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Homemade Christmas

December 19, 2011 by Lindsay 25 Comments

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So this year I tried a bunch of new Christmas Cookie recipes….but none of them were really my own, so I thought I’d just do a quick little round-up post so you can see all the goodies I made 🙂

xmas cookies

As you can see, I was a busy little bee 🙂

cookies21

1) Peppermint Shortbread- I used this recipe and subbed peppermint extract for vanilla and added crushed candy canes.

2) Reese’s Stuffed Peanut Butter M&M Cookies-  I used this recipe and subbed m&ms for chocolate chips.

3) Cinnamon Roll Cookies- I used this recipe and subbed plain almonds for the nuts and left off the glaze.

4) Chocolate Caramelitas- I made these for the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap. I used this recipe with skim milk, chocolate chips, m&ms and pecans.

5) Molasses Cookies- I used this recipe and left out the cloves.

6) Peppermint Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies- I used this recipe and subbed applesauce for 1/2 the butter, decreased both sugars by 1/4 cup, used m&ms instead of white chocolate and added extra oats.

7) Toffee Chocolate Squares- I used this recipe but used half the butter, left out the nuts, added m&ms and spread the chocolate chips out when they melted.

8 ) Fudgy Cookies w/ Reese’s- I used this recipe but subbed skim milk for yogurt and added chopped Reese’s.

Put them all together and you’ve got one heck of a cookie plate to give to people!

This year, I was also looking for ideas for Christmas presents that I could make at home. I decided I wanted to make some homemade gift baskets.

Several weeks ago I started searching for ideas. The first one I decided on was homemade vanilla extract! As I kept searching, I ended up with a decent sized list and I was ready to get to work.

Here’s what I ended up putting together:

IMG 1320

Included in the baskets above, which I made for my managers at work and a couple friends:

-A loaf of homemade bread
-A loaf of quickbread (either pumpkin or banana) in a cute disposable miniloaf pan
-A ball jar full of homemade granola
–Homemade chapstick
–Homemade Moisturizing Lemon Hand Scrub
–Peppermint Bark in a Cookie Cutter –Homemade Vanilla Extract

IMG 1312

IMG 1319

These turned out to be a huge hit! They were relatively inexpensive AND they were fun to put together 🙂 A few  pieces of ribbon that I had laying around, some scrapbook paper cut with fun scissors for labels, cardboard boxes covered in wrapping paper and stuffed with tissue paper, some ball jars I had in the basement and a few $1.00 plastic containers.

Do you give homemade gifts?

Happy Holidays!
–Lindsay–

Today’s Workout:

I hopped on the treadmill this morning and walked another 3 miles. For the first 20 minutes I walked and read at 3.5 mph, incline 7.0. From minutes 20-25 I bumped it up to 3.7 mph. Then I put the book down and bumped it up to 4.0 mph. When I hit 2 miles, I increased my speed to 4.2 mph and finished 3 miles in 47:05.

After a short break for lunch, I headed back to the basement and did a new 100 workout. I modified the one I’ve been doing on Mondays: http://www.healthywithheather.com/2011/11/100-workout-strength/

And made it all legs.

Here’s what it looked it:

100 Workout-Legs

dec19

This took me 23 minutes. I used weights for the 100 squats, deadlifts and calf raises but did the rest with just bodyweight. My goal was to finish in under 25 minutes.

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About Lindsay

Lindsay Livingston is a Registered Dietitian and new mom from Columbus, Ohio. On her blog, she shares simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, workouts and snapshots of her life. Follow her on Twitter @LeanGrnBeanBlog and Instagram @TheLeanGreenBean and be sure to subscribe via RSS or email so you never miss a post!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. sarah (sarah learns) says

    December 19, 2011 at 10:04 AM

    wow – i am so impressed with all of your homemade gifts! i decided that next year is going to be a homemade christmas! i’ve already started pinning and starring ideas. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      December 19, 2011 at 11:58 AM

      awesome! lots of time to plan 🙂

      Reply
  2. Brittany @ GOtheXtraMile says

    December 19, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    Yumm so many good things here! I love giving homemade things as gifts. I love receiving homemade gifts as well 😀

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      December 19, 2011 at 11:58 AM

      me too! they’re the best!

