TODAY’S FAMILY ADVENT CALENDAR MUST DO is a MUST DO x 2!
I. Plan Christmas Dinner
Original Photo [in Pink]: Chicks That Mix, White Peacock Events Blog
Today, we will sit around the fire and plan our Christmas Dinner. Partly because I have a rather culinary-based Christmas Wishlist this year and partly because I want to take a turn from last year’s Peking Duck at our local Chinese place and the previous year’s cold cuts sampler, I’ve decided to devote some time on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to good old-fashioned cooking. I’ve decided that I want to make a proper dinner this Christmas. I’m not saying it’s going to be fancy or require a ton of prep time. I’m not saying that we’re going to re-invent Christmas by coming up with a million new ideas. Only, we’re going to get out our family recipe boxes, magazines, cookbooks (or maybe even go out and browse a few cookbooks on my wishlist) and put together a plan for a meal worth making! Who knows, maybe it will be an all-Dorie meal! Please write in and tell us what’s on your holiday menu!
And, for swoon-worthy table settings, check out Chicks That Mix: 5 Gorgeous Holiday Table Settings. We want a green and purple version of their “Whoville” tablescape – as translated in the image above.
II. Make “Test Cookies” for Santa: Dorie Greenspan’s Speculoos Buttons from Bon Appétit
Original Photo: Chris Craymer for Bon Appetit
Each year, we make a cookie we haven’t tried before as a “Test Cookie” for Santa’s Christmas Eve plate. Sometimes we come up with our own recipe, and sometimes we simply refer to the masters. This year, we’re going to try Dorie Greenspan’s Speculoos Buttons from the December 2012 edition of Bon Appétit. [Did I mention that Dorie’s new book, Dorie’s Cookies, is on my Christmas this year!] I have a feeling these cookies are going to be a hit with the family today, because the kids absolutely love our own Lunchbox Season recipes for Soft Ginger Crackle Cookies with Candied Ginger Bits and for Pfeffernüsse. With their spice base, I hardly see how we can go wrong with these Speculoos Buttons!
Another good thing about these cookies is that they are slice cookies! So, they can be stored in the freezer months ahead of time to defrost, slice, and bake at any time during the holidays [or in January, when we want the holidays back!] And I think they’ll make great gifts! We can decorate them and give them away as “Snowman Buttons” or “Reindeer Noses” to teachers, friends, and family.
Here’s another link to the Bon Appetit Recipe for easy reference. While you’re there, be sure to check out all of the other drool-worthy recipes on Bon Appetit. That’s definitely one of the places we’ll be looking for Christmas Dinner inspo today!…. Of course, we already know that Dorie Greenspan is amazing! We gave out her World Peace as teacher gifts last year!! You should check out her website and put her new book, Dorie’s Cookies, on your Christmas Wish List, too!
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