Christmas Candy

I am sad to report that my much anticipated (by me) Christmas candy will have to go down in the books as a fail.  Though I award them points for cuteness, they taste like wads of sugar.  Slightly grainy sugar.
Which, I suppose, is what most Christmas candy actually is.
But still.

Christmas Baking

There's a whole lotta Christmas baking going on around here.
It's about time to start making some of those holiday recipes I've been collecting, don't you think?

Like this one from Family Circle, Saint Lucia Buns, from 1990.
I've always wanted to make these.

Here are some cookies from The Festive Christmas Cookbook, which first caught my eye in 2001.  They're called Marthe Nussbaumer's Dukatentalers, and I think it's high time Marthe's recipe came to life in my kitchen.

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Crisp Bonbons (with Rice Krispies!  Yum!) I just came across last week.  Good timing.  They are from the culinary mystery Final Sentence by Daryl Wood Gerber.

And then there are these nummy little appetizers. Tasty and simple, I've already made them three times in the last couple weeks.

You start with pita bread.  With a small cookie cutter, cut out circles then toast in the oven for about 6 minutes at 375 degrees. 

Top with a dab of whole berry cranberry sauce and a sprinkling of grated Cheddar cheese, broil quickly to melt cheese, and voila!  Yummy, healthy little snacks.  Perfect for munching while you're following your favorite football team.  I came across the recipe in a magazine advertisement; its origin, though, is from Healthy Seasonal Recipes blog.

So . . . any exciting Christmas cookery going on at your house?