DIY Cardboard Rudolf

In a moment of inspired craftiness, I made this cardboard Rudolf as a decoration for our annual Christmas party. I thought it would be funny to hang it in our entry hall alongside my husband's actual roe deer antlers and hunting prints.

I'd spotted the idea on Pinterest, and followed the link back to GoodHousekeeping.com, which had instructions and a very good template to make the craft.  (See the original below.) Note that you'll need 11 x 17 paper to print out the template. I was able to make this cute creature out of one wine box. I'd say it took me less than an hour to make it; I used hot glue to attach the various pieces, and since we didn't have a wreath to act as the base, we wrapped a Christmas-y scarf around his neck.

Check out more of my holiday decoration inspiration on my Christmas Pinterest board. 

7 More DIY Christmas Gift Ideas

It's just a few weeks until Christmas, which means it's time for another round of easy, DIY gift ideas. My family has decided to have a no-gift holiday this year (instead we'll spend some extra money on delicious things to do and eat together). However, if I were giving gifts this year, these handmade ideas would be at the top of my list:

I love the utilitarian simplicity of this trivet made from wooden clothespins from the book, Sweet Paul Eat and Make.

Here's a craft I made for Country Living magazine years ago: Jewelry magnets. Vintage brooches and pins are glued to strong magnets to make decorative fridge magnets.

Colorful lanyards were used to make these camp-inspired crafts from Martha Stewart Living. If you wanted to avoid the plastic, you could use colored suede lace instead.

A super-practical gift, these simple drawstring bags are great for shoes, but I can think of dozens of other uses. Find the full tutorial for the drawstring shoe bags on The Purl Bee.

I couldn't resist this sweet idea for a DIY moon clock, which I found on the blog Hellobee. It could be a great gift for a kid or a grown-up (I know I'd love to receive it).

I love vintage linen tea towels, but they can be hard to find in good condition (and new ones seem to cost a small fortune). Make your own with directions from the blog Everyday Occasions. I'd stencil them en masse, so that I had a few extra gifts on-hand.

I came across this stone alphabet idea idea on Pinterest, which lead me to a Spanish blog. Based on the Google translation, the blogger just used markers to write on the stones--easy! It's sweet and simple idea for early readers.

Check out 7 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas from 2014.

7 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas

The holidays are just around the corner, which has me thinking about gifts. If I had all the time in the world, I would make handmade gifts for all my nearest and dearest. Here are some easy, do-it-yourself gifts that would make great holiday gifts:

This mason jar soap dispenser is probably the most popular craft I ever made. Get the how-to instructions from Country Living's website.  

All you need to make this pretty necklace are some leftover fabric, wooden beads, and a needle and thread. Follow my step-by-step instructions for how to make your own. 

I've always loved books with compartments hidden within. Better Homes & Gardens shows you how to make a book box. 

Turn and old pair of jeans into a super-chic lunch bag following the instruction from Between the Lines.

The Purl Bee blog is chock-full of amazing projects you could make as gifts. I'm particularly fond of this pom-pom scarf--you can sew your own scarf with these directions.

You could spend $500 on a Hermes tassel key chain, or you could make your own with DIY directions for a tassel key chain from Lovely Indeed.

Got a drill? Your friend's cube would look a whole lot cooler with this clever pencil holder from Strawberry Chic. 

Puffed Apple Pancake Recipe

On Christmas Eve I pulled out my trusty The Gourmet Cookbook to look for Christmas morning breakfast inspiration. I was looking for recipes that would feel right for the holiday, but wouldn't require a bunch of heard-to-find ingredients, since most shops would be closed on the morning of the 25th. I debated molasses pancakes, but decided a puffed apple pancake sounded like the just right choice.

The apples bake into the pancake batter to create a filled pancake with the cake-y consistency. We didn't have ground cloves, so I added a bit of ground nutmeg instead. Next time, I would cook it just a little longer than 20 minutes to get it a bit browner. I'll also cut back on the sugar--the recipe is very sweet (almost dessert-like) as written!

