Twelve Days Of Christmas, from our Team to You and Your Family
Check back daily from December 1st - 12th for updates!
December 1st
December 2nd
Try this scrumptious looking recipe!
December 3rd
These fun chocolate party spoons are great as sweet treats at your holiday festivities. Use them with coffee, hot chocolate or enjoy them by themselves.
First of all, get yourself some spoons. I found these colored plastic ones in the kind of cheap shop that you love going into but wouldn't want to be seen in. Have a hunt around to see what you can find.
Then, you'll need some chocolate. I'm not a snob (honest!), but I do think you get what you pay for, so make it a chocolate that you actually feel comfortable eating. Nothing too expensive; you'll be covering it with trashy sweets and sprinkles after all. I got these bars in Rome - I'm a sucker for pretty packaging.
While you melt the chocolate, either in the microwave, or over some simmering water, you need to make your spoons level so that when you pour in the liquid chocolate, it doesn't spill. I simply propped them up. You could use anything suitable - the edge of a plate or chopping board, for example.
Then, spoon in some chocolate.
Then you simply go mad with whatever small sweets, silver balls and sprinkles you have. Jelly beans are a must - we all agreed they go nicely with the chocolate, however odd that may sound. If your sweets are chocolate themselves though, wait ten minutes before putting them onto the molten chocolate, just in case they also start melting.
Fondly,
The Julie Beall Team: Julie, Cathy, Pam & Joellen
December 4th
Family Christmas Letters
This is a tradition with my immediate family. Every year we write a letter to each other. Each letter is a reflection of the past year and what we have seen each family member achieve, experience, endure, and grow through that year. It's also a time to convey our love and appreciation for that family member.
Over the years we have gotten creative with the letters and even added images that would reflect something special about that person. Whether it's an image of Mr. Incredible...for a nickname...or a verse, or picture of a location visited during that year. We then exchange them on Christmas Eve after we've read the Christmas Story in the book of Luke. We each read our letters outloud for the family to hear.
It's such an encouraging way to show our love and appreciation for our family. As we reflect on the memories it also reminds us of the MANY blessings that we have experienced through the year.
Afterwards, I add a decorative cover page with the date and put them in a binder.
Fondly,
from The Julie Beall Team: Julie, Cathy, Pam & Joellen
December 5th
December 6th
SNOWMAN TREE
He is made from a pre-lit artificial Christmas tree (don't throw away that old artificial tree!), fiberfill batting, lots of pine cones, faux berries, icicles etc. and a piece of flannel fabric for his scarf.
We used my grandfather's boots and his top hat and my grandmother's scarf, making it a very special snowman!
Fondly,
The Julie Beall Team: Julie, Cathy, Pam & Joellen
December 7th
Caramel Crispix Mix
2 C. Butter 2 C. Brown Sugar 1/2 C. Corn Syrup 1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda 1 tsp. Vanilla 2 (12 oz) boxes Crispix
Combine butter, brown sugar, corn syrup & salt into saucepan. Stir constantly until it begins to boil. Allow to boil 5 minutes without stirring. Spray several cookie sheets with Pam nonstick spray and pour cereal onto cookie sheets. After boiling the caramel mixture for 5 minutes remove from heat and add baking soda & vanilla. Mix thoroughly. Pour caramel mixture over cereal and bake @ 225-250 degrees for one hour. Stir for the first time after 15 minutes of baking. Continue to stir every 15 minutes during the hour of baking. Pour cereal onto wax paper to cool. Separate cereal while warm to prevent clumping. After cool, store in an airtight container. This is a great treat to take to parties & gatherings...it make a large batch. Enjoy!
Fondly,
The Julie Beall Team: Julie, Cathy, Pam & Joellen
December 8th
My favorite snack for the holidays is Chex® Mix and not the kind you buy in the bag (although that is good too). It is a tradition in my family to make Chex® Mix and put up the Christmas tree. The smell while it is baking is irresistible! Here is the recipe for you to try.
Chex Mix Recipe:
| 3 | cups Corn Chex® cereal |
| 3 | cups Rice Chex® cereal |
| 3 | cups Wheat Chex® cereal |
| 1 | cup mixed nuts |
| 1 | cup bite-size pretzels |
| 1 | cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular-size bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces |
| 6 | tablespoons butter or margarine |
| 2 | tablespoons Worcestershire sauce |
| 1 1/2 | teaspoons seasoned salt |
| 3/4 | teaspoon garlic powder |
| 1/2 | teaspoon onion powder |
| Did You Know? |
| The original recipe includes Corn Chex®, Rice Chex® and Wheat Chex®. You can mix and match to suit your taste—just use a total of 9 cups of cereal. |
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| 1. | In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated. |
| 2. | Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container. |
| Oven Directions Heat oven to 250°F. In large bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in cereal mixture until evenly coated. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container. | |
| Health Focus | To reduce the fat to 2 grams and the calories to 80 per serving, use 3 tablespoons margarine instead of the 6 tablespoons butter, omit mixed nuts and use fat-free bagel chips. |
Fondly,
The Julie Beall Team: Julie, Cathy, Pam & Joellen
December 9th
GINGERBREAD HOUSES
For years we have made graham cracker gingerbread houses. Our adult children still enjoy the tradition. It is easy and super fun.This is a whole lot easier than making home-made ginger cookies. Over the years we have made a few masterpieces and many gingerbread house blobs. We have had cabins, the north-pole, trains, tracks with out trains, pyramids, (who builds a gingerbread pyramid), our names, churches, etc. You can just about use anything that will stick with icing. You can use glue if you are not going to eat them. I usually go to the local IGA and ask the meat department for a few foam meat trays. They make great trays to construct and then display the houses. Don’t forget the coconut for the snow to cover the tray. Enjoy!
Fondly,
The Julie Beall Team: Julie, Cathy, Pam & Joellen
December 10th
Add a little Bling this year for Christmas
For the monogrammed ornament, I purchased a four pack of large ornaments in both browns and silver from Home Goods {they were around $9.00}. I then purchased rhinestone sticker letters at Hobby Lobby. One large letter for the last name and a couple smaller alphabet packs for the first and middle initial {I held up my small and large initials just to make sure that the small wasn’t too small}:
All I did next was simply remove the letters
from the backing and attached to the ornament. I didn’t use any glue or E6000 because the sticker letter adhesive was so strong itself in combination with the glass on the ornament that there really is no need:
I love the website this came. Check out www.thecreativityexchange.com
Fondly,
The Julie Beall Team: Julie, Cathy, Pam & Joellen
December 11th
HOT HOLIDAY CIDER
INGREDIENTS:
1 gallon apple cider
1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar
1 can (6 oz.) lemonade concentrate
1 can (6 oz.) orange juice concentrate
1 tablespoon whole cloves
1 tablespoon whole allspice
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Oranges slices for garnish, if desired
PREPARATION:
Tie cloves and allspice in cheesecloth. In large Dutch oven or 1 gallon crockpot, simmer sugar, lemonade concentrate, orange juice concentrate, all spices and 1/3 cup water for 1 hour. Add cider and reheat. When cider is hot, remove spices in cheesecloth and garnish with orange slices, if desired.
Fondly,
The Julie Beall Team: Julie, Cathy, Pam & Joellen
December 12th
