Staying Warm & Tree Trimming
I love this time of year, when fall begins turning into winter. I’m not a huge fan of the cold, but any excuse to make hot chocolate is fine with me.
I’m now the proud owner of my first (fake) Christmas tree:
We decorated that bad boy on Monday night, and I think it looks pretty good. I’m allowed to say that, right?
It wouldn’t feel like the holiday’s without some sugar cookies, so these happened:
If you’re looking for a good sugar cookie recipe, I used this one from my roommate, and it’s quite good.
Also, did you know that basically every brand of regular store-bought frosting has hydrogenated oil? If there are “natural” brands out there, I couldn’t find them. Anyone have suggestions? So for the frosting, I thew this together:
Simple Butter Creme Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter, softend
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 -4 tbsp milk (I used almond milk)
- 2 tsp vanilla
- pinch of salt
As long as your butter is softened (but not melted) this is pretty easy. I didn’t even use an electric mixer. Just a fork, and some bicep (tricep?) muscles. Stir until smooth. Add sprinkles if you’re feeling extra festive.
Oh, and you know what goes well with cookies? Hot chocolate. Hey, I don’t make this stuff up.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- 3/4 cup water or milk
- 3 tbsp hot chocolate mix
- 2 tbsp peppermint schnapps (optional, obviously)
- Whipped cream + crushed candy canes
Heat up the first two ingredients, add some schnapps, (or peppermint extract!) and top with whipped creme and crushed candy canes. Doesn’t get more festive than that.
Sugar cookies are a staple in my parents’ house. My mom makes at least 3 massive batches a year. We won’t discuss how many I eat over the 3-4 days I’m there…
Such a festive evening, Liz! Those cookies and that peppermint hot cocoa look delicious!
I see a business plan: natural frosting!
Your tree looks so pretty!! I still have to put the ornaments on mine haha that hot chocolate looks amazing! I love mint 🙂
The tree looks beautiful, Liz! The cookies sound yummy!
Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, Florida doesn’t really get “cold.” However, Vishnu and I are big babies so now even 65 degrees feels a bit chilly to us. On those days, I make soup! YUMMM!! Love the tree btw!
Haha I guess it’s all relative 😉
This is our third year with a fake tree and gotta say it’s pretty easy whipping it up from its’ bag under the bed and 3 easy moves and we have a tree! must find time for hot choco though!
Love the tree! And when you posted that hot chocolate picture, I was super jealous and I still am. It looks amazing! Now that I know it has schnapps I’m even more jealous…
Congrats on your first tree! How exciting! It is such a fun time of year and perfect to dunk cookies in hot chocolate sitting in front of your tree or fireplace! I love that you easily subbed in almond milk for this recipe. I have to try that! My favorite cold weather recipes are definitely soups and chilies! And I LOVE spiced cidar!!!
I’m so happy its soup weather!! I think I’ll have to cook up some vegetarian chili this week!
Your tree looks beautiful; congratulations on the first year of having your own tree. I’ll grab mine this weekend and decorate it with the Hubby while listening to carols and drinking hot cocoa. It’s one of my favorite things.
Sounds like a perfect plan 🙂
I think your tree looks beautiful 🙂 This is my first year with a fake one and ‘unfolding it’ didn’t feel quite as Christmasy as going and cutting one down!
Haha I don’t think my family has ever had a real tree, so I’m used to unfolding the tree 😉 haha