Puffed Apple Pancake
From The Gourmet Cookbook

2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1/4" thick
1 T. fresh lemon juice
3 T. packed light brown sugar
4 T. granulated sugar
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground cloves
3 T. unsalted butter
3/4 c. whole milk
3 large eggs
2/3 c. all-purpose flour
scant 1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 425.
2. In a bowl, toss apples with lemon juice, brown sugar, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, cinnamon and cloves.
3. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet (Gourmet recommends nonstick, but I used cast iron and it worked out fine). Add apples and cook, stirring occasionally until just tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer apples and any liquid to a wide bowl and let cool.
4. Heat cleaned skillet in oven for 5 minutes. Combine eggs, milk, flour, remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar, salt and vanilla in a blender and blend until smooth.
5. Remove skillet from oven and melt remaining 1 1/2 tablespoon of butter in skillet over moderately high heat. Then pour batter into skillet. Spoon apple mixture evenly over top (some of the apples will sink in).
6. Bake pancake until puffed and golden and a wooden toothpick comes out clean, 15 to 20+ minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar to make it pretty!

DIY Pinata Ornament

When my friends at Country Living asked me to create a Christmas craft for their Holiday Pinspiration Party page, I was happy to oblige. After noodling around with a few ornament ideas, I decided to try making a mini-pinata ornament. I was inspired by a glass pinata ornament at Paper Source and all the amazing pinata series on the Oh Happy Day blog. (My husband's love for all things Mexican was another source for this project.) The resulting ornament will have a prominent place on our tree this year.

Country Living wants to see what you've made! Post a picture of a holiday craft or decoration you've made onto Country Living's Facebook wall. They'll add your images to their Pinterest board to share more holiday pinspriation!

Here's how I made it:

Supplies:
- red, dark green and light green streamers
- ribbon
- lightweight cardboard (like a cereal box)
- scissors
- painter's or masking tape (mine just happens to be bright green)
- white craft glue (like Elmer's)

Instructions:
Step 1: Draw a pinata shape onto your cardboard and cut it out (I made a traditional burro, but you can get creative with your shape!). Trace the shape onto a second piece of cardboard and cut it out. Cut out strips of cardboard 1/2-inch to 3/4 wide and as long as your cardboard (you'll need several strips).
Step 2: Use the masking tape to affix the strips to the first pinata shape to create a border around the permieter (bend the cardboard as you reach each corner).

Step 3: Cut a length of ribbon; fold it in half and make a knot at the folded end. Cut a slit in the top of the pinata and slip the two ends of the folded, knotted ribbon through the slit (the knot will keep the ribbon from sliding out the slit).
Step 4: Tape the second pinata shape to the cardboard border to create a boxy three-dimensional pinata.

Step 5: Cut streamers into 8 to 10-inch lengths; fold them in half lengthwise and cut the open ends into a fringe. I used approximately 6 rows of each color.
Step 6: Begin gluing the frige to the cardboard pinata starting from the bottom and working your way up. Put small dabs of white glue on the cardboard and use the glue's top to spread them out into thin lines. Gently press the folded edge of the fringed streamer strips into the glue. Work up the body of the pinata, alternating colors every two rows or so.
Step 7: When you reach the top, you will need to add a few strips of streamer to cover the perimeter of the pinata.
Step 8: Continue adding fringe until you have covered the whole pinata.

Cranberry-Orange Nut Bread

This recipe is a Christmas favorite in the Fenton family, but it would be good any time of the year that you can get your hands of fresh cranberries. The recipe hails from an old copy of Betty Crocker’s Christmas Cookbook, which is the source for quite a few of my mother's holiday baked goods. She notes that sometimes she doubles the recipe, which then fits in five small loaf pans. I made a batch just before Christmas, and just thawed the remaining frozen bread, lightly toasted with or without butter, it's a lovely morning treat.
 
Cranberry-Orange Nut Bread
From Betty Crocker’s Christmas Cookbook

2 cups flour   
¾ cup sugar
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. salt
½ tsp baking soda
¼ cup softened butter
1 Tb. grated orange peel
¾ cup orange juice
1 egg
1 cup chopped cranberries
½ cup chopped walnuts

1. Heat oven to 350, and grease the bottom of a 9x5 loaf pan.
2. Mix together the dry ingredients and then stir in the butter until the mixture is crumbly.
3. Stir in the orange peel, orange juice, and egg just until all of the flour is moistened.
4. Stir in the chopped cranberries and walnuts and pour (or spread) into the baking pan.
5. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Loosen the side of the loaf from pan and remove from pan. Cool before slicing.

