FAMILY CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Do you have any family Christmas traditions you would like to share?

I will share a few with you. Growing up, my sister and I always put out milk and cookies for Santa and we always had the traditional picture taken with Santa. My mom sewed all our clothes that we wore back then, so we always got a new pair of pajamas for Christmas each year. I almot forgot this tradition. Every year our parents would read Twas the Night Before Christmas to me and my sister. I actually still have the book packed away in a box somewhere. It's been so many years. It's starting to tatter. When I got married and we had our first child, my father gave it to me to read to my children during the holidays.

Now that I am married and have kids, my husband and I have started traditions of our own. We always attend a candlelight service at our church. My husband usually sings my very favorite Christmas song.... O Holy Night. Afterwards we usually get invited to a Christmas open house by some friends and hang out for a while and then head home. Now this next Christmas tradition we need to stop. After arriving home from the open house my husband and I usually spend another hour and a half awake because we are wrapping gifts. Now, mind you, are children are no longer small. They are teenagers. So, really, we need to get these things wrapped as we buy them and not wait so late. Maybe that will change this year. Another tradition we started with our children when they were toddlers was receiving only three gifts just like baby Jesus did. They each have a stocking and they usually get an orange and some candy and one or two fun things in it. Each year since the children were born we have bought a Christmas CD or two. So now we have an eclectic collection of Christmas music. Everything from the oldies like Nat King Cole to Brenda Lee and the Trans Siberian Orchestra. Makes listening to Christmas music throughout the holidays more enjoyable.

This year, I am starting a new tradition. I will be making cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Christmas Day....and I will be posting the recipe to share with you all. But first let me entice you with a pic of the finished product. Now you can't tell me that doesn't look tasty. Shoot, if I had the time today, I would make some right now, but I don't. Another tradition we have is baking cookies. Now my family loves Chocolate Chip cookies, so those are a given. I like something called a Mexican Wedding cookie. This year we will try two new ones. Some shortbread cookies and some Linzer cookies. Unfortunately, both are loaded with butter, but are a beautiful , tasty cookie when done.




Speedy Cinnamon Rolls



SERVINGS: 18
CATEGORY: Breads
METHOD: Baked
TIME: Prep: 10 min. + rising Bake: 25 min.





Ingredients:
1 loaf (1 pound) frozen bread dough, thawed
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream


Directions: On a floured surface, roll dough into an 18-in. x 6-in. rectangle; brush with butter. In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, walnuts and cinnamon; sprinkle over dough. Roll up, jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seams to seal. Cut into 16 slices. Place, cut side down, in two greased 8-in. round baking pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 50 minutes. Pour 1/4 cup cream over each pan. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.



Immediately invert onto serving plates. Yield: 1-1/2 dozen.



Here is another recipe for you. If you like giving out bark at Christmas, then this recipe is for you....and no, I don't mean tree bark. This is white chocolate peppermint bark. It is delicious.

Again, I will enitce you with another picture first and then the recipe



Peppermint Bark

Cook Time
10 min
Yield: about 2 pounds of candy
Ingredients
Crushed candy canes, to yield 1 cup
2 pounds white chocolate

Directions
Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Combine candy cane chunks with chocolate (add peppermint flavoring at this point if desired.) Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with parchment or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces (like peanut brittle.)


For packaging ideas, check out Martha Stewarts website. She has some good ideas.

Well, that's all for now. This should keep you all busy and wanting to get into the spirit of the Christmas Season.



Have a blessed day!
CherylPin It Now!