So Many Choices! The Best Flour to Use for your Holiday Baking

Holiday baking is the best.

I mean, who doesn't want to hang around in fuzzy socks, watching cheesy Hallmark movies and eating shameful amounts of sugar? Because Christmas.

Holiday baking with kids is the best!

Here's my absolute favorite cookies to make this time of year:

Peanut Butter Blossoms, from my Grandma Ruth.

Peanut Butter Blossom Recipe from my grandma's kitchen. 

(We know the recipe by heart at our house, but here is a link to the dessert in case you've never made it and want to check it out: Peanut Butter Blossoms)

During a recent trip to Kroger to prepare to make my beloved Peanut Butter Blossoms, I went down a rabbit hole.

There are SO MANY types of flour. Seriously. So. Many.

I've always just bought all-purpose flour- and usually store brand, at that. But during my last trip to Kroger, I counted eight different kinds of flour. Eight! I wondered if I had been using the right kind of flour all these years!

Well, after some research, the simple answer is yes. If you, like me, always just go with tried and true all-purpose flour, then you're probably good. But if you want to switch up your flour, here's a quick tutorial on which type to use when.

Here is the article I recently wrote for Zulily, which includes a pretty comprehensive breakdown of flours!

Different Types of Flour Available 

The difference between the types of flour available is the protein content. The higher the protein content, the more gluten the flour has. The more gluten in the flour, the tougher the baked good it produces is. Quite simply, if you want a soft, spongy Angel Food Cake, you may want to use cake flour. But, if you're making a chewy, dense pretzel, you'd be better off using bread flour. 

If you are wanting something gluten free for dietary reasons, you have a couple of options. You can buy gluten-free all-purpose flour, or you can purchase a specialty flour such as almond flour. Both can be swapped pretty seamlessly for their full-gluten counterparts.

Here's a quick break-down on the different types of flour available:

Cake Flour has a very low protein level (between 5 and 8 percent). Use this in a soft baked good such as Angel Food Cake. 

Pastry Flour has a protein content of 8 or 9 percent and is perfect for pie crust.

Bread Flour is the toughest of all the flours because its protein content is between 12 and 14 percent. This flour should be your go-to for pretzels or pizza crust.

Whole Wheat Flour also tends to have a high protein content, usually 13 to 14 percent, which means it yields denser baked goods. Break out this flour for pancakes.

White Whole Wheat Flour is not the same as unbleached flour, even if I did mistakenly think that at first! It has a high protein content of 13 to 14 percent but a sweeter taste than whole wheat flour thanks to a lower tannin count. Try this flour in muffins.

If your recipe doesn't call for a specific type of flour, all-purpose flour is fine to use. Just make sure you measure... I learned the hard way in my early days of baking that too much flour is not a good thing!

I have so many friends that are gluten-free that I'm excited to try out some new recipes this season! This one is top on my list of GF cookie recipes to try (with gluten-free flour, obviously!): Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownie Cookies. Yum! Almond flour is also a great Gluten-free alternative. 

Happy Holidays from the EA Crew!

(I'd love to know your favorite family cookie recipes- please share them in the comments!)

Best of the Holidays 2020: Prairie Lights!

We look forward to the holidays every year, and 2020, with all of its challenges, is no different.

We love holiday lights and visits with Santa and all the festivities and hoopla.

We've been fortunate enough to get to check out several holiday events (around the country!) this year... And one of our favorites has been Prairie Lights right here in Grand Prairie!

We have gone for the past several years... We pile in the minivan (well, okay, this year we piled in our brand new Kia Telluride!), grab some hot cocoa, turn on Christmas music and enjoy the lights and magic at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie.

This year there is no walk-through village, which, while disappointing, is most certainly understandable. BUT, don't worry! The magic isn't lost! The rows and rows of twinkling lights, the different themed areas and the light tunnel all make the experience so very fun for the kiddos.

Even better? This year's Prairie Lights is at an unbeatable price! Seriously, guys... This year Prairie Lights is only $30 per car. $30!!! For my family of 5 that is only $6 per person. Totally reasonable (more than reasonable, actually!) for the fun, festive event you can enjoy from the comfort of your vehicle. Most events around DFW are at least double the cost per person.

Prairie Lights is open nightly at 6 pm through New Year's Eve. And guys, it's one of the best events we have been to here in DFW and most certainly the best value for your money. 

What are you waiting for? Book your tickets now and enjoy the magic of the holidays at Prairie Lights 2020! 

*I attended this event for free. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

Mrs. Claus- The Holidays' Most Underrecognized Super Woman

It's November.

And Zulily, one of my favorite online retailers whom I write for, just did an article about how women run the holidays in most households around the country. Check it out here: Zulily's article, Dear Mrs. Claus

This article got me thinking. In my house, November means that I'm starting to make my holiday shopping lists and check them twice (hats off to all you mega-planners out there who are already done shopping. I salute you!). I'm checking to see what toys are hot this season and where to find them at the lowest prices. I'm making menus for holiday meals I'll serve my family or dishes I'll bring to any meals we may share with extended family. I'm checking the budget. I'm figuring out how to rearrange furniture to accommodate a tree (or two, or three!) and wondering what pieces I'll need to purchase this season to round out my festive trimmings. As I type, I'm also messaging with several photographers, trying to line up holiday photos and then slap my favorites onto a holiday card I'll mail to friends and family near and far. 

