During the twelve days leading up to Christmas break, the King Street Chronicle will once again present staff favorites from the holiday season. This first edition will not include a partridge in a pear tree, but beloved Christmas songs, recipes, movies, crafts, and festive wear.

• Hand mixer or stand mixer
• Mixing bowls
• Cookie sheet
• Cookie scoop
• Two cups of all-purpose flour
• Half a teaspoon of sea salt
• Three-quarters cup (or one and a half sticks) of unsalted butter, softened
• One cup of granulated sugar
• Half a cup of confectioners’ sugar
• Three tablespoons of milk
• One tablespoon of vanilla extract
• Three-quarters cup of holiday sprinkles

Steps:

1. Pasteurize the flour in order to remove the bacteria. Preheat oven to 350° F. Spread flour on a nine by 13 baking sheet or Silpat, and bake for about five minutes. Let cool completely.
2. Whisk the flour and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl of a stand mixer (or using a hand mixer), mix the butter, granulated sugar and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy, about three minutes.
4. Add the milk and vanilla and mix until combined.
5. Slowly add in flour mixture and stir until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add more milk.
6. Fold in the sprinkles or other favorite mix-ins.
7. Using a cookie scoop or spoon, scoop tablespoonfuls of dough on to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes and serve.

• Two green oasis cones
• 50 cuttings of assorted succulents
• Two wooden platforms with a nail for mounting display (A kitchen plate or saucer can work as well)
• One skewer (or a chopstick will work, too)
• Handful of toothpicks

Steps:

1. Using the skewer, poke a small hole into the cone at a slight angle to ensure that the cutting does not fall out.
2. Remove skewer, and insert a succulent.
3. Start from the center, and work down. Save the smaller specimens for the top, and the heavier ones for the bottom.
4. Use toothpicks to secure heavier plants and to create the desired shape.
5. Set atop a wooden platform or place on a small dessert plate.
6. To maintain the plants, water once a week and set it in a sunny place.

Fashion: