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I am co-hosting a Christmas party for a group of college students this weekend. They are all fairly creative and enjoy hands-on activities, so we are going to make "gingerbread" houses out of graham crackers, frosting, and candy. Afterward, they get to decorate and eat fresh sugar cookies.

Abby L, that sounds cool! When I was in college I built my friend a "gingerbread tenement slum" out of graham crackers and frosting for a holiday party and it was hilarious.

I wonder if anyone has some suggestions for really interesting flavored cookies that can be rolled out and cut with small cookie cutters (for example, lemon zest and rosemary cookie "trees")?

I'm looking for some creative gift ideas for family members- was thinking maybe flavored salt or olive oil? I am looking for something that's relatively cheap, easy, and transportable. With our finances being a little tight, I thought something homemade would be fun and meaningful. Thoughts?

I plan on baking and sending christmas cookies to friends. Any tips on how to pack my cookies so they don't break in the mail?

lz256 -- I am doing the same thing and have done it before.

These boxes are free:

https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10052&categoryId=10000033&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10000002&top_category=10000002&WT.ac=10000033

from USPS and I think mine are usually pretty reasonable to shop. I use the smaller square boxes. Each set of cookies goes into a cellophane bag and then those are wrapped in tissue paper.

You also might compliment your more delicate cookies with ones that travel well. I've never received any complaints though.

Iz256 - half the battle in getting cookies there in one piece is choosing the right recipe... I'd go for either a soft chewy recipe, so if the package takes a knock, the cookies won't break, or a good firm solid type that isn't likely to break anyway.
Scottish style butter shortbreads are succesful travellers - you could add ginger and partially dip in chocolate, or add dried cranberries and pistachios for a christmas look to them? A rocky road chocolate slab would also travel well, you could parcel it whole, with some corrugated carbboard top and bottom, and then they can cut it into pieces at the other end...

Can I request a post about kitchen lighting that doesn't go over an island? Like a semi-flush mount? I am DYING to replace the ugly white ceiling fan in our new (small) kitchen and have found ZERO inspiration! Most of what I see is pendants over islands and that won't work for me and my 6' husband!

hi!
i just posted a little mash up of holiday treats you can make. All the recipes are super easy and they travel/store well! So you can make them ahead.

http://www.shutterbean.com/give-the-gift-of-treats/

enjoy!!!!

I would really love to see traditional Christmas recipes using ingredients that don't come pre-prepared or in a box. I live overseas and am having a really hard time finding recipes for things like Christmas rum cake that don't call for packaged cake mix and pudding mix. For example, I'd love to make hot apple cider, but don't have access to Italian walnut liqueur. So recipes that use simple and widely available ingredients would be extremely helpful. Besides, most traditional Christmas recipes come from Victorian England and they didn't have packaged pudding mix to make their rum cake, now did they? ;)

A variety of recipes for Christmas cocktails (for punch or with rum, etc) would be nice too.

bkg0712, you could always combine the salt and olive oil to make a terrific salt scrub for hands, feet, elbows, etc. I start with 1/2 c. salt, 1 T. oil, and a few drops of essential oil. As I mix it, I add a little more salt or oil to get the consistency I want.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a non-wreath festive decoration for my front door?

bkg0712 - a link from Whole Foods: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/holidays/giving/fromthekitchen.php

Abby L - you could hang sleigh bells.

Jeni-rae- don't feel confined by low pendant lights over islands. You can just as easily hang a pendant light higher, especially if you choose a smaller light. Unless you've got low ceilings, an "object" light is always nice to have in the kitchen.

Abby L - my mom hangs a beaded and sequined star on her front door.

Abby L - I just bought a "cinnamon broom" from Trader Joe's thinking I'd sweep and simultaneously make the house smell great. It does make the house smell great, but it's a lousy broom, it leaves broom all over the floor. I gather it's just for decoration. If you're near a TJs you could try it on the front door, it's only about $3.

i want to recreate the home baked tree oraments I made as a kid. I remember they looked & smelled like cookies but were for the tree. best ornaments ever.

Does anyone have a good idea on how to store a silpat. I was placing in a drawer rolled up but they had to be rinsed before use becuase of dust ect.. that got on them in the drawer. Any ideas?

Asides - I store mine in the sheet pan I use it in.

I'm in Chicago and looking for some recommendations on a local CSA...how do people select? I went on the site and was overwhelmed by all the options...Is this typically word-of-mouth or are there good pointers to follow when trying to select one..? Thanks much!

Does anyone know what I can do w/Satsumas? (I hope I spelled that correctly). I just received a huge bag of them. Thanks!

