I'll bet a lot of you, like myself, save your tins for altering. I happen to have lots from Hot Chocolate and Stroopwafels (Dutch Waffel Cookies). So, when I saw this photo in Martha Stewart Living, I knew just what to do.
I made my own log containers using the backsides of our Nutmeg papers and some dollar store Christmas items. Take a look. These are super quick, inexpensive and so cute!
I added glitter along some of the wood grain. Honestly, I thought it was really cute just like this, maybe it needs a bow, maybe not.
Now, with the Dollar items, it's really fun. I intend to stick a small gift like leggings or mittens in this and hide it in my tree for the kids to find on Christmas morning. The warm colors work perfectly.
But, other less-traditional colors are fun too. Here's my stroopwafel can.
Maybe you prefer to fill these up with goodies to take to the neighbors. Well, in that case, here are a couple of my favorite Christmastime recipes.
Aunt Anna's Butter Cookies
This recipe comes from my mother's aunt. She was a fine Dutch woman that, like myself, loved butter and almond. These are super yummy and probably have about a thousand calories per cookie.
1 lb butter
4 C Flour
2 C Sugar
2 Eggs
1/2 t Baking Powder
2 t Almond Extract
Press the batter into a 9x13 pan, no need to grease it, there's a pound of butter in there! Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.
Grandma's Ginger Cookies #1
This is my mom's recipe. I asked her for it when I was first married, then I lost it. When I asked for it again, I found they never turned out as well. One day, cleaning out my cupboards, I found the original. It was very different from the second one, which explained the difference in the cookies. Hence the name of the recipe. This makes a soft, rich ginger cookie.
1 C Shortening (I typically use butter)
1 C Sugar
2 Eggs
1 C Molasses
2 T Vinegar
5 C Flour
1 1/2 t Baking Soda
1/2 t Salt
1 T Ginger
1 t Cinnamon
1 t Ground Cloves
To make these, I simply spoon the batter onto a greased cookie sheet. Then, I take a glass and dipping it in flour each time, I stamp the cookies flat. Bake at 375 for 5-6 minutes.
If you like a crisper Ginger cookie, maybe you will like Grandma's Ginger Cookies #2. In my opinion, these are not quite as good; more like your average ginger cookie. I post this mostly so you can see the huge difference in the recipes. How could my mother have gotten so mixed up?
1 C Butter
2 C Dark Brown Sugar
1/2 C Molasses
3 Eggs
4 1/2 C Flour
4 t Soda
1 t Salt
2 t Ginger
2 t Cinnamon
1 t Ground Cloves
Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes on a greased cookie sheet.
Now, if you are in the mood to take something yummy, but don't want to bake. Then I have a tradition from Eric's side of the family.
Crazy Grandma's Chocolate Crackers
When Ethan was three Eric's mom took him for a treat. While they were out, Shirley was teasing him and being quite silly. Ethan told her that she was being crazy and she told him that was because she was his crazy Grandma. Well, the name stuck and my kids still differentiate her from my mom with this title.
In a double boiler, melt chocolate chips. You can use either milk or semi-sweet.Then dip Ritz crackers into the chocolate. Place these on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Let cool, we like them frozen. They taste like a buttery Twix candy bar.
