Blogmas: Peppermint Cupcakes

 

 Seeing as it is still December (peppermint month), I have decided to make another peppermint post: peppermint cupcakes. Cupcakes are literally for anyone. They're so easy to make, and just a heart-warming gift. To me, cupcakes are like a universal language. So why not pair them up with peppermint? Whilst looking for cute recipes on the internet, I have found that there are many variations of these, so depending on how you would like them, find a recipe that fits for you.

Ingredients- Cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 stick unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 large egg whites

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
4. With an electric mixer, cream butter on medium-high, until light and fluffy.
5. Gradually add sugar and beat until well combined and fluffy.
6. Reduce the mixer speed to medium, and slowly add egg and egg whites until blended.
7. With the mixer on low, slowly add half of the flour mixture. Add milk, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract. Slowly add remaining flour mixture. Mix until thoroughly blended.
8. Pour batter into paper cups.
9. Bake for about 22-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

*Let cool before frosting.


Ingredients- Frosting:
2 sticks unsalted butter
1/8 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 tsp milk

Directions:
1. With an electric mixer, beat butter and salt on medium speed, until light and fluffy. (2 minutes)
2. Reduce the speed to low, and gradually add sugar.
3. Add the extracts and milk, and beat until smooth and creamy.
4. Pipe frosting.

*If consistency is too hard, add 1 tblsp milk. Add one tbsp at a time until the desired consistency is reached.

**As stated above, you can substitute, and customize the cupcakes to however you like them. Top them off with some crushed peppermint, shredded chocolate, or anything else to finish them off. If you're really not into baking from scratch, you can create this from a box mixture and frosting from a can, and just customize them at the end with the decorating! However you make them, your peppermint cupcakes will be delicious :)

Blogmas: Advent, The Underlying Hope

For the past week I have been coming home after a long day of school to my advent calendar. It is quite sad that something as simple as a calendar full of chocolate can make each day a little more bearable. However, advent calendars stand for much more. To me, they mean hope. Advent is a time of happiness and thanksgiving, and by eating a chocolate a day, it shows that even the smallest of things can make a difference to someone.

Each day at school, we have been celebrating advent by lighting the candles around a wreath. I think most of my class is too busy messing around to even reflect on the idea of what advent stands for. In fact, I'm sure most of my school feels that way, and I don't blame them. I know I used to scream in joy (figuratively, of course) when the teacher would take class time to pray. I don't know exactly what has changed, but now I take the time to participate in the prayer and reflection. I think it is quite important to remember where we came from, as individuals, but also as a group.

So take the time to enjoy the little things that life has blessed you with, and share it with those who aren't so blessed. The holidays are used as a time to give back to people, and I intend on making the best of each situation by giving as much as I can to those in need. Advent is a time to consider how different our lives could be without our everyday "necessities". Are they really necessary?


 Would you die without that cup of Starbucks coffee if you go a day without? Or would it be better off going to a homeless man sleeping on the street, the only thing to warm him up in the blistering cold? If you get one thing from this post, I want you to think of how lucky you are to have the things you do, and contemplate, how would you want people to treat you if the roles were reversed?

Blogmas: Peppermint Pancakes

December is the month of peppermint. Peppermint mochas, peppermint bark, even peppermint fudge! But today I'm going to share one of my holiday ideas: peppermint pancakes. The best breakfast has to be pancakes. Especially during the colder months, pancakes serve as a delicious and warm way to start your day off. But by adding peppermint, it's like you've invented a new food! Peppermint literally goes with anything, so it seems only logical to put it in pancakes.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp white sugar
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
3 tbsp butter, melted
*1 tsp peppermint extract
*4 mini/ 2 large candy canes, crushed and divided
(You can make this using a pancake mix, just add the ingredients with "*")


Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk egg until fully beaten, add milk, and mix together.
3. Combine the egg, milk, and melted butter to the dry ingredients.
4. Add 1/2 of the crushed candy canes. (Do not overmix, there will be lumps)
5. In a well oiled pan, add the batter.
6. When you begin to see bubbles on the pancake, flip.
7. After flipping, add crushed peppermint to the top of the pancake as it is still cooking.
8. Serve warm with any toppings: syrup, chocolate sauce, white choc. chips, nuts, etc.

