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Holiday Season - Blog Posts
Decided to do something fun with my copy of Heroes’ Feast to mark the occasion!
Earl Grey Cookies
“[...] a combination of shortbread and jam thumbprint cookies, made all the more interesting by the addition of tea - something different for a cookie exchange, or package them with a fancy cup and extra tea as a gift.” - ~mystery book~, p. 227
Sugar cookies are a staple of the holiday season. Whether decorated with frosting, cut into festive shapes, or sprinkled with powdered sugar, they are the go-to cookie for gifting!
When I first decided to try this version of sugar cookie, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But, I figured I’d give them a shot since it uses my favourite tea. In the end? Best. Decision. EVER! I’ve made them for myself and friends in past holiday seasons and I constantly get asked for the recipe and/or when I’ll be making more (the answer is always December, guys).
Like the Soul Cakes marking the overlap of four different holidays at the end of October, these cookies offer a twist on the traditional treats served this time of year.
Consider baking them with the Cranberry Banana Muffins to really spice up the holiday season!
EDIT: Now with extra tips!
(This recipe is an adaptation from a cookbook my grandmother has tucked away. However, I don’t have the title of the book and I can’t find her copy anymore so it’s of ~mystery origin~.)
Prep: 5 mins Cook: 45 mins Total: 50 mins
Ingredients*:
1 cup (227 g) butter, softened
⅔ cup (138 g) granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. (5 mL) vanilla extractñ
2 ½ cups (313 g) all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. (6 g) Earl Grey tea leaves
¼ tsp. (0.5 g) kosher salt
½ cup (320 g) apricot jam or marmalade**
*Makes enough for about 3 dozen cookies.
** Be careful when selecting your brand of jam (both for these cookies and in general). Ingredients on labels are listed from greatest amount to least - so try to pick one that has apricots as the first ingredient instead of sugar!
First, preheat the oven to convection bake at 325℉ (160℃) [or 350℉ (177℃) if using a conventional oven].
Then, in a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light (top-left).
Beat in the egg and vanilla (top-right).
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, tea, and salt.
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir until just combined.
Roll the cookies into 1 tbsp. (about 1-inch or 2.5 cm) balls and place them on two large, parchment-lined baking sheets.
TIP: To get all of the cookies a uniform size, I level off a 1 tbsp. measuring spoon with dough, then roll them.
Dip the end of a wooden spoon about ⅜ th of an inch (1 cm) in diameter into flour and make indentations in the center of each cookie.
Fill each indentation with a generous ¼ tsp. of jam or marmalade.
Convection bake in the oven for 16 - 18 minutes [or the same amount of time, rotating the pan halfway through, if using a conventional oven], or until they start to turn a light golden.
Remove from oven and let cool on wire racks.
Overall, I would give these cookies a 5/5. The mild sweetness from the earl grey mixed with the sweetness of the jam produces such a unique flavour without being overwhelming. Not to mention that snacking on them creates this holiday/Christmas-y vibe that’s hard to describe.
As mentioned in the intro, I’ve made these for my friends in the past and they’re a massive hit. Because they look so different from traditional holiday sugar cookies but fit so well with the season, they become a really unique treat to give to friends and family!
Cranberry Banana Muffins
“The tang of the cranberries is softened by the subtleness of the banana and the hint of nutmeg in this recipe.” - ~mystery book~, p. 218
For holiday cookies, our minds usually go to sugar cookies, gingerbread, and maybe the odd biscotti thrown in for fun. But, if you’re looking for a change up in your typical festive treats, look no further than these delicious cranberry banana muffins!
The sharpness of the cranberries is tamed by the accompanying ingredients and substituting the regular milk for coconut milk adds a whole new dimension of flavour. Not only that, but the grated nutmeg and orange zest makes your whole kitchen smell like instant Christmas while baking!
Consider baking these with the Earl Grey Cookies for an additional change up!
(This recipe is an adaptation from a cookbook my grandmother has tucked away. However, I don’t have the title of the book and I can’t find her copy anymore so it’s of ~mystery origin~.)
