Christmas Treats - Memories in the Making

Can you believe it? Christmas is only a week away! Actually, our Christmas is going to stretch that entire week. Our two boys will be here Christmas Eve and Day, daughters #1 and 3 will arrive the 27th with their families, and daughter #2 and her crew will join the madness on the 29th. Yes, now is the time for me to get my holiday baking on.

Perhaps I'll start with a little Spritz. (recipe here) Definitely a classic and oh, so easy to make. And if you want to change up the flavors, you can go with either almond or vanilla extract. Hmm...I wonder how they would taste with an orange or lemon flavor added? I just might have to do a little experimentation. 

Thumbprint Cookies (recipe here) are another classic. I just love the pecan coating.

And, of course, sugar cookies (recipe here).  

I can't tell you all the memories I have of decorating sugar cookies, both with my kids and when I was young. The most vivid one is of going to my great-aunt Gladys's when I was a little girl. She never married or had any children of her own, but every year she used to invite her nieces and nephews to her place to decorate Christmas cookies. She had a very small kitchen, though, and one year I bumped into my cousin, sending his plate of unadorned cookies careening toward the floor where they promptly broke.

Aunt Gladys, a retired school teacher, looked at me very matter-of-fact and said, "Mindy, you'll just have to share your cookies."

I can still feel my bottom lip quivering. I didn't want to share my cookies. I'd waited all year for those cookies. Sniff, sniff.

Of course, there was no arguing with Aunt Gladys, so Jeff went home with half of my cookies.

To this day, I can't tell you what those cookies tasted like. But I have such fond memories of decorating them. And isn't that what the holidays are all about. Sharing memories and making new ones.

In addition to cookies, we have the candies. Not really baking, but essential nonetheless.

Everything from Buckeyes, aka peanut butter balls (recipe here)...

 To Pretzel Turtles (recipe here)...

 As well as the ever-popular fudge (recipe here).

Just last week I told you the fond memories fudge holds for me, that it was the one thing my mom made every Christmas. 

Yes, making/eating these holiday treats/staples is like having cherished old friends visit. You love spending time with them, but by the time the holidays are over, you're glad to see them go. Mostly because you've overindulged and January marks a fresh start.

What treats will you be baking/making this week? Do you have memories that are wrapped around cherished holiday recipes? I'd love to hear them.

As I close out this post, I want to wish all a blessed holiday season. For some, this will be a challenging time as they face their first Christmas without a precious loved one. Even in our sorrow, may we keep our focus on the true meaning of Christmas. A baby born in a stable Who was and still is the hope of the world. 

Merry Christmas!

Three-time Carol Award finalist, Mindy Obenhaus lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, the youngest of her five children and two dogs. She's passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com 

Have a Ball!

Whoo-hoo! December has finally arrived. Despite temperatures hovering just over the eighty degree mark, I'm ready to bake. Ready to whip up all those tasty treats I only make this time of year. But let's be practical. If I make sugar cookies now, they'll be gone long before Santa's sleigh leaves the North Pole. And I don't want to make them twice. I will make them in a week or two and freeze them to be frosted just before Christmas. Not a temptation. After all, a sugar cookie without icing just isn't the same.

So where do I start?

With things that freeze well and are great to bring out when unexpected guests drop by.  That means candy. And since there's really no baking involved, they're perfect for our less-than-desirable December weather.

The two things at the top of my list, peanut clusters (you can find that recipe here) and peanut butter balls.

Today we're making peanut butter balls. I've seen them called all kinds of names--buckeyes, chestnuts, peanut butter bon-bons.... I prefer chestnuts, because that's what they look like to me. Call them what you like, they're still peanut butter balls. And they're super easy. All you really need is a little bit of time.

You will need:

• 1 1/2 lb. (that's 5 1/4 cups) sifted powdered sugar
• 1 lb. peanut butter (smooth, crunchy, whatever you like)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 lb. (2 sticks) butter or margarine (My personal preference for this recipe is margarine. It makes for a softer center.) 

Combine margarine, peanut butter and vanilla in a large bowl. I use an electric hand mixer to get the job done. Add powdered sugar a little bit at a time, mixing well. It should look kind of like pie crust dough.

Now's when you're gonna have to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty. Heck, get the whole family to help. Sing Christmas carols while you roll the mixture into 3/4 - 1 inch balls.

 

Once they're rolled, you'll want to pop them in the freezer for at least an hour. I usually lay mine out on a parchment lined baking sheet.

 

For the chocolate coating, you will need:

 

1 - 12 oz package semi-sweet chocolate morsels

 

1 oz paraffin (you can also use 1 1/2 tablespoons shortening, but I think the wax, gross as it may sound, gives better results)

Chop the wax



 

And melt with the chocolate. I use the microwave, thirty second increments, stirring after each one. Take it slow, otherwise you'll burn the chocolate. I speak from careless experience.

 

Almost there....

Once the chocolate is melted, I set the measuring cup in a bowl  or pan of hot water so it will stay nice and thin. Otherwise it starts to cool and you won't get good results without nuking it again.

 

Once dipped, you can line the candies on some parchment or waxed paper, or you can use these cute little baking (mini-muffin) cups. They make them look so festive and easy for picking up. The biggest problem is choosing the design. They have so many cute ones out this time of year.



 

Let the dipping begin.

You can use a dipping tool or a fork, but for me, the easiest is a toothpick. The balls are frozen, so the pick holds nicely and the chocolate sets quickly.

Dip them into the chocolate, stopping just shy of the top, creating that chestnut look.

 

Here's my set up. Look at all those poor naked.... Ahem. Guess I'd better not finish that sentence.



 

Once they're all coated and nestled in their little beds, I like to store them in a Tupperware-type container, adding a sheet of parchment in between each layer, then store them in the freezer.

 

Then they're all ready whenever you need them. Grab as many as you like whenever you need them. You're guests will gobble them up. And you might too.

 

Tomorrow is my friend Drenda's annual cookie swap. That means the holiday baking is about to be in full swing. I'll let you know next week what I decide to take.

 

Until then...happy baking.