December 22, 2015

DIY Holiday Ideas You Will Love!

DIY cheeseball and cranberry sauce! Everyone needs a few festive tricks up their sleeves for the holiday season. In the post below, I will bare it all and let you know two of my favorite homemade recipes for the holiday season. If you invite me to a holiday party, I would bring a festive cheese ball for everyone to enjoy and a hostess gift of my homemade cranberry sauce.

Festive Cheeseball Pine Cones
Acorn cheese ball that is perfect for holiday potlucks
The first time I made this cheese ball the people who attended that party still remember it and ask me about it to this day. Finding an image of it on Pinterest, I was able to recreate it effortlessly without even following directions.

Cheeseball Ingredients

You will need 1 package of cream cheese, 1 cup grated cheese to your taste, a melody of dried herbs to your taste (dill, parsley, garlic, onion) roasted almonds, fresh cranberries, and fresh rosemary.

Step 1: Make or follow the cheese ball to your liking. There are a million different recipes, just choose the one you like or want to try or your go-to favorite recipe.

Step 2: Mix everything together and divide it in two. Roll with your hands into an oblong form.

Step 3: Start applying the almonds from the smallest part to the larger part. Keep the spacing tight and make sure all the almonds are going in the same direction.

Step 4: Arrange on a platter with rosemary, cranberries, and crackers.

That’s all there is to it. Bring to your next holiday party and let all your friends swoon with envy. Just make sure they tag you in this Instagram worthy post!

Hostess Cranberry Sauce Gift
Cranberry Sauce is the perfect hostess gift
Making your own cranberry sauce can be so easy. I am always impressed by how much people love it!

Cranberry sauce ingredients

You will need cranberries, water, white sugar, brown sugar, lime, jars, and fancy festive ribbon.

Step1: In a medium pot put 1/2 a cup of white sugar, half a cup of brown sugar, and squeeze all the lime you can out with 1 cup of water. Bring to boil. You can play around with different recipes this is just a starting point.

Step2: Add one bag of cranberries and reduce heat.

Step3: Allow everything to simmer until the cranberries are fully cooked. You will know when the cranberries are cooked because they will start to crack.

Step4: Make sure to have 1 to 2 mason jars sterilized on hand. Once the cranberries are ready, pour the sauce into a prepared jar. Seal the jar with a cover while it is hot so it makes a seal. Bring to room temperature. You will know there is an air tight seal because as it cools it will make a loud pop sound. Store the jars in the fridge and should last 2 to 3 months unopened but once opened should be used within 2 weeks.

Step 5: Gift to the lovely host that invited you to spend time at their home.

Note that 1 bag of cranberries yields about 1 jar and a bit of cranberry sauce.

Want to jazz up the cranberry sauce? I have seen recipes where you can zest some orange juice, or the lime into the pot. It is up to you to explore and invent new traditions and family recipes!

How easy were those two homemade projects that will make the season more festive! DIY cheeseball and cranberry sauce are simple ideas to share the love this season. I hope you enjoy it and Merry Christmas! Want to see what I’m working on now? Follow me on Instagram!
cute plaid bear dressed for winter

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