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Get into the holiday
spirit – whether you celebrate Christmas,
Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or a combination of the three
– with these fun crafts and foods. They’re sure
to entertain and delight kids of all ages!
RECIPES
Tasty Table
Lights
Prep time: 10 minutes / Baking time:
45 minutes / Makes 18 cookies
 2 (9.5-ounce) bags M&M’s Minis Milk Chocolate
Candies
1 (18-ounce) roll refrigerated sugar cookie
dough
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 (16-ounce) can vanilla frosting
1 (14-ounce) package red licorice laces
Preheat oven to 350°. Knead flour into cookie
dough until smooth. Roll dough out to 1/4-inch
thickness. Using printable pattern (www.brightideas.com)
or Christmas light cookie cutter, cut out
shapes. With spatula, gently transfer cookies to
baking sheet. Using drinking straw, press hole
through bottom of light bulb “stem” for each
cookie. Bake 15 minutes. Transfer to wire rack
and let cool completely.
Separate chocolate candies by color and set
aside. Spread vanilla frosting on top of each
cookie. Arrange a single color of chocolate
candies on top of each cookie. Let cookies dry
30 minutes. Run licorice laces through each
hole, connecting cookies into 1 continuous
strand. (www.familyfeatures.com)
Sweet Santa
Cookie Pops
Prep time: 30 minutes / Baking time:
12 to 17 minutes / Decoration time: 20 minutes
Makes 10 pops
1 (14-ounce) bag M&M’s Milk Chocolate Candies
for the Holidays
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
 1 (18-ounce) roll store-bought refrigerated
cookie dough
1 (16-ounce) can vanilla frosting
Red food coloring
1 bag mini marshmallows
10 large cupcakes, iced with red frosting
(optional)
Parchment paper
Preheat oven to 350°. Line two cookie sheet
pans with parchment paper. Knead flour into
refrigerated cookie dough until smooth. Roll out
dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out 10
triangles and 10 circles, re-rolling scraps if
necessary. Line up circles on prepared pans, and
press 1 lollipop stick halfway into each circle.
Arrange 1 triangle on top of each circle,
overlapping by 1/2 inch, with tip curved to
resemble hat. Bake 12 to 17 minutes, or until
golden brown. Remove from oven, transfer to wire
rack and let cool completely.
Tint 3/4 cup frosting light pink; set aside.
Tint remaining frosting red and spoon into a
resealable plastic bag; snip small corner and
pipe frosting onto each hat to cover. Decorate
with M&M’s; place 1 mini marshmallow at very
top. (For better results, work on one cookie at
a time.) Spread pink frosting onto circle part,
and arrange face with M&M’s for eyes, nose and
mouth. Use marshmallows cut in half for beard,
and whole marshmallows for brim of hat.
Tip: Presenting cookie pops in cupcakes is
optional. If you prefer, simply offer them as
pops. When serving them for a special occasion,
consider wrapping each in a piece of cellophane
(about 12 inches square), tied closed with a
piece of curling ribbon.
(www.familyfeatures.com)
Books, Music and Movies
A special holiday book can create memories to
last a lifetime. Explore these options for a
good read.
 
The Ziz and the Hanukkah Miracle by Jacqueline
Jules. $17.95. Follow the adventure of the Ziz
and the miracle of the Hanukkah oil.
Spot 7: Christmas by KIDSLABEL. $12.95. Seek
and find Christmas treasures.
On Christmas Eve by Ann M. Martin. $15.99.
Discover the miracles of Christmas Eve through
the story of Tess.
Merry Christmas: A Hand-Puppet Board Book by
Scholastic Inc. $12.99. A fun, interactive book
for the
little one.
The Soldiers’ Night Before Christmas by Trish
Holland and Christine Ford. $8.99. Whether or
not you have family overseas, everyone will be
touched by this inspirational look at the
soldiers’ Christmas.
Music is an essential element for the holiday
season. Update your collection with these CDs.
“Eloise at Christmastime,” $9.98. Great tunes
such as “Rudolph” and “Jingle Bell Rock”.
“The Wiggles: Tinsel Town Tunes,” $19.99.
Combines classics like “Away in a Manger” and
original songs. Also includes karaoke versions.
“The Berenstain Bears Save Christmas: The
Musical,” $14.98. Experience the magical music
from the musical theatre production.
The holidays are a great time to enjoy a DVD
with the family. Try these ideas for a little
holiday cheer and laughter.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
50th Birthday Deluxe Edition $19.98. This
special edition of the Grinch classic is now
digital and includes extensive bonus material.
Cartoon Network Christmas: Vol. 3 $14.97.
Enjoy five holiday episodes from “Foster’s Home
for Imaginary Friends,” “The Grim Adventures of
Billy & Mandy,” Ed, Edd n Eddy,” “Codename: Kids
Next Door” and “Camp Lazlo.”
Bah, HumDuck! A Looney Tunes Christmas $19.98.
This hilarious, modern-day version of A
Christmas Carol is sure to spread holiday cheer.
The Happy Elf $19.98. This adorable comedy
follows Eubie, an overly optimistic elf, who is
determined to bring the Christmas spirit to
Bluesville. Features the voice and music of
Grammy-winner
Harry Connick Jr.
CRAFTS
Hanukkah
Milk
Carton Dreidel. Materials: Small milk carton
(like from school lunches), paint, glue and
pencil. Rinse out the empty milk carton. Glue
the opening closed and glue the two folds back
together. Paint the outside of the carton for
the dreidel. Poke a pencil through the bottom
and out of the top of the carton.(www.amazingmoms.com)
Star of David Hanger. Materials: Paper
plate, scissors, string, paint and paintbrush.
Draw 6-pointed star on the plate. Cut out the
star. Paint both sides in a bright color. Punch
a hole in the top and tie a ribbon or string
through hole to hang.
(FamilyFun.com)
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa Window Candles. Materials:
Construction paper, colored tissue paper, glue,
scissors. Fold construction paper in half. With
the fold as the center, draw half of a candle
and flame. Cut out the candle and flame. Unfold
the paper. On the back, glue the tissue paper to
fill in the flame and candle. (www.amazingmoms.com)
Corny Kwanzaa. Materials: ear of corn,
tempera paints...black, red, green paint, paper.
Draw the letter K in block form, make it large
enough so that the corn will roll over the
lines. Break or cut an ear of corn into thirds.
Dip each piece in a color of paint. Roll inside
of the letter K. Do one ear of corn for the
three sections of the K. You can also write: “K
is for Kwanzaa” at the top. Let dry.
(www.theideabox.com)
 Christmas
Snow Globe. Materials: Clean baby food jar,
spray paint, floral clay, glitter and a foil
figurine. Spray paint the lid of the baby food
jar. Next, spread floral clay around the inside
of the lid. Place a foil figurine and glitter in
the jar. Add water and seal the lid tightly.
(dltk-holidays.com)
Pasta Wreath. Materials: Various types of
pasta, heavy paper plate, spray paint, glue and
ribbon. Cut out the center of the paper plate to
create the wreath and punch a hole in the rim.
Tie a ribbon through the hole so that it can be
hung. Glue on the pasta to the plate. After glue
dries, spray paint the wreath. Use ribbon to
make a bow and glue onto the wreath.
(robinsfyi.com)
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