holidays | Stuff we love…that you might too

A few years ago my not-quite daughter-in-law gave my son a personalized note pad with a picture of our dog at the top. It was the right size for short lists of things and the photo was the perfect touch. She ordered it from pinhole press.

I ordered a bunch of notepads that year from pinhole press but then forgot about the company until an email arrived this week with a 25% off coupon. I started browsing my photos and found tons that I think would make great gifts. Don’t be surprised if you receive one this year!

When she became my daughter-in-law for real she had personalized photos made of their wedding to view in a View Master! It’s a really fun way to look at photos and it makes people smile when they pick it up and look in it.

My other son and my next soon-to-be daughter-in-law gave us a beautiful calendar from Artifact Uprising. The photos were heavy card stock and displayed on a wooden clipboard with a magnet. Another cool gift idea.

So there you go. Easy gift ideas for the holidays. Find some favourite photos and order some stuff that will make your recipient smile!

Happy Holidays!
HAR

We don’t think you can ever share too many holiday baking recipes. So here’s our post from one year ago. Grab the butter, a glass of nog and get in the kitchen!

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Something chocolate, something with ginger, something rich and buttery and something with fruit. That’s my rule of thumb for holiday baking!

Apricot squares fit the last category, but wait – they are also rich and buttery…oh well, it’s the holidays and I only make them once a year, or maybe twice. They are displayed on a beautiful plate made by my ceramics teacher Kristen Kieffer.

Nanaimo Bars hit the spot for chocolate and sweet. I only make these in December. I have a love/hate relationship with Nanaimo bars – I can’t wait to taste them and then I don’t want to see them again for a year! If you have ever eaten them, you will know what I mean!

Ginger cookies are a great complement to all the butter and chocolate. I like to add chopped up candied ginger to the recipe just to be sure they have a good bite!

Preheat oven to 350 F. Cream together 3/4 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup molasses and 1 egg. Sift together 2 1/4 cups flour, 2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt (if you use unsalted butter), 1 Tbsp ginger, 1Tbsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp cloves.

Add dry ingredients to butter mixture. Make small balls or use a cookie scoop and then coat in granulated sugar. Bake for about 10 minutes. Cookies should be flat with a ‘crackle” top.

Happy Baking!

HAR