I ♥ heart faces: Week 50 - “My Story In Photos: Holiday Traditions”

Christmas time is here again. I decided to participate in the i ♥ faces challenge this week by sharing some photos of Christmas traditions at our house. To me Christmas is one of the redeeming factors of winter. It’s so wonderful to be able to gather with family and friends and celebrate the the birth of Jesus. I must admit, the lights, carols, and cookies aren’t too bad either! Enjoy!

 

                                                                                           Tradition #1 Making Craisin & Pistachio Clusters

                                                                                  If you have never had these you are really missing out!                                                 First step, gather all your ingredients. There are only three! Two to three cups craisins,

                                                 pistachios, (about 2 lbs. or two bags), and about one and a quarter lbs. almond bark .

 

                                                                        If you have whole pistachios you will have to shell them…

 

                                                                                                                …. so they look like this.

 

                                                           This is a time consuming process so it helps if you have a willing helper or two.

                                                           It’s even better if you have the Chronicles of Narnia to listen to. ( I love Radio Theatre.)

 

                                                      Add about 2-3 cups of craisins to the shelled pistachios. You can add more or less if you want.

 

                                                       Stir the craisins and pistachios together. It should look like this. You probably want to

                                                       have slightly more pistachios then craisins in the mixture.

 

                                                       Next, cut up the almond bark into cubes so it can melt more easily. ( I love this stuff!)

 

                                                     Get ready by laying freezer paper over two baking sheets (or other flat surface).

                                       

                                                               The bark is microwaveable, but you can also use the stove-top or oven to melt it.

 

                                                     I used the microwave this time. Put the bark in a microwave safe bowl and set it on high

                                                    for 1 minute.

                        

                                                         Then take it out and give it a good stir. Put in in for another 30 seconds or so until melted,

                                                          stirring it every 15 seconds.

 

                                                                                                    It should be nice and smooth with no lumps.

 

                                                                                          Pour in the craisin and pistachio mixture.

 

                                                                                                                    Mix it in really well.

 

                                                        When your mixture looks like this you can stop mixing. You’ll have to work fairly fast

                                                         as the bark will start to harden. If it gets to hard to work with just pop it in the   

                                                         microwave for a few seconds.

 

                                                        Spoon a heaping tablespoon onto the paper to create one cluster. You might want to use two

                                                       spoons, but I found it to be pretty impossible while holding the camera!

      

                                                      Here’s your finished product. They’ll peel off the paper easily once they’re dry. You’ll get

                                                      about two baking sheets full of clusters. Yummy!

 

                                                            

                                                                                            Tradition # Reading Luke Chapter 2

                             We have always had a tradition of reading the second chapter of Luke by the Christmas tree on Christmas morning

                             before we exchange gifts. (This is after morning chores and a big breakfast of course!)

 

 

                                                                                      

                                                                                           Tradition #3 Photos in front of the Christmas tree

                                      This a newer (but really fun) Christmas tradition. You gotta love the bokeh! (And my crazy brother!)

 

 

                                                                                    Click on the above image to see other’s holiday traditions.