WELL-BEING – Page 7 – Whole Heartily

Classic, Fluffy Sugar Cookie Recipe

Have you tried a classic, fluffy sugar cookie? They are so cozy and delicious, and would pair perfectly with any warm beverage of your choice. Share them with family, friends, even leave them out with some milk for Santa Claus!

CLASSIC FLUFFY SUGAR COOKIES

2 3/4 cups of flour
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of unsalted butter, softened
2 cups of granulated sugar, divided
1 egg
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, then set this bowl aside.
In another large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together the butter and 1 1/2 cups of the sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the egg and the vanilla extract to the creamed butter, and thoroughly mix again.
Slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix until fully incorporated (you may need to use your hands). The dough will be soft and slightly dewy when ready.
Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least one hour or more.
Remove the dough from the refrigerator when ready and pre-heat the oven to 350F.
Place the remaining 1/2 cup of granulated sugar into a small mixing bowl and set it aside.
Line a large baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper.
Scoop out portions of 1 to 2 tablespoons of dough, rolling them into balls about an inch to an inch and a half in diameter. Roll each cookie dough ball in the bowl of sugar to coat, then place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes (this varies per oven so keep an eye on them) or until the top of the cookie begins to crinkle and the bottom sides turn golden brown.
Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire cooking rack to finish cooling completely.
Enjoy!

Our New Christmas Family Tradition

Have you ever intentionally created a family tradition? I haven’t, until now!

My family and I grew up watching the Charlie Brown/Peanuts holiday specials around this time every year with our parents; they all have a special place in my heart, but none more than It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas!

Continuing on with these good feelings and memories, embellishing it to make it our own, here is our new Christmas tradition:

The Friday before Christmas we will make our own marshmallows and hot chocolate, then sip it while we watch A Charlie Brown Christmas!

It’s simple, yet fun and heartfelt like any family tradition should be! Create happy feelings and the happy memories will follow! Feel free to use this idea for your own family tradition, or take it and change it to make it your own!

DIY Red and White Striped Christmas Box

Christmas is nearly here and we love celebrating every moment!

What better way to celebrate than having a Christmas box! Now when I first heard of these, they were and are referred to as Christmas Eve boxes and presented on Christmas Eve for the family to enjoy, but then some of the items can only be enjoyed for one to two nights before Christmas is technically over, so I’ve decided to just call it a Christmas box and we can present it a week before Christmas to really enjoy its contents!

SUPPLIES

Wood crate
White acrylic paint
Red acrylic paint
Foam paint brushes
Painter’s tape
Matte varnish
Embellishments (optional)
Hot glue (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Paint every other beam of the crate (outside and inside) with white paint and then allow it to dry.
Repeat step 1 until the desired brightness of the paint is reached.
Once the paint is dry, use painters tape to tape up and protect the edges of the white beams or anywhere else where the red paint may drip or bleed.
Paint the remaining beams and the sides of the crate (outside and inside) with red paint and then allow it to dry.
Repeat step 4 until the desired brightness of the paint is reached.
Carefully peel off the painter’s tape and coat the whole crate with varnish, this may take two coats to reach the desired coverage.
If you have any embellishments like an ornament or two, carefully glue them on with a hot glue gun and allow it to dry.
Fill it up and enjoy!

If you’re looking for ideas to fill your new Christmas box with here are a few to spark your imagination!

Candy
Cookie mix
Festive hat(s)
Festive pajamas
Festive plushies
Festive socks or slippers
Gingerbread kit
Holiday-themed books
Holiday-themed movies
Hot Apple Cider mix
Hot Cocoa mix
Mug(s)
Ornament(s)
Savory snacks
Sweet snacks

Family Friendly Christmas Movies and Specials – PG Rated

Welcome to the cozy and magical month of December my friends!

My family and I have created a list of family friendly Christmas movies and specials for you and yours! Christmas may be celebrated a little differently this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t kindle a little Christmas spirit!

This year we’ve decided to focus on movies and specials that are rated PG for parental guidance suggested; some material may not be suitable for children. If you are looking for movies and specials that are rated G for general audience and good for all ages, please visit last year’s list – Family Friendly Christmas Movies and Specials Rated G.

