It is time for Advent! My Advent Calender How to and a free printable

When I was a kid I remember making a large felt advent calendar with my mom.  It was at least 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide... maybe larger.  It was set up as a winter scene (large white piece of felt) with colorful felt houses made from squares and triangles lined up along a road made of rick-rack.  I think we had a snowman who moved from one house to the next each day until finally he reached the top where there was a felt church.

The earliest memories of that calendar are wonderful.  In my 3 year old mind it was totally cool.  However, as I got older I noticed all the flaws that only a mother could love.  When my mom tried to pass it on to me I had to inform her that there was a lot more for her to love than for me. :-) What she loved about it was the memory of making it and using it with me.  After years of use it just wasn't pretty anymore, and is not something that I think my boys would marvel at.  They didn't make it, for one, and secondly it has seen better days.

A third point I should mention was that we only counted down to Christmas when I was a child.  There wasn't much explaining about Jesus.  I want for my children to excitedly count down to Christmas morning but also realize the importance of this holiday and the meaning.  I thought I'd share with you our advent calendar that I made for our family this year here. I have decided to make it in a very small 8.5 x 11" size.  Print it for your own personal home use and enjoy!  I'd be really happy if you did.  Please let me know too. (It will encourage me to make more stuff!).  The tree and design is my own but I borrowed the idea for scripture each day from an advent chain idea on the Free Methodist Church USA website.

Sure we can keep it and use it again next year but if not it's small enough that I won't feel terrible about tossing it into the recycle bin with gift wrap after Christmas.

To make:  Just print out each page.  On the tree page use a exacto knife to cut the three sides of each door.  On the second sheet use a thin line of glue all the way around the outside edge and then across and up and down each row and column.  Match the top edge and then press making sure not to catch any of the doors with glue.

To use: Open one door daily and discuss the topic in all caps with your child.  Read the scripture to get an idea of what might be good to talk about with your kids and also to help you keep in mind the meaning of the holiday.  My three year old is content discussing the daily topic.  Even with no candy he is excited to open a door each day! :-)


Please do tell me if you used this.  It would be like a gift to me if you did!

Merry Christmas!

UPDATE:
Forgot to mention that I love these ideas and will probably use them too:
This is an advent chain with names of Jesus.  I think I will just print it, assemble it and hang it instead of using it as an advent.
And this is a list of things to do with kids each day to enjoy the season.  loving it!

Gift Idea for your Thanksgiving Hostess: Biscotti

Are you heading someplace for Thanksgiving this year?  Do you have a hostess gift for your upcoming holiday parties?  Does your spouse need a treat to bring to staff?  Is there a special teacher you'd like to give something along with that gift card you've put on your list?  Here is the perfect gift!

Easy and beautiful, tasty and comforting Biscotti.  It is so easy to make and so easy to decorate.  The  simple "twice baked" cookie can be a variety of flavors and hold all sorts of different treats.  It can be served plain or you can dress it up even more with some icing or melted chocolate.

For this time of year I go to my standby recipe which is:

Almond, Cranberry Orange Zest Biscotti
This recipe has been prepared at 5280 Ft above sea level!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup + 1 Tablespoon whole wheat flour

1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
1 heaping tsp of orange zest

1 stick of butter
2 large eggs
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup dried cranberries

To Prepare:
Preheat the oven again to 350 degrees.
Measure out the flour, baking powder, salt sugar and orange zest in to a large bowl.  Whisk together thoroughly.  The butter should be softened and added next.  Whisk again to cut the butter into the dry ingredients.  Then whisk the eggs in a separate bowl and then add to the mix.  Finally add the almonds and cranberries and mix until they are evenly distributed.

With the dough all formed you should have a batter that holds together but does not readily stick to your hands.  Form a loaft on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (you will be glad you used the parchment paper).  The loaf should be about 12-14 inches long and about 3 inches wide and about 3/4 inch high.

Place the loaf in the preheated oven.  Bake for about 35 minutes or until lightly golden.

Remove from the oven and allow the loaf to cool to room temperature (30-40 min?).

Preheat the oven again to 350 degrees.
Use a long serrated knife (bread knife) to cut the loaf into slices along the width.  A sharp knife is essential to cut through the almonds and cranberries cleanly!

