie dough into half of a shoe-box lid lined with parchment paper.  Refrigerate.

After dough has been chilled, layer the dough as in the above pic:

With a long knife cut down through the two layers (about 1/2 inch wide strips).  Take two of these strips and place as shown in the above pic.  Then slice and bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.

This cookie dough (or whatever cookie dough you prefer) can be given as a Christmas gift!  Just wrap in wax paper (parchment paper doesn’t allow tape to stick to it) and attach a Christmas gift tag containing the kind of cookie dough and baking directions!  (If your cookie dough contains raw eggs, make note of that on the instructions.)

Enjoy!

:)

Robynn~
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Italian Knot Cookies by Robyn (Jersey Girl)

I’ve been making these cookies for Christmas since I was a little girl.  The recipe was passed down from my great-grandmother to my “Grandma Triolo” and they are always a HuGe hit!

4 cups flour

1 cup sugar

4 eggs

½ lb. butter (2 sticks)

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

5 teaspoons baking powder

pinch of salt

Dough:

Melt butter, add sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking powder, and salt…slowly add flour.  Chill dough in refrigerator for an hour.  Form knots and bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Icing:

Mix confectioner’s sugar, a drop of vanilla, and warm water until you get the consistency you want (I like my icing on this thick side).  Dip tops of cookies into icing and add sprinkles!  EnJoY!

~Robyn (Jersey Girl)

{Peace With Food – Numero Uno}

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There’s a verse in the Bible I love that says, “WiSdOm is SuPreMe; therefore get wisdom.  Though it cost all you have get understanding.”  Proverbs 4:7 (NIV)

I personally believe the first step to peace with food is getting wisdom.  Obviously if this area of “peace with food” (whether that is eating too much, not enough, or binging and purging) is something that is challenging for you, you don’t have all the InForMatiOn you need or else you’re just not “there” yet.  There are times when we know we need to make changes, but for whatever reason aren’t ready or just don’t want to badly enough.  Sometimes we enjoy our misery.  For a while, that is.  But chances are you do want it BadLy enough.  Chances are you have tried numerous times and failed and you’re frustrated, discouraged, disillusioned, and feel hopeless which is exactly why you need wisdom.  You need to know what to do with your unique set of circumstances.

Wisdom is what can guide you in your JouRnEy.  Wisdom comes from many sources.  I do my best to remember (because it is easy to forget) to go to the author of wisdom first for help, God Himself, but hey God uses lots of things including people and circumstances.  So make sure you ask Him WHO and/or WHAT He may want to use to help you.  Maybe it will be a SuPpOrT group.  Maybe your situation is more severe and you need help from a professional counselor.  Maybe it will be a book or InSpiRing movie, song, quote, or video.  Maybe it’s an organization such as Weight Watchers that can help guide you in making good eating choices.  Maybe it’s your physician or a website that can give you the information you need to start a SeNsibLe exercise program.  Or maybe it will be a good friend who can encourage you and hold you AcCouNtabLe.

The old adage goes, “Wisdom is PoWeR.”  So before you plunge in headfirst, take some time to get the wisdom you need to get a “Smart Start”.  It will save precious time and help you hit the ground running!

:)

Robynn~

Money Doesn’t Grow On Trees

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Our family is planning a BiG trip to Disneyworld this summer!  It will be the first visit for both of my children and we can’t wait to see the excitement on their faces as they meet their favorites…Tinkerbell and Mickey Mouse!  With a big trip like this comes a BIG price tag.  I don’t want my kids thinking you show up to Disneyworld and say, “HeRe I Am!”  I want them to understand that our family has worked hard to save and plan for such a special trip.

Like many kids, mine have so many toys they don’t know which one to play with first.  For upcoming holidays and birthdays I have asked my family to give my children Disney gift cards instead of toys.  I bought each of them a small Disney sandwhich keeper at my local dollar store and my kids now use them to save all of their “DiSNeY MoNeY.”  Between Halloween and Thanksgiving they already have a nice collection of gift cards from family and any money they got from trick-or-treating went into their sandwich keepers too.

We’ve been discussing different things they can use their “Disney money” on when go on our trip such as souveniers, special snacks, extra activites, etc.  As young as my children are they are really understanding why they are saving their “Disney money” and it makes me happy to know that they are learning such a ValUAbLe lesson so early in life!

~Robyn (Jersey Girl)

DIY Ladder Shelf

I made a shelf a couple of years ago and LoVe how it turned out.  Recently, my sister wanted one so I was able to take some pictures this time to share the steps with you!  Thanks Sis, for asking me, so I could document this for a post :)

I bought (2) 1x4x8 pieces of pine and got to wOrk cutting them to the sizes I wanted.

