Gingerbread Temples and Beeswax Crayons

Naomi loves to make gingerbread houses, and this year it occurred to me that we could really make it part of our Hanukkah celebration by modifying a kit to make a Temple with some Macabbean soldiers. It was pretty fun to play with candy, and a great way to deplete a stockpile of candy we never let our kids eat anyway...

Then, last night everyone opened a gift. Leviah chose her new set of 24 Beeswax crayons and the two girls played all morning coloring pages we got from the Hanukkah storytime a the library last night, and this cute coloring book we bought last year from this sweet shop, and reprinted. It should keep them busy for a while! Naomi has been kind of interested in robots lately, so it worked out well. She was talking in a robot voice all morning.

oh. and this happened...hint.

Judah Maccabee and other Stamped Cookies

I saw these via pinterest and actually used the idea!

this is my plate of favorites, but we made all kinds.

It was a great way to decorate shortbread cookies, especially for little hands. The end result is a bit like old-timey shortbread molds which can be difficult to make work.

It was very simple, we rolled out the dough  and stamped.

Glazed with egg wash to make them shine.

And baked.

Shortbread cookies are probably my favorite, and this recipe worked perfectly--others I've tried have been too dry and difficult to make cut-out cookies from.

:RECIPE:

4 sticks of butter

1 cup of packed brown sugar

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 275F degrees. Cream the butter and sugar. Add salt, flour and vanilla and mix until well blended. Roll out to about 1/4inch thickness and cut shapes on a generously floured surface at will! Collect scraps, re-roll out and repeat until you've used all your dough. Bake for 45-50 minutes.

Did you make your favorite cookies this holiday season?

Are Your Candles Rolled?

We took one morning last week to work as a candle factory. (we used this kit)

We are ready to burn-em-up!

on the to-do list (among other daily necessities):

make some cookies like these. (we should be so talented)

tell the story.

keep reciting this poem.

maybe make some of these for 'wrapping'.

clean this house. then, that's ALWAYS on the to-do list...