Christmas Baking

This last Saturday a friend came over and together we put our "wifely skills" to good use, making a variety of Christmas goodies:

Peppermint Bark
Chocolate covered pretzels
Sugar Cookies
Mints

My friend Katie did most of the work with chocolate,

while I spent most of my time on the cookies and mints.  

The recipe for sugar cookies is one that's sort of a family recipe.  Not really the norm, and maybe not the best for shapes and frosting.  Still, it worked.  At it's really quite tasty.

Sugar Cookies

1 c. butter

1 c. crisco
1 c. white sugar
1 c. powdered sugar
(cream together)
1 egg
(beat into butter mixture)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
4 c. flour
(add and mix all together)

Roll out into logs and cut into slices.  Dip in sugar and place on cookie tray.  OR, roll out flat and cut out desired shapes.  Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes. :)

We frosted ours with a basic cream cheese frosting, food coloring added.

The mints are also a Christmas tradition in my family.  The recipe is quite easy, but forming them is rather time consuming and requires the use of flexible rubber molds.

Mints
1 8oz package of cream cheese
1 1lb bag of powdered sugar
Desired flavors and colors

Kneed the sugar into the cream cheese until it is all incorporated and a smooth dough is formed.  I always do this by hand.  Not sure how well a mixer would work.  Divide the dough according to how many flavors and/or colors you want.
Some recommended flavors:
Mint (spearmint, wintergreen, or just a generic mint can all be used, depending on what you want and can find)
Almond
Cheesecake
I've also used:
Peach
Butterscotch
Cinnamon
Pretty much any flavor you want can be used.  And any color.  Put a few drops of each on the portion of dough you wish to flavor and color.  Kneed until it's all incorporated.  If you want a stronger taste or brighter color, add more and repeat.  When the dough is as you wish it, take a small bit, dip it in sugar, and press into a mold.  Bend the mold back to release.  Repeat until you run out of dough or decide to give up and go to bed. :)

When well done they are very pretty and tasty and can be used at weddings or showers, as well as for Christmas time. :)

Knitting

I've spent quite a bit of time this fall teaching myself to knit (better).  I had done a little before, but really not much.  I found crocheting quite a bit easier.  Apparently this fall, though, I wanted a challenge.  I still have a lot to learn, but I feel like I'm coming along nicely.  Nicely enough to attempt my sister-in-law some of the basics when she came to visit.

In her own words:

There once was a girl named Alana

Who hailed from the state of Montana.

    Once she did sit,

    And teach me to knit.

I think I will make a bandanna!

She's getting the hang of it.  I have no doubt that soon her skills will outstrip mine.  :)