Blogmas: The History of the Christmas Tree

As the first week of December is coming to an end, I'm sure a lot of you have started decorating for Christmas. One of the biggest decorations, which seems to be quite impossible to forget about, is the Christmas tree. I know a lot of my posts include the process involved with holiday decorating (and there will be many more to come). However, this post is to get a better sense of the background of the Christmas tree. It is something that has become such an important part of our lives each year, and most of us barely even know what it symbolizes or where it came from.

People tend to connect the idea of the Christmas tree with Christianity based solely on the fact that it is called the "Christmas" tree, and Christmas is a Christian belief (try saying that five times fast!). However, the Christmas tree has been around long before the advent of Christianity. Plants that were green year-round held a special meaning to the local villagers. They symbolized hope and new beginning as well as growth during the winter solstice. These were a sign that their Sun God was getting well again after being ill during the cold winter season. The villagers would hang evergreens around their huts just as we do in our homes nowadays. Not only were they used for religious beliefs, they helda strong supernatural belief as well. In many countries, it was believed that evergreens could keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

Germany is credited for the origin of the tradition of the Christmas tree. Beginning in the 16th century, Christians brought decorated trees into their homes to show a sign of respect to God. Many people built pyramid-based structures of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles. Christmas trees were frowned upon, for the most part, as they resembled Paganism. Because of this, the first Christmas tree wasn't displayed until the 1830s by a group of German settlers in Pennsylvania.



In 1659, New England's Puritan's second governor, William Bradford, wanted to use the tree to mock Pagan beliefs, and passed a law that any view on December 25 (which was non-religious) was a penal offense, and those who hung decorations were fined. This continued until the 19th century when the German and Irish undermined the Puritan legacy. In 1846, English rulers Queen Victoria and her German prince, Albert, were sketched in a local newspaper with her subjects around a Christmas tree. By the 1890s ornaments were arriving from Germany and the idea of the Christmas tree spread like wildfire.


Although the Christmas tree is a symbol used throughout the world, the most famous tree is the Rockerfeller tree in New York City. The tradition started during the Depression Era in 1931. Now, the whole country comes together when the tree is lit for the first time, as it is broadcasted on live television with many performers singing, dancing, and getting people in the Christmas spirit. The tree was most recently lit this past Wednesday, December 3, with over 45,000 lights. I love the idea of such a simple thing, like a tree, bring people together not just for religious beliefs, but based on everyday life. It really does make a difference when people put aside their differences and join for the holidays!

Blogmas: Stocking Stuffers

As December is cruising by, Christmas is coming, and it's coming fast. One of the easiest things to find for Christmas gifts can also be the hardest: Stocking stuffers. Here are some really good ideas that every girl could use.

Hair Accessories: I don't know about you, but I always lose my bobby pins and hair ties. No matter how many I have, I will end up losing 90% of them within the first week of getting them. This is such a cute idea because the possibilities for hair accessories is pretty much endless. There are always new styles to try out.

Nail Polishes: Okay, I love these. Honestly, Essie is probably my favourite brand of nail products. They offer such a wide variety of colours and it applies so smoothly. It literally looks like perfection each time you put it on.

Cozy Socks: I wrote about these in a previous post. You can never go wrong with something as simple as socks. In fact, most people wouldn't really spend money on something like a good pair of quality, fuzzy socks for themselves. Fuzzy socks are kind of my guilt pleasure. I'm not one to wear socks, but when I do, they're most likely really fluffy and really warm.

Travel Size Favourites: These are really good ideas if you don't really know what specific products the person likes. It gives them the opportunity to find a new favourite without spending a lot on other products that don't necessarily live up to the expectations.

Desk Goodies: I feel like everyone can make use of desk items, such as planners, journals, folders, or even cute little knick-knacks. I love finding new designs that tie in with my yearly themes. And they can totally compliment any gift.

Lip Balms: I always seem to lose these, too! Whether it be in my backpack, purse, or around my room, I end up losing lip balms after they're half way gone. My personal favourite is eos, however, Aquaphor works really well to hydrate your skin in the cold whether.

I know these aren't for everyone, but here are just some cute ideas for stocking stuffers that I highly recommend using!♡