Holiday Traditions
Holiday traditions are big in my family. While they aren’t typically grand affairs, they are small, significant acts and events that we draw comfort, cheer and nostalgia from.
Baking cookies together on Christmas Eve for Santa is one my youngest son implemented. Thanks to my friend Natasha of Houseful of Nicholes’ Annual #HousefulOfCookies we test out a new recipe each year.
This year we combined my baby boy’s love of chocolate with youngest daughter’s love of M&M’s.
If you didn’t already know, a job as important as sorting M&Ms is taken very seriously by 5 year-olds and will keep them occupied for quite some time. That’s definitely information this Momma is filing away and stocking up on mixed bags of candy when they go on sale.
Christmas Eve – especially when my oldest son is with us – is one of my favorite evenings of the year. I love giving gifts and it’s fun to watch my children sneak their gifts and goodies for the family under the tree when they think no one is watching.
This year we were a little delayed with putting up our Christmas tree – mainly because our Elf, Starfire, was MIA. Imagine our surprise when we found her playing Hide and Seek in the decorations box!
However, of all our holiday traditions, our favorite above all is cuddling on the couch, enjoying the cookies we created together and reflecting on the reason of this holiday season. The past few months have been hard for our family. With the loss of my grandfather, I was apprehensive of our first Christmas without his presence. As we sat together, listening to my oldest read to us the magnificent events that led up to our Savior’s birth – my daughter looked at me and said “Great-great-great-great-Granddaddy (family joke) is with Jesus forever, isn’t he? That makes me happy”.
A photo posted by Michelle (@divawithapurpose) on
Yes, yes, it does. Many blessings to you all this holiday season and throughout the year. Thank you for being a part of the Divas With A Purpose community. Thank you, Natasha, for hosting the #HousefulOfCookies tour and bringing the spirit of Christmas to us all year-round.
Yummy Chocolate Drops
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs (room temperature)
- 1 1/12 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups candy-coated chocolate pieces divided (1 cup and 1 cup)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease cookie sheet
- Combine butter, brown sugar and vanilla in large bowl and beat with electric mixer at medium speed until creamy.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
- Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in small bowl. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended.
- Stir in 1 cup chocolate candy.
- Drop dough by the teaspoon on cookie sheet.
- Press 4-5 pieces of remaining chocolate pieces on each mound of dough.
- Bake about 10-15 minutes or until set. Cool about 1 minute and then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy!