What’s more fun than getting the kids together and baking homemade treats for friends and neighbors. When my kids were young, we would bake and deliver many platefuls of cookies, breads and candies to friends a few nights before Christmas. I had to BRIBE them to sing “We wish you a Merry Christmas…(way off key)” as we presented our “sweet labor of love” to grinning friends. I hope its something they’ll remember,(or, for them, forget).
I’m back in the kitchen still making goodies to deliver, and the kids… no where to be found… (they think I’ll make them sing again…)
Anyway, heres a good Cranberry Orange Bread recipe and easy sugar cookie idea.
click on recipe to enlarge
This recipe makes 1 loaf, I usually double it. Cook until the “toothpick test” comes out dry. It can be frozen to keep it fresh.
After the bread cools, you can decorate it with some Craisins, mint, or dried orange slices. Wrap it some cellophane paper add a bow, and give as is, or include a nice trivet or bread dish to dress it up a bit. Also attach the recipe so they can make it as well. A great gift for anyone.
Add some candy around the dish for extra color.
This ones easy. Make your favorite sugar cookie recipe and top with a chocolate kiss or cut a small candy bar in half and top the cookie dough. Bake as usual. Then top with red sprinkles. Kids love this, simple and fun.
Always make a few extra treat plates to deliver to a family in need or to a neighbor who may be alone or ill… and if the mood hits you…you can always go sing, by yourself… ” I “wish you a Merry Christmas, I wish you a Merry Christmas, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”.
1. Hi Cathy,
Looks yummy! We used to make them with jelly in the middle…just press your finger in the middle of the dough ball and fill w/preserves.
Btw - I was humming along to “we wish you a merry Christmas” while I read your post, if that helps any!
“Sing as if no one is listening”
Susan
http://www.roomsthatwork.com
by Susan Smith — 12/11/07 at 1:37 pm #
2. Hi Cathy,
These look great and I can just smell the aroma from the baked goods coming out of the oven in the kitchen (smile). We can all use a little help this holiday with determining what kinds of gifts we can provide that will not cost a lot of money- but we will be able to present them with a lot of love. Thanks for your suggestions and the wonderful pictures.
Be blessed,
Betty
by Betty — 12/11/07 at 5:05 pm #
3. Wow wish I was your neighbor!
by Julie — 12/11/07 at 9:17 pm #
4. Cathy,
I have been looking at your wonderful ideas for quite some time. You are amazing. The presentation of the bread is fabulous. It makes me want to bake , bake , bake. Thank you for the sweet inspiration. Happy Holidays…
Gwen
by Gwen — 12/12/07 at 1:16 am #
5. Thanks Susan, I’m glad I have someone to sing with…you!
Betty, You’re the one with the good aromas coming from the Kitchen!
Hi Julie, Yes, I wish you were MY neighbor too !
Hello Gwen, Thanks so much, I don’t bake too much except at Christmas. Thats when the calorie counting stops for a few weeks…then back to reality!
by Cathy — 12/12/07 at 3:23 pm #
6. YUMMMMM………………….
cranberry and orange one of my favorite combos! Thanks for the wonderful recipes and holiday ideas.
alli
by Alli — 12/12/07 at 8:12 pm #
7. Alli, Its a good recipe and easy. Too many goodies this time of year. I have no will power so after the Holidays I’ll be better.
by Cathy — 12/13/07 at 1:01 am #
8. Hi! The baked goods look so yummy! What better gift to give than a homemade gift. That is special because you took the time to make them (usually from scracth too!) My daughter has become quite the gourmet baker with so many gadgets purchased from HomeGoods (her all time favorite store!) and LOVES to cook and bake for gift-giving for any ocassion or just bringing something over to a friend’s home when invited for an evening with her husband. Her only complaint was that she was getting less and less of her Tupperware or plates returned so she decided to get peronalized boxes to put her goodies in. This way she made it even more personal and didn’t have to worry about having the plates or containers returned to her. Her favorite and most asked for food gift is her double chocolate almond peanut brittle. (if anyone wants the reecipe just let me know!) She got the personalized and delivered from:
http://www.customlabels4u.com/favorboxes.shtml
And she picked the lavender ones with the window so you can see them. She had them personalized with a cute graphic design of hearts (perfect for Valentine’s Day) and the words “Made from scratch from the kitchen of Matt & Melissa. She loved them!
by Abby — 12/30/07 at 4:13 pm #