Christmas

This page contains recipes, crafts, traditions and more ~  all pertaining to Christmas!
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SWEETS & TREATS RECIPES


Snow Kisses  (aka Angel Kisses, Forgotten Cookies)

2 Egg Whites
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar*
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375

Using a mixer or beater, whip the egg whites until a little frothy.  
Add salt.
Whip to very stiff peaks. 
Slowly beat in sugar.  
When all sugar is added, fold in chocolate chips with a big spoon or spatula.
Spoon onto greased cookie sheets. 
Turn oven off. (yes, this is the weird part)
Place cookies in oven. 
Leave undisturbed for at least 4 hours.

* you can get good results even if you are a bit scant on the sugar, I think they are better not too sweet, the chocolate chips add sweetness to it.

You can make these plain, without any chips at all, or use white chocolate chips, or add nuts, whatever you enjoy.

These meringue cookies/candy  are easy to make so are great to do with kids. Since you shut the oven off while they cook, you can even put a batch in the oven before you leave to go do shopping or running errands.

I think they keep best if not in a totally air tight container. The Chinese style take-out containers which are so popular in holiday designs this time of year hold them well. Line them with a little white tissue paper and there you go. Or any kind of box or paper type holder.

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CRAFTS and PROJECTS

Berry Bowls

you will need:

* clear glass containers - jars, fancy drinking glasses, glass candle holders, etc.  Look around your house or the dollar stores or thrift shops, and now that you are getting into berry bowls you can also keep an eye out for neat glass containers at yard sales this summer. If you find containers with glass lids, that is great also. But if not, don’t worry.

* a little bit of dirt - if you have potting soil, great. If not, just dig a little dirt up in the woods when you gather berries, or get a little bit of dirt in your yard. You don’t need much at all.

* partridge berries

* a little moss, if you’d like

* red ribbon or any Christmas decorative ribbon or trim

* clear plastic wrap (unless all your containers have lids)

* a wee bit of water, a spray bottle of it works best

1. First off, go hunt for berries. You can go in the mid autumn up until snow starts falling. Pick a nice sunny day if you can and bring a plastic bag or basket or pail to carry your berries and moss in, and a container for a little bit of dirt. I take my daughter, sometimes one of her friends too. Bring a few gardening hand shovels or a few old big spoons. If you have a small garden clipper or knife that might come in handy too, but the berry roots are easy to pull up. (Please see below for where to find the berries, and about permission.) Don’t take every berry in site. Leave many to continue new growth every year. If you don’t find enough in one spot, go drive to another spot somewhere. Basically, don’t hog all the berries! And don’t make them extinct in any one area. Also while in the woods, collect small amounts of green moss. If you can’t find any moss, your berry bowls will still be fine, but moss is usually in all woodsy areas.

2. Once back home you are ready to assemble. Get out your assortment of glass jars and glasses. Last year I used an old wine glass that had silver trim at the rim. It was a deep glass, and low setting. It looked really pretty. I wish I had taken a picture of it. When I make some this year I will post some pics here.

3. Put just a little bit of soil in the bottom of the glass container. Then the roots of the berries. If you are using moss, set small pieces around the edges if the container, allowing the vines of berries to come up through the center. When done arranging, add a small amount of water. You don’t need to see a puddle of water at the bottom. Just feeling the dirt and knowing it is moist is all you need. Now put the glass lid on, or get a piece of clear plastic cling wrap and cover the top tightly. Don’t make the cling wrap come all down the sides of the container. Trim it somewhat close to the rim. Tape it in place if you need to. But your ribbon might help it hold it’s place.

4. Lastly, you add some red ribbon or any kind of holiday ribbon or trim you like near the top rim of the container. This will help hide the seam of where the plastic wrap stops (and hide any tape, if used) so all you see now is the beautiful clear glass container with the colorful holiday berries and greens inside. If your container has a stem (like a wine glass or brandy goblet) you can tie a ribbon and bow at the stem of the glass, or even glue a red or white ribbon rose to it. Maybe even a Christmas jingle bell or craft-store (meaning, non-edible, fake) candy cane, whatever you wish. The tradition of these bowls are rather simple though, so even just a plain red ribbon and bow will make it look lovely.

You are all set to decorate your house with your new berry bowls or give some away as gifts. These are great for kids to make for their teachers and grandmothers. They are nice to give to co-workers, neighbors, and friends. Or to your doctor or hair dresser. They should last all winter. Many times they last even longer. The tight cover of plastic wrap keeps the bowl living just like a terrarium. 



[note: I often see mention of not collecting plants on any property unless you have permission - so proceed at your own risk if you do not get permission. However, I just can’t imagine anyone getting in trouble for picking some inedible berries. But - we have been warned!]

Where to find partridge berries:
Partridge berries are found very low on the ground, like carpet, growing in areas where there is some sun peeping through the trees, or even little to no sun at all. I have heard they are more popular near evergreens, but also read where they are in any woodsy areas. You need to keep your eye out as you slowly walk through the wooded area, looking for little bits of red berries on the ground. Since people don’t rake the forest, you need to sweep away leaves and pine needles here and there to see if you can spot some red berries underneath. I find most close to trees.

Now, if you want, you can plant some of these berries and roots in your back yard and hope that in one to two years they will start to grow for you. They have small white flowers in the spring and summer, and then the berries in fall and winter. They make a nice ground cover. Then you won’t have to risk getting in trouble gathering them in the woods. But trekking out to hunt for the berries seems like part of the fun to me. This time I am going to try planting some though. I can just imagine having to call my husband some year telling him I’ve been arrested for picking berries in the woods! Lol! Anyways, local nurseries might even sell partridge berries in the spring for planting in your own yard too. I will be checking that out...


TIP ~ if you gather your berries earlier in the season and are not ready to make your berry bowls yet, just mist the berries and their vines and roots with water and keep them covered and in a shady or dark spot. Check them every now and then to make sure they are kept moist and alive. But you can make the berry bowls ahead of time if you want - they will last for months, so even if you want to make them in October, keep them away from direct sunlight (a little light is okay) and they should be just fine for December gift giving. They are nice to give at Thanksgiving too.  

Berry Bowls are such fun, festive, and inexpensive items to make. There is something about them I just love. I guess part of it is a little nostalgia. I remember seeing them at craft fairs and Christmas bazaars when I was younger.
I only found a very little amount of berry last year. Maybe I was too late in the season, or maybe other people had gone and picked a bunch before me, I don’t know. So even though I ended up only making one berry bowl last year, it got me started! Go ahead and give it a try. It is fun and they make such inexpensive but nice little gifts for those people who you would like to give a little something more than just a Christmas card to this year. I have heard they stem back from the Colonial era. It’s a nice cozy little bit of Christmas decor that just makes me smile.  :)



HAND-CRAFTED ORNAMENTS

My nephew made this in school. It's made out of felt and then name and date added with green marker. Quick and easy, but a nice memory on the tree each year.  : )  

 

PERONAL PHOTOS