Christmas – Lubbocks Home and Family Magazine

Christmas Recipes

Courtney Dietz — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 00:35:00 +0000

Christmas Recipes

Coco Dietz

Classic Sugar Cookies:

1 Cup Butter

1 Cup Sugar

2 Eggs

1 Teaspoon Milk

½ Teaspoon Vanilla

½ Teaspoon Salt

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

½ Cup Sour Cream

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

Flour

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Mix in order and add enough flour to roll out the dough. Chill and roll to ¼” thick. Cut into shapes and bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes.

Buttercream Icing:

½ Cup Shortening

½ Cup Butter

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

4 Cups sifted Powdered Sugar

2 Tablespoons Milk

Cream butter and shortening, add vanilla. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time. Add milk and whip.

Swedish Ginger Cookies:

1 Cup Butter

1 ½ Cup Sugar

1 Egg

1 ½ Tablespoon Grated Orange Peel

1 ½ Tablespoon Corn Syrup

1 Tablespoon Water

2 Tablespoon Baking Soda

3 ¼ Cup Sifted Flour

2 Tablespoon Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon Ginger

½ Teaspoon Cloves

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter and sugar until combined. Add egg and beat until light and fluffy. Add orange peel, corn syrup, and water. Mix well. Sift together dry ingredients and stir into a creamed mixture. Chill thoroughly. Roll out to ⅛” thick. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. Yield: 8 dozen.

Pumpkin Pie:

2 Eggs, Slightly Beaten

1 Can Pumpkin

¾ Cup Sugar

½ Teaspoon Salt

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

½ Teaspoon Ginger

¼ Teaspoon Cloves

1 Can Evaporated Milk

Combine ingredients in the order given; pour into a 9” pie shell. Bake 15 minutes at 425 degrees and then 45 minutes at 350.

Pecan Pie:

1 Cup Corn Syrup

1 Cup Brown Sugar

3 Eggs

1 Cup Pecans

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Add ingredients one at a time to the syrup. Pour into the pie crust. Bake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Apple Pie:

5 Cups Slices, Peeled Apples

½ Cup Brown Sugar

2 Tablespoons Flour

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

Dash of Salt

2 Tablespoons Butter

Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Mix with apples. Fill the pie and dot top with butter. Top with crust. Bake at 400 degrees for 50 minutes.

Local Christmas Fun

Courtney Dietz — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 23:52:00 +0000

Local Christmas Fun

Kara Hyden

The Christmas season is quickly approaching, and families will be looking for fun things to do; places to see lights, Santa, and family-friendly events. We’ve curated a list of exciting and unique opportunities for all things Christmas in the Lubbock area.

Carol of Lights at Texas Tech University

Saturday, December 2 at 7:00 PM

This year, Texas Tech has been celebrating their centennial year, and the Carol of Lights is included in the celebration. Although this will be the 65th annual event, it’s bigger than ever before. This year includes live entertainment, new staging, lighting and sound, along with a big fireworks display. The event is held at Memorial Circle and the Science Quad campus.

The Carol of Lights is one of Texas Tech’s oldest and largest traditions. If you have a Christmas bucket list, this event should be on it. It’s free, but be sure to arrive early to get a good spot.

Ranching Heritage Center’s Candlelight at the Ranch

December 8 & 9, 6:30-9:00 PM

This year, the Ranching Heritage Center celebrates its 45th event. Although it’s free, they ask for a $5 per family donation.

Holiday scenes will be recreated in 15 historic structures, and visitors are provided maps. All pathways are lit to help with strollers and wheelchairs so everyone can enjoy the historic ranch. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Take your family and enjoy a throwback Christmas experience.

Adventure Park

Dinner with Santa: December 8th & 15th, 5:00-7:00 PM

Christmas in the Park: December 8/9, 15/16 & 22/23, 5:00-8:00 PM

Ice Skating in the Park: November 24–January 1

Whether you want to go ice skating, have dinner with Santa, or see some spectacular lights, Adventure Park is the place to be this holiday season.

Ice Skating opens Friday, November 24 and ends Monday, January 1. Ice skating is available Fridays-Sundays, and the whole week of Christmas, except Christmas Day. Cost is $10 per person and rentals are $5.49.

If ice skating isn’t your cup of tea, take your kids and have Dinner with Santa. The magical evening includes a slice of pizza, drink and a s’mores kit, a train ride around the park, and a photo with Santa. Prices are $12 for adults (13+), $7 for children (3-12) and toddlers (2 & under) are free.

And for those that just want to enjoy a low-key, but beautiful night, reserve your space for Christmas in the Park. This package includes a train ride through the park, hot cocoa, and a s’mores kit by the campfire, and includes the Adventure Tower to view over 500,000 lights along with great views of the city.

Regardless of which package you enjoy with your family, you’re guaranteed a great and unique experience. Reservations are required for all activities. So, visit their website at https://adventureparkfun.com to secure your spot.

Santa Land at Mackenzie Park

December 9-21, 6:00-10:00 PM

The City of Lubbock Parks and Recreation will host the 67th annual Santa Land. Approximately 50,000 people visit each year to see the huge lighted Christmas tree, animated displays, holiday light displays in various villages, and Santa and Mrs. Claus. Children come from Lubbock and surrounding areas to tell Santa their Christmas wishes. They can also take a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus. There is live entertainment on most evenings, and hot chocolate and other refreshments are available for purchase at the concession stand. Entry into Santa land is free for everyone.

