the holiday home edit.
Every family has holiday traditions and they are all special! For us, it's all about baking together and being in the kitchen...and this includes my kids! They always want to be around the grown ups and we love it! But sometimes we also need to keep the kids entertained while we get the adult stuff done like cooking dinner or pulling the cookies out of the hot hot oven ;)
Crayons and WASHABLE markers are always at the ready in my kitchen so I can distract the littles with coloring time at their little table at a moment's notice!
I consider myself to be a pretty decent baker aka great recipe finder and follower. I’m a LOVER of desserts so my taste is particular! I always tell my husband when we’re ordering dessert at a restaurant to stick with me. I choose the good ones ;)
It’s the same when I do my own baking at home. Reading recipes at night is relaxing and helps me learn what I like about certain recipes so I can easily spot them while researching. My favorite baker for cookies, cupcakes and cakes has been Sally from Sally’s Baking Addiction, for probably the last 5-10 years!
I’m going to link some of my favorite recipes from her for the holidays below, including the PHENOMENAL chocolate chip cookies from this photoshoot!
The BEST chocolate chip cookies: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/chocolate-chip-cookies/
Freaking amazing snowball cookies: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/toasted-pecan-snowballs/
Part of the holiday fun in the kitchen is of course, the atmosphere! The festive music, twinkly garland and all the cozy holiday decor! This year I am so excited about my new holiday tea towel designs!
I originally launched these last January for Valentine’s day and they became a bestseller! When my customers tell me what they like, I keep it coming! I have 2 magical holiday designs to choose from…or don’t and just splurge on both! They are all hand painted by me and printed in the US on cotton flour sacks.
I love gifting tea towels with a bottle of wine or home baked goodies to our child care workers [ who are like family ], teachers and friends! They’re also great for coworkers and family gifts! Every year these towels can be pulled out to bring some cheer in the kitchen!
homemade vanilla extract!
If you’ve been here awhile, you remember back in 2020 when I first posted about making your own homemade vanilla extract! I gave you the material links and provided the free download for the cute labels you can stick on each bottle! I’ll review all the details below so you can join in the fun again this year! I know I will be handing these out to just about everybody I know!
Below are two different blog post links!
Check out THIS BLOG POST to get a free coloring printable for your kiddos!
Check out THIS BLOG POST to get the vanilla extract rundown!
If you make these, please post and tag me on instagram so I can see the festivity!
Thanks for reading!
xx Stephanie
