Fun Ways to Study and Celebrate Hibernation!
Five fun ways to celebrate hibernation in winter. Save for later!
The Sunniest Sun Bread
Sun Bread is a sweet book by Elisa Kleven that doesn't specifically mention the Winter Solstice, but revolves around bringing the sun back after a period of cold gray weather, so it's a perfect fit. Making your own sun bread is a popular activity this time of year and there is even a recipe in the back of the book. That recipe contains wheat, which I am allergic to however, and some other things that may not work for your family. So what to do? I struggled with this a lot when I first found out I was a celiac, especially around the holidays. There are so many fun traditional breads-- and finding gluten free versions of them was nearly impossible. But then I figured out the secret. Good base recipes.…
Fun Nature-y Ways to Celebrate 12th Night with Kids
5 ways to celebrate the 12th Night with kids!! Pin for later! Click the pictures below for more info.
The Best Winter Solstice Party Ideas
We love to celebrate the changing of the seasons and the longest night! Looking for some fun and easy ways to celebrate with friends and family? Check out some of our favorite parties and celebrations! Fun for all ages! Winter Solstice Bonfire Party A warm bonfire is always welcome on a cold winter day and the perfect way to have fun with friends outside for the Winter Solstice. Ancient people traditionally burned huge bonfires on the Solstice to welcome back the sun. So invite some friends over to welcome back the sun and keep toasty warm while celebrating! Make sure you have plenty of chairs and warm blankets to keep everyone cozy. Hot chocolate is always a good choice this time of year, you can even make it over the…
Rosehip Syrup after a Frost
Rosehips are one of my favorite things to forage. The woods around me are overrun with invasive multiflora rose and while its hips are quite small, they still make a delicious rosehip syrup. In North America, Rosa multiflora was originally introduced from Asia as a soil conservation measure, a natural hedge to border grazing land, and as a hardy rootstock. It proved much too hardy and quickly escaped cultivation crowding out native species with dense hedges and popping up in wooded areas. Multiflora hips can be harvested without concern, as they are invasive and not a preferred wildlife food. They are also fun and easy for kids to forage- the hips are bright red and easy to spot! Like all roses, the multiflora produces hips that are edible. Rosehips are…
2023 Winter Solstice Countdown Calendar
Countdown to the Winter Solstice with activities, recipes and crafts. Come back each day for a new surprise! The doors won't open until the correct day (So 1 opens on December 1st, on December 5th you'll be able to open 1-5, etc.) The calendar includes two exclusive excerpts from my Winter Solstice book that will only be available through this calendar and only in December 2023. This calendar is now closed. Look for a new calendar in November 2024!! Click on the image below to go to the calendar!! (This will take you to a new window) Click once to open the door and click a second time to open the tutorial. Happy Winter Solstice! Click Here for the materials list-- there are some spoilers here, but I tried my…
Winter Solstice Cookies
When I first found out I was a celiac (as an adult) I lost my joy for baking for a few years. I had to basically relearn how to bake before I could experiment and be creative again. I am finally back and excited to experiment with colors and flavors again. Last year I focused on natural colors and herbal flavors and these are some of my favorites. Longest Night Cookies Raspberry Rose Moons Orange, Rosemary, Tahini & Honey Cookies Winter Walk Gingerbread Nettle Rosehip Thumbprints
Longest Night Cookies
Celebrate the longest night of the year with these naturally colored shortbread cookies. You can skip the spruce needle powder if you don't want to deal with it and they will still be delicious, but it is a nice touch. These are gluten free cookies, if you prefer a gluten full version, use your favorite shortbread recipe and add the blue butterfly pea powder and the spruce powder with the dry ingredients. Ingredients: Cookies: 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature ¾ cup powdered sugar 2 tsp vanilla 2 large egg yolks 105 g oat flour 105 g sorghum flour 80 g sweet white rice flour (mochiko) 80 g tapioca starch 1-2 TBS blue butterfly pea powder 1 tsp powdered dry spruce needles (optional, powder in a coffee grinder) 1 tsp…
Hot Chocolate Hike
There is nothing more exciting them packig up a thermos of hot chocolate and going on a winter hike. I like to choose routes that I know will have a place to sit down partway through, because while we usually have no problems sitting on the ground, in winter that can be too cold. We always bring these handy collapsible cups to make serving easier. (And they are infinately entertaining on their own.
Winter Walk Gingerbread Cookies
Replace the spices in your favorite gingerbread recipe with the following herbal blend for a spicy and woodsy take on a traditional winter sweet. Decorate the cookies with royal icing, rose petals, juniper berries*, poppy seeds, rosemary sugar and rose sugar. Ingredients: 2 tsp cinnamon 1 ½ tsp ginger 1 ½ tsp cardamom 1 tsp ground rosemary ¾ tsp ground juniper berry To decorate: Rose sugar Rosemary sugar Whole juniper berries* Whole poppy seeds Small dried rosebuds Dried rose petals To make the sugars: Mix ground rose and sugar until you reach desired color and flavor. Mix ground rosemary and sugar until you reach desired color and flavor. To make royal icing: Method: Mix and bake your cookies according to the recipe instructions. Allow them to cool and then…