celebrate: holiday traditions

One thing about starting a new family is coming up with new holiday traditions to celebrate. With our first child coming early next year, my husband and I have been having fun combining the traditions of our families, along with thinking of new traditions that we'd like to do throughout the holiday season.

One tradition that we started last year is having German Scones on Christmas morning. I think my husband has been looking forward to Christmas just so that he'll get scones!! These are super easy - the dough can even be prepared the night before and refrigerated so all that you have to do on Christmas morning - once the presents are unwrapped of course - is to fry the dough. Your family will be begging for them again until next Christmas!

German Scones

2 packages dry yeast
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup butter
2 teaspoons salt
3 eggs, beaten
4 1/2 cups flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the 1 tablespoon of sugar; set aside.

Pour the boiling water over the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, the butter, and the salt. Add the eggs, mix well. Add in the yeast mixture and 2 cups of the flour. Beat with a mixer until smooth. Add the remaining 2 1/2 cups flour and mix in. Let this rise for 1 hour (I just kept it in the mixing bowl) and then refrigerate until cold.

Roll out very thin (about 1/4 inch) on a floured surface, and cut into 3 inch squares. Fry in hot oil until brown, then flip and fry until both sides are browned and puffy.

Serve with butter and honey, cinnamon honey butter, jam, or coat them with granulated sugar.

Cinnamon Honey Butter

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Combine all ingredients and whip with mixer until light and fluffy.