HOLIDAY PRETZEL TREATS, CRUNCHY SNOWMEN, RUDOLPH THE RED NOSE REINDEER COOKIES & SANTA COOKIES!

HOLIDAY PRETZEL TREATS

Salty pretzels combine with sweet chocolate for these fun treats that make a yummy gift few can resist.

INGREDIENTS:

Bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels
Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug
M&M's candy

DIRECTIONS:

Heat the oven to 170F. Set a number of bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels (one for each treat) in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, then top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug.

Bake for 4 to 6 minutes (the white chocolate will melt more quickly), until the chocolates feel soft when touched with a wooden spoon. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and quickly press an M&M's candy into the center of each Kiss.

Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes, then place them in the refrigerator to set, about 10 minutes. Place handfuls of the candies in clear plastic bags and tie on colorful ribbons.

CRUNCHY SNOWMEN

Dressed in colorful candy scarves and top hats, these stylish, easy-to-make snowmen are sure to liven up any holiday gathering.

INGREDIENTS:

bag of 8-inch pretzel rods
1 cup white chocolate chips
mini chocolate chips
orange decorators' gel
fruit leather (various colors)
gummy rings
gumdrops

DIRECTIONS:

To make a batch, melt 1 cup of white chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler.

One at a time, dip one end of an 8-inch pretzel rod in the melted chocolate and use a plastic spoon or knife to spread the chocolate two thirds of the way down the rod.

Set the pretzels on a sheet of waxed paper and press on mini chocolate chips for eyes and buttons. Use orange decorators' gel to add a carrot nose.

When the chocolate has hardened, stand the pretzels in a mug or glass and tie on strips of fruit leather for scarves. For each hat, stretch a gummy ring over the narrow end of a gumdrop and secure it on the pretzel rod with a dab of melted chocolate.

RUDOLPH THE RED NOSE REINDEER COOKIES

Very CUTE little cookies that will bring a smile to the little ones faces! Great little cookies to send to school on "Christmas Party" day! You will be the hit of the classroom.

INGREDIENTS:

4 ounces chocolate-flavored candy coating
pretzels
1 (16 ounce) package Nutter Butter sandwich cookies
64 miniature M&M baking bits (blue, green, or brown)
32 cinnamonred cinnamon candies or 32 red miniature M&M baking bits

DIRECTIONS:

Microwave the chocolate in a small glass dish on high for 3 minutes, stirring once.

For each Rudolph dip 2 pretzel sticks in chocolate and stick to top of each sandwich cookie, forming large antlers.

Break one pretzel in half, dip in chocolate and place pretzel half next to longer pretzel sticks, forming antlers.

Dip one side of blue, green, or brown mini M&M's in melted candy coating and place, coated side down, on cookies for the eyes.

Dip one side of the cinnamon red hot, or red M&M in candy coating, and place on cookies, coated side down, for the nose

SANTA COOKIES

Sprinkle shredded coconut on the beard to make it look more like Santa’s beard.

INGREDIENTS:

2 (6 ounce) packages white chocolate baking squares, chopped
1 (1 lb) package Nutter Butter sandwich cookies
red colored crystal sugar
32 vanilla chips or 32 white chocolate chips
64 miniature semisweet chocolate chips
2 red-hot candies

DIRECTIONS

In a heavy saucepan over low heat, melt white chocolate, stirring occasionally.

Dip one end of each cookie into melted chocolate.

Place on wire racks.

santa's hat, sprinkle red sugar on top part of chocolate.

Press one vanilla chip off-center on hat for pom-pom, let stand until set. Note: you can also use a mini marshmallow cut in half for the pom-pom.

Dip other end of each cookie into melted chocolate for beard, leaving center of cookie uncovered. If you want to use the coconut on the beard now is the time to sprinkle it on.

Place on wire racks.

With a dab of melted chocolate, attach semisweet chips for eyes and a red-hot, or red mini M&M's, for nose.

Place on waxed paper until chocolate sets.

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS!

