O Christmas Tree (and a Reusable Wrapping Project)

This is the first year we've had a Christmas tree in our house. Its sharp, sweet scent is like the ghost of Christmas past, not bringing specific memories but a deep inhalation of many Christmas seasons that came before. At the same time, having a decorated tree in our living room also keeps me firmly planted in the present as Amos turns the colored lights on and off several times a day. He can't resist taking ornaments off and re-positioning (or sometimes throwing) them every few minutes. As far as toddlers and trees go, though, we have been lucky, at least in the few days since we put it up.

The small projects we've been doing have been, mostly, fun. Making salt dough ornaments was by far the most enjoyable for me and Amos loves playing with dough. Unless you have absolutely no concern about messes, painting fabric with a two and a half year old is probably a little ambitious.

My idea for making reusable bags for gift wrapping did not go completely smoothly, but in the end I am very happy with the results. We used fabric paint to cover a large white sheet, that I found at Goodwill, with dots, lines, splotches, and some trees and stars. When we were done painting, the sheet definitely did not look like it could ever become part of a nice looking gift. But, once cut and sewn the messy abstract colors seem festive and fun. Each basic square bag can be closed with a drawstring or wrapped up with ribbon.

Brown paper is what I use most often for wrapping gifts and beyond that I have very little interest or skill in wrapping. In my eagerness to start family traditions this year, I wanted to have reusable bags on hand for gift giving and very simple wrapping. They look nice enough to give away as well as for gifts under our tree.

The tree, the making, the wrapping, planning and attempting our own traditions also has me thinking of Christmas future. Not in great detail but the hazy knowledge that next year there will be two little ones admiring the tree. One who will hopefully have outgrown throwing ornaments (wishful thinking?) and another who might be just learning to sit up and look around at big brother and the twinkly lights. I'm sure Christmas next year, with a baby in the house, will look very different than this one so I am trying to enjoy and make the most of what we have now, while looking forward to that time ahead, too.

Making Merry

Last week it was fall leaves and now we are already spotting twinkly lights and talking about Christmas trees. Like any other month of the year, December can fly by too quickly, so I have fully embraced holiday preparations and making merry for the weeks leading up to Christmas. We stay away from most of the shopping and commercial aspects, but I am planning plenty of time for baking, sharing treats, and basking the glow of the lights that deck so many of the trees around Portland and elsewhere.

I have had this advent calendar idea for a few years and although Amos barely understands what Christmas is, I decided, why not? I came up with an activity for each day, things like read Christmas books, make salt dough ornaments, buy a toy to donate, make hot chocolate, or brunch with friends.  A combination of making, decorating, giving, and experiencing. I hope that it will become a yearly tradition that can grow and change as our family does. For now, I am trying to keep it simple knowing that I can change, add, or switch activities if we need to.

I see no reason why every day of the year can't hold small delights, acts of creativity, and ways to give, but I am especially excited to make a point of finding these things each day of this month. Preparations and anticipation (in just the right sized doses) are part of the celebration, wonder, and good cheer that can be part of the whole season.

Things to Make and Share

This year, we are planning to focus more on spending time with the people we love and care about rather then spending money on things to give them. But, for me, it hardly feels like Christmas if I don't have things to make and share. I've compromised on a scaled back, short list of things I will share with people that I see, rather than sending lots of packages. For me, making things is a huge part of the joy that goes along with the music, twinkley lights, and sharing good cheer.

I avoid most of the busy and stressful parts of the holidays but I often think that making some things yourself could be a good antidote to all of that. Of course if adding one more to-do will make you feel like the Grinch, then you should make yourself a cup of cocoa and take some time to relax. But, if you're like me, a small project and some good podcasts (or Christmas music, if you prefer) is the perfect way to feel the truly joyful and generous spirit of this time of year. Here of some my favorites from the archives and elsewhere.

Edible Gifts:
Hot Cocoa Mix
Chai Concentrate
Chocolate Peppermint BonBons 
Lemon Curd
Homemade Mustard

Favorite Amazing Body Products You Can Make (and people will love!):
Thanks to Ashley English/Small Measure for these recipes which I make and use all the time.
Homemade Lip Balm
Homemade Body Scrub
Homemade Body Butter

Gifts You Can Sew:
Potholder Tutorial (this would go perfectly with some edible gifts or ingredients)
Reusable Fabric Bag (excellent for wrapping)
Relaxing Eye Pillow (goes well with some homemade body products)

I just put up my festive garland which I am always tempted to leave up year round, but I like the surprise of seeing it each December.

Happy making and making merry!

