InFocus Magazine

This classic recipe for gingerbread is sure to be a hit.  Using a cookie cutter, cut dough into shapes.  Once cooled, let your creativity loose and get to work decorating.  Makes approximtely 20 5” cookies.

Ingredients:

• 6 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
• 4 teaspoons ground ginger
• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon finely ground pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup unsulfured molasses
• Royal Icing for decorating

Preparation:

Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.

Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip. Pipe designs on cookies; If adding candies, press into icing while soft. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Store cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
Here is a list of just some of the many worthwhile programs operating in the Comox Valley. If you are in a position to donate to any of these programs, diet
please do so. If you feel you could benefit from the community’s generosity, generic
please call for more information. If you are involved with a program that we could include on next year’s list, please email: [email protected]

Sharing the Christmas Spirit Hamper Hotline

If you would like to make a donation, need a hamper or know someone who needs a hamper please call 250.338.1334. Donations accepted until December 14; hampers distributed December 22.

Salvation Army Christmas Hamper Program

Delivers more than 700 food hampers to local residents. For more information call 250.338.8151.

cvsalarmy.ca or salvationarmy.ca

Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Program

250.338.5133

Collects money to help the homeless and working poor for a number of year-round programs. Kettles situated in various locations around the Comox Valley until Christmas.

salvationarmy.ca

Santa’s Workshop Society

250.897.1994

Accepts gently used toys, new toys and bikes that are refurbished and distributed to children. Visit the workshop at 301 Puntledge Road Courtenay from 9-3, Monday to Friday until Christmas.

First Insurance Secret Santa

250.703.0858

Choose a child’s name off one of the Christmas trees in various locations and donate a gift.

Re/Max Ocean Pacific Realty Christmas Dream

250.339.2021 or 334.9900

In support of the Dawn to Dawn Society, collecting clothing and blankets for the homeless and money to provide health and dental care.

Everybody Deserves a Smile

250.792.4440 or 250.618.0054

December 12, Cumberland Cultural Centre, a day of baking, card making, etc., and then going into the community to hand out care packages. Based in Nanaimo but serving the Comox Valley this year. For more info visit: www.edas.ca

Comox Valley SPCA Christmas Wish List

250.339.7722

Donations of money, Science Diet brand canned food or treats, canned food for kittens, dog toys that you can hide cookies in, gift certificates for office supplies. No tennis balls, blankets or towels thank you!

Northgate Four Square Church

250.334.2727

December 18: Free traditional Christmas dinner for the homeless and people in need.

On-going: Donations of warm clothing and footwear appreciated; Weekly Soup & Sandwich lunch every Saturday year-round.

1640 Burgess Road, Courtenay

Comox Valley Food Bank

250.338.0615

1755 B 13th Street, Courtenay

The Food Bank is always in need of donations. Open Monday to Friday, 9:30-1 til the end of December. Support the Food Bank at the Jingle Bell Run – December 5th, 2010, sponsored by the Comox Valley Road Runners. Entry is $5 plus one non-perishable food item. All cash and food go directly to the Comox Valley Food Bank. FMI about the race visit cvrr.ca

Samaritan’s Purse

1.800.303.1269

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Collection. Pack a shoebox online or make a donation for a child in Haiti. For more info visit samaratanspurse.ca
Christmas is a busy time of year for many families. With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, cardiology
it’s challenging to find things to keep kids occupied and busy as they await Santa’s arrival. Having some Christmas traditions can help create special memories for children.

There are lots of things you can do during the holidays that make children feel a real part of the celebration. Create a tradition with food. All kids love to help when it comes to making cookies, pills and Christmas is no exception.

Cut gingerbread cookies into shapes of people or animals and decorate with icing and candy. The aroma in the house is wonderful as they are baking and once they are cooled and decorated, what is ed
make a hole in the top of the cookie, thread with colorful ribbon and hang on the Christmas tree or around the house.

Gingerbread houses are readily available in grocery stores. They come pre-baked in a kit with all the candies, so all you need to do is put it together with the included icing and let your child’s imagination go to work while they create the gingerbread house of their dreams.

Thumbprint cookies are popular at Christmas, but adding cocoa to make it chocolate and putting candy in the centre instead of jam can make it a family tradition at this time of year.

Children can have fun helping with Christmas baking, or baking alone if they are old enough. This is a great way for parents to get a head start in holiday baking and it should be a fun, stress-free time that can be shared as a bonding, family activity.

Let the kids bake their own cookies to leave out for Santa—they’ll take pride in baking and decorating them to leave out for that special night when Santa pays a visit.

Try to find a few foods to serve that would only be offered during the holidays and not eaten regularly throughout the year—for example, a food dish from the family’s ethnic background could be included. If these foods are already part of meals throughout the year, dress them up with all the trimmings to make them special.

