As a parent, Kids give you a whole different outlook on the Holidays.  Too often parents fall into the trap of trying to make the Holidays perfect, but I have found that it's not about perfection or the amount of toys that you buy.  Instead it's about the time you spend together as a family putting those smiles on your loved ones faces.  "Kids in the Holiday Kitchen" can help you get those smiles. Authors and Mommies Jessica Strand and Tammy Massman-Johnson have taken classic, simple recipes and craft ideas and put a wonderful Holiday spin on them.  For example, why not have "Rudolph's Red Sauce Pasta" (Homemade Marinara Sauce with Fusilli) on Christmas Eve or "Long Life Noodles" (Sesame Noodles with Peanut Sauce garnished with shredded cucumber) or my personal favorite "Sleigh Ride Cider" (see recipe below) with chewy, gooey, "North Pole Delights" (see recipe below). 

As for the crafts, there is a project for every age group, but the one that was most suited for my three year old was the "Let there be Light" Beeswax candle (see project below), she loved it. If I had let her she would have made candles for days. I can't wait to see my relative's faces when she gives them out on Christmas Day.  So this Christmas, make an effort to spend less time in the toy store and more time at home making delicious treats and fun homemade crafts with your little or not so little loved ones.  After all, like our Mothers always said, "Its the thought that counts".  Happy Holidays Everyone!

Sleigh Rider Cider: Apple-Raspberry Spiced Cider

From Kids in the Holiday Kitchen by Jessica Strand and Tammy Massman-Johnson, Chronicle Books 2008.

Serves 8 to 10

Here’s a healthy alternative to all the sugary holiday punches. The frozen raspberries and blackberries give a nice surprising tart burst of flavor.

• 2 quarts apple cider
• 1 (16-ounce) can frozen raspberry cocktail concentrate, thawed
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 cup frozen blackberries, thawed
• 1 cup frozen raspberries, thawed

In a stockpot over medium-high heat, combine the cider, raspberry concentrate, and cinnamon sticks. Bring the mixture to a simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, so that it’s warm through. Add the berries. Let the berries cook for 2 minutes. Stir. Pour into festive heat-resistant glasses or mugs.

North Pole Delights: Six-Layer Bars

From Kids in the Holiday Kitchen by Jessica Strand and Tammy Massman-Johnson, Chronicle Books 2008.

Makes 36

This may be an old favorite, but it’s a goody. This simple, scrumptious dessert is a perfect holiday treat for every member of the family. Our “big kid” husbands can’t keep their hands away.

• 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup tart dried cherries
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.

Grease a 13 x 9-inch pan with a little of the butter, making sure to get all the corners and sides.

Stir the graham cracker crumbs and remaining butter together in the baking pan. Spread the crumb mixture and pat it down, creating an even crust. Layer the chips, cherries, and pecans evenly over the graham crust. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top. Then finish the bars off with an even sprinkle of coconut.

Bake until the bars are lightly golden on top, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the pan to a wire rack to cool completely before cutting into 2 x 2-inch squares.  Store in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days.

Let There Be Light: Colorful Beeswax Candle

From Kids in the Holiday Kitchen by Jessica Strand and Tammy Massman-Johnson, Chronicle Books 2008.

Makes 1 candle

A wonderful holiday tradition to start with kids, these beautiful, clean-burning candles light up the night. Use shades of red and/or green beeswax sheets for Christmas candles, blue and white for Hanukkah, or red, black, and green for Kwanzaa. Or, just mix a palette of unique colors and create a rainbow of gorgeous light!

• Large sheet butcher paper
• Colorful beeswax sheets, cut to size (see Note)
• Primed wick
• Scissors
  

Unroll the beeswax sheets on a work surface covered with butcher paper (newspaper may bleed onto light colored beeswax). Layer them in the order you like if using different colors.

Cut your wick, making sure it is about 2 inches longer than the height of your beeswax sheet.

Place the wick along the edge of the beeswax sheet, and fold the sheet approximately 1/8 of an inch over the wick. Press down gently on the sheet to make sure the wax completely surrounds the wick. (You can use a hairdryer for 10 to 15 seconds to warm the wax and secure the wick.)

Once the wick is firmly secured in the beeswax sheet, begin to roll. Roll the candle slowly, and be sure to keep the edges aligned. 

After reaching the end of the sheet, gently press down on the exposed edge to make sure that your candle does not come apart. (Here, again, you can use a hairdryer to warm the exposed edge before you press down.) 

Decide which end will be the top of the candle, and trim the wick down to approximately 1/2 inch. Cut the exposed wick completely from the bottom end. Glow on!

Note: We suggest beeswax sheets 6 to 8 inches high, by at least 8 inches wide.

About Kids in the Holiday Kitchen

Kick off the holidays in the kitchen this year with these kid-friendly projects that include easy entrees, sweet and savory noshes, and fantastic crafts to display, wear, or give.

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