Each year, the holiday season draws families and friends closer together. This holiday season spend time with loved ones while creating holiday crafts and delicious treats everyone will enjoy. While you’re at it, take the time to make the season that much more festive with a night out to enjoy a show or one of the many light displays in Houston and Dallas. Here are some of our favorite activities for the season.
Nutcracker Ballet
What can be more festive for the holiday season than The Nutcracker? Tchaikovsky’s classic follows the dream of young Clara and her Nutcracker Prince. Enjoy this holiday classic at the Wortham Theater in Houston by choreographer Stanton Welch from November 23 through December 29. In Dallas, The Nutcracker is being performed by the Dallas Ballet Company at the Granville Arts Center.
Newman Family Holiday Cookie Recipe
A special occasion like the holidays calls for a special recipe.
For the Newman family, the namesakes of our Newman Village in Frisco, each special day is filled with homemade dishes and recipes passed down from generation to generation.
For years, the Newman family has used this homemade holiday cookie decorating recipe for the holidays.
COOKIE DIRECTIONS
Mix and sift flour, soda and salt, then set aside. Cream butter. Add sugar gradually and cream until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time; beat well after each addition. Add extracts and mix. Add sifted ingredients gradually and mix. Tint dough with food coloring as desired. Chill. Roll about 3/8-inch thick on floured board. Cut out desired shapes. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets in oven at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Frost and decorate cooled cookies. Approximate yield: 2 1/2 dozen.
COOKIE INGREDIENTS
- 4 1/2 cups of sifted flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups of sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
- Food coloring if desired
ICING DIRECTIONS
Place sugar into mixing bowl. Combine milk, corn syrup, vanilla, almond and blend. Add liquid mixture to powdered sugar and mix thoroughly. If it’s too thick, add a tad more corn syrup. Divide frosting into several cups and add food coloring to each. If using liquid coloring, add a little more powdered sugar until it reaches good spreading consistency. Dip cookie or spread the icing onto cookie with knife. Icing may also be piped on with an icing bag and tip. Decorate with sprinkles or colored sugars. Allow cookies to dry. Enjoy!
ICING INGREDIENTS
- 1 3/4 cups pf confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tsp. milk
- 2 tsp. light corn syrup
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla
- 1/4 tsp. almond extract
Sugar Land Holiday Lights
Spend the season among the sparkle and shine of the Sugar Land Holiday Lights. This showcase of lights takes places at Constellation Field and features 2.5 million lights and over 100 enchanting walkthrough displays. Food trucks, shopping, and children’s activities will also be present. Santa Claus will be in attendance, spreading holiday cheer every night until Christmas Eve, of course.
Looking for more seasonal inspiration? Check out Darling Homes’ Pinterest boards for additional holiday ideas that will help you celebrate the season.
