Edible Obsessions: Pumpkin Latte

Here's something to warm you up just in time for Christmas! This pumpkin latte recipe serves 3 and is perfect for relaxing around the house on Christmas evening. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas everyone!



1 2/3 cups of milk
1/2 cup of mashed cooked sweet pumpkin or canned pumpkin puree
3 tbsp of brown sugar
1/4 tsp of ground cinnamon
1 cup of freshly brewed hot coffee
Whipped cream and cinnamon sugar, to serve

Put the milk, pumpkin, sugar, and cinnamon in a saucepan and heat gently, whisking constantly until the mixture just reaches boiling point.
Transfer to 3 cups and stir in the coffee. Serve immediately topped with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon sugar.

Edible Obsessions: Snowball Cookies

If you're looking for a last minute dessert to take to a holiday party, these snowball cookies are perfect. They're an old favorite of mine and my mom actually reminded me of this when I came home for the holidays and found her baking them!



Ingredients:
(makes 2 dozen cookies)

2 cups of flour, sifted
1 cup of butter, softened
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1/4 tsp of salt
3/4 cup of chopped pecans
1 cup of powdered sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine butter and sugar; beat until creamy. add vanilla extract and mix well. Add flour and salt. Mix until partially incorporated and then add chopped pecans. Mix until a thick, uniform dough forms.
Roll cookies into 1-inch balls and place on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until cookies are slightly golden and fragrant. Remove cookies from oven and allow to cool completely on the pan before trying to remove from the baking sheet.
Coat cookies with a generous amount of powdered sugar.

Last Minute Gift Idea: DIY Chalkboard Mugs

Last minute gift alert! DIY chalkboard mugs. You could also make these for a holiday party where hot chocolate or coffee will be served.



Materials:

Porcelain mug
Painter's tape
Pebeo Porcelaine 150 Chalkboard Paint
Soft bristle paint brush
Chalk

Clean and dry your mug. Use painter's tape to mask off the part of the mug you don't want to paint. Apply the paint with a soft bristle brush.
As soon as you are done painting, remove the tape. Let paint dry for 24 hours. Then, bake your mug according to the paint package instructions. After baking, turn off the oven and leave the mug inside until it has gradually cooled to room temperature.

To make this gift extra special, buy some white chalk and write something holiday-themed for the recipient (Merry Christmas, Let It Snow, Santa Baby). Then, tie two pieces of fresh chalk with a pretty ribbon and leave it inside the mug (you could also stick a package of the recipient's favorite hot chocolate or coffee inside). Wrap with cellophane and ribbon, or place in a pretty bag, and viola!

Holiday Special: Last Minute Ideas

Gift Monogram
Recycle your holiday cards as labels for presents. Draw the recipients initial into the card and cut it out. Punch a hole in the letter and tie to the gift with ribbon.




Peppermint Candy Place Cards
Cut out 3-inch ovals from colorful card stock. Using a hole punch, punch a hole at each end and then neatly write your guests' names on the ovals with black ink. Thread ribbon scraps, each about 6 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide, through the backs of the place cards. Notch the ribbon ends, and set a card at each place setting.




Cookie Cutter Ornaments
Choose patterned paper or color-photocopy pictures onto card stock. Use inexpensive cookie cutters and trace on top; cut out. Dab white craft glue along cutter's edge. Press paper in place; let dry. Thread narrow ribbon through needle; poke between paper and cutter, and wrap ribbon around top of cutter. Slip a bead over ribbon's ends; knot.




Cranberry Flower Frog
Use hard raspberries instead of pebbles or marbles as a flower frog. Wash them well before submerging in water.




Find more last minute ideas on Martha Stewart's website.

DIY: Falling Snowflake Garland

I found this adorable DIY snowflake garland on ohhappyday.com. These are perfect for a winter wonderland themed holiday party, and can even be used to wrap gifts, decorate a mini tree, or hang in the window or on a mantle.



Materials:

White balloons
Thread
Needle
Assorted papers
Snowflake punches (available at Michaels!)
Scissors

Step 1: Begin by punching out lots of paper snowflakes. You can use any color and size you want. Gather your snowflakes and grab your thread and needle
Step 2: Thread about one-yard of thread onto your needle. Knot the very end. Sew through your first paper snowflake and push it down to the end.
Step 3: Create a french knot about one-inch away from your previously threaded snowflake. This will be the barrier that keeps the next snowflake from slipping down and resting on the last one. Continue this process until you have about 8-10 snowflakes per thread.
Step 4: Blow up a balloon, tie and knot in it. Gently take a garland, being careful not to tangle it against itself, and tie or tape it to the knot of the balloon. Release and let it float to the ceiling. Viola!

Edible Obsessions: S'mores Bars

Ingredients:

2 cups of graham crackers
2 tbsp of sugar
7 tbsp of butter, melted
16 oz  of dark chocolate (65% cacao), melted
1 cup of whole milk
2 cups of Cocoa Pebbles
4 cups of mini marshmallows, divided use

Place graham crackers, sugar and melted butter in a bowl and mix to blend. Firmly press mixture into the bottom of a 11x13 pan and bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees F. Set aside to cool.
Melt chocolate with milk in a pan over medium-low heat and whisk to combine. Transfer mixture to a new bowl and set aside for 10 minutes to cool (this will help to cool it faster).
Add Cocoa Pebbles and 2 cups of mini marshmallows to cooled chocolate mixture and mix to combine. Pour mixture over crust. Pour remaining 2 cups of mini marshmallows on top and place under the broiler for 2 to 3  minutes to toast tops of marshmallow layer. Transfer completed dessert to fridge and chill for at least 2 to 3 hours or overnight. Enjoy!

DIY: Holiday Chandelier

With the holidays quickly approaching, there's no doubt everyone could benefit from some last minute ideas for a touch of holiday spirit. Here's an easy and affordable decor idea that will instantly transform your home or festive gathering.



Materials:

25-30 bulb ornaments of choice
Ribbon of choice
Adhesive if desired
A mount if needed (a preexisting plant hook works perfectly)

Tie two three-foot-long ribbons to your mount, knotting a bulb ornament at each end. Cut four more ribbons two-inches shorter than the first and tie them to your mount however you would like them to fall. Attach bulb ornaments to the ends. Build the next tier (again two-inches shorter than the last) with four more ribbons to create somewhat of an upside-down pyramid. If desired, use an adhesive to secure each ball to the one next to it so the arrangement can be stored with ease after the holidays.