Grandma, Baking, Holiday Crafts and Kids

One afternoon in December, my 4 grandchildren spend the afternoon with Papa and me. I have begun a tradition with my grandchildren to help with this by babysitting my 2 granddaughters and 2 grandsons one afternoon in December. My sons and daughters-in-law love this. It frees them up to get their shopping done and maybe even get their gifts wrapped before Christmas Eve.

The day generally begins early with the kids arriving by 9am. We start baking cookies and my "famous" cinnamon rolls. Well, truthfully, these are my Mother's recipe which she always made during the holidays. Growing up, when we would ask when we could eat them, my mother would say she was saving them for a 'rainy day'. Which never seemed to happen until Christmas. These have been a tradition in our house and Christmas just isn't the same without them. I've posted the recipe below - try these you won't be sorry!

Makes about 42 rolls

INGREDIENTS

Dough Cinnamon Mixture

1 cup lukewarm water
4 pkg. dry yeast
3 cups lukewarm milk
2 sticks margarine (melted)
1 cup sugar
3 1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs

Soak yeast in 1 cup lukewarm water. Mix milk, sugar, salt,
eggs, margarine. Add yeast mixture. Add flour.

Knead--Let rise till double.
Punch down and Knead--Let rise again till double.

Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture
2 cups sugar
8 tsp cinnamon
Mix together - set aside to be spread on rolled out dough


Gooey Stuff
2 sticks margarine
14-15 cups flour 4 sticks margarine
2 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups Karo
Mix and heat Gooey Stuff ingredients until margarine melts.
Pour in baking pans.

Roll out dough, spread margarine, sprinkle with cinnamon
mixture. Cut in 1 inch strips, roll
Place rolls in pans on the Gooey Stuff

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 375 degrees.

Remove rolls from pans immediately after removing them from the
oven. Be careful, this step is messy.



Frosting:
Powdered Sugar
margarine
milk and vanilla
Make standard white frosting using listed ingredients (to taste).

Spread frosting over rolls.

After the cookies and cinnamon rolls are in the oven we begin working on a craft. I assemble the necessary materials before they arrive so each child can create the "perfect gift" for mom and dad. With glue and glitter and lots of concentration, each child crafts a gift for their parents. Everyone gets a little messy and we all have a great time. There is much concentration and lots of laughter before the end of the day and Mom & Dad return to wisk them away home.

Here is a book that is full of whimsical projects that your children will love to make. If you have been searching for easy to follow projects with their complete supply lists - this book may be for you! Click on the link below for more information.

Little Kid Christmas Craft Book

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