Good Living Guide

Christmas

How To Keep A Christmas Cactus Looking Beautiful All Season Long

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The Christmas Cactus is a beautiful plant that produces bright, delicate blooms during the holiday season. It’s not just a seasonal plant, however. Many people enjoy keeping this plant alive and healthy all year.

Christmas Cactus

Keep Your Plant Alive All Season

With the right care, your cactus can live, thrive and continue to bloom year after year.

To know the basics of caring for one, it’s important to know that these cactuses come from the mountains of South America. There, they grow in cool forests under the shade of giant trees. They receive scattered sunshine, cool mountain breezes and light rain.

You don’t think of succulents as forest plants, but that just tells you how unusual these plants are.

How to Care for Your Christmas Cactus

To keep your plant healthy, follow these steps.

  1. Bring your plant indoors. Keep it in a cool area away from heat sources.
  2. Don’t rush to repot your cactus. These plants do well in tiny pots. Repotting can shock them, so don’t do it until it’s necessary.
  3. Keep the plant in indirect sunlight.
  4. If your Christmas Cactus is still in its decorative wrapping, cut holes in the bottom to allow drainage. Place the plant on a dish to catch excess water.
  5. Speaking of water, don’t over water your plant. Give it a little water about every three days.
  6. If you need to add soil, use a cactus mix.

Keep Your Cactus Blooming

The above steps will keep your plant healthy. If you want to have blooms every year, follow these steps:

  • Cut back on watering in the spring and summer. This lets the blossoms rest.
  • At the end of summer, feed it with bloom food diluted to one-quarter strength.
  • When buds form, stop fertilizing and go back to normal watering.

Enjoy Christmas All Year

Do you ever wish it could be Christmas all year? You can’t make that happen, but you can keep one part of Christmas alive with a little loving care.

Do you have tips for keeping Christmas plants alive and blooming?

Christmas Cactus

Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies

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I love a fast, easy recipe as much as the next busy baker. But every once in a while, it’s good to take your time working on a special concoction. For me, that means making a batch of these divine, decadent Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies.

Oreo Crunch Cookies

Enjoy Every Bite of These Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies

This recipe isn’t complicated, but it does require some time. You have to chill the dough before you form the cookies, and you’ll need plenty of counter space covered in parchment paper.

Trust me, it’s worth it.

These cookies combine the dark, divine goodness of dark chocolate with the familiar flavor of Oreo cookies, smooth, delectable cream cheese and a touch of peppermint to liven things up.

Here’s Why You’ll Love These Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies

These are the perfect cookies for those days when you have a craving for something truly rich and self-indulgent. They’re rich enough to serve as dessert and taste great any time of day.

They’ll stay nice and soft if you keep them in the lidded container.

When you want to make something special for yourself or a gathering of friends, these cookies are a great choice.

Tips for Making Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies

  • Parchment paper is the key to baking success. If you’ve never used it, start using it now and you’ll see the difference.

What to Serve With Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies

You can’t go wrong with a delicious, holiday-themed fancy coffee drink that you can make at home for a fraction of what you’d pay at a coffee bar.

These cookies also go well with a tequila-laced Mexican Coffee.

More Holiday Recipes You’ll Love

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Oreo Crunch Cookies

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 24 cookies
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

  2. Prep cookie sheet with parchment paper.

  3. Lay a sheet of parchment paper on the counter.
  4. Add the cake mix, butter, egg, vanilla, peppermint extract, and cream cheese in a mixing bowl.

  5. Using an electric mixer, beat the batter until it turns into a soft dough.

  6. Add the cookie chunks, peppermint crunch pieces, and chocolate chips. Gently stir these ingredients into the cake mixture.
  7. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill the dough for 30-60 minutes.
  8. With the cookie scoop make cookie balls. Roll the dough into round balls. (Will make about 24 balls)

  9. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. (Do not over bake)

  10. The cookies will look undone and soft.
  11. Allow the cookies to remain on the cookie sheet and cool for 2-3 minutes.

  12. Using a spatula, gently remove the cookies and put them on the parchment paper lined counter.

  13. With the cookies on the parchment paper lined counter, top gently tap the tops of the cookies with the bottom of the flat spatula to flatten out.

