During the twelve days until Christmas break, the King Street Chronicle will again present staff favorites from the holiday season.  This third edition will not include three french hens, but beloved Christmas songs, memories, recipes, movies, and crafts.

Song: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” performed by Bing Crosby.

Recipe: Peppermint Bark Brownies

• Total Time:
  • One hour
• Quantity:
  • 16 servings
• Ingredients:
  • One and one-fourth cups of all-purpose flour
  • One teaspoon of kosher salt
  • One-fourth cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Two cups of chocolate chips, divided
  • Two cups of butter
  • One and one-half cups of granulated sugar
  • One-half cup of packed brown sugar
  • Five large eggs
  • Two teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
  • One and one-half cups of powdered sugar
  • One-half teaspoon of peppermint extract
  • One and one-half cups of white chocolate chips
  • One-half cup of crushed candy canes
• Steps:
  • 1) Preheat oven to 350°F.  In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and cocoa powder.
  • 2) Set a large heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water to create a double-boiler.  Add one cup of butter and one and one-half cups of chocolate chips to the bowl.  Apply heat, stirring occasionally until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and smooth.  Remove the bowl from the heat, then whisk in sugars and stir until combined.
  • 2) Add eggs one at a time, stirring well between each addition, then stir in vanilla.  Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture and fold in dry ingredients with a rubber spatula until just combined.  Fold in remaining one-half cup of chocolate chips.
  • 3) Pour batter into prepared pan.  Bake for about 30 minutes and let cool.
  • 4) In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter, sugar, and peppermint extract until light and airy.  Add white chocolate and salt, and beat until smooth.
  • 5) Spread frosting over cooled brownies and sprinkle with crushed candy canes.

Movie: Last Christmas

“Kate is a young woman subscribed to bad decisions.  Working as an elf in a year round Christmas store is not good for the wannabe singer.  However, she meets Tom there.  Her life takes a new turn. For Kate, it seems too good to be true,” courtesy of imdb.com.

Craft: Mason Jar Christmas Tree

• Supplies:
  • Six glass mason jars of like-sizes
  • Plastic Christmas ornaments of various colors and sizes
  • Large jingle bells
  • Greenery
  • Shiny garland
  • Star tree topper
• Instructions:
  • 1) Start by filling the mason jars with Christmas ornaments, sleigh bells, and greenery.
  • 2) Then, assemble the jars in a pyramid.
  • 3) Finally, wrap the jars in a shiny garland and top it all off with a star.

Memory: Mrs. Celia Pashley, Assistant Director of Squash and Fitness Center, Upper School Squash Coach

“My favorite Christmas memory is from 2016.  I spent it in Lake Placid with Coach [Thomas] Pashley.  It had that winter wonderland Christmas feeling.  It was my first snowy Christmas.  Growing up on a tropical island, I always had Christmas in the middle of summer at the beach.  So waking up to snow on Christmas morning was such a great memory.”

Featured Image by Leah Allen ’22