Billie's Christmas Corner: Billie's Christmas Corner Dec 8

Hello. I hope you are doing well and are well on the way to having a wonderful Christmas this year.

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What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? Frostbite

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The Christmas custom of hanging wreaths on front doors is borrowed from ancient Rome's New Year's celebration. Romans wished each other "good health" by exchanging branches of evergreen trees. It became the custom to bend these branches into a ring and display them on doorways.

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Hum... I think I have every thing I need to make this.

Mocha Coffee Gift Mix

1/3 cup instant coffee
1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
2/3 cup non-dairy powdered coffee creamer
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Grind the instant coffee in a grinder or put it through a fine metal
strainer to make the consistency as fine as possible.
Put all ingredients in a small bowl and stir until well-blended.
Spoon into jelly jars and seal tightly.
Makes 3 1/2 cups.

Cut a circle of fabric large enough to cover the jar top, and hang over the
edges halfway down. Tie with ribbon or jute. Print the following instructions on a card and tie onto the jar.

Serving: 1/4 cup Mocha Coffee. Add 3/4 cup boiling water and stir until
dissolved. Top with whipped cream.

This a nice idea to include in a gift basket with your homemade cookies and maybe a Holiday mug. ~

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.
When I read off this recipe to my Husband and asked if he would like some, He said yes. I only have to find where I "Hid" our oatmeal and I will have everything else I need to make this.

Peanut Butter Fingers

yields 3 dozen Bar Cookies

Cream together:
½ cup margarine
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar (packed)

Blend in:
1 unbeaten egg
1/3 cup peanut butter
½ teaspoon soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon vanilla

Stir in:
1 cup flour (sifted)
1 cup quick cooking rolled oats

Spread in greased 9x13 pan
Bake 350º for 20-25 minutes
Immediately when you remove them from the oven, sprinkle with 1 cup
semi-sweet chocolate morsels. Let stand 5 minutes, spread evenly.

Combine:
½ cup powdered sugar
¼ cup peanut butter
2 to 4 Tablespoons evaporated milk ~ making a pour able consistency, not to
runny

Drizzle with frosting mixture.

Cool and cut into bars.
These freeze well.

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Holiday Cider Punch

2 quarts apples cider
2 lemons sliced
2 teaspoons cloves
2 sticks cinnamon

* tie spices in bag and simmer in above ingredients 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and add
1 quart orange pop
1 quart ginger ale

Good hot or cold.

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Bird's Nest Ornament

Bird's nest ornaments are symbols of good luck. It is believed that the
first ornament you place in your tree should be a birds nest. According to
legend,
prosperity will come to any home that finds a bird's nest nestled among the
branches of the family's Christmas tree. This is a wonderful gift for someone having their very first Christmas away from home. Perfect for the newlyweds first Christmas together. It will
create a memory every year they decorate their tree and remember . .

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http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/2014/12/teacher-and-friend-gift-idea-extra-gum.html

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PEPPERMINT SUGAR COOKIE DOUGH BARK

yield: 4 CUPS

Layer eggless sugar cookie dough between layers of white chocolate and

top with candy canes for a Christmas version of sugar cookie bark!

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup all purpose flour

16 ounces white candy melts or

baking chocolate (such as Candiquik)

4 regular size candy canes

Cream butter and sugar with a hand mixer or in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix in vanilla, salt, and slowly add in flour. Mix until combined.

Cover a cutting board with a large piece of wax paper. Place the dough in the center, press it down flat, and cover it with another piece of wax paper. Roll the dough into a rectangle (about 8"x10") between the two pieces of wax paper. Chill for at least 10 minutes.

Place your candy canes in a quart-sized ziploc bag. Roll with a rolling pin to crush. (Careful, the bag will get tiny holes from the sharp candy canes. It's best to roll it on a cutting board or cookie sheet to minimize mess.)

Line a cookie sheet with more wax paper. Melt white candy according to package directions. Pour half on the prepared cookie sheet and spread it into a rectangle slightly larger than the dough rectangle.

Place the cookie dough rectangle on top of the white candy. Pour the remaining white candy on top and spread to cover, making sure to meet the edges of the bottom layer to seal the dough inside. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes.

Chill until set, at least 30 minutes. Instead of breaking, I have better success cutting this bark into wedges so that the chocolate doesn't come off the cookie dough. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to one month. Serve at room temperature.

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I so, sometimes, wish I still had kids in the house. Sometimes, that is..... There are some fun things I could do with them that was not around when my own kids were small and at home.

We spent a few nights together, playing games. When we could not find something to watch on the tv.

http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/2015/11/spin-a-snowman/