I’ve worked with marzipan before, molded it, shaped it, even painted it. But I’m almost ashamed to admit I’ve never made it. After reading how the self-proclaimed holiday grinch of Velvet Lava Cafe commited to the task, I’m REALLY ashamed I’ve not made it. Even with the admitted difficulties of working with marzipan, the photos on this site are so … Read More ...
Homemade Cocoa Mix (as Promised)
Making some homemade marshmallows for gifts or for yourself? These recipes and packaging tips for hot cocoa mix are the perfect complement. First, find mini cocoa gifts from the blog of Cathy Filian, as seen on Creative Juice on HGTV and DIY. Next, learn to make these hot chocolate cones from the crafty blog, “about a girl.” 
And … Read More ...
Fun Christmas Snowman Treats You Can Make In Your Kitchen
Better Homes and Gardens has a set of 9 super cute snowman-inspired sweets so you can honor Frosty, including the egg nog bowl pictured, cupcakes, ice cream in white chocolate cups, milk glass with donut hole heads (also pictured), Sno-balls and mints.
To answer the comment below about the failed link, no! you didn’t do anything wrong! Because this is … Read More ...
Red and White Inspiration
How ridiculously cute is this curly-cue candy cane? The blogger at SugarEd Lagniappe did a great decorating job on this cookie (find the cutter at Country Kitchen Sweetart). 
Find more red and white inspiration at SugarEd, like these white chocolate-dipped marshmallows covered in peppermint crunch and peppermint powder (also at Country Kitchen Sweetart). 
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Handmade (Edible) Christmas Gifts
There is an infinite source of material for a Handmade Christmas Day post in the world of edible crafts. Just about any fun food can be packaged as a gift. And so, I searched for sites that included just that… packaging. Martha has a couple features with great edible gift ideas and equally great packaging ideas, including detailed instructions and … Read More ...
For the Cupcake Lover…
Check out all the cool cupcake gear out there. Perfect gifts for cupcake loves. Check out the cafepress store of “No One Puts Cupcake in the Corner” (an all around great blog found here) for cupcake clothes, bags, buttons, stickers and other goodies with designs like the one above.
Find these cupcake tea lights at Urban Outfitters. 
Holiday Cookie Contest
Win a $500 gift card to Macys from the Holiday Gingerbread and Cookie Contest at FamilyFun.com. Submit your photos of a gingerbread house or holiday cookie before December 29th. Find detailed rules and info here. And while you’re on their site, you can browse around for more fun ideas and recipes, like this gingerbread train. 
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Evite. Brings ’em in and Keeps ’em there.
Not only has evite revolutionized how we get people to come to our parties (thank you, evite, for all the stamps saved), but their site has a wealth of information beyone the invite. They have a whole section devoted to gift giving, and yet another to entertaining tips and tools. Visit their blog for even more fabulous ideas on etiquette, … Read More ...
Celebrate with… Mangos!
Who would’ve thought a tropical fruit could play such a big role during the holiday season? The National Mango Board. Check out their site for everything you ever wanted to know about the mango. And then some. They have info on the mango, recipes, a section just for kids, crafts and suggestions for entertaining with mangos. This wintery mango … Read More ...
Make Springerle
Traditional springerle are white, anise-flavored cookies stamped with a mold or rolling pin. Springerle first became popular in16th century Germany before spreading to Alsace and Switzerland. Springerle can be traced to the winter Pagan celebration of Germanic tribes, Julfest, in which animals were sacrificed to the gods for a mild winter and early spring. Poor people brought animal-shaped breads and … Read More ...
Colorful Christmas Cookies
This post could last for eons, so I’ll try and keep it manageable by sharing just a few of the most intriguing cookies I’ve come across. I’m sure I’ll post more on cookies in the upcoming month. Much more. (Especially if you’ve seen my bio, you know I can’t escape cookies.) First, check out these neapolitans from Woman’s Day. … Read More ...
Dessert Mix Gifts
What to get for the person who has everything? Edible gifts. Everyone needs to eat, so you can’t go wrong. And ideas from these lovely, crafty bogs sound yummy.
First, WhiMSy love gives a tutorial on making cookie mix jars, based on a recipe from allrecipes.com. As a bonus, she includes fun photography to guide you.
Next, not only … Read More ...
Walking Through a Pocky Wonderland
I’m so glad to have stumbled upon “Not Quite Nigella,” a lovely, Australia-based foodie blog. Travel with the writer through her pocky forest. She provides details of her journey making this Japanese treat (cookie sticks dipped in chocolate) as well as gorgeous photography, recipes, how-tos and tips along the way. She experimented with organic fairtrade cocolo, cranberries, … Read More ...
Marshmallow Men (Vintage 1960)
Like the blogger from “Gingerbread Snowflakes,” I’ve been devouring my Better Homes and Gardens since I was a kid. She’s held on to this clipping from December 1960 and was kind enough to share the instructions for these super cute marshmallow men with us. She gives step-by-step instructions and (updated) photographs. 
Also follow the link in the to … Read More ...
Throw a Snowy Party…or Install a Skylight
O’ Domino…. so much more than a magazine. Their site offers decorating galleries, a hearty blog, DIY projects, answers, crafts, how-tos and more. Learn how to build a fire, make homemade Christmas ornaments, remove wallpaper, build a closet, install a skylight, consolidate old lipsticks. Click here for ideas on planning a White Christmas party (see the picture above), like … Read More ...