Create a party atmosphere when decorating the house and tree. Tell stories about particular ornaments and how they were acquired as you decorate the tree. Play holiday music and talk about other Christmas memories. Kids love hearing stories about themselves and about what their parents were like when they were kids. If some of the tree ornaments are handed down from generation to generation, make sure to tell the kids who they belonged to and the significance of them to your family.

Make it an adventure to go as a family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Let the kids have a say in what is picked, even if it’s not the best tree available. Or better yet, find a Christmas tree farm and go out and cut down your own Christmas tree.

There are many Christmas and holiday movies to choose from. Find one movie that is suitable for the entire family—there are Christmas classics out there—and make it a tradition to watch it every single year, no matter what!

Starting Christmas traditions with your children is fun and a great way to create lasting memories. Whether it’s choosing to cook or bake something only at the holidays, attending a Christmas event yearly, making a gingerbread house, or transforming the house into a Christmas wonderland, including the entire family in the process will ensure your children have memories that will last from year to year and they’ll carry the traditions forward to their own families.

Gingerbread Cookies

Preparation:

Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.

Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip. Pipe designs on cookies; If adding candies, press into icing while soft. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Store cookies between layers

of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
Christmas is a busy time of year for many families. With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, try it’s challenging to find things to keep kids occupied and busy as they await Santa’s arrival. Having some Christmas traditions can help create special memories for children.

There are lots of things you can do during the holidays that make children feel a real part of the celebration. Create a tradition with food. All kids love to help when it comes to making cookies, drug
and Christmas is no exception.

Cut gingerbread cookies into shapes of people or animals and decorate with icing and candy. The aroma in the house is wonderful as they are baking and once they are cooled and decorated, buy more about
make a hole in the top of the cookie, thread with colorful ribbon and hang on the Christmas tree or around the house.

Gingerbread houses are readily available in grocery stores. They come pre-baked in a kit with all the candies, so all you need to do is put it together with the included icing and let your child’s imagination go to work while they create the gingerbread house of their dreams.

Thumbprint cookies are popular at Christmas, but adding cocoa to make it chocolate and putting candy in the centre instead of jam can make it a family tradition at this time of year.

Children can have fun helping with Christmas baking, or baking alone if they are old enough. This is a great way for parents to get a head start in holiday baking and it should be a fun, stress-free time that can be shared as a bonding, family activity.

Let the kids bake their own cookies to leave out for Santa—they’ll take pride in baking and decorating them to leave out for that special night when Santa pays a visit.

Try to find a few foods to serve that would only be offered during the holidays and not eaten regularly throughout the year—for example, a food dish from the family’s ethnic background could be included. If these foods are already part of meals throughout the year, dress them up with all the trimmings to make them special.

Create a party atmosphere when decorating the house and tree. Tell stories about particular ornaments and how they were acquired as you decorate the tree. Play holiday music and talk about other Christmas memories. Kids love hearing stories about themselves and about what their parents were like when they were kids. If some of the tree ornaments are handed down from generation to generation, make sure to tell the kids who they belonged to and the significance of them to your family.

Make it an adventure to go as a family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Let the kids have a say in what is picked, even if it’s not the best tree available. Or better yet, find a Christmas tree farm and go out and cut down your own Christmas tree.

There are many Christmas and holiday movies to choose from. Find one movie that is suitable for the entire family—there are Christmas classics out there—and make it a tradition to watch it every single year, no matter what!

Starting Christmas traditions with your children is fun and a great way to create lasting memories. Whether it’s choosing to cook or bake something only at the holidays, attending a Christmas event yearly, making a gingerbread house, or transforming the house into a Christmas wonderland, including the entire family in the process will ensure your children have memories that will last from year to year and they’ll carry the traditions forward to their own families.

Gingerbread Cookies

Preparation:

Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.

Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip. Pipe designs on cookies; If adding candies, press into icing while soft. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Store cookies between layers

of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
Christmas is a busy time of year for many families. With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, weight loss
it’s challenging to find things to keep kids occupied and busy as they await Santa’s arrival. Having some Christmas traditions can help create special memories for children.

There are lots of things you can do during the holidays that make children feel a real part of the celebration. Create a tradition with food. All kids love to help when it comes to making cookies, and Christmas is no exception.

Cut gingerbread cookies into shapes of people or animals and decorate with icing and candy. The aroma in the house is wonderful as they are baking and once they are cooled and decorated, make a hole in the top of the cookie, thread with colorful ribbon and hang on the Christmas tree or around the house.

Gingerbread houses are readily available in grocery stores. They come pre-baked in a kit with all the candies, so all you need to do is put it together with the included icing and let your child’s imagination go to work while they create the gingerbread house of their dreams.

