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Valentine’s Day Heart Shaped Treats

Lyne Proulx
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10
Valentine’s Day Heart Shaped Treats

Valentine’s Day heart shaped treats make the perfect way to celebrate the holiday of love. They also make great treats for classroom parties, work functions, and other Valentine’s Day celebrations.

When you think of heart shaped treats, the first thing that comes to mind is probably heart shaped cut-out cookies. While those are included in this list, even more heart shaped goodies that are full of sweet goodness are also included.

These fun and tasty heart shaped treats are sure to be a hit for any Valentine’s Day family celebration. Friends, family, and classmates will love every bite of these flavourful treats.

Valentine’s Day Heart Shaped Treats

Valentine’s Day Heart Shaped Treats

1. Gluten Free Valentine’s Day Heart Cookies

Tasty and gluten-free, these fun heart shaped cookies include a sweet jam in the middle are cute and tasty.

2. Mini Heart Pies

A fun Valentine’s Day treat everyone will enjoy; these heart shaped pies are filled with a delicious apple butter filling.

3. Strawberry Heart Cookies

Full of strawberry flavor, these heart shaped cookies only take a few ingredients to make and are perfect for Valentine’s Day.

4. Heart Shaped Frozen Yogurt Bites

Easy and tasty, these frozen yogurt bites are combined with chocolate to make a delicious kid friendly Valentine’s Day treat.

These cookie dough truffles are covered in sweet chocolate and will be a hit with anyone who loves cookie dough.

6. Meringue Hearts with Raspberry Sauce

Easy to make, fun, and delicious, these meringue hearts have a layer of sweetened strawberries and whipped cream.

Fun for Valentine’s Day, this beautiful heart wreath is made with cookies and decorated with a pink icing for a tasty Valentine’s Day treat.

8. Heart Shaped Brownies

Delicious and cute, everyone will love these chocolatey heart shaped brownies.

9. Heart Shaped Sugar Cookies

The perfect snack or treat for everyone to enjoy, these heart shaped cookies are decorated for Valentine’s Day.

10. Chocolate Red Velvet Swirl Brownies

Who doesn’t love the taste of red velvet and chocolate together?! These sweet brownies combine the two flavors together for a fun heart shaped treat.

11. Valentine’s Day Copycat Reese’s

These heart shaped goodies allow you to make your own favorite chocolate and peanut butter candy at home.

12. Valentine’s Day Oreo Truffles

Oreos make the perfect treat, everyone loves them. These Oreos are dipped in a white chocolate and are shaped like hearts.

13. Spicy Chocolate Heart Candies

Vegan and tasty, these chocolate heart candies bring a little heat to the table to add some extra flavour and fun.

14. Heart Dipped Rice Krispie Treats

Fun for kids and adults, these sweet Rice Krispie treats are shaped like a heart and are dipped in a delicious chocolate icing.

Valentine’s Day Heart Shaped Treats

Valentine’s Day Treat Recipe Ideas

If you are looking for more Valentine’s Day recipe ideas, you might like these:

  1. 15 Sweet Breakfasts for Valentine’s Day
  2. Valentine’s Day Rice Krispie Pops Recipe
  3. Kid Friendly Valentine’s Day Treats
  4. 13 Best Valentine’s Day Sweet Treats
  5. Valentine’s Day Crinkle Cookies with a White Chocolate Drizzle
  6. Brownie Chocolate Chip Bars Filled with Strawberry M&Ms #Recipe
  7. Valentine’s Day Candy Bark
  8. Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Oreo Cookies
  9. Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

I hope you enjoyed these Valentine’s Day Heart Shaped Treats round up as much as I did! Also, check out all of our other recipes!

How Parents Can Help Their Kids With Food Allergies

Lyne Proulx
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6
How Parents Can Help Their Kids With Food Allergies

Raising a child with a serious food allergy isn’t easy, but there are a few things parents can do in the early years to make life less stressful. We are looking at 3 easy ways on how parents can help their kids with food allergies.

Imagine being a child who grows up with a fear of food. A child who dreads cupcake day at school, who is too scared to eat alone, and who has to watch her friends enjoy treats while he sits on the sidelines. For children with life-threatening food allergies, anxiety and uncertainty are a part of everyday life.

How Parents Can Help Their Kids With Food Allergies

Parents Need to Deal With Their Own Anxiety in Order to Help Their Kids With Food Allergies

The diagnosis of a serious food allergy is life changing for everyone in the child’s family. For parents, particularly mothers, there is often guilt about what they may have done to contribute to the allergy developing. If a child has peanut allergy, for example, they may blame themselves for eating peanut butter during pregnancy. Reassurance from medical professionals often does little to allay these feelings. Very little is known about food allergies and what causes them, which leave the door open for parents to draw their own conclusions.

Parents often feel overwhelmed in the early days of their child’s diagnosis. Food can no longer be taken for granted, ingredient labels must be scrutinized, food choices are limited, and finding babysitters or child care becomes arduous. As the reality of raising a child with serious food allergy sets in, so do fears of what the future will bring. What challenges the child will face, what they’ll they miss out on, what risks must be managed. Talking to a counsellor or therapist is very important when parental anxiety becomes overwhelming and can help when educating the child about their allergies.

Food allergen icons vector set - gluten lactose, GMO, nuts, etc

How Parents Can Teach Younger Children About Food Allergies

Many children are diagnosed with a serious food allergy when they are babies. As a result, they grow up not knowing a life without food allergies. How they are educated about their food allergies in these early years is likely to be reflected in the way they deal with them in the future. During this time parents have almost total control over what their child eats, which can lessen anxiety levels for everyone. It’s helpful to read food allergy books to the child from a very early age to reinforce that many children have food allergies and to introduce the concept of food avoidance.

During these early years, children need to learn that while they can’t eat some foods, there are many things that they can eat. The less emphasis that is placed on the negative, the better. As with anything at this age, not being to have something they want often results in tantrums and tears. There may be frustration at seeing another child eating something they’d like to try. At these times, parents need to resist the urge to indulge the child because they feel sorry for the child. Instead they need to remain calm and explain that while the child can’t eat that particular food, she can eat something else that she enjoys. Dealt with in a calm manner, the child will more readily accept her food allergy and its limitations in the future.

How Parents Can Reduce the Stress of Starting School With Food Allergies

The independence that comes with starting school can be daunting for both parents and children with serious food allergies. For parents, a large part of the child’s environment is suddenly not within their control. They must rely on teachers to manage their child’s allergy and upon the school to protect and respond to the child’s food needs.

Choosing a school that is experienced in dealing with food allergies can alleviate anxiety in some cases; however, when the school isn’t allergy aware, responsibility for ensuring appropriate measures are put in place can fall on the parent. This is understandably stressful and requires plenty of time and planning. Many food allergy organizations have resources to help parents and kids adjust to starting school.

How Parents Can Help Their Kids With Food Allergies

Some kids deal with their food allergies anxiety more effectively than others, and parents play a key role in helping them develop coping mechanisms. Hoping these tips mentioned above will help ease anxiety with food allergies.

4 Fun Outdoor Winter Crafts For Kids

Lyne Proulx
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11
4 Fun Outdoor Winter Crafts For Kids

Get the kids outdoors to have fun this winter. There is a great big world out there away from the television and video games. It is time to remind our kids how much fun there is outside. You will find below 4 outdoor winter crafts for kids to create together as a family!

boys playing outside in the snow

Take a moment and reminisce about the days of your youth. Remember the feeling of exhilaration when Mom let you know school was out for a snow day. Do the same for your children and bring a smile to their faces on the next snow day.

1. Mosaic Garden Of Birdseed

Create your own mosaic garden of birdseed or bird feeders. Not only will it look beautiful in your yard, but also gorgeous winter birds like cardinals will flock to your lawn in search of their favourite treats. Use a small shovel, your hands, or even your body to design an outline of any shape.

How To Make The Mosaic Birdseed

  1. Fill the outline with birdseed.
  2. Use seed in various colours and types to define the different areas of the design.
  3. Create additional embellishment to your mosaic using stones, pine, red berries, or grapevine.

2. Icy Sun Catchers Craft

Design your own icy sun catchers using only water, food colouring, and ribbon.

How To Make Icy Sun Catchers

  1. Fill ice cube trays, in any shape or size, with water.
  2. Add a few drops of food colouring to the ice cube spaces and stir each with a toothpick to combine the colouring with the water.
  3. Freeze the trays.
  4. Remove the coloured ice cubes from the trays when frozen.
  5. Pour water into a round cake pan, filling it about halfway.
  6. Position the coloured ice cubes in a decorative fashion around the water.
  7. Place a cup full of water inside the edge of the pan, leaving about two inches of space between the cup and the pan.
  8. Freeze the pan with the cup of water in place.
  9. Remove the circle of coloured ice from the cake pan and take the cup out of the ice. String a ribbon through the hole left by the cup and hang your homemade icy sun catcher outside.
Youtube video

3. Snow Castles

Who says you should only build castles out of sand? Bring a bit of summer into winter and build your castle out of snow instead. Snowpacks better, it lasts longer, and it glistens beautifully in the moonlight. Don’t bother putting away the sand pails, shovels, and rakes; keep them out year-round to create the castle of your dreams out of the snow when the beach just isn’t an option.

Youtube video

4. Snow Paintings

Help your children bring out their inner Picasso with snow painting! Mix one part acrylic or craft paint with one part warm water. Pour each colour mixture into clean, plastic squirt bottles.

Use the squirt bottles to “paint” pictures in the snow. You could even create a snow castle and use the squirt paint to decorate the castle in your favourite colours. Use washable craft paint to prevent staining of your children’s snow clothes.

Fun Outdoor Winter Crafts For Kids

You can plan an afternoon full of fun in the snowy outdoors. Take a ride down the hillside on a toboggan, snow tube down the mountain, or just spend the afternoon in the backyard doing a variety of outdoor winter crafts.

How Parents Can Prevent Their Kids From Cyberbullying

Lyne Proulx
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5
How Parents Can Prevent Their Kids From Cyberbullying

No parent wants their child to be cyberbullied, and yet it is happening across all ages, schools, and areas of the country. The following ideas highlight just a few ideas on how parents can prevent their kids from cyberbullying.

How Parents Can Prevent Their Kids From Cyberbullying

What Is Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over the internet via digital devices like tablets, computers, and cell phones including posting, sending, or sharing harmful, negative, mean, or false content about someone. It can occur through text and private messages, apps, SMS, forums, social media pages, and gaming. It’s pretty much online where people can participate in, view, or share content.

Victims of cyberbullying experience emotional, physical, and mental distress like fear, depression, low self-esteem, and anxiety. It’s important as parents to know the signs when your child is a cyberbullying victim and to take certain steps to avoid this happening to our children.

1. Tell Your Kids Not To Let Themselves Get Engaged By A Cyberbully

If a cyberbully taunts you online and you never ever respond or show that you hear them in any way, then they will probably decide to stop at one point or another. It isn’t much fun to be a cyberbully if you have absolutely no effect on your victim at all. You should teach your child that when someone says something across the Internet, that the best thing to do is often to just ignore it (as long as it is not a serious threat that needs to be told to someone like the school or authorities). When someone who is being cyberbullied gets upset and responds back then it will often turn into this heated back and forth exchange, which is just what the cyberbully wants.

How Parents Can Prevent Their Kids From Cyberbullying

2. Talk To Your Kids About The Importance Of Their Online Information

A cyberbully cannot send your child threatening e-mails if he or she does not have the e-mail address. Of course, sometimes they will get it through unscrupulous or unavoidable means such as from someone else, but as much as possible your child should keep this information safe.

3. Teach Them How To Block Messages Online

Even if a cyberbully knows you e-mail address/facebook name, etc. that doesn’t mean that you can give them free rein to contact you. There is usually a way to block them on most e-mail accounts. On a lot of social websites like Facebook you can set it up so that you need to approve someone before they are added as your friend. If the cyberbully’s messages don’t get through, they can’t bully you.

4. Take Steps To Address Any Current Cyberbullying

Parents can take steps to avoid future cyberbullying if their children are already being cyberbullied. They can contact the bully’s parents if they know who they are. They can also talk to the school if it is a classmate. In extreme cases they can even call the police. There are many new laws against this, and the police might have some recourse.

How Parents Can Prevent Their Kids From Cyberbullying

It is important for parents to be aware of the issues of cyberbullying and to help prevent it with their children. The above steps can aid in this endeavour.

Homemade Caramels: An Easy and Irresistible Fresh Confection

Lyne Proulx
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10
Homemade Caramels: An Easy and Irresistible Fresh Confection

If you have ever been to a confectionary where they make the candy on the premises– often right before your eyes– you know the importance of fresh-made candy. Candy making is a skill that takes a lot of practice, but some confections such as homemade caramels are surprisingly easy to make and well worth the effort.

Homemade Caramels: An Easy and Irresistible Fresh Confection

It’s true that candy stores caramels will remain tasty for a long time after being made, but there is a wow factor with the just-made stuff that adds to the experience and makes these places worth visiting and worth spending a little bit extra; however, if you only knew how easy it was to get that fresh-made caramels at home anytime you want and how little it would cost you, you would be setting up shop right in your own kitchen.

Before You Start

Before you attempt to make homemade caramels in your kitchen, it’s critical that you purchase a candy thermometer. You just need to be able to clamp it onto your saucepan. Tracking the temp of your boiling candy is crucial when making this recipe.

Holiday Recipe

Homemade Caramels are the perfect candy to make around the holidays. They are wonderful to have around the house for a quick pick-me-up. Once you know how to make these, the homemade caramels make a perfect base for other candies. You can add walnuts or pecans and melted chocolate to create your own freshly made turtles. it all starts with that delicious, chewy, and stretchy caramel that you make at home in your very own kitchen.