In Mid-December

Every year, I seem to wait for just the right moment to start my Christmas preparations. Starting too soon makes me think of the the way stores roll out holiday decorations earlier and earlier every year. But I like to start early enough so that I can enjoy the spirit of the season and build those cozy feelings that are essential to the holidays. I can never quite get the timing right. Ideas for baking, decorating and giving come to me when it is practically too late to accomplish all of them. I always think: next year I'll start sooner. So far that hasn't happened.

But here we are in mid-December and, while I would like to be more organized, maybe this is the best time to just enjoy the season. I think of the cookies we bake, the foods we serve, the way that families gather this time of year and the importance of these traditions that knit us together. Then there are the years when traditions seem like a burden or they fall by the wayside. I remember the year that someone stuck a sombrero on the top of our family's Christmas tree, then there was the time that we decorated a ficus tree instead of a fir. Momentary decisions that made us smile, made life easier and are still woven into the tapestry of my memories.

So this is the year that I stitched together stars for our tiny tree. Maybe I'll hang them next year, too, or maybe I will make something else. Our Christmas shrub is an upgrade from the Christmas branch that Ray and I have had for the past few years. The stars are a little too big for the tiny tree, but I love the look of imperfect stitching and the way that the colors and textures contrast. I cut the shapes out of two layers of white fabric and tucked a bit of cotton quilt batting in the middle. The tight stitches of the sewing machine bind it all together.

Maybe next year I will start sooner and get more done, but it is fun to create and decorate when inspiration strikes. 

The Preparations are Ongoing

In late December is it hard not to be overwhelmed by the many recipes for holiday sweets. So far I have made the treats which went in the packages that I shipped to my family on Friday. I plan to make some cookies this week and maybe a cake for Christmas, but it will just be the two of us so I'm trying not to go overboard. For me, the preparations are one of the most enjoyable parts of the holidays. For many years I have helped my mom prepare for an almost yearly Christmas party which requires baking cookies, spicing walnuts, assembling lasagna, filling and decorating chocolate rolls (you may know them as buche de noel, but it's chocolate roll to us).

Aside from this one event, in my fthe rest of the preparations are ongoing. Since my siblings all have other families to celebrate with, Christmas often lasts for a week. This keeps the kitchen warm and full until the end of the year as we make a few more chocolate covered pretzels or the chocolate roll for our family dinner. I think of this time not as one that is busy and stressful, but as one that is cozy and full of time shared with loved ones in the kitchen, playing board games after dinner, or crowding around the television to watch a Christmas movie.

Obviously things have changed over the years and now my siblings are scattered far and wide. Still, Jess sent me a message the other day when she was making toffee and Natalie and I compare plans for holiday baking when we talk on the phone. It's harder when everyone has their own families and lives, but I hope there will be future holiday preparations together.

You may have your holiday baking planned out or you may be done with it. I'm adding other recipe to the long list of possibilities in case you have some time and some friends and family around. Chocolate and peppermint might be my favorite Christmas flavors, so here you have a simplified truffle of chocolate peppermint ganache covered by a layer of semi-sweet chocolate.

There's no need to have these ready for by Christmas day. I recommend making these on one of those cozy afternoons before or after the big day, perhaps with friends or siblings who enjoy spending time with you in the kitchen. That's what I would do.

P.S. To my family members: you don't have to make these. I'll leave it at that.

Chocolate Peppermint Bon Bons
I wasn't sure what to call these, but bon bons sound good. I used bittersweet chocolate for the center and semisweet for the outside. You could use milk chocolate or even white chocolate in place of either of these. I was hoping to find reusable chocolate molds, but I used small fluted paper cups that I found at my local kitchen store.

1/2 cup heavy cream
8 ounces chocolate chips of your choice (I used bitter-sweet)
3 teaspoons peppermint extract
20 ounces chocolate chips of your choice (I used semi-sweet)
60-70 one inch fluted paper cups (or mold of your choice)
candy canes broken into bits, optional

Bring the heavy cream to a simmer over medium heat. Place 8 ounces of the chocolate you are using for the center in a small bowl. Pour in the heated cream. Let sit for a minute. Stir to combine the cream with the melted chocolate. Add peppermint extract and stir until smooth. Set aside to cool, stirring every so often. When this ganache is ready it will be much stiffer, but still stir-able.

Place the 20 ounces of chocolate you are using for the outside of the bon bons in a heatproof bowl and place the bowl over a simmering pot of water. Stir the chocolate until it is melted.

On a baking sheet or plate, place the fluted paper cups. Fill each cup about 1/3 full with the plain melted chocolate. Let the chocolate cool for a minute or two. Next, add the ganache either scooping into the center of the chocolate layer by the teaspoonful, or piping in with a pastry bag. When each cup has a ganache center, fill the cup up with the plain chocolate. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes if you wish.

Let the chocolates cool completely and keep in an airtight container. Refrigerate if storing for several days. Makes 60-70 bon bons.