Gooseberry Patch Christmas

I’ve been enjoying a new Christmas magazine by Gooseberry Patch.  The first recipe I tried was Slow Cooker Chocolate Pudding Cake.  A great dessert to make when you need the oven free for a turkey, or a ham, etc.  It was very rich and delicious.

 Next was Grandma’s Date-Nut Bread, which can be made in three small loaf pans (great for giving).  The bread turned out very moist and nutty.  I used walnuts and I think next time I’ll use only one cup instead of two and maybe substitute raisins.  I like nuts, but don’t want them to overpower the dates and other flavors. 

There were ideas for tea gifts and crafts as well.  This mint tea would make a nice gift packaged with a little tea for one pot.

 Making a tea cozy from an old sweater is not something I would have thought of, but it is cute and could easily be customized. 

 There are several more recipes that I plan to try.  These little spiced  applesauce cakes look delicious. 

 How about easy microwave candy for quick gifts?

The $10.99 price tag is a little steep, but I think that this magazine will be used for many years.  It’s fun to pull out a big stack of these Christmas books and magazines each year and select a few new recipes and crafts to try.