  14. Allow the cookies to completely cool.
  15. Serve.
  16. Store the remaining cookies in the lidded container.

Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies

 

 

Reindeer Chow (Muddy Buddies)

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Are you looking for a fun, festive appetizer that’s just right for the holidays? Whip up a batch of Reindeer Chow (Muddy Buddies). Everyone will be digging into this big, generous bowl of chocolate and salty goodness.

Reindeer Chow

Make It a Party With Reindeer Chow

Do you spend all your time carefully planning every detail of your holiday meal, only to realize at the last minute that you haven’t give five minutes’ thought to the appetizers?

Did you get a last-minute invitation to a holiday potluck and need to come up with something in a flash?

If you’ve been there, and I certainly have, you want a recipe like this that’s fast, easy to make and impressive-looking. It uses ordinary items you can find in any grocery store or even the late-night convenience store.

Reindeer Chow Helps You Make a Great Impression

This appetizer gets most of its flavor from the coated cereal pieces. The cereal stays wonderfully crunchy under the chocolate and peanut butter coating. The contrast with salty pretzels and chocolate M&Ms makes makes for a flavorful combination.

Tips for Making Reindeer Chow

  • Work slowly when you’re heating the chocolate and peanut butter. Overheating it in the microwave will turn it hard and chewy. Heat it in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until it’s just melted.
  • You can find holiday M&M flavors at most stores.

What to Serve With Reindeer Chow

Stay festive and fun with a batch of this Easy Holiday Punch that’s perfect for kids and adults. If you want something with a little kick, try a White Christmas Mojito.

More Holiday Recipes You’ll Love

Reindeer Chow
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Reindeer Chow (Muddy Buddies)

If you're looking for a fun, festive appetizer that's just right for the holidays, whip up a batch of Reindeer Chow (Muddy Buddies).

Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American
Prep Time 11 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Servings 15 people
Calories 215 kcal
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Place the cereal in a large bowl.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter.

  3. Microwave the chocolate mixture for 30 second intervals, stirring each time.

  4. Continue until melted.
  5. Stir until smooth.
  6. Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal and use a spatula to gently toss the cereal in the chocolate until completely coated.

  7. Place the powdered sugar and cocoa powder inside a resealable gallon-sized plastic bag.

  8. Add the chocolate-coated cereal.

  9. Seal, then shake until cereal is coated in the powdered sugar mix.

  10. Pour the cereal out evenly on a sheet of parchment paper on a baking tray.
  11. Allow them to cool completely and until dry.
  12. In a large bowl combine the cereal, M&M's, and pretzel twists.
  13. Serve!

Reindeer Chow

Holiday Persimmon Cookies

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Celebrate old-fashioned goodness when you make these tender, buttery and delicately flavored Holiday Persimmon Cookies.

Persimmon Cookies

Celebrate the Season with Holiday Persimmon Cookies

Persimmons have been around since colonial days, when they were turned into pies, puddings and desserts of all kinds.

Persimmons are ready for harvest late in the year, making them perfect for fall and winter recipes.

What Are Persimmons?

If you’re not familiar with these beautifully colored, fragrant fruits, it’s time to add them to your rotation.

Persimmons are the national fruit of Japan, where they are revered for their delicate, sweet taste and health benefits. In the U.S., they primarily grow in California and the southern states.

Persimmon

Like most deeply colored fruits, persimmons are a nutrition powerhouse. They have high levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, phytonutrients, antioxidants, beta-carotene and lutein.

Tips for Making Holiday Persimmon Cookies

  • If you don’t see persimmons at your regular grocery store, try an Asian market. Here’s an easy recipe for making the pulp.
  • If you don’t have a blender or food processor, try this handy technique that uses a mesh laundry bag to turn persimmons into pulp.

What to Serve With Holiday Persimmon Cookies

These holiday cookies are sure to become a favorite holiday tradition. They’re perfect for all your holiday gatherings, cookie exchanges and cookie gifts.

Nothing says cozy holiday goodness like curling up with a plate of these Holiday Persimmon Cookies and a mug of Hot Cinnamon Apple Brandy Cider.