Cutting Your Homemade Caramel

When you cut your caramel into pieces, make sure you get a nice clean cut. Carefully consider the size of the pieces or the quantity of caramels you want to have. Then cut a grid using the tip of a very sharp knife. Start in the back and then pull the knife toward you, cutting strips out of the sheet of caramel. Then rotate the sheet and cut again at your desired thickness.

Homemade Caramels Recipe

  • Serves: Makes 40
  • Prep time: 25 minutes
  • Total time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of butter
  • 4.5 cups of white sugar
  • 1.5 light corn syrup
  • 3 cups of whipping cream

Material Needed

  • Wax paper to roll
  • 9×12 pan
  • Candy Thermometer

How To Make The Homemade Caramels

  • 1. Melt sugar and corn syrup in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for 5-7 minutes.
  • 2. Melt butter and mix with whipping cream.
  • 3. Mix very slowly into the boiling mixture ¼ cup at a time. Stir continuously.
  • 4. Bring back to a boil and boil until temperature reaches 240 F.
  • 5. Pour caramels into a 9×12 pan that is lined with parchment paper.
  • 6. Place in fridge overnight.
  • 7. Cut into pieces and then wrap in wax paper.
Homemade Caramels Recipe

I hope you enjoyed my Homemade Caramels Recipe as much as I did! If you make it, please share your photos with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other recipes!

Homemade Caramels: An Easy and Irresistible Fresh Confection

HOMEMADE CARAMELS RECIPE

Candy making is a skill that takes a lot of practice, but some confections such as homemade caramels are surprisingly easy to make.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine American, Canadian
Servings 40 caramels

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup of butter
  • 4.5 cups of white sugar
  • 1.5 light corn syrup
  • 3 cups of whipping cream

Instructions
 

  • Melt sugar and corn syrup in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for 5-7 minutes.
  • Melt butter and mix with whipping cream.
  • Mix very slowly into the boiling mixture ¼ cup at a time. Stir continuously.
  • Bring back to a boil and boil until temperature reaches 240 F.
  • Pour caramels into a 9×12 pan that is lined with parchment paper.
  • Place in fridge overnight.
  • Cut into pieces and then wrap in wax paper.

Notes

MATERIAL NEEDED
  1. Wax paper to roll
  2. 9×12 pan
  3. Candy Thermometer
Keyword candy, caramels, homemade caramels
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

New Year Celebrations Around The World

Lyne Proulx
-
9
New Year Celebrations Around The World

It is extremely interesting to learn and understand the various cultural traditions that many countries celebrate especially at the New Year. People tend to think of January 1st as a new beginning. This is a thought that is held by people throughout the world. Let’s have a look at some New Year celebrations around the world!

No matter if you are watching the ball drop with our newest drink in your hands, New Year’s Milk Shots, and making New Year’s Resolutions in Canada, or you are eating grapes for good luck in Mexico, tradition plays a huge part in the celebration of this holiday.

NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS IN SPAIN

Spain celebrates the New Year with the most lavish parties and festivals. Being that this country is steeped in religion, many people dress in brand new clothes and come together at the stroke of midnight to pray. These are prayers for good fortune in the New Year. The locals refer to this as Nochevieja.

New Year celebrations around the world
New year’s day in a restaurant in Spain

NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS IN MEXICO

Mexico is a culture full of colour and excitement and New Year’s Eve is no different. There are wonderful parties with delicious food and drink. At midnight, Mexicans believe that if you eat twelve grapes they will bring you good luck through each of the twelve months of the New Year. This tradition began in Spain during the early portion of the Twentieth century and soon became popular in Peru, Portugal, and Mexico. The sweeter the grape, the better luck you will have. A sour grape represents a difficult month. The tradition states that you should have the grapes ready and eat each grape with the chiming of the clock. As the first grape in eaten then you are to name that grape January and so forth with the next eleven grapes.

NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS IN GERMANY

In Germany, you cannot speak of New Year’s Eve without referring to the famous forth century Pope, Saint Sylvester. December was considered a day of feasting which would celebrate Saint Sylvester. These celebrations also include dancing, drinking, and various other fun activities. One of the most famous fortune-telling games the Germans play on New Year’s Eve consists of dropping a molten lead ball into extremely cold water. The shape of the ball tells the future, when it is solidified. A heart shaped or ring shaped it means that a wedding will take place in the coming year. If the ball takes the shape of a ship, then there is travel in the future. If the molten ball forms a pig when solidified, then food will be plentiful in the coming year.

NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD

NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS IN SCOTLAND

In Scotland, New Year’s Eve is also, referred to as Hogmanay and New Year’s Day is often called Daft Days. “Night of the Candle” is another name for New Year’s Eve. Many people enjoy biscuits called Hogmanay. The Scots also believe it is important to clean your house before the New Year. This is supposed to clean out the negative energy acquired throughout the year. Many like to burn Juniper branches in their home to help with the purification process.

New Year celebrations around the world
New year’s day in Japan- Traditional costume

NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS IN JAPAN

The people of Japan begin planning New Year’s Celebrations in the middle of December by collecting special cards, which are to be delivered on New Year’s Day with the help of a large group of students that are hired to deliver these special cards. Shinto tradition also speaks of cleaning their home before the New Year. Many Buddist temples ring their bells 108 times to clear the evil. This procedure is to ensure that they will begin the New Year free of evil. Osechi ryori is a food that is prepared many days before the January 1st festivities.

As you can see, New Year traditions are unique and special around the world!

HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR? COMMENT BELOW!

Happy New Year!

Breakfast Donut Casserole With Chia Seeds and Flax

Lyne Proulx
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14
Breakfast Donut Casserole With Chia Seeds and Flax

One of my favorite things to make is breakfast casserole. Even if you are not typically a breakfast person, you can appreciate how brilliantly simple it is. You’ll especially love my donut casserole with chia seeds. Breakfast casseroles are akin to a one-skillet meal, but they are even easier to make and they can supply breakfast for at least a couple of days.

Donut casseroles are a quick and easy way to feed a family without making a lot of dishes or taking too much time in the morning. Because of that, I like them better than other shortcut solutions like toaster pastries or smoothies. The Donut casserole is a perfect alternative for the donut and coffee types, too.

Breakfast Donut Casserole With Chia Seeds and Flax

Special Occasions

Although this recipe is an easy fix for most people, this delicious morning treat is also ideal for special occasions such as mother’s day or a birthday celebration. I love that it’s an easy way for kids to treat their moms and it tastes like a unique recipe only to have on rare or special occasions.

What is a Donut Casserole?

My donut casserole with chia seeds is a baked breakfast treat that stands apart from other casseroles. For this recipe, we start small with only four cinnamon donuts. That won’t fill a casserole dish, so we’ll use a pie plate instead. As with other breakfast casseroles, we’ll mix the donuts with a binding mixture and then bake. The mixture for my casserole includes flax and chia seeds, which help to create the illusion of a healthy meal. This donut casserole will serve 4 people, so about 1 donut each. You can also double up the recipe ingredients to serve a larger family.

Breakfast Donut Casserole

The New Way to Have Donuts

When you try this mix of cinnamon donuts you’ll fall in love with the crunch on top and the soft chewy centre. It’s very similar to bread pudding and it’s a wonderful alternative to coffee cake. This is the breakfast casserole for those of us who enjoy a small breakfast but want to still sit down and take a moment before starting up the day. I recommend making it the night before mainly because you want the oven to have time to preheat, but preparing this meal is so easy you can start it just prior to your normal morning routine.


Delicious Breakfast Recipes

If you love this breakfast donut casserole, you might want to try one of these delicious breakfast recipes:

  1. Skillet Turkey Breakfast Hash
  2. Bountiful Breakfast Bowl with Turkey Sausage
  3. Overnight Donut FrenchToast Casserole
  4. Delicious Breakfast Egg Muffins
  5. Strawberry White Chocolate Scones
  6. 20 Healthy Breakfast Recipes For Busy Mornings
  7. 15 Sweet Breakfasts for Valentine’s Day
  8. 25 Mother’s Day Breakfast Recipes Kids Can Make
  9. Leftover Donut Bread Pudding

Breakfast Donut Casserole with Chia Seeds And Flax

Prep time: 10 minutes

Total time: 35 minutes

Makes: 1 pan

Donut Casserole Ingredients

  • 4 cinnamon donuts (or apple fritters)
  • ½ cup of milk
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 tsp flax
Breakfast Donut Casserole With Chia Seeds

How To Make A Breakfast Donut Casserole

  1. Cut up the donuts and cinnamon into 2-inch pieces. These don’t have to be perfect, this recipe is very forgiving, so don’t measure, just chop.
  2. Place pieces into a bowl.
  3. In another bowl, add in the flax, chia, and milk and stir to combine.
  4. Mix flax mixture with the donuts and stir to combine.
  5. Place mixture into a pie plate.
  6. Fill right to the top and place in a 350-degree oven for 25 minutes or until the tops of the donuts are brown and slightly crunchy.
  7. Let cool and enjoy.
Breakfast Donut Casserole With Chia Seeds and Flax

I hope you enjoyed my Breakfast Donut Casserole With Chia Seeds and Flax Recipe as much as I did! If you make it, please share your photos with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other recipes!

Breakfast Donut Casserole With Chia Seeds and Flax

BREAKFAST DONUT CASSEROLE WITH CHIA SEEDS AND FLAX

Even if you are not a breakfast person, you will appreciate how simple this donut casserole with chia seeds is. You'll especially love it!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American, Canadian

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cinnamon donuts or apple fritters
  • ½ cup of milk
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 tsp flax

Instructions
 

  • Cut up the donuts and cinnamon into 2-inch pieces. These don’t have to be perfect, this recipe is very forgiving, so don’t measure, just chop.
  • Place pieces into a bowl.
  • In another bowl, add in the flax, chia, and milk and stir to combine.
  • Mix flax mixture with the donuts and stir to combine.
  • Place mixture into a pie plate.
  • Fill right to the top and place in a 350-degree oven for 25 minutes or until the tops of the donuts are brown and slightly crunchy.
  • Let cool and enjoy.

Notes

Material needed:
Pie plate
Keyword Breakfast, breakfast casserole, casserole, chia seeds, donuts, flax
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

How Stories Can Bring Your Family Together This Holiday Season

Lyne Proulx
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6
How Stories Can Bring Your Family Together This Holiday Season

This content is sponsored by Audible.ca

Snow is gently falling outside your window, and in the darkness of a winter night, your living room seems cozier than ever. Lights twinkle, flames crackle, and your hands are cradling a mug of steaming hot chocolate. Curled up on the rug beside you are your children, and from your speaker you hear a soft voice say, “Once upon a time….” Stories have always brought people together, and if you are looking for ways to share a quiet, introspective moment with your family household this holiday season, sitting down and listening to an audiobook together is a great way to do so.

family sitting in front of the fireplace showing their socks

If you are looking for audiobooks in Canada signing up for a membership will give you access to a library containing audiobooks for kids of all ages as well as literary classics, self-help audiobooks, and podcasts. But those looking for the perfect listen for a quiet winter night, here are three titles that will leave the whole family rapt.

1. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Fairy tales have always appealed to children — and as everyone knows, all the best fairy tales are about animals. In The Tale of Despereaux Kate DiCamillo channels the great tradition of intrepid mouse-heroes to create a story of love and adventure that is by turns funny, wistful, moving, and magnetic — the perfect way to wind down a day of building snowmen and eating gingerbread.

But DiCamillo’s story does more than just keep the kids entertained for an evening. It also teaches valuable lessons about bravery and unlikely friendship.

Girl and woman listening to audiobooks

2. Keeper of the Lost City by Shannon Messenger

As kids get older, they start to gravitate toward stories that are a little more nuanced. This is one of the reasons sci-fi and fantasy genres are so popular among pre-teens and middle-schoolers. The difficult questions about good vs. evil that are often at the heart of these stories help children develop their understanding of our morally complex world, and listening to these stories alongside them can spark interesting conversations.

When it comes to sci-fi and fantasy kids stories no one does it better than Shannon Messenger, whose Keeper of the Lost City series follows Sophie, a twelve-year-old telepath whose gifts set her apart — and will put her at great danger if she doesn’t learn to channel them to the right ends.

3. The Beatrix Potter Collection by Beatrix Potter

The holidays are a time when most of us are inclined to grow sentimental about winters past. Eating foods you ate growing up, listening to holiday music that transports you to your own childhood — one of the joys of the season is being able to pass along some of these traditions to your own children.

For many, the Beatrix Potter stories were some of the first tales they ever heard. And withThe Beatrix Potter Collection audiobook, you can rediscover the adventures of Peter Rabbit and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle alongside your own kids.

In an age of screens, when our hours of work and play are almost always spent in front of a computer or television, there is something extremely relaxing about taking a break from your screen and immersing yourself into the audio experience.

Taking time out from busier, more active forms of entertainment to unwind as a family with an audiobook doesn’t just provide us with a break, it stimulates other parts of the brain — especially for younger children, listening inspires learning and provides a new perspective on things.

How Stories Can Bring Your Family Together This Holiday Season - Audiobook

This holiday season, why not take the time to re-focus on the things that matter by bringing the family together around one of these timeless stories.

Fun Activities For Families To Do Inside During The Winter

Lyne Proulx
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9
Fun Activities For Families To Do Inside During The Winter

With winter officially starting in the Northern Hemisphere, many families are looking for fun indoor activities to get them through the next few months. Between the cold weather, short days, and a pandemic that’s closed down most forms of entertainment, fun ideas are more than welcome. So, if you’re looking for fun activities to do inside with your family during the winter months, here are some of our favourite ideas.