Please let us know if we missed or left out any of your family friendly (PG-rated) Christmas favorites you feel should be included! We’d love to hear from you!

Organized alphabetically by title:

Family Friendly Christmas Children’s Books – Ages 5 and Under

Family Friendly Christmas Children's Books - Ages 0 to 5

Welcome to the cozy and magical month of December my friends!

To inspire you and your little ones into the Holiday mood, I’ve curated a list of Christmas-themed books for ages five and under! These selections are simple and festive, while remaining short and sweet for the younger audience.

There are a handful of books on this list with a reading age that start under the age of five and peak at the age of 7 or 8.

If you have a favorite Children’s book for children ages 5 and under that you do not see here, please let me know! I would love to add it to this list!

Family Friendly Holiday Magic Playlist

Welcome to the cozy and magical month of December my friends!

My family and I have created a playlist of family friendly Christmas music for you and yours! Christmas may be celebrated a little differently this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t kindle a little Christmas spirit!

This year we’ve decided to focus more on music from all our favorite Christmas children’s movies and specials, with a few other songs sprinkled in that fit the mood.

Please let us know if we missed or left out any of your family friendly Christmas favorites you feel should be included! We’d love to hear from you!

THE POLAR EXPRESS

Spirit of the Season
When Christmas Comes to Town
The Polar Express
Hot Chocolate
Suite from the Polar Express

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER

A Holly Jolly Christmas
Jingle Jingle Jingle
We are Santa’s Elves
Silver and Gold
The Most Wonderful Day of the Year
Christmas Medley: The Night Before Christmas
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
There’s Always Tomorrow

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN | Frosty the Snowman

THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY | The Little Drummer Boy

OLAF’S FROZEN ADVENTURE

Ring in the Season
That Time of Year
When We’re Together

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: THE ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS

Belle’s Magical Gift
As Long As There’s Christmas
A Cut Above The Rest
Deck the Halls
Do You Hear What I Hear?
O Christmas Tree
O Come, O Come Emmanuel / Joy To The World
Silent Night
The First Noel
The Twelve Days of Christmas
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
What Child Is This?

A MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL

Overture
Good King Wenceslas
It Feels Like Christmas
Thankful Heart
Bless Us All
Christmas Scat
Christmas Morning

THE NUTCRACKER BALLET

Overture
March
Waltz of the Snowflakes
Sugarplum Fairy
Hot Chocolate
Coffee
Tea
Candy Cane
Marzipan
Mother Ginger and Her Polichinelles
Waltz of the Flowers
Sugarplum Fairy and Cavalier Coda
Finale

BABES IN TOYLAND

Babes in Toyland Overture
Toy Land
March of the Toys

EMMET OTTER’S JUGBAND CHRISTMAS | Our World / Brothers

KERMIT THE FROG | Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

JOHN DENVER AND THE MUPPETS: CHRISTMAS TOGETHER

Deck the Halls
Christmas is Coming
Twelve Days of Christmas
We Wish you a Merry Christmas

MISS PIGGY | Santa Baby

A CHIPMUNK CHRISTMAS | Christmas Don’t Be Late

DISNEY’S FAMILY CHRISTMAS

Jingle Bells
Sleigh Ride
Here Comes Santa Claus
The Science of the Season

DISNEY’S MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS

Jingle Bell Rock
White Christmas
Over the River and Through the Woods

DISNEY HOLIDAY MAGIC

Jingle Bell Rock
Here Comes Santa Claus
From All of Us to All of You
Deck the Halls
The Twelve Days of Christmas

WINNIE THE POOH & TIGGER | Jingle Bells

HANNA BARBERA’S CHRISTMAS SING-A-LONG

Brand New Kind of Christmas Song
Hope
Comin’ Up Christmas Time

LOU MONTE | Dominick the Donkey

GAYLA PEEVEY | I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

Christmas is Coming
Skating
Linus and Lucy
Christmas Time is Here
Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
The Christmas Song
O Tannenbaum

ELF: BUDDY’S MUSICAL CHRISTMAS | Sparklejollytwinklejingley

ELF

Papa Elf
Buddy’s Journey
Christmas Medley

Our New Thanksgiving Family Tradition

Have you ever intentionally created a family tradition? I haven’t, until now!

