Making a couple of Christmas projects

I'd planned to write about these projects before Christmas, but I didn't want to ruin any Christmas surprises. What's a blogger to do? Also, by the time I had a moment to write about the gift bags and the cookbooks, I realized that a) few people were reading my blog during holiday festivities and b) even if someone did read it and was inspired by one of the projects, that someone wouldn't have time to whip up either project since it was already Christmas Eve. Oops.

So, I'm telling you about these projects on December 30, but I'm changing the official date of the post to December 20, just in case I'm looking for holiday ideas next year.

First up: cloth gift bags. I made five this year, and I plan to make more next year because they are so easy and practical. I sewed the bags from simple squares of fabric, and I finished them with yarn draw strings and cute buttons. My mom made a bunch of these bags out of festive fabrics many years ago, and they are still in rotation. Wrapping gifts with cloth bags is so simple, and the recipient still gets the pleasure of unwrapping something, without all the garbage.

I like using fabic that isn't holiday-specific because then the bags can be used year-round. The fabric I used was intended for a log cabin pillow, but it was the only thing I had on hand. I'll be making a trip to the quilting store in the near future to replenish my supply. For real, this time.


The second holiday project that you should know about is this cute little cookbook initiated by my buddy Sarah. I was one of four contributors, and I'm so happy I stayed the course and typed up some of my favourite wintery recipes. I'll post a couple of those recipes in the new year, but I also have some extra books, so let me know if you'd like a copy.

Keep weathering the winter weather, friends!

Making black bottom cupcakes

Oops. I forgot to tell you that I made cupcakes for one of my many work-related holiday parties. Icing cupcakes didn't appeal to me (iced cupcakes being hard to transport in bulk quantities), so I opted for black bottom cupcakes. The cream cheese topping serves as a built-in icing, so nobody suffered.

This type of cupcake was one of my sister's favourite comfort foods when we lived at home, and for good reason. They're sweet, but not too sweet, and they're good cold or warmed up (the chocolate chips in the cream cheese topping melt when you warm them up).

I got my recipe out of the Joy of Cooking, which is where I believe my mom found the recipe way back when. If you want to follow our lead, Culinate posted the recipe just for you.

Making hot toddies

If you're as cold as I am, you should do yourself a favour and make yourself a hot toddy. These instructions also apply if you're sick or if you don't want to get sick. Basically, everyone should drink a hot toddy right now.

I've tried a few hot toddy recipes that vary widely (sort of like sangria recipes), but in the end my mom knows how to make them best, and now you know too!

Combine the following ingredients in your favorite mug and drink up:
- juice from half a lemon
- a heaping teaspoon of honey
- a shot of brandy
- hot water

If your interested, Wikipedia tells me that hot toddies may have originated in the 18th century to make the taste of scotch more palatable to women. And how!