Board Games

A Netflix or Disney+ subscription can be a lifesaver during the cold winter months. But, let’s face it, none of us should probably be spending as much time in front of a screen as we already are.

One fun activity that could replace your household’s Sunday afternoon movie marathon could be a family game night. There’s a wide variety of classic and new board games out there, including a few good ones for preschoolers. Of course, if you’re the type of folks who are too competitive for Monopoly, you could also give puzzles or chess a try.

However, if your family wants something that can help improve your intellectual abilities, then playing scrabble can be an excellent option for board games. Aside from killing boredom during the winter season and building healthy relationships, scrabble can help you expand your vocabularies. As such, your family will have fun while having an opportunity to showcase each one’s vocabulary skills.

family playing Jenga game
Family playing Jenga game

Food Prep

What about combining something that’s both fun and useful? Cooking can be an excellent way for families to spend time together.

Not only is preparing meals an educational activity for children of all ages, but it’s also a project you can thoroughly enjoy once it’s finished. Prepare family staples or choose from one of the many recipes available in our food section, and you won’t be sorry.

Gardening

Want to take things up a notch? Why not get everyone together to start a windowsill garden? Choose a sunny spot to plant some herbs or grow vegetables that you’ll be able to enjoy in a few months or so. You can even grow herbs or vegetables in your kitchen using mason jars!

Of course, if you haven’t exactly got a green thumb, maybe you can start with a few succulents or a couple of low-maintenance air-purifying plants for your living space.

Get Moving

With the Covid-19 pandemic, most of our workouts have either gone on break or have moved to small home-based exercise spaces. But considering the cold weather and long winter waiting for us, this could be a good thing.

Why not come up with exercise challenges for the entire household? Anything from a basic 10-minute strength workout, to a streamed fitness class, or even a game of indoor golf can be an excellent way for your family to have fun and improve your physical health. Plus, you’ll all be “beach ready” by the time April comes around.

Start a Band

Ok, so you may not be the most musical family on the block. But that doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy a good tune.

Getting together with your kids to learn and play an instrument isn’t just a good way to bond. It’s also an activity that has numerous proven benefits. According to Harvard Health, music can boost memory and mood. Plus, it can help your teen with their math homework, which is always an added bonus.

Get Crafty

While DIY projects aren’t the most creative suggestion for indoor family activities, they’re common for a reason: They’re fun and they work.

Make your own playdough. Craft your favourite Star Wars characters to keep you company for the next episode of The Mandalorian. Build your entire neighbourhood out of Legos. 

But if your family loves working around with art, then embroidery can be a perfect option. It refers to a craft that uses needles to decorate fabric and other materials with yarn or thread. It also includes adding some decorative items like beads, pearls, and even sequins. Nowadays, embroidery can be used in clothing, caps, coats, and hats. 

That being said, embroidery can be indeed an excellent way of spending time with your family during the winter season. Unlike other fun family activities, decorating fabrics and other materials with thread and ornaments doesn’t require you to go outside and expose yourself to the cold temperature. 

But aside from that, there are also other essential reasons for getting drafty with embroidery during the colder months. One of them is that it can be custom-made. Whether it’s a design pattern or letters, you can have it added to a fabric or other similar material with the use of embroidery. 

For example, if you want to embroider your name’s initials on your handkerchief or hat, you can certainly do so. It can be a rewarding and satisfying experience for you and your family. But if the family is doing embroidery for the first time, you can check out some resource websites to learn how to embroider letters and other patterns. 

So, if you’re looking for many ways to get crafty, there are indeed many choices to look into, as mentioned above. Nevertheless, whichever of these crafts you choose, you’re sure to find that doing something creative makes the time go by faster.

Socially Distanced Cultural Events

Last but not least, if you’re staying home this winter season, you can make the most of the extra free time and do some things you may not have the opportunity to do otherwise. For example, many cultural institutions will be streaming live music or recorded events, all for free. Or, you can keep an eye out on YouTube and find streams from theatre companies from all over the world, including Broadway smash hits.

Whether you’re looking for good ways to relax as a family or want to inject a bit of excitement into your home, these fun activities to do inside during the winter are all great options. They’re not only entertaining, but also easily adaptable, and they’re good for all age groups. So don’t hesitate to give them a go this season. And let us know which ones you enjoyed the most!

Decorating And Designing Your Custom Rug

Lyne Proulx
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6
Decorating And Designing Your Custom Rug

Rugs have a place in every home. You may need a long runner for a hall or an oval rug to complement a coffee table. Maybe you cannot find a design you like or the right colour to make your wallpaper pop. This is where a custom rug would come in handy. Hand-knotted and hand-woven area rugs designed specifically to your liking.

Branding Your Furnishings With A Custom Rug

No two homes are exactly alike. That is because people tend to arrange their homes in a way that suits them and their lifestyles. People who embrace the designs they see in their minds want those patterns in their world. These are the people who design custom rugs. These are the people who decorate to their own liking.                   

Reasons You May Need A Custom Rug

Sooner or later we all run into a decorating maze. We move into a new home or apartment and our furniture doesn’t fit the same. We have to do some creative arranging to make everything work. Maybe we move into an older house and we do not want to change the vintage wallpaper or hardwood flooring. Maybe our furniture looks bare and cold against the rooms and trim of deep, rich wood. This is just one scenario where you would need custom rugs to warm the room and brighten the area.

Here are a few more:

  1. The size of the space you want to cover is unusual instead of regular, pre-made rugs.
  2. The colours of the furnishings do not blend well with the rest of the room.
  3. The vintage wall or the current wallpaper looks too nice to cover. A custom rug can pull all the colours together.
  4. The rooms are all carpeted. Putting down floor can break up or identify the room space.
  5. You need custom rugs with your logo to place at your office.
  6. A beautiful monogrammed custom rug makes a beautiful wedding gift and the perfect addition to a foyer.

Getting Your Custom Rug Design On Paper

Sometimes we get the design in our heads that we want on our custom rug. We don’t remember where we saw it or if we just made it up. But getting the design from our head to paper is not as easy as it sounds. Maybe you will have to go on a scavenger hunt to get what you need.

Here are some tips:

  1. Did you see the design on a piece of clothing? Grab your cell phone and start searching. If it is on your clothing, snap a picture of it. You can browse through magazines, the internet, or take a moment to see what your co-workers are wearing. If you see the design or something close to it, get a pic of it.
  2. Ask for fabric samples or carpet samples at your local home supply store. This can help you narrow down the colours and type of rug you want.
  3. If you can get a larger carpet sample, you can use a magic marker to draw the design on the sample.
  4. If you are trying to match your custom rug to your wallpaper or border, adjust your camera to get the closest shot you can. Be sure to adjust the colour settings if you need to.
  5. If you live near the custom rug designer, take this package to him or her. If they are out of town, you can send them to them, but be sure you give them more than one sample of the colours. Different cameras see colours different.

Listen

Sometimes when someone has decided to take the decorating issue into their own hands, they forget something. You may be designing the rug, but the carpet expert has to create it. When they are explaining the process and things that may happen, don’t dismiss them. Listen to what they are telling you. Let them do their job.

Decorating and Designing Your Custom Rug

Prices

When you are out collecting samples and paying attention to the rugs at the local department store, you may think you know what to expect on the price. First of all, the quality rug you will get with a custom order will far surpass the department store’s inventory. The rugs at the store are the same lower grade as the rugs that you want to get rid of. You want a better grade of the rug so it will last longer.

There is one thing you can count on. Using a premium rug vendor pays off. A good rug will last for many years with proper care. There are people who collect Oriental Rugs for hundreds of years.

An average space rug that you purchase at the home supply store usually has a lifespan of about 5-years. Depending upon who you purchase your custom rug from, it should last at least 10-years. But, if the rugs are cleaned properly and handled with proper care, they can last long after that mark. When you are ready to buy your rugs, be sure you inquire about the lifespan of the materials used and if the rug comes with or has available a warranty.

You will love your beautiful floor coverings and we hope this is just the beginning of a beautiful collection.

Give The Gift Of Learning With Osmo – Little Genius and The Genius Review

Naomi
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826
Give The Gift Of Learning With Osmo – Little Genius and The Genius Review

Just in time for Christmas break from school we were given the gift of learning with Osmo! And we were thrilled about it! To be honest, I didn’t know too much about it, but when I would visit Mastermind Toys when the kids were smaller and first noticed it, it was very intriguing. At that time when I first came across it, my boys were much younger, so I kept it at the back of my head for the future. What great timing with Jax turning six in a matter of days after Christmas! The Genius Starter Kit by Osmo is ideal for him! And now that Osmo has a Little Genius Kit, it’s perfect for Hudson turning four soon after that!

Children playing with the genius Kit

Genius Starter Kit

The Genius Starter kit is for ages 6 – 10 but I’m certain we’ll also get use out of it with Hudson who is turning four shortly after Christmas as well. He loves joining in on Jax’s virtual school sessions, so of course he wants to take part in this too!

The Osmo systems are compatible with both iPad or Fire tablets. When you unbox your Genius starter kit you’ll discover: a base to connect your device with a little camera that is placed at the top of your device along with all the pieces needed for your included games which all come in super handy wonderfully organized containers that are stackable. They contain tangram pieces, number tiles, and letter tiles for various games.

Setting Up Your Genius Starter Kit By Osmo

First, we downloaded the Osmo world app and got Jax all set up with his account. You snap your device right into the Osmo base then take the red little camera and clip it on top. Make sure you’re in a well lit area and basically your work space is between you and the iPad with the camera capturing everything you’re working on.

Jax really liked the look of the tangram pieces and wanted to start with that. Essentially they are different shaped coloured puzzle pieces that you must match up to the pattern you are seeing on the screen by placing them accordingly in front of you on the table space you are working with. When you get each piece right it lights up, and when it’s complete it comes to life and you get your points for completing the puzzle. 

Give The Gift Of Learning With OSMO - Review
Double the fun with Genius and Little Genius

So Many Games, So Little Time!

We likely would have spent more time on this, but seeing as it was our first time with the Osmo, we were excited to discover the other games. Jax is pretty fond of math. He’s quite proud that he can count to 100 now and is really quick at addition. Naturally he wanted to work with the numbers next.

For the numbers, you’re provided with number tiles in numeric and dice format. I couldn’t wrap my head around how Jax was getting it so quickly when I didn’t know what was going on. Turns out, he has played this game at his school last year in Junior Kindergarten so he was telling ME how it works. I thought that was pretty funny and cute. We worked with the dice numbers and he had to place all the appropriate dice on the table to make it equal the numbers you see on the screen in a fun interactive game format. Next time we’ll try the numeric numbers.

Kids playing with Osmo Little Genius
Osmo Little Genius games with Sticks & Rings

The Newton game was fun and it combines physics with creative problem solving. The object of the game is to guide falling on-screen balls into targeted zones. There are 60 levels and as you advance to various levels you are challenged with bouncing balls, accelerating platforms, and fans!

ABC Fun With Osmo

Next up letters! The letters game allows you to play solo or with two or more players and as with all of their games you can choose your level (easy, medium, hard etc). Since Jax is five, we started with easy level, and we can work our way up with more practise. We took out the tiles which are double sided with lower case on one side and uppercase on the other. The screen shows you an image with letters missing and using your tiles on your workspace in front of you, you must complete the word. I think it’s going to make learning to spell and read a lot more fun for Jax, especially while he’s in virtual learning temporarily.

Last but not least was the Masterpiece game. All you need is a blank sheet of paper in front of you tucked under the stand and your choice of writing tools. Jax chose to use his markers. The program allows you to choose from a bunch of templates to draw but we didn’t get a chance to try any of those because he quickly noticed you could take a photo and turns out it transforms your photos into traceable outlines to draw. He thought this was the coolest and proceeded to photograph and draw his LEGO mini figures, dinosaurs, hot wheels, and more! We didn’t get to it but there is also a letter tracing option which will be handy!

Give The Gift Of Learning With Osmo - Review And Giveaway

Little Genius Starter Kit By Osmo

Hudson’s Little Genius starter kit arrived a couple days after Jax’s Genius starter Kit and he couldn’t wait to dive in. The Little Genius starter kit is more age appropriate for Hudson since its aimed at ages 3 – 5.

We were familiar with how to get it all set up, so we got started unboxing to discover the Osmo base with the camera for your tablet, 38 silicone Sticks & Rings (BPA free, durable, dishwasher-safe silicone), and 19 Costume Pieces both in their own handy stackable storage which also stacks in line with Jax’s pieces. It also includes a silicone play mat to put down on your workspace and this is where you place all the pieces.

Jax intrigued about the Little Genius kit, helping his brother with his letters

Bringing Characters To Life

We started with the Squiggle Magic game which requires the Sticks & Rings. Even Jax wanted in on the Little Genius fun since it’s different than his. He can also borrow his brother rings for other games on his own Osmo. For Squiggle Magic you have to replicate the character (fish, robot etc) on the screen by building it using your sticks & rings. You could see the wheels turning and he was loving it. Jax was happy to help as well. Once complete, you press a button and your character comes to life. Hudson was quite proud of himself when he completed each task.

Next while we had our Sticks & Rings out we switched gears to the ABC game with Mo the Monster. Friendly little guy that teaches letters that you have to build with your sticks, while you’re at it they are able to learn over 300 words! I can see this is going to be very helpful to prepare Hudson for Junior Kindergarten next Fall.

Youtube video

Imaginations Running Wild

The Costume party game lets your imagination run wild with a base body that can be dressed up from head to toe with almost endless options. A virtual dress up party which also incorporates creative colour changes and more.

Last but not least we dove into the Stories game with Mo the Monster where Hudson had fun mixing and matching costumes to find silly solutions to obstacles and navigate awesome adventures.