Thumbprint cookies are popular at Christmas, but adding cocoa to make it chocolate and putting candy in the centre instead of jam can make it a family tradition at this time of year.

Children can have fun helping with Christmas baking, or baking alone if they are old enough. This is a great way for parents to get a head start in holiday baking and it should be a fun, stress-free time that can be shared as a bonding, family activity.

Let the kids bake their own cookies to leave out for Santa—they’ll take pride in baking and decorating them to leave out for that special night when Santa pays a visit.

Try to find a few foods to serve that would only be offered during the holidays and not eaten regularly throughout the year—for example, a food dish from the family’s ethnic background could be included. If these foods are already part of meals throughout the year, dress them up with all the trimmings to make them special.

Create a party atmosphere when decorating the house and tree. Tell stories about particular ornaments and how they were acquired as you decorate the tree. Play holiday music and talk about other Christmas memories. Kids love hearing stories about themselves and about what their parents were like when they were kids. If some of the tree ornaments are handed down from generation to generation, make sure to tell the kids who they belonged to and the significance of them to your family.

Make it an adventure to go as a family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Let the kids have a say in what is picked, even if it’s not the best tree available. Or better yet, find a Christmas tree farm and go out and cut down your own Christmas tree.

There are many Christmas and holiday movies to choose from. Find one movie that is suitable for the entire family—there are Christmas classics out there—and make it a tradition to watch it every single year, no matter what!

Starting Christmas traditions with your children is fun and a great way to create lasting memories. Whether it’s choosing to cook or bake something only at the holidays, attending a Christmas event yearly, making a gingerbread house, or transforming the house into a Christmas wonderland, including the entire family in the process will ensure your children have memories that will last from year to year and they’ll carry the traditions forward to their own families.

Gingerbread Cookies

Preparation:

Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.

Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip. Pipe designs on cookies; If adding candies, press into icing while soft. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Store cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
Christmas is a busy time of year for many families. With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, cialis it’s challenging to find things to keep kids occupied and busy as they await Santa’s arrival. Having some Christmas traditions can help create special memories for children.

There are lots of things you can do during the holidays that make children feel a real part of the celebration. Create a tradition with food. All kids love to help when it comes to making cookies, and Christmas is no exception.

Cut gingerbread cookies into shapes of people or animals and decorate with icing and candy. The aroma in the house is wonderful as they are baking and once they are cooled and decorated, make a hole in the top of the cookie, thread with colorful ribbon and hang on the Christmas tree or around the house.

Gingerbread houses are readily available in grocery stores. They come pre-baked in a kit with all the candies, so all you need to do is put it together with the included icing and let your child’s imagination go to work while they create the gingerbread house of their dreams.

Thumbprint cookies are popular at Christmas, but adding cocoa to make it chocolate and putting candy in the centre instead of jam can make it a family tradition at this time of year.

Children can have fun helping with Christmas baking, or baking alone if they are old enough. This is a great way for parents to get a head start in holiday baking and it should be a fun, stress-free time that can be shared as a bonding, family activity.

Let the kids bake their own cookies to leave out for Santa—they’ll take pride in baking and decorating them to leave out for that special night when Santa pays a visit.

Try to find a few foods to serve that would only be offered during the holidays and not eaten regularly throughout the year—for example, a food dish from the family’s ethnic background could be included. If these foods are already part of meals throughout the year, dress them up with all the trimmings to make them special.

Create a party atmosphere when decorating the house and tree. Tell stories about particular ornaments and how they were acquired as you decorate the tree. Play holiday music and talk about other Christmas memories. Kids love hearing stories about themselves and about what their parents were like when they were kids. If some of the tree ornaments are handed down from generation to generation, make sure to tell the kids who they belonged to and the significance of them to your family.

Make it an adventure to go as a family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Let the kids have a say in what is picked, even if it’s not the best tree available. Or better yet, find a Christmas tree farm and go out and cut down your own Christmas tree.

There are many Christmas and holiday movies to choose from. Find one movie that is suitable for the entire family—there are Christmas classics out there—and make it a tradition to watch it every single year, no matter what!

Starting Christmas traditions with your children is fun and a great way to create lasting memories. Whether it’s choosing to cook or bake something only at the holidays, attending a Christmas event yearly, making a gingerbread house, or transforming the house into a Christmas wonderland, including the entire family in the process will ensure your children have memories that will last from year to year and they’ll carry the traditions forward to their own families.

Gingerbread Cookies

Preparation:

1. Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.
2. Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
4. Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.
5. Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip. Pipe designs on cookies; If adding candies, press into icing while soft. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Store cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.

Christmas is a busy time of year for many families. With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, diagnosis
it’s challenging to find things to keep kids occupied and busy as they await Santa’s arrival. Having some Christmas traditions can help create special memories for children.