If you want to avoid the hard stuff, try a White Hot Chocolate with Pink Frosting for an irresistible holiday spin on a classic.

More Holiday Recipes You’ll Love

Persimmon Cookies
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Holiday Persimmon Cookies

Celebrate old-fashioned goodness when you make these tender, buttery and delicately flavored Holiday Persimmon Cookies.

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 4 dozen
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

  2. Cream butter and sugar until well blended.

  3. Beat in the egg and then the persimmon pulp.

  4. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. Once sifted, blend well into the butter mixture.

  5. Stir in the nuts and dried cranberries (or raisins).

  6. Drop a heaping teaspoon on a greased cookie sheet.

  7. Bake at 375°F for about 15 minutes.

  8. Yields 4 dozen.

Persimmon Cookies

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

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For a holiday-perfect twist on Toll House cookies, bake these decadently delicious White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies. White chocolate makes them velvety smooth while the tangy flavor of cranberries keeps them from being overly sweet.

Indulge Your Cranberry Cravings With White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

If you’re like me, the holiday season is the perfect excuse to use cranberries whenever possible. If you’ve already made cranberry butter, cranberry bread and cranberry punch, you might be wondering what else you can do. That’s when it’s time to bake these delicious cookies.

If you prefer milk or dark chocolate chips, you can use them, but the classic combination of berries and cream is classic for a reason. In my opinion, white chocolate is closer to a sweet cream or milk than it is to chocolate. That makes it the perfect backdrop for bright, sharp berries. Try these White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies and I think you’ll agree.

Tips for Making White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

  • You can use fresh cranberries instead of frozen if you have them on hand. If you’re using frozen, the baking experts at King Arthur’s Flour recommend thawing them and patting them dry before baking with them.
  • Are you hesitant to use brown sugar because it always turns into brick on you? Use these tips to get brown sugar soft again and on storing it so it stays that way.

What to Serve With White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Since you’re buying cranberries anyway, use them to mix up a batch of this delicious, festive Cranberry Thyme Spritz that gets its kick from vodka.

These cookies would also be scrumptious with a nonalcoholic drink like this Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate.

More Holiday Recipes You’ll Love

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
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White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies are made velvety smooth by the white chocolate while the tangy flavor of cranberries keeps them from being overly sweet.

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 5 dozen
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

  2. Cream the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar.

  3. Stir in the milk, orange juice and egg.

  4. Mix in the remaining ingredients.

  5. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto a greased baking sheet.

  6. Bake 10-15 minutes.

Recipe Notes

Makes about 11 dozen cookies.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

‘Dad Bods And Rescue Dogs’ Calendar May Be The Perfect Christmas Gift

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A new fundraising calendar combines two things guaranteed to make your heart melt. The ‘Dad Bods And Rescue Dogs’ Calendar from Lucky Bulldogs Rescue showcases the most adorable rescued French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, Boston Terriers and Pugs posing with some equally adorable men flaunting their sexy dad bods.

Strutting Their Stuff

The men are all volunteers who signed up to strut their stuff to help animals. Each month features high-quality, professional photos of cute guys and cute dogs. If you’re thinking this would be a great Christmas gift, we like the way you think.

Dad Bods for the Win

In an era of body positivity for women, it was inevitable that men would hop on the bandwagon to state that they, too, can be sexy at any size. In fact, some surveys have found that many women prefer a guy with a dad bod to one with a fit, muscular body.

The calendars sell for $20 each. All proceeds go to support Lucky Bulldogs Rescue, a nonprofit rescue group based in Omaha.

Christmas Wreath Cookies

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Make your holiday fun with easy-to-make Christmas Wreath Cookies. These sweet, crunchy cookies look like Christmas on a plate. They take only a few minutes to make and don’t even need baking.

Christmas Wreath Cookies

Master Your Holiday Baking

If you’ve ever tried to make fancy holiday treats but couldn’t seem to figure out the complicated instructions, this recipe is for you. These cookies are easy enough for kids to make, and you and your kids will have fun making these together. You could even let your kids have a cookie-making party to ring in the season.