By this time Jax had pulled out his own Osmo and was back at it with the math and tangrams. Little do they know they were learning – while having so much fun!

I still feel like there is a lot to learn, but the manuals are great and available for all the games and more at playosmo.com. We are now super curious about all the other games, so I’m officially roped in and with the boys having birthdays early on in the New Year, additional games will be perfect. Also great is that as a parent you can see how your child is progressing through the the parent app.

You can purchase the Osmo starter kits and games at Best Buy, Indigo, Mastermind Toys, Amazon, and Apple (online only). For more information, you can visit Osmo on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube!

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft With Template

Lyne Proulx
-
19
Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft With Template

I love the fanciful approach to crafts that makes fun little trinkets out of ordinary items. When I think of my favourite crafts to do with children, I think of craft paper, cotton balls, scissors, and paper plates. All the good stuff. For a unique and entertaining Christmas craft, you can make adorable Christmas snow globes out of these items. Paper plate snow globes are simple and creatively open-ended crafts that are suitable for all ages and skill levels.

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft

This adorable craft has a snowman inside a snow globe made out of a paper plate. The craft follows 8 simple steps to complete and when you are done you will have a charming decoration for the mantle, wall, or even a scrapbook. It even comes with a free downloadable template!

Paper Plate Snow globes

Paper plates are easy to cut. Their round shape and natural framing makes them well suited to a variety of kids crafts. Paper plate snow globes take advantage of the plate’s perfectly circular base and easy to work with material. You get to decide how much of the plate you want to use. You can cut it close to the bottom to make it more globe-like or you can cut it closer to the center to give it a more domed appearance.

For this craft, I chose to go somewhere in between the two so I could have more of the plate to work with. When you choose the sky colour for your background, consider all the varieties of options including the full spectrum of blues, purples, pinks, etc. to set the stage for an atmospheric snow globe you will most enjoy.

Building a Snowman

The heart and soul of this craft is the snowman inside the snow globe. It’s so much fun to create the snowman figure, cover him with cotton “snow” and then create cute accessories for him to hold and wear. This is where the unique character of your snow globe really shines. You could also take a more traditional route by giving your snowman a corn cob pipe and a button nose.

5 CHRISTMAS CRAFT IDEAS

If you are looking for more DIY Christmas craft ideas, you can make one of these:

  1. Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas
  2. 17 Snowman Crafts for Kids
  3. DIY Christmas Paper Gift Bag Ideas For The Family
  4. 17 Christmas Tree Crafts For Kids
  5. 17 Fun Santa Crafts For Kids
Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft

Paper Plate Snow Globe Craft

List of Supplies:

  • White paper plate
  • Coloured craft papers (blue, white, and yellow)
  • White embossed paper
  • Cotton (you can use cotton balls too)
  • Felt (blue, orange, grey, and black)
  • Craft glue
  • Pencil
  • Scissors
  • Snow Globe Template
Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft in process

How To Make The Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft

Step 1

Select your paper plate for this craft. Select white embossed paper for the snow part, blue for the background, and any colour of your choice for the paper plate globe stand. I chose yellow. Trace and cut out the patterns from the selected papers.

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft in process

Step 2

Cut one third or less of the paper plate to give it a snow globe look. Assemble and stick the paper patterns on the paper plate.

Step 3

Select different coloured felt fabrics for the snowman accessories. White paper for the snowman base and cotton to fill the base.

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft in process

Step 4

Apply glue on the snowman base and fill it with white cotton.

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft in process

Step 5

Stick the felt accessories on the cotton snowman one by one.

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft in process

Step 6

Stick the hat, buttons, and the scarf.

Step 7

You can use black felt or black paper to trace and cut out pieces to craft the snowman’s face and hands. These parts are very small so it’s better to trace them by freehand.

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft in process

Step 8

When you are done crafting the snowman, stick it on the paper plate snow globe to complete the craft.

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft

I hope you enjoyed my Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft as much as I did! If you make it, please share your photos with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other crafts!

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft

Paper Plate Snow Globes

Yield: 1 Snow Globe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: Under $5

Paper plate snow globes are creatively open-ended crafts suitable for all ages and skill levels. Customize your snowman however you like.

No Ratings

Materials

  • White paper plate
  • Coloured craft papers (blue, white, and yellow)
  • White embossed paper
  • Cotton (you can use cotton balls too)
  • Felt (blue, orange, grey, and black)
  • Craft glue
  • Pencil
  • Scissors
  • Snow Globe Template

Instructions

STEP 1

Select your paper plate for this craft. Select white embossed paper for the snow part, blue for the background, and any colour of your choice for the paper plate globe stand. I chose yellow. Trace and cut out the patterns from the selected papers.

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft in process

STEP 2

Cut one third or less of the paper plate to give it a snow globe look. Assemble and stick the paper patterns on the paper plate.

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft in process

STEP 3

Select different coloured felt fabrics for the snowman accessories. White paper for the snowman base and cotton to fill the base.

STEP 6 Stick the hat, buttons, and the scarf.

STEP 4

Apply glue on the snowman base and fill it with white cotton.

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft in process

STEP 5

Stick the felt accessories on the cotton snowman one by one.

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft in process

STEP 6

Stick the hat, buttons, and the scarf.

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft in process

STEP 7

You can use black felt or black paper to trace and cut out pieces to craft the snowman’s face and hands. These parts are very small so it’s better to trace them by freehand.

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft in process

STEP 8

When you are done crafting the snowman, stick it on the paper plate snow globe to complete the craft.

Paper Plate Snow Globes Craft

© Lyne
Project Type: Paper plate / Category: Crafts

Thin Pepperoni Christmas Pizza Recipe

Lyne Proulx
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11
Thin Pepperoni Christmas Pizza Recipe

There are two ways to prepare a Christmas themed meal. The most obvious way is to bake traditional Christmas favourites. The second way is to play with the colours and shapes of any food you like in order to conform it to the holiday season. This crisp Christmas pizza with lots of pepperoni and sliced cheese hit the mark. Especially with cookie-cutter Christmas shapes.

Thin Pepperoni Christmas Pizza

Because of its national colours, I like to make Christmas inspired recipes out of Italian cuisine. I also might just like pizza a lot! That’s a distinct possibility. But the red white and green colours do lend themselves more easily to a Christmas-themed atmosphere, especially when you can incorporate those colours into the food.

Customizable Christmas Pizza

This Christmas pizza recipe is simple and you can take liberties with it if you like. I laid out a thick background of pepperoni and made Christmas trees out of the sliced cheese to add some white Christmas flare. If you prefer a more cheese heavy recipe, by all means, cut shapes out of large slices of pepperoni or prosciutto. The great thing about pizza is how customizable it is. You can even incorporate more green into the pie by adding green peppers, spinach, or fresh basil. All of these are fantastically flavourful options that will crank up the enjoyment of this already delightful dish.

Shapes

Another customizable aspect of this thin crust Christmas Pizza recipe is the Christmas shapes. I chose to use the Christmas tree as my ultimate symbol of Christmas, but you can also fill your pizza with candy canes, stockings, angels, or anything else you feel will carry the theme well. Although this isn’t a traditional holiday cookie, pie, or Christmas feast recipe, I enjoy the festive appearance of this year-round favorite. Red pepperoni pizza covered in white trees is the best way for me to enjoy a Christmas pizza over the holidays.

Thin Crust Pepperoni Christmas Pizza Recipe

Thin Pepperoni Christmas Pizza Ingredients

  • 1 roll of pie dough (store bought, but you can make your own too)
  • 1 bag of pepperoni (I used almost a whole package)
  • 3 tbsp tomato sauce
  • 2-3 mozzarella cheese slices (or your favourite cheese)

Material Needed

  • Christmas tree cookie cutters
  • Rolling pin
  • Parchment lined tray

How To Make The Thin Pepperoni Christmas Pizza

  • 1. Roll out one of the rolls of pie dough and place it on a parchment lined tray.
  • 2. Put sauce on the dough and spread.
  • 3. Place pepperoni on top of the sauce.
Thin Pepperoni Christmas Pizza in process
  • 4. Place in 350 oven for 20 minutes or until just golden brown.
  • 5. While the pizza is cooking cut out the cheese shapes by using a Christmas tree cookie cutter or other ones.
  • 6. Remove from oven and place cheese on and then place back in oven for 5 minutes.
  • 7. When the cheese is melted, remove and enjoy!
Thin Pepperoni Christmas Pizza

HOW TO STORE THE CHRISTMAS PIZZA

Refrigerator: Store the pizza in a sealed plastic container in the refrigerator for 5 days after making it.

Freezer: The pizza can be frozen in a sealed container for 6 months.

I hope you enjoyed my Thin Pepperoni Christmas Pizza Recipe as much as I did! If you make it, please share your photos with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other recipes!

Thin Pepperoni Christmas Pizza

THIN PEPPERONI CHRISTMAS PIZZA

5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American, Canadian, Italian
Servings 1 pizza

Ingredients
  

  • 1 roll of pie dough store bought, but you can make your own too
  • 1 bag of pepperoni I used almost a whole package
  • 3 tbsp tomato sauce
  • 2-3 mozzarella cheese slices or your favourite cheese

Instructions
 

  • Roll out one of the rolls of pie dough and place it on a parchment lined tray.
  • Place sauce on the dough and spread.
  • Place pepperoni on top of the sauce.
  • Place in 350 oven for 20 minutes or until just golden brown.
  • While the pizza is cooking cut out the cheese shapes by using a Christmas tree cookie cutter or other ones.
  • Remove from oven and place cheese on and then place back in oven for 5 minutes.
  • When the cheese is melted, remove and enjoy!

Notes

MATERIAL NEEDED
  • Christmas tree cookie cutters
  • Rolling pin
  • Parchment lined tray
HOW TO STORE THE CHRISTMAS PIZZA
Refrigerator: Store the pizza in a sealed plastic container in the refrigerator for 5 days after making it.
Freezer: The pizza can be frozen in a sealed container for 6 months.
Keyword Christmas, pepperoni, pizza
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs Recipe

Lyne Proulx
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16
Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs Recipe

If you are on the keto diet, you will be so glad to know that you won’t need to miss out on the hottest trend of the season: keto hot chocolate bombs! This recipe is so easy and delicious! I wish I had doubled the batch, or maybe even tripled it, as my family loved them and they were all gone the day I made them! I know I will be making another round of these this week!

These keto hot cocoa bombs are perfect for gifting at Christmas, or as a treat on a really cold winter day when you crave a hot chocolate!

Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs

Hot Cocoa Bombs Are Easy To Make

This recipe is truly easy. You might be thinking, these are going to be a hassle to make, but I assure you they are not at all complicated! You can make this recipe with the kids, who are sure going to love helping! If you have the silicone hot chocolate bomb mold, they will come together in a flash! You can find it on Amazon, Showcase, or in a local craft shop like Michaels. I only got 1 mold and will get another one in order to make more at a time.

I made this hot chocolate bombs recipe keto by using sugar free chocolate chips, unsweetened cocoa powder, Erythritol, and keto marshmallows. But, you can make it with “regular ingredients” if you aren’t on a low carb and low sugar diet. 

keto hot cocoa bombs

I used almond milk for my cocoa bomb, but you can use coconut milk. The heavy cream is an optional ingredient, but I would highly recommend using it because it makes the cocoa so much richer and creamier!

These keto hot chocolate bombs store well on the counter in an airtight container for about a week, but really don’t expect them to last that long!

More Keto Recipes

You can find all of my keto recipes here. Reader favourites include Must Try Keto Recipes and What is the Ketogenic Diet?

Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs

Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs Recipe

Hot Chocolate Bomb Shell Ingredients

  • 1 bag of Lilys Dark Chocolate Style Baking Chips with no sugar added. You can also use Krisda sugar-free semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Hot Cocoa Filling

Other Ingredients Needed (For 1 Hot Chocolate Bomb):

  • 1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk (regular or vanilla)
  • 1/3 cup of 35% heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup of 35% heavy cream whipped for topping (optional)

Equipment Needed

  • Microwavable bowl
  • Silicone hot chocolate bomb mold (I got mine at Showcase)
  • Ziplock bag or pastry bag with a small tip
  • Bowl for the whipped cream
  • Mixer

How To Make Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs

sugar-free chocolate chips in a bowl
  • 1. Place the bag of chocolate chips in a microwavable safe bowl in microwave in 30 second intervals until melted.
sugar-free chocolate chips melted
  • 2. Pour 1 tbsp of chocolate into each chocolate mold. Use a spoon to swirl the chocolate around and coat the edges. Make sure to spoon the chocolate up the sides until it makes a thicker shell.
chocolate melted in the silicone hot chocolate bomb mold
  • 3. Put the chocolate mold in the fridge for about 15 minutes or until it’s set.
Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs in process
  • 4. Combine the unsweetened cocoa powder with the erythritol in a bowl.
  • 5. When the chocolate is set, remove from the refrigerator and gently pop them out of the mold. You should have 6 spheres.
  • 6. Heat a plate in the microwave for 30 seconds, and be careful as the plate might be hot.
  • 7. Carefully take the open side of the sphere and place it onto the plate to melt off the uneven edges to create a smooth edging.
  • 8. Cut each marshmallow into 4 pieces. Spoon 1 tbsp of the cocoa and erythritol mixture in 3 of the 1/2 chocolate bomb and add 8 pieces of marshmallows on top.
Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs in process
Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs in process
  • 9. Connect 1 empty half chocolate bomb to 1 half that is full of the mixture and seal together. As the melted chocolate hardens, it will seal.
Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs recipe
  • 10. Heat up the left over chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds intervals until it’s soft again. Pour it in a Ziplock bag and cut a tiny piece at one of the ends or use a pasty bag with a tip. Drizzle the melted chocolate over top of the hot cocoa bomb and allow to dry. You can also use a spoon to drizzle instead of a bag.
Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs in a glass of milk

How To Serve The Hot Cocoa Bombs

  1. Heat the almond milk and heavy cream in a pot on the stove top or about 2 minutes in the microwave in a mug or clear glass.
  2. Add 1 keto hot chocolate bomb and stir until smooth.
  3. Whipped the 35% heavy cream in a bowl with a mixer until soft peaks form and top it to the hot chocolate.
  4. You can also drizzle more melted chocolate over the whipped cream.
  5. Enjoy!
Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs

How To Store:

Store on the counter in a plastic container at room temperature for up to 2 months.

keto hot chocolate bombs

I hope you enjoyed my Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs Recipe as much as my family and I did. If you make it, make sure to share with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other Recipes!

Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs recipe

KETO HOT CHOCOLATE BOMBS

If you are on the keto diet, you will be so glad to know that you won’t miss out on the hottest trend; hot chocolate bombs!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Keep in refrigerator 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course beverages
Cuisine American, Canadian
Servings 3 Chocolate Bombs

Equipment

  • Microwavable bowl
  • Silicone Hot Chocolate bomb mold (I got mine at Showcase)
  • Ziplock bag or pastry bag with a small tip
  • Bowl for the whipped cream Mixer

Ingredients
  

HOT CHOCOLATE BOMB SHELL INGREDIENTS

  • 1 bag of Lilys Dark Chocolate Style Baking Chips with no sugar added. You can also use Krisda sugar-free semi-sweet chocolate chips.

HOT COCOA FILLING

  • 1 tbsp Erythritol granular sugar I used Swerve
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder I used Anthony’s Organic Cocoa Powder
  • 6 keto marshmallows Homemade

OTHER INGREDIENTS NEEDED (FOR 1 HOT CHOCOLATE BOMB):

  • 1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk regular or vanilla
  • 1/3 cup of 35% heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup of 35% heavy cream whipped for topping optional

Instructions
 

  • Place the bag of chocolate chips in a microwavable safe bowl in microwave in 30 second intervals until melted.
  • Pour 1 tbsp of chocolate into each chocolate mold. Use a spoon to swirl the chocolate around and coat the edges. Make sure to spoon the chocolate up the sides until it makes a thicker shell.
  • Put the chocolate mold in the fridge for about 15 minutes or until it’s set.
  • Combine the unsweetened cocoa powder with the erythritol in a bowl.
  • When the chocolate is set, remove from the refrigerator and gently pop them out of the mold. You should have 6 spheres.
  • Heat a plate in the microwave for 30 seconds, and be careful as the plate might be hot.
  • Carefully take the open side of the sphere and place it onto the plate to melt off the uneven edges to create a smooth edging.
  • Cut each marshmallow into 4 pieces. Spoon 1 tbsp of the cocoa and erythritol mixture in 3 of the 1/2 chocolate bomb and add 8 pieces of marshmallows on top.
  • Connect 1 empty half chocolate bomb to 1 half that is full of the mixture and seal together. As the melted chocolate hardens, it will seal.
  • Heat up the left over chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds intervals until it’s soft again. Pour it in a Ziplock bag and cut a tiny piece at one of the ends or use a pasty bag with a tip. Drizzle the melted chocolate over top of the hot cocoa bomb and allow to dry. You can also use a spoon to drizzle instead of a bag.

HOW TO SERVE THE HOT COCOA BOMBS

  • Heat the almond milk and heavy cream in a pot on the stove top or about 2 minutes in the microwave in a mug or clear glass.
  • Add 1 keto hot chocolate bomb and stir until smooth.
  • Whipped the 35% heavy cream in a bowl with a mixer until soft peaks form and top it to the hot chocolate.
  • You can also drizzle more melted chocolate over the whipped cream.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

How to Store the Keto Hot Chocolate Bombs
  • Store on the counter in a plastic container for 2 months.
 
HOT COCOA FILLING Links
Keyword cocoa, Hot chocolate, Hot chocolate bombs, hot cocoa, Hot cocoa bomb, keto, keto hot chocolate bombs
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

White Chocolate Figs with Coarse Sugar Recipe

Lyne Proulx
-
6
White Chocolate Figs with Coarse Sugar Recipe

You’ve heard of chocolate-covered strawberries, haven’t you? Of course you have! You’ve probably had some during the summer. But there is another one that I like more, that you probably haven’t heard of. It’s similar in concept, but it’s perfect for a chilly winter’s night. White chocolate figs dusted with gleaming and shimmering coarse sugar! These White Chocolate Whole Figs with Coarse Sugar are just the delicacy to indulge in by the fire with a plate of cheese or a basket of savoury buttered rolls.

White Chocolate Figs with Coarse Sugar

Although decorating sugar is optional, I highly recommend it as an essential component of the recipe. The reason being that I feel it enhances the flavour and adds texture, while also providing context, illustrating glistening frost on a crisp cold day.

White Chocolate Figs For The Holidays

Figs are a perfect winter fruit and so underutilized. You may enjoy fig pudding or have it in your bread, but you can eat a fig whole, especially when you dip it in chocolate. I find white chocolate to be the ideal Christmas variety among dark, milk, and semi-sweet chocolates. It pairs nicely with winter fruits and it has the appearance of snow with makes it the obvious optical preference if you are hosting a themed Christmas dinner. All in all the three components of this sweet snack make it a visual treat as much as it is a tasty one.

White Chocolate Figs with Coarse Sugar

Easy As 1, 2, 3

The preparation of this recipe requires practically no cooking. There are only three ingredients and three steps. All you have to do is melt, dip, and sprinkle your way to a sensational indulgence that will quickly become your new holiday favourite. If you are hosting a dinner for the holidays, you should adjust the recipe according to the number of guests you are expecting.

How To Store The White Chocolate Figs

Refrigerator: Store uneaten (yeah, right) figs in a sealed plastic container in the refrigerator for 2-4 days after making.

Freezer: Figs can be frozen in a sealed container for 6 to 9 months.

What To Drink With the White Chocolate Figs

They are super tasty with lattes, coffees, and hot chocolates:

  1. 15+ Toasty Drinks For Fall
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  3. Coffee Recipes Served 9 Ways
  4. Cozy Gingerbread Latte
  5. Decadent Earl Grey Hot Chocolate
  6. Crockpot Hot Chocolate
  7. Slow Cooker Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate
  8. Spicy Mexican Coffee
  9. Strawberry White Hot Chocolate

White Chocolate Figs With Coarse Sugar Recipe

White Chocolate Figs with Coarse Sugar

Ingredients

How to Make The White Chocolate Figs With Coarse Sugar

  1. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate chips. You can also melt them in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds at a time, and repeat until melted.
  2. Dip whole figs in melted white chocolate chips.
  3. Sprinkle with decorating coarse sugar (I used white but you could use other colours).
  4. Place on a parchment-lined tray and let set up in the fridge for 10 minutes.
  5. Eat and enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed my White Chocolate Figs with Coarse Sugar Recipe as much as I did! If you make it, please share your photos with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other recipes!

White Chocolate Figs with Coarse Sugar

White Chocolate Figs with Coarse Sugar

White chocolate figs dusted with shimmering coarse sugar are just the delicacy to indulge in by the fire with a plate of cheese.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Rest in Refrigerator for Chocolate to set 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American, Canadian
Servings 10 figs

Ingredients
  

  • 8-10 figs
  • 1 cup of white chocolate chips melted
  • 2 tbsp decorating coarse sugar optional

Instructions
 

  • In a double boiler, melt the chocolate chips. You can also melt them in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds at a time, and repeat until melted.
  • Dip whole figs in melted white chocolate chips.
  • Sprinkle with decorating coarse sugar (I used white but you could use other colours).
  • Place on a parchment-lined tray and let set up in the fridge for 10 minutes.
  • Eat and enjoy!

Notes

HOW TO STORE THE WHITE CHOCOLATE FIGS
  • Refrigerator: Store uneaten (yeah, right) figs in a sealed plastic container in the refrigerator for 2-4 days after making.
  • Freezer: Figs can be frozen in a sealed container for 6 to 9 months.
Keyword chocolate, figs, sugar, White Chocolate figs
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas

Lyne Proulx
-
7
Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas

It’s official. I don’t know when it happened for you, but Christmas time is here. The weather says so. The advertisements say so. And that tree inside your house with lights all around it says so, too. The earlier the better when it comes to decking the halls with boughs of holly. I especially like the boughs. Woodsy decor like pine cones and tree branches even painted wood slice ornaments for the Christmas tree.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint

My Favorite Style of Christmas Decor is “Woodsy”

I never get tired of seeing Christmas decor or feel like it comes out too early. It’s such a perfect holiday that it is filled with traditions and observances that just won’t fit into a single date or even a week. You have to celebrate it all season long, and the festive lights and ornaments are so spirit-lifting. Decor comes in all kinds of different styles for Christmas and there is always room for a mix of store-bought and crafty DIY homemade decor.

My favourite ornaments to hang on the Christmas tree are wood slice ornaments that convey a sense of nature. Wood slice ornaments like the ones in craft stores are basically slices of tree trunk that you can paint anyway you like to dress up your holiday home.

A Craft Store Holiday Project

This very simple craft store project is easy to do and it pays off big in boosting the look of your tree. You can use this craft anywhere you hang your holiday decor to add a sense of woodsiness or a crafty quality to the overall feeling of your home’s surroundings. You can use these steps to paint individual wood slice ornaments, or you can adopt the principles to make a more elaborate piece of decor. There is no limit to what you can do with the following supplies and a little bit of time. All it takes is a picture in your head that you want to see hanging on your tree.

8 Christmas Decor Ideas

If you are looking for more DIY Christmas decor ideas, you can make one of these:

  1. Creative Ideas For Christmas Table Decoration And Setting
  2. Ideas On How To Decorate A Themed Christmas Tree
  3. DIY Christmas Gift Basket and Hamper Themed Ideas For Families
  4. DIY Christmas Paper Gift Bag Ideas For The Family
  5. Super Easy DIY Mason Jar Christmas Candle
  6. Six Steps to a Fabulous Holiday Urn!
  7. Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY With Scented Essential Oils
  8. 20 Quick And Easy Holiday Ideas

Acrylic Painted Wood Slice Ornaments

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint- material needed

List of Supplies for the Painted Wood Slice Ornaments:

  • Round wood slice (with a hole)
  • Acrylic paint (white, green, red, blue, purple, yellow, etc.)
  • Paintbrushes (different sizes – You can get them at the Dollar Store, Michaels, etc.)
  • String or twine
  • Pencil

How To Make The Painted Wood Slice Ornaments

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 1

Step 1

Select the wood slice you would like to paint and clean the surface. Apply a coat of white paint for the base coat. You can use the white base as the canvas or you can also use a different colour of your choice. For this Christmas ornament, we’re keeping the background white.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 2

Step 2

Use a pencil to draw a pattern of your choice on the white painted wood slice. For this holiday ornament, we’re drawing a simple Christmas tree or you can draw a
Christmas bell, a present, mistletoes, a star, Santa, etc.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 3

Step 3

Apply paint on the main pattern first. So for this ornament, we applied green to fill the tree shape. Allow the green paint to dry completely.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 4

Step 4

Use a smaller brush to paint the round ornaments on the tree.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 5

Step 5

Add the small details carefully and allow them to dry before going for the next step.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 6

Step 6

Fill the star shape with paint as well and allow it to dry. You can paint a thin border around the ornament using a different colour. Allow the painted border to dry completely.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 7

Step 7

Once the paint is completely dry, insert a small piece of string through the hole of the wood slice ornament and tie a knot with the open ends of the string.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas

I hope you enjoyed my Wood Slice Ornaments Craft with Acrylic Paint as much as I did! If you make it, please share your photos with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other crafts!

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas
Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Active Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Difficulty: medium

I especially like the boughs. Woodsy decor like pine cones and tree branches even painted wood slice ornaments for the Christmas tree.

No Ratings

Materials

  • Round wood slice (with a hole)
  • Acrylic paint (white, green, red, blue, purple, yellow, etc.)
  • String or twine
  • Pencil

Tools

  • Paintbrushes (different sizes – You can get them at the Dollar Store, Michaels, etc.)

Instructions

STEP 1

Select the wood slice you would like to paint and clean the surface. Apply a coat of white paint for the base coat. You can use the white base as the canvas or you can also use a different colour of your choice. For this Christmas ornament, we’re keeping the background white.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 1

STEP 2

Use a pencil to draw a pattern of your choice on the white painted wood slice. For this holiday ornament, we’re drawing a simple Christmas tree or you can draw aChristmas bell, a present, mistletoes, a star, Santa, etc.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 2

STEP 3

Apply paint on the main pattern first. So for this ornament, we applied green to fill the tree shape. Allow the greWood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 5en paint to dry completely.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 3

STEP 4

Use a smaller brush to paint the round ornaments on the tree.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 4

STEP 5

Add the small details carefully and allow them to dry before going for the next step.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 5

STEP 6

Fill the star shape with paint as well and allow it to dry. You can paint a thin border around the ornament using a different colour. Allow the painted border to dry completely.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 6

STEP 7

Once the paint is completely dry, insert a small piece of string through the hole of the wood slice ornament and tie a knot with the open ends of the string.

Wood Slice Ornaments with Acrylic Paint For Christmas step 7

© Lyne
Project Type: Wood / Category: Crafts

Mulled Wine Recipe: Hot Spiced Wine For The Holidays

Lyne Proulx
-
8
Mulled Wine Recipe: Hot Spiced Wine For The Holidays

Call it mulled wine, glögg, or glühwein, this spiced wine Christmas punch is hot and spicy when it’s cold and icy. The recipe can also be made non-alcoholic and you can also find it below. The mulled hot spiced wine recipe is the ideal drink for the holidays!

