The Best Christmas Tea ever!
Christmas Tea Recipe
Everyone knows that Southern food just can’t be matched…and drinks are no exception. I had this
Christmas tea a few years ago, at our small-town bank during a Holiday party, and I was willing to do anything for the recipe. It’s that good. Turns out, it’s from a hometown cookbook that’s just about as old as the town itself. So, if you’re looking for an autumn tea or Christmas tea recipe, you’ve found it. Look no further. Close all those other recipes you’ve got open, cause this is the one you want to go with.
Christmas Tea Recipe Ingredients:
2 Cinnamon sticks
2 TBSP WHOLE cloves
3 Cups sugar (Haven’t made it with Splenda, but I’m sure you could!)
1 qt. boiling water
1 qt. strong tea (REALLY REALLY STRONG)
Juice of 3 lemons (Or lemon juice)
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup orange juice
3 quarts boiling water (You can sub some of this for apple cider!)
Directions:
Bring 1 qt water (or cider) to a boil, add cinnamon sticks, cloves, and sugar. Boil for 5 minutes, then strain out spices. Add tea and remaining ingredients. Serve hot or cold!
After making this a few times, it’s always best the next day. It’s great fresh, of course, but it’s even better after sitting overnight in the fridge. You can drink this hot or cold. The cinnamon and cloves mesh so well with the tea flavor — and the citrus notes are just the perfect finish. I promise you, if you make this, you will be asked for this Christmas tea recipe, if not crowned the king or queen of the party!
Enjoy with this easy caramel Apple monkey bread or while you are making cookies.
While I am drinking my Christmas tea. I am working on my under $5 gift idea
What will you do while drinking your Christmas tea?
Eggnog Cookies Recipe
Eggnog Cookies
Eggnog Logs are very pretty and very delicious but also very simple and easy to make. This is definitely an eggnog cookies recipe that the kids with love to help you bake. My kids love to roll the dough into ropes and they love cutting the dough rope into logs. Seems like young ones always want to chop and cut in the kitchen but that isn’t always an easy thing to accommodate for the tiny tots. You can fulfill their desire and keep them safe too by letting them cut the dough rope into logs with a butter knife or plastic knife. It is just like playing with play dough but they get to eat yummy cookies when they are done. Helping make cookies is also great for fine motor development and you can sneak in a little math and science without any one even noticing. [Read More…]
Free Printable Elf on the Shelf Notes
Free Printable Elf on the Shelf Notes
It’s December ya’ll! You know what the means right!? It’s time to bust out those Elf on the Shelf elves that play tricks on our kids and report back to Santa. Elf on the Shelf is something I really enjoy doing for my daughter each year and she gets a kick out of seeing what Chippy (our Elf) is going to do next. So I wanted to share the joy of the Elf on the Shelf with you with these Free printable Elf on the Shelf notes that I made! I think some of the best magic of the Elf is being able to use him or her to teach your child that rewards come from good behavior. Of course the kids should want to be good all year round, but admit it, it’s a little easier to encourage around the holidays right? Ha! [Read More…]
Free Printable Santa Letter For Kids
Free Printable Santa Letter For Kids
Christmas is one of my favorite holidays of the year! I love filling my house the holiday cheer, spending time with family, and I’ll admit it, the presents are pretty fun too. Lucky for me, my 7 year old still believes in the magic of Santa and gets really excited to write him a letter every year with what she wants. This year we wanted to try something a little different. Instead of asking Santa for random gifts, I wanted to try out the 4 gift path I had seen recently. The 4 gifts are something I want, something I need, something to wear, and something to read! So she can pick out a toy she wants, something she needs (like an electric pencil sharpener), a new outfit, and a new book! I LOVE this idea. Not only does it prevent me from going overboard (which I tend to do) it keeps her from expecting too much as well. And anything to promote reading is awesome with me! [Read More…]
Celebrating Christmas with $5
Celebrating Christmas with $5
What is the purpose of the holiday? It seems to me that we have become consumed with spending money to celebrate. I would like to challenge you to a $5 Christmas. What is a $5 Christmas? It is your opportunity to be creative and to remember the reason for the season. I challenge you to doing things and giving gifts that are under $5.
I asked one of my readers on my site www.madamedeals.com what she intended to do since funds were limited this holiday.
“I already plan to have my grandkids go to an assisted living place to visit the elderly. Going to make cookies to bring. I told the 3 kids that this will be a small year and hopefully they understood. They are going to sit down on Thanksgiving weekend and we are going to write out Christmas cards to send to the service men and women.”
It got me thinking how could I create a more meaningful holiday for my children. I want to create something they will remember and come up with a tradition that they will never forget. We already make sugar cookies and decorate them. I decided I would buy a journal for each child and I would write in it. I would take my time to reflect on what makes them special and what I have learned about them or with them this year. I plan on placing their journal in their stockings. I will even do one for my husband. I bought their journals for under $5 each and I think this will be the most memorable gift they have ever received.
You can also get some great tips by reading our post planning a party on a budget.
Homemade Christmas Gift Basket Ideas
Homemade Christmas Gift Basket Ideas
Homemade Christmas gift baskets have always been a favorite Christmas gift of mine whether I am on the giving or the receiving end of the gift. What I really love about homemade Christmas gift baskets is the thought that goes along with them. You aren’t just buying anything, wrapping it and dropping it under the tree. You are putting real consideration into it and thinking of things that make the recipient happy, things that fit their personality or their hobbies. Then once you have your idea you can pack that gift basket full of goodies! If you need some help coming up with homemade Christmas gift basket ideas for someone on your gift list then I have some tips for you. [Read More…]
