When I say Christmas, what’s the first image that pops into your head? Santa Claus, right? But what about his underappreciated support system…his extraordinary wife, Mrs. Claus? Did you know that Mrs. Claus didn’t show up in Christmas storytelling until 50 years after her famed husband? Why do you think that is?
Santa is viewed by children as the gift-giver. He is the one to please if you want to see presents under the tree on Christmas morning. However, 88% of moms say their role in the family is primarily that of the “giver,” according to a recent study by online retailer, Zulily. So, what’s up with this lack of acknowledgment for the lady of the household?
This holiday season, I’m teaming up with Zulily to encourage recognition of the Mrs. Claus in all of our lives. Whether this is our mother, grandmother, or a friend, let’s all take a moment to say a big, jolly “THANK YOU” to these patient, hard-working women who, year-after-year, make the Christmas holiday a special one. Zulily has issued a Change.org petition to help Mrs. Claus be celebrated for all she does!
When I was younger, the Mrs. Claus of my family was my grandmother. Every single year, she somehow managed to put together a picture-perfect Christmas celebration for over 20 family members, and still show up early on Christmas morning in her robe and slippers looking unphased and well-rested.
Following impeccably in her footsteps is my mother, who now (just as miraculously) pulls together a meaningful, magical celebration year-after-year. She not only continues the traditions that her mother created before her, but each year with my Mrs. Claus seems to get better and better.
One thing that the entire family always looks forward to every Christmas is my mom’s baking. Ask anyone–she is the queen of the sugar cookie, and they get better every year. Another thing that continues to amaze me is her ability to please everyone’s taste buds. And I mean EVERYONE.
Dad’s favorite is bourbon balls, Kari’s favorite is snowball cookies, Ryan’s favorite is sugar cookies, and her favorite is gingerbread. SOMEHOW, they all magically appear on Christmas day (I would be suspicious that it was actual magic if I didn’t insist on tasting the dough the night before).
So, here are the recipes for my family’s favorites that my mom (Mrs. Claus) has tweaked and perfected over the years…
1. Sugar Cookies
Mrs. Claus’ Tips & Tricks:
- This dough does not need to be refrigerated, which saves a lot of time!
- These cookies can be decorated for any holiday and given as gifts (they make great stocking-stuffers…you’re welcome, Santa!)
- Oven temperatures vary so keep an eye on these while baking and remove if you see the edges starting to brown.
- Decorating the cookies the day after baking is best, so they have enough time to cool and the icing goes on evenly. (Check out Zulily’s Holiday Baking page for fun cookie cutter/decoration options!)
2. Gingerbread
Mrs. Claus’ Tips & Tricks:
- Everyone needs a little spice in their life, which is why the black pepper in this recipe is so great!
- Gingerbread needs to cool after baking– shop great deals on cooling racks and other bakeware here.
- Making and decorating gingerbread houses is a GREAT holiday activity for kids or adults…or elves!
3. Bourbon Balls
Mrs. Claus’ Tips & Tricks:
- If you’ve got a stressed out or cranky Santa on your hands, the solution is always bourbon 🙂
- Store these on a high shelf (out of reach of the kids) with a clear label–Kari will never forget popping one of these in her mouth when she was five. There were tears. Lots of them.
- These aren’t the prettiest of treats, so use a pretty decorative serving tray!
4. Snowball Cookies
Mrs. Claus’ Tips & Tricks:
- You’ll need a lot of powdered sugar for these! Shop baking ingredients at Zulily here to stock up!
- You can use pecans or walnuts, whichever you prefer.
- WARNING: you can not eat just one. Taste at your own risk.
Disclosure: I partnered with Zulily to bring you this post. While I may have been compensated, all opinions are my own.
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Karen
Love this post!!