Let’s Get Crafty…

The homes on our street are lit, pretty decorations adorn the lawns, and there is a festive cheer in the air. Could there be a better time to get crafty? Those of you who are more organized than me may have already completed all your holiday crafts and planned your holiday baking schedule… I am the queen of procrastination, so my holiday cards got done only yesterday, including the ones that have to reach India.

Anyway, this year was all about the hot glue gun, my new favorite toy. I bought it to make my Fall wreath and since then, I have been using it around the house, for crafts, for fixing broken ceramics, etc.

If you’re like me, I am sure you’ll get hungry by the time you are done with the cards so if I were you, I’d bake these yumm cranberry-ginger cookies before hand so that you’ll have something to munch on as you get crafty.

Ingredients:

1. Vegetable oil – ½ cup
2. Eggs – 3
3. Sugar (white/brown) – 1 cup
4. All purpose flour – 3 ¼ cups (can be a blend of wheat and APF too)
5. Baking powder – 1 tablespoon
6. Ginger powder – 1 tablespoon
7. Dried cranberries – 1 cup (can be substituted with nuts and other dry fruits as per taste)
8. Unsweetened dried coconut flakes – 3/4 cup
   

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 375⁰ F
2. In a bowl, beat together the oil, eggs, and sugar
3. In another bowl, combine flour(s), baking powder, and ginger powder
4. Stir into the egg mixture to form a cookie dough-like mixture
5. Divide the dough into half and roll into the length of your cookie sheet
6. Press down to ½ inch thickness
7. Bake for 25-30 minutes
8. Remove and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes
9. Once they are cool enough to touch, slice them into ½ inch slices
10. Place the cut side facing down and bake for another 6-10 minutes or until both sides are crisp and toasty
11. Enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea

Now that your snack is ready, it’s time to start with the cards. This year’s cards were inspired by various crafts I found online (being creatively challenged, I ‘take inspiration’ from more creative folks ;-)).

You’ll need the following to make these cards:

1. White construction paper
2. Red and gold sequins
3. Red and green ribbons
4. Hot glue gun (optional)/ any strong glue
5. Scissors
6. Pencil
7. Green color pencil
8. Green acrylic paint
9. Old tooth brush

Until I write again, get into the holiday spirit, let your creative juices flow, and get crafty… and Bon Appétit