Make It Mondays

Make It Monday - A Favorite Christmas Cookie

Peanut Butter Blossoms (see recipe below) are America’s favorite Christmas cookie, based both on total number of pageviews from the U.S. population as a whole, and number of states that ranked it as their top cookie (which is six, by the way). That’s not an unexpected result; you’d be hard-pressed to find a cookie tray in December that doesn’t have at least a dozen of them on it. But what might surprise to you is that the recipe was created as an entry for the ninth Pillsbury Bake-Off in 1957—and it didn’t win. So, if you were tempted to make the joke that even though Peanut Butter Blossoms didn’t win the Bake-Off battle, they won the aWARd for most beloved Christmas cookie, you’d be correct.

One particular nugget of data that surprised us is how much America loves fudge. In fact, 3-Ingredient Christmas Swirl Fudge is the second most-visited Christmas recipe (right after those Peanut Butter Blossoms). We knew it was a popular recipe, but we didn’t know it beat out Christmas Sugar Cookie Cutouts. These colorful classics rank somewhere in the top five for every single state except Mississippi; they have it as their eighth most loved Christmas cookie. Sugar-cookie-loving-Mississippians, you’re a special group and we’re here for you. Please enjoy this collection filled with every sugar cookie recipe you could ever want.

Article By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Ingredients

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Additional granulated sugar
About 36 Hershey's Kisses Brand milk chocolates, unwrapped

Steps

1 Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, peanut butter, butter and egg with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well blended. Stir in flour, baking soda and baking powder until dough forms.

2 Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in additional granulated sugar. On ungreased cookie sheets, place about 2 inches apart.

3 Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Immediately press 1 milk chocolate candy in center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack.

Variations on decorating -

To make the reindeer cookies, add two little eyes with the black writing gel. And pipe a dot of red frosting on the top of the Hershey kiss for a nose.
To make the Christmas trees, pipe green frosting in a spiral around the Hershey kiss. Then, add add the sprinkles for ornaments.
To make the Santa Hats, pipe red frosting around the base of the kiss and on top.

#naturalhomebrands #MakeitMonday #peanutbutterblossoms #cookies #christmascookies

Dec 06, 2021
Carole Zellers

Make it Monday -DIY Natural Christmas decorations

Tree Ornaments

1. Natural Twig Ornaments

This natural DIY Christmas decoration using branches and twine is the perfect addition to your Christmas tree!

What you’ll need:

• Branches or twigs

• Branch cutters

• Glue gun

• Twine

2. Nature Ornaments

Don’t stop with twigs! Get creative and use small pieces of mother nature such as evergreen branches and pinecones, or dried fruit like oranges and apples.

What you’ll need:

• Nature elements

• Twine

• Glue gun

4. DIY Branch Ball Ornaments

For an incredibly easy but pretty DIY, get some clear Christmas tree ornaments and add branches inside of them. Hang it on your Christmas tree or wherever your heart desires.

5. Clay Christmas Tree Ornaments

These natural Christmas tree decorations using clay are so gorgeous in their simplicity. This DIY is a little time-consuming, but so worth it considering these natural ornaments will last a lifetime!

What you’ll need:

• air dry clay

• wax (or parchment) paper + tape

• rolling pin

• cookie cutters

• basic drinking straw

• small jar filled with water

• ribbon of choice

• & other optional materials

6. Homemade Salt Dough Ornaments

If you’re looking for a natural Christmas decoration that will make your home smell incredible, this is the DIY for you.

DIY Natural Christmas Garlands

7. DIY Mini Wreath Garland

This mini wreath garland is the perfect natural Christmas decor for any minimalist. It’s so simple to make but still so beautiful!

What you’ll need:

• pine branches or something similar

• floral wire

• jute twine or string

• scissors

8. Cranberry & Pine Cone Christmas Garland

How pretty is this rustic cranberry and pine cone garland by Clean and Scentsible? This tutorial bleaches the pine cones but you can definitely skip the bleach so can you compost the pine cones afterwards. (Shred the pine cones so that they degrade faster!)

