Jam Thumbprint Christmas Cookie Recipe

Jam Thumbprint cookies bring back happy memories of my mom baking in the kitchen at Christmas time. She made these several times during the season because they were eaten almost as soon as they came out of the oven.

I wish I had her recipe, but I never asked her for it. So, decades later, this is the first time I've tried making these cookies. They honestly aren't as pretty as my mom's were, but they do taste great.

My grandchildren ate these right up too, and it was bittersweet for me to realize how time passes, and the generations carry on.

You can use different flavors of jam for the cookies. I used strawberry jam for these, but I'm making a few more batches where I'm going to try raspberry and apricot.

Recipe for Jam Thumbprints

Ingredients:

2/3 cup sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups plus 3 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup raspberry or strawberry jam
1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 teaspoons milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, combine the sugar, butter, and vanilla and almond extracts.
Beat at medium speed until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour. Continue beating until well mixed.
Take a scoop of dough the size of a walnut and roll it into a smooth ball. Place the balls 2 inches apart on baking sheets liked with parchment paper. With your thumb, make an indentation in the center and fill each cookie with 1/2 teaspoon of jam.
Bake for 12-15 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Stir together powdered sugar and milk. Drizzle over cookies.

Makes 2 dozen cookies

Warm Tradition Hot Water Bottle Review and 2 Giveaways

I was provided with a product for my review. All opinions are my own.

One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is to curl up on the couch with a stack of my favorite Christmas magazines. On a chilly night or afternoon, this is such a cozy thing to do.

My beautiful Warm Tradition Hot Water Bottle makes this even cozier, and I love using it all the time. Whether it's to ease my occasional back pain, or to keep my toes toasty in bed during the night, a good hot water bottle can be a great comfort.

I've used a lot of hot water bottles through the years, and not all of them worked very well. Often times they leaked, or gave off a plastic odor, or lost heat after a short while. This isn't the case for Warm Tradition, and I'm very happy with mine.

The hot water bottle covers come in so many different designs and fabrics, that it's hard to choose just one. I chose my cable-knit sweater style cover because I like it's classic, pretty look.

 I'd like to share a few facts about the Warm Tradition brand that make it such a great product:

• Fun & fashionable way to melt away aches and pains & stay warm and toasty this season with 100’s of luxuriously soft & huggable covers to choose from.
• Melt away tension, warm hands and feet, soothe children, relieve stress, restful night of sleep, bed warmer, ease backaches
• Made from eco-friendly thermoplastic that is BPA & phthalate free
• Odorless & safe
• Long lasting heat – up to 6 hours!

• Extra-large opening for easy filling and less spills
• Covers are removable & machine washable
• Hot Water Bottles made in Germany and Covers made in the USA

Warm Tradition is Martha-approved, and that certainly means they meet a high standard of quality.

Kids love the warm comfort of a hot water bottle in bed at night, or on a tummy that needs to be soothed. You will find many cute cover to chose from for kids. Let them pick out their own, and add to how much they will enjoy using it.

A hot water bottle for friends and family on your holiday shopping list makes a great gift. Choose a cover that fits their personality to make it even more special.

Let Warm Tradition keep you and your family cozy during the cold days and nights of winter. I'll be using mine to do just that.

Here at Frugal Family Tree, we are pleased to be partnering with Warm Tradition to be giving away two hot water bottles, to two of our readers.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



*Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts Dec 12, 2014 and ends on Dec. 24, 2014 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.

Snowball Cookie Recipe

*Originally Posted Dec. 19, 2013

As the children get older and start attending school (elementary or preschool) holiday teachers gifts are something we love to make and buy. Teachers are a very important part of our lives, they help mold our children into the adults they will someday be. I want them to know how important they are to not only my children, but to our family as a whole. Homemade gifts, along with a gift card to their favorite coffee shop or café are a pretty standard gift for our family to give. This year we made Snowball Cookies for the teachers and they were a huge hit! The boys helped out by rolling the dough in the "snow", it ended up everywhere but at least they had fun!

 

Holiday Shopping With Tense Wooden Watches

I was provided with a product for my review. All opinions are mine alone.



I've never given up wearing watches, even though like lots of people, I have my cell phone to let me know what time it is. I think a watch can be a part of your personal style, and reflect the kind of life you lead. Whether your style is classic, sporty, or feminine, a watch really is a personal way to express yourself.

When I was offered the chance to review a watch from Tense Watches, I immediately said yes. A couple of months ago, I was having lunch with a friend, and remarked on what an attractive wooden watch she was wearing, and it was from Tense.

Needless to say, when I received my watch in the mail, I immediately loved it. Pretty and stylish, it's perfect for wearing when I am being everyday casual, but also looks great when I want a more dressed-up, evening look.

Tense Watches offers six themed collections to choose from, Adventure, Coastal, Discovery, Heritage, Passage, and Mainland. It's easy to see why they are worn by nature lovers all around the world.

All watches are made from natural materials from Africa, India, and other exotic places. They are also made with one of the worlds top watch movements, Miyota 2035, from Japan.

There is a watch available for everyone on your Christmas list, from your beloved grandfather, to your stylish 20-something niece, or your mom or dad. For all styles and age groups, you can count on Tense Watches to be a welcome and appreciated gift this holiday season.

I choose the Women's Pacific watch. I love it's casual elegance, and appreciate it's quality and durability.

It's made of solid sandalwood, and with a stainless steel clasp. Like all Tense wooden bracelet watches, it is hypo-allergenic.

I have never worn a wooden watch before, and I think the concept is quite unique. It feels totally comfortable and natural. I love my Tense Watch, and will be enjoying it for years to come.

You can choose from Men's, Women's, and Unisex styles. Tense also offers gift certificates for that hard to buy for person on your shopping list.

To see the complete collection of Tense Watches, you can go and visit their website here. You can also find them on Facebook and Pinterest.

If your holiday shopping includes buying someone you care about a wonderful new watch, shop at Tense, because beauty and quality are always appreciated.

Giving Back to Friends with Give Extra, Get Extra

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ExtraGumMoments #CollectiveBias

I am blessed enough to have family and friends in my life that are always there for me. From small things to the life changing things having people that go above and beyond is priceless. With the holiday season in full swing it makes me feel even more the reason to make sure the people who give extra in my life get extra back. 

I have many great friends at my job. I count that as a blessing as well to work with people who are kindhearted and stick together as a team. It makes work a more productive place. One person who has become a very close friend over the few years we have worked together Bree, deserves a big Extra thank you for all she gives of her self to all her friends. Over the last year her and I have experienced the same joy and grief together that has bonded us on a deeper level. She is always the person smiling even if things are gloomy, she bakes goodies for everyone at work all the time for no reason at all which is the best reason and if I need anything shes always the first person to help.

Working together all the time and with texting I don't think I tell her enough in person how much I treasure her friendship that she always willing to Give Extra so I wanted to Give Extra to her through a gift basket. 

My son adores my friend Bree so when I told him we were going to go shopping to make her a gift to show her we appreciate her he was thrilled to be included. We headed to Walmart to pick up some Extra Gum and a few items to create a pampering gift basket. 

After coming home from shopping my son and I arranged the gift basket to take to Bree. It happened to be the day Bree traded shifts with me so I could take care of a few things sooner than my regular day off and we planned to surprise her at work. She was just happy to see my son and I visiting her and the Extra Gum gift basket made it special. #ExtraGumMoments #CollectiveBias

Who do you have in your life that deserves to Get Extra because of all the Extra they Give?