Prep: 15 mins Cook: 1h Overall: 1h 15 mins
Ingredients*:
2 ripe bananas
1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 ½ cups (350 ml) coconut milk**
⅔ cup (151 g) butter, melted
2 tbsp. grated orange zest (about 1 large orange)
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. kosher salt
3 cups (330 g) fresh or frozen cranberries
* Makes enough for 24 large size muffins. You can make 12 muffins by halving all of the ingredients, but you’ll have to waste half a can of coconut milk.
** Use both the coconut cream and milk from the can. Freely replace the coconut milk with regular milk if you need to.
First, preheat the oven to 400℉ (204℃) and either grease, or use large muffin cups to line two muffin pans.
Then, in a large bowl, mash the bananas.
Add the sugar, eggs, coconut milk, melted butter, and orange zest and stir to combine well.
TIP: When measuring the coconut milk, pour the whole can into a glass measuring cup. Use a fork to whisk together the cream and milk until it’s mostly combined. Then, use a slotted spoon to remove any remaining larger cream pieces from the measuring cup. This should get you to ~1 ½ cups (350 ml) of coconut milk.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the liquid ingredients and stir until the batter is just moistened.
Before adding the cranberries, sprinkle ~1 tsp. flour over the cranberries and stir gently to coat (top-left). This will prevent the cranberries from sinking to the bottom of the muffins as they cook.
Gently fold the cranberries into the batter.
Spoon enough batter to fill each muffin cup about ¾ of the way full (top-left).
Bake for 20 to 23 minutes, rotating the pans 180 degrees halfway through, or until the tops turn golden brown and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean (top-right).
Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Overall, I would give these muffins a 5/5. These are AMAZING when served warm with salted butter! I wanted to try something a little different for holiday cookies a few years back and I’m so glad I gave these a go. The blend of flavours really brings home the holidays in a way you don’t expect.
I highly recommend using coconut milk instead of regular milk if it’s available to you; it provides such a depth and richness of flavour without making the muffin feel heavy. Also, although I haven’t tried it with almond milk yet, I imagine that would also yield some tasty results!
Marry Christmas yalll and happy new year
A little something for the Paw Patrol Fandom and holiday season- Marshall and Zuma making the most out of their time at the Watchtower!
Side Dish - Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole Allow your Instant Pot® to handle some of the work this holiday season to free up oven space. Fresh green beans and homemade soup are used in this recipe to make a traditional Thanksgiving dish healthier.
reblogging again cuz i still can't draw and the last reblog caused more ppl to see it. Take this post and reblog it until I get my wish.
Please :)
I need this but I can't draw for shit (don't have the motivation) PLEAsE SOMEONE DRAW IT
adorable dad thing today: watching the man cook
for context, when he was a young college student he worked at a fancy restaurant in the middle of nowhere. From time to time he pulls out his skills from that restaurant whether it's cooking or random waiter things or whatnot. He absolutely loves cooking. He's so good at it too.
And, I don't know, there's just something about it. Him opening the oven to pull out three pans of golden beautiful enchiladas made with such specificity and love. Enough to feed his family for two days and also a couple of young adults who were stopping by for food. The love. Small batch huge heart. So much care.
He used to hate complex foods. He used to be a horrible picky eater who didn't like tomatoes or mushrooms or anything red or anything grown up. (This was before I knew him, but I know stories.) He used to hate cooking. And then, to be a dad, he learned. He learned for work to support his family and then he learned for love to feed his family. And decades later he's still at it. And it's incredible. I cannot fathom food as good as my dad's.
Forget adorable. My dad is precious.
Thailand’s Holiday Appeal: Why 9-in-10 Hotel Guests Will Arrive from Overseas This December
Discover why Thailand leads the world in international hotel arrivals this December, with record-breaking bookings, longer stays, and increased traveler confidence. Continue reading Thailand’s Holiday Appeal: Why 9-in-10 Hotel Guests Will Arrive from Overseas This December
Christmas Tree
Source: southboundbride.com
Holiday Hacks For The Highly Sensitive Person
• Embrace the art of kindness (i.e. Practicing random acts of kindness).
• Ground yourself and practice deep breathing to center yourself on a regular basis.
• Create a gratitude list including 5 things you are grateful for each day.
• Simplify the holidays (i.e. Decluttering items, writing shopping or grocery lists).
• Pamper yourself and rejuvenate.
• Embrace your creativity by making DIY gifts such as bath or baking products. There are many resources that include a variety of DIY gifts such as YouTube or Pinterest.
• Don’t be hard on yourself.
• Get yourself a gift.
• Embrace old traditions that you love or cultivate new traditions. Do which ever one works for you.
• Take time and space to recharge at holiday events (i.e. Bathroom breaks, taking a walk outside, etc)...
• Avoid over indulgence. This may include foods, compulsive spending, alcohol, and other toxic substances.
• Exercise regularly if possible.
• Seek out inspiration to help motivate you during the holidays.
• Create a budget if you plan on spending money during the holidays.
• To avoid sensory overload, it may be helpful to shop when it is less crowded. This may include mornings or before the holidays. Shopping online may also be a helpful option.
• Get cozy and find time to relax.
• Help create someone else’s holiday.
• Know your triggers and have a plan that includes healthy coping strategies.
• If you are low on cash, swapping trades with someone such as babysitting or cooking can be a great gift idea on the holidays.
• Attend support groups. There are a number of support groups such as 12 step meetings on the holidays that may provide support as well as holiday celebration.
Wishing you all a happy holidays!
With love,
Dahlia
Photo Source: shopterrain.com
Instant Pot Sausage Dressing - Side Dish - Sausage Stuffing and Dressing Shuffling Thanksgiving dishes that require different cooking temperature can be challenging. Save oven space on the big day by letting your Instant Pot handle the dressing.
Isn't November the best, right in between fall and winter 😊☕️🌧
*-* Warriors Society on Winter Festivities (?
Rai/Hakan: Here's a fun Christmas idea. We'll hang mistletoe, but instead of kissing, you have to fight whoever else is underneath.
Callan: We are not doing that
Jane/Eclipse: Mistlefoe
Callan: Jane, no...
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James/Blackbird: Last year for Christmas, I asked Santa for the sexiest person alive. I woke up in a box.
---------------------------------------------
Malowe/Parallel: I wanna get run over
Olive/Pandora: aww come on, it's Christmas! Get in the spirit!
Malowe: I wanna get run over by a reindeer?
--------------------------------------------- Cheis: Dear Santa, I've been good this year...
Cheis: Most of the year...
Cheis: Once in a while...
Cheis: Nevermind, I'll buy my own stuff.
---------------------------------------------
Assana/Shade: What's that Christmas song that is like "the lease knobby dot"
Assana: It's Spanish
Samantha/Black Arrow: Are you serious?
---------------------------------------------
Mike/Sound Road: Christmas gets so much harder as you get older
Mike: "What do you want for Christmas?" I don't know?
Mike: Financial Security? A stable job?
Marcel/Compass: A nap would be nice.
---------------------------------------------
Jim Bullock: Christmas is canceled
Jared/Poison: You can't cancel a holiday
Jim: Keep it up, J and you will lose New Year's
Jared: What does that mean
Jim: Assana, take New Year's away from Jared
---------------------------------------------
Honorable mention to our diseased partners
Casper/Lightningale: I panic when people compliment me
Casper: what the heck am I supposed to say?
Aria/Blue Lantern: Great job at training, Cas!
Casper: *panicking* Merry Christmas!
---------------------------------------------
I think that was everyone.
Happy Holidays
the vibe this holiday season ⋆⁺₊❅.
Pinkmas ೀ 🍨 ‧ ˚ 🎀 ⊹˚. ♡
₊˚｡⋆❆ dni: nsfw, meanies, ed, sh, anti agere, anti petre etc ❆⋆｡˚₊
𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝
🎄🎀 Merry Christmas 🎀🎄
I turned 22 today and all I got was this pudgy robot /j
(Yamato, why did you steal the tree lights?)
Yeah, my birthday's on Christmas... I hope everyone has a great winter break and whatever you celebrate!
The birth of Christ
the rebirth of our hope
the rebirth of our endurance
the rebirth of a peacefull world
if only
atleast we do as
He told us to do
A merry Christmas to all of us
Alive.
https://decomytree.com/home?hashedId=GF470d7wgMbg if u see this please decorate my tree :3c it means a lot to me !!
