The 12 days of Christmas are here! And to celebrate here is our ultimate Christmas checklist to make sure you have everything you need for the holliest, jolliest season of them all! Read on for our top five ways to get ready for Christmas!
1) Christmas Checklist: Décor
First up on the Christmas checklist is Christmas décor. Putting up Christmas decorations is always the first thing that puts me in a festive mood. And after I have my own Christmas tree decorated, I love walking around Boston to enjoy all the festive wreaths and bows in all the neighborhoods.
Beacon Hill in particular goes all out this time of year. Around every corner there is a festive doorway or lamppost!
2) Christmas Checklist: Gifts
The next thing on the Christmas checklist are the gifts for family and friends. The holidays are a time to give back and to be thankful for all the wonderful people we have in our lives and what better way than to show some appreciation with a thoughtful gift. I always make an effort to find unique local gifts and luckily for all the foodies in my life there are so many great options. From things like cheese making classes to chocolates from local farms to even stays at B&Bs on local farms (here are a few that you should check out!), there are so many great options that also support New England farms. These chocolates from Thorncrest Farm in Connecticut are amazing and are made with their own farm fresh milk!
And if you want to give an experience as a gift a cheese-making class at Boston Cheese Cellar or Appleton Farms is another way to experience some local goodies.
3) Treat Yourself to a Christmas Snack
While we all get wrapped up giving to others during the holidays, it is important to treat yourself as well! Don’t let the hectic pace of the season tire you out, take some time to indulge in a seasonal treat. This is why we added a treat-yourself snack to the Christmas checklist. One of my favorites is Eggnog, especially when that Eggnog is made locally on one of New England’s many family-owned dairy farms. My favorite way to enjoy rich creamy Eggnog is in a latte.
I make them at home every December, I just pour some fresh Eggnog into my Nespresso Aeroccino4 and I instantly have a cup full of hot foamy Eggnog, the perfect afternoon pick me up. You can pick up farm fresh Eggnog from many New England farms, here are a few in the Boston area: Crescent Ridge, Hornstra Dairy, & Thatcher Farms. Here is a New England-wide list.
4) Christmas Checklist: Holiday entertaining tips
Another big part of the Christmas season is entertaining. This is a major area where so many people stress this time of year. But I always say, keep it simple. Pick a cocktail and make a big batch. Pick simple appetizers to put out and your guests will be happy and you won’t be stressed. And what’s easier than a cheese plate?
Impress your guests by crafting the perfect cheese board filled with locally made cheeses from dairy farms right here! For the perfect cheese board, give your guests a variety of cheeses, include a creamy camembert, a smoky gouda, a classic cheddar, an interesting farmstead cheese and of course a strong blue cheese. Next time you’re at the grocery store, keep an eye out for some of these local cheese brands made right here in New England like Smith’s Country Cheese(MA), Cabot Cheese(VT), Jasper Hill Farm(VT) and Arethusa Farm(CT). Online ordering is also available.
5) Treats for Christmas Eve
And finally, the big night! The star on Christmas Eve has to be the milk and cookies. And what better way to again support your local dairy farming families than with some fresh milk. Did you know that it only takes about 48 hours for milk to travel from the farm to you? Milk is truly a local product and majority of the milk you find at the grocery store comes from farm families in our region.
Here is a great recipe from my friend Kate Bowler’s new cookbook, “New England Invite” for some fabulous lemon shortbread cookies that I think are a fabulous alternative to the classic chocolate chip cookies to pair with that fresh milk! Santa will appreciate the variety!
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest
2 cups softened butter
1 cup granulated sugar
4 cups flour
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, butter and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Sift the flour into the wet mixture and stir to combine.
Pack the dough into 2 balls and refrigerate for 20 minutes until chilled.
After the dough is chilled roll out onto a floured work surface. Stamp the dough with a festive cookie cutter and place on baking sheet.
Bake at 350 for 11-12 minutes until golden brown.
For more information about the dairy farm families of New England, delicious recipes and health and wellness topics, please visit Must Be the Milk and New England Dairy & Food Council.
For more blog posts about prepping for the holidays and for Christmas in particular be sure to read about the 5 Places to Visit this Christmas and the Procrastinator’s Guide to Christmas!