      Reply
  3. Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef says

    December 19, 2011 at 11:22 AM

    awww, what fun presents! i definitely love giving homemade food gifts.

    Reply
  4. Parita @ myinnershakti says

    December 19, 2011 at 11:35 AM

    So, I have a proposition for you…COME WORK WITH ME!!! I’m a lot of fun to be around…promise! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      December 19, 2011 at 11:57 AM

      i would LOVE to 🙂

      Reply
  5. Stephanie @ On the Road to RD says

    December 19, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    Wow! You have some lucky friends!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      December 19, 2011 at 11:58 AM

      haha i think so 🙂 it sounds like they all liked them 🙂

      Reply
  6. Lauren @ Lawfully Wedded Wife says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    HOLY COW so many delicious looking treats! You have definitely been a busy bee! 🙂

    Reply
  7. Kaitlyn@TheTieDyeFiles says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:46 PM

    Love the idea of homemade chapstick. I just found a recipe for a vegan one, and the site had homemade recipes for a bunch of household and beauty stuff!

    Reply
  8. Kristen @ notsodomesticated says

    December 19, 2011 at 12:47 PM

    Wow, that is very impressive work! One year for Christmas, I made a CD of various Christian songs I like and gave it out to family and friends. I also like giving cookies as gifts. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Abby @ Abz 'n' Oats says

    December 19, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    You are amazing! Those gift baskets rock! 🙂

    Reply
  10. Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says

    December 19, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    This is such a cute idea! Those cinnamon roll cookies in particular sound amazing.

    Reply
  11. Lindsay @ In Sweetness and In Health says

    December 19, 2011 at 4:02 PM

    Oh my gosh those homemade gifts are so cute! I’ll definitely have to remember that idea for next year!

    Reply
  12. Emily says

    December 19, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    Oh my goodness. I am so impressed by these!
    Your creativeness is amazing! And everything looks so delicious. I love making homemade gifts for my friends but I’ve never done anything quite this extensive. I’m inspired!
    Your friends are miiighty lucky. 🙂

    Reply
  13. Rachel @ The Avid Appetite says

    December 19, 2011 at 5:35 PM

    wow, all of these gifts are amazing! every year I say that I will do homemade gifts, and every year I don’t do it…I suppose there is still time for next weekend!

    Reply
  14. Matt @ The Athlete's Plate says

    December 19, 2011 at 6:37 PM

    You can send me a homemade gift 😉

    Reply
  15. Jenn @ Peas and Crayons says

    December 19, 2011 at 8:02 PM

    That is seriously the best homemade gift bundle ever!!!!!!!! I totally need to start doing stuff like this for P’s care packages! I’ll be bugging you for tips super soon =) MWAH!!!!!

    Reply
  16. Liz (Little Bitty Bakes) says

    December 19, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    Aww, those little gift baskets are so cute! I would be very happy to receive one, that’s for sure.

    Reply
  17. Meg says

    December 19, 2011 at 9:00 PM

    Thanks for doing this sweetie 🙂 I love how you noted your substitutions too! THANK U! I want to do baking when I get home 🙂 If I want to alter the recipe a bit I might just come to you??????? 😉

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      December 19, 2011 at 9:02 PM

      Anytime girl!

      Reply
  18. Pure2raw Twins says

    December 19, 2011 at 9:59 PM

    love the idea of homemade gifts! and girl you out did yourself because everything looks great!!

    Reply
  19. Liz @ iheartvegetables says

    December 19, 2011 at 10:53 PM

    So many delicious treats! I love giving homemade gifts 🙂 But since I’m flying home, food gifts are sort of out of the question. My whole bag got emptied and searched last time because I packed peanut flour! haha

    Reply
  20. [email protected] says

    December 19, 2011 at 11:43 PM

    Yowza! You are a baking queen! I bow down!!! Amazing. Truly amazing!

    Reply

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Lindsay Livingston The Lean Green Bean Healthy Living Tips and Tricks

I'm a Registered Dietitian and mom of three from Columbus, Ohio. I use this blog to share simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, and an honest glimpse of motherhood!

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