Lay the slices on their sides on the cookie sheet again lined with parchment (I reuse the same paper).  Bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes.  The cookies should turn a very light gold shade- not as gold as the crust on the edge though.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool.  Ta-DA!  You have biscotti.  Depending on your occasion, go ahead and experiment with different ingredients like raisins, coconut, vanilla, chips, anise, walnuts, lemon etc. etc. etc...

I have found these simple treats to be a real hit just with the recipe I've given.  However, you can get even more fancy with melted chocolate (using a double boiler) and dipping one end of the cookie for a gormet effect.

You have plenty of time to make these.  You can cook up several loaves at once.  They last for weeks!  Bring them along to your hostess in a nice tin or decorated box.  Just be sure to seal them in an airtight container so they will retain their crispiness and their fresh baked flavor!

Race Car Driver Costume Update

The past week has been a week of stuffy and runny noses, tissues scattered, excessive hand washing (by me) and little sleep (Also me but not because of sickness... because everyone else was not sleeping!).

Steve and Silas had the bug first and I thought Augustus and I had escaped but... no.  Gus seemed to showed signs of teething with excessive drooling, chewing on his hands and poor sleep.  But, when he started snoring at night I knew the stuffy nose had caught on.  He slept poorly... so did I!

It seems we are all on the mend.  I think the fact that I still take my prenatal vitamins has helped me fend off the worst of it.  I still need to go get a flu shot though... I can't imagine getting the flu with having to be a mom too!  Luckily I can still function with little sleep.

Putting this costume together has not been too overwhelming since we started so early.  The fun project has helped us keep our mind off the illness too.  It is not totally finished yet but with the helmet being the true highlight, here is the latest. I'll post the full costume on Halloween.

WAG Bars- Not intended for Dogs! Wholesome Awesome Granola Bars

I recently was directed to a website Weelicious by a friend of mine to try some cookies made with a banana base.  While I was there I instantly began looking for granola bar recipe.  I have never been very successful with granola bars. They are such a good treat but the ones from the store are expensive if you get the good ones and gross if you buy the cheap ones.  I hate looking at the side of the package at the list of ingredients.  Why can't it just be oats, raisins, nuts, sugar, oil etc.  Why does it have to include all crazy named ingredients?  I know why.  Really I do know why... it's because they need the preservatives to make it last and to stick together and to enhance taste etc....

But just look at any granola bar and if you are an experienced home cook/baker like me there has to be a time when you've said "This looks so easy."  The ingredients are all visible for crying out loud! Why can't I just make them at home.

Well, the search is not only over, Weelicious's recipe has intrigued me to such a degree that I am now experimenting with ingredients and if I might say so; making them better and better!  My husband even likes these healthy snacks and that is saying a lot for such a fan of the gross candy versions in the supermarket.

Let me just tell you that if you have been looking for the perfect granola bar recipe
You
     Can
          Stop
               Right
                    Now.


Head on over to Weelicous and see her granola bar recipe.  Then let me tell you that I have used her recipe and then tweaked it.  My alterations and one technique change have made what I find to be fantastic bars.  They're so great I've even given them as gifts.  Enjoy.

WAG Bars- Not intended for Dogs!
Wholesome Awesome Granola Bars

Ingredients

• 4 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup cup white chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seat meats
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 3/4 cup raisins 
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup honey

To Prepare:

1. Preheat oven to 325 F.
2. Get our your Kitchen Aid Mixer and put in all the ingredients.
3. Use the paddle mixer and let it mix until all ingredients look wet and then a few more seconds.
4. If you don't have a counter top mixer then mix the dry ingredients thoroughly separate from mixing the wet ingredients thoroughly.  Then put them all together in a bowl and combine until everything looks wet and evenly distributed.
5. Line a 13 X 9" casserole dish with parchment paper.
6. Pour the mixture into the dish and spread evenly.
7. Use a small hand roller to press the ingredients down into the dish.  I use a pampered chef roller like this one.
8. Bake for 40-45 minutes in the oven on the middle rack.
9. Allow to cool for 5 min and then take the edges of parchment and lift the granola rectangle out and place on a large cutting board while leaving the parchment under the granola.
10. Allow to cool completely then cut into 1" wide bars approximately 3-5 inches long.  (So, two horizontal cuts across the 13" side will leave you with 3"bars.  One horizontal cut on the 13" side will leave you with 4.5" bars.)