There are lots of things you can do during the holidays that make children feel a real part of the celebration. Create a tradition with food. All kids love to help when it comes to making cookies, mind
and Christmas is no exception.

Cut gingerbread cookies into shapes of people or animals and decorate with icing and candy. The aroma in the house is wonderful as they are baking and once they are cooled and decorated, ambulance
make a hole in the top of the cookie, thread with colorful ribbon and hang on the Christmas tree or around the house.

Gingerbread houses are readily available in grocery stores. They come pre-baked in a kit with all the candies, so all you need to do is put it together with the included icing and let your child’s imagination go to work while they create the gingerbread house of their dreams.

Thumbprint cookies are popular at Christmas, but adding cocoa to make it chocolate and putting candy in the centre instead of jam can make it a family tradition at this time of year.

Children can have fun helping with Christmas baking, or baking alone if they are old enough. This is a great way for parents to get a head start in holiday baking and it should be a fun, stress-free time that can be shared as a bonding, family activity.

Let the kids bake their own cookies to leave out for Santa—they’ll take pride in baking and decorating them to leave out for that special night when Santa pays a visit.

Try to find a few foods to serve that would only be offered during the holidays and not eaten regularly throughout the year—for example, a food dish from the family’s ethnic background could be included. If these foods are already part of meals throughout the year, dress them up with all the trimmings to make them special.

Create a party atmosphere when decorating the house and tree. Tell stories about particular ornaments and how they were acquired as you decorate the tree. Play holiday music and talk about other Christmas memories. Kids love hearing stories about themselves and about what their parents were like when they were kids. If some of the tree ornaments are handed down from generation to generation, make sure to tell the kids who they belonged to and the significance of them to your family.

Make it an adventure to go as a family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Let the kids have a say in what is picked, even if it’s not the best tree available. Or better yet, find a Christmas tree farm and go out and cut down your own Christmas tree.

There are many Christmas and holiday movies to choose from. Find one movie that is suitable for the entire family—there are Christmas classics out there—and make it a tradition to watch it every single year, no matter what!

Starting Christmas traditions with your children is fun and a great way to create lasting memories. Whether it’s choosing to cook or bake something only at the holidays, attending a Christmas event yearly, making a gingerbread house, or transforming the house into a Christmas wonderland, including the entire family in the process will ensure your children have memories that will last from year to year and they’ll carry the traditions forward to their own families.

Gingerbread Cookies

Preparation:

1. Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.
2. Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
4. Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.
5. Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip. Pipe designs on cookies; If adding candies, press into icing while soft. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Store cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.

Christmas is a busy time of year for many families. With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, health system
it’s challenging to find things to keep kids occupied and busy as they await Santa’s arrival. Having some Christmas traditions can help create special memories for children.

There are lots of things you can do during the holidays that make children feel a real part of the celebration. Create a tradition with food. All kids love to help when it comes to making cookies, artificial
and Christmas is no exception.

Cut gingerbread cookies into shapes of people or animals and decorate with icing and candy. The aroma in the house is wonderful as they are baking and once they are cooled and decorated, make a hole in the top of the cookie, thread with colorful ribbon and hang on the Christmas tree or around the house.

Gingerbread houses are readily available in grocery stores. They come pre-baked in a kit with all the candies, so all you need to do is put it together with the included icing and let your child’s imagination go to work while they create the gingerbread house of their dreams.

Thumbprint cookies are popular at Christmas, but adding cocoa to make it chocolate and putting candy in the centre instead of jam can make it a family tradition at this time of year.

Children can have fun helping with Christmas baking, or baking alone if they are old enough. This is a great way for parents to get a head start in holiday baking and it should be a fun, stress-free time that can be shared as a bonding, family activity.

Let the kids bake their own cookies to leave out for Santa—they’ll take pride in baking and decorating them to leave out for that special night when Santa pays a visit.

Try to find a few foods to serve that would only be offered during the holidays and not eaten regularly throughout the year—for example, a food dish from the family’s ethnic background could be included. If these foods are already part of meals throughout the year, dress them up with all the trimmings to make them special.

Create a party atmosphere when decorating the house and tree. Tell stories about particular ornaments and how they were acquired as you decorate the tree. Play holiday music and talk about other Christmas memories. Kids love hearing stories about themselves and about what their parents were like when they were kids. If some of the tree ornaments are handed down from generation to generation, make sure to tell the kids who they belonged to and the significance of them to your family.

Make it an adventure to go as a family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Let the kids have a say in what is picked, even if it’s not the best tree available. Or better yet, find a Christmas tree farm and go out and cut down your own Christmas tree.

There are many Christmas and holiday movies to choose from. Find one movie that is suitable for the entire family—there are Christmas classics out there—and make it a tradition to watch it every single year, no matter what!

