Mom-to-Mom: Ways to Make Your Holiday Season Merry and Bright
Mama, the holidays are upon us, and you know what that means — recipes, wrapping, and running around. It’s the time of year when you might be feeling more pressure than peace. But the good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. There is a community of single mothers who understand the season's stress but have found easy ways to make things a little brighter!
We asked our Shepherd’s Village family to share their favorite holiday recipes and traditions to help you make your season a time of rest, joy, and thanksgiving.
Recipes
Appetizers
Cucumber Dill Sandwiches
(Submitted by Melissa H. Image by centercutcook.com)
With only five ingredients, this is the perfect little appetizer to bring to a party, serve for guests, or just whip up as a snack for yourself. Trust us; they are that yummy.
Ingredients:
8 oz. cream cheese block
1 packet dry ranch seasoning mix
Dried dill
Pumpernickel Rye cocktail bread squares (typically found in your grocer's deli section)
1-2 Cucumbers
Directions:
Mix cream cheese and ranch seasoning until well combined.
Stir in a dash or two of the dried dill to taste.
Peel, then slice the cucumbers into ¼ inch rounds.
Spread the cream cheese mixture onto each rye bread square.
Top each with one cucumber round.
Sprinkle with dried dill to garnish and serve.
Charcuterie Board
(Submitted by Anna Y.)
Oh, the simple art of the charcuterie board. A beautiful centerpiece to your table that looks expensive but doesn’t have to be. The hack to creating the perfect charcuterie board is to combine what you already have in your pantry with various options for guests to enjoy.
Step 1: Grab your wooden serving board, tray, or 1-2 serving platters along with any small bowls or ramekins you would like to use for service.
Step 2: The heart of your board is the cheese. Try adding 1-2 selections ranging from pepper jack, cheddar, brie, and a specialty such as blueberry or a honey goat cheese. Slice each into small, slim bites, making it easier for guests to enjoy while providing more content to your board.
Step 3: The meat. Go for simple staples like salami, prosciutto, and pepperoni. Roll, slice, or cube each item as you create your board.
Step 4: Now that the bases are covered, it’s time to add in fillers. Try an assortment of items like grapes, blackberries, strawberries, nuts, olives, an array of crackers, jams, and honey.
Step 5: Own it! Have fun and get creative when designing your charcuterie board.
Side Dishes
Spicy Garlic Green Beans
(Recipe and image by www.whatsgabycooking.com)
Green beans may feel like that boring side dish that gets overlooked. Well, this is where that whole idea gets thrown out the window. These green beans are covered in garlic, lemon zest, shallots, and spice and will leave your guests asking for more. The best part— this recipe only takes 10 minutes to make!
Ingredients:
1 pound haricot verts or green beans, ends trimmed
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 shallot, thinly sliced
1-2 teaspoons red pepper flakes, depending on how spicy you want them
Flaky salt and lemon zest to garnish
Directions:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Add the green beans and cook for 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
In a large, heavy-bottom skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallot, garlic, and red pepper flakes and sauté for 2 minutes until the garlic becomes fragrant.
Add the green beans and mix everything together, evenly distributing the garlic and shallots amongst the green beans.
Season with salt and lemon zest. Serve immediately.
Corn Bread Pudding
(Recipe adapted from Jiffy, submitted by Karen M. Image by casserolecrissy.com)
Ingredients:
1 box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix (8.5 oz)
1 can creamed corn
2 eggs
½ cup melted butter
1 cup sour cream
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9-inch casserole dish.
Mix all ingredients until well combined and add to your greased dish.
Bake for 40 minutes. Insert a toothpick to check if the dish is cooked through. If still undercooked, continue baking in 5-minute increments until done.
Desserts
Santa Hat Brownie Bites
(Recipe and image by www.iheartnaptime.net)
You and your kiddos will love putting these festive treats together. They are a cute, easy, and delicious dessert that will have everyone saying, “Aww, look how adorable!”
Ingredients:
16 pre-packaged, mini brownie bites
16 strawberries, tops cut off
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1-3 tablespoons half and half (or milk)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Combine the butter, powdered sugar, one tablespoon of half and half, and vanilla in a large bowl to make the frosting. Beat with a mixer for 2 minutes or until fluffy. Add more half and half if needed.
Place the frosting in a Ziploc bag and snip off the corner. Swirl frosting on top of each brownie bite.
Place a strawberry on top and add a tiny dot of frosting atop to complete the Santa hat.
Refrigerate until ready to serve. (Best if served the same day)
Cherry Cheese Cupcakes
(Recipe and image by www.tasteofhome.com)
Cheesecake and cherries are a winning combination in this classic dessert that is sure to bring a bit of nostalgia to your holiday season.
Ingredients:
3 - 8 oz. packages of cream cheese, softened
1 ½ cups sugar, divided
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
5 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 ½ cups cherry pie filling
Directions:
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, one cup sugar, and one teaspoon vanilla until smooth.
Add in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Spoon into foil-lined muffin cups.
Bake at 300° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine the sour cream with the remaining sugar and vanilla until smooth.
Spoon onto cupcakes. Return to the oven for 6-8 minutes or until set.
Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
Top with pie filling and store in the refrigerator.
Traditions
The Cookie Fairy Project
(Submitted by Julie K.)
The holidays are a time of giving, and there is no better way to deliver kindness than “one chip at a time.”
The whole mission behind The Cookie Fairy Project is to teach our children about the importance of being kind to others simply by baking tasty chocolate chip cookies. But the sweetest part — having the kids write a note of gratitude, encouragement, or love to the recipient. This simple act of kindness can be a tradition that you adopt into your home each holiday and throughout the entire year.
Spend quality time with your kids in the kitchen that is purposeful and intentional. Teach your little ones that a small gesture can make a big impact. See the complete project mission, get the recipe, and print your Cookie Fairy note at www.cookiefairyproject.com!
Advent
In a season typically full of parties, school programs, shopping, and stress on top of your regular routine, we encourage you to slow down and focus on the significance of Advent through the month of December.
Maybe your previous experience with Advent has only ever included a whimsical Advent calendar for your children to open and count down the days until Christmas, but Advent is the period of four Sundays (and the weeks before Christmas) where we prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus into the world. It's time set aside to remember the real meaning of Christmas.
No doubt, this holiday season stirs a lot of emotions for you and your children. That’s why it can be beneficial to make time for quieter moments to prepare for the season of spiritual anticipation.
Mama, this time of year doesn’t have to be chaotic. It can be a time of creating new memories and renewing your spirit. We hope these ideas bring a smile to your face as you begin to think about what the next several weeks look like. We might not have all the answers to making this time of year seamless, but we are here praying for you constantly. God has you. Let Him hold you through this season.