Creating Homemade Christmas Gifts

Say goodbye to gift cards and Webkinz...hello love! Homemade Christmas gifts is a great way to save money and give a gift from the heart. Just recently I decided that I was going to make as many of my gifts this year as possible. Now that doesn't mean we are giving our construction paper cards and pompom oranaments. I have done lots of online research and decided on sweet personalized gifts for everyone on our list. My gift ideas range from felt food to scarves and cookies.

This idea came to me as a way to conserve money but to also bring back the true meaning of Christmas. I vividly remember the chapter about Christmas in the book "Little House in the Big Woods," it talked lovingly about creating special gifts for family members. How people took the time and care to make a gift someone else would love. Too often in today's world people get caught up in the chaos surrounding the holidays and forget the reason for our Christmas traditions. I challenge each of you to make at least one gift for someone special this year. This challenge will help you learn a craft and give you a timeline all of which are helpful. Please post pictures of your crafts for all of us to see!

Biscuits!

In the last two weeks I have began making biscuits. Not the kind that come from a can or the freezer section of the store but the kind that begin with love and patiences. Now those of you who know me personally probably are laughing at that last sentences. I have found that mixing and rolling out biscuits is very good therapy. I have also found an awesome biscuit recipe that make fluffy, moist biscuits. Below is the recipe.

ingredients:
1 screaming toddler in a high chair (optional)
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
3/4 teaspoon cream of tarter
3/4 cup of butter (real butter not that fake stuff)
1 cup of whole milk (fresh milk works best)

Directions:

1. preheat your oven to 450 degrees
2. mix all your dry ingredients together in a large bowl, if clumping sift
3. cut in your butter with a pastry cutter or two knives
4. mix in your milk until the dough as just come together
5. spread a little flour out on a flat surface (I use our kitchen table)
6. turn dough out onto table
7. knead the dough about 6 or 8 times (the less you knead the fluffier your biscuits)
8. roll the dough out to 2/3" thick
9. use a 2" biscuit cutter and cut out biscuits
10. re-roll and cut until all the dough has been used
11. place the biscuits on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes (depending upon your oven)
12. enjoy with jelly, soup, stews and much more!

This is an easy and quick recipe that can be done on a week night. So head to the kitchen and make some biscuits tonight.