SANTA CLAUS:

While the most widely known American version of Santa Clause is often credited to the 1823 Clement Clark Moore poem "The Night Before Christmas," Santa as we currently know him can be traced back even further, with origins dating as far back as the 4th century. An early Dutch depiction is based on legend of Sinter Klaas, which was brought by Dutch natives when they settled in New York in the 17th century. In "History of New York" famed author Washington Irving, writing under the pseudonym Diedrick Knickerbocker, provided detailed information about the Dutch version of Saint Nicholas. This Saint Nicholas would arrive on horseback every year on the eve of St, Nicholas. The Christian-era Santa Claus owes much of it's origins to Bishop Nicholas of Smyrna (now Turkey). Rich and generous, Bishop Nicholas was said to bring joy to poor children by throwing gifts in their windows. The legendary Santa Claus has evolved over the years, and it should come as no surprise that he continues to enchant children no matter the era.

WREATH:

Can you believe people use to worship evergreen holly as a sign of eternal life because it did not brown or die in the winter?...Some religious groups say that the crown of thorns placed on Jesus' head was made of holly. We now place wreaths on doors or hallways to create a festive atmosphere during the holiday season.

MISTLETOE:

Did you realize that mistletoe is rarely used in churches because it comes from the ancient Druid ceremony celebrating winter solstice?...A girl would stand beneath the hanging mistletoe and a boy would walk up, pick a berry and then kiss her...When the berries were gone...no more kisses..

STOCKINGS:

Do you know why we hang stockings on the fireplace?...Long ago it was said that Saint Nicholas threw three coins down a chimney of the home of three poor sisters. Each of the coins landed inside separate stockings left on the hearth to dry. It is now a modern tradition to hang stockings there.

COOKIES:

There is no exact date recorded but the idea of leaving cookies for Santa started sometimes in the 1930's. Naughty kids use them to bribe Santa at the last minute and nice kids use them as a way of thanking him for all his hard work on Christmas Eve.

CHRISTMAS CARDS:

The first known Christmas card is printed on the front cover with a date of 1843. The original was in muted colours, hand painted, printed and sold for 1/- each (5p) - a lot of money in those days. Despite the date on this card, encyclopedias say that Christmas cards were first sold in 1846!
By the 1860s the idea of sending cards had caught on as they were able to be produced much more cheaply with the invention of less expensive colour printing. The first Christmas cards had lace and flowery borders, but then they changed to more familiar designs.
The robin became very popular as were Victorian snow scenes, religious pictures, holly, Christmas trees etc. Many similar scenes are reproduced in our cards today.

CAROLING:

The custom of singing Christmas carols is said to have come from 13th century Italy where a man named St Francis of Assisi led songs of praise. It is very bad luck to send carolers away empty handed. It is customary to offer food, drink or even a little money.

CHRISTMAS TREE:

The very first trees were oak, the very same tree used for the Yule Log. Trees have been a symbol of good luck since the Middle Ages. In Germany whenever someone would build a house, a small evergreen tree would be nailed to the highest beam. Soon people began bringing the tree inside during Christmastime and decorating it. When the German immigrants came to the United States, they brought this tradition with them.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS:

The very first person to have Christmas lights on their tree was Edward Johnson who worked for Thomas Edison. It would be awhile however before the general public could purchase similar lights. The first strands to be mass-produced came from Ever Ready in the early 1900's.

CANDY CANES:

In the year 1670 the local choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral gave his young singers sugar sticks to keep them quit during the long ceremony. he had the candy bent in the shape of shepherd's crooks to celebrate the festive occasion. In the 1920's Bob McCormack made candy canes by hand for his friends and family but it took too long to bend them and only a few people could enjoy them. In the 1950's, Gregory Keller, invented a machine that made lots of candy canes at the same time, Bob's Candies, Inc. became the largest maker of candy canes in the world. It was only in the early 1900's that red stripes were added and peppermint became the standered flavor.

EGGNOG:

Did you know eggnog use to be made with beer?...In the 17th century a strong ale called 'nog' was very popular in Britain around the holidays. It was made from beer, sugar, egg yolks, lemon rinds and cinnamon. Later in the 19th century North Americans took the French version of the drink called 'Lait de Poule', made from milk, sugar and egg yolks and added spirits. With the addition of brandy, rum or sherry, we have our modern day eggnog.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about some of our holiday traditions.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL"