Tag: holiday

Guest Blogger: Making Marshmallows With Kids For Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Jennifer Wolfe

Now that my kids are teens, some of our holiday traditions have sadly disappeared in the mess of homework, sports, and their complicated social lives. I have to admit my heart pangs a little bit for those simple days of preparation for delivering Valentines to their elementary school classrooms…but with this guest post by my friends Nicole and Sara of Simply Happenstance, I can live vicariously as they share their joy of creating Valentine’s Day marshmallows…aren’t they adorable?

Who doesn’t love marshmallows… especially, homemade marshmallows to sprinkle on top of a rich and foamy cup of hot chocolate? With Valentine’s, just around the corner, I thought the timing was perfect to recreate my favorite marshmallow recipe. This recipe allows for little hands to help cut out the finished marshmallows into heart shapes with small cookie cutters. My kids love assisting me in the kitchen, and especially love seeing the process from start to finish. A fun activity for a day stuck inside with the flu {as it helped to brighten their spirits since they could not play outside}.

{Heart Shaped Marshmallow Recipe}
Adapted by The Barefoot Contessa (Ina Garten)

* 3 packages of unflavored gelatin
* 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
* 1cup light corn syrup
* ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
* 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
* Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
* 2 drops of pink food coloring or paste
* 2 small heart shaped cookie cutters {I found mine at Target}

Combine the gelatin and ½ cup cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment for mixing later.
In a pan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and ½ cup of water. Cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook the syrup until the mixture reaches 240 degrees with a candy thermometer.

Next, take the candied mixture and slowly pour it into the bowl with the electric mixer. Begin mixing on low {I advise doing all of the above without the kids around, as this part of the recipe is very hot}.
Add in the vanilla and food coloring at this point, meanwhile change the mixer speed to high, mixing for approximately for 15 minutes until the mixture is very thick.
With a sieve, sprinkle confectioner sugar over a non-metal 9×12 inch-baking pan.
I do suggest spraying a paper towel or using a little butter to wipe over the pan first to keep the marshmallows from sticking to the pan.
Place the pan into the oven over night in order for the marshmallows to dry out.

When you wake up in the morning you have magically created the largest rectangle marshmallow you kids have ever seen!
The wait is finally over! Take the mixture out and place it on a large cookie sheet dusted with additional powder sugar for shaping the marshmallows.

Now here comes the fun part for the kiddos! Time to shape the marshmallows……

Or maybe steal a taste of one or two…..

The marshmallows taste very fresh. The kids were proud that we made them with our own hands. Mason and Madeline have enjoyed these little heart shaped masterpieces in their hot chocolate. They are also perfect as a stand-alone treat. Store these fluffy pink hearts in a sealed storage container. They stay fresh for at least a week of enjoyment.

We hope you whip up a batch for a cupid or two! I am sure they will put a smile on anyone’s face. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Enjoy
XO,
Simply Happenstance

Nicole and Sara reside in Southern California. Their blog {Simply Happenstance} is about the simple happenings in life…a return to the old with a hint of the new. They are two mommies who are both married to firefighters, trying to balance life {with their 6 kids between the two of them}. They blog about their shared passion for baking, as well as, highlighting the things in life that are simple, yet beautiful. My HipstaPrint 915072965

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:

Always in Season

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Jennifer Wolfe

I always have a bit of a holiday let down. December is a big month for me: the start of ski season, my birthday, and of course, Christmas. Add in teaching junior high during this month full of expectation, and by the time Dec. 31 rolls around, I’m done.

In other words, I’m not a big New Year’s Eve fan.

I think the last time I actually went to a big New Year’s Eve party was in 1995 when I was pregnant with my first child.

I remember the millenium, taking down the Christmas decorations while the news blasted from my 9-inch black and white tv. I remember it well. Then, I had a three-year-old daughter AND a three-month old son. Fun times.

Needless to say, this New Year’s Eve I don’t anticipate much action, other than dinner with my now thirteen-year-old son, some quiet reflection time, maybe a cold beer, and, of course, some writing.

What I’ve also learned this year is that if I flip the holidays around, they don’t have to bring me down. In fact, I’ve learned that a few things about the holidays never go out of season, they instead are cultivated all year long:

Holiday Spirit

This year we simplified the holidays. We cut back to the most important and meaningful traditions, and enjoyed the spirit behind the season. My daughter noted that there wasn’t a day when we didn’t have holiday music playing in the background. We didn’t miss a chance to sing along with “Feliz Navidad” or Taylor Swift’s “Sounds of the Season”. I learned that holiday spirit alive doesn’t mean leaving up the Christmas tree until spring; rather, embracing the simple, the fun, and the merry all year long is the route to happiness.

Getting Back to Roots

As a parent, I feel obligated to put my children first. Always. The holiday season cements these feelings – isn’t Christmas ‘for the kids’ anyways? No, I don’t consider myself a martyr, but rather, I see parenting as a huge commitment. And in order to do it ‘right’, I need to take it seriously. However, in 2012, I realized that I can take myself seriously, too. I’ve wanted to write professionally since I can remember. I studied English during college, and once I graduated, my writing stayed hidden inside journals. This year I learned that getting back to my roots meant taking a chance and being vulnerable. Last year, writing brought passion back to my life, along with courage, happiness, sadness, and stories, too.