(2) 4 foot 1x4 pieces, and (3) 1 foot 1/4 pieces

 You can make the shelf as tall and wide as you’d like, but I made this one 4-feet long and the “rungs” 1-foot tall (for easy measuring!)

After they were cut, I laid it out to see what it would look like.

Then off to making it look pReTTy!  Used some dark walnut stain I had on hand.  This stain has been used for SO MANY projects!

Time to assemble!

I had “my man” help me nail the shelf together.  We laid the long pieces side-by-side and then marked where the “rungs” would go.  Then I used 2 brad nails to sEcuRe the top and bottom of every piece.  Very easy if you can get someone to help you with this step, and the exposed nails add to the character!

Added some hardware to the back so it would be ready for my sister to hang!

This is a picture of my shelf that I made a couple years ago.  This one is longer than the one I made above for my sister.  Custom make it to fit your needs, just make sure you buy enough 1×4’s!  This is easily something you could do in an afternoon and it’s super eaSy and inexPensiVe!  You could even have the pieces cut to size at your hardware store if you don’t have access to a miter saw!

P.S. Here is a mini-ladder shelf I made with some left over wood from my pRojeCt.  I added some hooks and we use it to hang our keys in the mudroom!

~Lara

{Mean People}

You can call them “the Scrooge”, “the Grinch”, or “MeAn PeOpLe”.  We all either know of some or come across them from time to time.  And for whatever reason it seems that their antics are more AnNoYiNg during the holiday season.  Maybe that’s because their negative persona is in stark contrast to the cheer and joy of the Christmas season.

But before I WriTe ThEm oFF this holiday, I’m reminding myself that “Hurt (adjective) people, hurt (verb) people”.  That’s what they do. It’s what comes natural.  In fact, sadly, that is, probably all they know.  Maybe it’s because of AbuSe as a child, maybe it’s because of great pain or loss, or maybe it’s because they have never been given love, which in that case it is obvious why they are “mean” – giving away something you don’t have (in this case, love/kindness) is an impossibilty.

So, God, please help me to remember that you loved me before I loved you and now it’s time for me to ReTuRn the FaVoR.

:)

Robynn~

St. Nicholas Day

Belgium St. Nicholas

Four years ago when my son was a baby, I started a TrAdItIoN that families around the world have been doing for ages.  December 6th is the celebration of St. Nicholas Day.  St. Nicholas was known for his GeNeRoSiTy to those in need and his love for children.

Italian St. Nicholas

In many European countries, on December 5th, the eve of St. Nicholas Day children leave their ShOeS outside of the bedroom doors and wait for St. Nicholas to leave them a surprise.  I have my children do the same thing with their favorite shoes and I love to see their excitement when they wake up in the morning to find that St. Nicholas has visited our home.  I feel this is a great way to “KiCk OfF” the holiday season and teach my children about a Saint who was so giving to little ones like themselves.  You can read more about St. Nicholas at www.stnicholascenter.org.

What family traditions do YoU do to start the holiday season?  We LoVe to hear from our readers so please share your stories!

My son's first St. Nicholas Night 2007
 
St. Nicholas Night 2010 – Let’s hope my son Nicholas has a better day this December 5th so he doesn’t have to get another letter and underwear in his shoes!

Christmas Tree Traditions

Jersey Girl: Decorating the Christmas tree is something I look forward to each year.  Our family has an artificial CHRISTmas tree.  The main reason we opted for the tree that we have is because I am able to put it up early and keep it up for a week after the new year without worrying about it drying out.  Our tree looks so rEaL that most people who come to our house insist on touching it because they don’t believe me!  My husband and I both had a lot of ornaments before we got married and our collection has continued to grow.  Some of our faVoriTe ornaments are the ones that we made growing up and now our children are making new ones to add to our collection!  It takes days to put all of the ornaments on our tree,  but we pass the time with Christmas music and lots of lAugHs!

Lara:  Ever since I was a little girl I remember piling up in the pickup with my family and driving around our cattle pastures for the peRfect cedar tree.  Dad would cut it down with a chainsaw and we would decorate it that night.  The smell of the cedar tree would fill up the house for the entire holiday.  I love that smell!  

As you can see, our traDiTion continues now that I have a family of my own.  Last weekend we went hit the country roads in search for our tree.  Doug cut it down and the whole family decorated it while Christmas music is played in the background :)

To top it off we usually enjoy some homemade hot chocolate and a Christmas movie before bed.  Making memories can be so FuN!

Robynn:   “Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, how LoVeLy are your branches…”  However, even more lovely than the branches are the memories that are made each year when my family and father-in-law a.k.a. “Papa” pile in the minivan and head out of town to our nearby Christmas tree farm, the PiNe TrEe FaRm where owner, Travis cuts our tree.

