Hot Cocoa Station with DIY Serving Board

I've got an easy little Christmas idea for you today...and all you have to do is put it together! I've created a fun hot cocoa station for my family and friends who drop by over the holidays. Much of what I am sharing came from the dollar store so it's inexpensive, too! And who doesn't love hot cocoa?

Best Ever Family Christmas Recipes

It's that time of year...time to pull out the recipes and start the Christmas baking! And in our family, that means making more memories with our favorite recipes, some of which have been in the family for almost as long as I can remember. They have definitely stood the test of time! So I am sharing my four favorites, hoping that you will try them and that they will add to the enjoyment of the season at your house, too!

Christmas Morning Simmering Potpourri

Can you believe that Christmas is only a little over a week away? The Christmas spirit has really arrived at my house and, to top it off, so has the smell! My secret...a special simmering potpourri that I keep on my stove all through the holidays!

Just in Time...Last Minute Christmas Tips

Christmas is almost here…just a few more days…and if you are like me, there’s still a lot to do! But I’ve got some last minute tips that will see you through all the way to Christmas morning!

Even if you only have a little bit of time, it’s still possible to create easy and inexpensive handmade gifts! Try a set of super-easy chalkboard wine glasses or some napkins embellished with a pretty iron-on transfer! See these ideas and more here.

Need to add some last-minute decorations? How about these vintage paper trees? Add them to your table or to some seasonal greenery for the perfect Christmas-y touch! You will find a link to all of the directions here.

Or how about some homemade simmering potpourri to give your home that wonderful Christmas smell…cinnamon, oranges and cloves! It’s so simple that you probably already have all of the ingredients!

Click here for a printable version of the recipe.
HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS SIMMERING POTPOURRI
From Confessions of a Plate Addict

• First bring a quart of water to a boil. 
• Next add half of an orange cut into smaller sections (I usually squeeze the juice into the water and then add the peel).
• Finally, add two cinnamon sticks, two bay leaves and 10-15 whole cloves. A few sprigs of pine can be added as well.

Let it boil for a few minutes, then turn it down to a simmer and leave it on the stove. In about 30 minutes, your whole house will smell wonderful! You can put it in the fridge and reuse it for several days. I have even frozen it and pulled it back out on a really cold night to make the house feel cozy. Be sure to keep an eye on the water level when the potpourri is simmering. Please note that this is a recipe for potpourri and is not intended as a beverage.
From Confessions of a Plate Addict
http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com
Click here for a printable version of the recipe.

Add a festive last-minute touch to your tablescape with Christmas ornaments as place cards! Not only are they pretty, but they can be taken home as little gifts, too! And they are on sale just about everywhere right now! Just add a little stamped name tag and that’s it!

You know Santa will be expecting some cookies when he comes to visit Christmas Eve and here’s a guaranteed Santa-approved recipe for homemade sugar cookies that we have been using for 30 years. My grandson did an extra fabulous job of decorating them, too…for your blog, he told me! :-)

Click here for a printable version of the recipe.
SANTA’S FAVORITE HOMEMADE SUGAR COOKIES
from Confessions of a Plate Addict
INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup butter flavored Crisco
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS
Cream Crisco and sugar.
Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.
Gradually stir in flour, baking powder and salt.
Cover and chill at least one hour…preferably overnight.
Roll chilled dough 1/8 inch thick on floured wax paper.
Cut with cookie cutters and place on ungreased cookie sheet. (I use parchment paper.) Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired.
Bake at 350 degrees for 6 to 10 minutes. Allow to cool and remove.
Makes 3 dozen cookies.
from Confessions of a Plate Addict
http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com
Click here for a printable version of the recipe.

And finally, here’s the perfect addition to your Christmas morning brunch…my brother-in-law’s secret to making the best omelet you will ever eat…hands down! See how he does it by clicking here.

So you see…we’ve got you covered...no need to hide or stress! Just enjoy these last few days of Christmas…after all, it won’t come around again for another year!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you will find my last minute Christmas tips helpful! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party , Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday , The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday , Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday , A Stroll thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures, Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays , The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays , No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays, French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday , Common Ground for Be Inspired on Fridays , The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday , Craftberry Bush for the Inspiration Gallery on Friday
See you next time! À la prochaine!

Also find me at…

 

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Super Easy Chocolate Pecan Pie Cookies

I am so excited to be a part of The Everyday Home’s Cookie Exchange…with 30 bloggers bringing you 30 different cookie recipes just in time for Christmas! And if you know me, you know I am all about super easy…and super yummy! And I promise this cookie fits that description perfectly!

The recipe was actually developed by my co-host Baby Kitty who is a big fan of shortbread cookies. We used a pecan pie cookie recipe that we found at the Land O Lakes website and made just a few minor adjustments…like the addition of the chocolate chips.

Click here for a printable version of the recipe.
CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE COOKIES 
from Confessions of a Plate Addict

Cookie:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Filling:
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Cream butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, continuing to beat at medium speed. Add flour and baking powder a little at a time at low speed until it is well-mixed. Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls and place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. (I used parchment paper.) Using your thumb, make an indentation in each cookie.
Combine all filling ingredients in small bowl. Fill each cookie with 1/2 teaspoon of filling. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 1 minute and remove from cookie sheets to finish cooling. If you like, you may add a few extra chocolate chips to the top of the cookie while they are still warm and press them lightly into the cookie.
Makes 3 dozen cookies. They can be made ahead and kept frozen for up to 3 months. Store in an air-tight container and separate them into layers with wax paper.

Variation of a recipe from Land O Lakes Butter
from Confessions of a Plate Addict at http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com
Click here for a printable version of the recipe.

And here they are! I will have to say that for me, this recipe is fool-proof and the cookies are totally fabulous! And I am just gonna say it...these are the best cookies ever! And no one will ever suspect how easy they were to make! 

And if you are a Southerner like me, you can’t have the holidays without pecan pie...but these cookies are a fabulous (have I said they are fabulous?) little alternative!

Here’s one last look at my chocolate pecan pie cookies…yummy! Now if you will excuse us, we have a few props to…uhhh…dispose of! :-)

Please visit the following blogs to see what cookies

they have "brought" to the Christmas Cookie Exchange...

I am definitely trying some of these in the next few days and bookmarking them all for next Christmas! Click on any picture or the link below it to see your favorite cookies! Enjoy!

Everyday Home | Atta Girl Says

Southern Color | Deja Vue Designs

Shabby Art Boutique | All Things Heart and Home

Town and Country Living | Worthing Court

Lilacs and Longhorns | Inspiration for Moms

Vintage News Junkie | Marty's Musings

Domestically Speaking | My Soulful Home

Sweet Pea | Our Southern Home

A Delightsome Life | Cottage at the Crossroads

Pennywise | Major Hoff Takes a Wife

Country Design Style | House on the Way

Fresh Idea Studio | Confessions of a Plate Addict

Stone Gable | Create and Babble

So Much Better with Age | Cupcakes and Crinoline

The Happier Homemaker

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you will try my chocolate pecan pie cookies! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party , Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday , The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday , Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday , A Stroll thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures, Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays , The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays , No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays, French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday , Common Ground for Be Inspired on Fridays , The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday , Craftberry Bush for the Inspiration Gallery on Friday
See you next time! À la prochaine!

Also find me at…

 

Enter your email to have Plate Addict's blog posts delivered


Delivered by FeedBurner