Whether you’ve gone to these places for years or are ready to make new memories, Lubbock has plenty of holiday activities for families to enjoy. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Unusual Christmas Traditions

Courtney Dietz — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 23:32:00 +0000

Unusual Christmas Traditions

Owen Marshall

Christmas traditions can vary widely around the world, and some are quite unusual or unique. Here are a few examples of unusual Christmas traditions from different countries and cultures:

Krampus: In Alpine regions such as Austria and Bavaria, Krampus is a folklore figure who is the counterpart to Saint Nicholas. Krampus is depicted as a horned creature who punishes naughty children while Saint Nicholas rewards the well-behaved ones.
Caga Tió: In Catalonia, Spain, families have a log called “Caga Tió” that they decorate with a face and a hat. On Christmas Eve, children beat the log with sticks while singing a traditional song, hoping it will “poop” out presents.
Gävle Goat: In Gävle, Sweden, a giant straw goat is erected in the town’s square every year for Advent. The tradition has become famous because the goat often faces attempts of vandalism and arson.

Roller-Skating to Mass: In Caracas, Venezuela, it’s a tradition for people to roller-skate to early morning Christmas Mass. Roads are even closed to cars to make way for skaters.
KFC Christmas Dinner: In Japan, a surprising tradition involves eating KFC for Christmas dinner. This started as a marketing campaign in the 1970s and has since become a popular custom.
Yule Lads: In Iceland, there are thirteen “Yule Lads,” mischievous creatures who leave small gifts in children’s shoes on thirteen consecutive nights leading up to Christmas.

Dipping in the Danube: In Hungary, there’s a tradition where people gather on Christmas morning and head to the Danube River to dip in the icy water for good health. This tradition is rooted in folk beliefs about the healing properties of water.
Christmas Carp: In the Czech Republic, it’s common to have a live carp swimming in the family bathtub for a few days before Christmas. This fish is then prepared for the Christmas Eve meal.

Night of the Radishes: In Oaxaca, Mexico, a festival called “Noche de Rábanos” (Night of the Radishes) is held on December 23rd. Artisans carve elaborate scenes out of radishes, showcasing their creativity.
Spider Webs on the Tree: In Ukraine, it’s a tradition to include spider webs on the Christmas tree decorations. This stems from a folktale where a poor widow’s tree was covered in spider webs that turned into gold and silver.

These unusual Christmas traditions showcase the diversity of cultures and the many ways in which people celebrate the holiday season around the world.

Christmas Candy Recipes

Courtney Dietz — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 22:07:44 +0000

Christmas Candy

Coco Dietz

Chocolate Caramel:

1 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Light Corn Syrup

¼ Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

¼ Teaspoon Salt

1 Cup Cream

¼ Cup Butter, softened, no substitutes

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Combine sugar, corn syrup, cocoa, and salt in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Combine cream and butter and set aside in a small bowl. Heat the sugar mixture to 245 degrees on a candy thermometer, stirring constantly. Add the cream mixture slowly. Bring the temperature back up to 245 degrees. Remove from heat , add vanilla and stir until blended. Pour into an 8×8” square pan, buttered well. DO NOT SCRAPE PAN. Allow to cool completely. Cut into ¾”squares with a sharp knife with a sawing motion. Yield: 8 Dozen

English Toffee:

1 ¾ Cup Sugar

⅛ Teaspoon Cream of Tartar

1 Cup Cream

½ Cup Butter

1 Teaspoon Vanilla, or 1 Tablespoon Rum

Chocolate Chips

Chopped Nuts

Combine sugar, cream of tartar, and cream in a large heavy saucepan. Stir over high heat until the sugar is dissolved. Stir and boil for 3 minutes more. Add the butter and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches the soft crack stage (270 degrees). Remove from heat. Add vanilla or rum. Pour into a buttered pan and allow to cool. To cover with chocolate, sprinkle with chocolate chips and melt them in the oven and sprinkle nuts on top before it cools.

Peanut Butter Fudge:

1 Cup Undiluted Canned Milk

2 Cups Brown Sugar

2 Cups Sugar

1 Stick of Butter

1 Cup Peanut Butter

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Cook milk, sugars, and butter to a soft ball stage. Remove from heat and add peanut butter, beat well. Add vanilla. Pour into a buttered 13x9x2” pan and cool.

Homemade Mints:

4 oz Cream Cheese, softened

½ Teaspoon Peppermint Oil

Food Coloring

3 ⅓ Cup Confectioners Sugar

Sugar

Mix cream cheese, peppermint oil, and food coloring. Add confectioner’s sugar, kneading well. Shape into marble sized balls and roll in sugar. Press into rubber candy mold; remove immediately.

Chocolate Turtles:

2 Cups Sugar

2 Cups Light Corn Syrup

1 Stick of butter

2 Cups Whipping Cream

½ Can Sweetened Condensed Milk

16 oz Pecan Halves

1 lb Dipping Chocolate, melted

Boil sugar and corn syrup in a covered saucepan for 2 minutes. Stir butter. Cook cream and sweetened condensed milk on top of a double boiler over hot water until heated through. Do not boil. Add to corn mixture 2 T milk mixture at a time, stirring constantly. Cook to soft-ball stage. Arrange pecan halves, in pairs, on buttered serving dish. Drizzle cream mixture by tablespoons over pecans; cool. Shape cream mixture around pecans, covering completely. Dip in chocolate.