Mulled Wine Recipe: Hot Spiced Wine For The Holidays

What Is Hot Spiced Mulled Wine

Hot spiced wine drinks as a Christmas punch have been popular for hundreds of years. They typically have mulling spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and plenty of sugar or honey to sweeten them up. Non-alcoholic mulled wine may be made with apple, grape, or pear juices and are just as tasty.

It’s a holiday favorite around the world and goes by different names in the various regions. In Britain, it’s called mulled wine; in Germany, they say glühwein. (It’s pronounced glue-vine.) It’s sold in the Christmas market, Weihnachtsmarkt, along with other holiday foods and ornaments.

People in Chile and other South American countries call it navegado, which roughly translates to navigate or sail. In Scandinavia, it goes by the name glögg and is enjoyed at holiday parties with rice pudding.

A Hot And Spicy Holiday Drink

Whatever it’s called, spiced hot wine makes a holiday drink for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween. Bottled mulled wines can be bought and heated, but they are never as good as a homemade batch. Recipes are as varied as the people who make this spicy drink. The basics are to have fruit and spices. Beyond that, there’s no way to go wrong.

Enjoy this warm holiday drink by the fire with friends and family!

What Wine is Best for Mulled Wine?

Choose a dark fruity mulling wine. One good choice is an Old Vine Zinfandel or a dark Petite Syrah.

What To Serve With Mulled Wine

How To Store And Reheat

  • To Store. Let your mulled wine cool completely, then pour it into an airtight plastic container and place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • To Reheat. Rewarm mulled wine in a pot on the stovetop over low heat, or pour into a crockpot or slow cooker and reheat on low until warm.

7 More Holiday Drink Recipes

These cocktail drink recipes are all worth trying over the holidays:

  1. New Year’s Milk Shots
  2. Layered Peppermint Shooter
  3. Christmas Punch
  4. Christmas Sangria
  5. Winter Breeze Cocktail 
  6. Feliz Navidad Cocktail
  7. A Very Pink Christmas Cocktail
Mulled Wine Recipe: Hot Spiced Wine For The Holidays

Mulled Hot Spiced Wine Recipe

Ingredients

  • 6 cups of dark red wine
  • 6 cups of apple cider or apple juice
  • ½ cup of honey
  • 2 oranges sliced (plus more for garnish)
  • 2 apples sliced (plus more for garnish)
  • 4 large fresh cinnamon sticks (plus more to garnish)
  • 4 green cardamom pods
  • 1 teaspoon of whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon of whole allspice
  • ½ cup of Grand Marnier or orange liqueur
  • 4 star anise

Equipment Needed

  • large pot
  • ladle
  • clear glasses
Mulled Wine in a pot over stovetop

How To Make The Mulled Hot Spiced Wine

This mulled wine recipe makes a large pot full of spiced wine, enough for a large family. It may be left on the stove over low heat or transferred to a crockpot or slow cooker to keep warm for hours.

  1. Leave the rinds on the the orange and the peels on the apple, wash the fruits, and cut them into thin slices.
  2. Place all the ingredients in a large pot. Stir briefly to combine.
  3. Heat over low heat. Allow it to simmer for at least 30 minutes to 3 hours, but not to boil. Avoid letting it bubble as you don’t want to boil off the alcohol. 
  4. After it comes to a simmer, put the heat on the lowest setting to keep warm.
  5. Use a fine mesh strainer to stain, and after, remove and discard the orange and apple slices, cloves, cardamon, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and allspice. I strain, but add fruit slices, 1 star anise, and 1 cinnamon stick in the glass.
  6. Ladle the mulled wine into clear glass mugs.
  7. Serve warm and garnish with more orange and apples slices and cinnamon sticks.

Notes

  • Use a Cheesecloth: You can also place the oranges, cloves, cardamon, allspice, and star anise in a cheesecloth. Simply pull out the cheesecloth and strain when ready to serve.
  • Serving size: You can make 1/2 the recipe and serve to 2-4 people.

How To Make Non-alcoholic Mulled Wine

Using the recipe above, make a Christmas punch by:

  • Substituting dark red grape juice for the red wine
  • Substituting 2 teaspoons of orange extract for the orange liqueur
  • Cooking in the same manner

I hope you enjoyed my Mulled Wine Recipe: Hot Spiced Wine For the Holidays as much as I did! If you make it, please share your photos with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other recipes!

Mulled Wine Recipe: Hot Spiced Wine For The Holidays
Mulled Wine Recipe: Hot Spiced Wine For The Holidays

Mulled Wine Recipe: Hot Spiced Wine For The Holidays

The mulled hot spiced wine is the ideal drink for the holiday season! This delicious mulled wine Christmas punch is hot and spicy!
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American, British, Canadian, German
Servings 8 People

Ingredients
  

  • 6 cups of dark red wine
  • 6 cups of apple cider or apple juice
  • ½ cup of honey
  • 2 oranges sliced plus more for garnish
  • 2 apples sliced plus more for garnish
  • 4 large fresh cinnamon sticks plus more to garnish
  • 4 green cardamom pods
  • 1 teaspoon of whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon of whole allspice
  • ½ cup of Grand Marnier or orange liqueur
  • 4 star anise

Instructions
 

  • Leave the rinds on the the orange and the peels on the apple, wash the fruits, and cut them into thin slices.
  • Place all the ingredients in a large pot. Stir briefly to combine.
  • Heat over low heat. Allow it to simmer for at least 30 minutes to 3 hours, but not to boil. Avoid letting it bubble as you don’t want to boil off the alcohol.
  • After it comes to a simmer, put the heat on the lowest setting to keep warm.
  • Use a fine mesh strainer to stain, and after, remove and discard the orange and apple slices, cloves, cardamon, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and allspice. I strain, but add fruit slices, 1 star anise, and 1 cinnamon stick in the glass.
  • Ladle the mulled wine into clear glass mugs.
  • Serve warm and garnish with more orange and apples slices and cinnamon sticks.
  • NOTES
  • Use a Cheesecloth: You can also place the oranges, cloves, cardamon, allspice, and star anise in a cheesecloth. Simply pull out the cheesecloth and strain when ready to serve.

Notes

Notes

  • Use a Cheesecloth: You can also place the oranges, cloves, cardamon, allspice, and star anise in a cheesecloth. Simply pull out the cheesecloth and strain when ready to serve.
  • Serving size: You can make 1/2 the recipe and serve to 2-4 people.

Equipment Needed

  • large pot
  • ladle
  • clear glasses
Keyword Christmas Drink, Holiday Drink, Mulled Wine, punch, Wine
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Mulled Wine Recipe: Hot Spiced Wine For The Holidays

NON-ALCOHOLIC MULLED WINE

The non-alcoholic mulled wine is the ideal drink for the holiday season!
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Course beverages
Cuisine American, British, Canadian, German
Servings 8 People

Ingredients
  

  • 6 cups of dark red grape juice
  • 6 cups of apple cider or apple juice
  • ½ cup of honey
  • 2 oranges sliced plus more for garnish
  • 2 apples sliced plus more for garnish
  • 4 large fresh cinnamon sticks plus more to garnish
  • 4 green cardamom pods
  • 1 teaspoon of whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon of whole allspice
  • 2 teaspoons of orange extract
  • 4 star anise

Instructions
 

  • Leave the rinds on the the orange and the peels on the apple, wash the fruits, and cut them into thin slices.
  • Place all the ingredients in a large pot. Stir briefly to combine.
  • Heat over low heat. Allow it to simmer for at least 30 minutes to 3 hours, but not to boil. Avoid letting it bubble as you don’t want to boil off the alcohol.
  • After it comes to a simmer, put the heat on the lowest setting to keep warm.
  • Use a fine mesh strainer to stain, and after, remove and discard the orange and apple slices, cloves, cardamon, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and allspice. I strain, but add fruit slices, 1 star anise, and 1 cinnamon stick in the glass.
  • Ladle the mulled wine into clear glass mugs.
  • Serve warm and garnish with more orange and apples slices and cinnamon sticks.

Notes

Notes

  • Use a Cheesecloth: You can also place the oranges, cloves, cardamon, allspice, and star anise in a cheesecloth. Simply pull out the cheesecloth and strain when ready to serve.
  • Serving size: You can make 1/2 the recipe and serve to 2-4 people.

Equipment Needed

  • large pot
  • ladle
  • clear glasses
Keyword Christmas beverage, holiday beverages, Non-alcoholic mulled wine
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Deer Paper Puppet Craft With Easy-To-Use Template

Lyne Proulx
-
7
Deer Paper Puppet Craft With Easy-To-Use Template

This deer paper puppet craft brings some good old fashioned 2-D fun to your menagerie of popsicle stick puppets. If this is your first project of this kind, don’t worry! It’s easy and fun to make these little deer and you will love using them to tell fun stories of the holidays or put on puppet shows set in the woods.

Deer Paper Puppet Craft With Easy-To-Use Template

Paper puppets craft are a fun and cute craft that you can enjoy playing with and entertaining as well. It’s a lot of fun to create adorable creatures and create little scenarios for them. What I love most about this type of craft is that it allows two different types of creativity to shine with one project. First, you get to use your hands to create something new. Then once the puppet is complete, you have the freedom to use your imagination to inspire creative play with the puppets you make.

The Cute Style of Paper Craft Puppets

Puppets like this paper craft deer puppet are really neat looking because of the different colours of craft paper that you use to add colour and shade to your craft. The easy-to-use template I provide helps you to achieve the look of the puppet with very little skill. These puppets are so professional looking and you can make them easily yourself just by following the simple instructions laid out below.

As you would expect this paper craft uses all of the old standbys. Craft paper, craft glue, scissors, a popsicle stick, a pencil, and a sharpie are all you need to pull this craft off like a master. This is a craft anybody can do at any age, but it’s complex enough to be challenging as well. Keep in mind that while the instructions call out very specific colours for your puppet, you can use any assortment of colours you choose.

Deer Paper Puppet Craft

Deer Paper Puppet Craft With Easy-To-Use Template

List of Supplies Needed for the Deer Paper Puppet Craft

  • Coloured craft papers (dark brown, light brown, cream, grey, and pink or any colours of your choice)
  • Sharpie
  • 1 Popsicle stick
  • Craft glue
  • 1 Pencil
  • Scissors
  • Free Deer Template
Deer Paper Puppet Craft supplies

How To Make The Paper Deer Puppet Craft

Step 1

Select dark brown, light brown, cream, grey, and pink coloured craft papers for the paper deer puppet. Trace the body, head, and tail patterns on the light brown paper, the horns on dark brown paper, the spots and tail tip on cream paper, the lens-shaped patterns on pink paper, and the small rectangle shapes on grey paper. Cut out the traced patterns nicely.

Deer Paper Puppet Craft Step 1

Step 2

Stick the lens-shaped patterns in the middle of the ear parts attached to the head. Then, stick the 3 or 4 cream dot cutouts on the forehead and some on the backside of the body pattern. Stick the tail tip on the tail base pattern and the rectangle cutouts on the bottom open end of the legs.

Deer Paper Puppet Craft Step 2

Step 3

Stick the tail on the backside of the body pattern and stick the eyes on the head. Trim the sides of the grey pieces attached to the legs on the bottom side.

Deer Paper Puppet Craft Step 3

Step 4

Use a black sharpie to draw the mouth and nose of the paper deer.

Deer Paper Puppet Craft Step 4

Step 5

Stick the horns on the top side of the head and then stick the head on the top-front side of the body pattern.

Deer Paper Puppet Craft Step 5

Step 6

Attach the paper craft deer on a popsicle stick to complete the deer puppet.

Deer Paper Puppet Craft Step 6

Note

  • To make Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, simply omit the eyelashes and add a red nose!

If you are looking for more kids craft ideas, you can find some really fun paper craft ideas on our website. Reader favourites for the paper puppet crafts include:

Deer Paper Puppet Craft With Easy-To-Use Template
Deer Paper Puppet Craft With Easy-To-Use Template

Deer Paper Puppet Craft

Yield: 1 Deer Paper Puppet Craft
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: Under $5

This deer paper puppet craft brings some good old fashioned 2-D fun to your menagerie of popsicle stick puppets. It's easy and fun to make!

No Ratings

Materials

  • Coloured craft papers (dark brown, light brown, cream, grey, and pink or any colours of your choice)
  • Sharpie
  • 1 Popsicle stick
  • Craft glue
  • 1 Pencil
  • Free Deer Template

Tools

  • Scissors

Instructions

STEP 1

Select dark brown, light brown, cream, grey, and pink coloured craft papers for the paper deer puppet. Trace the body, head, and tail patterns on the light brown paper, the horns on dark brown paper, the spots and tail tip on cream paper, the lens-shaped patterns on pink paper, and the small rectangle shapes on grey paper. Cut out the traced patterns nicely.

Deer Paper Puppet Craft Step 1

STEP 2

Stick the lens-shaped patterns in the middle of the ear parts attached to the head. Then, stick the 3 or 4 cream dot cutouts on the forehead and some on the backside of the body pattern. Stick the tail tip on the tail base pattern and the rectangle cutouts on the bottom open end of the legs.

Deer Paper Puppet Craft Step 2

STEP 3

Stick the tail on the backside of the body pattern and stick the eyes on the head. Trim the sides of the grey pieces attached to the legs on the bottom side.

Deer Paper Puppet Craft Step 3

STEP 4

Use a black sharpie to draw the mouth and nose of the paper deer.

Deer Paper Puppet Craft Step 4

STEP 5

Stick the horns on the top side of the head and then stick the head on the top-front side of the body pattern.

