Christmas Traditions

A family tradition at Christmas time has always been making Sorghum cookies with my mom. We'd cut out little teddy bears and gingerbread men and use those little edible silver balls for buttons or eyes (which, I think aren't considered safe to eat anymore!). Every one would look forward to having sorghum cookies right out of the oven throughout the Christmas season. I have continued this tradition with my kids and try to make at least one batch of these yummy cookies every Christmas (and if I don't, my cousin and husband get rather upset!)
Another tradition that we enjoy is our annual Cookie & Candy Making Day. This will be our 6th year getting together with friends and spending the entire day making Christmas cookies and candy. It has grown from 4 adults and one kid to anywhere up to 7 adults and too many kids to count!! And when I say entire day - I mean ENTIRE day - from 9 am until 9 or 10 pm! We have so much fun making and sampling all our goodies we can't wait until the next year! I've got lots to do before Tuesday, when we have Cookie & Candy Day 2011!!!

To get started on all the amazing sweets I will be making this year, here is the recipe for Sorghum Cookies. I'll be adding more recipes as I get a chance.

Sorghum Cookies
5 Cups Flour
2 Eggs
1/2 cup sorghum (or molasses)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 cup Crisco shortening
2 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cold water

Mix all ingredients together and chill over night. Roll dough in sections 1/2" thick. Cut with cookie cutters. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Don't over bake!! Makes 6 dozen 2 1/2 inch cookies. (They can be frozen and reheated in the microwave for "fresh out of the oven" taste!)

Enjoy!!!

Hair Bows!

Yes, I do something other than cook. This morning, we had our Mom's Coffee time at my house, and Beth brought over her basket of hair bow making supplies. Of course, I had to get my stuff out, and since that is half the work, I actually sat down and got several flowers and bows made for the girls for the upcoming holiday season! Yippee! We had been wearing the same 4 flowers and didn't have any cute Christmas bows, so I got down to work. Here's what I made:


The "Parts" - I either take apart store bought flower stems (the dollar stores are a great place to find cheap flowers) and I also found containers of patterned or solid fabric flowers at Hobby Lobby for $10 for 50 pieces.


The finished flower clip. Pick your colors and sizes, layer, and use a small dot of hot glue between each layer. Add a jewel, fun brad, button, or pom pom to the center and a hair clip to the back.


All in a day's work


The ribbon bow parts. Cut pieces of ribbon and loop to make the size you want and then glue in a "X" pattern. After stacking and gluing blue ribbon, the I looped the white ribbon over the top to give it a finished look on the front and back. A bright jewel and clip complete the bow.


The completed bow


The makings of the flower/bow combo. I took a long piece of the green ribbon, looped it so the center was open and wrong side up and glued between each layer. I then just assembled and glued the small flower in the center. Kenzie helped with this one and wanted to model it for me.


A flower & bow combo clip