Where’s Santa? Best Places To Find Santa This Year In The Treasure Valley
Santa is a busy man this time of year, but he always makes the time to drop by the Treasure Valley to see all the good boys and girls to hear their Christmas wishes. While Christmas is right around the corner, there are still opportunities for you and your kids to stop by and see Santa this year. You just have to know where to look!
The Morrison Center
From December 19th through the 23rd you can find Santa at Ballet Idaho’s “The Nutcracker” at The Morrison Center. There will be fun to be had for all, including pictures with Santa! Tickets and more information found here on their website.
The YMCA
Feel like getting some fresh air and exercise this year? If so, then the YMCA’s ultra fun 36th Annual Christmas Run is the place for you! There will be a 6 mile course for the more advanced runners as well as a 2 mile run and 1 mile long “Reindeer Dash” for all. Don’t miss Santa, cool costumes, and more! Check out their website for more information.
Special Holiday Santa Cookies From Allrecipes.com
Now, when Santa comes to your house this year, it is important that you leave him lots of goodies like cookies and fresh milk so that he can maintain his energy for the big night. I’ve got just the thing for you. How about one of my favorite cookie recipes? And what better to wash it down with than some festive holiday (homemade) eggnog? Let’s check out the recipes!
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
PAM(R) Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
2 (7 ounce) pouches red decorating cookie icing
2 (7 ounce) pouches white decorating cookie icing
22 red candy-coated chocolate pieces
44 semisweet chocolate morsels
Reddi-whip(R) Original Dairy Whipped Topping
Directions
Combine flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; set aside. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla and almond extracts; mix well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating on low speed after each addition until well blended.
Divide dough into 3 portions; wrap each tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate dough 2 hours or until thoroughly chilled and firm enough to handle.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray baking sheets and 5-inch Santa face cookie cutter with cooking spray; set aside. Roll out 1 portion of dough to 1/4-inch thickness on floured surface with floured rolling pin. Cut out cookies with prepared cutter. Transfer with metal spatula to baking sheet, placing 1 inch apart. Repeat with remaining dough portions, spraying cutter with additional cooking spray as needed.
Bake 7 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are browned lightly. Cool on baking sheet 1 minute before removing cookies and placing on wire racks to cool completely.
Use red icing to fill in the hat, leaving the tip of the hat blank. Use white icing to fill in the tip of the hat, the brim of the hat, the beard and to make 2 dots in the center of the face for the eyes. Place a red candy centered between the eyes at the top of the beard for the nose and a mini morsel on each white dot to make eyes. Top beard with Reddi-wip(R) just before serving.
Leave a few of these bad boys out for Santa and he will be guaranteed to leave a little something extra for you underneath the Christmas tree. For the adults in the family, you can also try a little of Martha Stewart’s classic adults only eggnog recipe. From my family to yours, have a happy and fun holiday season this year!