Deer Paper Puppet Craft Step 5

STEP 6

Attach the paper craft deer on a popsicle stick to complete the deer puppet.

Deer Paper Puppet Craft Step 6

Notes

To make Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, simply omit the eyelashes and add a red nose!

© Lyne
Project Type: Paper Craft / Category: Crafts

How To Keep Your Baby Cavity-Free

Lyne Proulx
-
4
How To Keep Your Baby Cavity-Free

Keeping your child’s teeth cavity free begins from the time they are young infants. Oral care for babies is so important! Have a look at these simple tips below on How To Keep Your Baby Cavity-Free!

How To Keep Your Baby And Toddler Cavity-Free

What Causes Tooth Decay in Babies

A baby develops tooth decay when the mouth is infected by acid-producing bacteria. There are different ways you can pass bacteria to babies, and one of them is through saliva like when you test food before feeding them to your baby. Another way is when your baby’s teeth and gums are exposed to food or liquid like milk and juice. The sugar in these liquids change to acid-producing bacteria and then dissolves the outer part of the teeth causing toot decay.

Wiping Baby’s Gums

Even when your infant does not have any teeth showing, they are still there, underneath the gums. At this point, nutrition is almost everything. Making sure your child is eating a healthy diet of either breast milk or formula is very important.

Then, after every feeding, just taking a warm cloth and very gently wiping off the gums helps remove any left over particles. As baby, the very worst thing you could possibly do is give your child any kind of soda. Kids who drink soda as a baby inevitably end up with cavities as young children.

As your baby grows, allowing them to take a bottle to bed is another invitation for cavities. There are many reasons for this. For one, you as the parent are not getting the chance to wipe off your babies gums, and also, bottles that are given in the bed usually have juice in them. Juice contains sugar, and then sugar is in the mouth all night long.

When To Use A Rubber Finger Toothbrush

A rule of thumb is, as soon as you start giving your child juice, you should be using one of those rubber finger toothbrushes to brush their emerging teeth and gums. There is even baby toothpaste you can use that is safe for babies, and great for their teeth.

How To Keep Your Baby And Toddler Cavity-Free

Healthy Food = Healthy Teeth

Feeding your child properly as they are growing is very important for your child’s teeth. You can brush their teeth all day long, but if all you are giving them to eat is sugar, then their teeth are going to deteriorate. Teeth need nutrition. Calcium and Vitamin D especially. Make sure you are feeding them plenty of foods containing these nutrients.

How To Keep Your Baby And Toddler Cavity-Free

When Should Your Toddler See A Dentist

Your child should see a dentist before the age of three. Just like you do wellness baby check-ups, you should do a well-tooth check-up. The Canadian Dental Association even recommends your baby visits a dentist within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth or by one year of age. It may seem young, but if there are any problems beginning to show, a dentist can help eradicate them before they become a big problem. A dentist can also help educate you as the parent on how to better care for your child’s teeth and help keep you baby’s teeth cavity-free.

There are actually many experts who will tell you that cavities are genetic. I have even heard that a person either has plaque, or they have cavities. Either way, your best way of helping you child ward off cavities is by the things you do for your child as a baby and maintain good oral health care as a family.

Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe – Easy No Bake Treats

Lyne Proulx
-
10
Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe – Easy No Bake Treats

If you are looking for some easy, no bake treats to make and share this holiday season, you are going to love these Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels. This is such a fuss free Christmas treat to make with the kids that produces adorable results that are perfect for snacking and sharing. Make a batch to send to your child’s teacher or friends as Christmas food gifts, or whip up a batch to go with your Disney holiday cartoon marathon this year.

Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe

Easy No Bake Holiday Treats For Kids

The best thing about this Mickey Gift Box Pretzel recipe is that it comes together so easy with simple ingredients. All you need is some melting chocolate, sprinkles, and waffle pretzels, and you are ready to start no baking some holiday snacks!

This recipe comes together within under 5 minutes of prep time. The hardest part about this recipe is making the Mickey Mouse shapes. After you squeeze out a few, you will get into a groove and the rest will come easily.

I used red, white, and green sprinkles for this recipe to make it feel really festive, but considering Mickey and treats never go out of season, you can mix up the colours and make these all year long.

Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe

Cute Idea On How To Share Your Mickey Gift Box Pretzels

I love to make easy treats with my kids, and this recipe was no exception. We have made these a few times. We like to bag these up and share them with our too cute Disney holiday cards with our friends and family. They are always a hit! Plus, your kids will be super proud of their efforts!

If you are looking for more easy no bake treats, you might want to check out these decadent no bake Oreo truffles. To keep the Disney fun flowing, try out these adorable Mickey and Minnie Cake Ball.

Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe

8 Yummy Christmas Treat Recipes

For more Christmas treats to make during the holidays, you can try one of the recipes listed below:

  1. 12 Rice Krispie Treats for the Holidays
  2. Christmas Cookie Sticks Recipe
  3. Christmas Shortbread Cookies Recipe
  4. Brownie Snowflake Sugar Cookies Recipe
  5. White Candy Cane Layered Cake
  6. Crème Brulée Gingersnap Cookies
  7. Chocolate Peppermint Truffles
  8. Delicious Peppermint Meringue Cookies

Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe

Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe

Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Ingredients

  • Pretzel Squares
  • Red Melting Chocolate, Melted
  • Green Melting Chocolate, Melted
  • Christmas Sprinkles

Material Needed

  • 2 Pastry Bags
  • 2 Microwave safe bowls
  • Parchment lined baking sheet

How To Make The Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels

Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe in process
  • 1.Melt green melting chocolate in pastry bag, in 30 second increments, smooshing after each time. Once melted cut out small tip of pastry bag.
Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe in process
  • 2. On parchment lined baking sheet, pipe Mickey Mouse shape, filled in, sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles. Make as many needed and let dry.
Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe in process
  • 3. Melt red melting chocolate in microwave safe bowl, in 30 second increments, stirring after each time. Once melted coat pretzel squares completely, and place on parchment lined baking sheet.
Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe in process
  • 4. While still wet, place dried Mickey head in centre of pretzel, let dry.
Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe
  • 5. Continue with remaining pretzels, let dry and enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed my Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe as much as I did! If you make it, please share your photos with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other recipes!

Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe
Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels Recipe

MICKEY MOUSE HOLIDAY GIFT BOX PRETZELS

If you are looking for some easy, no bake treats to make and share, you are going to love these Mickey Mouse Holiday Gift Box Pretzels!
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 40 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine American, Canadian

Ingredients
  

  • Pretzel Squares
  • Red Melting Chocolate Melted
  • Green Melting Chocolate Melted
  • Christmas Sprinkles

Instructions
 

  • Melt green melting chocolate in pastry bag, in 30 second increments, smooshing after each time. Once melted cut out small tip of pastry bag.
  • On parchment lined baking sheet, pipe Mickey Mouse shape, filled in, sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles. Make as many needed and let dry.
  • Melt red melting chocolate in microwave safe bowl, in 30 second increments, stirring after each time. Once melted coat pretzel squares completely, and place on parchment lined baking sheet.
  • While still wet, place dried Mickey head in centre of pretzel, let dry.
  • Continue with remaining pretzels, let dry and enjoy!

Notes

MATERIAL NEEDED
  • 2 Pastry Bags
  • 2 Microwave safe bowls
  • Parchment lined baking sheet
Keyword Christmas, Disney, Holidays, Mickey Mouse, Pretzels, treats
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Breakaway Experiences Gift Certificates Make The Best Christmas Gifts

Lyne Proulx
-
150
Breakaway Experiences Gift Certificates Make The Best Christmas Gifts

Christmas shopping season is here, and more people than ever before are purchasing their gifts online. Breakaway Experiences gift certificates make the best Christmas gifts for everyone on your list!

Breakaway Experiences have expanded into the USA and have racing experiences and a few other experiences. 

Breakaway Experiences Gift Certificates Make The Best Christmas Gifts

A Christmas Wish List For Things You Really Want To Do

Why risk getting another ugly sweater or gadget you’ll never use? With BE’s Wish List, you can create a list this Christmas for fun, exciting experiences from your bucket list and share it with your family and friends.

Times have changed, so has gift giving. Breakaway Experiences’ dynamic easy-to-use website is designed to allow you to select an experience that creates long-time memories and entertaining tales for many years.

SO MANY AMAZING REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD PURCHASE A GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM BREAKAWAY EXPERIENCES

Having grown to offer over 1000 experiences and working with over 150 experience companies across Canada, Breakaway Experiences (BE) has embraced the ever-growing popularity of “bucket list” and “once-in-a-lifetime” experiences. BE offers certificates for a remarkable variety of unique experiences—from gourmet food tours and luxurious spa packages, to more adventurous experiences like stock car racing, helicopter flying lessons, and sea doo expeditions.

  1. A one-stop shop for some of Canada’s unique experiences for gifts.
  2. Certificates never expire – BE guarantees the value of all certificates. If a certificate is not redeemed within a year of purchase and the cost of the experience increases, the certificate holder will only have to pay the difference between the original value and the new price.
  3. Hassle-free exchange policy – Not sure they will love the experience you picked? With our hassle-free exchange policy, they can simply trade it for the full value of the original certificate.
  4. Can’t decide what experience to buy? Breakaway Experiences’ gift certificates are a great way for you to buy them a gift that he/she can use towards an experience that is on their bucket list.

Do you leave your shopping to the last minute? No worries: You can buy their present any time of day and instantly print it up to put in a card or simply email them. They will never know you left it so late.

Youtube video

COVID-19 Safety Measures

COVID-19 has made this a very challenging year for most of the experiences providers they are partnered with, but they have worked hard and been innovative in adapting their experiences to be as safe as possible for both the public and their employees.

They have added the safety steps the experiences providers have adapted to their tour pages to add some reassurance and comfort when you are buying a fun experience for someone special or for yourself to get out and about.

The experience that are open and available are experiences that do not involve crowding together. Each company has adapted their activities to keep people as distanced as much as possible. Often tours and activities are limited to your covid bubble within the immediate area, along with staff sanitizing and being vetted daily for symptoms. During the summer, experiences like Hot Air Balloon rides and racing cars were popular gifts as people ventured out and about.

EVERYONE ON YOUR WISH LIST WOULD LOVE TO RECEIVE ONE OF THESE ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCES!

Breakaway Experiences

Wilderness and Eagle Viewing Float, Squamish BC

Observe the magnificent Brackendale bald eagles up close on a gentle river float trip down the Cheakamus and Squamish Rivers. Experience firsthand the world’s largest gathering of bald eagles.

Breakaway Experiences

Stock Car Driving Experiences, Peterborough, Hamilton, and London

Whether you want to enjoy a stock car racing experience yourself or surprise a lucky friend with an amazing gift, nothing about these NASCAR style stock car racing activities will disappoint! An NASCAR style driving experience is the gift they will never stop talking about!

Breakaway Experiences

Exotic Car Racing Experience, Toronto

Take to the track in one of the finest and fastest cars in the world at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. Choose from 10 Super Cars and Exotic Cars for an unforgettable drive around a professional racetrack with no speed limits.

Breakaway Experiences

Blacksmith Class – Forge Your Own Golf Putter, Ottawa

Blacksmithing is an ancient craft and this experience offers a chance to visit a real forge and be guided in the art of making your very own vintage style 1920’s golf putter. From this blacksmith class, you will get a sense of the trade and its history while enjoying the artistry of the craft.

Breakaway Experiences

Stargazing Snow Shoe Tour, Kananakis, AB

Enjoy a starry, moonlit snowshoe tour with a skilled guide through the Kananaskis forest. Be amazed by a sky full of more stars than you could possibly ever imagine.

Breakaway Experiences Gift Certificates

1000 Islands Helicopter Tour

Experience spectacular views of the 1000 Islands from high above on this exciting helicopter tour. Feel the excitement as you lift off from Gananoque and become mesmerized by the beauty and richness of the 1000 Islands as only seen from the air.

Breakaway Experiences Gift Certificates Make The Best Christmas Gifts

Boeing 737 Flight Simulator Experience, Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal

Take the controls of a jet airliner or fighter jet and enjoy an ultra-realistic flight simulation. You can be at the helm of an aircraft with life like controls and motion, in complete safety. It may only be a flight simulator, but the feeling you’ll have is the real deal.

Breakaway Experiences’ array of unbelievable Canadian and US experiences continues to expand and offer unique opportunities that appeal to everyone. To learn more about Breakaway Experiences in Canada and the USA you can connect with them on their Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest pages!

Disclaimer: I was compensated by Breakaway Experiences in order to share these gift ideas with you.

Brownie Snowflake Sugar Cookies Recipe

Lyne Proulx
-
20
Brownie Snowflake Sugar Cookies Recipe

This holiday season, why not spread a little cheer with a homemade cookie recipe that is super tasty? I have a brownie snowflake sugar cookies recipe to share with you that is amazing! It has all the flavour of a brownie with the crispy crunch of a good sugar cookie! Everyone loves these easy to make cookies.

Brownie Snowflake Sugar Cookies Recipe

There is nothing quite like spending an afternoon in the kitchen to make homemade treats for the holidays. With holiday music playing, and all of the good smells taking over the house, it is hard not to get into the spirit of things. A fresh from the oven snowflake cookie helps things too!

This recipe combines two favourites into one delicious package, and they are so easy to design if you have a snowflake cookie cutter. Instead of spending hours decorating your Christmas treats you can put a few simple lines of icing on the cookie to have something beautiful and ready to share!

Brownie Snowflake Sugar Cookies Helpful Tips

  1. I do recommend using unsweetened dark cocoa powder in this recipe because it creates such a wonderful chocolate flavour for this cookie, but if you can’t get that kind, feel free to use your favourite cocoa powder.
  2. This recipe comes together in just about 25 minutes, but before getting started, be sure to prepare to chill the dough for at least an hour. It will be so much easier to work with after a cool resting period. Before decorating these snowflake cookies, allow them to cool for at least 5 minutes so the icing doesn’t melt on the cookie.

