Giveaway Winner Is Announced

Thanks to all of you who entered my most recent giveaway on My Barnyard View's Facebook page. It was fun reading about your favorite Christmas traditions. I learned that many of you have recipes and traditions I was not familiar with, and I loved the conversations begun through our comments. 

Here is just a few of my favorites-

Alison wrote- "I have always enjoyed making cookies and candies at Christmas time. Even as a youngster I went to Grandma's to bake with her. Still now I bake with my mom and daughters! We have them ready in the freezer to take to parties, and to hand out as gifts." 

Jadeen shared- "Our favorite tradition is my father is Flea Market Santa! Beautiful, unique gifts that he purchased from the heart from flea markets! He loves his hobby selling costume jewelry at area Flea Markets! Our children will pass down this loving family tradition hopefully forever!" 

Joyce has a tradition I hadn't heard before- "Having the grandkids all "hide" on Christmas Eve while Santa brings treat sacks for everyone. It doesn't seem long ago that it was me hiding, now it's my 4 kids. My mom loves this tradition. She'll be 81 next week!" 

Joanna spends time with her neighbors- "Every year we invite the neighbors who have children to come over to our house for a cookie decorating party. Each family brings something to eat for breakfast and the kids come in their PJ's. We eat together, we catch up on each others lives, the kids decorate cookies and go on a candy cane hunt. It's a wonderful time to slow down and connect." 

Leslie says- "My favorite tradition is making Santa cookies before bedtime on Christmas Eve and listening to my husband read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to our kids. FYI- Our littles aren't so little anymore, and he still reads it every Christmas Eve!" 

AND THE WINNER IS-

MISSY M. FROM PENNSYLVANIA. 

(Please private message me your address and your prize will be in the mail.)

Thanks to everyone who entered and shared their favorite Christmas traditions. I hope you will stop by often to see what's happening at my barnyard!

A Sweet Family Tradition

Christmas baking has always been a big part of our family holiday traditions. My mom, sister, and I would spend several days baking Christmas goodies each year. Cut-out cookies were always an all-afternoon project. I think the decorating was more fun than the eating! My mom made the world's best fudge and divinity (okay, I may be somewhat bias) and each Christmas my sister, brother, and I would prepare boxes for our school teachers, school bus drivers, and Sunday School teachers. The mailman found a box in our mailbox too.

When Sara and Michael were very young, I was asked if I would be interested in selling home-baked Christmas cookies to my sister-in-laws co-workers. Making some extra holiday shopping dollars while doing something I enjoy seemed like a great opportunity. Making 10 kinds of cookies became a whole-family activity. Sara became the expert at Russian Tea Cakes. Michael rolled the balls for the sugar cookies. John always helped with the date balls. My mom and I spent a day rolling the dough for the gingerbread people! The first year of cookie sales, we sold 79 dozen cookies, enough profit to buy a new front door for our house. Fifteen years later, we topped off our sales at 652 dozen (that's 7,824 cookies)! We no longer have our cookie business, but we will always have the "sweet" memories.

One of our favorite's is M&M Cookies. I use this recipe for many holidays, choosing the appropriate color M&M's to match the holiday. Thanks to Julie, a past co-worker for this melt-in-your-mouth recipe.

M&M Cookies

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
4 cups flour
2 cups M&M's ( reserve 1/2 cup)

Mix all ingredients. Add M&M's last. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheet. Top each cookie with M&M. Bake at 350 degrees for 11 minutes. Makes 8 dozen.

Another favorite Christmas cookie recipe is sugar cookies . I top them with red and green sugar for Christmas.And don't forget Coconut Joys.

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