Make the Holidays Bright With Christmas Wreath Cookies

You’ll enjoy serving these at any holiday party. Use them as edible decorations on your Christmas tree or holiday buffet. They’re also great for your holiday cookie exchange or to give as edible gifts.

Tips for Making Christmas Wreath Cookies

  • Use edible bows, miniature snowmen, tiny gingerbread men, gumdrops and other edible decorations to dress these up.
  • Once you pour the melted marshmallow over the cornflakes, work quickly to make the wreaths. The mixture will be hard to shape if it gets too hard.
  • Make a pretty display by putting these cookies on a platter with other Christmas cookies shaped like trees, gingerbread men or snowflakes.

What to Serve With Christmas Wreath Cookies

These cookies say it’s time for a Christmas party. Stay in that spirit with a festive, colorful Christmas Punch decorated with cranberries. You can make a spiked version and a nonalcoholic version of this bright, tasty punch.

More Holiday Recipes You’ll Love

 

Christmas Wreath Cookies
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Christmas Wreath Cookies

Make your holiday fun with easy-to-make Christmas Wreath Cookies. These sweet, crunchy cookies only a few minutes to make and don't even need baking.

Course Dessert
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Melt marshmallows and butter.

  2. Take off heat. Add the vanilla and green food coloring.

  3. Pour mixture over Corn Flakes.

  4. Put 5 or 6 spoonfuls on waxed paper and shape into wreaths. Keep the rest of the mixture warm while shaping.

  5. Add a few Red Hots.

  6. Use edible bows, miniature snowmen, tiny gingerbread men, gumdrops or other edible decorations to dress the wreaths up. (optional)

Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies

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Fall is the perfect time of year for cooking, watching the leaves turn and sitting on your porch with a mug of warm, spiced apple cider. If you want to capture that same experience in a cookie, these Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies are sure to hit the spot.

Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies

Capture the Flavors of Fall

Is there anything better than a buttery, tender bite of shortbread? While I find plain shortbread irresistible, there’s no question that adding apple cider and spices takes shortbread to new heights of flavor.

Like any good shortbread, these cookies melt in your mouth and are not overly sweet. The cider glaze adds a touch of creamy texture and a dash of extra sweetness.

Tips for Making Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies

  • If you’re unsure about the difference between apple cider and apple juice, you’re not alone. It’s actually difficult to tell them apart. For the best results, select plain cider with no spices or flavors added to it.
  • You’ll need a rolling pin and a cookie cutter to make these. If you don’t have these items on hand, try these emergency substitutes. A wine bottle or drinking glass can sit in for the rolling pin, and a drinking glass can step in for a cookie cutter.
  • Pecan shortbreads are a classic cookie. If you want, you can add ground pecans to these cookies to add crunch and smooth, nutty flavor.

What to Serve With Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies

Fall entertaining centers around comforting, warmly spiced food and drinks. That’s why this Spiced Vodka Cranberry Fall Cocktail is a great match for these cookies.

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Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies
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Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies

Course Dessert
Servings 18 cookies
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Cookie Ingredients

Glaze Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
  3. Sift flour. Set aside.
  4. Lightly flour a flat surface. (Cutting board)
  5. Add the butter, powdered sugar, and apple cider in a mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer combine the ingredients.
  6. Continue mixing while adding in the salt.
  7. Slowly add the sifted flour, a cup at a time, continuing to mix for a few minutes. At first the mixture will resemble sand. Continue to mix until it begins to look like dough.

  8. Slightly flour your hands and work with the dough to form a ball. Move the cookie dough onto the floured cutting board.

  9. Reflour your hands and coat the rolling pin with that flour.

  10. Using the flour coated rolling pin, roll the cookie dough out until it is about 3/4 inches thick.

  11. With the round cookie cutter, cut out the dough to form the cookies.
  12. Use a spatula to move the raw cookies to the prepped cookie sheet.

  13. Bake at 375 degrees for 6 minutes.

  14. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 1 minute.
  15. Gently transfer the cookies to a cooling rack.

  16. Whisk the glazing ingredients (apple cider and powdered sugar together).

  17. Spoon the glaze over the cooled cookies allowing the glaze to firm.
  18. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Recipe Notes

Makes 18 cookies.

Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies

No Bake Bourbon Balls

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Make it a very merry party season with classic No Bake Bourbon Balls. These decadent bites of creamy chocolate are whiskey-laced truffles that will make your guests swoon. Best of all, they require no baking and are ready in minutes.

No Bake Bourbon Balls

Get Into the Holiday Spirit

Bourbon balls are a traditional Southern treat, and this version is the classic recipe. The original recipe comes from Kentucky, which is not surprising since Kentucky is known for its many fine bourbons.

Bring these out at the end of dinner for a dessert that’s also an after-dinner drink. They’re small enough to be enjoyable even after a big meal. No Bake Bourbon Balls are perfect on holiday buffets and dessert tables.

Tips for Making No Bake Bourbon Balls

  • Children will find the gooey chocolate balls irresistible. Keep these boozy treats out of their reach.
  • Bourbon is not the same as other types of whiskey like rye, Irish whiskey or Scotch. Be sure to use Kentucky-style bourbon for the full, smooth flavor that gives these desserts their distinctive taste. Jack Daniels and Wild Turkey are two popular brands of bourbon.
  • You can change up the flavor and texture of bourbon balls by dusting them with granulated sugar or a mix of cinnamon and sugar. You can also swap out the ground walnuts for ground pecans or ground hazelnuts.

What to Serve With No Bake Bourbon Balls

Enhance the slight vanilla tones of bourbon by pairing these with coffee and homemade vanilla creamer. They’ll also go well with a spicy, creamy Chai Tea Latte.

More Christmas Ideas & Recipes You’ll Love

No Bake Bourbon Balls
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No Bake Bourbon Balls

No Bake Bourbon Balls are perfect on holiday buffets and dessert tables. These decadent bites of creamy chocolate will make your guests swoon.

Course Dessert
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Mix ingredients.

  2. Roll into balls.

  3. Dust with powdered sugar.

Recipe Notes

Makes about 3 dozen. Keeps well in an air-tight container.

No Bake Bourbon Balls

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cranberry Bread

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Just when you think there’s nothing new in fall baking, along comes this Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cranberry Bread. This moist, sweet bread will be the star of your brunch table.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cranberry Bread

This Wonderful Bread Will Warm You Up Quickly

Quick breads hold a special place in every baker’s heart. They never fail you. They’re a fast, easy way to enjoy something warm and fresh from the oven without having to work at it all day.

I like breads that hover between a loaf and a cake, and this moist, tender bread fits that description. It’s perfect with your morning coffee or as an afternoon snack.

Tips for Making Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cranberry Bread

  • Dried cranberries are similar to raisins but with a more vibrant, tangy flavor and a beautiful ruby color. They’re a great way to add taste, color and health benefits to all your baking.
  • Make this bread even more scrumptious by drizzling a cream cheese frosting over it while it’s still warm. Try this classic recipe.
  • Pumpkin puree is not the same as pumpkin pie filling. If you only have the pie filling, you can use it if you leave out the pumpkin pie spices.

What to Serve With Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cranberry Bread

This bread is a wonderful centerpiece to any fall brunch. Serve it with whipped butter and add delicious, seasonally appropriate items.

Try this Butternut Squash, Apple and Bacon Hash or a cheesy, comforting Spinach and Herb Pastatta.

Keep it cozy with mugs of warm mulled cider you can make in your crock pot.

More Pumpkin Recipes You’ll Love

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cranberry Bread
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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cranberry Bread

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cranberry Bread makes a wonderful centerpiece to any fall brunch. It's perfect with your morning coffee or as an afternoon snack.

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9-inch loaf pan with Pam baking spray. Set aside.

  2. Using a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, salt and baking powder until combined.

  3. Whisk in the sugar, pumpkin puree, canola oil, eggs, and vanilla until combined.

  4. Fold in 1 cup of the mini chocolate chips and 1 cup dried cranberries.

  5. Pour batter into the loaf pan.

  6. Sprinkle remaining dried cranberries and chocolate chips on top.

  7. Bake for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

  8. Allow to cool completely before enjoying!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cranberry Bread