Photographs: snowman – azurita – stock.adobe.com ; All other images – contributed
No. 1
CUTE COOKIES
Rachel Mahoney, local mom, chef and owner of home delivery meal service Kinney Lane, offers up her recipe for these adorable melting snowman cookies with eggnog frosting.
Cookies
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon baking salt
• 2 sticks butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Eggnog Frosting
• 1 stick butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 to 4 tablespoons eggnog
Decorations
• Mini Reese’s
• Pretzel sticks
• Mini Chocolate Chips
• Orange Frosting
• Marshmallows
Directions
1. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
2. Beat sugar and butter together with an electric mixer—about 2 minutes or until fluffy.
3. Add egg, milk, vanilla and beat to combine.
4. Lower speed on mixer, add flour mix in batches and beat until well blended.
5. Divide dough in half and roll out to desired thickness between two sheets of parchment paper and cut into about ¼-inch thick rounds.
6. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
8. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until edges turn golden brown.
9. Cool on rack until ready to decorate.
10. Make frosting by beating together sugar and butter. Add eggnog and beat until blended.
11. Ice cookies. Use marshmallow for face, chocolate chips for eyes and buttons, orange frosting for nose, pretzels for arms and Reese’s for hats.
No. 2
IT’S ALL DOWNHILL
When the snow arrives, it’s time to go for a ride. Here are some perfect sledding hills in Greenwich.
• Bruce Park
• Montgomery Pinetum
• Julian Curtis
• Western Greenwich Civic Center
• Banksville Community Center
• Innis Arden Golf Club
No. 3
SWEET SIPS
Warm up with a top-notch cup of hot chocolate at these local cafés.
• Ada’s
• Aux Delices
• Bistro V
• Coffee for Good
• Gregory’s Coffee
• Le Pain Quotidien
• Sweet Peas
• The Granola Bar
No. 4
GET CRAFTY
At arts and crafts shop, The Big Picture, one of our favorite holiday craft projects is making trees out of paper mache cones. It’s a great activity for all ages and they double as holiday decor.
All you’ll need is a pack of paper mache cones in a variety of sizes (available on Amazon or any craft supply store). Or, if you have leftover birthday hats, cut and flip them inside out, removing the string.
Decoupage
You’ll need tissue paper pieces, Modge Podge, a sponge brush and any accessories you wish to add. Simply brush the glue onto the cone and press on the tissue paper. If desired, accessorize with stickers, poms or pipe cleaners.
Paint and Bedazzle
You’ll need crafting paint, a paint brush and any accessories you wish to add. Coat the cone in a couple of layers of paint, allow to dry and then accessorize with stickers, pom poms, pipe cleaners, jewels or simply add white dots of paint and glitter for a snowy look.
If you want to skip the paint, use a hot glue gun or tacky glue and wrap the cones in pipe cleaners or yarn.
Every month Layla Lisiewski, Greenwich mom of four and founder of Greenwich Moms and its parent company, The Local Moms Network, shares some of her favorite things to do—from seasonal activities to can’t-miss events. Follow @greenwich_moms on Instagram, sign up for the newsletter and check out the calendar at greenwichmoms.com.