                  

Truly, I'm doing it all. The holidays. As the mom, the matriarch of my family of five, the holidays, and all their tedium and wonder, are my responsibility to plan and execute. 

Don't get me wrong- I have a wonderful, loving, supporting husband who works hard to provide for my family! He truly is outstanding. 

But I don't think I'm alone in feeling that women are the brains behind the operation that is the holiday season.

So why does Santa, the jolly man in red, get so much recognition each holiday season? I think it's safe to assume that Mrs. Claus is a huge part of the holiday operations at the North Pole as much as every mama out there like me is the heart and soul of her family's holidays. Why, then, doesn't Mrs. Claus get any credit?

Did you know that the first mention of Mrs. Claus is in 1849, in a short story called "A Christmas Legend," by missionary James Rees? Santa Claus himself was made popular in American Culture in the later half of the 18th Century. So, Mrs. Claus didn't come onto the scene for more than 50 years after her jolly husband became the figurehead of the holidays in America. 

I suppose, given the time that Santa rose to popularity, the fact that Santa, a man, was the person to thank for holiday cheer isn't entirely unexpected. But come on. It's 2020. We know that women run the homestead and the holidays. We know that women are a truly vital part of holiday festivities, from trimming the tree to wrapping the presents. We know that the holiday season wouldn't go off so seamlessly in most American households if supermoms didn't undertake the task of making everything merry and bright.

So its time to recognize Mrs. Claus as the woman behind the legend. It's time to recognize her as the superwoman she is. It's time to say thank you to Mrs. Claus. For standing by and supporting her husband and helping him be the face of the holidays. It's time to recognize and appreciate that Mrs. Claus, like me and every other superwoman and supermama out there, is a vital part of the holiday season.

Mrs. Claus- thank you. Thank you for being a vital part- even if you are often overlooked!- of the Santa and Mrs. Claus duo that makes the holidays full of festive cheer. 

Zulily even started a Change.org petition to get Mrs. Claus more recognized this time of year. Check it out here: Let's give Mrs. Claus the thanks she deserves

                                    

10 Dallas/Fort Worth Holiday Events 2020

 It's official.

The 2020 Holiday Season is upon us.

Today I got my reusable Starbucks cup in Christmas Sweater print at a jam-packed Starbucks near my house. 102.1 now has Christmas music playing around the clock. My calendar is filling up with a list of events I want to take my kiddos to to experience the magic of the season. 

I'm starting now with making my list and checking it twice so I don't miss a single minute of holiday joy! 

Here is a list of (some!) of the awesome events coming to DFW for 2020. (If I miss any, please please let me know!)

10 DFW Holiday Events for 2020

Luminova at Globe Life Field- From the makers of Enchant, Luminova is a walk-thru holiday light experience sure to delight right in Arlington. Grab your tickets and your friends and prepare for Insta-worthy pics and holiday merriment. The magic starts November 20.

Dallas Zoo Lights- this year's Zoo Lights will be drive-thru only so you can enjoy the magic from your vehicle. Kids will love seeing the zoo lit up for the holidays! Nights starting November 20th, 6:30-9:30 pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Prairie Lights- Prairie Lights at Loyd Park in Grand Prairie will also be socially distanced this year, with customers staying in their car for the entire magical experience. The fun opens Thanksgiving night- grab your tickets in advance!

Wonder (at Toyota Music Factory)- This event is new to DFW for this year and is described as an "immersive experience for families to journey to the North Pole to meet Santa." Each kiddos who visits the big man in red gets a toy from the big guy! Make your reservations early! Event starts 11.19. This event was canceled. 

The Lights at Texas Motor Speedway- Drive through millions of sparkling lights starting Thanksgiving night. The excitement starts Thanksgiving Day. Check the Website for various discounts.

Holidays at the Gaylord Texas- No ICE! this year, but there is still lots of holiday magic to be enjoyed the Gaylord Texas. Go snow tubing, ice skate outdoors and enjoy an immersive holiday movie experience starting November 13.

North Pole Express at the Grapevine Vintage Railroad- hop aboard a 1920s-inspired coach car and journey to the North Pole. Kiddos will enjoy an on-board visit from Santa and his elves and receive a cookie and a "We Believe" bell. Please note: the website says all events are sold out, so check FB Marketplace and local buy sell trade groups for tickets.

Holiday Party at Theatre Arlington- experience fun with the whole family at Theatre Arlington's Holiday Party production running November 13- December 13.

Dallas Holiday Parade- The Dallas Holiday Parade may look a bit different this year as it adjusts to Covid protocols, but mark your calendar for December 5 at 10 am to enjoy the show.

Holidays at the Dallas Arboretum- Bundle up and head out to the Dallas Arboretum for gorgeous photos with holiday backdrops along White Rock Lake. The event features the 12 Days of Christmas and starts November 7.

Happy Holidays!