Happy Holidays!

For our traditional "Goodie Making Day" this year we made coconut clusters, peppermint bark, chocolate lollis and our favorite fun new goodie - Pizzelles. Our friend brought her Pizzelle maker and we turned out dozens of the pretty sugar cookies.

Here is the recipe we used:

6 eggs 1 cup butter 2 teaspoons vanilla or anise extract (pure) 4 cups all purpose flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 2 cups sugar
1. Beat the eggs until smooth. Melt the butter in the microwave or in a small saucepan on low heat. 2. Allow the butter to cool briefly while you blend and mix the sugar and vanilla or anise extract into the eggs. 3. Add the melted butter into the mix, sift the flour and baking powder onto the mix and blend vigorously to ensure uniformity. Happy Holidays!

Meet the Elements

Holiday Dough Ornaments

By Allie,

My brother and I have been having fun making these holiday salt dough ornaments. Here's how:

What you'll need:

• ½ cup salt
• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup water
• Rolling pin
• Cookie sheet
• Toothpick
• Cookie cutters - Christmas trees, snowmen, stars, etc.
• Acrylic paints

How to make it:

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
2. Mix together, salt, flour, and water until dough is formed.
3. Knead the dough on a floured surface until the mixture is elastic and smooth. If dough is too sticky, sprinkle with flour, continue to do so until stickiness is gone. Do not add too much flour, this will dry out the dough and will cause it to crack before you get a chance to bake it.
4. Roll out the dough to about ¼” thick with a rolling pin that has been dusted with flour.
5. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes
6. Use a toothpick to make a hole toward the top of the shape.
7. Place all shapes onto an ungreased cookie sheet and place into the preheated oven.
8. Bake for 2 hours.
9. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
10. Paint