A Christmas Tradition

Each year my cousin (Kendall), mom and I have a Christmas Cookie bake off the week of Christmas when Kendall gets out of school. This year made four for us! I started the day before preparing the icing and sugar cookie dough. Check out the recipe here .

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2010

Kendall and Mom

Very carefully press the cookie cutter

bake and let cool completely

 I made some colorful icing and we went to town decorating! This year was the best so far!

Who thinks my angels are cute? I do!!!

Crazy with the sprinkles!

Our final product! Four years of practice has done us good! :) I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've been proud enough to photo the final product.

Do you have any special Christmas traditions you share with your family? I hope to continue this tradition with my children one day.

Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your families!

Christmas Goodies

 Each Christmas season I have a few recipes that I tend to lean on (sugar cookies, sausage balls, fudge & pecan pies). I'd like to share a few recipes with you all since they were such a hit last night at the Holiday Market. :) Thank you to everyone for coming and to my sweet friends that all have been blessed w/beautiful talents!

White Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter 

1 cup powdered sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 ½ t. almond extract

1 t. vanilla

1 t. salt

2 ½ c. sifted flour

Source: Annies-Eats

Directions: 

Cream butter. Add powdered sugar. Blend in egg, almond extract, vanilla, salt and flour. Chill dough until firm. Roll to ¼” thickness on well-floured surface. Cut with cookie cutters. Place on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375° for 8-10 min. Cookies should not brown. Frost and decorate when cool. Yields ~40 cookies.

Royal Icing

2 large egg whites
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
3 cups confectioners sugar, sifted

In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the egg whites with the lemon juice until combined. Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth. The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air. Cover with plastic wrap when not in use.

 

Cappuccino Fudge

1 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow cream

½ c. sugar

2/3 c. heavy whipping cream

¼ c. margarine/butter

1 t. instant coffee powder

¼ t. cinnamon

¼ t. salt
1 t. vanilla

1 (12 oz.) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Adapted from: Annies-Eats

Directions:

Line an 8” square baking pan with aluminum foil; set aside. In a 2 qt. saucepan, combine marshmallow cream, sugar, cream, butter, coffee powder, cinnamon and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue to boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and chocolate chips until smooth. Pour into prepared pan. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Place on cutting board and cut into 36 squares.

Merry Christmas, Y'all! 

* This is a new fudge recipe I tried this year and it's delish! And VERY easy to make! Enjoy!

Christmas w/ The Comer Fam!

Merry Christmas from The Comer Family

It's def Christmas time...did anyone else feel like they had the department stores decorated earlier this year than normal? Or am I just getting OLD!? HA!

Paul and I look forward to this special time each year and I'm ALWAYS ready to re-decorate my house and bake yummy goodies.

I've already mentioned that I LOVE Christmas so  I wanted to share a few of my fav photos with you!

This is my kitchen table decor-Red snowflake candles, Target.com

The 2010 Comer Christmas Tree at the new crib! It was a bit of a struggle to find the "right" spot but we found a perfect spot in the living room for us to enjoy! Next year we will be adding a tall, skinny tree for the dining room. :)

I wish this pic would get me warm just looking at it. :) I'm freeeezzzing!

Lollie, my lil elf!

Another one of my sweet baby! {Weebles is still alive just in need of a cute hair do}

A new piece to my collection {notice the ornaments are a nativity}

A few of my Carolers {the rest are in the dining room} and a nativity my parents brought us back from Guatemala this past April.

More Carolers and an Angel painting I painted!

More Carolers! :) {Still not the dining room collection, they are the best}

A beautiful Santa! Isn't he a gorgeous Santa?

Merry Christmas!

Please don't leave us off your Christmas card list this year. :) Leave a comment or email me for our new address!

Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas!

Did I mention I don't like Christmas?!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

I love everything about it... celebrating the Birth of Jesus, the crowds, the pretty store fronts, the colors, smells, real Christmas trees, baking cookies, ornaments, nativities, Christmas lights, seeing the little children at the mall sitting in Santa's lap, shopping for Christmas presents, giving to the less fortunate, Christmas music, decorating the tree and drinking hot chocolate w/marshmallows.

This Christmas I'm keeping Christ first! I'm reminded of the verse Luke 2:11 "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." Because of  his actions, we can receive forgiveness from our sins, restore an intimacy with our Creator, discover our life purpose, live life on Earth more abundantly, and reserve an eternal home in Heaven.  These are the reasons why I celebrate CHRISTMAS!

Please set aside a special time to read the Christmas Story in Luke 1:5-56 through 2:1-20. 

Merry Christmas!
Tarayn

Christmas Market

Hey Everyone! A few friends and I are having a small scale Christmas Market next Thursday, Dec. 9th from 3-8pm at my house. Please join us for Christmas Cheer and some unique shopping! :)


All items are handmade: Classic White Nativity, Children's clothing, hand sketched stationary & unique paintings all for sale.



Merry Christmas!

Need a little help in the kitchen?

Have you ever wanted to double a recipe or scale back if you're cooking for two? I have and who wants to use their brain while you're relaxing in the kitchen? 

How many tablespoons are in a cup?

Thanks to Martha, I will never have to THINK again! Her handy kitchen chart has all the answers. You can turn them into handy magnets for the refrigerator or print on a kitchen towel or an apron for a cute gift this Christmas!

 

Measuring Equivalents:

1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons

B/i cup = 2 tablespoons

B/e cup = 4 tablespoons

B/d cup = 5 tablespoons

+ 1 teaspoon

B/c cup = 8 tablespoons

C/d cup = 10 tablespoons

+ 2 teaspoons

D/e cup = 12 tablespoons

1 cup = 48 teaspoons

1 cup = 16 tablespoons

8 fluid ounces = 1 cup

1 pint = 2 cups

1 quart = 2 pints

4 cups = 1 quart

1 gallon = 4 quarts

16 ounces = 1 pound

 

To download click here: http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/pdf1/cookshelpers.pdf

 

Compliments of Martha Stewart Crafts!

 

Glory to the Highest!

I think I've mentioned to a few of you that I have Christmas Fever early this year! I just can't wait to smell (and bake) cookies, decorate my tree, sing Christmas carols and look at my neighbors lights. :)

So what if I get a tad bit excited about the little things--that's what matters, right?

Here's what I've been up to over the weekend:

"Glory"

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14

"Star of Bethlehem"

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but now near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.”

 

O' Holy Night

  Luke 2:8-11 - An angel of the Lord appeared…and…said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.’


Here's my Etsy link just in case any of you need Christmas Presents!! :)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/tcomer83