Christmas Cookies... Your Way

Who doesn't love Christmas cookies?? I would go to wager a great deal that even those who don't celebrate Christmas, love Christmas cookies. Personally, I can't live without them and one of my most favorite parts of Christmas, besides decorating the tree, is making Christmas cookies. It's a family tradition that my mom and I make the cookies together each year, but now that I feel like I have a little more cooking savvy, I felt that it was time to give the cookies an MMW twist.

While searching through the magazines and cookbooks, I decided that I wanted non-bar cookies with almonds. Conveniently, there were no non-bar cookies with almonds. SO we created them. I took another cookie and replaced the walnuts with almonds and "Walla!" non-bar cookies with almonds. And oh are they fabulously tasty! Now you may  be saying to yourself, "wow what a change," in all your sarcasm, BUT surprisingly enough many individuals will not take the risk to deviate from the cookie recipe. Especially if they don't bake often.

Allow me to empower you. While you may not bake often, you always know what good cookie dough tastes like, and ultimately how a good cookie tastes. As long as you start with a basic cookie dough (try making the dough for chocolate chip for example and not putting in the chocolate chips yet), you can make any type of cookie with easy add-ins. Try cranberries, or walnuts (though I don't like them), or chocolate chips and walnuts and cranberries. You'll be surprised with how crafty you feel and how good the cookies taste. You might even go as far to have your friends call you "chef". I warn you against this one unless you can back it up in the kitchen with a killer meal.... But I digress.

I remind you not to forget the fallback of the pre-made cookie dough for those who don't want to make the mess in kitchen.  While it's not my preferred cookie, you can always decorate these to your preference, such as the sugar cookie with lots of icing! Or you can use the sugar cookie dough and mix in what you want (just pull out all the cookie dough and put it in a mixing bowl and mix in your add-ins). Remember however, to adjust your time of cooking for your add-ins. I might suggest you do a sample (1 or 2 cookies).

The most important detail to remember is: Don't feel limited by the cookie recipes that you have. The worst that can happen is you throw a batch away, but if you stick to basic changes, I doubt that will happen - unless perhaps you decide to put in a crazy add-in.

Happy Homemaking!

Holiday Decorating - Quick and Easy

I love the winter holidays. For some its Hanukkah. Others - Kwanzaa. For me, it's Christmas and I love it.

The problem with me loving anything though, is again the problem that I have a tendency to not be able to rein it all in. So holiday decorating can be a budget buster, but if you're spending conscience and you purchase items that can be used year after to year, you'll be able to slowly build up your holiday decorations stash.

Pictured here is my dog Nona, who of course loves Christmas just as much as I do. Who wouldn't when you get a bunch of treats and all this extra food drops on the floor? Well maybe not on the floor, but you get the point.

This Christmas tree here is only 4 1/2 feet tall and is perfect for my one-bedroom apartment. Now, I understand that not many people enjoy the artificial trees, but noting that this tree cost me just as much as a real one would each year, I think I got my money's worth for the last seven years - YES SEVEN! Imagine the savings each Christmas!!

Which leaves you room for other items such as garlands, lights for your windows, signs outside your patio (or home). However, what is most important is to stick to a budget. This year (the 7th year of the tree), unfortunately, my built-in lights went out. But for $10 I went out and bought new lights, used the same ornaments, etc. and the tree looks great! Or at least I like to think so...

The MMW twist? Use items you wouldn't normally have out for the holidays to jazz up your holiday decor. I had a statue that I didn't think would look nice out on a bookshelf . I though of putting it away, but when I put up a cheap, pre-decorated garland up on the bookcase, in front of the statue, it really sealed the deal! This year I only purchased a cute happy holidays sign for my porch, the lights for the tree, and the garland. It really has made a difference, and all for less than $40. What small items can you purchase within your budget to help create the ambiance you wish to have in your home? Trust me, that expensive snowman will still be there next year - and you don't really need him...