Generosity

This year I adored watching my children plan and purchase their gifts for others. With the innocence of children, they worked hard to find just the right gift for just the right person. Listening to them exclaim that they ‘cannot wait for me to open it’ made my heart beam. And despite all the tragedy of Sandy Hook, we learned that we can pay it forward. As my son and I participated in #26Acts, he declared it ‘awesome-just like a treasure hunt’ except in reverse. We didn’t finish all 26 by Christmas, but that’s more than ok; as we give freely in 2013, we hope others will be inspired to freely give.

Good Friends

I actually didn’t attend one holiday party this year. I prefer to keep it quiet, keep it simple, and keep it at home. So much of our lives is spent out in public that for me, the holiday season is a perfect time to spend with family. That’s not to say that good friends aren’t part of our equation, but simply, in a different, more personal way. I still send Christmas cards, and rejoice with each envelope that comes through our mailbox. In 2012 my list of friends grew in ways I could never have predicted; I met teachers from all over the country, new friends in Indonesia, and grew to know writers online from around the world. Good friends aren’t just honored during the holidays, they are nurtured all year long.

So I wish you all a happy and healthy 2013, the comfort of family and friends, and the courage to do what you never thought you could.

I’ll drink to that!

Jennifer Wolfe

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:

Fun Holiday Times

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Jennifer Wolfe

What has happened to the month of December? Is it really almost Christmas?

Panic hits. I haven’t finished shopping. In fact, I’ve barely started.

There’s something wrong when Christmas comes down to shopping. Buying something just for the sake of checking off a wish list isn’t my idea of fun holiday times. I don’t even really like the idea of making a ‘Christmas list’ unless you’re under the age of 18; adults shouldn’t be asking for things. Christmas should be for the children, right?

I love trying to find the ‘perfect’ gift for a family member. If someone has to give me a list of what to buy, I might as well just give them cash and let them pick it out for themselves. Gift lists take all the mystery out of gift-giving.

Panic builds. I’ve only got a few days left to find gifts…I suppose there are always gift cards. Cookies. A nice bottle of wine, or maybe a plant. Eew, but these feel so…impersonal.

I really dislike Christmas shopping when I feel panicked and pressured. I much prefer sitting by the fire, sipping some Christmas tea and listening to Bing croon some Christmas classics. Shopping malls are DEFINITELY not my hangout. I cannot stand crowds, traffic jams in parking lots, people struggling with oversized shopping bags, and the kids crying in the strollers who just want to go home and play.

Panic intensifies. The deadline is looming. I need gifts, and I’ve got teenage girls to shop for!

I’ve got an idea…and it won’t involve any driving, fussing with salespeople or fighting crowds! I can simply pull out my laptop, sip my tea and take advantage of a great holiday offer that will surely make my long-haired teenage girls happy on Christmas day!

Fekkai is offering 10% off your total order and a complimentary exclusive holiday headband with $50 purchase (while supplies last) Promo Code: HEADBAND.
Click here to take advantage of this special offer:

And just think: with one click, you can save money, find unique gifts for people on your list, and not have to leave the coziness of your living room!

Now THAT’S what I call some fun holiday times!

Jennifer Wolfe

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:

baking with mamawolfe: Lily’s Apple Tart

Posted on December 2, 2012 by Jennifer Wolfe

I guess by some people’s standards I have a large family. Three sisters, two brothers – some with different moms, but all the same dad. Four of us have our own children, three have spouses, and all have dogs. Throw in a few miscellaneous relatives that typically show up for holiday gatherings (occasionally including my mom, long divorced from my dad) and we end up with quite a crew.

We all anticipate different parts of the gathering, but aside from seeing siblings and those relatives coming in from out of town, one of my most looked forward to parts of the holidays is baking dessert with my daughter. Spending the day in the kitchen with her is incomparable; we talk, laugh, strategize and sometimes even sing – anything Taylor Swift being our favorite baking accompaniment.

This year, we decided to go simple yet elegant, and adapt a recipe from one of our favorites, Ina Garten. Her apple tart just seemed like the perfect complement to a heavy dinner: sweet apples, flaky crust, and a tang of apricot jam make this simple dessert one you’ll want to try for any holiday gathering. So grab your favorite baking partner, crank up the tunes, and have some fun!

You’ll need:

For the pastry:

2 c. flour

1/2 t. salt

1 T. sugar

1 1/2 sticks cold butter, diced

1/2 c. ice water

For the apples:

4-5 Granny Smith apples

1/2 c. sugar

1 T. cinnamon

1/2 stick cold butter, diced

1/2 c. apricot jam

2 T. water

Steps:

To make the pastry, put flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor and pulse for a few seconds to combine.

Add the butter and pulse until it is the size of small peas.

With motor running, pour ice water down feed tube and pulse just until dough sticks together-not too long or the pastry will be tough.

Knead into a ball on a floured board.

Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Roll the dough approximately 10×14 inches. Trim the edges-it’s a rustic tart, so no need to be perfect. Refrigerate the dough while preparing the apples.

To make the apples, peel and cut them in half through the stem. Be sure to remove stem and any leftover peel.

Use a melon baller to scoop the core – it leaves the apples in a pretty shape.

Slice apples crosswise in about 1/4 inch slices. Try to be uniform.

Lay apple slices diagonally down the center of the pastry first, then fill in the sides until it is covered.

Sprinkle with combination of sugar and cinnamon. Dot with butter.

Bake about 45 minutes until pastry is browned, and edges of apples start to brown. Rotate after 20 minutes. Watch carefully – if it starts to drip in the oven, place another sheet below to catch the mess.

When baked, heat the apricot jam with water and spread completely over the top.

Loosen tart so it doesn’t stick. When cool, slice in squares. Can be served warm or at room temperature.