Starting Christmas traditions with your children is fun and a great way to create lasting memories. Whether it’s choosing to cook or bake something only at the holidays, attending a Christmas event yearly, making a gingerbread house, or transforming the house into a Christmas wonderland, including the entire family in the process will ensure your children have memories that will last from year to year and they’ll carry the traditions forward to their own families.

Gingerbread Cookies

Preparation:

Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.

Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip. Pipe designs on cookies; If adding candies, press into icing while soft. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Store cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
Christmas is a busy time of year for many families. With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, info
it’s challenging to find things to keep kids occupied and busy as they await Santa’s arrival. Having some Christmas traditions can help create special memories for children.

There are lots of things you can do during the holidays that make children feel a real part of the celebration. Create a tradition with food. All kids love to help when it comes to making cookies, and Christmas is no exception.

Cut gingerbread cookies into shapes of people or animals and decorate with icing and candy. The aroma in the house is wonderful as they are baking and once they are cooled and decorated, make a hole in the top of the cookie, thread with colorful ribbon and hang on the Christmas tree or around the house.

Gingerbread houses are readily available in grocery stores. They come pre-baked in a kit with all the candies, so all you need to do is put it together with the included icing and let your child’s imagination go to work while they create the gingerbread house of their dreams.

Thumbprint cookies are popular at Christmas, but adding cocoa to make it chocolate and putting candy in the centre instead of jam can make it a family tradition at this time of year.

Children can have fun helping with Christmas baking, or baking alone if they are old enough. This is a great way for parents to get a head start in holiday baking and it should be a fun, stress-free time that can be shared as a bonding, family activity.

Let the kids bake their own cookies to leave out for Santa—they’ll take pride in baking and decorating them to leave out for that special night when Santa pays a visit.

Try to find a few foods to serve that would only be offered during the holidays and not eaten regularly throughout the year—for example, a food dish from the family’s ethnic background could be included. If these foods are already part of meals throughout the year, dress them up with all the trimmings to make them special.

Create a party atmosphere when decorating the house and tree. Tell stories about particular ornaments and how they were acquired as you decorate the tree. Play holiday music and talk about other Christmas memories. Kids love hearing stories about themselves and about what their parents were like when they were kids. If some of the tree ornaments are handed down from generation to generation, make sure to tell the kids who they belonged to and the significance of them to your family.

Make it an adventure to go as a family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Let the kids have a say in what is picked, even if it’s not the best tree available. Or better yet, find a Christmas tree farm and go out and cut down your own Christmas tree.

There are many Christmas and holiday movies to choose from. Find one movie that is suitable for the entire family—there are Christmas classics out there—and make it a tradition to watch it every single year, no matter what!

Starting Christmas traditions with your children is fun and a great way to create lasting memories. Whether it’s choosing to cook or bake something only at the holidays, attending a Christmas event yearly, making a gingerbread house, or transforming the house into a Christmas wonderland, including the entire family in the process will ensure your children have memories that will last from year to year and they’ll carry the traditions forward to their own families.

Gingerbread Cookies

Preparation:

Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.

Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip. Pipe designs on cookies; If adding candies, press into icing while soft. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Store cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
Christmas is a busy time of year for many families. With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, approved
it’s challenging to find things to keep kids occupied and busy as they await Santa’s arrival. Having some Christmas traditions can help create special memories for children.

There are lots of things you can do during the holidays that make children feel a real part of the celebration. Create a tradition with food. All kids love to help when it comes to making cookies, global burden of disease
and Christmas is no exception.

Cut gingerbread cookies into shapes of people or animals and decorate with icing and candy. The aroma in the house is wonderful as they are baking and once they are cooled and decorated, make a hole in the top of the cookie, thread with colorful ribbon and hang on the Christmas tree or around the house.

Gingerbread houses are readily available in grocery stores. They come pre-baked in a kit with all the candies, so all you need to do is put it together with the included icing and let your child’s imagination go to work while they create the gingerbread house of their dreams.

Thumbprint cookies are popular at Christmas, but adding cocoa to make it chocolate and putting candy in the centre instead of jam can make it a family tradition at this time of year.

Children can have fun helping with Christmas baking, or baking alone if they are old enough. This is a great way for parents to get a head start in holiday baking and it should be a fun, stress-free time that can be shared as a bonding, family activity.

Let the kids bake their own cookies to leave out for Santa—they’ll take pride in baking and decorating them to leave out for that special night when Santa pays a visit.

Try to find a few foods to serve that would only be offered during the holidays and not eaten regularly throughout the year—for example, a food dish from the family’s ethnic background could be included. If these foods are already part of meals throughout the year, dress them up with all the trimmings to make them special.

