Bayou Holidays

Photography by Kelly Moore Clark | Written by Heather Land

EDIBLE TERRARIUM

This unique gift idea is a fun, family project that will bring the merriment of the holidays not only to the receiver, but also to the giver. Start by choosing a glass jar that is suitably sized for your houses. Fill the bottom with white sugar – allowing for some hill tops. Top with coconut flakes. Place your dried gingerbread house in the freshly fallen snow with a sprig of rosemary. Dust it all with powdered sugar through a sift.

CHOC FULL OF COCOA

Whether you make it from scratch or you buy it in bulk, make your hot cocoa an experience with these variations. We make ours with extra dark cocoa, oat milk, vanilla, Himalayan pink salt and cinnamon. Reserve some of the milk and make a concentrate to keep in a mason jar in the fridge, then add milk and warm to taste. And, always add a sprinkle of flake salt to cut the sweet and bring out the flavors. Pick up extra special snowflake marshmallows, candy canes – whole and crushed- mixed sprinkles, etc. and keep it on hand for the season. These Wonka-like marshmallows are free of unnecessary ingredients, and make every cup memorable and are worth the indulgence.  

MINT HOT CHOCOLATE CHIP
Mint mallows topped with chocolate chips float in a mug atop an extra dark hot cocoa, with a candy cane stirrer. Add a drop of peppermint extract or Creme de Menthe Liquor to take it to another level. 

DARK CHOCOLATE DIPPED RASPBERRY
Raspberry mallows dipped in dark chocolate melt into this mug of cocoa leaving the subtle flavor of chocolate-covered cherries. Sprinkle this one with a few extra chocolate chips that will leave one sweet spoon at the bottom in the end. 

HOT CHAI-COLATE & GINGERSNAPS, OH MY
Cinnamon Churro mallows top a mug of 50/50 chai latte and dark cocoa with a dollop of coconut whipped cream, a sprinkling of cinnamon and cinnamon stick stirrer. Every gingersnap man’s dream swim. 

GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Gather your family and friends for a fun afternoon making gingerbread houses. Use the recipe below to prepare your building blocks ahead and have a merry time decorating.

Make one or more days in advance and allow house pieces to dry out for sturdier construction. Substitute equal parts of dairy butter and all purpose flour. Use half for houses and half for cookies. The GF recipe makes for a lighter, less dense cookie. 

INGREDIENTS FOR DOUGH: 

2 sticks butter

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup molasses

2 TBSP cinnamon

2 TBSP ground ginger 

3 tsp ground cloves

2 tsp baking soda

4 cups  all-purpose flour {GF or Wheat}

2 TBSP water

FOR ROYAL ICING: 

1 lb   powdered sugar (sifted if lumpy)

2        egg whites

1 tsp almond or vanilla extract 

     Should be around the consistency of Elmer’s glue – a little thick but runny enough to pass through the tip of small squeeze bottle or piping bag. 

In a large mixing bowl, cream all ingredients (except flour) until smooth. Blend in flour and water to make a dough that resembles play dough – not sticky. CHILL FOR 30 MINUTES. The dough, in the fridge and you, by the fire. 

PREHEAT OVEN to 375. Cut out your templates using cardstock, the cardboard from a cereal box, etc. 

4 walls / 2 equal sides for a roof PER house (whatever size you choose).

*HALF OF THIS RECIPE will make one larger 5×7 size house and 1-2 tiny houses 2” square or 6+ tiny houses

Use ALL OF THE RECIPE  and make a compound if you dare.

Lightly flour a smooth surface and roll out dough to about 1/4” thickness. Lay template over dough and use knife or flat spatula to cut out pieces. 

Bake on parchment lined baking sheet for 10-15 minutes – careful not to let edges burn.  {*Bake cookies 8-10 minutes}.

Cool on baking sheet (let house parts sit out and dry overnight). Do not try to assemble a warm house – it will not work. 

Glue walls (two sets of hands works best) and hold them until they stick. Allow them to sit and dry for a bit. Repeat with the roof pieces. This may take a few trys. This is the fun part. Enjoy the process; and if all else fails, hot glue it! 

Allow your “glue” to dry while you ice cookies or have an intermission dance party. Use your glue to decorate and make your masterpiece. The more, the merrier. In every way, a gingerbread house will last for months on your open countertop. Eat only at your discretion.