There's nothing like the sweet aroma of freshly baked cakes and cookies filling the kitchen during the holidays. Rachel Paxton has some inspiration for your holiday baking.
Turn baking into a holiday tradition
The holidays are a great time for spending time with family. One favorite
family activity of mine is baking! I just don't spend as much time playing
around in the kitchen as I'd like, and the holidays are a perfect excuse to
try out new mouth-watering candies, cookies, and other holiday treats. It's
also a great time to teach your children how to find their way around the
kitchen, while also having fun with them at the same time.
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Stock up on sale items
I always find that holiday recipes often require expensive ingredients that
I usually avoid in my everyday cooking and baking, just because of how much
those unnecessary items cost. Around the holidays though, many of these
items (chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, peanut butter, butter,
etc.) go on sale.
You can stock up on a few special ingredients that will let you whip up some favorite family treats rather inexpensively. I get a few at the store here and there for a few weeks (or even months) in advance while they're on sale to avoid having to buy them all at one time. Try out some of these recipes and get in the holiday spirit! Happy Holidays!
Pear Eggnog Muffins
Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in large bowl; make a well in center of dry ingredients. Combine chopped pears, eggnog, butter, rum and egg, stirring until well blended. Add eggnog mixture to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Spoon batter into greased muffin pans, filling two-thirds full. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
Heavenly Hash Candy
Ingredients:
Directions:
Spray a 13x9-in. pan with Pam and add marshmallows. Melt chips, butter, & milk in boiler. Remove from heat & stir in pecans. Pour over marshmallows and stir just enough to coat lightly.
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Peanut Blossoms
Ingredients:
Directions:
Sift dry ingredients together. Cream sugars and butters. Add egg, milk, and
vanilla. Beat well. Blend in dry ingredients. Shape into balls. Roll in
sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes in an ungreased pan. Remove and
place kisses on top. Bake 2-5 minutes more. Remove from oven and let cool.
Links, information and more for you
About the author: Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who publishes the Creative Homemaking Recipe of the Week Club, a weekly newsletter that contains quick, easy dinner ideas and money-saving household hints. To subscribe send a blank e-mail message to FreeRecipes-subscribe@egroups.com. Visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com and Suite 101.