Create a party atmosphere when decorating the house and tree. Tell stories about particular ornaments and how they were acquired as you decorate the tree. Play holiday music and talk about other Christmas memories. Kids love hearing stories about themselves and about what their parents were like when they were kids. If some of the tree ornaments are handed down from generation to generation, make sure to tell the kids who they belonged to and the significance of them to your family.

Make it an adventure to go as a family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Let the kids have a say in what is picked, even if it’s not the best tree available. Or better yet, find a Christmas tree farm and go out and cut down your own Christmas tree.

There are many Christmas and holiday movies to choose from. Find one movie that is suitable for the entire family—there are Christmas classics out there—and make it a tradition to watch it every single year, no matter what!

Starting Christmas traditions with your children is fun and a great way to create lasting memories. Whether it’s choosing to cook or bake something only at the holidays, attending a Christmas event yearly, making a gingerbread house, or transforming the house into a Christmas wonderland, including the entire family in the process will ensure your children have memories that will last from year to year and they’ll carry the traditions forward to their own families.

Gingerbread Cookies

Preparation:

Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.

Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip. Pipe designs on cookies; If adding candies, press into icing while soft. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Store cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
Christmas is a busy time of year for many families. With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, pilule
it’s challenging to find things to keep kids occupied and busy as they await Santa’s arrival. Having some Christmas traditions can help create special memories for children.

There are lots of things you can do during the holidays that make children feel a real part of the celebration. Create a tradition with food. All kids love to help when it comes to making cookies, check and Christmas is no exception.

Cut gingerbread cookies into shapes of people or animals and decorate with icing and candy. The aroma in the house is wonderful as they are baking and once they are cooled and decorated, information pills
make a hole in the top of the cookie, thread with colorful ribbon and hang on the Christmas tree or around the house.

Gingerbread houses are readily available in grocery stores. They come pre-baked in a kit with all the candies, so all you need to do is put it together with the included icing and let your child’s imagination go to work while they create the gingerbread house of their dreams.

Thumbprint cookies are popular at Christmas, but adding cocoa to make it chocolate and putting candy in the centre instead of jam can make it a family tradition at this time of year.

Children can have fun helping with Christmas baking, or baking alone if they are old enough. This is a great way for parents to get a head start in holiday baking and it should be a fun, stress-free time that can be shared as a bonding, family activity.

Let the kids bake their own cookies to leave out for Santa—they’ll take pride in baking and decorating them to leave out for that special night when Santa pays a visit.

Try to find a few foods to serve that would only be offered during the holidays and not eaten regularly throughout the year—for example, a food dish from the family’s ethnic background could be included. If these foods are already part of meals throughout the year, dress them up with all the trimmings to make them special.

Create a party atmosphere when decorating the house and tree. Tell stories about particular ornaments and how they were acquired as you decorate the tree. Play holiday music and talk about other Christmas memories. Kids love hearing stories about themselves and about what their parents were like when they were kids. If some of the tree ornaments are handed down from generation to generation, make sure to tell the kids who they belonged to and the significance of them to your family.

Make it an adventure to go as a family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Let the kids have a say in what is picked, even if it’s not the best tree available. Or better yet, find a Christmas tree farm and go out and cut down your own Christmas tree.

There are many Christmas and holiday movies to choose from. Find one movie that is suitable for the entire family—there are Christmas classics out there—and make it a tradition to watch it every single year, no matter what!

Starting Christmas traditions with your children is fun and a great way to create lasting memories. Whether it’s choosing to cook or bake something only at the holidays, attending a Christmas event yearly, making a gingerbread house, or transforming the house into a Christmas wonderland, including the entire family in the process will ensure your children have memories that will last from year to year and they’ll carry the traditions forward to their own families.

Gingerbread Cookies

Preparation:

Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.

Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip. Pipe designs on cookies; If adding candies, press into icing while soft. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Store cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
Christmas is a busy time of year for many families. With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, anabolics
it’s challenging to find things to keep kids occupied and busy as they await Santa’s arrival. Having some Christmas traditions can help create special memories for children.

There are lots of things you can do during the holidays that make children feel a real part of the celebration. Create a tradition with food. All kids love to help when it comes to making cookies, thumb and Christmas is no exception.

Cut gingerbread cookies into shapes of people or animals and decorate with icing and candy. The aroma in the house is wonderful as they are baking and once they are cooled and decorated, make a hole in the top of the cookie, thread with colorful ribbon and hang on the Christmas tree or around the house.

Gingerbread houses are readily available in grocery stores. They come pre-baked in a kit with all the candies, so all you need to do is put it together with the included icing and let your child’s imagination go to work while they create the gingerbread house of their dreams.

Thumbprint cookies are popular at Christmas, but adding cocoa to make it chocolate and putting candy in the centre instead of jam can make it a family tradition at this time of year.

Children can have fun helping with Christmas baking, or baking alone if they are old enough. This is a great way for parents to get a head start in holiday baking and it should be a fun, stress-free time that can be shared as a bonding, family activity.

