Christmas Recipes - 9/9 - The Idea Room

Magic Reindeer Food

A few years ago my daughter came home from her Pre-school class with some magic reindeer food. She was instructed to sprinkle it on the front lawn on Christmas Eve so that Santa and his reindeer could find her home. She was so excited and my other kids wished they had some reindeer food too. It worked just like magic. Santa definitely came! We have continued the tradition every year since to ensure that Santa can find his way to our house.

The food has special “glow in the dark” crystals that are illuminated by the moon and as my daughter pointed out today, Rudolph’s Red Nose! I wish she would have said that before I got them all printed out :). That is so much more fun than being illuminated by the moon. (I will have to change it for next year as I have already made ours up).

This would be so fun to make for your kids friends as a small, inexpensive gift, an elementary school party, your neighbor’s kids or your grandkids! Be sure to make it edible so that the birds don’t eat something that is not good for them…like glitter.

Here is our simple recipe.

Reindeer Food

1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup red or green sugar crystals (for cake decorating)

**I have seen some recipes that call for glitter, but I have heard that it can be dangerous for any birds who might eat it, so we just use colored sugar. Colored sugar can be made so easily. Just take some sugar and drop a few drops of food coloring in the sugar. Then take a fork and stir it until the sugar is colored evenly and there are no lumps.

Here is a fun poem that you can give along with the reindeer food to let people know what it is and how to use it.

Sprinkle on the lawn at night
The moon (Rudolph’s Nose) will make it sparkle bright
As Santa’s reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home.

I filled a cellophane treat bag (6 in. x 3.75 in.) with the reindeer food and attached a label by stapling it to the top. The writing on the label is upside down so when you fold it,the writing will be right side up.

There are two different downloads if you are interested. I would love to know if you end up making some! I love to see the projects my readers are enjoying and making for themselves.

Reindeer Food 2

Reindeer_Food

December 8, 2009 · Filed under: Christmas, Christmas Gifts, Christmas Recipes, Christmas Traditions, Free Downloads Tagged with christmas activities, christmas crafts, christmas gift for kids, Christmas Traditions, reindeer, reindeer food, reindeer food poem, reindeer food recipe

English Toffee

42 Comments

I am feeling so much better! Thanks for your well wishes! It only lasted 2 days thankgoodness. I spent the whole next day sanitizing the house from top to bottom trying to get rid of the germs so we could maybe get rid of the gunk, till next time of course.

We love English Toffee! Who would believe it could be so EASY to make. This recipe is so simple and yet the candy looks so professional when you are finished. This is one of our favorite treats to give away during the holidays. Try some for yourself!

Here is our recipe:

1/2 cup chopped toasted almonds or pecans (for bottom layer)
1 cup butter (salted)
1 cup sugar
1 T light corn syrup
3 T water
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped toasted almonds or pecans (for top layer)

Line a cookie sheet with tinfoil and sprinkle 1/2 cup of toasted almonds in the pan on the foil. In heavy saucepan melt butter. Add sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook and stir over medium-high heat to boiling.

Cook and stir over medium heat to 290 degrees using a candy thermometer (soft-crack stage). Watch carefully and stir, it can burn easily after 280 degrees. Remove from heat and pour mixture over the nuts in the pan immediately. Let stand 5 minutes or until firm but still hot. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and let the stand for 1 to 2 minutes. When softened, spread chocolate over mixture. Sprinkle the chocolate with nuts. Chill till firm. Break into peices. Store tightly covered. Makes 1 1/2 pounds.

October 27, 2009 · Filed under: Christmas Recipes, Gifts, Recipes, Teacher Gifts, Treats Tagged with

Candy Corn Bark and Peppermint Bark

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Remember when I shared this yummy treat? Well, if you liked that…your gonna love our Fall and Christmas versions.

candy-bark

Do you like candy corn? I have a friend with a serious candy corn addiction. So this one is for you. You know who you are!

Candy Corn Bark:

1. Line a cookie sheet with tinfoil and place a layer of milk chocolate (or white chocolate chips) and melt in a preheated oven at 250 degrees for 5 minutes.

2. Spread melted chips in a smooth thin layer.

3. Place in refrigerator for 20 minutes till chilled.

4. Then add your next layer of white chocolate.

5. Melt the chips in the microwave for 20 second intervals stirring the chips between each turn.

6. Let cool till warm but still spreadable. Quickly spread over first layer.

7. Add candy corn and sprinkles and place back in the refrigerator to chill.

8. Once chilled break into bite size pieces.

9. Store in a tupperware container and keep refrigerated to prevent melting.

candy-bark

Now…my absolute favorite bark is the Peppermint Bark! I love it. I make 2 batches and hide one of the batches for myself! If you have not tried it, you are seriously missing out! You are probaby thinking…why does she do this to me…where am I going to find candy canes this time of year. Sorry about that! As luck would have it, when I was cleaning out my son’s drawer, I found two perfectly good, wrapped candy canes. After a fair trade for the candy canes, I whipped up a batch of Peppermint Bark as fast as I could! Hopefully you won’t hate me too much! Candy cane season is right around the corner!

Peppermint Bark:

12 oz chocolate chips
1 pound white chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (I used 3/4 teaspoon)
1/2 cup peppermint candy, crushed

1. Preheat oven to 250. Line a 9×13 pan with foil, letting it hang over the sides. Spray foil. Pour the chocolate chips in an even layer on the foil. Place in oven for 5 minutes or until almost melted. Remove from oven, smooth with an offset spatula or knife. Place in refrigerator until cold and firm, about 20 minutes.

2. Melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler or in a metal bowl over simmering water (don’t let bottom of bowl touch water), until chocolate is almost melted. You can use your microwave for this if you’re brave! Remove bowl from water and stir until completely melted, stirring in extract. Let cool a little bit so it does not melt the chocolate layer when you pour it on top. Pour this over chocolate layer, and, working quickly, spread to cover.

3. Sprinkle with crushed candy.

4. Chill until both layers are firm. Lift foil out of pan and shake off excess candy. Trim edges. Cut into 2” wide strips. Peel bark from foil and cut each strip as desired. Chill in covered container. Makes about 2 pounds.

Make these at your own risk. I am not responsible for your ensuing addiction!