A monthly online magazine chock-full of insightful articles for busy mothers.

by Shelly Hill

Several years ago when our daughter was about 13 years old, we started a holiday tradition together. About 2 weeks before Christmas, we would spend an afternoon together baking gingerbread flavored holiday goodies.

When it comes to holiday baking, it just wouldn’t be complete without making some cute gingerbread man cookies. The follow recipe is pretty easy, although its not quick since you will be hand making your dough, rolling it out and then cutting out your cookie shapes.

Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

2 1/2 sticks butter, softened
2/3 cup molasses
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 1/2 cups all purpose-flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
4 cups confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar)
4 tablespoons milk

In a large bowl, combine 3/4 cup softened butter, molasses, brown sugar and egg together using an electric mixer on medium speed. Beat until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Add in the flour, spices, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, salt, baking soda and then the baking powder. Beat mixture at low speed with an electric mixture until all ingredients are well combined. Place mixture in a large zipper close plastic bag and place into the refrigerator for 4 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with a silicone nonstick baking mat or lightly grease them. Split cookie dough into three equal sections. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured dough board until it measures approximately 1/4″ thick. Use a purchased gingerbread man cookie cutter and cut out your shapes. Place shapes onto your baking sheets and bake in the oven for 6-8 minutes or until done. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

Frosting Recipe

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the confectioner’s sugar, milk, remaining 1/2 cup of butter and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Use an electric mixer and beat until mixture is creamy and fluffy. If desired, you can tint the frosting with food color. Decorate your completely cooled gingerbread man cookies with frosting and set aside to dry.

Store your cookies in an airtight cookie canister. These cookies will keep for 2-3 weeks if properly stored.

Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. Every December, Shelly enjoys spending a few days doing holiday baking with her daughter and her mother. It is a family tradition that all 3 women enjoy doing together. You can visit Shelly online at her recipe blog at http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com

Article Source: WAHM Articles

My daughter says if you want to put them on the tree….get a straw and poke a hole at top of cookie before you bake—editor

By Susanne Myers

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year with some of these fun
and of course mostly green St. Patrick’s Day Treats.

Leprechaun Ale

Place a scoop of lime sherbet into a tall glass, pour ginger
ale over it and watch it fizz. This can be made even fancier by
rubbing some lime juice on the rim of the glass and then dipping
it in green sugar crystals before you pour the leprechaun ale.

Lucky Clover Cake

Prepare 9 x 13 inch cake using a boxed cake mix. We like to use
yellow cake for this. Get a can of vanilla frosting and use a
few drops of yellow and blue food coloring to color the frosting
green. After the cake is baked and cooled down, cut three heart
shaped pieces out of the cake. We use a cardboard template to
make the hearts even. Arrange them on a plate with the pointy
ends pointing toward each other. It will look like a clover
leaf. Frost the entire cake with the green vanilla frosting.

Mini Mint Ice Cream Tarts

Purchase a roll of refrigerated sugar cookie dough. Roll the
dough into small balls (a little smaller than a golf ball), and
press them in the bottoms of mini muffin pans. Bake according to
package directions. Press the middle of the cooked dough down
after you take them out of the oven. Let them cool for 10
minutes, then transfer them to a baking rack and let them cool
completely. To serve, scoop mint ice cream in each of your mini
tart shells.

St. Patrick’s Day Cookies

Buy or make simple sugar cookie dough. Let the kids cut out
shamrock shaped cookies with a cookie cutter. Bake them. While
they are cooling, use food coloring to turn vanilla frosting or
a simple powered sugar and milk glaze green. Let the kids
decorate the cookies with frosting and plenty of green
sprinkles.

St. Patrick’s Day Parfait

Prepare a pack of instant pistachio pudding according to
package directions. Mix a few drops of food coloring with cool
whip to tint it green. Cut up some kiwi fruit. Layer chilled
pudding, kiwi fruit and green cool whip for a completely green
St. Patrick’s Day Parfait.

Are you seeing green yet? Give a few of these yummy sweet St.
Patrick’s Day treats a try this year. They are always a big hit
with our families.

About the Author: Want more family friendly recipes and crafts
ideas? Visit http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/info for a sample
weekly menu plan your entire family will love and
http://www.kinderinfo.com for tons of craft and activity ideas
that are sure to keep your little ones entertained.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

by Sherry Frewerd

Christmas cookie paint is actually a simple mix of egg yolk, water, and food coloring. After you’ve rolled out the dough and cut the shape you want, just paint on some playful designs, and bake your cookies as always. A couple of techniques can be used to place the designs on the dough. You can paint freehand or take a smaller cookie cutter and gently imprint or press the design to paint.

