Do you bake at Christmas time? Do you have anything special you make for the family or friends?  There was a time when I would bake for days at a time.  Cookies, cakes, pies and whatnot.

As the years have gone by, I have done less each year.  I can’t say why exactly, there are many reasons, but I must say I miss all the excitement of shopping for the ingredients, and getting flour everywhere, all the mmmm’s and oohhhs from the kids as they sampled the cookies and treats.

With all that’s going on in my life right now, I don’t have the time or energy this year, even though my mind and heart had plans of making all kids of goodies.  Even still, I thought today’s Advent could be about Christmas recipes.  Here are couple I found on the web that I thought were a bit different.  Feel free to share your favorite recipes in the comments section – I’d be happy to share with my readers.

Christmas Crescent Cookies

1/2 lb. butter (2 sticks)
2 c. flour
2 c. chopped pecans
5 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream butter and sugar; add vanilla and water. Sift flour and salt,
stir into mixture. Add pecans and mix well. Shape into size of
walnut and shape into crescent. Bake slowly at 325 degrees about
20 minutes. While warm, roll into powdered sugar. 

Christmas – Egg Nog Pie

4 3/4 ounce package vanilla pudding and pie filling mix
2 cups eggnog
1 1/4 cups milk
1 tablespoon light rum
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
9" graham cracker pie shell
Whipped cream
Nutmeg

Cook pudding mix for for pie filling using 2 cups eggnog and
1 1/4 cups milk. Stir in rum and nutmeg; pour into crust. Cover
surface with plastic wrap; chill several hours. Garnish with
whipped cream and nutmeg.

Christmas Float

1 can coke or Dr Pepper
3 scoops of ice cream - chocolate or vanilla
4 cherries
2 red and green gum drops
red and green M&M's
whipped cream topping

Put ice cream in cup. Pour soda on it, then add the whipped cream,
cherries and candy.

Christmas Cranberry Punch

2 C Cranberry Juice

2 C Pineapple Juice

1 C Orange Juice

3/4 C Triple Sec (optional)

1 Pint Strawberries, sliced

1 Lime thinly sliced

4 C Ginger Ale – chilled

Makes about 1 1/2 quarts.

In a large glass container, combine ingredients and chill thoroughly.  Just before serving, slowly stir in the ginger ale. Pour into a punch bowl or large jug and add ice cubes.