Pretzel Snowmen

White chocolate chips or almond bark
10 pretzel rods
10 apricot rings
10 small, round candies
Fruit leather
50 mini chocolate chips
Frosting

Melt chocolate chips or almond bark and dip pretzel. Immediately push in 2 mini chocolate chips for eyes and 3 for buttons. Dab a little orange frosting for a nose and let cool in freezer 2 minutes. Place apricot ring over top of pretzel for hat and secure round candy for top of hat with frosting. Cut fruit leather and tie around pretzel for scarf. Enjoy!

Traditional Christmas Cake

I grew up eating this traditional English fruit cake EVERY Christmas. I have started to make it so I can continue the tradition. Do not be alarmed when making it...there is MUCH more fruit than batter. I usually add a little more brandy for an extra moist cake.

This cake turns out best when baked during the first week of December and frosted a week later. It will last a LONG time because of the fruit and alcohol.

2 sticks butter
1 cup sugar
5 eggs
2 cups flour
½ cup glacé cherries
1 ½ cups seedless raisins
1 cup currants
1 ½ cups sultanas
1 ½ cups dates
1 cup pecan nuts
½ tsp mace
½ tsp nutmeg
2 tsp ground ginger
4 tsp all-spice
½ tsp cloves
1 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp vinegar
1 cup brandy, divided



• Prepare the fruit by chopping the dates and nuts.
• Wash the raisins, sultanas, and currants in cold water and dry well in a tea cloth.
• Add the chopped ingredients.
• Cream the butter and sugar, and then add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• Add the prepared fruit to the sugar mixture.
• Work in the flour, spices and cream of tartar.
• Add the syrup, vinegar, half of the brandy and the baking soda blended with the milk.
• Fold in the cherries.
• Turn into a prepared tin diameter and bake for 1 hour at 320, and then for another hour at 280.
• No mixture should stick to the skewer when testing to see if cooked.
• Remove the cake from the oven.
• Cool slightly and pour over the remaining brandy, and then allow it to cool thoroughly before sealing in cling wrap/wax wrap/press ‘n seal in an air-tight container.



Icing the cake – you can choose to leave off the icing and just decorate with candied fruit and nuts

Melt smooth apricot jam on a low heat and then paint a thin layer of jam directly onto the cake. Knead and then roll out the marzipan to a thickness you like. Place on top of the cake and then with your hands covered in icing sugar, smooth the marzipan over the cake. Leave for a few days and then cover with fondant. Decorate to your heart’s desire!

Chocolate Snowballs

I made these cookies for a cookie exchange that we had with my mom's Bible study this morning. They are so pretty and taste delicious. You can replace some of the chocolate chips with nuts if you prefer.

¾ cup butter, softened
½ cup sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups (12 oz) chocolate chips
Powdered Sugar

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Add flour and salt. Fold in chips. Roll into 1-in balls.
Please on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Cool cookies slightly before rolling in powdered sugar. Makes about 4 dozen.

Cornstarch Clay Decorations

We have been snowed-in here in Iowa, so any craft idea is fine with me! Josiah and I had a great time making some Christmas decorations for our own tree and also made a few to give away as gifts.

Cornstarch Clay Decorations
2/3 cup salt
1/3 cup baking soda
½ cup cornstarch
1/3 cup & ¼ cup water

1. In a small saucepan, mix the salt and baking soda with 1/3 cup water and bring to a boil.
2. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and ¼ cup of water and stir well.
3. When the salt mixture boils, remove it from the heat and add the cornstarch mixture. Stir vigorously for a minute or two to thicken the clay. Spoon it onto a sheet of waxed paper and allow it to cool before working with it.
4. You can make ornaments or Christmas tree decorations. We like to roll it out and cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Remember to pierce the top with a straw to hang it on the tree with some string. Decorate with glitter and allow to harden. This takes 3-4 days.