Christmas Eve: Classic Christmas Wassail and 12 Days of Christmas Cookies Recap

It's Christmas Eve! 

My favorite day of the year!

Today my family's traditions include Christmas Brunch at Hotel Hershey, 

lots of baking and probably a nap, 

dinner at a Japanese Hibachi restaurant, 

and my favorite of all... 11:00pm Christmas Eve Service 

at my home church: Second Presbyterian Church. 

I just love the time with friends and family 

and ending with worshipping our infant Savior 

who is Emmanuel - God WITH us!

So we are not doing a lot on the blog today or tomorrow. 

However, here is a quick and easy, super delicious 

and festive recipe for Classic Christmas Wassail.

Classic Christmas Wassail

photo from kost103.5

Shopping List:

1 gallon Apple Cider

2 pints Cranberry Juice

1 1/2 C Sugar

4 sticks Cinnamon

1 cloved Orange

Optional: Cranberries or Pomegranate Arils

Method:

1. In a 6 quart slow cooker, combine all ingredients. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.

2. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Serve hot. Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from kost103.5

This would be great to throw in the slow cooker 

Christmas morning and have ready for Christmas dinner!

We even made these little wassail packets as 

Christmas gifts for our Young Life donors this year.

And now a recap of the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies:

1st Day of Christmas Cookies: Tessa's Lemon Cookies

2nd Day of Christmas Cookies: Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

3rd Day of Christmas Cookies: Christmas Toffee Bark

4th Day of Christmas Cookies: Trish's Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies

5th Day of Christmas Cookies: Katie's Sugar Cookie Cutouts with Royal Icing

6th Day of Christmas Cookies: Melissa's Peppermint Puppy Chow

7th Day of Christmas Cookies: Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies

8th Day of Christmas Cookies: Julie's Peanut Butter Blossoms

9th Day of Christmas Cookies: Hannah's Cran-Pistachio Cookies

10th Day of Christmas Cookies: Candy Cane Blossoms

11th Day of Christmas Cookies: Carly's Pizzelles

12th Day of Christmas Cookies: Katie's Peanut Butter and Chocolate Fudge

You're Favorite...

5th Day of Christmas Cookies: Katie's Sugar Cookie Cutouts with Royal Icing

Thank you to all of these women for contributing!

Merry Christmas Eve!

3rd Day of Christmas Cookies: Christmas Toffee Bark

Today on Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies,

my MOM is sharing a recipe for Toffee Bark recipe 

from Brown Eyed Baker that she "Christmasfied" 

(yes that is a word, well maybe not, but it is now). 

This is another simple, yet super festive and delicious recipe 

for your next holiday party. Check it out!

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Christmas Toffee Bark:

Shopping List:

14 oz dark chocolate, finely chopped

Peppermint Extract, to taste

¾ C broken pretzel pieces, divided

¾ C Heath toffee pieces, divided

7 oz white chocolate, finely chopped

1/2 C Red and Green Chocolate Morsels

Method:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

2. In a double boiler or in a microwave on low power, melt the dark chocolate, stirring until the chocolate is smooth. Remove from the heat, and stir in ½ cup of the pretzel pieces, ½ cup of the toffee pieces, and peppermint extract to taste. Spread the mixture on the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

3. Melt the white chocolate in the same manner as you did the dark chocolate, stirring until completely smooth. Remove the baking sheet from the refrigerator and spread the white chocolate on top of the hardened dark chocolate layer. Sprinkle with the remaining pretzel pieces, toffee, and red and green chocolate morsels, using your palm to lightly press them into the white chocolate. Return the pan to the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

4. Use a sharp knife to cut the bark into pieces. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

XOXO Sue

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Thanks so much Mom, for sharing! 

And thanks for being one of the biggest inspirations in my life!

I was looking for a pic of my mom and me, 

but decided to share this pic of our whole fam!

Cabbage & Ramen Noodle Salad

I am excited to share a recipe from my Mom today! If you read the side column of my blog, you know she is my biggest cooking inspiration - and inspiration in general. This tasty salad is always a big hit at get togethers!! It's just got the perfect amount of crunch!

Cabbage & Ramen Noodle Salad

Shopping List:

2 bags Shredded Cole Slaw

1 bunch Green Onions, diced

2 pkts Ramen Noodles

1 C Toasted Almonds

(You can either buy almond slivers 

and toast them, or purchased the ones 

that are already toasted - in the aisle 

with the salad toppings)

Dressing:

2 Tbsp Soy Sauce

1/2 C Olive Oil

1/2 C Apple Cider Vinegar

1 C Sugar

1. In a large salad bowl, combine cole slaw, and green onions.

2. Crunch up ramen noodles in packets BEFORE opening them. Remove ramen seasoning (you will not use the seasoning packet in this recipe).

3. In a jar with a lid combine soy sauce, olive oil, cider vinegar, and sugar. Shake well.

4. When you are ready to serve, add ramen noodles and almonds to salad, mix well. Drizzle with dressing. Enjoy!

The Master Chef and I! (and the other one)