Hey, 'thought I share what I'm going to give as a present to one of my friend who is single and *hates* cooking. It's nothing new, I've seen it before, but I'm making her a "Kitchen Coupon Booklet". 1 coupon for "lasagna", 1 coupon for "home-made desert", 1 coupon "brunch", 1 coupon "I'm goin to a party and I need to bring something", a couple of coupons with blanks so she can fill it out what she would feel like eating.

Relatively cheap, cute-looking, useful !

A friend of mine just had a big baby via C-section. Can anyone recommend food that I can cook up for them that will be easy on a new mom's tummy? I've already cooked up some shepherd's pie and some hearty soup... but I've never been preggo so I don't know what surgery and birth in general does to your stomach's ability to digest food, I thought people here could make some good suggestions.
Thanks in advance!

To twosavoie, boy are the trees producing in Louisiana!

As far as satsumas, you can make jelly, purchase a box of pectin, follow the strawberry recipe. One half box produced five one cup jars. I did peel and segment them but the juice, unfiltered will make a nice, but cloudy jelly.

Juice them, they have a wonderful taste. Juice will last about five to seven days. Store in a glass jar.

I haven't done it yet, but they can be a substitute in the recipe for lemon bars. Juice is sweet so you might want to use some lemon juice to sharpen up the tang.

If a cookie recipe uses orange juice, try satsuma juice as a substitute. A satsuma/powder glaze on cinnamon rolls would wonderful.

OHH, satsuma mimosa!!!

We still haven't picked them all, but I will be bringing about 40 pounds to the Food Bank. Good luck with your windfall of citrus.

I made the hot chocolate-on-a-stick yesterday and then dipped one corner of each one in melted white chocolate. When I woke up this morning, I noticed the white chocolate had tiny spots on it.

Any ideas what this is? Can I still give them as gifts?

We had some rain last night in LA-- could it be moisture-related? I did have them out on my marble hardening overnite (had parchment on top and under to protect).

fib, I recently had a C-section.

If your friend is breastfeeding, she'll be mighty hungry. She may want to avoid peanuts because of a potential slight risk of the baby developing a peanut allergy. Also, some babies are sensitive to tomatoes, oranges, cruciferous veggies, beans, coffee, and chocolate.

There was a recent kitchn post dealing with this...but things that she can eat with one hand might be greatly appreciated. Sometimes salads and soups are a little too fussy for the early days, when a sandwich or muffin might be easier to handle with a squirming baby on her lap.

Thanks lawoman!

Thanks Philly!

I REEEEEEALLY need some input! I'm hosting a party for my PhD program--including faculty--on Saturday. I have a super small budget (maybe 50 bucks) and have told guests it's a BYOB and that food is welcome, so I expect that people will be bringing dishes. However, I want to provide some food as well as some kind of drink. Any suggestions? Would a "winterized" sangria be a good idea? With apples and pears, for instance? I tried one that I saw on here a while back that I liked, but my main concern is making it a party that will appeal to people who are maybe used to more "cultured" fare. Suggestions for food and drink would be most appreciated!!! Thanks :)

@twohundredyearsofsolitude how many people?

I'm looking for good cookies for gifting! Any ideas?

fib, I had a 10lb baby via C-section. The baby was nursing constantly and I was exhausted so I would have been thrilled with Sheperd's pie and soup or anything else for that matter! Personally I was always willing to try out foods with tomatoes, beans, dairy, etc because I wanted to find out if the baby could tolerate those.

Memorable foods :-) people brought me: homemade applesauce, an extra lasagne so I could use it for my lunches, big bowl of cut up watermelon and cantelope, mashed potatoes, etc. Comfort foods with plenty of calories.

One friend brought me pork chops and sauerkraut made with tomato juice, shredded carrots and seasonings. I thought it was the oddest meal to bring a new mom...but it was delicious and I managed quite nicely.

thatmeggirl: I wish I knew! At least 15, possibly 50. I did make a point to mention that people can bring food, and they're usually good about bringing a dish, but I have a feeling I'll be getting more bottles of wine than food, so I want what I provide to go as far as possible. One of my problems is not wanting to overdo it and waste money if it ends up being a smaller party.
So far, I'm thinking I'm going to make mini pumpkin cupcakes, hummus and pita, crudites w/ a couple of kinds of dip, apples and pears with caramel dip, and a cheese board. Maybe spiked cider or eggnog? Suggestions? Any other kind of food that will go a long way?

Thanks, Merry!

One rolled-up silpat fits perfectly in a paper towel tube.