Making the paint is easy. Use one egg yolk for every two colors you plan on using. Add ¼ teaspoon water, and beat with a fork until smooth. Divide the yolk mixture into two cups and stir enough food coloring in to make your desired shades. Keep in mind that the paint will dry out fast, so keep it covered when you’re not using it. Stir in a little water to keep the paint a consistency that you can work with.

Easy Painted Christmas Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
¼ cup milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
¾ tsp baking soda
Egg Yolk Paint

Cream butter at medium speed and gradually add sugar, beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each egg. Add milk and vanilla, and mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, and soda; add flour mixture to creamed mixture, stirring until blended. Your dough will be soft. Shape dough into 2 balls; wrap each in waxed paper or plastic wrap and chill for 4 hours. Work with half of dough at a time; store remainder in refrigerator. Roll dough to 1/8 inch thick on floured board or waxed paper; cut with 2 ½ to 3 inch cookie cutters and carefully transfer cut cookies to lightly greased cookie sheets. Paint various designs on cookies using a small art brush and our Egg Yolk Paint. Bake at 375F for 6-8 minutes; cook on wire rack. Makes about 5 dozen.

Easy Egg Yolk Paint

1 egg, beaten
¼ tsp water
Food coloring

Combine egg yolk and water; stir well. Divide mixture evenly into 2 cups; tint as you desire with food coloring. Keep your paint covered until ready to use. If paint thickens, add a few drops of water and stir well. Makes about 1 ½ tablespoons. Prepare this recipe for every 2 colors of paint you want to use.

Painting Christmas cookies is so much fun that you might decide to start a new family tradition. Create these pretty cookies to give away as special gifts or use as tree ornaments. This is a great holiday activity for older kids to make Christmas gifts for Mom and Dad too. If you decide to make painted Christmas cookies as ornaments, just cut a small hole in the top of the cookies before you bake them. Thread colorful cord or ribbon through the hole after the cookies have cooled. Have fun and use your imagination!

Visit ‘Family Christmas Ideas’ and learn how to start your own Christmas family tradition this year http://familychristmasideas.homestead.com/ Slow down your life a bit and enjoy delicious meals with your family. Find out how at ‘Family Crock Pot Recipes’ http://familycrockpotrecipes.com

Article Source: GreatArticlesforMoms.com

More resources:
Families On the Road — The Families on the Road print newsletter, and web site, are intended as resources for families who RV fulltime or for extended periods with their children, or are contemplating such an adventure.

Share these Leprechaun Bars with the lucky guests who come wearing green!

Makes: 3 Dozen

Time:
20 minutes to prepare
35 minutes to bake
2-1/2 hours to chill

Complexity: Easy

Ingredient:
1-1/2 cups low-sugar, low-fat graham cracker cookies, crushed
3 tablespoons low-fat margarine, melted
Vegetable spray
1 cup low-fat cream cheese
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14-ounce)
1/4 cup lime juice
36 large green gumdrops, sliced into thirds

Materials:
9-inch square pan
Mixer

What To Do:

1) Mix crushed graham crackers with melted margarine. Press into bottom and
up sides of pan sprayed with vegetable spray and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3) Beat cream cheese until light and fluffy.
4) Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Then beat in
lime juice.
5) Spread cream cheese mixture over graham cracker crust.
6) Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, until set.
7) Refrigerate 2 hours or more.
Cut into 1-by-1-inch squares and top each square with three gumdrop
slices arranged to look like a three-leaf clover.

ENJOY!

Compliments of
Penny Warner
Author of
Kids’ Party Cookbook!

This article is written in collaboration and with the express permission of Boardman’s Birthday Party Ideas© a fabulous party themes website visit LeAnn at Boardman Party Ideas
or The Party Works for more ideas!

E-mail: MaryAnn-n-Kimberly@thepartyworks.com Author’s URL: http://www.thepartyworks.com About the AuthorMary Ann & Kimberly, a mother and daughter team have created their sites The Party Works and Cake Works Central to provide a treasure trove of free kids birthday parties, baby showers and cake decorating ideas. They are here to help and will become your celebration destination! Their dream is to help parents and grandparents create lasting celebration memories and not be afraid to have 10 children running around in their living room. They have expanded these ideas to also help people have great baby and bridal showers, holiday parties too! Lots of FREE ideas, games, party plans and help if you need it.