There's Something About The Holidays...

I don't know what it is about this time of year, but I do know it's an uncontrollable urge. And once I get started, I just can't seem to stop.

No, it's not shopping, or any thing else you might be thinking. It's baking. Specifically, baking cookies. I enjoy creating in the kitchen all year round - dinners, cakes, herbal creations and new ideas for products for Celtic Chairde. But there's just something about Christmas and this space between holidays that makes me want to fill it with the wonderful smells and tastes of sweet temptation.

I've gone into this baking frenzy for years, staying up till all hours rolling and mixing and baking. For the last 10 (good heavens has it been that long!), Cindy and I have gathered the Friday and weekend after Thanksgiving and baked cookies till we couldn't stand anymore. Our record, I believe, is 23 batches and 16 types of cookies. Now THAT's a marathon! We share our goodies with co-workers, friends, family, and people we just like to say thank you to. We've collected all types of recipes, from the sublimely easy Pudding Cookies (see below for this recipe treasure) to the exotic Rose Geranium Cookies. We have fun discovering new recipes, and laugh at our disasters!

Cookies, whether you're leaving them for Santa or enjoying them with coffee and conversation, are a sweet way to share with friends. Since I can't give you cookies, I want to share a great recipe with you - the amazing Pudding Cookie.


I discovered this recipe on the inside of a box of instant pudding. It's simple, and highly adaptable, giving you a vast variety of delectables with a simple recipe.

PUDDING COOKIE

2 1/4 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 package, 4 serving size of instant pudding - choose your flavor!
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
12 oz of your favorite addition (see combinations below)

Mix the flour and baking soda. Cream the butter, sugars, pudding mix and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and continue to beat. Gradually add in the flour and baking soda. Stir in you addition. Use a teaspoon size disher, ice cream scoop or regular teaspoons and drop batter onto ungreased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes. Makes about 5 dozen.

If you like your cookies crispier, add an additional 1/4 cup of granulated sugar.

More of a butter cookie fan, add an extra stick of butter.

Here are some suggestions for combinations: Vanilla pudding and dried cherries, banana pudding and chocolate chips (my favorite!), chocolate pudding and crushed peppermint pieces, lemon pudding and chopped dried strawberries, pistachio pudding and chopped pistachios, vanilla pudding and cinnamon chips, butterscotch pudding and toffee bits, and so on and so on.

Add some fun to your holiday craziness - have a cookie baking frenzy of your own!

Find the Perfect Gift for the Holidays at The Crafts Extravaganza at Birchwood Manor

Holiday Shopping has almost qualified for an Olympic event. But you can stop the craziness and rediscover the joy of the season by stopping by the Arts & Crafts Extravaganza at Birchwood Manor in Whippany. This spectacular craft fair takes place on Wednesday December 3rd, 2008 from 10 am to 8 pm. The Birchwood Manor is at 111 N. Jefferson Blvd, Whippany NJ. You'll be able to find room upon room of unique handmade treasures from artists and crafters from all over the state.

Whether you're looking for clothes, wood work, candles, and - naturally,

the beauty products from us at Celtic Chairde Creations, you'll find it here. We'll have our lip balms, body butters, bath products and lotion bars, as well as gift baskets and a few surprises. Mention this blog post - and we'll give you a free lip balm!

See you at the Birchwood!

Happy Thankgiving!

Cindy and I, and our families, wish you a Happy Thanksgiving full of good food, family, friends and memories!

Lá an Altaithe Shona!
Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Marsh Mallow ... not Marshmallow

Tonight I was making Honey Pumpkin Face Mask. The last of my pumpkins had been roasted up and we were running low. I gathered up the materials I needed - honey, green tea, milk powder, some other herbs and my powdered marsh mallow root. It made me think of summer on this cold autumn evening for a few reasons.

First, I have a lovely stand of marsh mallow plants that spring up every year. It's one of those tall, stately plants that adds a lovely touch to the back of a garden, but you have to be careful not to let it run wild!

Second, it made me think of s'mores and the other marshmallow.

Marsh Mallows are beautiful, with many healthful and beneficial properties. It has wonderful

healing properties, which are even mention in Homers Illiad. It is emollient, demulcent, and soothing to sore throats and irritations. This soothing quality is the reason it is a part of our Honey Pumpkin Face Mask.

When the dried root is soaking, it creates a gel which helps coat inflamed areas and relieve the pain and reduce redness. And the gel was used to make the original Marshmallows.

I've often thought of making marshmallows the old fashioned way, and I may yet. In the meantime, I'll just rest here with my face mask on, dreaming of summer. And maybe I'll make some s'mores.

Join us at the Wonderful Sea Girt Holiday Craftmarket!

This weekend we run full on into the holiday season. One November 22 & 23rd, you can find Celtic Chairde Creations at the Sea Girt Holiday Craftmarket. Although relatively small, there are over 50 crafters presenting unique hand made items suitable for any holiday shopping list.

The event is held at the Sea Girt School on Route 71 and Bell Place in Sea Girt. One of my favorite parts of this show is the cafe. Eighth graders serve as waiters for some of the finest craft show food I've ever had.

We hope you'll come by and visit. There are only 4 more events that Celtic Chairde will be participating in before the Christmas. So stop by and select the perfect gifts for teachers, co-workers, family and friends.