Continuing on with these good feelings and memories, embellishing it to make it our own, here is our new Thanksgiving tradition:

The Friday before Thanksgiving we will gather and/or create buttered toast, popcorn, pretzels and jelly beans, all the food the kid’s feast on in Thanksgiving Charlie Brown. We will snack on these treats while we watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving!

Skillet Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe

I love snacking on roasted pumpkin seeds! So delicious, easy to prepare and eat, and with numerous health benefits, who could say no? Traditionally I make large batches every year after we carve our Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns and we snack on them for weeks!

I do not use oil in this recipe.

ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Pumpkin seeds
Salt
Seasoned salt (optional)
Water

INSTRUCTIONS

As you carve your pumpkins, keep all the seeds in a bowl. I find it easier to separate the seeds and pulp into two separate bowls as I go, rather than sort that mess out later.
Place the seeds into a colander and rinse them under cold water, stirring with your hands to make sure they are all rinsed thoroughly.
Place the seeds in a medium saucepan, then add 4 to 6 cups of water and about 1 tablespoon of salt for each half cup of seeds.
Bring the saltwater and seeds to a boil for 10 minutes, then remove them from the heat and strain.
Spread the seeds out on a baking sheet or two and allow them to completely dry (this may take up to a week).
Once the seeds are completely dry, prepare a small bowl with salt water. This is to crystalize on the outer shell, so dissolve as much salt as you want for a saltier outer shell, or less if you feel the brine was enough.
Place the seeds into a skillet and roast on medium to low heat, stirring continuously for an even cook.
When they nearly roasted to your liking, dip your fingers into the salt water and splash it as evenly as possible over the roasted seeds, then continue to stir until the water has evaporated.
Remove the seeds from the heat and allow them to cool.
Enjoy!

Pastry Wrapped Baked Apples with Nutella & Granola Recipe

Have you ever had a pastry wrapped, baked apple? It’s like having our own personal apple pie and if you stuff it with something you love? Pure delight!

These pastry wrapped, baked apples are stuffed with something I love, Nutella! I also added some granola for texture, but you can go full Nutella if that’s what you’re into! This does take some work in preparation time, but it will be well worth it to eat! Enjoy it my friends!

PASTRY WRAPPED BAKED APPLES WITH NUTELLA & GRANOLA

2 tablespoons of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1 egg
1 tablespoon of water
4 Granny Smith apples
1 package of frozen puff pastry
Nutella
Granola

INSTRUCTIONS

Set out the pastry dough to thaw enough to work with while you prepare the other ingredients.
In a small bowl, combine the sugar and ground cinnamon, then set it aside.
In a separate small bowl, beat the egg and the water together until combined, then set it aside.
Peel the apples and then use a melon baller to scoop out the cores, leaving the bottoms intact.
Coat the outside of each apple with the cinnamon sugar mixture and set them aside.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out a pastry sheet to about a 9 by 10 inch rectangle, then cut the rectangle into 9, 1 inch strips.
Repeat step 6 with the second pastry sheet.
Starting at the bottom of the apple, begin winding a pastry strip around and up, slightly overlapping the edges of the pastry. Once a strip ends, align another strip and continue winding until you reach the top of the apple. Strips can be attached to one another by wetting your finger with water and smoothing dough together.
Repeat step 8 with each apple until they are all wrapped in pastry and place them all on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a baking mat.
Use the extra dough to create leaf shapes and attach them to the top of each apple by wetting your finger with water and smoothing the dough together.
Lightly scoop some Nutella into the hole in the apple, then press some granola in and add more Nutella on top of the granola.
Repeat step 11 with each apple.
Lightly brush the pastry dough with the egg wash.
Chill the apples in the refrigerator for 20 to 25 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400F.
Remove the apples from the refrigerator and bake them for 25 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.
Allow to cool and enjoy!

Our New Halloween Family Tradition

Have you ever intentionally created a family tradition? I haven’t, until now!

Continuing on with these good feelings and memories, embellishing it to make it our own, here is our new Halloween tradition:

The night before Halloween (or a few nights before), we will carve our pumpkins and light them for the first time. After, we’ll sip on cold or warm apple cider (depending on the weather) and watch It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!