Monte's Ham

If you were to look up photos of me on Facebook, you'd come up with a shot of a severely cooked ham, and you might wonder to yourself why I left a photo of a ham tagged as me. Well, it wasn't just any ham: It was Monte's Ham. After requesting the recipe, my friend Nathaniel had tagged the ham as me in tribute to my sharing of this fine, fine ham recipe.

I first had Monte's Ham at the home of a food writer in Queens at a house warming party. Afterwards, I begged my friend who'd brought me to the party to find out about the ham, and in turn, she introduced me to the recipe for Monte's Ham. Nearly, every year since I've made the ham at Christmas parties. It is perhaps the most well-loved thing I cook (Marcella Hazan's bolognese lasagna is a close contender). Monte's Ham has become a holiday tradition.

When I went to look up the recipe on Saveur's website (it was originally published in the magazine's pages), I was greatly dismayed to see that the text from the Saveur Cooks Authentic American cookbook was absent, so I'll share it with you here. Monte's explanation of the ham is a good part of why I love this recipe so much—because really aren't all recipes better with a story behind them?

Note: New Yorkers, can anyone tell me where I can find a cheap 15 lb. ham? I've had to resort to much smaller specimens because I haven't been able to find one as big as Monte suggests?

"When I first moved to New York City," advertising copywriter Monte Mathews told us [Saveur], "a friend gave me two pieces of advice: First, if you wear an expensive watch, you can wear anything else you want; second, when you have a lot of people over, buy a cheap ham. I already had the watch, but the cheap-ham tip threw me, and my friend did not elaborate. Not long afterward, at one of my first big-city parties, what should I see center-stage on the buffet table but a giant ham, bone intact, brown as could be. And what a ham! The mingled flavors of brown sugar and orange permeated every bite, and there was a faint hint of spice in the aftertaste. Guests hovered over it, and as the evening wore on, it became unrecognizable – thoroughly picked over. My hostess, flush with the triumph of having entertained so well, was effervescent, and I, feeling particularly close to her that night, offered to stay behind and help clean up. As she washed and I dried, I begged, ‘Please talk to me about your ham’ Almost conspiratorially, she instructed me to buy the cheapest ham I could find, glaze the hell out of it, and cook it for a long time. ‘You can feed 30 people for $6.99!’ she exclaimed. I admit that I’ve never been able to find a bargain quite like that, - but 20 years later, I still swear by cheap ham and a great glaze. I trot one out several times a year, and it’s always the hit of the party."

Monte's Ham
From Saveur Cooks Authentic American
Serves about 30

15-lb. smoked ham on the bone

1 1/2 cups orange marmalade

1 cup dijon mustard

1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar

1 tbsp. whole cloves

1. Preheat oven to 300°. Trim tough outer skin and excess fat from ham. Place ham, meat side down, in a large roasting pan and score, making crosshatch incisions with a sharp knife. Roast for 2 hours.
2. Remove ham from oven and increase heat to 350°. For glaze, combine orange marmalade, mustard, and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Stud ham with whole cloves (stick one clove at the intersection of each crosshatch), then brush with glaze and return to oven.
3. Cook ham another 1 1/2  hours, brushing with glaze at least 3 times. Transfer to a cutting board or platter and allow to rest for about 30 minutes. Carve and serve warm or at room temperature.

Photo: André Baranowski

Butterscotch Scotch Eggnog

When I read Melissa Clark's "A Good Appetite" column about an eggnog with a twist in early December, I made a mental note that it might be a nice holiday dessert to try. My boyfriend is an eggnog lover, but I've never been a big fan, and I thought an eggnog made with real eggs might change my mind. Clark described her twist on a traditional nog, "The smoky Scotch made the eggnog more complex and gave it a savory taste, which went nicely with the caramelized flavor of the brown sugar." Yum, right?