We made our yearly Christmas tree trek Thanksgiving weekend and although I am not a fan of cold and dreary weather this is one day of the year where it suites me just fine!  This year did not disappoint, it felt and looked like WiNtEer (with the exception of snow) as it has the three previous years.

Once at the Christmas Tree Farm, we get on a hay rack trailer pulled by a tractor and drive through a grove of trees, across a bridge, into a field of trees.

Then it’s time to pick the perfect tree and head back to “headquarters” where HoT CiDeR and cinnamon mints await.  My girls and I drop our mints in the cider and enjoy cinnamon apple cider!  The PeRfEcT ending as we warm up our fingers and our tree is being tied to the top of our minivan!!

I AM…Hero of the Week

Last week was a time for family gatherings, good food, and being tHankFul for all the good things in our lives.  Well, I’m thankful in a specific way for my sister-in-law’s husband Shawn.

Shawn is a lineman so he’s use to risking his life on extended storm breaks.  He has to work through some of the most adverse weather conditions so we all can have electricity back on as soon as possible.  This is a very tough job and dangerous job at times so Shawn is a hero in his own right.

Well last weekend Shawn was a HERO for a different reason.  He saved my son’s life.  Do you remember my post last week where I said my son choked on a grape?  Well, he did it again but only this time with a steel marble he (for whatever reason!!!) stuck in his mouth.  Fortunately (we attribute it to Divine intervention), Shawn was downstairs with the kids when it happened.  He noticed Garrett choking and rushed him upstairs.  I tried the Heimlich maneuver again this time and after the first couple times couldn’t get it.  Shawn was already on his knees, reached out and grabbed Garrett, and after several attempts, the steel marble dropped on the floor and tragedy was averted.

Our evening went on after a little decompression time and we had fun with my husband’s family.  The gravity of the situation didn’t really hit us until the 2 hour drive home that night.  We couldn’t stop thinking about it.  What if Shawn wasn’t downstairs, would we have made it to the hospital in time, what if???

We thought instead of highlighting another “Woman of the Week”, it was only fitting to highlight Shawn this week as “Hero of the Week”.  We will fOreVer be grateful for him being in the right spot at the right time and saving our son’s life.  Thank you Shawn!

~Lara

Christmas Candy Crowd Pleaser

I don’t know how many people have asked me for this recipe.  I wanted to share this with you so you could take something new to your holiday gatherings!  ENjOy!

Easy Oreo Truffles

1 pkg (1lb, 2oz) Single Stuffed Oreo’s, crushed

1 pkg (8oz) Cream Cheese, softened

1 pkg  Chocolate Almond Bark, melted

Crush the oreos in a ziplock bag and mix in a bowl with the cream cheese.  Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1″ in diameter.  Refrigerate until firm and then dip in melted chocolate.  I drizzle white chocolate on the top to give them a nice look and so people can tell the apart from my other Christmas candy (like peanut butter balls).  Put them back in the fridge until firm and enjoy!

Do you have a dish or dessert that is always a crowd pleaser?  Tell us what it is!

~Lara

Since I had several people email me this morning about this other recipe, I am adding it!  These are super yummy too! Be sure to read the recipes in the comments below!

Chocolate Covered Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough     

½ C. Butter (Softened)

¾ C. Packed Brown Sugar

2 C. Flour

1 C. (14 oz.) Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 tsp. Vanilla

½ C. Mini Chocolate Chips

1 Pkg. Almond Bark

Cream butter and brown sugar.  Add flour, milk, and vanilla—mix.  Stir in chocolate chips and nuts (optional).  Shape in 1 inch balls.  Place on waxed paper lined cookie sheets and lightly cover.  Refrigerate 1-2 hours.  Melt candy coating, dip balls, and place on wax paper lined cookie sheets.  Refrigerate for approx. 15-20 minutes until set.  Store in fridge.

*I put cookie dough in fridge for about 20 minutes before rolling the dough into balls b/c the dough can be pretty sticky!  Enjoy!

Handprint Memories

I try to do a handprint/footprint project with my kids for each HoLiDaY or SeAsOn.  I started them shortly after my son turned one and have continued since.  It is FuN to look back and see how their hands and feet have grown and the projects make great decorations and gifts.  You can find tons of great ideas just by doing a simple Google search for holiday handprint projects.  Have fun CrEaTiNg great memories!

I made this wreath last Christmas using my son’s handprints for the wreath and my daughter’s tiny feet for the holly!  I wrote the little poem myself!

I made these little snowmen out of their feet last January!

~Jersey Girl~