Last Updated on December 17, 2025 by Rod Washington

Holiday Desserts Just Got a Dairy-Forward Upgrade

(Family Features) Holiday desserts set the stage for seasonal delight and add a touch of joy to gatherings. From festive cookies to indulgent dips, these delicious desserts bring people together to create memories that will last a lifetime. If you’re looking to impress guests, Santa Cookies are the ultimate treat. Made with Maple Hill Salted Butter, they’re rich, soft and full of festive spirit. For a unique twist, try Gingerbread Dip, featuring vanilla Greek yogurt made with 100% grass-fed organic milk. Whether you’re hosting or deciding what to bring to the potluck, Maple Hill’s 100% grass-fed organic dairy makes it easy to whip up desserts that are as wholesome as they are delicious. Rich in nutrients and free from GMOs, hormones and antibiotics, each product comes from farms that prioritize regenerative practices as nature intended. With a 40% healthier ratio of omega 3:6 and 40% higher levels of CLA fatty acids compared to traditional organic dairy, you can feel good about sweet treats at the holiday table. To find more recipes, visit MapleHill.com.

Santa Cookies

Yield: 14 cookies

• 1          cup (2 sticks) Maple Hill Salted Butter, at room temperature
• 1/2       cup brown sugar
• 1          tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1          large egg, at room temperature
• 2 1/4    cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4       teaspoon salt
• 1          teaspoon red food coloring
• mini chocolate chips
• mini red chocolate-coated candies

Frosting:

• 1/2       cup (1 stick) Maple Hill Salted Butter, at room temperature
• 4          ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1          teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2    cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In large mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add egg and beat until combined. Add flour and salt; mix until dough begins to form ball.
3. Remove 1 cup dough and set aside. Add red food coloring to remaining dough.
4. From red cookie dough, make one 1-inch ball and five 1/2-inch balls. From plain cookie dough, make one 3/4-inch ball and five 1/4-inch balls.
5. On prepared baking sheet, place red 1-inch ball and gently flatten until 1/2-inch thick. Attach four red 1/2-inch balls for arms and legs. Attach plain 3/4-inch ball for head and gently flatten until 1/2-inch thick. Attach plain 1/4-inch balls for hands and feet. Shape remaining red 1/2-inch ball into triangle for hat and attach. Repeat with remaining dough, arranging cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Add chocolate candies for eyes and buttons.
6. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden.
7. To make frosting: In medium bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add vanilla and powdered sugar; mix until combined.
8. To decorate: Place half of frosting in piping bag with small tip to line Santa’s arms and legs. Place other half in second piping bag with small star tip to add Santa’s beard, hat and hands. Put small dot of icing between eyes and beard and place red mini chocolate-coated candy on face for nose.

Gingerbread Dip

Servings: 8-12

• 4          ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/4       cup brown sugar
• 1/4       cup powdered sugar
• 3          tablespoons molasses
• 1          container (16 ounces) Maple Hill Vanilla Greek Yogurt
• 1          teaspoon ground ginger
• 1          teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1          teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2          cups whipped cream
• graham crackers
• fruit

1. In medium bowl using electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese and sugars about 1 minute. Add molasses and mix until combined.
2. Add Greek yogurt, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg; beat until combined. Fold in whipped cream and mix until fully incorporated. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving or overnight.
3. Serve with graham crackers and fruit.

SOURCE: Maple Hill

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Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience. https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/

Festive Blooms: How to Use Popular Christmas Flowers

Whether you’re decorating your space with a wreath or garland, giving a fresh gift or crafting the centerpiece for your holiday table, these festive blooms can bring a touch of nature’s joy to your celebrations and showcase the beauty that thrives even during the coldest season. Poinsettias One of, if not the most iconic, flowers of the holiday season, poinsettias are recognized by their bright red “blooms,” which are actually colorful bracts surrounding small yellow flowers. A symbol of love, hope and Christmas cheer, poinsettias thrive indoors with bright, indirect light and can be used for holiday decor, festive centerpieces or given as a potted gift. Amaryllis Popular for creating holiday arrangements or as a long-lasting indoor plant, the amaryllis features large, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of red, white, pink or striped varieties. Grown from a bulb, they bloom year after year with proper care, including during the winter months. Holly Featuring glossy green leaves and bright red berries, holly has been a holiday staple for centuries. The flowers are commonly used in wreaths, garlands and other Christmas arrangements and can be displayed on mantels, doors or around doorways. However, holly berries are toxic if ingested, so keep arrangements away from children and pets. Christmas Rose (Hellebore) With blooms that typically appear around Christmas, the Christmas rose is a perennial that thrives in shaded garden beds, even in cooler weather. It brightens up winter landscapes with its creamy white or pink-tinted flowers, which have come to symbolize hope amid the snow. Paperwhites Ideal for tabletop decor or window displays, paperwhites, a type of narcissus, produce clusters of delicate white blooms with a sweet fragrance. They’re easy to grow from bulbs indoors during the winter months and can add a natural holiday touch to any room by simply placing in decorative containers filled with pebbles and water. Learn more about Christmas flowers and find additional seasonal advice at eLivingtoday.com.   Photo courtesy of Shutterstock SOURCE: eLivingtoday.com

The fate of Lucky Supermarkets in SoCal

Link: https://stmdailynews.com/the-fate-of-lucky-supermarkets-in-socal/

Last Updated on December 15, 2025 by Rod Washington

(Family Features) If you’ve ever found yourself buying a holiday gift for someone on your list at the last minute, you’re not alone. According to a Walgreens U.S. gift-giving survey, 83% of Americans found themselves getting a gift for someone at the last minute – a trend even more common among Gen Z (90%) and parents (92%). To help keep things merry and bright, consider these tips to help with the last-minute holiday hustle, and visit Walgreens.com or a store near you to find deals and gift inspiration.

SOURCE:
Walgreens