5 MORE HOLIDAY COOKIE RECIPES

If you are looking for more Christmas cookie recipe ideas, you might like these:

  1. Crème Brulée Gingersnap Cookies
  2. Holiday Double Chocolate Cookies Recipe
  3. Christmas Shortbread Cookies Recipe
  4. Chai Snickerdoodle Holiday Cookies Recipe
  5. Delicious Peppermint Meringue Cookies Recipe

What To Drink With Your Brownie Cookies

Any of the beverages listed below will be delicious to drink with these holiday cookies!

  1. 15+ Toasty Drinks For Fall
  2. Pumpkin Crème Brûlée Latte
  3. Healthy Island Vibes Smoothie Recipe
  4. Gingerbread Cookie Smoothie Recipe
  5. Cupid Hot Cocoa Recipe
  6. Coffee Recipes Served 9 Ways
  7. Delicious Hot Chocolate Recipes For the Family
Brownie Snowflake Sugar Cookies Recipe

Brownie Snowflake Sugar Cookies Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup flour for rolling dough
  • Pre-made icing or your favourite homemade icing

Material Used

  • Snowflake cookie cutter
  • Bowl
  • Measuring spoons and cup
  • Spatula
  • Cutting board
  • Sheet pan
  • Parchment paper
Brownie Snowflake Sugar Cookies

How To Make The Brownie Snowflake Sugar Cookies

  1. Add together the flour, cocoa, and baking powder in a medium sized bowl. Whisk to combine. Set to the side.
  2. In a stand mixer add the butter, sugar, vanilla and salt. Use a paddle attachment and beat until combined and fluffy. Begin to add the eggs one at a time, mixing until each one is fully incorporated. Begin to add the dry ingredients slowly to the butter mixture. Mix until a dough forms.
  3. Cover a cutting board with plastic wrap. Take your dough and place on the plastic covered wood board. Form the dough into a ball. Cover the bag in plastic wrap. Place the dough in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  5. Take out the chilled dough from the refrigerator.
  6. On a large cutting board or counter top add your flour and spread to cover the surface.
  7. Remove the dough from the plastic wrap and place on the prepared surface.
  8. Using a rolling pin roll it to 1/4-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut into your desired shapes.
  9. Place the cookies to sheet pans lined with parchment paper.
  10. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
  11. Remove from the oven. Let the cookies cool for about 5 minutes.
  12. Decorate a few simple lines of icing on the cookie to make a snowflake (see photos above) and serve!

I hope you enjoyed my Brownie Snowflake Sugar Cookies Recipe as much as I did! If you make it, please share your photos with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other recipes!

Brownie Snowflake Sugar Cookies Recipe
Brownie Snowflake Sugar Cookies Recipe

Brownie Snowflake Sugar Cookies

Get the whole family ready for the holiday festivities. See out tips below on how to include children in Christmas preparation.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Icing 20 minutes
Servings 24 cookies

Equipment

  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup flour for rolling dough
  • Pre-made icing or your favourite homemade icing

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 sticks 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup flour for rolling dough
  • Pre-made icing or your favourite homemade icing

Instructions
 

  • Add together the flour, cocoa, and baking powder in a medium sized bowl. Whisk to combine. Set to the side.
  • In a stand mixer add the butter, sugar, vanilla and salt. Use a paddle attachment and beat until combined and fluffy. Begin to add the eggs one at a time, mixing until each one is fully incorporated. Begin to add the dry ingredients slowly to the butter mixture. Mix until a dough forms.
  • Cover a cutting board with plastic wrap. Take your dough and place on the plastic covered wood board. Form the dough into a ball. Cover the bag in plastic wrap. Place the dough in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Take out the chilled dough from the refrigerator.
  • On a large cutting board or counter top add your flour and spread to cover the surface.
  • Remove the dough from the plastic wrap and place on the prepared surface.
  • Using a rolling pin roll it to 1/4-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut into your desired shapes.
  • Place the cookies to sheet pans lined with parchment paper.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven. Let the cookies cool for about 5 minutes.
  • Decorate a few simple lines of icing on the cookie to make a snowflake and serve!

Notes

MATERIAL USED
  • Snowflake cookie cutter
  • Bowl
  • Measuring spoons and cup
  • Spatula
  • Cutting board
  • Sheet pan Parchment paper
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

How To Include Children In Christmas Preparation

Lyne Proulx
-
1
How To Include Children In Christmas Preparation

Kids often get lost in the hustle and bustle leading to the holidays, but it is the perfect time to get the whole family ready for the festivities. See our tips below on how to include children in Christmas preparation.

It’s often easy for small children to feel left out or even useless because they aren’t old enough to be involved with “grown-up” activities. Allowing children to participate and be helpful during the holiday season allows them to feel like a contributing member of the family. Adults and children alike can have fun sharing in holiday activities and creating Christmas memories to last a lifetime.

How To Include Children In Christmas Preparation

Helping Prepare a Holiday Feast

The most notable part about Thanksgiving and Christmas is the large turkey dinner with savoury cranberry orange sauce. With proper supervision and lots of loving encouragement, small children may help to do some of the cooking. Kids can safely use whisks, measure ingredients, use the mixer, make Christmas cookies, or mash potatoes.

Although they can’t assist with some of the more complex or dangerous activities, young children will still feel sufficiently involved if they are allowed to help in small ways, and that might include allowing a child to come along on holiday dinner shopping trips and help to plan the menu.

Children of all ages take pride in helping out around the house and love to feel like they were part of something special. They will be very proud of themselves for helping with dinner and should be praised for the meal while the family is busy enjoying it, making them feel as though they’ve accomplished something very important – and rightfully so.

Family selecting Christmas tree.

Choosing the Perfect Christmas Tree

Buying a Christmas tree is often an annual family tradition, but small children may become discouraged if their choice of tree is overlooked. Unfortunately, children will frequently set their minds on a tree that simply isn’t appropriate for some reason: lopsided, too short, too tall, branches missing, etc.

Parents can deal with this gently by allowing the child to make the final decision between a few trees that they have already singled out. In this way, the child is allowed to participate in an important and significant way. The parents will be satisfied with the final choice.

Some families have two trees – the larger, perfectly decorated one in the living room and a smaller, more “Charlie Brown” Christmas tree in the family room or playroom that the kids decorate all on their own. This makes everyone happy. Parents may also want to create edible ornaments with the kids that can be hung on their own special tree.

How To Include Children In Christmas Preparation

Kids Love to Decorate for Christmas

Helping with Christmas decorations is a task appropriate for even the smallest of children. Little ones can help hang up the non-breakable ornaments, paint ceramic stocking holders and small figurines, mix batter and decorate freshly baked cookies, or cut out snowflakes with safety scissors. With all the festivity during the Christmas season, there should be no shortage of exciting things for children to do around the house.

It’s important to involve your kids in family activities, and the holiday season is a great time to include children in Christmas preparation. With some adult guidance, every member of the family can be satisfied with the outcome!

Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY With Scented Essential Oils

Lyne Proulx
-
13
Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY With Scented Essential Oils

The top question most people ask about fire starters pine cones is if they work. The answer is yes. Aside from making a really interesting decoration during the holiday season, fire starter pine cones really can help you get a fire going. They catch fire easily and burn hot enough to sustain a fire and keep it going as you add your firewood to the flame. Because of the purpose and the combustible nature of fire starter pine cones, you should exercise caution wherever you use and store these items.

Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY With Scented Essential Oils

Not Just for Fire Starting

Fire starter pine cones are a practical piece of decor to have on hand, but they serve as more than just a centrepiece, a Christmas ornament, or a fire building tool. You can formulate your pine cones to contribute your favourite aroma or turn the flames into different colours. According to BirdsandBlooms.com, you can create different solutions with chemicals such as boric acid and strontium chloride to produce green or red flames. You can also use essential oils to make your pine cones burn with whatever scent you like.

Youtube video

Clean Your Pine Cones!

Whenever you craft with pine cones or bring pine cones out of the wild for display, you should always clean them out. They often have bugs inside that you will want removed before you use them for yourself. Pine cones can also contain sap, which is not easy to clean and can cause problems if you use them in an outdoor fireplace or hearth.

There are a few ways to eliminate pests from pine cones in addition to simply shaking the cones and searching for them. One way is to submerge them in a solution of water and vinegar then let them soak for about 20-30 minutes. The other way is to bake them. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees and bake them on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Watch for the pine cones to expand and open up. check after 30 minutes and remove with tongs when finished. Make sure your pine cones are dry before crafting them; otherwise they can cause popping in the fire. 

Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY With Scented Essential Oils

Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY With Scented Essential Oils

Did you know that the wax will make the pine cones burn longer? If you have wood that may not be so quick to start or is not quite dry enough to catch quickly, pine cone fire starters will work well.

Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY in process

Fire Starter Pine Cones Supplies

  • 8-10 pine cones
  • 6 cups of grated beeswax (You’ll need to grate a block of beeswax using a cheese grater to get the right amount for your recipe) OR purchase beeswax pellets/pastilles.
  • Essential oil (pick your favourite scent)
  • Candle colouring or natural dye (3 colours and don’t use food colouring it will just sink to the bottom of the wax and it won’t mix in.)
  • Double boiler or saucepan (You can use old coffee cans for the top boiler)
  • 3 disposable tin bowls or coffee cans
  • String
  • Tongs

How To Make The Fire Starter Pine Cones

  • 1. Take about 1 foot of string and wrap it around the pine cone. Tie it at the top with a loop.
Fire Starter Pine Cones in process
  • 2. Melt the beeswax in a double boiler or saucepan you don’t mind getting waxy or use a coffee can for the top boiler.
  • 3. Once the wax is melted (between 150 and 175 degrees), portion out into disposable tin bowls (1 bowl per colour chosen or keep the coffee can and use 1 for each colour for the top boiler) and add colouring and essential oil. You will need about 6 drops of essential oils per tin bowl.
Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY in process
  • 4. Hold the loop at top of pine cones and dip them into hot wax or use tongs to coat the pine cone thoroughly. Be careful with hot wax.
  • 5. Let them dry between coats on a parchment lined tray.
  • 6. I did two coats and that worked well for me.
  • 7. When you are ready to use, light and toss into the fire.
Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY in process

HOW TO USE FIRE STARTER PINE CONES

Place the pine cones among your kindling when starting a fire and light the wick. Afterwards, simply watch your fire come to life!

Helpful Tips

  1. I would recommend to use these fire starter pine cones outside too, these are the perfect bonfire addition.
  2. Be sure to have your chimney cleaned every single spring to prevent chimney fire.
  3. It’s a good idea to make your own research to make sure pine cone fire starters are a good option for your stove or fireplace.
  4. Using beeswax is better for fire starters as it burns much more cleanly than other types of wax.
  5. Please use caution when you are near fire. Always be aware of your surroundings. Use these fire starter pine cones at your own risk.
  6. You can certainly turn these into the perfect decoration centrepiece for your home or for wedding favours.

I hope you enjoyed my Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY With Scented Essential Oils as much as I did! If you make it, please share your photos with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other crafts!

Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY With Scented Essential Oils
Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY With Scented Essential Oils

Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY

Yield: 8-10
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Additional Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Difficulty: medium
Estimated Cost: $25

Fire starter pine cones are a practical piece of decor to have on hand, but they serve as more than just a centrepiece or a fire building tool.

No Ratings

Materials

  • 8-10 pine cones
  • 6 cups of grated beeswax (You’ll need to grate a block of beeswax using a cheese grater to get the right amount for your recipe) OR purchase beeswax pellets/pastilles.
  • Essential oil (pick your favourite scent)
  • Candle colouring or natural dye (3 colours and don’t use food colouring it will just sink to the bottom of the wax and it won’t mix in.)
  • Double boiler or saucepan (You can use old coffee cans for the top boiler)
  • 3 disposable tin bowls or coffee cans
  • String
  • Tongs

Instructions

Fire Starter Pine Cones in process

1. Take about 1 foot of string and wrap it around the pine cone. Tie it at the top with a loop.

Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY in process

2. Melt the beeswax in a double boiler or saucepan you don’t mind getting waxy or use a coffee can for the top boiler.

3. Once the wax is melted (between 150 and 175 degrees), portion out into disposable tin bowls (1 bowl per colour chosen or keep the coffee can and use 1 for each colour for the top boiler) and add colouring and essential oil. You will need about 6 drops of essential oils per tin bowl.

4. Hold the loop at top of pine cones and dip them into hot wax or use tongs to coat the pine cone thoroughly. Be careful with hot wax.

5. Let them dry between coats on a parchment lined tray.

Fire Starter Pine Cones DIY in process

6. I did two coats and that worked well for me.

7. When you are ready to use, light and toss into the fire.

Notes

HOW TO USE PINE CONE FIRE STARTERS

Place the pine cones among your kindling when starting a fire and light the wick. Afterwards, simply watch your fire come to life!

HELPFUL TIPS

  1. I would recommend to use these outside too, these are the perfect bonfire addition.
  2. Be sure to have your chimney cleaned every single spring to prevent chimney fire.
  3. It’s a good idea to make your own research to make sure pine cone fire starters are a good option for your stove or fireplace.
  4. Using beeswax is better for fire starters as it burns much more cleanly than other types of wax.
  5. Please use caution when you are near fire. Always be aware of your surroundings. Use these fire starter pine cones at your own risk.
  6. You can certainly turn these into the perfect decoration centrepiece for your home or for wedding favours.

© Lyne
Category: Crafts
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