Let the kids bake their own cookies to leave out for Santa—they’ll take pride in baking and decorating them to leave out for that special night when Santa pays a visit.

Try to find a few foods to serve that would only be offered during the holidays and not eaten regularly throughout the year—for example, a food dish from the family’s ethnic background could be included. If these foods are already part of meals throughout the year, dress them up with all the trimmings to make them special.

Create a party atmosphere when decorating the house and tree. Tell stories about particular ornaments and how they were acquired as you decorate the tree. Play holiday music and talk about other Christmas memories. Kids love hearing stories about themselves and about what their parents were like when they were kids. If some of the tree ornaments are handed down from generation to generation, make sure to tell the kids who they belonged to and the significance of them to your family.

Make it an adventure to go as a family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Let the kids have a say in what is picked, even if it’s not the best tree available. Or better yet, find a Christmas tree farm and go out and cut down your own Christmas tree.

There are many Christmas and holiday movies to choose from. Find one movie that is suitable for the entire family—there are Christmas classics out there—and make it a tradition to watch it every single year, no matter what!

Starting Christmas traditions with your children is fun and a great way to create lasting memories. Whether it’s choosing to cook or bake something only at the holidays, attending a Christmas event yearly, making a gingerbread house, or transforming the house into a Christmas wonderland, including the entire family in the process will ensure your children have memories that will last from year to year and they’ll carry the traditions forward to their own families.

Gingerbread Cookies

Preparation:

Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.

Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip. Pipe designs on cookies; If adding candies, press into icing while soft. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Store cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
Christmas is a busy time of year for many families. With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, purchase it’s challenging to find things to keep kids occupied and busy as they await Santa’s arrival. Having some Christmas traditions can help create special memories for children.

There are lots of things you can do during the holidays that make children feel a real part of the celebration. Create a tradition with food. All kids love to help when it comes to making cookies, and Christmas is no exception.

Cut gingerbread cookies into shapes of people or animals and decorate with icing and candy. The aroma in the house is wonderful as they are baking and once they are cooled and decorated, make a hole in the top of the cookie, thread with colorful ribbon and hang on the Christmas tree or around the house.

Gingerbread houses are readily available in grocery stores. They come pre-baked in a kit with all the candies, so all you need to do is put it together with the included icing and let your child’s imagination go to work while they create the gingerbread house of their dreams.

Thumbprint cookies are popular at Christmas, but adding cocoa to make it chocolate and putting candy in the centre instead of jam can make it a family tradition at this time of year.

Children can have fun helping with Christmas baking, or baking alone if they are old enough. This is a great way for parents to get a head start in holiday baking and it should be a fun, stress-free time that can be shared as a bonding, family activity.

Let the kids bake their own cookies to leave out for Santa—they’ll take pride in baking and decorating them to leave out for that special night when Santa pays a visit.

Try to find a few foods to serve that would only be offered during the holidays and not eaten regularly throughout the year—for example, a food dish from the family’s ethnic background could be included. If these foods are already part of meals throughout the year, dress them up with all the trimmings to make them special.

Create a party atmosphere when decorating the house and tree. Tell stories about particular ornaments and how they were acquired as you decorate the tree. Play holiday music and talk about other Christmas memories. Kids love hearing stories about themselves and about what their parents were like when they were kids. If some of the tree ornaments are handed down from generation to generation, make sure to tell the kids who they belonged to and the significance of them to your family.

Make it an adventure to go as a family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Let the kids have a say in what is picked, even if it’s not the best tree available. Or better yet, find a Christmas tree farm and go out and cut down your own Christmas tree.

There are many Christmas and holiday movies to choose from. Find one movie that is suitable for the entire family—there are Christmas classics out there—and make it a tradition to watch it every single year, no matter what!

Starting Christmas traditions with your children is fun and a great way to create lasting memories. Whether it’s choosing to cook or bake something only at the holidays, attending a Christmas event yearly, making a gingerbread house, or transforming the house into a Christmas wonderland, including the entire family in the process will ensure your children have memories that will last from year to year and they’ll carry the traditions forward to their own families.

Gingerbread Cookies

Preparation:

Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.

Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip. Pipe designs on cookies; If adding candies, press into icing while soft. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Store cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
Christmas is a busy time of year for many families. With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, resuscitator
it’s challenging to find things to keep kids occupied and busy as they await Santa’s arrival. Having some Christmas traditions can help create special memories for children.

There are lots of things you can do during the holidays that make children feel a real part of the celebration. Create a tradition with food. All kids love to help when it comes to making cookies, doctor
and Christmas is no exception.