While visiting my family over the holidays I whipped up a batch, halving the recipe since there were only five of us. (The recipe still made much more than we needed to serve five: I'd say the full recipe could serve closer to 18-20 since it is a rich, concentrated dessert.) It was delicious, heavenly, smoky and rich, but light--you could eat it with a spoon it was so wonderfully thick. I didn't even use any fancy Scotch, just what was left of bottle of Cutty Sark and some Johnny Walker to make up the rest of volume. If you're looking for a creamy winter dessert, this recipe is a winner.

Butterscotch Scotch Eggnog
From The New York Times

12 large eggs, separated
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus pinch
2 cups whole milk
1 cup smoky Scotch whisky
1/2 cup brandy
2 cups heavy cream
4 tablespoons granulated sugar
Grated nutmeg

1. In a large bowl, combine the yolks, brown sugar, vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Using an electric mixer beat on medium-high speed until thick and dark golden, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and slowly drizzle in the milk, Scotch and brandy. Transfer to the freezer to chill while preparing the rest of the eggnog. (Or refrigerate for at least 2 hours before completing.)
2. In a medium bowl, whip the cream on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Set aside. In another medium bowl, using clean beaters, whip the egg whites and pinch of salt on medium-high speed, adding the sugar by tablespoons until soft peaks form.
3. When ready to serve, pour the yolk mixture into a large punchbowl. Fold in a small amount of whipped cream to lighten it, then fold in the remaining cream. Fold in the egg whites. Generously dust the top with nutmeg; serve immediately.

Yield: 12+ servings

Photo: Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times

Terrain at Styer's Holiday Displays

While working on a story for ElleDecor.com about Christmas windows, I contacted Terrain at Styer's to inquire about their holiday displays (a long-time fan of Terrain, I knew they'd be amazing). What Terrain sent back to me were shots a gorgeous winter wonderland scene. Terrain didn't make it into the piece I was writing, since the displays were too far afield from the usual window display, so I thought I'd share them here.

In the winter at Terrain, the sheds that hold plants in the warmer months are stocked with wreaths and Christmas trees and decked with twinkling lights. Nearby antique garden chairs surround a rustic table from which a tree appears to grow and tree stump stools circle a fire pit – perfect examples of Terrain’s whimsical, natural aesthetic.

To see more of the store's holiday displays, check out a recent post on Remodelista with photos on decorative details throughout the shop.

Photos: Greg Lehmkuhl & Melissa Bartley -- CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE!

A firepit surrounded by tree stump stools and a stash of plaid blankets? Yes, please!

I love the effect of all the white Christmas lights against the nighttime sky -- beautiful, no?


How adorable is this Christmas Tree shed? So cute. I love how Terrain effortlessly mixes vintage props in with their offerings.

Cranbery Cookies

My favorite Christmas cookie? It's not what you'd think. My mother makes these cranberry cookies every holiday season. They're an unusual cookie: They're not too sweet and have a consistency almost like a small cake, rather than a cookie. I made them myself last week for a cookie swap with my fellow ShelterPop bloggers, and, if I do say so myself, they came out perfectly. Personally, I like one with my second cup of coffee mid-morning. Don't skip the brown-butter glaze--it makes the cookie!

Cranberry Cookies
from Betty Crocker’s Christmas

1 cup granulated sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup butter, softened (margarine may be used)
¼ cup milk
2 Tb orange juice
1 Tb. grated orange peel
1 egg
3 cups all-purpose flour (up to half may be whole wheat—try to fine “white” whole wheat)
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. baking soda
2-2½ cups coarsely chopped cranberries (frozen ok—chop while frozen)
1 cup chopped walnuts (or other nuts)
Browned butter glaze (at bottom)

1. Heat oven to 375o.
2. Mix sugars and butter, then stir in milk, orange juice, egg (and orange peel).
3. Stir in remaining ingredients and drop by rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto greased baking sheet.
4. Bake until light brown, about 10-15 minutes.
5. Cool slightly and then spread with glaze.

Browned Butter Glaze
1. Heat 1/3 cup of butter over low heat until golden brown; cool slightly.
2. Stir in 2 cups of powdered sugar and 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla.
3. Beat in 2 to 4 tablespoons of hot water until smooth and of desired consistency.