What you’ll need:

• Pine cones

• Jute or thick string

• A bag of cranberries

• Large eye needle

• Felt cut into tiny circles to fit on the bottom of your pine cones.

• Hot glue

9. Cranberry & Orange Natural Garland

Not a fan of pine cones with your cranberry Christmas garland? Switch them out for sliced oranges!

What you’ll need:

• Cranberries

• Oranges

• Needle

• String

10. Natural Evergreen Garland

Bring nature indoors this winter with this garland made from foraged evergreens that will liven up your home in both smell and spirit.

What you’ll need:

• At least 1-3 types of greenery (See tutorial for more information)

• 22-gauge floral wire

• Scissors that can cut wire

• 3 Command Hooks or nails

11. Wrap Natural Garlands on Mirrors

Get creative with your evergreen garlands, like framing them around the mirror. Such a simple DIY that adds so much character to the room.

DIY Natural Christmas Wreaths

12. DIY Citrus & Pine Cone Wreath

Decorating with citrus is a great way to naturally decorate your home during Christmas.

13. Gold Acorn & Pine Cone Wreath

Decorate a wreath with pine cones and acorns this Christmas for beautifully natural decor. Adding a little gold paint is a great way to make this natural DIY sparkle!

14. Foraged Triangle Natural Wreath

Who says wreaths need to be circular? This natural triangle wreath is stunning to look at and super easy to make!

What you’ll need:

• Stripped branches

• Evergreen leaves

• Florists wire

• Wire cutters

Final Thoughts on these DIY natural Christmas decor ideas

These homemade natural Christmas decorations are the best types of zero-waste decor for the holidays because they’re either compostable or meant to last a lifetime!

Many of these natural decorations can also simply be returned to the forest after Christmas. It’s a great way to be more eco-conscious during the holidays.

#naturalhomebrands #Christmasdecorations #naturaldecorations #Makeitmonday #christmas #ecofriendlychristmas

Nov 29, 2021
Carole Zellers

Make it Monday - Thanksgiving menu from the first celebration

For many Americans, the Thanksgiving meal includes seasonal dishes such as roast turkey with stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. The holiday feast dates back to November 1621, when the newly arrived Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians gathered at Plymouth for an autumn harvest celebration, an event regarded as America’s “first Thanksgiving.” But what was really on the menu at the famous banquet, and which of today’s time-honored favorites didn’t earn a place at the table until later in the holiday’s 400-year history?

Nov 22, 2021
Carole Zellers

Make It Monday Cranberries are not just for sauce -

Cranberries are a popular superfood. People can consume them in the form of a sauce or a juice. They can also add them to stuffing, casseroles, or dessert. These highly nutritious berries are also a staple of Thanksgiving dinner.

Cranberries are native to North America. They now grow on around 58,000 acres of farmland across the northern United States, Chile, and Canada.

Many people consider cranberries to be a superfood due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content.

Nov 08, 2021
Carole Zellers

Make it Monday Flavored Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipes

Roasted pumpkin seeds are a crunchy and healthy snack you have to make! Both sweet and savory pumpkin seed recipes to satisfy your tastebuds.

Ingredients

Nov 01, 2021
Carole Zellers

Make it Monday - Great Recipe for a fall favorite

Healthier Pumpkin Bread

This a wonderful pumpkin bread that has less fat and calories.

By Amy Hunter Shaw

prep:15 mins

cook:1 hr to 1 hr 20 mins

Servings: 20

Yield:2 large loaves

Ingredients

• 3 cups white sugar

• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree

• 4 eggs, beaten

• ⅔ cup water

• ½ cup applesauce

• ½ cup vegetable oil

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• ¾ teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon ground cloves

• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

• Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 large bread pans.

• Step 2

Beat sugar, pumpkin, eggs, water, applesauce, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract together in a large mixing bowl.

• Step 3

Whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, cloves, and ginger together in a separate bowl; stir into the pumpkin mixture until just combined. Fold walnuts into the resulting batter; pour into prepared bread pans.

• Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil to store.