The Reason for the Season

Check out this wonderful video... Merry Christmas to you all!

Where's the Line to See Jesus?

Darlene's Christmas Cookie Recipe Party Week 3

Darlene at Our Creative Life is hosting a Christmas Cookie Recipe party. Click here to get all the details!

Shiner Bock Chocolate Chip Cookies




This are definitely for the adults in your life!

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups room temperature Shiner Bock beer
1-12 oz. Package Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
2 Tbsp. Vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Cream together the butter and brown sugar. Cut in flour, baking soda and vanilla. Blend in beer slowly to form a soft dough. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir again adding chocolate chips. Freeze batter for 15 minutes. Drop by teaspoonfuls and top with a walnut piece. Bake 10-12 minutes until lightly brown. Cool one minute on cookie sheet and remove to wire rack.

I tested these cookies for Robin's Cookie Exchange Cookie Contest. While they didn't win, they were quite good!

Aren't these adorable?

It was Snack Day at the office today and one of my coworkers brought these darling snowmen in. They are powdered donuts stacked on top of each other secured with a pretzel rod. The hats are mint patties and reeses cups. The faces are drawn on with icing and the arms are pretzel sticks! They are sitting on a bed of snow (coconut). Adorable!

It's Not Christmas Unless...

I read a lot of blogs and on one blog there was this darling post about It's Not Christmas Unless... I wish I was better at remembering where I saw this post so I could give the author credit. If you know, leave me a post!

For us, it's not Christmas unless...

...our daughter puts the angel on top of the tree. She's 24 now and it's difficult to lift her to the top of the tree.

... we bake cookies and make candy until the cows come home! We made four cookies and six candies this year!

... we watch A Charlie Brown Christmas. I have watched this television special since the 60s. My favorite Christmas song comes from this show!

... we open stockings on Christmas morning! It is my favorite part of the day.

... I read a Christmasy novel. This year I read two by Debbie Macomber, with Mrs. Miracle being one.

... we go and see a Transiberian Orchestra concert! They rock!

... we go and see a Christmas program put on by elementary students. It is always adorable.

... we sing Christmas carols at Mass, perferrably Midnight Mass, but any will do!

... I send out Christmas cards, even if it is just a few.

... we open Santa's Sack on Christmas Eve. The bag always contains our pjs and a game and snacks for Christmas Eve fun.

... we hang the ornaments on the tree that my grandparents made. There are several crocheted ornaments and a clothespin reindeer that I must see every year.

... we pull Christmas crackers on Christmas morning! We usually do this right before we eat breakfast.

... we watch homemade family videos of prior Christmases. We LOVE doing this!

... we go around town and look at Christmas lights with our peppermint hot cocoa and pizza.

... I taste my mom's peanut butter balls and her eggnog. Delightful.

... we see our Christmas mice collection on the buffet in the family room. They are so cheerful and fun.



I'd love to hear about your traditions that you cannot do without!

Preparations for a Holiday Party

Mr. Christmas Tree Lane hosts a party for his staff every year. We have done this for about fifteen years, so we have it down to a science! This past Sunday we made the sweets for the party... tipsy cherries, oreo truffles(two kinds!), Bailey balls, pretzel rods, and crockpot candy! These are all requested items and we try to accomodate and please everyone!



Last night we cleaned house. Tonight we will make all the dips and I will set out all the trays and bowls we will use and put labels on everything. Tomorrow night we thaw the shrimp, cook up all the meats, make the veggie trays, the roll up trays and the meat and cheese trays. Thursday I will get things out and start to decorate the platters. I'll light candles and put on music and wait for the guests!! It is always so much fun!

Lovely Christmas Decorations

These Christmas decorations are from my daughter's apartment... she does a beautiful job!



Tulle is her bow of choice!



The living room tree...



This black and white tree is themed after her wedding...

Darlene's Christmas Cookie Recipe Party Week 2

Darlene at Our Creative Life is hosting a Christmas Cookie Recipe party. Click here to get all the details!

Peppermint Meltaways



1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
FROSTING:
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 to 3 drops red food coloring, optional
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies

In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in extract. Combine flour and cornstarch; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and no longer than an hour. Shape into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

In a small bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add the confectioners’ sugar, milk, extract and food coloring if desired; beat until smooth. Spread over cooled cookies; sprinkle with crushed candies. Store in an airtight container.