Cut gingerbread cookies into shapes of people or animals and decorate with icing and candy. The aroma in the house is wonderful as they are baking and once they are cooled and decorated, make a hole in the top of the cookie, thread with colorful ribbon and hang on the Christmas tree or around the house.

Gingerbread houses are readily available in grocery stores. They come pre-baked in a kit with all the candies, so all you need to do is put it together with the included icing and let your child’s imagination go to work while they create the gingerbread house of their dreams.

Thumbprint cookies are popular at Christmas, but adding cocoa to make it chocolate and putting candy in the centre instead of jam can make it a family tradition at this time of year.

Children can have fun helping with Christmas baking, or baking alone if they are old enough. This is a great way for parents to get a head start in holiday baking and it should be a fun, stress-free time that can be shared as a bonding, family activity.

Let the kids bake their own cookies to leave out for Santa—they’ll take pride in baking and decorating them to leave out for that special night when Santa pays a visit.

Try to find a few foods to serve that would only be offered during the holidays and not eaten regularly throughout the year—for example, a food dish from the family’s ethnic background could be included. If these foods are already part of meals throughout the year, dress them up with all the trimmings to make them special.

Create a party atmosphere when decorating the house and tree. Tell stories about particular ornaments and how they were acquired as you decorate the tree. Play holiday music and talk about other Christmas memories. Kids love hearing stories about themselves and about what their parents were like when they were kids. If some of the tree ornaments are handed down from generation to generation, make sure to tell the kids who they belonged to and the significance of them to your family.

Make it an adventure to go as a family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Let the kids have a say in what is picked, even if it’s not the best tree available. Or better yet, find a Christmas tree farm and go out and cut down your own Christmas tree.

There are many Christmas and holiday movies to choose from. Find one movie that is suitable for the entire family—there are Christmas classics out there—and make it a tradition to watch it every single year, no matter what!

Starting Christmas traditions with your children is fun and a great way to create lasting memories. Whether it’s choosing to cook or bake something only at the holidays, attending a Christmas event yearly, making a gingerbread house, or transforming the house into a Christmas wonderland, including the entire family in the process will ensure your children have memories that will last from year to year and they’ll carry the traditions forward to their own families.

Gingerbread Cookies

Preparation:

Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.

Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip. Pipe designs on cookies; If adding candies, press into icing while soft. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Store cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
Christmas is a busy time of year for many families. With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, ailment it’s challenging to find things to keep kids occupied and busy as they await Santa’s arrival. Having some Christmas traditions can help create special memories for children.

There are lots of things you can do during the holidays that make children feel a real part of the celebration. Create a tradition with food. All kids love to help when it comes to making cookies, order
and Christmas is no exception.

Cut gingerbread cookies into shapes of people or animals and decorate with icing and candy. The aroma in the house is wonderful as they are baking and once they are cooled and decorated, make a hole in the top of the cookie, thread with colorful ribbon and hang on the Christmas tree or around the house.

Gingerbread houses are readily available in grocery stores. They come pre-baked in a kit with all the candies, so all you need to do is put it together with the included icing and let your child’s imagination go to work while they create the gingerbread house of their dreams.

Thumbprint cookies are popular at Christmas, but adding cocoa to make it chocolate and putting candy in the centre instead of jam can make it a family tradition at this time of year.

Children can have fun helping with Christmas baking, or baking alone if they are old enough. This is a great way for parents to get a head start in holiday baking and it should be a fun, stress-free time that can be shared as a bonding, family activity.

Let the kids bake their own cookies to leave out for Santa—they’ll take pride in baking and decorating them to leave out for that special night when Santa pays a visit.

Try to find a few foods to serve that would only be offered during the holidays and not eaten regularly throughout the year—for example, a food dish from the family’s ethnic background could be included. If these foods are already part of meals throughout the year, dress them up with all the trimmings to make them special.

Create a party atmosphere when decorating the house and tree. Tell stories about particular ornaments and how they were acquired as you decorate the tree. Play holiday music and talk about other Christmas memories. Kids love hearing stories about themselves and about what their parents were like when they were kids. If some of the tree ornaments are handed down from generation to generation, make sure to tell the kids who they belonged to and the significance of them to your family.

Make it an adventure to go as a family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Let the kids have a say in what is picked, even if it’s not the best tree available. Or better yet, find a Christmas tree farm and go out and cut down your own Christmas tree.

There are many Christmas and holiday movies to choose from. Find one movie that is suitable for the entire family—there are Christmas classics out there—and make it a tradition to watch it every single year, no matter what!

Starting Christmas traditions with your children is fun and a great way to create lasting memories. Whether it’s choosing to cook or bake something only at the holidays, attending a Christmas event yearly, making a gingerbread house, or transforming the house into a Christmas wonderland, including the entire family in the process will ensure your children have memories that will last from year to year and they’ll carry the traditions forward to their own families.

Gingerbread Cookies