Tuesday, December 13, 2011

St. Lucy's Day


We had a most exciting morning in the Cotter home. Bean and I woke up early to prepare traditional treats for the Feast of St. Lucy, including Saffron Buns (above) and St. Lucia's Braided Bread (below).


I just use Pillsbury cans for both of them, you can get the details and history of this Feast from my post last year.

 After breakfast was ready we woke up the boys with our surprise!


Happy Feast Day!


Monday, December 12, 2011

Hot Chocolate Cones

Last week I was in charge of the craft for our Little Flowers Girls' Club meeting (think Catholic Girl Scouts). In the club the girls learn about a virtue and a saint at each meeting. This month was orderliness and St. Zita, who was a servant.

With Christmas around the corner I wanted to do something that could be a gift, and since St. Zita often worked in the kitchen, we made an edible one! The girls were given the instructions which they needed to follow in order (orderliness, check) for the craft to turn out right.

Introducing...


Hot Chocolate Cones.

We made a bunch of these and are giving them out this week to Bean's various extra-curricular teachers. They are simple enough that she was almost able to make them entirely on her own, which made her very proud. BTW, I didn't invent them, familyfun.go.com did, maybe. But, they don't have pictures and I like pictures when doing a project, so I took some for you.

Here is what you will need:


  • Hot Chocolate mix (I bought the individual packets because they were on sale)
  • Marshmallows
  • Chocolate chips
  • Cone bags (Hobby Lobby has them)
  • Clear rubberbands (we used the little clear hairbands)
  • Scissors
  • Items for tags (ribbon, glue, hole punch, card stock, directions)


Step 1: Empty 4 packets of cocoa mix into a cone bag


Step 2: Trim the bag down, rubberband it shut and put it into another cone bag.


Step 3: Layer in 1/4 c. chocolate chips and 3/4 c. marshmallows.


Step 4: Rubberband and trim again.


Looking good!


Step 5: Add a tag!

Here are the directions off the tag so you can copy and paste:


Heat 5 cups of milk and chocolate chips over medium heat until the chocolate chips have melted. Reduce heat to low and stir in the cocoa mix until the drink is smooth. Serve with marshmallows. Makes 4-6 servings.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

DIY Catholic Christmas Gifts

Last year I posted some ideas for homemade Christmas gifts. I thought I'd put them into one post for you. Aren't I thoughtful.

So roll up your selves, get out your glue gun (wait, I don't think any of these crafts require a glue gun, but you get the idea) and start crafting!

Holy Medal Wine Charmers

It doesn't get much easier than this...


Saints Matching Game

You can do this one with family members too...


Christmas Coasters

A simple way to reuse those Christmas cards...


Family Board Game Pieces

Pair this with a fun Catholic board game and you are in...


Felt Bags

Throw in a few books on the Saints, virtues or the faith and it's all in the bag...

okay that was bad...


Flower Headbands

Yea, they aren't really Catholic themed, but they are so cute, cheap and fun...


I'm still recovering from making 2,400 chocolate covered pretzels, so I have nothing new to show for this year. Yet.

I hope.